Thermally integrated staged methanol reformer and method

Patent · Mon Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 2001

OSTI ID:873762

Skala, Glenn William ^[1]; Hart-Predmore, David James ^[2]; Pettit, William Henry ^[2]; Borup, Rodney Lynn ^[3]

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1. Churchville, NY
2. Rochester, NY
3. East Rochester, NY

A thermally integrated two-stage methanol reformer including a heat exchanger and first and second reactors colocated in a common housing in which a gaseous heat transfer medium circulates to carry heat from the heat exchanger into the reactors. The heat transfer medium comprises principally hydrogen, carbon dioxide, methanol vapor and water vapor formed in a first stage reforming reaction. A small portion of the circulating heat transfer medium is drawn off and reacted in a second stage reforming reaction which substantially completes the reaction of the methanol and water remaining in the drawn-off portion. Preferably, a PrOx reactor will be included in the housing upstream of the heat exchanger to supplement the heat provided by the heat exchanger.

• Research Organization: General Motors LLC, Detroit, MI (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: AC02-90CH10435
• Assignee: General Motors Corporation (Detroit, MI)
• Patent Number(s): US 6238815
• OSTI ID: 873762
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

thermally
integrated
staged
methanol
reformer
method
two-stage
including
heat
exchanger
reactors
colocated
common
housing
gaseous
transfer
medium
circulates
carry
comprises
principally
hydrogen
carbon
dioxide
vapor
water
formed
stage
reforming
reaction
portion
circulating
drawn
reacted
substantially
completes
remaining
drawn-off
preferably
prox
reactor
included
upstream
supplement
provided
circulating heat
prox reactor
water vapor
carbon dioxide
heat exchange
heat exchanger
heat transfer
transfer medium
substantially complete
reforming reaction
medium circulates
medium comprises
water remaining
thermally integrated
vapor form
carry heat
methanol reformer
integrated two-stage
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