# US 2025/0206602 A1 · System and method for producing hydrogen > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2025/0206602 A1 - Document ID: US20250206602A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 18/846,723 - Filed: 2023-03-14 - Published: 2025-06-26 - Earliest claimed: 2022-03-14 - Assignees: Catagen Limited - Applicants: Catagen Limited - Inventors: Andrew WOODS; Robert DOUGLAS; Matthew ELLIOT - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20250206602A1 ## CPC - C01B 3/22: by decomposition of gaseous or liquid organic compounds - B01J 6/008: {Pyrolysis reactions (of hydrocarbons C10G9/00)} - B01J 19/0013: {Controlling the temperature of the process} - B01J 19/0033: {Optimalisation processes, i.e. processes with adaptive control systems (adaptive control systems per se G05B13/00)} - C01B 3/50: Separation of hydrogen or hydrogen-containing gases from gaseous mixtures, e.g. purification - C01B 2203/0266: containing a decomposition step - C01B 2203/0283: containing a CO-shift step, i.e. a water gas shift step - C01B 2203/04: containing a purification step for the hydrogen or the synthesis gas - C01B 2203/1217: Alcohols - C01B 2203/1247: Higher hydrocarbons - C01B: NON-METALLIC ELEMENTS; COMPOUNDS THEREOF; {METALLOIDS OR COMPOUNDS THEREOF NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASS C01C} - B01J: CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS ## Abstract A system (100) for producing hydrogen. The system (100) comprises a pyrolysis reactor (102) arranged to receive a gas, introduce glycerine into the gas, and generate a pyrolysis product comprising hydrogen and carbon monoxide from the glycerine. The system (100) comprises a first heat transfer unit (118) comprising a first flow path through which the gas is arranged to flow prior to introduction to the pyrolysis reactor (102) and a second flow path through which the pyrolysis product is arranged to flow. The first heat transfer unit (118) is arranged to transfer heat from the pyrolysis product to the gas so as to raise the temperature of the gas. The system (100) may also comprise a water gas shift reactor that transforms carbon monoxide in the pyrolysis product into carbon dioxide and hydrogen. Unreacted glycerine in the pyrolysis product may be reintroduced to the pyrolysis reactor (102). ## Claims ### Claim at position 1 1-25. (canceled) ### Claim 26 A system for producing hydrogen, the system comprising: a pyrolysis reactor arranged to receive a gas, introduce glycerine into the gas, and generate a pyrolysis product comprising hydrogen and carbon monoxide from the glycerine; and a first heat transfer unit comprising a first flow path through which the gas is arranged to flow prior to introduction to the pyrolysis reactor, and a second flow path through which the pyrolysis product is arranged to flow, and wherein the first heat transfer unit is arranged to transfer heat from the pyrolysis product to the gas so as to raise the temperature of the gas; wherein said system further comprises a separator arranged to receive the pyrolysis product from the first heat transfer unit and separate hydrogen from unreacted glycerine in the pyrolysis product; and wherein the system is arranged to reintroduce the unreacted glycerine to the pyrolysis reactor. ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) A system as claimed in claim 26, wherein the gas comprises glycerine. ### Claim 28 (depends on 27) A system as claimed in claim 27, wherein the glycerine in the gas is obtained from the pyrolysis product. ### Claim 29 (depends on 26) A system as claimed in claim 26, wherein the first heat transfer unit is arranged to raise the temperature of the gas by at least 100 degrees centigrade. ### Claim 30 (depends on 29) A system as claimed in claim 29, wherein the first heat transfer unit is arranged to raise the temperature of the gas by at least 200 degrees centigrade. ### Claim 31 (depends on 30) A system as claimed in claim 30, wherein the first heat transfer unit is arranged to raise the temperature of the gas by at least 300 degrees centigrade. ### Claim 32 (depends on 26) A system as claimed in claim 26, wherein the first heat transfer unit is arranged to lower the temperature of the pyrolysis product by at least 100 degrees centigrade. ### Claim 33 (depends on 32) A system as claimed in claim 32, wherein the first heat transfer unit is arranged to lower the temperature of the pyrolysis product by at least 200 degrees