US 7,402,287 B2 · Apparatus and methods for producing hydrogen

Abstract

An apparatus and method for producing hydrogen. The apparatus includes a fuel processor, a purification unit and a system controller. The controller determines a calculated flow of reformate from the fuel processor and operates the purification unit based on the calculated flow. The calculated flow is derived from a process model of the fuel processor and known feed(s) to the fuel processor. The calculated flow of reformate is used to control the flow of reformate to adsorbent beds within the purification unit and can be used to control other materials flows within the apparatus. Means for reducing fluctuations in the pressure and/or flow rate of reformate flowing from the fuel processor to the purification unit are also disclosed. The purity of the hydrogen produced can be maintained by adjusting the operation of the purification unit in response to changes in reformate composition, pressure and/or flow rate.

Claims15

Dependent claims

An apparatus for producing hydrogen comprising:

a fuel processor for producing a flow of intermediate reformate comprising hydrogen and an impurity;
a purification unit disposed downstream of the fuel processor for removing impurity from the flow of intermediate reformate to produce a flow of hydrogen-enriched reformate;
a controller for determining a calculated flow of intermediate reformate from a process model of the fuel processor and operating the purification unit in part in response to the calculated flow of intermediate reformate.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application

11/015,358Filed 17 Dec 2004

Published

US 2008/0005963 A110 Jan 2008

Granted

22 Jul 2008

Term ends

Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification26 codes

C01B 3/56
Separation of hydrogen or hydrogen-containing gases from gaseous mixtures, e.g. purification: by contacting with solids; Regeneration of used solids
C01B 3/382
Using catalysts: processes with two or more reaction steps, of which at least one is catalytic, e.g. steam reforming and partial oxidation
B01D 53/0446
Constructional details of adsorbing systems: means for feeding or distributing gases
B01D 53/047
With stationary adsorbents: pressure swing adsorption

Apparatus and methods for producing hydrogen

Life of this patent

Apparatus and methods for producing hydrogen

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims15