Diesel fuel reforming strategy

Abstract

A method of using a diesel reforming strategy is disclosed. The method comprises supplying diesel fuel to a fractional distillation device. The diesel fuel is fractionally distilled to produce a light fuel stream and a heavy fuel stream. The light fuel stream is reformed in a reformer to produce a reformate. A method of making an apparatus for a diesel fuel reforming strategy and a method for using a fuel cell system is also disclosed. A fuel cell system for diesel fuel reforming is also disclosed.

1 . A method of using a diesel reforming strategy, comprising: 
 supplying diesel fuel to a fractional distillation device;    fractionally distilling said diesel fuel to produce a light fuel stream and a heavy fuel stream; and    reforming said light fuel stream in a reformer to produce a reformate.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising burning said heavy fuel stream in a burner to generate thermal energy.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said reformer is a steam reformer.  
     
     
         4 . A diesel fuel reforming system, comprising: 
 a fractional distillation device in fluid communication with a supply of diesel fuel; and    a reformer in fluid communication with said fractional distillation device.    
     
     
         5 . The diesel fuel reforming system of  claim 4 , further comprising a burner in fluid communication with said fractional distillation device.  
     
     
         6 . The diesel fuel reforming system of  claim 4 , wherein said reformer is a steam reformer.  
     
     
         7 . A method of making an apparatus for a diesel reforming strategy, comprising: 
 disposing a reformer in fluid communication with a fuel cell stack;    disposing said reformer in fluid communication with a fractional distillation device; and    disposing said fractional distillation device in fluid communication with a supply of fuel.    
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising disposing a burner in fluid communication with said fractional distillation device.  
     
     
         9 . A method of using a fuel cell system, comprising: 
 supplying diesel fuel to a fractional distillation device;    fractionally distilling said diesel fuel to produce a light fuel stream and a heavy fuel stream;    reforming said light fuel stream in a reformer to produce a reformate; and    utilizing said reformate in a fuel cell stack to produce electricity.    
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising burning said heavy fuel stream in a burner to generate thermal energy.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said reformer is a steam reformer.  
     
     
         12 . A fuel cell system for diesel fuel reforming, comprising: 
 a means for fractionally distilling a supply of diesel fuel to produce a light fuel stream and a heavy fuel stream;    a means for reforming said light fuel stream to produce a reformate, said means for reforming disposed in fluid communication with said means for fractionally distilling; and    a means for producing electricity from said reformate, said means for producing electricity disposed in fluid communication with said means for reforming.    
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , further comprising a means for burning said heavy fuel stream disposed in fluid communication with said fractional distillation device.  
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein said means for burning produces thermal energy.  
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein said means for reforming is a steam reformer.  
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein said means for producing electricity is a fuel cell.  
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein said means for producing electricity is a solid oxide fuel cell.