Hydrogen generation apparatus and method
OwnerAlbert E. Stewartinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus and method to create a substantially pure hydrogen product stream before any subsequent purification steps. The apparatus provides a generally enclosed reaction vessel so as to reduce any extraneous exhaust materials from escaping. In addition, the apparatus includes a primary and a secondary reaction chamber which are generally held at equivalent or equal pressures while at substantially different temperatures. In addition, a reaction aid or cooperator is used to increase the production of the hydrogen product stream and to also increase the purity of the hydrogen product stream. The method includes using a two chamber apparatus along with the reaction cooperator to increase the hydrogen production and purity and recycling the reaction cooperator.
Claims36
An apparatus for a steam reformation of a fuel to form a hydrogen product, the apparatus comprising:
- a first reaction chamber including a reaction cooperator;
- a second reaction chamber;
- a transport system adapted to transfer a portion of said reaction cooperator to said second reaction chamber;
- a fuel supply to supply a volume of the fuel to the apparatus;
- wherein the volume of fuel is reformed in said first reaction chamber;
- wherein said reaction cooperator moves a product other than the hydrogen product from said first reaction chamber to said second reaction chamber;
- and
- wherein the hydrogen product is removed from the apparatus.
A system for the steam reformation of a fuel to produce a hydrogen product stream, the system comprising:
- a first reaction chamber in which the fuel is reformed;
- a separator to remove a contaminant product of the reformation;
- a second reaction chamber wherein the contaminant product is removed from said separator;
- and
- a hydrogen outlet to allow the removal of the hydrogen product from the system.
A method to reform a fuel in a reaction vessel, including a first chamber and a second chamber, to produce a hydrogen product with a separator to increase the production and purity of the hydrogen product, the method comprising:
- reforming the fuel in the first chamber with a reforming agent, wherein the hydrogen product and at least one contaminant is produced;
- reacting the contaminant with the separator;
- moving the separator to the second chamber;
- and
- removing the contaminant from the separator.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.