Entschwefelung von Mitteldestillaten für die Anwendung in mobilen Brennstoffzellen-Systemen

Latz, Jochen

Dissertation / PhD Thesis/Book

Entschwefelung von Mitteldestillaten für die Anwendung in mobilen Brennstoffzellen-Systemen

Latz, J. (Corrresponding author)FZJ*

2008
Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH Zentralbibliothek, Verlag Jülich
ISBN: 978-3-89336-535-7

Jülich : Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH Zentralbibliothek, Verlag, Schriften des Forschungszentrums Jülich : Energie & Umwelt / Energy & Environment 14, XII, 215 S. (2008) = Aachen, RWTH, Diss., 2008

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Please use a persistent id in citations: http://hdl.handle.net/2128/3139

Abstract: Fuel cells are well suited for generating on-board power supply in aircraft, ships and heavy goods vehicles to improve the energy efficiency and to cover rising demands for electrical energy. In order to operate fuel cells with the fuels available on board, the fuel is converted into a hydrogen-rich gas by a process of catalytic reforming. Since both the catalysts in the reformer and also in the fuel cell are deactivated by the sulfur compounds contained in the fuel, the fuel must be desulfurized. Whereas diesel fuel for road vehicles within the EU is already desulfurized at the refinery, jet fuel is permitted to have up to 3000 ppm of sulfur worldwide and marine gas oil for fuelling vessels on inland waterways can contain up to 1000 ppm in the EU. Consequently, on-board desulfurization is required for the use of fuel cell auxiliary power units (APUs) on aircraft and ships. Since the hydrodesulfurization process used in refineries is not suitable for mobile applications, the present work had the aim of developing alternative processes and determining their technical feasibility. To this end, a large number of processes discussed in the literature were assessed with respect to their application in fuel cell APUs and four potentially suitable processes selected for detailed investigation. Laboratory tests revealed that adsorption in combination with separation by means of distillation or pervaporation is a suitable process for the desulfurization of jet fuel. Additionally, hydrodesulfurization with presaturation provided convincing results on a laboratory scale. In order to verify the technical applicability of fuel cell APUs, three desulfurization processes were assessed with respect to energy demand, size and durability. Of these processes, hydrodesulfurization with presaturation provided the best results. Whereas the technical application of the process consisting of adsorption and pervaporation requires further research work, the process of adsorption and separation by means of distillation is not economically feasible, above all due to the high energy demand. Finally, the technical applicability of hydrodesulfurization with presaturation was demonstrated in a pilot plant for a fuel cell APU with a power of 5 kWel, going beyond the laboratory scale. The aim of developing a suitable process for the desulfurization of jet fuel in fuel cell APUs has thus been achieved. However, the investigations on marine gas oil showed that desulfurization in fuel cell APUs is not possible at present even with the alternative desulfurization approaches currently available.

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