585Fuel Cell Power Generation Systems
approximately 1400°C, but adding a catalyst (catalytic POX or CPOX) can reduce
this temperature to as low as 870°C. Combining steam reforming closely with
CPOX is termed autothermal reforming (ATR). The type of fuel processing
method employed depends on the following features: (1) choice of commercially
available fuels suitable for specic applications, (2) fuel exibility, (3) catalyst
tolerance, (4) fuel cell size, and (5) vaporization of heavy hydrocarbons. Heavy
hydrocarbons, such as diesel, require vaporization temperatures much in excess
of 350 to 400°C, at which temperature some of the heavier fuels pyrolyze.
A general equation given below describes fuel conversion from steam ref-
ormation to the PO ...