Patent · US Expired

Compact fuel processor for producing a hydrogen rich gas

US7270688B2 · kind B2 · utility

4Cited by
5References
14Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateApr 26, 2002
Grant dateSep 18, 2007
Priority date
Expiry dateApr 4, 2024

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY02E60/50
  • WIPO fieldChemical engineering
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

An apparatus for carrying out a multi-step process of converting hydrocarbon fuel to a substantially pure hydrogen gas feed includes a plurality of modules stacked end-to-end along a common axis. Each module includes a shell having an interior space defining a passageway for the flow of gas from a first end of the shell to a second end of the shell opposite the first end, and a processing core being contained within the interior space for effecting a chemical, thermal, or physical change to a gas stream passing axially through the module. The multi-step process includes: providing a fuel processor having a plurality of modules stacked end-to-end along a common axis; and feeding the hydrocarbon fuel successively through each of the modules in an axial direction through the tubular reactor to produce the hydrogen rich gas.

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