Method and apparatus for converting hydrocarbon fuel into hydrogen gas and carbon dioxide

Patent · Sat Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 2000

OSTI ID:873282

Clawson, Lawrence G ^[1]; Mitchell, William L ^[2]; Bentley, Jeffrey M ^[3]; Thijssen, Johannes H.J. ^[4]

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1. Dover, MA
2. Belmont, MA
3. Westford, MA
4. Cambridge, MA

An apparatus and a method are disclosed for converting hydrocarbon fuel or an alcohol into hydrogen gas and carbon dioxide. The apparatus includes a first vessel having a partial oxidation reaction zone and a separate steam reforming reaction zone that is distinct from the partial oxidation reaction zone. The first vessel has a first vessel inlet at the partial oxidation reaction zone and a first vessel outlet at the steam reforming zone. The reformer also includes a helical tube extending about the first vessel. The helical tube has a first end connected to an oxygen-containing source and a second end connected to the first vessel at the partial oxidation reaction zone. Oxygen gas from an oxygen-containing source can be directed through the helical tube to the first vessel. A second vessel having a second vessel inlet and second vessel outlet is annularly disposed about the first vessel. The helical tube is disposed between the first vessel and the second vessel and gases from the first vessel can be directed through second vessel.

• Research Organization: ARTHUR D LITTLE INC
• DOE Contract Number: AC02-92CE50343
• Assignee: Arthur D. Little, Inc. (Cambridge, MA)
• Patent Number(s): US 6126908
• OSTI ID: 873282
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

/422/48/429/
alcohol
annularly
annularly disposed
apparatus
carbon
carbon dioxide
connected
converting
converting hydrocarbon
dioxide
directed
disclosed
disposed
distinct
extending
fuel
gas
gases
helical
hydrocarbon
hydrocarbon fuel
hydrogen
hydrogen gas
inlet
method
outlet
oxidation
oxidation reaction
oxygen
oxygen gas
oxygen-containing
partial
partial oxidation
reaction
reaction zone
reformer
reforming
reforming reaction
reforming zone
separate
source
steam
steam reforming
tube
tube extending
vessel
zone