Rapid starting methanol reactor system
The invention relates to a methanol-to-hydrogen cracking reactor for use with a fuel cell vehicular power plant. The system is particularly designed for rapid start-up of the catalytic methanol cracking reactor after an extended shut-down period, i.e., after the vehicular fuel cell power plant has been inoperative overnight. Rapid system start-up is accomplished by a combination of direct and indirect heating of the cracking catalyst. Initially, liquid methanol is burned with a stoichiometric or slightly lean air mixture in the combustion chamber of the reactor assembly. The hot combustion gas travels down a flue gas chamber in heat exchange relationship with the catalytic cracking chamber transferring heat across the catalyst chamber wall to heat the catalyst indirectly. The combustion gas is then diverted back through the catalyst bed to heat the catalyst pellets directly. When the cracking reactor temperature reaches operating temperature, methanol combustion is stopped and a hot gas valve is switched to route the flue gas overboard, with methanol being fed directly to the catalytic cracking reactor. Thereafter, the burner operates on excess hydrogen from the fuel cells.
- Assignee:
- EDB-85-046604
- Patent Number(s):
- US 4473622
- OSTI ID:
- 5946110
- Resource Relation:
- Patent File Date: Filed date 27 Dec 1982; Other Information: PAT-APPL-453247
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
08 HYDROGEN
HYDROGEN PRODUCTION
CHEMICAL REACTORS
VEHICLES
HYDROGEN FUEL CELLS
CATALYTIC CRACKING
COMBUSTION
GAS FLOW
HEATING
METHANOL
POWER SYSTEMS
START-UP
ALCOHOLS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CRACKING
DECOMPOSITION
DIRECT ENERGY CONVERTERS
ELECTROCHEMICAL CELLS
ENERGY SYSTEMS
FLUID FLOW
FUEL CELLS
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXIDATION
PYROLYSIS
THERMOCHEMICAL PROCESSES
300502* - Fuel Cells- Performance & Testing
080100 - Hydrogen- Production