Utc Fuel Cells, LLC

Sean C Emerson

Richard James Bellows

Ke Liu

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 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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Windsor, CT, United States of America

Sean C Emerson