Texaco Inc.

David Wayne Harrison, Sr

Daniel Glenn Casey

W Spencer Wheat

Curtis L Krause

Kerry Kennedy Spilker

William Spencer Wheat

Marshall D Wier

An apparatus for separating liquid from a gas stream. The apparatus includes an elongated housing having a cylindrical inner surface and a gas stream inlet that is tangential to the side wall of the housing so as to cause the entering gas stream to swirl within the housing. A gas stream outlet is located at the top of the housing and a liquid outlet at the bottom. The gas stream outlet can include an elongated tubular member that extends into the housing and has an opening that is located below the housing gas stream inlet. Liquid components of the gas stream separate from the stream under the influence of centrifugal forces that are created by the swirling flow path of the stream within the housing. A liquid outlet and liquid outlet valve are provided for maintaining a minimum level of liquid within the housing so as to maintain a liquid seal within the housing. A level indicator may optionally be provided to monitor the liquid level within the housing. A power generation apparatus having two or more of the separators for separating liquid from fuel cell and fuel processor streams. Methods for manufacturing an apparatus for removing liquid from a gas stream and methods for separating liquid from a gas stream are also provided.

Method and apparatus for separating liquid from a gas stream

An apparatus and method for the preferential oxidation of carbon monoxide in a hydrogen-rich fluid. The apparatus utilizes one or more reactors that are dimensioned to optimize the exothermic oxidation reaction and the transfer of heat to and from the catalyst bed. A reactor of the apparatus has an elongated cylindrical catalyst bed and heat transfer means adjacent the catalyst bed. The heat transfer means is suitable for pre-heating the catalyst bed during start-up operations and for removing the heat from the catalyst bed during the oxidation reaction. One or more reactors of different dimensions may be utilized depending upon the pressure of the hydrogen-rich fluid to be directed into the apparatus and the pressure requirements for the carbon monoxide-depleted fluid exiting the apparatus. For instance, in low pressure operations where it may be desirable to minimize the pressure drop across the apparatus, two or more reactors having relatively smaller dimensions can be utilized. In higher pressure operations where pressure drop across the preferential oxidation apparatus is of less concern, a single reactor having larger dimensions may be utilized. The relatively narrow dimension of the catalyst bed coupled with the relatively large surface are used for heat transfer provides for more uniform temperatures within the catalyst bed and improved temperature control of the bed.

Apparatus and method for preferential oxidation of carbon monoxide

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Houston, TX, United States of America

David Wayne Harrison, Sr