Raytheon Company

Nuvera Fuel Cells, Inc.

Arthur D. Little, Inc.

Other

Cedarapids, Inc.

Consolidated Natural Gas Service Company, Inc.

Lawrence G Clawson

William L Mitchell

Jeffrey M Bentley

Mark R Hagan

Matthew Dorson

Joseph E Musil

James C Cross, Iii

Johannes H Thijssen

Johannes H J Thijssen

Lester G Massey

Andrew J Syska

William F Northrop

Jennifer W Rumsey

Brian J Nowicki

Robert Davis

Joseph R Adamski

Wesley W Teich

Darryl Edward Pollica

Christopher J Papile

Brian J Bowers

Chunming Qi

Vincent Rizzo

Edward R Cook

Christopher J O'Brien

Michael Leschiner

Brian D Morriseau

Maria Sun

Stephen G Block

Chunming (Frank C) Qi

Michael Rindone

Gunther Kleeburg

Alexis Smith

Nathan Longo

Johannes Thijssen

Christopher J O'brien

According to the present invention, a temperature profile within a preferential oxidation reactor is controlled using a two phase water/steam system to provide a temperature range within the reactor () which favors the selective oxidation of CO in a hydrogen rich reformate stream. The reformate is flowed in a mixture with oxygen over a preferential oxidation catalyst (). The temperature profile is controlled by flowing a stream of water proximate to the preferential oxidation catalyst () so as the stream of water and the reformate stream passing over the catalyst () are in a heat transfer arrangement. The stream of water is maintained as a two phase stream from a point at which the water reaches its boiling temperature to a point proximate an outlet from which the stream of water exits the reactor ().

Preferential oxidation reactor temperature regulation

A system for making and storing hydrogen comprises an IC engine, a thermal reactor to convert hydrocarbon fuels to reformate, and a separation means to separate the reformate into a hydrogen stream and a hydrogen depleted reformate stream. The hydrogen stream is compressed and stored. The hydrogen depleted reformate stream is split and sent to a thermal reactor and the IC engine. The IC engine drives the compressor for hydrogen as well as the compressor for the fuel inlet to the system. The described system and process achieves high efficiency in fuel conversion and hydrogen storage.

Fuel fired hydrogen generator

A hydrocarbon fuel processing reactor for generating a hydrogen-enriched reformate from hydrocarbons is disclosed. A plurality of shells are arranged coaxially having a gap defined between each of the successive shells, thereby forming a plurality of coaxial zones. The shells are configured to permit heat transfer from one zone to another. Fluid streams for reactions within the reactor are preheated by heat transfer from adjacent zones.

Heat transfer optimization in multi shelled reformers

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.

Integrated reformer and shift reactor

High-efficiency combustion engines, including Otto cycle engines, use a steam-diluted fuel charge at elevated pressure. Air is compressed, and water is evaporated into the compressed air via the partial pressure effect using waste heat from the engine. The resultant pressurized air-steam mixture then burned in the engine with fuel, preferably containing hydrogen to maintain flame front propagation. The high-pressure, steam-laden engine exhaust is used to drive an expander to provide additional mechanical power. The exhaust can also be used to reform fuel to provide hydrogen for the engine combustion. The engine advantageously uses the partial pressure effect to convert low-grade waste heat from engine into useful mechanical power. The engine is capable of high efficiencies (e.g. &#x3e;50%), with minimal emissions.

High-efficiency otto cycle engine with power generating expander

An auxiliary reactor for use with a reformer reactor having at least one reaction zone, and including a burner for burning fuel and creating a heated auxiliary reactor gas stream, and heat exchanger for transferring heat from auxiliary reactor gas stream and heat transfer medium, preferably two-phase water, to reformer reaction zone. Auxiliary reactor may include first cylindrical wall defining a chamber for burning fuel and creating a heated auxiliary reactor gas stream, the chamber having an inlet end, an outlet end, a second cylindrical wall surrounding first wall and a second annular chamber there between. The reactor being configured so heated auxiliary reactor gas flows out the outlet end and into and through second annular chamber and conduit which is disposed in second annular chamber, the conduit adapted to carry heat transfer medium and being connectable to reformer reaction zone for additional heat exchange.

