Reactor and apparatus for hydrogen generation

An apparatus for generating a hydrogen-rich reformate comprising:

• a desulfurization unit for removing sulfur-containing compounds from a hydrocarbon fuel;
• a reactor in fluid communication with the desulfurization unit for receiving the desulfurized hydrocarbon fuel and producing a hydrogen-rich reformate, the reactor comprising a reactor vessel having an inlet for receiving a hydrocarbon fuel and an outlet for delivering a hydrogen-rich reformate, a fixed catalyst bed disposed within the reactor vessel, wherein the catalyst bed comprises a reforming catalyst and a carbon dioxide fixing material, an oxidation zone disposed within the reactor vessel proximate the catalyst bed, the oxidation zone in fluid communication with the catalyst bed, and a moderator inlet for introducing a temperature moderator into the oxidation zone;
• and
• a polishing unit in fluid communication with the reactor vessel, the polishing unit disposed downstream from the reactor vessel for removing one or more impurities from the hydrogen-rich reformate.

A reforming reactor for producing a hydrogen reformate, the reactor comprising

• a reactor vessel having an inlet for receiving a hydrocarbon fuel and an outlet for delivering a hydrogen-rich reformate;
• a fixed catalyst bed disposed within the reactor vessel, wherein the catalyst bed comprises a reforming catalyst and a carbon dioxide fixing material;
• and
• an oxidation zone disposed within the reactor vessel downstream of the catalyst bed, the oxidation zone in fluid communication with the catalyst bed.

An apparatus for generating a hydrogen-rich reformate comprising:

• a desulfurization unit for removing sulfur-containing compounds from a hydrocarbon fuel;
• a reactor in fluid communication with the desulfurization unit for receiving the desulfurized hydrocarbon fuel and producing a hydrogen-rich reformate, the reactor comprising a reactor vessel having an inlet for receiving a hydrocarbon fuel and an outlet for delivering a hydrogen-rich reformate, a fixed catalyst bed disposed within the reactor vessel, wherein the catalyst bed comprises a reforming catalyst and a carbon dioxide fixing material, and an oxidation zone disposed within the reactor vessel downstream of the catalyst bed, the oxidation zone in fluid communication with the catalyst bed;
• and
• a polishing unit in fluid communication with the reactor vessel, the polishing unit disposed downstream from the reactor vessel for removing one or more impurities from the hydrogen-rich reformate.

A method for producing a hydrogen-rich reformate in a reactor having a catalyst bed comprising a reforming catalyst and carbon dioxide fixing material, the method comprising the steps of:

• converting a hydrocarbon fuel over the catalyst bed to a reformate comprising hydrogen and carbon dioxide, the carbon dioxide fixing material fixing at least a portion of the carbon dioxide in the reformate to provide a hydrogen-rich reformate and fixed carbon dioxide;
• removing hydrogen-rich reformate from the catalyst bed;
• oxidizing a hydrocarbon fuel with an oxidant within the reactor to produce heated oxidation products;
• adjusting the temperature of the heated oxidation products with a flow of a temperature moderator;
• and
• heating the carbon dioxide fixing material with the heated oxidation products to a temperature at which at least a portion of the fixed carbon dioxide is released to provide a carbon dioxide-laden gas and heated carbon dioxide fixing material.