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:
Aug. 31, 2010
Filed:
Dec. 17, 2004
Vesna R. Mirkovic, Pearland, TX (US);
Hongqiao Sun, Sugar Land, TX (US);
W. Spencer Wheat, Missouri City, TX (US);
Daniel G. Casey, Kingwood, TX (US);
Bhaskar Balasubramanian, Houston, TX (US);
Vesna R. Mirkovic, Pearland, TX (US);
Hongqiao Sun, Sugar Land, TX (US);
W. Spencer Wheat, Missouri City, TX (US);
Daniel G. Casey, Kingwood, TX (US);
Bhaskar Balasubramanian, Houston, TX (US);
Texaco Inc., San Ramon, CA (US);
Abstract
A method and apparatus for use in generating hydrogen are disclosed. The apparatus includes a fuel processor capable of producing a reformate from a fuel; a hydrogen purifier capable of generating a purified hydrogen gas stream from the reformate; a compressor capable of providing the reformate from the fuel processor to the pressure swing adsorption unit at a desired pressure; and a control system capable of integrating and controlling the operation of the fuel processor, the pressure swing adsorption unit, and the compressor. In another aspect, the invention includes a method for controlling the operation of a purified hydrogen generator, the method comprising: controlling the operation of a hydrogen generator; controlling the operation of a hydrogen purifier; and synchronizing the controlled operation of the hydrogen generator with the controlled operation of the hydrogen purifier.