VCHP Heat Exchanger for Passive Thermal Management of a Fuel Cell Reforming Process Navy SBIR FY2005.1 Sol No.: Navy SBIR FY2005.1 Topic No.: N05-041 Topic Title: VCHP Heat Exchanger for Passive Thermal Management of a Fuel Cell Reforming Process Proposal No.: N051-041-1156 Firm: Advanced Cooling Technologies, Inc. 1046 New Holland Avenue Lancaster, Pennsylvania 17601-5688 Contact: David Sarraf Phone: (717) 295-6059 Web Site: www.1-ACT.com Abstract: The subject of this proposal is a heat exchanger based on variable conductance heat pipes (VCHP) that will provide a passive, valve-less means of regulating process gas temperatures in reformers for fuel cells. A key component of the Navy fuel cell system is the reformer, which converts diesel fuel into methane for consumption by the fuel cell. Reaction temperatures are critical to proper function of the reformer. Reaction temperatures are currently regulated by valves in the process gas streams. These valves require power, consumes space, increases pressure drop, and is hindering tight integration and packaging of the reformer. In addition, these valves are prone to failure at elevated temperatures. The VCHP-based system has the potential to provide nearly constant reformer temperatures despite wide changes in gas flow rate while needing no additional components or control systems and without limiting packaging options for the reformer. Benefits: The most immediate commercial market for the technology is in large-scale fixed-plant systems. To date, these have been primarily demonstration or pilot projects that supply power to a localized small area such as a factory or a group of residences. Preliminary estimates range between 10 and 20 units per year. That estimate includes both commercial and government markets, since most government installations are performed by or use equipment built by commercial fuel cell suppliers. The number of exchangers required could rise if the technology is adopted for the DDX program. Based on the expected rate of ship building, that could involve between 8 and 16 exchangers per year. Two potentially large markets are automotive and residential power generation. All major auto manufacturers have announced or shown prototype fuel-cell based cars which use gasoline as a fuel. Plug Power (Latham, NY) and ChevronTexaco have announced fuel cells to generate electricity for individual homes. Both of these markets would require a reformer system that would accommodate varying electrical loads. The VCHP-based heat exchanger could serve as a key element in either of these systems. Both of these markets have extremely large potential, however penetrating those markets will require both technology development and reduction of equipment costs. Return