Dual stack compact fuel processor for producing hydrogen rich gas
AssigneeTexaco Inc.
InventorVijay A. Deshpande
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus for carrying out a multi-step process of converting hydrocarbon fuel to a substantially pure hydrogen gas feed includes a plurality of modules each module being in fluid communication with adjacent modules. The modules may be arranged axially along a common axis of flow or alternatively the modules are arranged along a common axis so that they are nested one within the other. The multi-step process includes: providing a fuel processor having a plurality of modules; and feeding the hydrocarbon fuel successively through each of the modules in the reactor to produce the hydrogen rich gas.
Claims13
A compact fuel processor for converting a hydrocarbon fuel feed into a purified hydrogen rich gas, comprising:
- a reforming stack for converting the hydrocarbon fuel feed into a hydrogen rich gas, wherein the reforming stack includes a first plurality of cylindrical vessels, each of said first plurality of cylindrical vessels is stackable without the need for connecting piping between each vessel wherein the reforming stack comprises a shift vessel, an autothermal reforming vessel, and an anode tail gas oxidation vessel;
- and
- a purification stack for producing the hydrogen rich gas suitable for direct feed to a fuel cell, wherein the purification stack comprises a preferred oxidation vessel, a first desulfurization vessel, and a second desulfurization vessel.
A compact fuel processor for converting a hydrocarbon fuel feed into a purified hydrogen rich gas, comprising:
- a reforming stack for converting the hydrocarbon fuel feed into a hydrogen rich gas, wherein the reforming stack comprises a plurality of cylindrical modular units, each of said plurality of cylindrical modular units is stackable, separable, and performs a separate operational function, wherein the plurality of cylindrical modular units of the reforming stack comprises a shift vessel, an autothermal reforming vessel, and an anode tail gas oxidation vessel;
- and
- a purification stack for producing the hydrogen rich gas suitable for direct feed to a fuel cell.
A compact fuel processor for converting a hydrocarbon fuel feed into a purified hydrogen rich gas, comprising:
- a reforming stack for converting the hydrocarbon fuel feed into a hydrogen rich gas, wherein the reforming stack comprises a plurailty of cylindrical modular units, each of said plurality of cylindrical modular units is stackable, separable, and performs a separate operational function;
- and
- a purification stack for producing the hydrogen rich gas suitable for direct feed to a fuel cell, wherein the purification stack comprises a plurality of cylindrical modular units, each of said plurality of cylindrical modular units is stackable, separable, and performs a separate operational function, and wherein the plurality of cylindrical modular units of the purification stack comprises a preferential oxidation vessel and a desulfurization vessel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.