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Nanoparticulate-catalyzed oxygen transfer processes

a technology of oxygen transfer and nanoparticulate, which is applied in the direction of physical/chemical process catalysts, other chemical processes, separation processes, etc., can solve the problems of increasing energy costs, reducing the overall efficiency of hydrogen production, and poisoning, and achieve excellent retention of spherical particle siz

Inactive Publication Date: 2009-12-24
NGIMAT CO
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

This approach enables high-yield hydrogen production with low carbon monoxide and sulfur levels, enhancing the efficiency and throughput of hydrogen production while reducing energy consumption and the need for downstream processing.

Problems solved by technology

Such elevated temperatures require very substantial energy input, reducing the overall efficiency of hydrogen production.
If carbon monoxide levels exceed 30 ppm, the anode catalyst in the PEM fuel cell, which is often comprised of a platinum-based material, will be poisoned and will rapidly lose hydrogen oxidation activity.
This increases energy costs and makes the use of nanomaterials difficult due to the high likelihood of sintering active materials at these temperatures.
Heavier hydrocarbons are difficult to vaporize and decompose into smaller hydrocarbon fragments, making reforming difficult at temperatures below 900° C.

Method used

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  • Nanoparticulate-catalyzed oxygen transfer processes
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  • Nanoparticulate-catalyzed oxygen transfer processes

Examples

Experimental program
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Effect test

example 1

[0050]A cylindrical multi-stage reactor, in which cracking, desulfurization, and hydrogen reforming take place approximately 2 m. in height, 15 cm. internal diameter was packed in stage 1 with 0.2 kg. of samarium cerium oxide (cracking stage), in stage 2 with 0.5 kg. of cerium oxide (desulfurization / guard bed), in stage 3 with 2 kg. copper cerium oxide (reforming catalyst), and in a stage 4 with 0.5 kg cerium oxide (final desulfurization). The reactor, as measured at the top of stage 3 was brought to 500° C. Into the reactor was introduced 0.1 kg. atomized jet fuel and 0.54 kg. water over a time period of 1 hr. 6 g hydrogen was recovered, representing an efficiency of 35%. Sulfur content in the starting jet fuel ranged from 300-1000 ppm and was reduced to 2S on the reformer exhaust, while CO content was typically 1000-5000 ppm.

example 2

[0051]Our two-step hydrogen generation process in which hydrocarbon fuel decomposes over a catalyst creating an initial defect oxide structure followed by defect replenishment / hydrogen generation step using steam as outlined in equations (III) and (IV). In this process, sulfur and carbon monoxide species may be sequestered in the exhaust stream from the first step. This process, in which methane was used in the first step, was carried out in cylindrical reactor, which was approximately 0.5 m. in height, 22 mm. internal diameter and was packed in a single stage with 5 g. of copper cerium oxide. The reactor, as measured in the center of the powder bed was brought to 500° C. Into the reactor was introduced 0.05 lpm methane fuel for 10 minutes followed by introduction of steam over a time period of 1 hr. 75 mg. hydrogen was recovered with less than 30 ppm CO, representing an efficiency of 64.9%.

example 3

[0052]As in example 2, this example outlines our 2-step hydrogen generation process carried out at low temperatures. A cylindrical reactor approximately 0.5 m. in height, 22 mm. internal diameter was packed in stage 1 with 5 g. of copper praseodymium cerium oxide (Cu0.4Pr0.05Ce0.55O2). The reactor, as measured in the center of the powder bed was brought to 300° C. Into the reactor was introduced 0.05 lpm methane fuel for 10 minutes followed by introduction of steam over a time period of 1 hr. 5.1 mg. hydrogen was recovered with less than 30 ppm CO, representing an efficiency of 3.9%.

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Abstract

Nanoparticulates of oxygen transfer materials that are oxides of rare earth metals, combinations of rare earth metals, and combinations of transition metals and rare earth metals are used as catalysts in a variety of processes. Unexpectedly large thermal efficiencies are achieved relative to micron sized particulates. Processes that use these catalysts are exemplified in a multistage reactor. The exemplified reactor cracks C6 to C20 hydrocarbons, desulfurizes the hydrocarbon stream and reforms the hydrocarbons in the stream to produce hydrogen. In a first reactor stage the steam and hydrocarbon are passed through particulate mixed rare earth metal oxide to crack larger hydrocarbon molecules. In a second stage, the steam and hydrocarbon are passed through particulate material that desulfurizes the hydrocarbon. In a third stage, the hydrocarbon and steam are passed through a heated, mixed transition metal / rare earth metal oxide to reform the lower hydrocarbons and thereby produce hydrogen. Stages can be alone or combined. Parallel reactors can provide continuous reactant flow. Each of the processes can be carried out individually.

Description

[0001]This invention was made with US Government support under contracts DE-FG02-04ER86219 and FA8501-05-M-0133 awarded by the Department of Energy and the Air Force, respectively. The US Government has certain non-transferable rights in the invention.[0002]The present invention is directed to processes that use oxygen transfer nanoparticulate-based materials. One aspect of the invention is directed to methods and apparatus for reforming hydrocarbons, including relatively high molecular weight hydrocarbons, to obtain hydrogen gas that may be used, for example, in fuel cells. The invention is also directed toward materials and processes capable of reforming both natural gas and jet fuel at temperatures below 650° C., and further to the reduction and removal of sulfur-bearing compounds in petroleum fluids.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003]The process in this invention utilizes sorbents and catalysts that are generally of fluorite-type structure. The fluorite-type crystalline structure...

Claims

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Application Information

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Patent Type & Authority Applications(United States)
IPC IPC(8): C10G57/00C10G17/00
CPCC10G55/04
Inventor HUNT, ANDREW TYEBREITKOPF, RICHARD C.
Owner NGIMAT CO