Integrated heat exchanger reactors for renewable fuel delivery systems
AssigneeAMOGY Inc.
InventorsYoung Suk Jo, Hyunho Kim
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus includes an integrated heat exchanger and reactor module. The integrated heat exchanger and reactor module includes a heat exchanger channel, and a reactor channel which is thermally coupled to the heat exchanger channel. The reactor channel includes a layer of catalyst material that is configured to produce hydrogen by endothermic catalytic decomposition of ammonia, which flows through the reactor channel, using thermal energy that is absorbed by the reactor channel from the heat exchanger channel.
Claims18
An integrated heat exchanger and reactor apparatus comprising:
- a stack of layers comprising a plurality of reactor channel layers and a plurality of heat exchanger channel layers, wherein the plurality of reactor channel layers and the plurality of heat exchanger channel layers are in thermal contact with each other;
- wherein each of the plurality of heat exchanger channel layers comprises a plurality of heat exchanger channels fluidically coupled to a heated gas input plenum and a heated gas output plenum;
- wherein the heated gas input plenum is fluidically coupled to a heated gas input port, and wherein the heated gas output plenum is fluidically coupled to a heated gas output port;
- wherein each of the plurality of reactor channel layers comprises a plurality of reactor channels fluidically coupled to a fuel input plenum and a fuel output plenum;
- wherein the fuel input plenum is fluidically coupled to a fuel input port, and wherein the fuel output plenum is fluidically coupled to a fuel output port;
- wherein each of the reactor channels comprises a layer of catalyst material configured to decompose ammonia to generate a fuel stream comprising hydrogen using thermal energy that is absorbed by the reactor channels from the plurality of heat exchanger channel layers;
- wherein a cross section of the heated gas input plenum decreases along a direction of flow leading away from the heated gas input port;
- and
- wherein a cross section of the fuel input plenum decreases along a direction of flow leading away from the fuel input port.
An integrated heat exchanger and reactor apparatus comprising:
- a heat exchanger channel;
- and
- a reactor channel which is thermally coupled to the heat exchanger channel;
- wherein the reactor channel comprises a layer of catalyst material configured to decompose ammonia to generate a fuel stream comprising hydrogen using thermal energy that is absorbed by the reactor channel from the heat exchanger channel;
- wherein the reactor channel comprises a tube having an inner surface, wherein the layer of catalyst material is disposed on the inner surface of the tube;
- wherein the heat exchanger channel is defined by a plurality of plates that are coupled to the tube;
- wherein the plates are configured to direct the flow of heated gas in a direction that is perpendicular to a direction of a flow of fuel through the tube;
- wherein the heat exchanger channel is fluidically coupled to a heated gas input port and a heated gas output port;
- wherein the reactor channel is fluidically coupled to a fuel input plenum and a fuel output plenum;
- wherein the fuel input plenum is fluidically coupled to a fuel input port, and wherein the fuel output plenum is fluidically coupled to a fuel output port;
- and
- wherein a cross section of the fuel input plenum decreases along a direction of flow leading away from the fuel input port.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.