Hydrogen generation assemblies and hydrogen purification devices
AssigneeElement 1 Corp.
InventorDavid J Edlund
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Hydrogen generation assemblies, hydrogen purification devices, and their components, and methods of manufacturing those assemblies, devices, and components are disclosed. In some embodiments, the devices may include an insulation base having insulating material and at least one passage that extends through the insulating material. In some embodiments, the at least one passage may be in fluid communication with a combustion region.
Claims16
A steam reforming hydrogen generation assembly configured to receive at least one liquid-containing feed stream that includes water and a carbon-containing feedstock and generate a reformate stream containing hydrogen gas as a majority component and other gases, comprising:
- a vaporization region configured to receive and vaporize at least a portion of the at least one liquid-containing feed stream to form a vapor feed stream;
- a hydrogen-producing region containing a reforming catalyst and configured to receive the vapor feed stream and to produce the reformate stream via a steam reforming reaction;
- and
- a heating assembly configured to produce a heated exhaust stream for heating the vaporization region to at least a minimum vaporization temperature, wherein the vaporization region includes packing material configured to transfer heat from the heated exhaust stream to the at least one liquid-containing feed stream,
- wherein the heating assembly is configured to receive at least one air stream and at least one fuel stream and to combust the at least one fuel stream to produce the heated exhaust stream within a combustion region contained within the enclosure, further comprising:
- an enclosure, wherein the vaporization region and the hydrogen-producing region are contained within the enclosure;
- and
- a fuel distribution assembly attached to the bottom portion of the enclosure and configured to distribute the at least one fuel stream into the combustion region, the fuel distribution assembly including:
- a base including at least one passage that is in fluid communication with the combustion region,
- a mesh assembly supported on the base,
- a top wall having a perimeter,
- at least one side wall having a top portion and a bottom portion, the top portion being mounted around the perimeter and the bottom portion being supported on the mesh assembly such that a fuel stream distribution region is formed within the at least one side wall and between the top wall and the mesh assembly,
- an inlet into the fuel stream distribution region, and
- a fuel stream conduit fluidly connected to the inlet and configured to receive the at least one fuel stream, wherein the mesh assembly includes at least one pathway for the at least one fuel stream to flow from the fuel stream distribution region to the combustion region.
A steam reforming hydrogen generation assembly configured to receive at least one liquid-containing feed stream that includes water and a carbon-containing feedstock and generate a reformate stream containing hydrogen gas as a majority component and other gases, comprising:
- a vaporization region configured to receive and vaporize at least a portion of the at least one liquid-containing feed stream to form a vapor feed stream;
- a hydrogen-producing region containing a reforming catalyst and configured to receive the vapor feed stream and to produce the reformate stream via a steam reforming reaction;
- a heating assembly configured to produce a heated exhaust stream for heating the vaporization region to at least a minimum vaporization temperature, wherein the vaporization region includes packing material configured to transfer heat from the heated exhaust stream to the at least one liquid-containing feed stream;
- a conduit in fluid communication with the vaporization region and through which the at least one liquid-containing feed stream is passed prior to delivery to the vaporization region, wherein the heating assembly includes:
- inlets for receiving at least one fuel stream and at least one air stream;
- an igniter assembly configured to ignite the at least one fuel stream, comprising:
- a body portion;
- at least one igniter element attached to the body portion;
- and
- wires in electrical communication with the at least one igniter element and at least partially enclosed by the body portion;
- and
- a metal cooling block having at least first and second channels in thermal communication with each other, the first channel receiving at least part of the body portion and at least part of the wires, and the second channel receiving at least part of the conduit.
A steam reforming hydrogen generation assembly configured to receive at least one feed stream and generate a reformate stream containing hydrogen gas as a majority component and other gases, comprising:
- a hydrogen-producing region containing a reforming catalyst and configured to receive the at least one feed stream and to produce the reformate stream via a steam reforming reaction;
- and
- a heating assembly in thermal communication with the hydrogen-producing region, the heating assembly including an igniter assembly configured to ignite at least one fuel stream, the igniter assembly including an igniter element and a catalytically active coating on an outer part of the igniter element, the catalytically active coating being configured to combust hydrogen in the presence of oxygen, the igniter assembly further includes wire attached to at least a portion of the outer part of the igniter element, the wire being in electrical communication with an electrical power source, and the catalytically active coating being separate from the wire.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.