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US 9,876,244 B2Granted
Systems and methods for steam reforming
AssigneeLG Fuel Cell Systems Inc.
InventorJohn R. Budge
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Abstract
One embodiment of the present invention is a unique method for operating a fuel cell system. Another embodiment is a unique system for reforming a hydrocarbon fuel. Another embodiment is a unique fuel cell system. Other embodiments include apparatuses, systems, devices, hardware, methods, and combinations for fuel cell systems and steam reforming systems. Further embodiments, forms, features, aspects, benefits, and advantages of the present application will become apparent from the description and figures provided herewith.
Claims14
A method for operating a fuel cell system, comprising:
- providing a catalyst consisting essentially of platinum and ruthenium as catalytically active materials, wherein the platinum content by weight is selected based on a desired level of sulfur resistance and is less than the ruthenium content of the catalyst;
- and wherein the catalyst is configured for self cleaning of sulfur compounds when performing steam reforming using a low-sulfur content hydrocarbon fuel;
- providing a catalytic reactor having surfaces having the catalyst disposed thereon and configured to expose the catalyst to at least a hydrocarbon fuel and steam;
- reforming with the catalyst a high-sulfur-content hydrocarbon fuel with at least steam for a first period of time;
- reforming with the catalyst a low-sulfur-content hydrocarbon fuel with at least steam for a second period of time whereby the catalyst, using the low-sulfur content hydrocarbon fuel, self-cleans of sulfur compounds that may be present from poisoning by sulfur exposure during the reforming of the high-sulfur-content hydrocarbon fuel;
- and
- providing reformed hydrocarbon fuel to a fuel cell stack.
4 more elements
A method for reforming a fuel, comprising:
- providing a catalyst comprising platinum and ruthenium as catalytically active materials wherein the platinum content by weight is less than the ruthenium content;
- and wherein the catalyst is configured to desorb sulfur compounds when reforming a low-sulfur content fuel;
- reforming with the catalyst a high-sulfur-content hydrocarbon fuel with at least steam;
- reforming a low-sulfur-content fuel with the catalyst such that the catalyst, using the low-sulfur content fuel, desorbs sulfur compounds which may be bound to the catalyst that may be present from poisoning by sulfur exposure during the reforming of the high-sulfur-content hydrocarbon fuel.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.