Patent · US Expired

Fuel processor dewar and methods

US7276096B2 · kind B2 · utility

5Cited by
38References
41Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJun 25, 2004
Grant dateOct 2, 2007
Priority date
Expiry dateNov 4, 2025

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY02P20/129
  • WIPO fieldChemical engineering
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

Described herein is a fuel processor that produces hydrogen from a fuel source. The fuel processor comprises a reformer and burner. The reformer includes a catalyst that facilitates the production of hydrogen from the fuel source. Voluminous reformer chamber designs are provided that increase the amount of catalyst that can be used in a reformer and increase hydrogen output for a given fuel processor size. The burner provides heat to the reformer. One or more burners may be configured to surround a reformer on multiple sides to increase thermal transfer to the reformer. Dewars are also described that increase thermal management of a fuel processor and increase burner efficiency. A dewar includes one or more dewar chambers that receive inlet process gas or liquid before a burner receives the process gas or liquid. The dewar is arranged such that process gas or liquid passing through the dewar chamber intercepts heat generated in the burner before the heat escapes the fuel processor.

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