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US 6,669,463 B2Granted
Quick start large dynamic range combustor configuration
AssigneeGeneral Motors Corporation
InventorsMatthew J. Beutel, William H. Pettit, Steven G. Goebel
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention provides a combustor for a fuel processor which integrates a burner and a catalyst. The burner is utilized to quickly heat the catalyst to a light-off temperature to prepare it for normal operation. The heated catalyst is then used to react anode exhaust with air or cathode exhaust under normal operation.
Claims20
A combustor, comprising:
- a housing including at least one inlet port and an exhaust port for discharging exhaust gases;
- an interior liner defining a passage between said housing and said interior liner, said interior liner defining a burner section in communication with said exhaust port;
- a catalyst disposed in said housing in communication with said passage;
- a fuel delivery device disposed downstream of said catalyst for delivering fuel to said burner section;
- and
- a heat exchanger disposed downstream of said burner section, such that said exhaust gases flow through the heat exchanger.
3 more elements
A combustor, comprising:
- a housing including at least one inlet port and an exhaust port for discharging exhaust gases;
- a catalyst disposed in said housing in communication with said at least one inlet port;
- a fuel delivery device disposed downstream of said catalyst for delivering fuel to a burner section, said inlet port communicating with a passage disposed adjacent to said burner section;
- and
- a heat exchanger disposed downstream of said burner section, such that said exhaust gases flow through the heat exchanger.
2 more elements
A method for rapidly heating a catalyst for a fuel processing system during start-up, comprising the steps of:
- heating an oxidant gas using a burner section heated by a start fuel;
- passing the heated oxidant gas through a catalyst until a temperature of said catalyst reaches its light-off temperature;
- and
- mixing anode exhaust with said oxidant gas after said catalyst reaches said light-off temperature and passing said anode exhaust and oxidant gas mixture through said heated catalyst.
1 more element
A fuel processor, comprising:
- a reactor system for dissociating hydrogen from hydrocarbon fuel and water;
- an integrated combustor and catalyst for providing heat to said reactor system, said integrated combustor and catalyst including a housing including at least one inlet port and an exhaust port, said catalyst being disposed in said housing in communication with said inlet port, a burner section being disposed in said housing in communication with said exhaust port, and a fuel delivery device disposed downstream of said catalyst for delivering fuel to said burner section, said burner section providing heat to gases passing through said inlet port to heat said catalyst, wherein said integrated combustor and catalyst provides heat to said reactor system.
A combustor comprising:
- a housing including an inlet port for supply of reactant and an exhaust port for discharging exhaust gases;
- a liner located at least partially within said housing, said liner and housing defining a passage through which said reactant flows, and a burner section in communication with said exhaust port;
- a catalyst disposed in said passage and circumscribing said liner;
- and
- a fuel delivery device arranged to deliver fuel for mixing with said reactant upstream of said burner section.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.