Integrated gaseous fuel catalytic partial oxidation reformer and fuel cell system, and method of generating electricity

Abstract

The integrated gaseous fuel catalytic partial oxidation (CPOX) reformer (401) and fuel cell (467) system may include a plurality of spaced CPOX reactor units (408), or a combination of spaced CPOX reactor units (408) array, each reactor unit comprising an elongate tube having a gas permeable wall having an inner surface and an outer surface, the wall enclosing an open gas flow channel and at least a portion of the wall having a CPOX catalyst disposed therein and / or comprising it structure. The catalyst-containing wall structure and the open gas flow channels enclosed thereby define a gas phase CPOX reaction zone (409), the catalyst-containing wall section being gas permeable to allow diffusion and hydrogen enrichment of the gaseous CPOX reaction mixture therein The product reformate diffuses from it. The gaseous fuel CPOX reformer may also include one or more igniters (435), and a source of gaseous reformable fuel. The hydrogen-rich reformate may be converted to electricity within a fuel cell unit integrated with the gaseous fuel CPOX reformer.

Description

[0001] Cross application of related applications [0002] This application claims priority and benefit from the filing date of US Provisional Patent Application No. 61 / 900,552, filed November 6, 2013, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. technical field [0003] The present teachings relate to integrated gaseous fuel catalytic partial oxidation reformers and fuel cell systems, and catalytic partial oxidation reforming of gaseous reformable fuels to produce hydrogen-rich reformates that can be converted to electricity within a fuel cell unit Methods. Background technique [0004] The conversion of gaseous or liquid reformable fuels to hydrogen-enriched carbon monoxide-containing gas mixtures (commonly referred to as "synthesis gas" or "syngas" products) can be based on any such well-known fuel reforming operation such as steam reforming , dry reforming, autothermal reforming, and catalytic partial oxidation (CPOX) reforming. Each of these fuel...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

While damage to the cell structure due to hot spots may be negligible or non-existent, the problem of diffuse and fleeting cold spots, which negatively affects the productivity of the CPOX reaction, remains a disadvantage of this type of foam monolith

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