Process for operating a system for the water vapor reforming of methanol

• US 5,984,986 A
• Filed: 06/16/1997
• Issued: 11/16/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: NuCellSys GmbH (Mercedes-Benz Group AG)
• Original Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AG (Mercedes-Benz Group AG)
• Inventors: Wiesheu, Norbert, Autenrieth, Rainer, Benz, Uwe, Duelk, Christian
• Primary Examiner(s): TRAN, HIEN THI
• Application Number:
  US08/876,532
• Time in Patent Office: 883 Days
• Field of Search: 429/13, 429/17, 429/19, 429/24, 429/22, 429/20, 429/12, 429/50, 429/44, 60/286, 203/3, 203/DIG. 18, 159/44, 568/913, 48/203, 48/198.8, 48/199 FM, 48/197 R, 252/373, 423/648.1, 423/418.2
• US Class Current: 48/203
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 3/323 Catalytic reaction of gaseous or liquid organic compounds other than hydrocarbons with gasifying agents
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0612 from carbon-containing material
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells

Abstract

The invention provides a process for operating a system for water vapor reforming of methanol in which, in a mixture preparation step, a water vapor/methanol mixture is prepared from water and methanol and is introduced into a reforming reactor. According to the invention, the mixing ratio of the water vapor/methanol mixture is adjusted as a function of the load condition and/or load changes of the system so that a CO-concentration is obtained in the reformate which remains constant over the whole load range.

Claims

1. Process for operating a system for water vapor reforming of methanol, comprising:

preparing a water vapor/methanol mixture from water and methanol in a mixture preparation step;

introducing the prepared water vapor/methanol mixture into a reforming reactor in a quantity depending on an output requirement of the system; and

adjusting the water vapor/methanol mixing ratio of the water vapor/methanol mixture, as a function of at least one of a load condition and load changes of the system such that a CO-concentration is obtained in reformate output from the system, which CO-concentration remains constant over a load range in which the system operates.

2. Process for operating a system for water vapor reforming of methanol, comprising:

preparing a water vapor/methanol mixture from water and methanol in a mixing step;

introducing said water vapor/methanol mixture into a reforming reactor for reforming said methanol;

detecting at least one of a load condition and load changes of said reforming reactor;

providing a preselected characteristic for a water vapor/methanol mixing ratio as a function of load condition of said reforming reactor, wherein said water vapor/methanol mixing ratio varies with said load condition such that CO concentration in a reformate generated by said reforming reactor is constant over an entire load range of said reforming reactor; and

adjusting a mixing ratio of said water vapor/methanol mixture as a function of at least one of detected load condition and load changes of said reforming reactor, according to said preselected characteristic.

3. Process for operating a system for water vapor reforming of methanol according to claim 2 wherein said detecting step comprises detecting a quantity of said water vapor/methanol mixture introduced into said reforming reactor.