The Standard Oil Company

Lg Fuel Cell Systems Inc.

Rolls-royce Corporation

Isp Investments Inc.

John Raymond Budge

Thomas G Attig

S Erik Pedersen

Senja V Compton

Robert A Dubbert

Terry Joseph Mazanec

John G Frye

Anne M Graham

Eric W Dean

Robert Hay Cunningham

Gary V Goeden

Gregory A Norenberg

Robert P Hepfer

Gerry D Agnew

Craig Timothy Miller

A fuel cell system and method is provided to control the volumetric ratio of a reformate and unreformed hydrocarbon fuel supplied to a fuel cell configured for in-stack reforming. The system includes a reformer having a number of high and low steam reforming activity channels which provide a full equilibrated fuel stream and a fuel stream having hydrocarbon levels slight lower than the hydrocarbon levels of the hydrocarbon fuel supplied to the reformer, respectively. The fuel streams can be mixed and supplied to the fuel cell to provide in-stack reforming while reducing or inhibiting the formation of carbon in the fuel stack.

Steam reformer for in-block fuel cell reforming

A fuel conditioning apparatus for de-oxygenating a liquid hydrocarbon fuel has a catalyst portion which, in turn, has an inlet portion and an outlet portion. A hydrocarbon fuel stream is fed through the inlet portion and into the catalyst portion where it passes over a catalytically active component. The catalytically active component promotes the reaction of the fuel with the dissolved oxygen in the fuel stream, converting it into less chemically reactive forms and thereby reducing the fuel's propensity to form carbonaceous deposits.

Apparatus and method for conditioning a fluid

One embodiment of the present invention is a unique fuel cell system. Another embodiment is a unique desulfurization system. Yet another embodiment is a method of operating a fuel cell system. Other embodiments include apparatuses, systems, devices, hardware, methods, and combinations for fuel cell systems and desulfurization systems. Further embodiments, forms, features, aspects, benefits, and advantages of the present application will become apparent from the description and figures provided herewith.

Fuel cell system and desulfurization system

One embodiment of the present invention is a unique method for operating a fuel cell system. Another embodiment is a unique system for reforming a hydrocarbon fuel. Another embodiment is a unique fuel cell system. Other embodiments include apparatuses, systems, devices, hardware, methods, and combinations for fuel cell systems and steam reforming systems. Further embodiments, forms, features, aspects, benefits, and advantages of the present application will become apparent from the description and figures provided herewith.

Systems and methods for steam reforming

In some examples, a method for treating a reforming catalyst, the method comprising heating a catalyst metal used for reforming hydrocarbon in a reducing gas mixture environment. The reducing gas mixture comprises hydrogen and at least one sulfur-containing compound. The at least one sulfur-containing compound includes one or more of hydrogen sulfide, carbonyl sulfide, carbonyl disulfide and organic sulfur-containing compounds such as thiophenes, thiophanes, sulfides (RSH), disulfides (RSR'), tri-sulfides (RSR&#x2032;) and mercaptans (RSR&#x2032;).

Catalysts for hydrocarbon reforming

In the process for the conversion of maleic acid to gamma-butyrolactone, 1.4-butanediol and/or tetrahydrofuran, a feedstream comprising maleic acid is hydrogenated in a first hydrogenation zone to produce a reaction product comprising succinic acid and unreacted hydrogen which is then supplied to a second hydrogenation zone, where succinic acid is converted to 1,4-butanediol, the temperatures of the feedstream comprising maleic acid and the first hydrogenation zone are controlled such that the temperature of maleic acid in the feedstream and the first hydrogenation zone does not exceed about 130&#xb0; C., thereby minimizing the corrosive effects of the maleic acid and prolonging reactor life and improving overall process economics.

Two-stage process for the hydrogenation of maleic acid to 1,4-butanediol

Maleic acid and/or other hydrogenatable precursors are hydrogenated in the presence of a noble metal catalyst to 1,4-butanediol. The production and yields of 1,4-butanediol are enhanced by the addition of iron to the hydrogenatable precursor feed.

Process for the hydrogenation of maleic acid to 1,4-butanediol

An improved catalyst for the hydrogenation of maleic acid, maleic anhydride or other hydrogenatable precursor to 1,4-butanediol and tetrahydrofuran has been discovered. This hydrogenation catalyst comprises palladium, silver, rhenium and at least one of iron, aluminum, cobalt and mixtures thereof, all on a carbon support.

Catalysts for the hydrogenation of maleic acid to 1,4-butanediol

Maleic acid, maleic anhydride or other hydrogenatable precursor are catalytically hydrogenated to 1,4-butanediol and tetrahydrofuran. It has been discovered that high yields of 1,4-butanediol are achieved when the hydrogenation catalyst comprises at least one noble metal of Group VIII of the Periodic Table and at least one of rhenium, tungsten or molybdenum on a carbon support wherein the carbon support has been contacted with an oxidizing agent prior to the deposition of the metals. This hydrogenation catalyst is prepared by the steps of (i) oxidizing the carbon support by contacting the carbon support with an oxidizing agent, (ii) impregnating in one or more impregnation steps comprising contacting the carbon support with a source of Group VIII metal and at least one metal selected from the group consisting of rhenium, tungsten and molybdenum being in at least one solution, (iii) after each impregnation step, drying at a temperature under about 150.degree. C. the impregnated carbon support to remove solvent, (iv) heating the impregnated carbon support at a temperature of about 100.degree. C. to about 350.degree. C. under reducing conditions.

Catalysts for the hydrogenation of aqueous maleic acid to 1,4-butanediol

Maleic acid, maleic anhydride or other hydrogenatable precursor are catalytically hydrogenated to 1,4-butanediol and tetrahydrofuran. It has been discovered that high yields of 1,4-butanediol are achieved when the hydrogenation catalyst comprises palladium, silver and rhenium on a carbon support and is prepared by the steps of (i) impregnating a carbon support with a source of palladium, silver and rhenium, wherein the source of palladium, silver and rhenium is at least one solution, (ii) after each impregnation step, drying the impregnated carbon support to remove solvent, (iii) heating the impregnated carbon support at a temperature of about 120.degree. C. to about 350.degree. C. under reducing conditions. The palladium in the catalyst is present in the form of crystallites having a particle size of less than 10 nm.

Maleic anhydride is hydrogenated to produce 1,4-butanediol in a two-stage process. In the first stage maleic anhydride and/or maleic acid contacted with hydrogen at a temperature of about 100.degree. C. to about 350.degree. C. in the presence of a suitable hydrogenation catalyst to produce succinic anhydride and/or gamma-butyrolactone. In the second stage, the succinic anhydride and/or gamma-butyrolactone and hydrogen are contacted at a temperature of about 180.degree. C. to about 350.degree. C. in the presence of a ruthenium-containing hydrogenation catalyst to produce 1,4-butanediol.

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Beachwood, OH, United States of America

John Raymond Budge