Hydrogen-producing fuel processing assemblies, heating assemblies, and methods of operating the same

US7939051B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Idatech, LLC · US

Inventors

• Vernon Wade Popham · Bend, US
• Curtiss Renn · Bend, US
• Mesa Scharf · Redmond, US
• Kyle Taylor · Summerville, US

Key dates

• Filing date: May 21, 2007
• Grant date: May 10, 2011
• Expiry date: Jan 17, 2030

Classification

• Technology area (CPC C): Chemistry; Metallurgy
• CPC primary: C01B2203/1604
• WIPO field: Materials, metallurgy
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

Hydrogen-producing fuel processing assemblies, including steam reforming fuel processing assemblies, startup assemblies for use therein, and methods of operating the same. In some embodiments, the startup assemblies include a startup reforming region that is upstream from a primary, or second, hydrogen-producing reforming region. In some embodiments, the startup reforming region and primary reforming regions are both steam reforming regions. In some embodiments, the startup assembly further includes at least one of a vaporization region and a startup heating assembly. In some embodiments, the startup heating assembly is an electrically powered heating assembly, and the fuel processing assembly further includes a (primary) heating assembly that combusts a byproduct stream from the fuel processing assembly to produce a combustion exhaust stream. In some embodiments, the startup reforming region is adapted to produce a gaseous output stream that will remain a gas-phase stream even if cooled below a minimum hydrogen-producing temperature.