Hydrogen generation and energy production assemblies
First Claim
1. A hydrogen generation assembly, comprising:
- a fuel processing assembly, comprising;
a hydrogen-producing region adapted to receive at least a feed stream containing at least a carbon-containing feedstock and to produce a mixed gas steam containing hydrogen gas as a majority component therefrom;
at least one purification region adapted to receive the mixed gas stream and to separate the mixed gas stream into at least one product hydrogen stream and at least one byproduct stream;
a heating assembly adapted to combust a fuel stream to produce a heated exhaust stream for heating at least the hydrogen-producing region, wherein the heating assembly is adapted to receive and combust the byproduct stream when the hydrogen-producing region is producing hydrogen gas;
a flow restrictor between the hydrogen-producing region and the heating assembly, wherein the flow restrictor is adapted to create backpressure in a fluid conduit through which the byproduct stream flows to the heating assembly;
a feedstock delivery system adapted to deliver the feed stream containing at least a carbon-containing feedstock to the hydrogen-producing region of the fuel processing assembly, wherein the feedstock delivery system is in communication with a liquid supply containing the carbon-containing feedstock, wherein the feedstock delivery system comprises;
a pump assembly adapted to draw from the supply a liquid inlet stream containing at least the carbon-containing feedstock and to emit a liquid outlet stream;
an outlet conduit in fluid communication with a delivery conduit and with a recycle conduit, wherein the delivery conduit is in fluid communication with the hydrogen-producing region of the hydrogen-producing fuel processing assembly, and the recycle conduit is in fluid communication with at least one of the liquid supply and an inlet conduit through which the inlet stream is drawn to the pump assembly;
wherein the outlet conduit is adapted to receive the liquid outlet stream and to define a flow path for the liquid outlet stream to the delivery conduit and the recycle conduit;
a flow restrictor adapted to create backpressure in the recycle conduit; and
a pressure-actuated valve adapted to selectively permit liquid in the recycle conduit to bypass the flow restrictor; and
wherein the fuel processing assembly is adapted to produce at least 3 and no more than 20 slm of hydrogen gas when opening at fill capacity.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Hydrogen generation assemblies, components thereof, and fuel cell systems containing the same. In some embodiments, the hydrogen generation assembly includes a heater assembly having separate startup and primary burner assemblies that utilize different fuels. In some embodiments, the heating assembly is adapted to utilize a volume of liquid fuel to startup the hydrogen generation assembly, while in other embodiments a gaseous fuel is used. In some embodiments, the fuel used during start up includes at least 25 vol % water. In some embodiments, the fuel cell system has a rated power output in the range of 100-1000 watts. In some embodiments, the hydrogen generation assembly is a portable system.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. A hydrogen generation assembly, comprising:
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a fuel processing assembly, comprising;
a hydrogen-producing region adapted to receive at least a feed stream containing at least a carbon-containing feedstock and to produce a mixed gas steam containing hydrogen gas as a majority component therefrom;
at least one purification region adapted to receive the mixed gas stream and to separate the mixed gas stream into at least one product hydrogen stream and at least one byproduct stream;
a heating assembly adapted to combust a fuel stream to produce a heated exhaust stream for heating at least the hydrogen-producing region, wherein the heating assembly is adapted to receive and combust the byproduct stream when the hydrogen-producing region is producing hydrogen gas;
a flow restrictor between the hydrogen-producing region and the heating assembly, wherein the flow restrictor is adapted to create backpressure in a fluid conduit through which the byproduct stream flows to the heating assembly;
a feedstock delivery system adapted to deliver the feed stream containing at least a carbon-containing feedstock to the hydrogen-producing region of the fuel processing assembly, wherein the feedstock delivery system is in communication with a liquid supply containing the carbon-containing feedstock, wherein the feedstock delivery system comprises;
a pump assembly adapted to draw from the supply a liquid inlet stream containing at least the carbon-containing feedstock and to emit a liquid outlet stream;
an outlet conduit in fluid communication with a delivery conduit and with a recycle conduit, wherein the delivery conduit is in fluid communication with the hydrogen-producing region of the hydrogen-producing fuel processing assembly, and the recycle conduit is in fluid communication with at least one of the liquid supply and an inlet conduit through which the inlet stream is drawn to the pump assembly;
wherein the outlet conduit is adapted to receive the liquid outlet stream and to define a flow path for the liquid outlet stream to the delivery conduit and the recycle conduit;
a flow restrictor adapted to create backpressure in the recycle conduit; and
a pressure-actuated valve adapted to selectively permit liquid in the recycle conduit to bypass the flow restrictor; and
wherein the fuel processing assembly is adapted to produce at least 3 and no more than 20 slm of hydrogen gas when opening at fill capacity. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. In a hydrogen generation assembly having a hydrogen-producing region having a minimum hydrogen-production temperature and adapted to receive at least one feed stream comprising at least a carbon-containing feedstock and to produce an output stream comprising hydrogen gas as a majority component, a method of starting up and operating the hydrogen generation assembly, the method comprising:
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delivering at least one fuel stream comprising a liquid, combustible, carbon-containing fuel to a heating assembly at a first temperature, wherein the carbon-containing fuel has an ignition temperature greater than the first temperature;
heating said fuel stream in the heating assembly with at least one heating and ignition source to a second temperature at least as great as the ignition temperature;
igniting said fuel stream in the heating assembly with the at least one heating and ignition source to produce a combustion stream;
heating the hydrogen-producing region of the hydrogen generation assembly with the combustion stream to a predetermined temperature related to the minimum hydrogen-production temperature of the hydrogen-producing region;
drawing a liquid feed stream from a supply containing at least one carbon-containing feedstock for the hydrogen-producing region of a hydrogen-producing fuel cell system;
pumping a flow of the liquid feed stream through an outlet conduit that is in fluid communication with a delivery conduit and a first portion of a recycle conduit, wherein the delivery conduit is in fluid communication with the hydrogen-producing region of the hydrogen generation assembly, wherein the recycle conduit is adapted to provide a flow path to return the liquid feed stream to at least one of the supply and a location upstream from a delivery mechanism that is adapted to propel the liquid stream to the outlet conduit, and further wherein the pumping step produces a flow of the liquid stream that exceeds the capacity of the delivery conduit, with an excess portion of the flow flowing into the recycle conduit;
regulating the distribution of the flow between the delivery conduit and the recycle conduit, wherein the regulating includes creating backpressure in the recycle conduit with a flow restrictor that separates the recycle conduit into at least a first portion that extends between the outlet conduit and the flow restrictor and a second portion that extends from the flow restrictor, wherein the regulating further includes selectively permitting the excess portion of the flow to bypass the flow restrictor by flowing through a bypass conduit in fluid communication with portions of the recycle conduit upstream and downstream of the flow restrictor; and
receiving at least a portion of the flow in the hydrogen-producing region and producing the output stream containing hydrogen gas therefrom. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28)
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Specification