Process and apparatus for conversion of water vapor with coal or hydrocarbon into a product gas

Apparatus for generating a product gas containing hydrogen, by reacting under external heat a mixture of steam and solid carbon in a reaction vessel and separating and isolating the hydrogen from the product gas, comprising:

• a reaction vessel having inlets for receiving steam and solid carbon, such as coal or coke, and at least one outlet for product gas;
• a reaction zone for reacting said solid carbon and said steam in said vessel;
• a hydrogen collection chamber in said vessel, said collection chamber being formed from a wall which is selectively hydrogen permeable for separating the hydrogen from the product gas and which hydrogen collection chamber is located away from said reaction zone in said reaction vessel, and wherein said collection chamber is connected to hydrogen collecting means for continuously collecting and removing hydrogen;
• means to maintain a hydrogen pressure differential across said wall to facilitate hydrogen permeation from said reaction vessel into said hydrogen collection chamber;
• and means for maintaining a reaction temperature inside said reaction vessel of between about 500.degree. to 1000.degree. C.;
• said hydrogen permeable wall providing means for reducing hydrogen adsorption by said solid carbon at its surface by continuously removing and collecting the generated hydrogen in said reaction chamber.

Apparatus for generating a product gas containing hydrogen, by reacting under external heat, a mixture of steam and a solid carbon-containing-substance in a reaction vessel and separating and isolating the hydrogen from the product gas, said apparatus comprising:

• a reaction vessel having inlets for receiving steam and a solid carbon-containing-substance, such as coal or coke, and at least one outlet for product gas;
• a reaction zone for reacting said solid carbon and said steam in said reaction vessel;
• a hydrogen collection chamber in said vessel, formed from a hydrogen permeable membrane which is selectively hydrogen permeable for separating the hydrogen from the product gas;
• said hydrogen collection chamber being located away from said reaction zone in said reaction vessel;
• a structurally reinforcing member on the hydrogen collection chamber side of the membrane;
• means to maintain a hydrogen pressure differential across said membrane to facilitate hydrogen diffusion therethrough;
• and
• means for maintaining a reaction temperature inside said reaction vessel of between about 500.degree. to 1000.degree. C.
• said hydrogen permeable membrane providing means for reducing hydrogen adsorption by said solid carbon at its surface by continuously removing and collecting the generated hydrogen in said reaction chamber.