High sulfur content of logistics fuels is a major impediment to the viability of fuel cells for military mobile applications. In this paper, we compare two sulfur removal methodologies. We report performance and regenerability of commercially available sorbents for liquid fuel desulfurization. Experimental data with conventional ZnO sorbent for gas phase sulfur removal is also presented with further performance improvement based upon application on patented Microlith� metal mesh supports. Test results indicate several advantages for employing gas phase sulfur removal over liquid fuel desulfurization, including high sorption capacity and ease of scalability. However, gas phase sulfur removal approach demands a highly sulfur tolerant fuel processor. Toward this goal, Precision Combustion, Inc. (PCI) has developed a sulfur tolerant auto-thermal reformer, having demonstrated over 1000 hours of performance durability with sulfur containing JP-8 and downstream gas phase sulfur cleanup, providing significant improvement over fuel processors relying on upstream liquid fuel desulfurizers.

Reformation of high sulfur logistics fuels: Liquid desulfurization vs. gas phase desulfurization

244th National Meeting (2012)

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