Patent · US Expired

Hydrocarbon fuel processing for hydrogen generation

US7332003B1 · kind B1 · utility

6Cited by
12References
16Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateSep 2, 2004
Grant dateFeb 19, 2008
Priority date
Expiry dateJan 6, 2026

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC C)Chemistry; Metallurgy
  • CPC primaryC01B2203/1258
  • WIPO fieldMaterials, metallurgy
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

An apparatus for processing hydrocarbon fuel (e.g., gasoline, kerosene, jet fuel, diesel and heating oil) to generate hydrogen (H2), which can be used in fuel cells, includes a desulfurization reactor for removing sulfur from the fuel; a catalytic reactor for forming a reformate from the fuel; and, optionally, a separator for separating a light fraction of the fuel from a heavy fraction of the fuel. The fuel is first exposed to the desulfurization reactor and then, if present, to the separator. Finally, the fuel is exposed to the catalyst in the catalytic reactor; and the hydrogen gas generated there from is collected for use in the fuel cell.

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