Apparatus for generation of pure hydrogen for use with fuel cells
US6436354B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 26, 2000 |
| Grant date | Aug 20, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 29, 2021 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02P20/10
- WIPO fieldMaterials, metallurgy
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
A process and apparatus are disclosed for the operation of a fuel cell to generate electric power from a feed stream comprising a hydrocarbon or an alcohol. The fuel cell comprises a proton exchange membrane which produces electric power from a hydrogen product stream which comprises essentially no carbon monoxide. The hydrogen product stream is produced from the feed stream in a novel steam reforming zone containing a steam reforming catalyst disposed in a bell-shaped catalyst zone. The bell-shaped catalyst zone is disposed over a combustion zone such that the exhaust gas from the combustion flows around the bell-shaped catalyst zone to heat the catalyst from the inside and the outside of the catalyst zone. Furthermore, the bell-shaped catalyst zone maintains a high inlet and a high outlet temperature to avoid methane slippage in the steam reforming zone. Heat for the steam reforming zone is provided by a fuel stream and at least a portion of the anode waste gas stream from the fuel cell.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.