Reformate purifying system for fuel processing systems
First Claim
1. In a fuel reformer system which supplies hydrogen to a fuel cell by reforming hydrocarbon fuel, the improvement comprising a combination of the fuel reformer with an absorbent material which will absorb unreacted hydrocarbon from the reformer at a first temperature and release the absorbed hydrocarbon at a second temperature.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A fuel reformer for use with a fuel cell system is combined with an absorber to absorb unreacted hydrocarbon fuel at a first temperature and release the unreacted hydrocarbon fuel at a second temperature, and subsequent burning of the unreacted hydrocarbon in a burner downstream. The absorber, such as a zeolite, is effective to increase efficiency of the reformer and fuel cell especially under low temperature or start-up conditions.
24 Citations
37 Claims
- 1. In a fuel reformer system which supplies hydrogen to a fuel cell by reforming hydrocarbon fuel, the improvement comprising a combination of the fuel reformer with an absorbent material which will absorb unreacted hydrocarbon from the reformer at a first temperature and release the absorbed hydrocarbon at a second temperature.
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8. A fuel reformer system for reforming hydrocarbon fuel in a fuel cell system comprising:
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a) a fuel reformer;
b) an absorber for absorbing unreacted hydrocarbon downstream of the reformer, at a first temperature, and subsequent release of the hydrocarbon at a second temperature;
c) a fuel cell; and
d) a burner to combust the released hydrocarbon. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A fuel reformer system for reforming hydrocarbon fuel for use in a fuel cell system comprising:
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a) a fuel reformer;
b) an absorber for absorbing and releasing unreacted hydrocarbon;
c) an oxidizer reactor;
d) a fuel cell; and
e) a combustion burner;
wherein unreacted hydrocarbon gases from the fuel reformer are absorbed in the absorber at a first temperature of less than about 200°
C., and released by said absorber at a second temperature of above about 200°
C., and wherein the released hydrocarbons are further oxidized in the oxidizer and passed to the fuel cell. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 25)
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22. A method for operating a fuel reformer system to provide a hydrogen rich gaseous stream to a fuel cell comprising:
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a) reforming a hydrocarbon fuel in the presence of air and water to form a hydrogen containing gaseous stream;
b) passing said hydrogen-containing gaseous stream which contains unreacted hydrocarbon to an absorber which is effective to absorb unreacted hydrocarbons from the hydrogen-containing gaseous stream at a temperature of below about 200°
C.;
c) passing unabsorbed hydrogen-containing gaseous stream to a fuel cell to provide hydrogen fuel to the cell. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. A method for operating a fuel reformer system under start-up conditions, the fuel reformer system comprising:
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a) a start burner;
b) a fuel reformer to which hydrocarbon fuel, air and water are provided; and
which produces a hydrogen containing gas stream;
c) an absorber downstream of the reformer for absorbing unreacted hydrocarbon at a first temperature, and releasing the hydrocarbon at a second temperature;
d) a fuel cell; and
e) an anode burner;
the steps comprising;
1) initiate start burner operation by supplying fuel and air to the start burner;
2) judge the startup complete when a target temperature is reached at the anode burner;
3) stop supply of fuel and air to the start burner;
4) start supply of fuel, air and water to the reformer, fuel cell and anode burner;
5) calculate absorption quantity of fuel by adding current fuel release quantity to a previously memorized predetermined fuel release quantity;
wherein (a) if the calculated hydrocarbon absorption quantity exceeds the predetermined allowable fuel absorption quantity;
absorbed hydrocarbon is released and purified;
or(b) if the calculated hydrocarbon absorption quantity does not exceed the predetermined fuel absorption quantity;
operation shifts to normal operation, to prevent wasteful consumption of hydrocarbon due to the fuel release purification process. 6) judge the necessary release time for the fuel, the necessary time being predetermined, and measuring the fixed time;
7) releasing the fuel for purification in the anode burner;
8) memorizing the absorption quantity as zero; and
9) shifting operation to normal operation. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37)
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Specification