Patent · US Expired

Compact multi-fuel steam reformer

US5938800A · kind A · utility

132Cited by
6References
30Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateNov 13, 1997
Grant dateAug 17, 1999
Priority date
Expiry dateNov 13, 2017

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY02P20/129
  • WIPO fieldChemical engineering
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

A compact, mobile fuel converter for producing molecular hydrogen from hydrocarbon fuels, such as automotive gasoline, or other fuels such as methanol and ethanol has a steam reformer for producing molecular hydrogen from a pressurized and desulfurized fuel and water vapor preheated by flue gases from the fuel processor. The fuel processor is fed with the desulfurized fuel and water mix and a burner is provided to combust off-gas from the fuel processor reaction. Uncombusted off-gas is depressurized and mixed with auxiliary fuel used in the burner. Hydrogen produced in the fuel processor by the steam reforming process is separated from other reformate products using membrane filtration.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.