Abstract:
A fuel processor for rapid start and operational control. The fuel processor includes a reformer, a shift reactor, and a preferential oxidation reactor for deriving hydrogen for use in creating electricity in a plurality of H2—O2 fuel cells. A heating and cooling mechanism is coupled to at least the shift reactor for controlling the critical temperature operation of the shift reactor without the need for a separate cooling loop. This heating and cooling mechanism produces or removes thermal energy as a product of the temperature of the combustion of air and fuel. Anode effluent and cathode effluent or air are used to control the temperature output of the heating mechanism. A vaporizer is provided that heats the PrOx reactor to operating temperature.
Abstract:
A coolant subsystem for use in a fuel processor and a method for its operation are disclosed. In accordance with a first aspect, the coolant subsystem is separate from the feed to the processor reactor and is capable of circulating a coolant through the processor reactor. In accordance with a second aspect, the constituent elements of the fuel processor are housed in a cabinet, and the coolant subsystem is capable of cooling both the processor reactor and the interior of the cabinet. In various alternatives, the fuel processor can be employed to reform a fuel for a fuel cell power plant and/or may be used to provide thermal control for unrelated mechanical systems.
Abstract:
The present invention relates to a method for producing highly pure, granular silicon with a narrow particle-size distribution by decomposing silanes or halosilanes in a fluidised bed and epitaxially growing silicon on silicon seed particles, which method is characterised in that the gas containing silicon is supplied to the reaction chamber in an upward flow and the contents of the fluidised bed are separated in a continuous or discontinuous manner, whereby a particle stream from the fluidised bed is supplied to a separator mounted outside the fluidised bed, particles of the desired size are separated and undersized particles are returned to the fluidised bed. The invention also relates to a device and the use thereof for carrying out said method.
Abstract:
A reactor for testing catalyst systems which has a plurality of catalyst tubes (2) which are arranged parallel to one another in the interior space of the reactor and whose ends are welded into tube plates and also has caps (3) at each end of the reactor which each bound a cap space (4), with a fluid reaction medium (5) being fed via one cap space (4) into the catalyst tubes (2), flowing through the catalyst tubes (2) and being discharged via the other cap space (4), and is also provided with a heat exchange medium circuit in which the heat exchange medium (6) is fed in at one end of the reactor, flows through the intermediate space between the catalyst tubes (2) and flows out at the other end of the reactor, wherein the catalyst tubes (2) are arranged in two or more catalyst tube regions (7) which are thermally separate from one another, is proposed.
Abstract:
A method for providing improved estimates of properties of a chemical manufacturing process is disclosed. The method employs a process model that includes, or is modified by, scores or other gains obtained from the mathematical transformation of data obtained from an on-line analyzer. Chemical manufacturing processes using the method also are disclosed.
Abstract:
The application discloses a system for controlling a chemical manufacturing process having at least one piece of process limiting equipment in addition to a reactor. The system employs one or more multivariable predictive optimizer controllers for optimizing control of the chemical reactor and production limiting equipment located upstream or downstream of the reactor, to provide integrated process control of the reactor and the production limiting equipment.
Abstract:
In the hydrogen supply device for producing and supplying hydrogen to a fuel cell, a heat exchange section has a rotary thermal storage through which low and high temperature passages pass. Reforming material is supplied to the low temperature fluid passage on an upstream side of the heat exchange section. A reforming section for producing reformed gas containing hydrogen is located at a downstream side of the low temperature fluid passage. A combustion gas supply section for generating and supplying a combustion gas is located in the high temperature fluid passage. The rotary thermal storage rotates to move alternately between the low and high temperature fluid passages so that heat of the combustion gas flowing in the high temperature fluid conduit is transferred to reforming material flowing in the low temperature fluid conduit. The low temperature fluid passage communicates with the high temperature fluid passage via the fuel cell.
Abstract:
A radial ammonia converter system including first and second heat interchangers and first, second and third catalyst beds. The synthesis gas is heated in said first and second interchangers by catalyst bed effluent prior to full flow through each of the catalyst beds. In one embodiment, two of the catalyst beds are mounted with the first and second interchangers in one vessel; and in another embodiment, the first interchanger and second catalyst bed are mounted in one vessel and the second interchanger and first catalyst bed are mounted in a separate vessel. In both embodiments, the radial ammonia converter system is completed by a third catalyst bed in a separate vessel.
Abstract:
Reactor pressure vessel with reactant fluid injectors for forming a liquid environment of an oxygen carrier fluid, sulphur and water in the presence of a catalyst to yield sulphuric acid and heat exchangers to capture generated heat.
Abstract:
Apparatus for high pressure-exothermic and catalytic reactions in the gaseous phase, for instance the synthesis of ammonia or methanol, has a substantially cylindrical shape and contains more than one superimposed catalyst bed and a cooling heat exchanger of the tube bundle type, the tube bundle is contained in a substantially cylindrical and coaxial shell and is longitudinally and completely partitioned into first and second separate halves by a plane baffle which substantially contains the axis of said tube bundle. The outlet opening on the shell side of the first half is directly connected to the inlet of a first catalyst bed. The inlet opening on the shell side of the second half is directly connected to the outlet of said first catalyst bed. The outlet opening on the shell side of the second half is directly connected to the inlet of a subsequent catalyst bed.