Treatment process for a methanol reforming catalyst therefor

US6171992A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• XCELLSiS GmbH · DE

Inventors

• Rainer Autenrieth
• Andreas Christen · Bad Dürkheim, DE
• Detlef Zur Megede · Kirchheim unter Teck, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Jun 15, 1998
• Grant date: Jan 9, 2001
• Expiry date: Jun 15, 2018

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y10S502/514
• WIPO field: Materials, metallurgy
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

A methanol reforming reactor includes a reforming reaction space into which a methanol reforming catalyst is charged. The methanol reforming catalyst is present at the start of the reforming reaction operation in a pre-aged state in the reforming reaction space. A process for pre-aging the methanol reforming catalyst comprises heating at a temperature of between approximately 240.degree. C. and approximately 350.degree. C. and at a load of between approximately 0.5 m.sup.3 H.sub.2 /h and approximately 50 m.sup.3 H.sub.2 /h per liter of catalyst material in a methanol/water atmosphere. The reactor may be used in fuel-cell-operated motor vehicles for generating hydrogen for the fuel cells by means of the water vapor reforming of methanol.