US4504447A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Slab reformer
Assignee: United States Department of Energy
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Filing: 1983-10-27
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Granted: 1985-03-12
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Expires: 2003-10-27
Abstract
Abstract Slab-shaped high efficiency catalytic reformer configurations particularly useful for generation of fuels to be used in fuel cell based generation systems. A plurality of structures forming a generally rectangular peripheral envelope are spaced about one another to form annular regions, an interior annular region containing a catalytic bed and being regeneratively heated on one side by a hot combustion gas and on the other side by the gaseous products of the reformation. An integrally mounted combustor is cooled by impingement of incoming oxidant.
Inventors
- 👤 Francis R. Spurrier
- 👤 Egon A. DeZubay
- 👤 Alexander P. Murray
- 👤 Edward J. Vidt
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 12:37
CPC Classifications
C; C01; C01B; C01B3/00; C01B3/02; C01B3/32; C01B3/34; C01B3/38; C01B3/384; B; B01; B01J; B01J8/00; B01J8/02; 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: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
95 words
A catalytic reformer comprising: a pair of spaced parallel plates; a corrugated sheet sandwiched between said plates so as to form a plurality of generally U-shaped elongated parallel channels between said plates; a catalytic material retained within at least some of said channels; means for flowing a reformable gaseous medium through a selected number of said channels in a first direction and then through some other of said channels in a parallel and opposite direction; and means for flowing a hot combustion gas across said plates and in thermal interexchange with said reformable gaseous medium.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
95 words
A catalytic reformer comprising: a pair of spaced parallel plates; a corrugated sheet sandwiched between said plates so as to form a plurality of generally U-shaped elongated parallel channels between said plates; a catalytic material retained within at least some of said channels; means for flowing a reformable gaseous medium through a selected number of said channels in a first direction and then through some other of said channels in a parallel and opposite direction; and means for flowing a hot combustion gas across said plates and in thermal interexchange with said reformable gaseous medium.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
42 words
The reformer of claim 1 further comprising sides affixed to said parallel plates so as to form an elongated housing of generally rectangular cross-section surrounding said channels, said housing being fixedly supported at one end thereof and slidably supported at another end.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
The reformer of claim 1 wherein said corrugated sheet is brazed to said plates.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
The reformer of claim 1 wherein said corrugated sheet is fixedly attached to said plates at one location and the balance of said sheet is free to slidably move between said plates.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
108 words
A catalytic reformer comprising: a pair of spaced parallel plates; a corrugated sheet shaped so as to form a plurality of generally circular shaped elongated parallel channels sandwiched between said plates so as to form a plurality of generally U-shaped elongated parallel channels between said plates; a catalytic material retained within at least some of said channels; means for flowing a reformable gaseous medium through a selected number of channels in a first direction and then through some other of said channels in a parallel and opposite direction; and means for flowing a hot combustion gas across said plates and in thermal interexchange with said reformable gaseous medium.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
108 words
A catalytic reformer comprising: a pair of spaced parallel plates; a corrugated sheet shaped so as to form a plurality of generally circular shaped elongated parallel channels sandwiched between said plates so as to form a plurality of generally U-shaped elongated parallel channels between said plates; a catalytic material retained within at least some of said channels; means for flowing a reformable gaseous medium through a selected number of channels in a first direction and then through some other of said channels in a parallel and opposite direction; and means for flowing a hot combustion gas across said plates and in thermal interexchange with said reformable gaseous medium.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
180 words
A catalytic reformer comprising: an axially elongated hollow shell of generally rectangular cross-section; an axially elongated duct of generally rectangular cross-section spaced about at least a portion of the axial length of said shell so as to form an annular region therebetween; a catalytic material retained within said annular region; means for flowing a hot combustion gas in a first direction through said hollow shell comprising a liner forming a combustion chamber therein in fluid communication with the interior of said shell, a plurality of tubular inlets extending through said liner into said combustion chamber, said tubular inlets having a plurality of openings therein, a perforated baffle spaced from and disposed about said liner and a portion of said tubular inlets including some of said openings, and a frame spaced from and disposed about said baffle and a portion of said tubular inlets including some other of said openings; and means for flowing a reformable gaseous medium through said annular region in a direction parallel and counter-directional to said first direction and then about said duct in said first direction.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
180 words
A catalytic reformer comprising: an axially elongated hollow shell of generally rectangular cross-section; an axially elongated duct of generally rectangular cross-section spaced about at least a portion of the axial length of said shell so as to form an annular region therebetween; a catalytic material retained within said annular region; means for flowing a hot combustion gas in a first direction through said hollow shell comprising a liner forming a combustion chamber therein in fluid communication with the interior of said shell, a plurality of tubular inlets extending through said liner into said combustion chamber, said tubular inlets having a plurality of openings therein, a perforated baffle spaced from and disposed about said liner and a portion of said tubular inlets including some of said openings, and a frame spaced from and disposed about said baffle and a portion of said tubular inlets including some other of said openings; and means for flowing a reformable gaseous medium through said annular region in a direction parallel and counter-directional to said first direction and then about said duct in said first direction.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1988-03-11 | 1988-09-10 | 1989-03-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1992-03-11 | 1992-09-10 | 1993-03-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1996-03-11 | 1996-09-10 | 1997-03-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |