# US 7,459,131 B2 · Reduced temperature regernerating/calcining apparatus for hydrogen generation

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- Number: US 7,459,131 B2
- Document ID: US7459131B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 10/919,700
- Filed: 2004-08-16
- Published: 2006-02-16
- Granted: 2008-12-02
- Earliest claimed: 2004-08-16
- Assignees: United Technologies Corporation
- Inventors: Albert E. Stewart
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7459131B2

## CPC

- C01B 3/56: by contacting with solids; Regeneration of used solids
- B01J 8/1872: {Details of the fluidised bed reactor (B01J8/1836 takes precedence)}
- B01J 20/041: {Oxides or hydroxides}
- B01J 20/3433: {of sorbents or filter aids other than those covered by B01J20/3408 - B01J20/3425}
- B01J 20/3483: {by thermal treatment not covered by groups B01J20/3441 - B01J20/3475, e.g. by heating or cooling}
- C01B 3/32: by reaction of gaseous or liquid organic compounds with gasifying agents, e.g. water, carbon dioxide or air
- C01B 3/42: using moving solid particles, e.g. fluidised bed technique
- C01B 2203/0233: the reforming step being a steam reforming step
- C01B 2203/0283: containing a CO-shift step, i.e. a water gas shift step
- C01B 2203/0415: Purification by absorption in liquids
- C01B 2203/0425: In-situ adsorption process during hydrogen production
- C01B 2203/0465: Composition of the impurity
- C01B 2203/0475: the impurity being carbon dioxide
- C01B 2203/048: the impurity being an organic compound
- C01B 2203/0811: by combustion of fuel
- C01B 2203/0822: the fuel containing hydrogen
- C01B 2203/1052: Nickel or cobalt catalysts
- C01B 2203/1082: Composition of support materials
- C01B 2203/1241: Natural gas or methane
- C01B 2203/145: At least two purification steps in parallel
- C01B 2203/146: At least two purification steps in series
- C01B 2203/148: involving a recycle stream to the feed of the process for making hydrogen or synthesis gas
- Y02P 20/10: Process efficiency
- C01B: NON-METALLIC ELEMENTS; COMPOUNDS THEREOF; {METALLOIDS OR COMPOUNDS THEREOF NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASS C01C}
- B01J: CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS
- Y02P: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS

## Abstract

A method and apparatus are disclosed for regenerating calcium oxide used in the production of hydrogen gas. The method includes steps of: (a) streaming a solid reactant into an inlet port of a contactor vessel; (b) streaming a purge oxidant into an oxidant port of the contactor vessel to reduce a partial pressure of a gas over the solid reactant; (c) venting the gas from a gas port of the contactor vessel; and (d) removing the solid reactant from a discharge port of the contactor vessel.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A calcining apparatus comprising:
a contactor vessel;
a solid reactant inlet port coupled to the contactor vessel for streaming a solid reactant into the contactor vessel;
an oxidant inlet port coupled to the contactor vessel for streaming a purge oxidant into the contactor vessel to reduce a partial pressure of a gas released from the solid reactant;
a fuel inlet port coupled to the contactor vessel for introducing fuel to heat the solid reactant;
a gas vent port coupled to the contactor vessel for venting the gas from the contactor vessel; and
a solid reactant discharge port coupled to the contactor vessel for removing the solid reactant from the contactor vessel.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The calcining apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a feed stream of hydrogen gas coupled with the fuel inlet port.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The calcining apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a feed stream of calcium carbonate coupled with the solid reactant inlet port.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The calcining apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a feed stream of steam coupled with the oxidant inlet port.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The calcining apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a hydrogen gas outlet port for removing hydrogen gas from the contactor vessel.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The calcining apparatus of claim 1 wherein fuel inlet port is located between the oxidant inlet port and the gas vent port.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The calcining apparatus of claim 1 wherein the oxidant inlet port is located between the fuel inlet port and solid reactant discharge port.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The calcining apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a rotary valve adjacent to and fluidly connected with the solid reactant discharge port.

### Claim 9

A calcining apparatus comprising:
a regeneration vessel including a solid reactant feed for delivering spent solid reactant to the regeneration vessel, an oxidant gas feed for delivering oxidant gas to the vessel to reduce the partial pressure of a gas released from the solid reactant feed, a fuel gas inlet for delivering fuel gas to the vessel, a gas vent outlet for venting a product gas from regeneration of the spent solid reactant, and a solid reactant discharge outlet for removing regenerated solid reactant from the regeneration vessel.