Hydrogen generation apparatus
OwnerRobert E. Buxbauminventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A hydrogen generation apparatus includes controls for delivering a feedstock to a reactor and a water gas step membrane reactor operating at a lower temperature than the reactor so as to efficiently produce purified hydrogen and manage heat within the apparatus. Catalytic combustion of feedstock in the presence of a combustible gas based on a computer controller facilitates operation. Flat plate heat exchangers in various configurations are contemplated as a reactor, water gas step membrane reactor, and purifier. Catalytic burning of feedstock in the presence of a combustible gas enhances apparatus efficiency.
Claims25
A hydrogen generation apparatus comprising:
- a boiler;
- a pump delivering a feedstock into said boiler;
- a reactor for producing hydrogen from said feedstock;
- a burner in thermal communication with said reactor, said burner receiving a catalytically combustible mixture of feedstock and a combustible gas, said feedstock being metered to said burner by a first control valve;
- a waste gas outlet in full communication with said burner;
- a reactor pressure sensor monitoring a reactor pressure within said reactor;
- a second stage delivering a purified product gas to a product outlet and a rafinate to a rafinate outlet;
- a combustion gas inlet delivering said combustible gas to said burner;
- and
- a computer controller receiving data from said first pressure sensor and controlling said first control valve.
A process for forming hydrogen from a feedstock comprising the steps of:
- preheating a feedstock;
- providing said feedstock to an exothermic reaction reactor;
- allowing sufficient resonance time for said feedstock in said reactor to undergo an endothermic reaction to yield hydrogen and an endothermic reaction product;
- transferring said hydrogen and said endothermic product to a secondary stage water gas step membrane reactor operating at a lower temperature than said reactor;
- and
- collecting from secondary stage a purified hydrogen flow and a rafinate gas stream.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.