US 9,803,153 B2 · Radiant non-catalytic recuperative reformer

Abstract

A radiant, non-catalytic recuperative reformer has a flue gas flow path for conducting hot exhaust gas from a thermal process and a reforming mixture flow path for conducting a reforming mixture. At least a portion of the reforming mixture flow path is positioned adjacent to the flue gas flow path to permit heat transfer from the hot exhaust gas to the reforming mixture. The reforming mixture flow path contains substantially no material commonly used as a catalyst for reforming hydrocarbon fuel (e.g., nickel oxide, platinum group elements or rhenium), but instead the reforming mixture is reformed into a higher calorific fuel via reactions due to the heat transfer and residence time. In a preferred embodiment, a portion of the reforming mixture flow path is positioned outside of flue gas flow path for a relatively large residence time.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A radiant non-catalytic recuperative reformer comprising:

a duct including a flue gas flow path, wherein the duct is configured to receive hot flue gas from a thermal process;
a reforming mixture flow path wherein the reforming mixture flow path is at least partially positioned within a wall of the duct to permit heat transfer between flue gas in the flue gas flow path and reforming mixture in the reforming mixture flow path;
and
wherein the reforming mixture flow path comprises a conduit and a collector, and wherein a cross-sectional area of the conduit is smaller than a cross-sectional area of the collector providing a high-velocity, short residence time for a reforming mixture in the conduit relative to a low-velocity and large residence time for the reforming mixture in the collector.

1 more element

A radiant non-catalytic recuperative reformer comprising:

a duct including a flue gas flow path, wherein the flue gas flow duct is configured to receive hot flue gas from a thermal process;
a reforming mixture flow path wherein the reforming mixture flow path is at least partially positioned within a wall of the duct to permit heat transfer between flue gas in the flue gas flow path and reforming mixture in the reforming mixture flow path, wherein the reforming mixture flow path comprises a first collector, a plurality of conduits, and a second collector, wherein the first collector is divided into at least a first section and a second section and the second collector is divided into at least a first section and a second section, and wherein a reforming mixture enters the first section of the first collector, passes through at least one of the plurality of conduits to the first section of the second collector, the reforming mixture then passes through at least one of the plurality of conduits to the second section of the first collector, and then the reforming mixture passes through at least one of the plurality of conduits to the second section of the second collector;
and wherein a cross-sectional area of the each of the conduits is smaller than a cross-sectional area of the collectors, providing a high-velocity, short residence time for a reforming mixture in the conduits relative to a low-velocity and large residence time the reforming mixture in the collectors.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Radiant non-catalytic recuperative reformer

Life of this patent

Radiant non-catalytic recuperative reformer

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20