Pre-processing assembly for pre-processing fuel feedstocks for use in a fuel cell system

Inactive Publication Date: 2006-05-04
FUELCELL ENERGY INC
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0014] In accordance with the principles of the present invention, the above and other objectives are realized in a pre-processing assembly and method for pre-processing a fuel feedstock containing hydrocarbons including higher hydrocarbon content in which a common vessel houses both a deoxidizing unit for reducing the oxygen content in th

Problems solved by technology

In the pre-reforming assembly, the reforming reaction is a conversion process which may inadvertently result in carbon formation based on fuel composition and steam.
This reduces the life of the pre-reforming assembly.
Although fuel feedstocks are typically desulfurized in a desulfurizer unit before being carried to the pre-reforming assembly, high sulfur concentration and the propyle

Method used

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  • Pre-processing assembly for pre-processing fuel feedstocks for use in a fuel cell system
  • Pre-processing assembly for pre-processing fuel feedstocks for use in a fuel cell system
  • Pre-processing assembly for pre-processing fuel feedstocks for use in a fuel cell system

Examples

Experimental program
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example 1

[0048] The pre-processing assembly 108 has been optimized for processing fuel feedstock comprising oxygen and methane for use in a 300 kW Direct Fuel Cell power plant. The deoxidizer bed 204 comprises a G-74D catalyst and has a volume of 0.7 cubic feet. The pre-reforming bed 206 comprises a C11-PR catalyst and has a volume of 2.5 cubic feet. The deoxidizer bed 204 is approximately 4 inches in thickness and the pre-reforming bed 206 is approximately 14.5 inches in thickness. The common vessel 202 is made from 304 / 310 stainless steel and has a volume of 4 cubic feet and a diameter of 20 inches.

[0049] The optimal temperatures of the fuel feedstock entering the vessel 202 through the inlet 208 and of the pre-processed fuel feedstock exiting the vessel 202 through the outlet 210 are approximately 300 to 490° C. The optimal operating temperature range of the deoxidizer bed 204 is between 300° C. and 600° C., and the optimal operating temperature range of the pre-reforming bed 206 is betw...

example 2

[0051] In this example, the pre-processing assembly 108 of Example 1 has also been optimized for processing hydrocarbon fuels contaminated with up to 10% oxygen. The optimal temperature range of the fuel feedstock entering the vessel 202 through inlet 208 is approximately 310° C. to 500° C.

[0052] The deoxidizing function of the pre-processing assembly 108 of FIG. 2 has been demonstrated with fuels containing oxygen such as anaerobic digester gas, coal mine methane, and peak shave gas. The deoxidizing performance of the assembly 108 of this example was tested at varied inlet temperatures of the fuel feedstock entering the assembly 108, and varied oxygen contents of the hydrocarbon fuels. FIG. 3 shows tabulated data of deoxidizer performance summarizing the results of these tests. In the testing procedure, the oxygen content of the inlet fuel feedstock was measured, and the fuel feedstock was pre-heated to various temperatures ranging from 312° C. to 439° C. before entering the assem...

example 3

[0060] The pre-processing assembly of FIG. 4 has been optimized for processing fuel comprising propane and up to 5% propylene for use in a 300 kW Direct Fuel Cell power plant. The deoxidizer bed 204 comprises a G-74D catalyst and has a volume of 0.7 cubic feet. The propane processor bed 301 comprises an FCR-HC59 anti-carbon catalyst manufactured by Sud Chemie and has a volume of 0.75 cubic feet, and the pre-reforming bed 206 comprises a C11-PR catalyst and has a volume of 1.7 cubic feet. The vessel 202 is made from 304 / 310 stainless steel and has a volume of 4 cubic feet.

[0061] The optimal temperature of the fuel feedstock entering the vessel 202 through the inlet 208 is approximately 350° C. and the temperature of the pre-processed fuel exiting the vessel 202 through the outlet 210 is approximately 350° C. The deoxidizer bed 204 is adapted to operate at a temperature between 300° and 600° C., while the propane processor bed 301 and the pre-reforming bed 206 are adapted to operate ...

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Abstract

A pre-processing assembly and method for processing fuel feedstock containing oxygen and hydrocarbons having higher and lower hydrocarbon content for a fuel cell, wherein the pre-processing assembly has a deoxidizing bed for reducing oxygen in the fuel feedstock and a pre-reforming bed for reducing higher hydrocarbon content in the fuel feedstock and wherein the deoxidizing bed and the pre-reforming bed are disposed within a common reaction vessel such that the fuel feedstock first passes through the deoxidizing bed and thereafter through the pre-reforming bed. The pre-reforming assembly may further include a propane processor bed for processing propane and propylene in the fuel feedstock, where the propane processor bed is disposed within the common reaction vessel with the deoxidizing bed and the pre-reforming bed.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] This invention relates to processing of fuel feedstocks containing hydrocarbons for use in fuel cell systems and, in particular, to pre-processing assemblies for performing pre-processing of the fuel feedstocks. [0002] A fuel cell is a device which directly converts chemical energy stored in hydrocarbon fuel into electrical energy by means of an electrochemical reaction. Generally, a fuel cell comprises an anode and a cathode separated by an electrolyte, which serves to conduct electrically charged ions. Molten carbonate fuel cells operate by passing a reactant fuel gas through the anode, while oxidizing gas is passed through the cathode. In order to produce a useful power level, a number of individual fuel cells are stacked in series with an electrically conductive separator plate between each cell. [0003] Current fuel cells require as the reactant fuel gas a clean gas composed of hydrogen or a mixture of hydrogen and carbon monoxide. The reactant...

Claims

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Application Information

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IPC IPC(8): B01J8/00
CPCB01J8/0453Y02E60/526B01J2208/00176B01J2208/00884B01J2208/025B01J2219/0004C01B3/38C01B3/382C01B3/386C01B2203/0233C01B2203/0261C01B2203/066C01B2203/1241C01B2203/1247C01B2203/1258C01B2203/127C01B2203/143H01M8/0618H01M8/0675H01M2008/1293H01M2008/147Y02E60/50Y02E60/525B01J19/2485B01J8/00C01B3/26
Inventor KATIKANENI, SAI P.DALY, JOSEPH M.
Owner FUELCELL ENERGY INC
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