# US 11,444,302 B2 · Vortex tube reformer for hydrogen production, separation, and integrated use > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,444,302 B2 - Document ID: US11444302B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/725,899 - Filed: 2017-10-05 - Published: 2018-02-01 - Granted: 2022-09-13 - Earliest claimed: 2016-03-23 - Assignees: Energyield LLC; John L. Rogitz - Applicants: Energyield LLC; John L. Rogitz - Inventors: Robert Hotto - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11444302B2 ## CPC - H01M 8/0618: {Reforming processes, e.g. autothermal, partial oxidation or steam reforming} - F02C 3/205: {in a fluidised-bed combustor (in combination with a steam cycle see F01K23/061; fluidised-bed apparatus in general B01J8/18; fluidised-bed combustors in general F23C10/00)} - F02C 3/22: the fuel or oxidant being gaseous at standard temperature and pressure (F02C3/28 takes precedence) - F02C 6/10: supplying working fluid to a user, e.g. a chemical process, which returns working fluid to a turbine of the plant - F02M 33/00: Other apparatus for treating combustion-air, fuel or fuel-air mixture (combustion-air cleaners F02M35/00; arrangements for purifying liquid fuel F02M37/22) - H01M 8/04067: {Heat exchange or temperature measuring elements, thermal insulation, e.g. heat pipes, heat pumps, fins} - H01M 8/083: Alkaline fuel cells - H01M 8/086: Phosphoric acid fuel cells [PAFC] - H01M 8/1011: Direct alcohol fuel cells [DAFC], e.g. direct methanol fuel cells [DMFC] - F01D 5/02: Blade-carrying members, e.g. rotors (rotors of non-bladed type F01D1/34; stators F01D9/00 {; selecting particular materials F01D5/28}) - H01M 2008/1095: {Fuel cells with polymeric electrolytes} - H01M 2008/1293: {Fuel cells with solid oxide electrolytes} - H01M 2008/147: {Fuel cells with molten carbonates} - H01M: PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY - F02C: GAS-TURBINE PLANTS; AIR INTAKES FOR JET-PROPULSION PLANTS; CONTROLLING FUEL SUPPLY IN AIR-BREATHING JET-PROPULSION PLANTS (construction of turbines F01D; jet-propulsion plants F02K; construction of compressors or fans F04; generating combustion products of high pressure or high velocity F23R; using gas turbines in compression refrigeration plants F25B11/00) - F02M: SUPPLYING COMBUSTION ENGINES IN GENERAL WITH COMBUSTIBLE MIXTURES OR CONSTITUENTS THEREOF - F01D: NON-POSITIVE DISPLACEMENT MACHINES OR ENGINES, e.g. STEAM TURBINES (machines or engines for liquids F03; non-positive displacement pumps F04D) ## 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. ## Claims ### Claim 1 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. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The assembly of claim 1, wherein the Hydrogen receiver includes a hydrogen tank. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The assembly of claim 1, wherein the Hydrogen receiver includes a fuel cell. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The assembly of claim 1, wherein the first and third streams are provided to the Hydrogen receiver. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The assembly of claim 1, comprising at least one heat exchanger disposed in fluid communication between the vortex tubes and configured for removing heat from the second stream prior to the second stream being input to the second vortex tube. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The assembly of claim 1, wherein the second catalytic constituent includes Copper. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The assembly of claim 6, further comprising Zinc and Aluminum on the inside surface of the second vortex tube. ### Claim 8 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. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The assembly of claim 8, wherein the Hydrogen receiver includes a hydrogen tank. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The assembly of claim 8, wherein the Hydrogen receiver includes a fuel cell. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The assembly of claim 8, wherein the first and third streams are provided to the Hydrogen receiver. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The assembly of claim 8, comprising at least one heat exchanger disposed in fluid communication between the vortex tubes and removing heat from the second stream prior to the second stream being input to the second vortex tube. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The assembly of claim 8, wherein the second catalytic constituent includes Copper. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The assembly of claim 13, further comprising Zinc and Aluminum on the inside surface of the second vortex tube. ### Claim 15 (depends on 8) The assembly of claim 8, wherein the first vortex tube comprises a hydrogen-permeable tube disposed centrally in a main tube segment of the first vortex tube, the Hydrogen receiver receiving Hydrogen from an outlet of the hydrogen-permeable tube. ### Claim 16 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. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The assembly of claim 16, wherein the first vortex tube comprises a hydrogen-permeable tube disposed centrally in a main tube segment of the first vortex tube, the receiver receiving the first stream from an outlet of the hydrogen-permeable tube. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The assembly of claim 16, wherein the second catalytic constituent includes Copper. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The assembly of claim 16, further comprising Zinc and Aluminum on the inside surface of the second vortex tube.