Single chamber compact fuel processor
AssigneeTexaco Inc.
InventorsCurtis L. Krause, James F. Stevens, Jennifer L. Phan
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 reaction zones arranged in a common reaction chamber. The multi-step process includes: providing a fuel to the fuel processor so that as the fuel reacts and forms the hydrogen rich gas, the intermediate gas products pass through each reaction zone as arranged in the reactor to produce the hydrogen rich gas.
Claims14
A compact fuel processor for converting a hydrocarbon fuel feed to hydrogen rich gas, comprising:
- a cylinder having an inlet end and an outlet end, wherein the cylinder is loaded with a plurality of catalysts in series fashion thus forming a series of reaction zones, the plurality of catalysts comprises an autothermal reforming catalyst packed in a first reaction zone;
- a heat exchanger having an inlet end and an outlet end, wherein the heat exchanger is internally positioned through the length of the cylinder so as to provide heat or remove heat as required by a particular reaction zone, wherein the heat exchanger is not positioned within the autothermal reforming catalyst;
- and
- a reactor feed tube for routing a preheated fuel from the heat exchanger to the first reaction zone.
A compact fuel processor for converting a hydrocarbon fuel feed to hydrogen rich gas, comprising:
- a reaction chamber;
- a plurality of predefined reaction zones within said reaction chamber, wherein each reaction zone is characterized by the chemical reaction that takes place within the reaction zone, and wherein a first reaction zone contains autothermal reforming catalyst;
- a heat exchanger having an inlet end and an outlet end, wherein the heat exchanger is positioned within the reaction chamber, wherein the heat exchanger is not positioned within the first reaction zone;
- and
- a reactor feed tube for routing a preheated fuel from the heat exchanger to the first reaction zone.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.