Reformation of hydrogen-containing fluids in a cyclic flow reactor

Abstract

The invention discloses an apparatus and process for the reformation of hydrogen containing fluids to hydrogen and other constituents, more particularly, the reformation of hydrocarbons or mixtures of hydrocarbons in a cyclic flow inert porous media reactor for the production of hydrogen and other constituents. In an alternate embodiment, the apparatus and process can be used for the reformation of hydrogen sulfide to produce hydrogen and sulfur. The cyclic flow reactor comprises a reaction chamber filled with a porous media matrix containing an unconstrained reaction zone located in any portion of the reactor chamber. This reactor system employs valves to canalize the reactant mixture and product mixture during flow cycling channeling the reactant mixture through the porous media matrix, and reacting the reactant mixture. In another embodiment, the reactor system may further comprise at least one aperture along the axial length of the reactor casing to enable mounting of an external energy source and/or at least one heat exchanger to provide a source of heat transfer to the inlet pipe and outlet pipe as well as the reactant mixture and product mixtures.