Nippon uses ruthenium for kerosene fuel cell

Nippon Oil has unveiled a new kerosene fuel cell which uses a ruthenium-based catalyst to provide higher hydrogen yield.The company has shown off its new prototype fuel cell at the Fuel Cell Seminar 2006 and has developed a new approach to fuel cells by basing the production of hydrogen on kerosene.As kerosene has a longer hydrocarbon chain than natural gas, steam reformation rate is lower, requiring the reforming temperature to be higher. Nippon has therefore been using a ruthenium-based catalyst at this higher temperature to produce higher yields of hydrogen, reports Fuel Cell Today.The ruthenium-based catalyst is able to deliver higher hydrogen yields in the 500 to 600°C range.