centigrade. ### Claim 34 (depends on 33) A system as claimed in claim 33, wherein the first heat transfer unit is arranged to lower the temperature of the pyrolysis product by at least 300 degrees centigrade. ### Claim 35 (depends on 26) A system as claimed in claim 26, wherein the unreacted glycerine is carried with the gas to the pyrolysis reactor via the first heat transfer unit. ### Claim 36 A system for producing hydrogen, the system comprising: a pyrolysis reactor arranged to receive a gas, introduce glycerine into the gas, and generate a pyrolysis product comprising hydrogen and carbon monoxide from the glycerine; a first heat transfer unit comprising a first flow path through which the gas is arranged to flow prior to introduction to the pyrolysis reactor, and a second flow path through which the pyrolysis product is arranged to flow, and wherein the first heat transfer unit is arranged to transfer heat from the pyrolysis product to the gas so as to raise the temperature of the gas; a water gas shift reactor arranged to receive the pyrolysis product from the first heat transfer unit and transform carbon monoxide in the pyrolysis product into carbon dioxide and hydrogen; said system further comprising a second heat transfer unit comprising a first flow path through which the gas is arranged to flow prior to introduction to the pyrolysis reactor and a second flow path through which the pyrolysis product is arranged to flow from the water gas shift reactor, and wherein the second heat transfer unit is arranged to transfer heat from the pyrolysis product to the gas so as to raise the temperature of the gas; said system further comprising a separator arranged to receive the pyrolysis product from the water gas shift reactor and separate hydrogen from unreacted glycerine in the pyrolysis product, and wherein the system is arranged to reintroduce the unreacted glycerine to the pyrolysis reactor. ### Claim 37 (depends on 36) A system as claimed in claim 36, wherein the reaction temperature of the water gas shift reactor is lower than the reaction temperature of the pyrolysis reactor. ### Claim 38 (depends on 36) A system as claimed in claim 36, wherein the first heat transfer unit and the second heat transfer unit are arranged such that gas flows from the second heat transfer unit to the first heat transfer unit. ### Claim 39 (depends on 36) A system as claimed in claim 36, wherein the second heat transfer unit is arranged to raise the temperature of the gas by at least 100 degrees centigrade. ### Claim 40 (depends on 33) A system as claimed in claim 33, wherein the unreacted glycerine is carried with the gas to the pyrolysis reactor via the second heat transfer unit. ### Claim 41 (depends on 26) A system as claimed in claim 26, further comprising a system reservoir arranged to store the gas and a fluid delivery means arranged to deliver the gas to the pyrolysis reactor via the first heat transfer unit. ### Claim 42 (depends on 26) A system as claimed in claim 26, wherein the pyrolysis reactor comprises a furnace zone, a control zone and a reactor zone. ### Claim 43 (depends on 26) A system as claimed in claim 26, wherein the pyrolysis reactor has a first inlet that receives the gas and a second inlet that receives the glycerine. ### Claim 44 (depends on 43) A system as claimed in claim 43, wherein the gas is delivered by the first inlet to the furnace zone of the pyrolysis reactor. ### Claim 45 (depends on 43) A system as claimed in claim 43, wherein the glycerine is delivered by the second inlet. ### Claim 46 A method for producing hydrogen, the method comprising: flowing a gas through a first heat transfer unit and into a pyrolysis reactor, wherein said gas comprises a carrier gas suitable for carrying glycerine; introducing glycerine into the gas in the pyrolysis reactor; generating, in the pyrolysis reactor, a pyrolysis product comprising hydrogen and carbon monoxide from the glycerine; flowing the pyrolysis product through the first heat transfer unit, wherein in the first heat transfer unit, heat is transferred from the pyrolysis product to the gas so as to raise the temperature of the gas prior to introduction to the pyrolysis reactor; flowing the pyrolysis product to a separator, said separator being arranged to receive the pyrolysis product from the first heat transfer unit; separating hydrogen from unreacted glycerine in the pyrolysis product; and reintroducing the unreacted glycerine to the pyrolysis product.