Supplying hydrogen to a fuel cell from diesel fuel: Diesel reformer for maritime power generation
How can fuel cell systems for maritime applications and specialized land vehicles be supplied with hydrogen without having to carry it in separate tanks? At the Hydrogen Technology World Expo, taking place in Hamburg from October 20 to 22, 2026, Fraunhofer IMM will address how diesel reformers can be used to convert diesel fuel into a hydrogen-containing gas for electricity generation directly at the point of use.
The diesel reformer is part of the development of a 25-kilowatt reformer–fuel cell system for maritime applications under the DIMARIT project, funded by Germany’s Central Innovation Programme for SMEs (ZIM). The reformer converts the onboard fuel into a gas that, after further processing, supplies the fuel cell. Fraunhofer IMM’s work has focused particularly on reactor technology and the coordination of process steps. The development team also ad-dressed thermal management and the interaction between individual components. These factors are essential to ensuring reliable fuel conversion under changing operating conditions.
Hydrogen supply at the point of use
The development work addressed a practical challenge: Using fuel cells in mobile applica-tions requires a reliable hydrogen supply. On vessels, the available installation space and the amount of fuel that must be carried are also key considerations. Converting diesel at the point of use can enable fuel cell operation without the need to store hydrogen separately. IMM is also investigating how synthetic diesel fuels can be used to produce hydrogen in the reformer. The goal is to enable suitable synthetic fuels, alongside conventional diesel, to supply a fuel cell in the future.
Potential defense applications
This approach is also relevant to mobile power generation for defense applications, where low noise emissions, low heat output, and low weight are important alongside fuel availability. Combining a diesel reformer with a fuel cell offers potential advantages: Compared with engine-driven diesel generators, the system requires fewer large moving parts and can re-duce acoustic and thermal signatures. Potential applications include supplying power to command and surveillance vehicles or field camps.
Fraunhofer IMM at Hydrogen Technology World Expo
Hydrogen Technology World Expo in Hamburg brings together developments in stationary and mobile hydrogen applications. Fraunhofer IMM will exhibit in Hall B5, Booth 5G26. Dr. Gunther Kolb will discuss the potential use of diesel as a hydrogen source for fuel cells in defense applications on October 22, from 1:10 to 1:30 p.m., on Hydrogen Stage A.