Utc Fuel Cells, LLC

Richard James Bellows

Ke Liu

Sean C Emerson

John L Preston

Ronald G Silver

Tianli Zhu

An apparatus for preferential oxidation of carbon monoxide in a reformate flow includes a reactor defining a flow path for a reformate flow; at least one catalyst bed disposed along the flow path; and a distributor for distributing oxygen from an oxygen source to the at least one catalyst bed, the distributor including a conduit positioned at least one of upstream of and through the at least one catalyst bed, the conduit having a sidewall permeable to flow of oxygen from within the conduit to the at least one catalyst bed.

Preferential oxidation reactor and process

A hydrogen-rich reformate gas generator (), such as a mini-CPO, POX, ATR or other hydrogen generator provides warm, dry, hydrogen-rich reformate gas to a hydrogen desulfurizer () which provides desulfurized feedstock gas to a major reformer () (such as a CPO) which, after processing in a water-gas shift reactor () and preferential CO oxidizer () produces hydrogen-containing reformate in a line () for use, for instance, as fuel for a fuel cell power plant. The expensive prior art hydrogen blower () is thereby eliminated, thus reducing parasitic power losses in the power plant. The drier reformate provided by the small hydrogen generator to the hydrogen desulfurizer favors hydrogen sulfide adsorption on zinc oxide and helps to reduce sulfur to the parts per billion level.

Hydrogen generator for hydrogen desulfurization of hydrocarbon feeds

A shift converter, or reactor, ( HT, LT) in a fuel processing subsystem ( HT, LT, ), as for a fuel cell ( ), uses an improved catalyst bed ( ) and the addition of oxygen ( A, B, C, D, A, B, C, D) to reduce the amount of carbon monoxide in a process gas stream. The catalyst of bed ( ) is a metal, preferably a noble metal, having a promoted support of metal oxide, preferably ceria and/or zirconia. A water gas shift reaction converts carbon monoxide to carbon dioxide. The oxygen may be introduced as air, and causes an improvement in carbon monoxide removal. Use of the added oxygen enables the shift reactor ( HT, LT) and its catalyst bed ( ) to be relatively more compact for performing a given level of carbon monoxide conversion. The catalyst bed ( ) obviates the requirement for prior reducing of catalysts, and minimizes the need to protect the catalyst from oxygen during operation and/or shutdown.

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Ellington, CT, United States of America

Richard James Bellows