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US 11,444,302 B2Granted
Vortex tube reformer for hydrogen production, separation, and integrated use
AssigneesEnergyield LLC, John L. Rogitz
InventorRobert Hotto
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A reformer assembly includes a vortex tube receiving heated fuel mixed with steam. A catalyst coats the inner wall of the main tube of the vortex tube and a hydrogen-permeable tube is positioned in the middle of the main tube coaxially with the main tube. With this structure the vortex tube outputs primarily Hydrogen from one end and Carbon-based constituents from the other end. In some embodiments a second vortex tube receives the Carbon output of the first vortex tube to establish a water gas shift reactor, producing Hydrogen from the Carbon output of the first vortex tube.
Claims19
An assembly comprising:
- at least a first vortex tube configured for receiving hydrocarbon fuel and separating the hydrocarbon fuel into a first stream and a second stream, the first stream being composed primarily of Hydrogen, the second stream including Carbon;
- at least a first Hydrogen receiver configured for receiving the first stream;
- and
- at least a second vortex tube configured for receiving the second stream from the first vortex tube and for separating the second stream into a third stream and a fourth stream, the third stream being composed primarily of Hydrogen for provisioning thereof to the Hydrogen receiver, the second stream including Carbon, wherein at least a first catalytic constituent is on an inside surface of the first vortex tube and at least a second catalytic constituent is on an inside surface of the second vortex tube but is not on the inside surface of the first vortex tube.
1 more element
An assembly comprising:
- at least a first vortex tube configured for receiving hydrocarbon fuel in a swirl chamber, and within the swirl chamber reforming the hydrocarbon fuel into Hydrogen and Carbon and separating the Hydrogen and Carbon into respective first and second streams, the first stream being composed primarily of Hydrogen in a center of the first vortex tube, the second stream including Carbon;
- at least a first Hydrogen receiver configured for receiving the first stream from the center of the first vortex tube;
- and
- at least a second vortex tube configured for receiving the second stream from an annular region of the first vortex tube and for separating the second stream into a third stream and a fourth stream, the third stream being composed primarily of Hydrogen for provisioning thereof to the Hydrogen receiver, the fourth stream including Carbon, wherein at least a first catalytic constituent is on an inside surface of the first vortex tube and at least a second catalytic constituent is on an inside surface of the second vortex tube, the second catalytic constituent being chemically different from the first catalytic constituent.
1 more element
An assembly comprising:
- at least a first vortex tube configured for tangentially receiving, into a swirl chamber through an inlet, hydrocarbon fuel and separating the hydrocarbon fuel into a first stream and a second stream, the first stream being composed primarily of Hydrogen, the second stream including Carbon;
- at least a first receiver configured for receiving the first stream;
- and
- at least a second vortex tube configured for receiving the first second stream from an annular region of the first vortex tube and for separating the first stream into a third stream and a fourth stream, the third stream being composed primarily of Hydrogen, the second stream including Carbon wherein at least a first catalytic constituent is on an inside surface of the first vortex tube and at least a second catalytic constituent is on an inside surface of the second vortex tube, the second catalytic constituent being chemically different from the first catalytic constituent.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.