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:
Jun. 01, 2010
Filed:
Jun. 22, 2006
Ralph A. Dalla Betta, Mountain View, CA (US);
Jacques F. Nicole, Sunnyvale, CA (US);
Ralph A. Dalla Betta, Mountain View, CA (US);
Jacques F. Nicole, Sunnyvale, CA (US);
Eaton Corporation, Cleveland, OH (US);
Abstract
The invention provides methods and systems for catalytic reforming of a hydrocarbon fuel to produce hydrogen, which may be used as a power source for a fuel cell. In some embodiments, hydrogen is produced by partial oxidation or autothermal reforming of fuel in an oxygen containing gas stream that is rich the majority of the time, with periodic conversion to a lean gas stream for short periods of time to maintain catalytic activity. In one embodiment, hydrogen peroxide is used as the oxidant in an autothermal reforming process. In some embodiments, hydrogen is produced by steam reforming at a low steam to carbon ratio, with a periodic increase in the steam to carbon ratio for short periods of time to maintain catalytic activity.