Patent · US Expired

Integrated reformer and shift reactor

US7066973B1 · kind B1 · utility

46Cited by
456References
48Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMay 2, 2000
Grant dateJun 27, 2006
Priority date
Expiry dateMay 2, 2020

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC C)Chemistry; Metallurgy
  • CPC primaryC01B2203/82
  • WIPO fieldChemical engineering
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

A hydrocarbon fuel reformer for producing diatomic hydrogen gas is disclosed. The reformer includes a first reaction vessel, a shift reactor vessel annularly disposed about the first reaction vessel, including a first shift reactor zone, and a first helical tube disposed within the first shift reactor zone having an inlet end communicating with a water supply source. The water supply source is preferably adapted to supply liquid-phase water to the first helical tube at flow conditions sufficient to ensure discharge of liquid-phase and steam-phase water from an outlet end of the first helical tube. The reformer may further include a first catalyst bed disposed in the first shift reactor zone, having a low-temperature shift catalyst in contact with the first helical tube. The catalyst bed includes a plurality of coil sections disposed in coaxial relation to other coil sections and to the central longitudinal axis of the reformer, each coil section extending between the first and second ends, and each coil section being in direct fluid communication with at least one other coil section.

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