Integrated reformer and shift reactor
First Claim
1. A shift reactor for subjecting carbon monoxide and water to a water-gas shift reaction to produce carbon dioxide and diatomic hydrogen comprising:
- a shift reactor vessel including a first shift reaction zone, the first shift reaction zone having a first shift catalyst bed, an input end for receiving reformate constituents including carbon monoxide and an outlet end for discharging shift-reacted constituents including carbon dioxide and hydrogen gas; and
,a first helical tube disposed within the first shift reaction zone and in direct contact with the catalyst of the shift bed, the first helical tube having an inlet end communicating with an oxygen-containing gas supply source and an outlet end communicating with a fuel processing vessel.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A hydrocarbon fuel reformer for producing diatomic hydrogen gas is disclosed. The reformer includes a first reaction vessel, a shift reactor vessel annularly disposed about the first reaction vessel, including a first shift reactor zone, and a first helical tube disposed within the first shift reactor zone having an inlet end communicating with a water supply source. The water supply source is preferably adapted to supply liquid-phase water to the first helical tube at flow conditions sufficient to ensure discharge of liquid-phase and steam-phase water from an outlet end of the first helical tube. The reformer may further include a first catalyst bed disposed in the first shift reactor zone, having a low-temperature shift catalyst in contact with the first helical tube. The catalyst bed includes a plurality of coil sections disposed in coaxial relation to other coil sections and to the central longitudinal axis of the reformer, each coil section extending between the first and second ends, and each coil section being in direct fluid communication with at least one other coil section.
527 Citations
48 Claims
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1. A shift reactor for subjecting carbon monoxide and water to a water-gas shift reaction to produce carbon dioxide and diatomic hydrogen comprising:
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a shift reactor vessel including a first shift reaction zone, the first shift reaction zone having a first shift catalyst bed, an input end for receiving reformate constituents including carbon monoxide and an outlet end for discharging shift-reacted constituents including carbon dioxide and hydrogen gas; and
,a first helical tube disposed within the first shift reaction zone and in direct contact with the catalyst of the shift bed, the first helical tube having an inlet end communicating with an oxygen-containing gas supply source and an outlet end communicating with a fuel processing vessel. - 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. A shift reactor for subjecting carbon monoxide and water to a water-gas shift reaction to produce carbon dioxide and diatomic hydrogen comprising:
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a shift reactor vessel having a first shift catalyst bed, an input zone for receiving reformate constituents including carbon monoxide and an outlet zone for discharging shift-reacted constituents including carbon dioxide and hydrogen gas; and
,a tube disposed within the shift reactor vessel and having an inlet end communicating with a source of unreformed hydrocarbon fuel, the tube situated within the shift reactor vessel to directly contact the catalyst of the first shift catalyst bed and permit transfer of heat energy from the shift-reacted constituents and catalyst to the unreformed hydrocarbon fuel. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A hydrocarbon fuel reformer for producing diatomic hydrogen gas comprising:
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a first reforming reaction vessel containing a reforming catalyst bed; a shift reactor vessel annularly disposed about the first reaction vessel and including a first shift reactor zone, the first shift reactor zone having a first shift catalyst bed, an input side for receiving reformats constituents including carbon monoxide and an outlet side for discharging shift-reacted constituents including carbon dioxide and hydrogen gas; and
,a first helical tube disposed within the first shift reactor zone contacting the catalyst of the shift catalyst bed and having an inlet end communicating with a water supply source. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33)
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34. A fuel processor for producing diatomic hydrogen gas comprising:
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a vessel having a first end, a second end, and an outer wall; a partial oxidation zone disposed in the vessel, extending between the first and second ends, and bounded by a first inner wall; and a steam reforming zone interposed between the first inner wall and the outer wall, the first inner wall having a port disposed near the first end to define a first transition between a first flow path of reactants through the partial oxidation zone and a second flow path of reactants through the steam reforming zone in a direction substantially opposite the first flow path. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37)
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38. A reactor for producing hydrogen from hydrocarbons comprising:
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a reforming reaction vessel containing a reforming catalyst; a first shift reaction zone annularly disposed about the reforming reaction vessel, the shift reaction zone containing a first shift catalyst; and
,a boiler tube in the first shift reaction zone for carrying a heat transfer medium, the tube being located so as to permit heat transfer between a first portion of the tube and reaction constituents in the first shift reaction zone. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48)
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Specification