A reforming system for co-generation of hydrogen and mechanical work from methanol

The paper describes a reforming system for converting methanol into pure hydrogen. The system is based on an autothermal reforming reactor operating at elevated pressures followed by membrane-based hydrogen separation. The high-pressure membrane retentate stream is combusted and expanded through a turbine generating additional power. Process simulation illustrates the effects of the system operating parameters on performance and demonstrates system reforming efficiency up to ∼90%. When coupled with a PEM fuel cell and an electrical generator, overall fuel to electricity efficiency can be >48% depending upon the efficiency of a PEM fuel cell stack.