Combined water gas shift reactor/carbon dioxide adsorber for use in a fuel cell system
US6692545B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 9, 2001 |
| Grant date | Feb 17, 2004 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 9, 2021 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02P20/151
- WIPO fieldChemical engineering
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
An apparatus removes CO from a hydrogen-rich gas stream in a hydrogen fuel cell system. CO fouls costly catalytic particles in the membrane electrode assemblies. Both a catalyst adapted to perform a water gas shift reaction, and a carbon dioxide adsorbent are disposed in a rotating pressure swing adsorber housing. The adsorption of carbon dioxide shifts equilibrium toward carbon monoxide consumption. A second adsorbent may be disposed in the housing for adsorbing carbon monoxide at low temperatures, and is adapted to desorb carbon monoxide at high temperatures. The present invention advantageously eliminates a unit operation from a space-constrained fuel cell vehicle by combining the WGS catalyst and a CO2 adsorbent in a single reactor/housing. The apparatus further eliminates the use of a PROX reactor, by providing an apparatus which incorporates CO2 adsorption and consequent carbon monoxide consumption in the place of the PROX reactor.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.