Efficient, High Power Density Hydrocarbon-Fueled Solid Oxide Stack System

Precision Combustion, Inc. (PCI) proposes to develop and demonstrate an innovative high power density design for direct internal reforming of regolith off-gases (e.g., methane and high hydrocarbons) within a solid oxide stack. The resulting enhanced heat transfer design offers the potential for higher overall efficiency, simplifies the system, and enables further compactness and weight reduction of the fuel cell system while improving the conditions for long system life. The approach also offers the potential to operate with a wide range of input fuels (i.e., high hydrocarbons as well as various levels of CO2 and water) without forming carbon. At the end of Phase I, a clear path towards a breadboard 1 kW solid oxide system demonstration in Phase II will be described. In a follow-on Phase III, a complete 1 kW system will be developed, demonstrated, and delivered to a NASA facility for demonstration testing in a relevant environment. PCI's integrated reformer/fuel cell system will be much smaller, lighter, more thermally effective and efficient, and less expensive than current technology or prospective alternative structured catalytic reactor technologies. This effort would be valuable to NASA as it would significantly reduce the known spacecraft technical risks and increase mission capability/durability/efficiency while at the same time increasing the TRL of the solid oxide systems for ISRU application.

This innovative technology offering direct at-anode internal reforming of hydrocarbon fuels within a solid oxide stack enables the potential for very high power density and would be a key sub-system for NASA ISRU missions and applicable to other mission requirements. PCI's integrated reformer/fuel cell system will be much smaller, lighter, more thermally effective and efficient, durable, and will offer advantages in terms of reduced launch mass/cost and reduced requirement for supplemental material re-supply.

Targeted non-NASA applications include solid oxide fuel cell based military generators/vehicle APUs, commercial vehicle fuel cell APUs and stationary fuel cell CHP applications seeking a more cost-effective, multi-fuel capable, lightweight and power dense fuel cell stack with an integrated fuel reformer.

This is early/mid-stage (TRL 3) — the most realistic path in is NASA SBIR/STTR, which funds small businesses and research institutions to develop technology aligned with NASA's needs (equity-free, phased funding). Check whether a current SBIR/STTR solicitation topic overlaps with this project's technology area, or contact the project directly (above) to ask.

None of these are guaranteed paths for this specific project — TechPort itself doesn't have an "apply" button. Reaching out to the contact(s) above with a specific question is usually the fastest way to find out what's actually open.