The University of Chicago

Uchicago Argonne, LLC

The United States of America as Represented by the United States

Argonne National Laboratory

Shabbir Ahmed

Michael Krumpelt

Romesh Kumar

Sheldon H D Lee

Rajesh K Ahluwalia

Dionissios D Papadias

John David Carter

Rajiv Doshi

Sarabjit Singh Randhava

Deborah J Myers

Ira D Bloom

Kevin M Myles

John P Kopasz

Joong-Myeon Bae

Sheldon D H Lee

Richard Li-chih Kao

Rolf Wilkenhoener

Kurt W Kramarz

Provided herein are methods and devices to enrich trace quantities of impurities in gaseous mixtures, such as hydrogen fuel. The methods and devices rely on concentration of impurities so as to allow the detection of the impurities using commonly-available detection methods.

Device for sampling and enriching impurities in hydrogen comprising hydrogen-permeable membrane

The invention provides a method for reforming fuel, the method comprising contacting the fuel to an oxidation catalyst so as to partially oxidize the fuel and generate heat; warming incoming fuel with the heat while simultaneously warming a reforming catalyst with the heat; and reacting the partially oxidized fuel with steam using the reforming catalyst.

Method for improving catalyst function in auto-thermal and partial oxidation reformer-based processors

Provided herein are batch methods and devices for enriching trace quantities of impurities in gaseous mixtures, such as hydrogen fuel. The methods and devices rely on concentrating impurities using hydrogen transport membranes wherein the time period for concentrating the sample is calculated on the basis of optimized membrane characteristics, comprising its thickness and permeance, with optimization of temperature, and wherein the enrichment of trace impurities is proportional to the pressure ratio P/Pand the volume ratio V/V, with following detection of the impurities using commonly-available detection methods.

Batch methods for enriching trace impurities in hydrogen gas for their further analysis

The invention provides a fuel processor comprising a linear flow structure having an upstream portion and a downstream portion; a first catalyst supported at the upstream portion; and a second catalyst supported at the downstream portion, wherein the first catalyst is in fluid communication with the second catalyst. Also provided is a method for reforming fuel, the method comprising contacting the fuel to an oxidation catalyst so as to partially oxidize the fuel and generate heat; warming incoming fuel with the heat while simultaneously warming a reforming catalyst with the heat; and reacting the partially oxidized fuel with steam using the reforming catalyst.

Autothermal and partial oxidation reformer-based fuel processor, method for improving catalyst function in autothermal and partial oxidation reformer-based processors

An improved fuel processor for fuel cells is provided whereby the startup time of the processor is less than sixty seconds and can be as low as 30 seconds, if not less. A rapid startup time is achieved by either igniting or allowing a small mixture of air and fuel to react over and warm up the catalyst of an autothermal reformer (ATR). The ATR then produces combustible gases to be subsequently oxidized on and simultaneously warm up water-gas shift zone catalysts. After normal operating temperature has been achieved, the proportion of air included with the fuel is greatly diminished.

Fuel processing device

A method of producing a Hrich gas stream includes supplying an Orich gas, steam, and fuel to an inner reforming zone of a fuel processor that includes a partial oxidation catalyst and a steam reforming catalyst or a combined partial oxidation and stream reforming catalyst. The method also includes contacting the Orich gas, steam, and fuel with the partial oxidation catalyst and the steam reforming catalyst or the combined partial oxidation and stream reforming catalyst in the inner reforming zone to generate a hot reformate stream. The method still further includes cooling the hot reformate stream in a cooling zone to produce a cooled reformate stream. Additionally, the method includes removing sulfur-containing compounds from the cooled reformate stream by contacting the cooled reformate stream with a sulfur removal agent. The method still further includes contacting the cooled reformate stream with a catalyst that converts water and carbon monoxide to carbon dioxide and Hin a water-gas-shift zone to produce a final reformate stream in the fuel processor.

Fuel processor and method for generating hydrogen for fuel cells

Method for fast start of a fuel processor

A method for reforming a sulfur-containing carbonaceous fuel in which the sulfur-containing carbonaceous fuel is mixed with HO and an oxidant, forming a fuel/HO/oxidant mixture. The fuel HO/oxidant mixture is brought into contact with a catalyst composition comprising a dehydrogenation portion, an oxidation portion and a hydrodesulfurization portion, resulting in formation of a hydrogen-containing gas stream.

