System for steam reformation of a hydrocarbon and operating method therefor
US6096286A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 20, 1998 |
| Grant date | Aug 1, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 20, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02E60/50
- WIPO fieldMaterials, metallurgy
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
A system for steam reformation of a hydrocarbon includes a combined oxidizer/burner unit connected downstream of a reformer and in thermal contact therewith. The combined unit functions during reformation reaction operation of the reformer as a CO oxidizer and simultaneously as a catalytic burner. During reformation reaction operation, a gas containing oxygen is added to the combined oxidizer/burner unit that has an oxygen component that is greater than the oxygen component required for CO oxidation alone. The system may be used, for example, in fuel-cell-operated motor vehicles to obtain hydrogen from methanol carried in liquid form that is required for the fuel cells.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.