Stationary Power Applications

Harvest Energy Technology, Inc. (HET) develops fuel processors for stationary proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell stacks. A fuel processor converts natural gas, propane, gasoline or diesel fuel to a hydrogen-rich product gas that is fed to a fuel cell. The fuel cell electrochemically combines hydrogen and oxygen from air to produce electricity. HET has developed a fuel processor based on steam reforming (SR) technology that delivers a gas stream containing >70% hydrogen and less than 10 ppm CO to a PEM fuel cell. The SR fuel processor has a high thermal efficiency and low parasitic power requirement.

The HET SR fuel processor shown delivers hydrogen needed to supply the electric requirements of the commercial-scale customer (50 kW). The HET SR fuel processor is a fully-automated, system that includes a proprietary steam reformer and a compact CO selective oxidation reactor that maintains a high product gas quality even during transients.

Fuel cells are the preferred near-term choice for small distributed electric power generators 1-50 kW range because of their low emissions, low maintenance, and high electric efficiencies compared to competing technologies. PEM fuel cells are well suited for this size range because of their simplicity, low operating temperature, and rapid start-up capability.

Several different fuel processing technologies are being developed for PEM fuel cells applications. However, steam reforming appears best suited to the application due to the stability of operation, ease of control, and high quality of product gases.

Transportation Applications

Harvest Energy Technology, Inc. (HET) develops hydrogen generators for fuel cell vehicle fueling applications. The hydrogen generator incorporates HET’s proprietary steam reforming fuel processor, a compressor and a PSA purification system to produce a 99.99+% purity hydrogen product gas containing less than 0.2 ppm CO. The hydrogen generator is fully automated, enclosed and has a self-contained control room and water treatment system.

The HET hydrogen generator shown above produces 100 kWe of hydrogen product and was constructed for a hydrogen fueling site located in Las Vegas, Nevada. The hydrogen generator will supply hydrogen to a 50 kW stationary PEM fuel cell and also provide on-site hydrogen for a multi-purpose fueling station capable of dispensing hydrogen to fuel cell electric vehicles.

HET Hydrogen Generator and the Hydrogen Fuel Infrastructure

In order to assist in the commercial introduction of fuel cell vehicles, the development of a hydrogen fueling infrastructure is needed. Initially, fuel cell vehicles will be introduced in fleet applications, most likely in urban centers that have existing CNG fueling facilities. In the longer term, larger numbers of distributed hydrogen fueling stations must be constructed in localized regions in the U.S in order for the practical adoption of fuel cell electric vehicle technology.

While tanker delivery of liquid hydrogen or on-site production of hydrogen via electrolysis can beconsidered for early adoption cases or under specialized economic conditions, these routes for hydrogen supply are generally not cost-competitive with on-site hydrogen production from natural gas. In the long-term, low-cost standardized hydrogen fueling stations utilizing natural gas feedstock will be needed.

HET has developed a standardized 100 kWe hydrogen generator that can serve to assist in the successful implementation of a hydrogen fuel infrastructure. HET is working to optimize the economy of the standardized 100 kWe hydrogen generator through innovative engineering and design.