Journal of Power Sources 149 (2005) 8–14 BIOFEAT: Biodiesel fuel processor for a vehicle fuel cell auxiliary power unit  Study of the feed system M. Sgroi a,∗ , G. Bollito a , G. Saracco b , S. Specchia b a Centro Ricerche FIAT, Strada Torino 50, 10043 Orbassano, Italy b Politecnico di Torino, Materials Science and Chemical Engineering Department, Corso Duca degli Abruzzi 24, 10129 Torino, Italy Received 30 November 2004; accepted 26 December 2004 Available online 31 May 2005 Abstract An integrated auxiliary power unit (APU) based on a 10 kW e integrated biodiesel fuel processor has been designed and is being developed. Auto-thermal reforming (ATR) and thermal cracking (TC) were considered for converting the fuel into a hydrogen-rich gas suitable for PEM fuel cells. The fuel processor includes also a gas clean-up system that will reduce the carbon monoxide in the primary processor exit gas to below 10 ppm via a new heat-integrated CO clean-up unit, based on the assembly of catalytic heat exchange plates, so as to meet the operational requirements of a PEMFC stack. This article is devoted to the study and selection of the proper feed strategy for the primary fuel processor. Different pre-treatment and feed alternatives (e.g. based on nozzles or simple coils) were devised and tested for the ATR processors, which turned out to be the preferred primary processing route. A nozzle-based strategy was finally selected along with special recommendations about the constituent materials and the operating procedures to be adopted to avoid coking and nozzle corrosion as well as to allow a wide turn down ratio. © 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. Keywords: Biodiesel; Fuel processor; Auxiliary power unit; Auto-thermal reforming; Thermal cracking; Vehicle 1. Introduction The goal of the European-funded project Biodiesel fuel processor for a fuel cell auxiliary power unit for a vehicle (BIOFEAT) is to develop an auxiliary power unit (APU) based on a 10 kW e fuel cell stack fed by an integrated biodiesel fuel processor. The purposes of the project are the reduction of tailpipe emissions, the promotion of the use of renewable fuels and an increase in fuel economy compared to currently employed auxiliary power generation systems. The modular 10 kW e biodiesel fuel processor is capable of feeding a solid oxide or a polymeric membrane fuel cell stack  This paper was presented at the 2004 Fuel Cell Seminar, San Antonio, TX, USA. ∗ Corresponding author. Tel.: +39 011 9083552; fax: +39 011 9083337. E-mail address: mauro.sgroi@cfr.it (M. Sgroi). (PEMFC) that will generate electricity for the auxiliary power unit on a family car or a truck [1]. Significant market penetration of fuel cell systems for traction purposes is expected to take place only in long term. Higher application opportunities in the medium term (5–7 years) are expected in the field of auxiliary power generation for vehicles, thereby allowing the de-coupling of traction and peripherals-powering (air-conditioning, steering-by-wire, lights,...) needs [2]. These expectations are based on the lower nominal power of APUs and by the increasingly stable power demand required by the peripherals [3]. Biodiesel is the chosen feedstock in BIOFEAT, because it is a completely natural and renewable fuel. It is a 100% vegetable oil produced mainly from field crops in Europe, whereas elsewhere in the world, it is even made from re- cycled cooking oil. In the past decade, biodiesel has been gaining worldwide popularity as an alternative energy source 0378-7753/$ – see front matter © 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. doi:10.1016/j.jpowsour.2004.12.059