Process for the production of electrical energy in an internal reforming high temperature fuel cell
AssigneeHaldor Topsoe A/S
InventorsJens Rostrup-Nielsen, Lars J. Christiansen, Kim Aasberg-Petersen
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Abstract
A process for producing electrical energy in an internal reforming, high-temperature fuel cell. Steam reforming of a carbonaceous feed gas takes place in the presence of a steam-reforming catalyst in heat-conducting relationship with electrochemical reactions in the fuel cell. The steam reformed feed gas is electrochemically reacted in an anode compartment of the fuel cell. The process is improved by controlled addition of a gaseous, sulfur-containing compound to the carbonaceous feed gas in an amount sufficient to obtain a sulfur coverage on the steam reforming catalyst of between 0.1 to 0.9.
Claims12
In a process for producing electrical energy in an internal reforming high temperature fuel cell by steam reforming, at a reforming rate, a carbonaceous feed gas in the presence of a steam-reforming catalyst in heat-conducting relationship with electrochemical reactions in the fuel cell and electrochemically reacting the steam reformed feed gas in an anode compartment of the fuel cell, the improvement comprising the steps of:
- feeding a gaseous sulfur-containing compound to the carbonaceous feed gas;
- and
- controlling the amount of the gaseous sulfur-containing compound fed to the carbonaceous feed gas so as to obtain a sulfur coverage on the steam reforming catalyst and to control the reforming rate.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.