Method for water-in-hydrocarbon emulsion fuel cell reformer start-up

摘要

The present invention relates to water-in-hydrocarbon emulsion compositions comprising hydrocarbon fuel, water and alkoxylated branched alkyl alcohol surfactants for starting a reformer of a fuel cell system. A method to prepare a water in-hydrocarbon emulsion comprises preparing a first mixture of hydrocarbon-in-water emulsion and excess hydrocarbon, preparing a second mixture of water-in-hydrocarbon emulsion and excess water, adding the said first mixture of hydrocarbon-in-water emulsion and excess hydrocarbon to said second mixture of water-in-hydrocarbon emulsion and excess water and then mixing said first and second mixtures to form the water-in-hydrocarbon emulsion. The present invention utilizes substantially less surfactant and mixing times for the formation of the emulsion, a commercially important feature.