Apparatus for generation of pure hydrogen for use with fuel cells

• US 6,436,354 B1
• Filed: 09/26/2000
• Issued: 08/20/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: HyRadix, Inc. (Eden Innovations Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: UOP Llc (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Inventors: Vanden Bussche, Kurt M., Priegnitz, James W., Stippich, Kenneth J. Jr., Towler, Gavin P., Oroskar, Anil R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Knode, Marian C
• Assistant Examiner(s): RIDLEY, BASIA ANNA
• Application Number:
  US09/670,239
• Time in Patent Office: 693 Days
• Field of Search: 422/198, 422/200, 422/211, 422/220, 48/76, 481/297, 481/986, 481/987, 481/981, 252/373, 423/650, 423/651, 423/245.3, 429/17, 429/19
• US Class Current: 422/198
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2208/00132 Tubes
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2208/00309 with two or more reactions in heat exchange with each other, such as an endothermic reaction in heat exchange with an exothermic reaction
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2208/0053 Controlling multiple zones along the direction of flow, e.g. pre-heating and after-cooling
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00006 Large-scale industrial plants
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 8/0453 the beds being superimposed one above the other
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 8/0488 the beds being placed in separate reactors
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 8/0496 Heating or cooling the reactor
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2203/0233 the reforming step being a steam reforming step
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2203/0288 containing two CO-shift steps
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2203/044 Selective oxidation of carbon monoxide
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2203/047 the impurity being carbon monoxide
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2203/066 with fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2203/0811 by combustion of fuel
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2203/0816 Heating by flames
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2203/0822 the fuel containing hydrogen
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2203/0827 at least part of the fuel being a recycle stream
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2203/0866 by combination of different heating methods
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2203/0877 by direct injection of fluid
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2203/0883 by indirect heat exchange
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2203/1011 Packed bed of catalytic structures, e.g. particles, packing elements
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2203/1041 : Composition of the catalyst
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2203/1047 : Group VIII metal catalysts
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2203/1052 : Nickel or cobalt catalysts
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2203/1064 : Platinum group metal catalysts
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2203/107 : Platinum catalysts
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2203/1076 : Copper or zinc-based catalysts
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2203/1082 : Composition of support materials
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2203/1217 : Alcohols
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2203/1235 : Hydrocarbons
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2203/1241 : Natural gas or methane
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2203/1258 : Pre-treatment of the feed
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2203/127 : Catalytic desulfurisation
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2203/1276 : Mixing of different feed components
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2203/1619 : Measuring the temperature
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2203/1661 : the product being carbon monoxide
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2203/169 : Controlling the feed
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 3/323 : Catalytic reaction of gaseous or liquid organic compounds other than hydrocarbons with gasifying agents
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 3/384 : the catalyst being continuously externally heated
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 3/48 : followed by reaction of water vapour with carbon monoxide
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 3/583 : the reaction being the selective oxidation of carbon monoxide
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0612 : from carbon-containing material
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0631 : Reactor construction specially adapted for combination reactor/fuel cell hydrogen C01B3/00; reactors for physicochemical processes B01J19/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 : Fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 20/10 : Process efficiency

Abstract

A process and apparatus are disclosed for the operation of a fuel cell to generate electric power from a feed stream comprising a hydrocarbon or an alcohol. The fuel cell comprises a proton exchange membrane which produces electric power from a hydrogen product stream which comprises essentially no carbon monoxide. The hydrogen product stream is produced from the feed stream in a novel steam reforming zone containing a steam reforming catalyst disposed in a bell-shaped catalyst zone. The bell-shaped catalyst zone is disposed over a combustion zone such that the exhaust gas from the combustion flows around the bell-shaped catalyst zone to heat the catalyst from the inside and the outside of the catalyst zone. Furthermore, the bell-shaped catalyst zone maintains a high inlet and a high outlet temperature to avoid methane slippage in the steam reforming zone. Heat for the steam reforming zone is provided by a fuel stream and at least a portion of the anode waste gas stream from the fuel cell.

Claims

1. An apparatus for generating hydrogen for producing electric power from a fuel cell, said apparatus comprising:

a) a substantially closed outer vessel defining an interior chamber and comprising insulated walls, a top and a base;

b) an inner vessel within the interior chamber having a dome shape and being vertically aligned having an open-end base and a closed-end top, said inner vessel being defined by one or more hollow walls having a middle space within said one or more hollow walls, wherein a compartment for retaining catalyst is provided by said middle space and wherein said inner vessel surrounds a combustion zone;

c) a burner fixed to the base and positioned within said combustion zone to provide a flame zone and an anode waste gas conduit disposed in the combustion zone to provide injection of anode waste gas into the flame zone;

d) a burner tube fixed to the base and extending vertically above the base to surround the burner;

e) a feed distributor fixed to said inner vessel and defining a plurality of ports distributed about the open-end bottom in fluid communication with the compartment;

f) a feed conduit in fluid communication with the feed distributor;

g) a reforming effluent outlet about the closed-end top of the inner vessel and in fluid communication with said compartment; and

h) a fuel exhaust outlet about the top of the outer vessel.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a fuel conduit and an air conduit in fluid communication with said burner.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an extended heat transfer surface on an outside surface of a portion of said feed conduit located in said interior chamber.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an extended heat transfer surface disposed within the one or more hollow wall.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an extended heat transfer surface disposed on an outside surface of said inner vessel.