Gm Global Technolgoy Operations, Inc.

Pontic Technology, LLC

Gerald E Voecks

William Henry Pettit

Steven G Goebel

Craig S Gittleman

Glenn William Skala

Gary M Robb

Paul Taichiang Yu

Rodney Lynn Borup

Robert Nash Carter

Mohammed E H Sennoun

Mohammed E Sennoun

Gerald W Fly

John P Salvador

A fluid decontamination apparatus is provided having a container body with a plurality of three-dimensional open structure (3DOS) substrates spaced about therein, wherein a contaminated fluid flowing through the container body will contact the 3DOS substrates. Nozzles can be inserted and secured within inlet apertures disposed about the container body, configured to inject the contaminated fluid with/without air to induce the occurrence of hydrodynamic cavitation. The substrates can be porous and permeable enabling the contaminated fluid to flow therethrough, wherein the fluid flow passageway through the pores extends the volume of contaminated fluid exposed to turbulent and cavitation inducing flow conditions. Moreover, the 3DOS substrates may be coated with one or more types of catalysts so as to initiate chemical reactions. As such, the extended exposure of the contaminated fluid to hydrodynamic cavitation forming conditions, along with the chemical reactions carried out on the porous surfaces, enable an increased number of toxic species and unwanted organic compounds to be destroyed and/or altered, thereby enhancing the decontamination of the flowing fluid.

Fluid decontamination apparatus

The present invention relates to a fuel processing unit in an electrochemical fuel cell power plant, and more specifically to a preheater combustor that forms byproduct compounds that may destroy downstream catalytic reactors for fuel reforming. The present invention includes a retention material that collects the byproduct compounds prior to entry into the downstream reactors. The retention material may be comprised of at least one active compound and a support structure, preferably having a porous body to facilitate tortuous fluid flow. Further aspects of the invention may include an electrical charging device for use with the retention device material that enhances collection of byproduct compounds. The present invention also includes a method of operation for start-up incorporating a retention material.

Byproduct compound retention device for fuel rich start-up combustor

A method of purging residual hydrogen from a fuel cell stack is disclosed. The method includes providing an air stream, providing a temporary nitrogen stream by removing oxygen from the air stream with an adsorbent bed and passing the nitrogen stream through the fuel cell stack.

Stack shutdown purge method

A preferred method for starting a primary reactor of a fuel cell system includes performing lean combustion within the primary reactor during a first phase of a start sequence and autothermal reforming during a second phase of the start sequence. In another aspect of the present invention, partial oxidation is performed within the primary reactor during the first phase of the start sequence and autothermal reforming is performed during the second phase of the start sequence.

Method for starting a primary reactor

A method to produce a catalytic bed is initiated by forming apertures in a predetermined pattern on a strip or segment of thin foil. A pattern of desired channels is formed into the apertured foil, for example, as a herringbone pattern. The patterned foil is heat treated, and the surfaces of the foil are provided with at least one washcoat and at least one catalyzed coat, and cured. Cured foil in strip form is rolled into a multi-layer coil, or cured foil in segment form is stacked in multiple segment layers, to produce a desired geometric shape of the catalytic bed. The channels between layers of foil are offset in each successive layer to preclude channel nesting. The offset channels and apertures provide turbulent longitudinal and radial flow of a desired material throughout the catalytic bed.

Reactor manufacturing method for a fuel cell processor

A rapid start reactor is provided that can be used, for example, in a water gas shift reactor of a fuel processor. A reactor has a catalyst support structure with one or more surfaces overlaid with an active coating that includes a catalyst. The active coating heats upon exposure to a non-thermal energy source. The reactor also includes a generator of non-thermal energy for applying non-thermal energy to the active coating. Methods for operating such a reactor during transient and/or start-up conditions are also provided.

Rapid activation catalyst system in a non-thermal plasma catalytic reactor

An apparatus removes carbon monoxide (CO) from a hydrogen-rich gas stream in a hydrogen fuel cell system. CO fouls costly catalytic particles in the membrane electrode assemblies of proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells. A vessel houses a carbon monoxide adsorbent. The vessel may be a rotating pressure swing adsorber. A water gas shift reactor is upstream of the rotating pressure swing adsorber. The water gas shift reactor may include a second adsorbent adapted to adsorb carbon monoxide at low temperatures and to desorb carbon monoxide at high temperatures. The apparatus advantageously eliminates the use of a preferential oxidation (PROX) reactor, by providing an apparatus which incorporates CO adsorption in the place of the PROX reactor. This cleans up carbon monoxide without hydrogen consumption and the concomitant, undesirable excess low grade heat generation. The present invention reduces start-up duration, and improves overall fuel processor efficiency during normal operation.

