Reforming reactor with catalytic burner unit

US6277339A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• XCELLSiS GmbH · DE

Inventors

• Stefan Boneberg · Neuffen, DE
• Stefan Brauchle · Biberach, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Jul 19, 1999
• Grant date: Aug 21, 2001
• Expiry date: Jul 19, 2019

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y02E60/50
• WIPO field: Chemical engineering
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

A reforming reactor includes (1) a reformer section for converting a starting material mixture into a reformate product by means of an endothermal reforming reaction; (2) a CO shift section to convert the carbon monoxide contained in the reformate product into carbon dioxide by the CO shift reaction; and (3) a catalytic burner unit for generating heat by catalytic combustion of a combustion gas. The catalytic burner has a heating area in thermal contact with the reformer section and a cooling area in thermal contact with the CO shift section having less combustion catalyst activity than the heating area. Combustion gas is fed counter-current-wise to the reformate product flowing through the CO shift stage and to the starting material mixture flowing through the reformer stage through the corresponding cooling area and through the adjoining heating area.