EP0079423A1
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Catalytic gas reformer
Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp
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Filing: 1982-07-12
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2002-07-12
Abstract
Abstract Stab-shaped high efficiency catalytic reformer configurations particularly useful for generation of fuels such as hydrogen or carbon monoxide to be used in fuel cell based generation systems. A plurality of structures (20, 22, 26) forming a generally rectangular peripheral envelope are spaced about one another to form annular regions, an interior annular (24) region containing a catalytic bed (38) and being regeneratively heated on one side by a hot combustion gas (28) and on the other side by the gaseous products (18) of the reformation. An integrally mounted combustor (30) is cooled by impingement of incoming oxidant through a plurality of openings (119). These slab- shaped reformer configurations provide increased heat transfer and increased hydrogen generation while decreasing waste heat, size and undesirable products.
Inventors
- 👤 Francis Richard Spurrier
- 👤 Egon Alex Dezubay
- 👤 Alexander Peter Murray
- 👤 Edward James Vidt
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 01:32
CPC Classifications
B; B01; B01J; B01J8/00; B01J8/02; C; C01; C01B; C01B3/00; C01B3/02; C01B3/32; C01B3/34; C01B3/38; C01B3/384; B01J2208/00; B01J2208/00008; B01J2208/00017; B01J2208/00477; B01J2208/00495; C01B2203/00; C01B2203/02; C01B2203/0205; C01B2203/0227; C01B2203/0233; C01B2203/06; C01B2203/066; C01B2203/08; C01B2203/0805; C01B2203/0811; C01B2203/0838; C01B2203/0844; C01B2203/0866; C01B2203/0872; C01B2203/0883; C01B2203/10; C01B2203/1005; C01B2203/1011; C01B2203/12; C01B2203/1205; C01B2203/1211; C01B2203/1235; C01B2203/1241
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
134 words
A catalytic gas reformer characterized in that it comprises an axially elongated hollow shell (20) of generally rectangular cross-section; at least one axially elongated duct (22) of generally rectangular cross-section spaced about at least a portion of the axial length of said shell (20) so as to form at least one first passage (24) therebetween; a catalytic material (38) disposed within said at least one first passage (24); means (40) for flowing a reformable gaseous medium through said at least one first passage (24) in a first direction; and means (30) for flowing a hot combustion gas through at least one second passage (18, 28) in a direction parallel and counter-directional to said first direction in a heat exchange relation to said reformable gas medium flowing through said at least one first passage (24).
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
134 words
A catalytic gas reformer characterized in that it comprises an axially elongated hollow shell (20) of generally rectangular cross-section; at least one axially elongated duct (22) of generally rectangular cross-section spaced about at least a portion of the axial length of said shell (20) so as to form at least one first passage (24) therebetween; a catalytic material (38) disposed within said at least one first passage (24); means (40) for flowing a reformable gaseous medium through said at least one first passage (24) in a first direction; and means (30) for flowing a hot combustion gas through at least one second passage (18, 28) in a direction parallel and counter-directional to said first direction in a heat exchange relation to said reformable gas medium flowing through said at least one first passage (24).
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
150 words
A catalytic gas reformer as defined in claim 1 characterized in that said hollow shell comprises a pair of spaced parallel plates (78) and sides affixed to said parallel plates (78) so as to form an elongated housing of generally rectangular cross-section; a plurality of axially elongated ducts being comprised of a corrugated sheet (76) which is sandwiched between said parallel plates (78) so as to form a plurality of elongated parallel passages (62, 64) between said plates (78) and said corrugated sheet (76); said catalytic material (66) being disposed within at least some of said passages; said reformable gaseous medium flowing through a selected number of said passages (62, 64) in a first direction and then through'some other of said passages (62, 64) in a parallel and opposite direction; said hot combustion gas (82) flowing across said plates and in a heat exchange relation to said reformable gaseous medium.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
41 words
A catalytic gas reformer as defined in claim 2 characterized in that said corrugated sheet (76) is fixedly attached to said plates (78) at one location and the balance of said sheet is free to slidably move between said plates (78).
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
36 words
A catalytic gas reformer as defined in claim 2 characterized in that said corrugated sheet (76) is shaped so as to form a plurality of generally circular shaped elongated parallel channels (84) between said plates (78).
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
92 words
A catalytic gas reformer as defined in claim 1 characterized in that said means for flowing a hot combustion gas comprise a liner (113) forming a combustion zone (111) therein which is in fluid communication with the interior (18) of said shell (20), a conduit (129) for conducting a combustible fuel into said combustion zone (111), a conduit (125) for transporting an oxidant, and a baffle (121) for impinging said oxidant from said oxidant conduit onto the exterior of said liner (113) and then directing said oxidant into said combustion zone (111).
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
63 words
A catalytic gas reformer as defined in claim 5 characterized in that it further comprises a frame (123) spaced about at least a portion of said baffle (121), said frame (123) being oriented to direct a first portion of said oxidant through said baffle (121) and to direct a second portion of said oxidant into said fuel upstream of said combustion zone (111).
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
A catalytic gas reformer as defined in any of the preceding claims characterized in that fins (46) and alumina balls (48) are disposed within said at least one second passage (28).
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3909299A
Cited
DE2705324A1
Cited
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