Carbon monoxide adsorption for carbon monoxide clean-up in a fuel cell system

The present invention includes an integrated fuel processor subsystem incorporating a thermal combustor, a catalytic combustor, a quasi-autothermal reactor (QATR) and a air-fuel-steam (AFS) mixer to provide a range of operating modes exhibiting performance between that of a pure steam reformer and a pure autothermal reformer to increase the flexibility of the fuel processor to handle transient system demands such as cold starts, suppress emissions and carbon formation and improve efficiency.

Integrated fuel processor subsystem with quasi-autothermal reforming

A fuel processor system includes first and second reactors each having an inlet that receives fuel from a fuel supply and an outlet that discharges a reformate containing hydrogen. The reactors are operable to reform the fuel to form the reformates. The second reactor is coupled in parallel with the first reactor with the reformates produced by each combining to form a reformate flow. The first reactor can be an autothermal reforming reactor and the second reactor can be a steam reforming reactor. The first and second reactors are controlled differently to provide quick startup and transient capability while providing improved overall efficiency under normal operation.

Combined autothermal/steam reforming fuel processor mechanization

An autothermal reformer is provided for a fuel cell system utilizing one volume and a plurality of inlets for both start-up and normal operation. In start-up mode, thermal combustion is employed for heating the catalyst reformation section of the reformer. Two inlets are used to feed air and fuel into the system, which are mixed and ignited in the common volume. Once the catalyst has reached light-off temperature, a second set of inlets provide air, steam and fuel into the common volume. The mixture then passes into the catalytic reformation system.

Multi-port autothermal reformer

A compact autothermal (partial oxidation and steam reforming) fuel reactor is provided for implementation with a fuel cell system. The reactor includes a premixing chamber for premixing a volume of air, steam and fuel into an effluent, a thermal POX reactor, a first stage reforming segment, a post-premix chamber, and a second stage reforming segment. Further provided are a water/fuel vaporizer for supplying steam and fuel as a gas to the premix chamber and an airflow cavity disposed about the reactor for pre-heating air supplied to the premix chamber. The thermal POX segment operates during an initial start-up period for pre-heating the other components of the reactor. Once the other components achieve an operation temperature, the first and second stage reforming segments catalytically reform the effluent. The premix and post-premix chambers enable variance in the O/C and S/C ratios to be achieved as the effluent is reformed through the multiple stages.

Compact partial oxidation/steam reactor with integrated air preheater, fuel and water vaporizer

A reactor system including a reactor housing having an inlet portion defined at one end of the housing and having a discharge opening formed in the housing at an opposite end. An air intake charge line is connected to the housing for charging air into the inlet portion. A steam charge line is connected to the housing for charging steam into the inlet portion. A fuel injector is positioned in the housing for injecting fuel into the stream of air and steam flowing through the housing. A fuel charge line is connected to the fuel injector for charging a carbon-based fuel into the injector. A catalyst bed is carried in the housing and positioned downstream of the fuel injector and at least a portion of the catalyst bed includes a catalyst for promoting the reformation of the carbon-based fuel to produce hydrogen. An auto-ignition suppression and carbon-suppression foam is carried in the housing and positioned between the catalyst bed and the fuel injector.

Reactor system including auto ignition and carbon suppression foam

Various devices and methods for achieving electrochemical energy conversion are presented. In accordance with one embodiment, an energy conversion cell is configured to enable the first and second reactant supplies to communicate selectively with first and second catalytic electrodes of the cell. The selective communication of the first and second reactant supplies with the first and second catalytic electrodes may be attributable to alteration of the reactant supply flow paths or to movement of the first and second catalytic electrodes.

Electrochemical energy conversion

A fuel processor control system for a fuel cell stack includes water and fuel metering devices that control water and fuel provided to the fuel processor. An air flow rate sensor generates an air flow rate signal based on air flowing from a compressor to the fuel processor. A valve is located between the fuel processor and the fuel cell stack. A controller controls the valve and the water and fuel metering devices based on the air flow rate sensor. Other feedback signals such as stack voltage, stack cell voltage variation, pressure differential across the valve, and mass flow rate between the valve and the fuel cell stack can augment or be substituted for the air flow rate feedback signal. The fuel processor can be a partial oxidation reformer a steam reforming reactor, an auto thermal reformer or any combination thereof. The system may also include a water as shift reactor and a preferential oxidation reactor for carbon monoxide reduction.

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Fairport, NY, United States of America

Gerald E Voecks