The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Feb. 20, 2007
Filed:
Jan. 17, 2003
William B. Retallick, West Chester, PA (US);
William A. Whittenberger, Leavittsburg, OH (US);
William B. Retallick, West Chester, PA (US);
William A. Whittenberger, Leavittsburg, OH (US);
Catacel Corp., Leavittsburg, OH (US);
Abstract
A compact steam reformer produces hydrogen to power a fuel cell, such as can be used in a vehicle. The steam reformer includes a first channel, at least partly coated with a steam reforming catalyst, and a second channel, at least partly coated with a combustion catalyst, the channels being in thermal contact with each other. Heat from the combustion is used in the steam reforming reaction. In another embodiment, the gas streams feeding the reforming and combustion channels pass through a valve which reverses the gas streams periodically. The combustion channel becomes the reforming channel, and vice versa, so that carbon deposits in the former reforming channel are burned off. This arrangement enables the reforming reaction to continue indefinitely at peak efficiency.