Methanol partial oxidation reformer

Patent · Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1999

OSTI ID:872468

Ahmed, Shabbir ^[1]; Kumar, Romesh ^[2]; Krumpelt, Michael ^[2]

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1. Bolingbrook, IL
2. Naperville, IL

A partial oxidation reformer comprising a longitudinally extending chamber having a methanol, water and an air inlet and an outlet. An igniter mechanism is near the inlets for igniting a mixture of methanol and air, while a partial oxidation catalyst in the chamber is spaced from the inlets and converts methanol and oxygen to carbon dioxide and hydrogen. Controlling the oxygen to methanol mole ratio provides continuous slightly exothermic partial oxidation reactions of methanol and air producing hydrogen gas. The liquid is preferably injected in droplets having diameters less than 100 micrometers. The reformer is useful in a propulsion system for a vehicle which supplies a hydrogen-containing gas to the negative electrode of a fuel cell.

• Research Organization: Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: W-31109-ENG-38
• Assignee: University of Chicago (Chicago, IL)
• Patent Number(s): US 5942346
• OSTI ID: 872468
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

methanol
partial
oxidation
reformer
comprising
longitudinally
extending
chamber
water
air
inlet
outlet
igniter
mechanism
near
inlets
igniting
mixture
catalyst
spaced
converts
oxygen
carbon
dioxide
hydrogen
controlling
mole
ratio
provides
continuous
slightly
exothermic
reactions
producing
gas
liquid
preferably
injected
droplets
diameters
100
micrometers
useful
propulsion
vehicle
supplies
hydrogen-containing
negative
electrode
fuel
cell
hydrogen-containing gas
oxidation reactions
fuel cell
partial oxidation
hydrogen gas
negative electrode
carbon dioxide
air inlet
containing gas
longitudinally extending
producing hydrogen
oxidation reformer
oxidation catalyst
oxidation reaction
mole ratio
reformer comprising
ratio provides
methanol partial
methanol mole
slightly exothermic
preferably injected
air producing
provides continuous
exothermic partial
extending chamber
continuous slightly
converts methanol
igniter mechanism
/429/422/423/