Stephen Gustav Block

US Patent:

6641625, Nov 4, 2003

Filed:

May 2, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/563677

Inventors:

Lawrence G. Clawson - Dover MA
Matthew H. Dorson - Arlington MA
William L. Mitchell - Belmont MA
Brian J. Nowicki - Medford MA
Johannes Thijssen - Cambridge MA
Robert Davis - Waterbeach, GB
Christopher Papile - Arlington MA
Jennifer W. Rumsey - Glenwood IN
Nathan Longo - Calais VT
Vincent Rizzo - Stoughton MA
Gunther Kleeburg - Lexington MA
Michael Rindone - Reading MA
Stephen G. Block - Petersham MA
Maria Sun - Melrose MA
Brian D. Morriseau - Woburn MA
Mark R. Hagan - Somerville MA
Brian Bowers - Cambridge MA

Assignee:

Nuvera Fuel Cells, Inc. - Cambridge MA

International Classification:

B01J 804

US Classification:

481279, 48 61, 48 62 R, 48 63, 48119, 48120, 48128, 422187, 422191, 422192, 422194, 422211, 422198, 422235

Abstract:

A hydrocarbon reformer system including a first reactor configured to generate hydrogen-rich reformate by carrying out at least one of a non-catalytic thermal partial oxidation, a catalytic partial oxidation, a steam reforming, and any combinations thereof, a second reactor in fluid communication with the first reactor to receive the hydrogen-rich reformate, and having a catalyst for promoting a water gas shift reaction in the hydrogen-rich reformate, and a heat exchanger having a first mass of two-phase water therein and configured to exchange heat between the two-phase water and the hydrogen-rich reformate in the second reactor, the heat exchanger being in fluid communication with the first reactor so as to supply steam to the first reactor as a reactant is disclosed. The disclosed reformer includes an auxiliary reactor configured to generate heated water/steam and being in fluid communication with the heat exchanger of the second reactor to supply the heated water/steam to the heat exchanger.