Hydrogen purification process and system
US7439273B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 28, 2006 |
| Grant date | Oct 21, 2008 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 28, 2026 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02P20/129
- WIPO fieldMaterials, metallurgy
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
A hydrogen generation system is disclosed that includes a fuel reforming reactor generating a hydrogen-rich reformate gas at a temperature greater than 150 C, a pressure swing adsorption (PSA) hydrogen purification unit that separates the reformate gas into a relatively pure hydrogen stream and an off-gas stream, and a catalytic reactor down stream of the PSA unit that converts carbon monoxide (CO) and hydrogen (H2) contained in the relatively pure hydrogen stream into methane (CH4) and water vapor (H2O). The method of purification involves generating a hydrogen-rich reformate gas at a temperature greater than 150 C in a fuel reforming reactor, separating the reformate gas into a relatively pure hydrogen stream and an off-gas stream in a pressure swing adsorption (PSA) hydrogen purification unit, and converting carbon monoxide (CO) and hydrogen (H2) contained in the relatively pure hydrogen stream into methane (CH4) and water vapor (H2O) in a catalytic reactor down stream of the PSA unit. The hydrogen can be further purified by including a secondary purification stage downstream of the PSA unit and the catalytic reactor wherein the secondary purification stage has a water adsorbent…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.