Process for operating a water vapor reforming system, a reforming system operable thereby and a fuel cell system operating process

US6294149A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• XCELLSiS GmbH · DE

Inventors

• Rainer Autenrieth
• Stefan Boneberg · Neuffen, DE
• Thomas Poschmann · Ulm, DE
• Martin Schuebler · Ulm, DE
• Steffen Wieland · Stuttgart, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Dec 16, 1998
• Grant date: Sep 25, 2001
• Expiry date: Dec 16, 2018

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y02T90/40
• WIPO field: Materials, metallurgy
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

The invention relates to a process for operating a system for the water vapor reforming of a hydrocarbon. The system includes a reactor which is suitable for POX operation as well as for a reforming operation, an evaporator, a hydrogen separating stage, and a catalytic burner device. A first part of the catalytic burner device is in thermal contact with the reforming reactor, and a second part of the burner device is in thermal contact with the evaporator. An air/hydrocarbon intermediate feeding pipe for the reactor and a pressure maintaining valve are provided for changing the reactor between the POX operation and the reforming operation. According to the process, during cold start of the system, a heating operation is carried out during which the reactor is first used in the POX operation at a lower pressure and subsequently is used for the reforming operation and simultaneously the pressure is increased to the normal operating pressure. The invention is particularly useful for the water vapor reforming of methanol for obtaining hydrogen for a fuel-cell-operated motor vehicle.