Patent · US Expired

Process for separating synthesis gas into fuel cell quality hydrogen and sequestration ready carbon dioxide

US6667022B2 · kind B2 · utility

72Cited by
8References
10Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateAug 14, 2001
Grant dateDec 23, 2003
Priority date
Expiry dateJul 25, 2022

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY02P30/00
  • WIPO fieldChemical engineering
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

A method and apparatus for separating gas mixtures containing synthesis gas (syngas) into separate streams of wet hydrogen containing significantly reduced amounts of CO2 and CO, with the CO2 being “sequestration ready” and containing less than 1% fixed gases. In the preferred embodiment, a mixture of limestone and iron oxide circulates between two fluidized beds whereby one bed is fluidized with a gas containing syngas, while the other bed is fluidized with a gas containing steam and oxygen. As the fluidizing gas containing syngas passes through the bed, the CO2 reacts with CaO to form CaCO3. Virtually all of the CO is removed by a water gas shift reaction, forming hydrogen and CO2, with the remainder being removed by reaction with the iron oxide, reducing Fe2O3 to FeO. Some hydrogen is also removed by reaction with the iron oxide, reducing Fe2O3 to FeO, while the remainder of the hydrogen passes through the fluid beds, leaving in a purified state, i.e., PEM fuel cell quality.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.