Auxiliary reactor for a hydrocarbon reforming system

The efficiency of a combination reformer/fuel cell system is significantly improved by recapturing the energy value of heat generated in the fuel cell and producing additional power. The cooling water from the fuel cell is mixed, entirely or in part, with sufficient or excess compressed air, and at least partially evaporates in the compressed air. The air is at least sufficient to support the oxidative reactions in the fuel cell and also to serve as oxidant in a burner that provides heat to reform fuel/steam mixtures into hydrogen-containing reformate. This air/steam mixture, after leaving the fuel cell, is further heated by heat exchange with the reformate stream and reformate-producing modules, and with the exhaust stream of the burner. The steam/air mixture is injected into the burner, optionally after superheating in the burner exhaust, and is reacted with fuel in the burner. The burner exhaust may be used to provide heat to a fuel reforming reaction. The high-temperature burner exhaust may also be used to drive an expander, preferably a turbine, at a location in the system which is downstream of the burner, but in which the exhaust is at a high temperature so as to run the turbine efficiently. The turbine recovers heat energy from the fuel cell as mechanical energy, typically in excess of the energy required to run a compressor, because of the addition of steam to the compressed air. Moreover, system heat removal elements, such as radiators, as well as overall system size and cost, can be markedly reduced for a given level of output.

Joint-cycle high-efficiency fuel cell system with power generating turbine

A hydrogen fuel cell power system having improved efficiency comprises a fuel cell, a source of hydrogen gas, a compressor for creating a pressurized air stream, and a liquid supply which is heated by waste heat form the power system and evaporates into the pressurized air stream to produce a pressurized air and steam mixture. The pressurized air/steam mixture, which is preferably used as the oxidant in the fuel cell, is combusted with fuel in a burner to produce a high-temperature steam-laden exhaust stream. The high-temperature steam-laden exhaust stream drives an expander to produce a power output, and a power take-off from the expander uses the expander power to, for instance, drive an electrical generator, or drive other system components. The evaporation of liquid can take place external to the fuel cell, or can take place directly within the fuel cell, preferably using a cooling liquid that is directly injected into the fuel cell. The fuel cell power system advantageously uses the low-temperature waste heat of the fuel cell to evaporate liquid into the pressurized air, resulting in a steam/air mixture having a relatively large expansion potential. The systems and related methods of the invention are applicable to a wide range of fuel cell power systems, including a 'pure' or 'non-hybrid' fuel cell power system, powered by hydrogen from either an external source, such as a hydrogen storage tank, or from &#x201c;direct&#x201d; reforming of a fuel at the anode. The invention is also applicable to integrated or &#x201c;hybridized&#x201d; fuel cell power systems which contain a local fuel reformer. In these systems, the fuel cell is powered by hydrogen-containing reformate generated by the reformer.

High-efficiency fuel cell power system with power generating expander

Interconnection layouts are described that are particularly effective in the construction of a steam reformer/fuel cell combination for providing domestic heat and/or hot water as well as electricity. A distinguishing feature of the interconnections is that they permit the operator to optimize the efficiency of operation of the integrated system, and provide a higher efficiency at optimum operation compared to prior art designs. Combinations of reformer/fuel cell systems with conventional furnaces or boilers are also described.

Cogeneration of power and heat by an integrated fuel cell power system

High-efficiency combustion engines, including Otto cycle engines, use a steam-diluted fuel charge at elevated pressure. Air is compressed, and water is evaporated into the compressed air via the partial pressure effect using waste heat from the engine. The resultant pressurized air-steam mixture then burned in the engine with fuel, preferably containing hydrogen to maintain flame front propagation. The high-pressure, steam-laden engine exhaust is used to drive an expander to provide additional mechanical power. The exhaust can also be used to reform fuel to provide hydrogen for the engine combustion. The engine advantageously uses the partial pressure effect to convert low-grade waste heat from engine into useful mechanical power. The engine is capable of high efficiencies (e.g. >50%), with minimal emissions.

