# US 7,608,120 B2 · Compact steam reformer with automatic load matching capability

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- Number: US 7,608,120 B2
- Document ID: US7608120B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 11/514,537
- Filed: 2006-09-02
- Published: 2007-01-11
- Granted: 2009-10-27
- Earliest claimed: 2004-03-06
- Assignees: WS Reformer GmbH
- Inventors: Joachim Wünning
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7608120B2

## CPC

- B01J 8/0496: {Heating or cooling the reactor}
- B01J 8/0415: {the beds being superimposed one above the other (B01J8/0434 takes precedence)}
- B01J 8/0469: {the beds being superimposed one above the other}
- B01J 8/0492: {Feeding reactive fluids (for solid material, see B01J8/0015)}
- C01B 3/384: with external heating of the catalyst
- B01J 2208/00061: of the reactants
- B01J 2208/00132: Tubes
- B01J 2208/00141: Coils
- B01J 2208/00194: Tubes
- B01J 2208/00203: Coils
- B01J 2208/00309: with two or more reactions in heat exchange with each other, such as an endothermic reaction in heat exchange with an exothermic reaction
- B01J 2208/00495: using insulating materials or refractories
- B01J 2208/00504: by means of a burner
- B01J 2208/0053: Controlling multiple zones along the direction of flow, e.g. pre-heating and after-cooling
- B01J 2208/00539: Pressure
- B01J 2208/00716: Means for reactor start-up
- Y02P 20/129: Energy recovery, e.g. by cogeneration, H2recovery or pressure recovery turbines
- B01J: CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS
- C01B: NON-METALLIC ELEMENTS; COMPOUNDS THEREOF; {METALLOIDS OR COMPOUNDS THEREOF NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASS C01C}
- Y02P: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS

## Abstract

The novel compact steam reformer (1) combines in one device the steam reformation of natural gas or other fuel, including subsequent cleaning of CO. Controlled catalytic CO cleaning is achieved by careful temperature control at the follow-up reactor (37, 39, 39a). Temperature control is made possible by means of pressure-controlled operation of the evaporator (24).

## Claims

### Claim 1

A compact steam reformer (1) comprising,
an outer shell (2),
a reformer pipe (5) arranged concentrically within the outer shell (2), the reformer pipe (5) closed at the bottom,
an inner reformer pipe (11) arranged concentrically within the reformer pipe (5), the inner reformer pipe (11) closed at the bottom,
a reactor (9) housed between the bottom of the reformer pipe (5) and the bottom of the inner reformer pipe (11), the reactor (9) comprising a catalyzer (12),
a combustion chamber (15) operatively arranged within the bottom of the inner reformer pipe (11),
a burner (16) housed within the combustion chamber (15), the material flow for the burner (16) maintained within the inner reformer pipe (11) and separate from the material flow for the reactor (9), the material flow for the burner (16) including at least partially supplied residue gas from the anode of a fuel cell (52) and air, the reactor (9) in heat transfer relationship with the burner (16), the reactor (9) for generating reformate from fuel and H20 steam,
a preheating arrangement (20) housed within the inner reformer pipe (11) above the combustion chamber (15) and in fluid communication with the burner (16), the preheating arrangement (20) for preheating at least one of supplied air and supplied fuel while recouping exhaust gas heat from the combustion chamber (15),
an outer annular chamber (10) through which reformate flows and which is thermally insulated toward the exterior, the outer annular chamber (10) is arranged within the reformer pipe (5) above the reactor (9) and in fluid communication with the reactor (9), the outer annular chamber (10) surrounding the preheating arrangement (20),
a pipe evaporator (24) housed within the outer shell (2) arranged in heat transfer relationship with the outer annular chamber (10), the pipe evaporator (24) used for the generation of H20 steam under pressure,
a follow-up reactor (37, 39, 39a) housed within the outer annular chamber (10), the follow-up reactor (37, 39, 39a) in fluid communication with the reactor (9), the follow-up reactor (37, 39, 39a) in heat transfer relationship with the pipe evaporator (24) through which water and steam flows, the follow-up reactor (37, 39, 39a) for the extensive removal of carbon monoxide portions of the created reformate,
means for maintaining a uniform temperature for the follow-up reactor (37, 39, 39a), and
means for performing an automatic matching of the load.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The compact steam reformer of claim 1, wherein the reformate and water flow through the follow-up reactor (37, 39, 39a) and the pipe evaporator (24) in the same flow direction.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The compact steam reformer of claim 1, wherein a water/reformate counterflow cooler (29) is connected to the inlet side of the pipe evaporator (24) and the outlet side of the follow-up reactor (37, 39, 39a).

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The compact steam reformer of claim 1, wherein the follow-up reactor (37, 39, 39a) contains at least one of a shift catalyzer (37) and a methane-generating catalyzer (39) and a follow-up oxidation catalyzer (39a).

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The compact steam reformer of claim 1, wherein the pipe evaporator (24) is a pressure-proof pipe coil, having coil spaces in which the follow-up reactor (37, 39, 39a) for encouraging the follow-up reaction is arranged.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The compact steam reformer of claim 1, wherein the pipe evaporator (24) is a pressure-proof ribbed pipe.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The compact steam reformer of claim 1, wherein the means for maintaining a uniform temperature for the follow-up reactor (37, 39, 39a) comprises a pressure-control valve (42) connected to the outlet of the pipe evaporator (24), the outlet of the pressure-control valve (42) for emitting steam, a jet pump (44) including a propellant nozzle connector (43) connected in fluid communication with outlet of the pressure-control valve (42), the jet pump (44) also including a suction connector (45) in fluid communication with a fuel feed line, the outlet of the jet pump (44) in fluid communication with a feed line (7) for feeding a mixture of steam and fuel to feed line (7), the feed line (7) in fluid communication with the reactor (9).

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The compact steam reformer of claim 7, wherein the pressure-control valve (42) is adjusted to such a pressure that the evaporation temperature of the water in the pipe evaporator (24) is set to a temperature between 130° C. and 280° C.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The compact steam reformer of claim 1, wherein the flow of material in the pipe evaporator (24) contains a liquid phase, in the area which is in thermal connection with the follow-up reactor (37, 39, 39a).

### Claim 10 (depends on 7)

The compact steam reformer of claim 7, wherein the jet pump (44) is an unregulated jet pump.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The compact steam reformer of claim 1, wherein the means for performing an automatic matching of the load comprises a temperature sensor (48) operatively connected to the reactor (9) for sensing the temperature of the catalyzer (12), a feedwater connecter (28) in fluid communication with the pipe evaporator (24), a feed water pump (46) in fluid communication with the feed water connector (28), a control device (47) operatively connected to the feed water pump (46), the temperature sensor (48) operatively connected to the control device (47) for regulation of the feedwater pump (46), an air blower (49) in fluid communication with the burner (16), the air blower (49) operatively connected to the control device (47) for regulation of the air supply to the burner (16) and the fuel cell (52).

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The compact steam reformer of claim 11, wherein the wherein the means for performing an automatic matching of the load further comprises an air blower (49) in fluid communication with the burner (16) for supplying the burner (16) with combustion air, the air blower (49) operatively connected to the control device (47) for regulation of the air supply to the burner (16) and the fuel cell (52).