Integrated fuel cell and fuel conversion apparatus

Patent · Tue Feb 10 04:00:00 EST 1987

OSTI ID:7086810

Sederquist, R A

This patent describes a reaction apparatus constructed to alternately: (a) make a hydrogen containing gas by the cracking and catalytic steam reforming of a hydrocarbon feedstock; and (b) be regenerated, comprising: at least one reaction vessel having an upstream end and downstream end, the vessel having disposed therein, in sequence from its upstream to downstream end, a first volume of inert pacing material containing no reform catalyst, a second volume of material substantially adjacent the first volume and including a region of reform catalyst material and a third volume of material substantially adjacent the second volume; the vessel including first inlet means upstream of the second volume for introducing a hydrocarbon feedstock and steam into the first volume during the making of the hydrocarbon containing gas, and first outlet means at the downstream end of the vessel for exhausting the hydrogen containing gas produced in the vessel; and the vessel including second inlet means at its downstream end for introducing a hydrogen purge gas into the third volume during the regeneration of the apparatus, and second outlet means at the upstream end for exhausting combustion product gases produced during regeneration.

• Assignee: International Fuel Cells Corp., South Windsor, CT
• Patent Number(s): US 4642272
• OSTI ID: 7086810
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

08 HYDROGEN
080103 -- Hydrogen-- Production-- Steam Reformer Processes
30 DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSION
300501* -- Fuel Cells-- Design & Development
300504 -- Fuel Cells-- Applications
CATALYSTS
CATALYTIC CRACKING
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
COMBUSTION PRODUCTS
CRACKING
DECOMPOSITION
DESIGN
DIRECT ENERGY CONVERTERS
ELECTROCHEMICAL CELLS
ELEMENTS
EXHAUST SYSTEMS
FLUID FLOW
FUEL CELLS
GAS FLOW
HYDROCARBON FUEL CELLS
HYDROGEN PRODUCTION
INTAKE STRUCTURES
MECHANICAL STRUCTURES
NONMETALS
OXYGEN
PYROLYSIS
REFORMER PROCESSES
REGENERATION
REGENERATIVE FUEL CELLS
STEAM REFORMER PROCESSES
THERMOCHEMICAL PROCESSES
USES