Autothermal hydrodesulfurizing reforming method and catalyst

A method of producing a H rich gas stream includes supplying an O rich gas, steam, and fuel to an inner reforming zone of a fuel processor that includes a partial oxidation catalyst and a steam reforming catalyst or a combined partial oxidation and stream reforming catalyst. The method also includes contacting the O rich gas, steam, and fuel with the partial oxidation catalyst and the steam reforming catalyst or the combined partial oxidation and stream reforming catalyst in the inner reforming zone to generate a hot reformate stream. The method still further includes cooling the hot reformate stream in a cooling zone to produce a cooled reformate stream. Additionally, the method includes removing sulfur-containing compounds from the cooled reformate stream by contacting the cooled reformate stream with a sulfur removal agent. The method still further includes contacting the cooled reformate stream with a catalyst that converts water and carbon monoxide to carbon dioxide and H in a water-gas-shift zone to produce a final reformate stream in the fuel processor.

Method for generating hydrogen for fuel cells

A monolithic catalyst with micro-scale flow channels and methods of making such a monolithic catalyst are provided. The monolithic catalyst includes a plurality of thin catalyst walls. The walls have a set thickness in a range from 1 to 150 &mgr;m. The thin catalyst walls define a plurality of flow channels. A fugitive material is used to form the flow channels. The flow channels have a set width in a range from 1 to 200 &mgr;m. The flow channels are formed by an organic fugitive material, which burns off during processing. By using the thin catalyst walls and flow channels having a set width in a range from 1 to 200 &mgr;m, a reduced diffusion path length that molecules travel between the bulk gas and the active site is provided. Accelerating the mass transport thus improves the overall reaction rate, which allows processing of more reactants. Thus, the volume of the required catalyst is reduced, allowing more compact reactors. Fabrication methods involve simple, low-cost and scaleable procedures, allowing the flow channel and catalyst dimensions to be easily scaled to a requisite size for a given application. One fabrication method involves tape casting successive layers of fugitive and catalyst materials, and then firing to remove the organic binders and partially sinter the catalyst particles. The slurries can also be cast into thin layers using various processes, including screen printing, wet spraying and spin casting. Another fabrication method for fabricating a supported catalyst involves dipping a pre-shaped metal foil into a slurry containing an active catalyst powder, allowing the catalyst slurry to coat the foil evenly and allowing the catalyst slurry coated foil to dry. The catalyst slurry coated foil is dipped into a solution to form a fugitive coating layer, next the coated metal foil is cut into strips and formed into a selected shape.

Free-standing monolithic catalyst with micro-scale channel dimensions

A method of forming a hydrogen rich gas from a source of hydrocarbon fuel. A vapor of the hydrocarbon fuel and steam is brought in contact with a two-part catalyst having a dehydrogenation powder portion and an oxide-ion conducting powder portion at a temperature not less than about 770&deg;C. for a time sufficient to generate the hydrogen rich. The H,content of the hydrogen gas is greater than about 70 percent by volume. The dehydrogenation portion of the catalyst includes a group VIII metal, and the oxide-ion conducting portion is selected from a ceramic oxide from the group crystallizing in the fluorite or perovskite structure and mixtures thereof. The oxide-ion conducting portion of the catalyst is a ceramic powder of one or more of ZrO,, CeO,, Bi,O,, (BiVO),, and LaGaO,.

Steam reforming catalyst

A partial oxidation reformer comprising a longitudinally extending chamber having a methanol, water and an air inlet and an outlet. An igniter mechanism is near the inlets for igniting a mixture of methanol and air, while a partial oxidation catalyst in the chamber is spaced from the inlets and converts methanol and oxygen to carbon dioxide and hydrogen. Controlling the oxygen to methanol mole ratio provides continuous slightly exothermic partial oxidation reactions of methanol and air producing hydrogen gas. The liquid is preferably injected in droplets having diameters less than 100 micrometers. The reformer is useful in a propulsion system for a vehicle which supplies a hydrogen-containing gas to the negative electrode of a fuel cell.

Methanol partial oxidation reformer

A two-part catalyst comprising a dehydrogenation portion and an oxide-ion conducting portion. The dehydrogenation portion is a group VIII metal and the oxide-ion conducting portion is selected from a ceramic oxide crystallizing in the fluorite or perovskite structure. There is also disclosed a method of forming a hydrogen rich gas from a source of hydrocarbon fuel in which the hydrocarbon fuel contacts a two-part catalyst comprising a dehydrogenation portion and an oxide-ion conducting portion at a temperature not less than about 400.degree. C. for a time sufficient to generate the hydrogen rich gas while maintaining CO content less than about 5 volume percent. There is also disclosed a method of forming partially oxidized hydrocarbons from ethanes in which ethane gas contacts a two-part catalyst comprising a dehydrogenation portion and an oxide-ion conducting portion for a time and at a temperature sufficient to form an oxide.

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Naperville, IL, United States of America

Shabbir Ahmed