CATALYST AND LIQUID COMBINATION FOR A THERMALLY REGENERATIVE FUEL CELL

摘要

Combinations of catalyst and compound are described that are suitable for use in a thermally regenerative fuel cell. Such combinations offer greater than 99% selectivity and accordingly they cycle through a reversible dehydrogenation process with substantially no loss due to byproduct formation. Combinations of secondary benzylic alcohols and Pd/SiO2 catalysts offer levels of by-products that are undetectable by NMR and GC analysis. With such TRFC, thermal energy can be converted into electric energy in a moving vehicle without the requirement of storage of H2, and its safety issues. Instead, a catalytic amount of H2 is cycled through the system and used to generate electric energy.