Tech Briefs
Multi-fuel reformer

During an 18-month research cooperation, Xcellsis GmbH, a subsidiary of DaimlerChrysler, and Shell Hydrogen developed and tested a prototype gasoline reformer to produce hydrogen for fuel-cell applications.

The compact 67-hp (50-kW) multi-fuel system performed well under stationary and dynamic operating test conditions at the Xcellsis laboratories in Nabern, Germany. With continued development, such systems could enable fuel-cell vehicles to use gasoline. Xcellsis is a new name for the former dbb Fuel Cell Engines, GmbH. When formed in 1997, dbb stood for Daimler-Benz and Ballard Power Systems, the Canadian fuel-cell company. The company outgrew its name as Ford Motor Co. joined the partnership and Daimler-Benz merged with Chrysler. The ownership structure of Xcellsis is 51.5% DaimlerChrysler, 26.7% Ballard, and 21.8% Ford.

"This is a good example for the versatility of fuel-cell technology," said Ferdinand Panik, Xcellsis Managing Director and Head of DaimlerChrysler's fuel-cell project. "Due to the expense of multi-fuel technology, we will continue to work on a methanol reformer as our first priority, as this is the most advanced technology today. But we will also monitor development of multi-fuel reformers."

The development of this powerplant in just over a year was due to a combination of DaimlerChrysler and Xcellsis' experience in designing fuel processors and complete fuel-cell systems along with Shell's proprietary Catalytic Partial Oxidation (CPO) technology. The main aim of the project was the development of a completely new compact and integrated gasoline reformer as the central part of the fuel processor.

The joint research project was completed earlier this year, with each organization free to pursue commercial applications for the technology. "We have shown that the concept of gasoline-powered fuel-cell vehicles is viable," said Don Huberts, Chief Executive Officer of Shell Hydrogen. "We will continue to develop this technology, which holds great promise for enabling fuel-cell vehicles to rapidly enter the market, while using the existing fuels infrastructure and filling stations."

Shell and DaimlerChrysler continue to work together in the California Fuel Cell Partnership, a government/industry partnership to demonstrate fuel-cell vehicles under real-world conditions. The two companies also participate with a consortium of companies and the Iceland government working to convert Iceland from a fossil-fuel to a hydrogen-fuel based infrastructure.

Jean L. Broge