High-efficiency Otto cycle engine with power generating expander

A reformer for producing a hydrogen-rich gas includes a first zone, a second zone, a third zone, a fourth zone and a product gas collection space. The zones are sequentially adjacent. A flow path is provided for directing flow of a reaction stream in diverging directions from the first zone into the second zone, and continuing in the same general diverging directions through the second zone, third zone, and fourth zone. Directing the flow in diverging directions permits flow into and through a zone over more that just a single cross-sectional geometry of the zone or a single cross-section of the flow path transverse to the direction of flows. This configuration can be used to require a lower pressure for flowing the reaction stream so as to reduce the parasitic requirements of the reactor, and can also be used to increase throughput of the reactor.

Reactor for producing hydrogen from hydrocarbon fuels

A hydrocarbon reformer system including a first reactor configured to generate hydrogen-rich reformate by carrying out at least one of a non-catalytic thermal partial oxidation, a catalytic partial oxidation, a steam reforming, and any combinations thereof, a second reactor in fluid communication with the first reactor to receive the hydrogen-rich reformate, and having a catalyst for promoting a water gas shift reaction in the hydrogen-rich reformate, and a heat exchanger having a first mass of two-phase water therein and configured to exchange heat between the two-phase water and the hydrogen-rich reformate in the second reactor, the heat exchanger being in fluid communication with the first reactor so as to supply steam to the first reactor as a reactant is disclosed. The disclosed reformer includes an auxiliary reactor configured to generate heated water/steam and being in fluid communication with the heat exchanger of the second reactor to supply the heated water/steam to the heat exchanger.

Integrated hydrocarbon reforming system and controls

Hydrocarbon fuel reformer suitable for producing synthesis hydrogen gas from reactions with hydrocarbons fuels, oxygen, and steam. A first tube has a first tube inlet and a first tube outlet . The first tube inlet is adapted for receiving a first mixture including an oxygen-containing gas and a first fuel. A partially oxidized first reaction reformate is directed out of the first tube into a mixing zone . A second tube is annularly disposed about the first tube and has a second tube inlet and a second tube outlet . The second tube inlet is adapted for receiving a second mixture including steam and a second fuel. A steam reformed second reaction reformate is directed out of the second tube and into the mixing zone . From the mixing zone , the first and second reaction reformates may be directed into a catalytic reforming zone containing a reforming catalyst

Apparatus for converting hydrocarbon fuel into hydrogen gas and carbon dioxide

A hydrocarbon fuel reformer (,) is disclosed suitable for producing synthesis hydrogen gas from reactions with hydrocarbons fuels, oxygen, and steam. The reformer (,) comprises first and second tubes (,). The first tube (,) includes a first catalyst (,) and receives a first mixture of steam and a first fuel. The second tube (,) is annularly disposed about the first tube (,) and receives a second mixture of an oxygen-containing gas and a second fuel. In one embodiment, a third tube (,) is annularly disposed about the second tube (,) and receives a first reaction reformate from the first tube (,) and a second reaction reformate from the second tube (,). A catalyst reforming zone (,) annularly disposed about the third tube (,) may be provided to subject reformate constituents to a shift reaction. In another embodiment, a fractionator is provided to distill first and second fuels from a fuel supply source.

A reformer reactor,for producing a hydrogen-rich gas includes a first zone,a second zone,a third zone,a fourth zone,and a product gas collection space,The zones are sequentially adjacent. A flow path P,is provided for directing flow of a reaction stream in diverging directions from the first zone,into the second zone,the flow of the reaction stream continuing in the same general diverging directions through the second zone,and into and through the third and fourth zones,Directing the flow in diverging directions permits flow into and through a zone over more than just a single cross-sectional geometry of the zone or a single cross-section of the flow path transverse to the direction of flows. This configuration can be used to require a lower pressure for flowing the reaction stream so as to reduce the parasitic requirements of the reactor. This configuration can also be used to increase throughput of the reactor.

Growing community of inventors

Dover, MA, United States of America

Lawrence G Clawson