Predicted Emissions from a Methanol-Fueled “Electrochemical Automobile Engine” Based on a PEM Fuel Cell

952374

10/01/1995

Event
1995 SAE International Fall Fuels and Lubricants Meeting and Exhibition
Authors Abstract
Content
A simulation of a “fuel cell engine” (FCE) based on a proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel-cell stack was developed using a process simulation software package. Rates of emissions of unburned methanol, formaldehyde, CO and NOx were calculated based on chemical equilibria. The predicted rates of emissions for unburned methanol, formaldehyde and CO were found to all be less than 1 μg/km. This is considerably less than has been reported in the literature but represents a theoretical limit which should be achievable as effective catalytic-combustion systems are developed for hydrogen/methanol fueled burners.
The worst-case rate of NOx emissions was shown to be less than 0.03 g/km (0.05 g/mi.). It was found that increasing the rate of heat transfer in the steam reformer, which converts the methanol to a hydrogen-rich gas, significantly reduced the rate of NOx emission due to the lower burner temperatures which could be used.
The results indicate that, in terms of emissions reduction, a methanol fueled FCE is an excellent long-term alternative to the ICE.
Meta TagsDetails
DOI
https://doi.org/10.4271/952374
Pages
8
Citation
Amphlett, J., Mann, R., and Peppley, B., "Predicted Emissions from a Methanol-Fueled “Electrochemical Automobile Engine” Based on a PEM Fuel Cell," SAE Technical Paper 952374, 1995, https://doi.org/10.4271/952374.
Additional Details
Publisher
Published
Oct 1, 1995
Product Code
952374
Content Type
Technical Paper
Language
English