Reformer
AssigneeNGK Insulators, Ltd.
InventorsFumio Abe, Naomi Noda, Junichi Suzuki
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A reformer includes two or more catalyst units in the flow path, capable of generating hydrogen from a reactant fluid containing an organic compound or carbon monoxide, by catalysis. In the reformer, at least two of the catalyst units satisfy the following relationship: Heat capacity of the upstream-side catalyst unit≦Heat capacity of the downstream-side catalyst unit. The reformer is improved in the relationship between these catalyst units with respect to heat capacity. This improvement leads to improvement of the reformer in safety, heating characteristics during the start-up period, efficiency of hydrogen production and reduction in production of CO as the coproduct.
Claims33
A reformer for generating hydrogen from a reactant fluid containing an organic compound or carbon monoxide disposed in the flow path of a reactant fluid wherein the reactant fluid flows from an upstream position to a downstream position, comprising a reactant fluid supply means for supplying a hydrogen generating reactant fluid containing an organic compound or carbon monoxide, an inlet connected to said reactant fluid supply means for feeding said reactant fluid to said reformer, two or more catalyst units in series in the reformer for generating hydrogen from the reactant fluid containing an organic compound or carbon monoxide, by catalysis, and an outlet for a reformed gas containing hydrogen downstream of the catalyst units, wherein at least two of said two or more catalyst units satisfy the following relationship:
- Heat capacity of the upstream-side catalyst unit<Heat capacity of the downstream-side catalyst unit.
A reformer for generating hydrogen from a reactant fluid containing an organic compound or carbon monoxide disposed in the flow path of a reactant fluid wherein the reactant fluid flows from an upstream position to a downstream position, said reformer comprising a reactant fluid supply means for supplying a hydrogen generating reactant fluid containing an organic compound or carbon monoxide, an inlet connected to said reactant fluid supply means for feeding said reactant fluid to said reformer, two or more catalyst units of a honeycomb structure in series in the reformer for generating hydrogen from the reactant fluid containing an organic compound or carbon monoxide, by catalysis, and an outlet for a reformed gas containing hydrogen downstream of the catalyst units , wherein at least two of said two or more catalyst units satisfy the following relationship:
- Cell density of the upstream-side catalyst unit<Cell density of the downstream-side catalyst unit.
A reformer for generating hydrogen from a reactant fluid containing an organic compound or carbon monoxide disposed in the flow path of a reactant fluid wherein the reactant fluid flows from an upstream position to a downstream position, said reformer comprising a reactant fluid supply means for supplying a hydrogen generating reactant fluid containing an organic compound or carbon monoxide, an inlet connected to said reactant fluid supply means for feeding said reactant fluid to said reformer, two or more catalyst units of a honeycomb structure in series in the reformer for generating hydrogen from the reactant fluid containing an organic compound or carbon monoxide, by catalysis, and an outlet for a reformed gas containing hydrogen downstream of the catalyst units, wherein, at least two of said two or more catalyst units satisfy the following relationship:
- Cell density of the upstream-side catalyst unit>Cell density of the downstream-side catalyst unit.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.