Process for fast start of a hydrogen generator
AssigneePrecision Combustion, Inc.
InventorsCurtis Morgan, Sam Whiteley, Timothy LaBreche, Subir Roychoudhury, Saurabh Vilekar
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Abstract
A process of quickly starting a hydrogen generator from cold conditions. The generator, which converts a fuel and an oxidant under catalytic partial oxidation conditions into a mixture of hydrogen and carbon monoxide, is intended for onboard integration with an internal combustion engine (ICE) of a transportation vehicle. Fast start of the hydrogen generator allows for rapid hydrogen augmentation of the ICE with the advantages of a more stable combustion and a reduction in hydrocarbon and NOx emissions.
Claims18
A process of starting a hydrogen generator from cold conditions comprising:
- (a) providing a catalytic partial oxidation reactor having disposed therein a substrate having a partial oxidation catalyst supported thereon;
- and further comprising a heat source disposed in proximity to a front face of the substrate;
- (b) energizing the heat source at a power equal to 5 to 15 percent of a power (energy) input to the reactor based on a Lower Heating Value (LHV) and feed flow rate of a selected fuel;
- (c) essentially simultaneously with step (b) initiating a flow of an oxidant and a flow of the selected fuel at an O/C ratio between about 0.8/1 and 1.3/1;
- and
- (d) upon observation of an incipient exotherm indicative of generating hydrogen, de-energizing the heat source.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.