Enhanced feedstock reforming via electrical resistance heating
AssigneeBlaze Energy Technologies Corporation
InventorJesse E. Hensley
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system and method for reforming a hydrogen-containing feedstock. The system includes a flow path defining a passage for a reactant fluid, a metallic substrate, a solid catalyst coating disposed on the metallic substrate, and where the catalyst coating is configured for converting a feedstock to hydrogen and a by-product. A hydrogen-containing chemical can be conveyed across the solid catalyst coating. An electrical current can be passed between a pair of electrodes and through the metallic substrate, heating the metallic substrate and supplying process heat to sustain an endothermic reforming or cracking reaction on the catalyst coating.
Claims27
A system for reforming a hydrogen-containing feedstock comprising:
- a housing at least partially defining an enclosed reactant fluid flow path;
- an electrically conductive heating element substrate disposed within said enclosed reactant fluid flow path;
- a catalyst coating disposed on at least a portion of said electrically conductive heating element substrate, said catalyst coating comprising a catalyst material capable of catalytically facilitating the conversion of a hydrogen-containing feedstock into hydrogen and a byproduct;
- and
- at least one electrode disposed or otherwise formed onto said electrically conductive heating element substrate.
A method of reforming a hydrogen-containing chemical, the method comprising:
- flowing the hydrogen-containing chemical across a catalyst coated on an electrically conductive heating element substrate disposed within a flow path of the hydrogen-containing chemical to liberate hydrogen gas and byproducts;
- making an adjustment to at least one of:
- electrical power applied to the electrically conductive heating element substrate;
- and
- a flow rate of the hydrogen-containing chemical;
- and
- wherein making the adjustment comprises making the adjustment to maintain at least one of:
- a hydrogen concentration;
- a desired partial conversion of the hydrogen-containing chemical to the hydrogen gas;
- and
- a temperature.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.