Apparatus, systems and methods for the production of hydrogen
AssigneeAlliant Techsystems Inc.
InventorsFlorin Girlea, John C. Leylegian
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Apparatus and methods for the production of hydrogen using a reformer including a housing, a first plate having a first plurality of fin structures and a second plate having a second plurality of fin structures assembled such that the first plurality of fin structures is interleaved with the second plurality of fin structures. At least one inlet port is formed in at least one of the first plate and the second plate, and at least one outlet port is formed in at least one of the first plate and the second plate. The fin structures may be coated with a catalytic material to enhance or stimulate reactions taking place within the apparatus. A heat exchange device may also be integrated into one or both plates of the reformer.
Claims37
An apparatus for producing hydrogen comprising:
- a first plate including a first fin structure comprising a first plurality of fins located thereon;
- a second fin structure comprising a second plurality of fins located thereon, the first plate and the second plate being assembled having a portion of at least one fin of the first plurality of fins of the first plate interleaved with at least a portion of at least one fin of the second plurality of fins of the second plate;
- at least one inlet port formed in at least one of the first plate and the second plate;
- and
- at least one outlet port formed in at least one of the first plate and the second plate;
- wherein at least one fin of the first plurality of fins of the first plate includes:
- at least one longitudinally extending channel extending from a first portion within the at least one fin of the first plurality of fins toward a second portion within the at least one fin of the first plurality of fins;
- and
- at least one cross channel extending through the at least one fin of the first plurality of fin structures in fluid communication with the at least one longitudinally extending channel of the at least one fin of the first plurality of fins.
A method of forming a reformer apparatus, the method comprising:
- forming a first plate having a first fin structure comprising a plurality of fins, including;
- forming at least one fin of the first plurality of fins of the first plate to include:
- at least one longitudinally extending channel extending from a first portion within the least one fin of the first plurality of fins toward a second portion within the first fin structure;
- and
- at least one cross channel extending through the at least one fin of the first plurality of fins in fluid communication with the at least one longitudinally extending channel and an exterior of the at least one fin of the first plurality of fins;
- forming a second plate having a second fin structure comprising a second plurality of fins;
- and
- assembling the first plate and the second plate having the first plurality of fins and the second plurality of fins interleaved with respect to each other to form flow paths between adjacent fins of the first and second pluralities of fins;
- forming a second flow path between adjacent fin structures of the first and second pluralities of fin structures.
A system comprising:
- at least one water-gas shift reactor;
- at least one preferential oxidation reactor;
- and
- at least one autothermal reformer, wherein the autothermal reformer comprises:
- a first plate including a first fin structure comprising a first plurality of fins,
- wherein at least a portion of at least one fin of the first plurality of fins of the first plate includes:
- at least one longitudinally extending channel extending from a first portion within the at least one fin of the first plurality of fins toward a second portion within the at least one fin;
- and
- at least one cross channel extending through the at least one fin in fluid communication with the at least one longitudinally extending channel of the at least one fin of the first plurality of fins;
- a second plate including a second fin structure comprising a second plurality of fins, the first plate and the second plate being assembled having a portion of at least one fin of the first plurality of fins interleaved with a portion of at least one fin of the second plurality of fins;
- at least one inlet port formed in at least one of the first plate and the second plate;
- and
- at least one outlet port formed in at least one of the first plate and the second plate;
- wherein a fluid flow path through the at least one autothermal reformer is configured to connect the autothermal reformer to the at least one water-gas shift reactor and another flow path configured to connect the water-gas shift reactor to the at least one preferential oxidation reactor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.