Gm Global Technolgoy Operations, Inc.

David J Hart-Predmore

William Henry Pettit

Glenn William Skala

Rodney Lynn Borup

Mark A Brundage

Kevin Stukey

Joel Fairchok

The invention provides a novel method for controlling the oxidant injection to a reactor by determining fluctuations in the requirements from monitoring the flow rates and pressures of an upstream reactor. The method is used to oxidize carbon monoxide in a hydrogen-rich reformate stream supplied to a fuel cell.

Oxidant injection control

A method for controlling the power and temperature and fuel source of a combustor in a fuel cell apparatus to supply heat to a fuel processor where the combustor has dual fuel inlet streams including a first fuel stream, and a second fuel stream of anode effluent from the fuel cell and reformate from the fuel processor. In all operating modes, an enthalpy balance is determined by regulating the amount of the first and/or second fuel streams and the quantity of the first air flow stream to support fuel processor power requirements.

Methanol tailgas combustor control method

A thermally integrated two-stage methanol reformer including a heat exchanger and first and second reactors colocated in a common housing in which a gaseous heat transfer medium circulates to carry heat from the heat exchanger into the reactors. The heat transfer medium comprises principally hydrogen, carbon dioxide, methanol vapor and water vapor formed in a first stage reforming reaction. A small portion of the circulating heat transfer medium is drawn off and reacted in a second stage reforming reaction which substantially completes the reaction of the methanol and water remaining in the drawn-off portion. Preferably, a PrOx reactor will be included in the housing upstream of the heat exchanger to supplement the heat provided by the heat exchanger.

Thermally integrated staged methanol reformer and method

A multi-stage, isothermal, carbon monoxide preferential oxidation (PrOx) reactor comprising a plurality of serially arranged, catalyzed heat exchangers, each separated from the next by a mixing chamber for homogenizing the gases exiting one heat exchanger and entering the next. In a preferred embodiment, at least some of the air used in the PrOx reaction is injected directly into the mixing chamber between the catalyzed heat exchangers.

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Rochester, NY, United States of America

David J Hart-Predmore