公开(公告)号：US20070243436A1

公开(公告)日：2007-10-18

申请号：US11765700

申请日：2007-06-20

申请人： Vijay Deshpande ,  W. Wheat ,  Curtis Krause ,  Ralph Worsley

发明人： Vijay Deshpande ,  W. Wheat ,  Curtis Krause ,  Ralph Worsley

IPC分类号： H01M8/04 ,  H01M8/10

CPC分类号： B01J8/0285 ,  B01J8/0496 ,  B01J2208/00141 ,  B01J2208/00168 ,  B01J2208/0053 ,  B01J2219/00083 ,  B01J2219/00087 ,  C01B3/382 ,  C01B3/48 ,  C01B3/56 ,  C01B2203/0244 ,  C01B2203/0283 ,  C01B2203/042 ,  C01B2203/044 ,  C01B2203/047 ,  C01B2203/0485 ,  C01B2203/066 ,  C01B2203/0844 ,  C01B2203/0883 ,  C01B2203/146 ,  H01M8/0612 ,  H01M8/0668 ,  H01M2008/1095 ,  Y02P20/129

摘要： 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.

摘要翻译： 公开了一种用于燃料处理器的冷却剂子系统及其操作方法。 根据第一方面，冷却剂子系统与供给到处理器反应器的进料分离，并且能够使冷却剂循环通过处理器反应器。 根据第二方面，燃料处理器的组成元件容纳在机柜中，并且冷却剂子系统能够冷却处理器反应器和机柜的内部。 在各种替代方案中，燃料处理器可用于改造用于燃料电池发电厂的燃料和/或可用于为不相关的机械系统提供热控制。

公开(公告)号：US20060057438A1

公开(公告)日：2006-03-16

申请号：US11265860

申请日：2005-11-03

申请人： W. Wheat ,  Vesna Mirkovic ,  Ralph Worsley

发明人： W. Wheat ,  Vesna Mirkovic ,  Ralph Worsley

IPC分类号： H01M8/00

CPC分类号： H01M8/0618 ,  C01B3/382 ,  C01B2203/0244 ,  C01B2203/066 ,  C01B2203/1241 ,  C01B2203/1276 ,  C01B2203/142 ,  C01B2203/1619 ,  C01B2203/1628 ,  C01B2203/1633 ,  C01B2203/169 ,  F16K17/16 ,  F16K37/0091

摘要： The present invention provides a method and apparatus for identifying an activation of a burst disk. A pressure data or a temperature data relating to a flow is received. A determination is made whether the flow is interrupted based upon the at least one of the pressure data and the temperature data. A burst disk activation is identified in response to determining that the flow is interrupted.

摘要翻译： 本发明提供了一种用于识别突发盘的激活的方法和装置。 接收与流相关的压力数据或温度数据。 基于压力数据和温度数据中的至少一个来确定流量是否中断。 响应于确定流被中断而识别突发盘激活。

公开(公告)号：US20060067863A1

公开(公告)日：2006-03-30

申请号：US10951948

申请日：2004-09-28

申请人： W. Wheat ,  Daniel Casey ,  Curtis Krause ,  Marshall Wier ,  David Harrison,

发明人： W. Wheat ,  Daniel Casey ,  Curtis Krause ,  Marshall Wier ,  David Harrison,

IPC分类号： B01J8/02

CPC分类号： B01J8/0285 ,  B01J8/008 ,  B01J8/025 ,  B01J8/065 ,  B01J8/067 ,  B01J19/248 ,  B01J2208/00061 ,  B01J2208/0007 ,  B01J2208/0015 ,  B01J2208/00203 ,  B01J2208/00716 ,  B01J2208/00884 ,  B01J2219/00038 ,  C01B3/583 ,  C01B2203/044 ,  C01B2203/047

摘要： An apparatus and method for the preferential oxidation of carbon monoxide in a hydrogen-rich fluid. The apparatus utilizes one or more reactors that are dimensioned to optimize the exothermic oxidation reaction and the transfer of heat to and from the catalyst bed. A reactor of the apparatus has an elongated cylindrical catalyst bed and heat transfer means adjacent the catalyst bed. The heat transfer means is suitable for pre-heating the catalyst bed during start-up operations and for removing the heat from the catalyst bed during the oxidation reaction. One or more reactors of different dimensions may be utilized depending upon the pressure of the hydrogen-rich fluid to be directed into the apparatus and the pressure requirements for the carbon monoxide-depleted fluid exiting the apparatus. For instance, in low pressure operations where it may be desirable to minimize the pressure drop across the apparatus, two or more reactors having relatively smaller dimensions can be utilized. In higher pressure operations where pressure drop across the preferential oxidation apparatus is of less concern, a single reactor having larger dimensions may be utilized. The relatively narrow dimension of the catalyst bed coupled with the relatively large surface are used for heat transfer provides for more uniform temperatures within the catalyst bed and improved temperature control of the bed.

公开(公告)号：US20060201064A1

公开(公告)日：2006-09-14

申请号：US11432068

申请日：2006-05-11

申请人： W. Wheat ,  Vesna Mirkovic ,  Kevin Nguyen ,  Curtis Krause ,  James Stevens ,  Daniel Casey

发明人： W. Wheat ,  Vesna Mirkovic ,  Kevin Nguyen ,  Curtis Krause ,  James Stevens ,  Daniel Casey

IPC分类号： C10J3/46

CPC分类号： B01J8/0453 ,  B01J8/025 ,  B01J8/0496 ,  B01J19/0013 ,  B01J19/0033 ,  B01J19/24 ,  B01J2208/00132 ,  B01J2208/00141 ,  B01J2208/00203 ,  B01J2208/00398 ,  B01J2208/00415 ,  B01J2208/0053 ,  B01J2208/00646 ,  B01J2208/00716 ,  B01J2208/00849 ,  B01J2219/00263 ,  C01B3/382 ,  C01B3/48 ,  C01B2203/0244 ,  C01B2203/0283 ,  C01B2203/066 ,  C01B2203/0844 ,  C01B2203/127 ,  C01B2203/1604 ,  C01B2203/1609 ,  C01B2203/1619 ,  C01B2203/169 ,  H01M8/0618 ,  H01M8/0668 ,  H01M2008/1095

摘要： A method for start-up and shut down of a fuel processor including an autothermal reformer employing a non-pyrophoric shift catalyst is disclosed. Also disclosed are a computer programmed to start-up or shut down a fuel processor including an autothermal reformer employing a non-pyrophoric shift catalyst or a program storage medium encoded with instruction that, when executed by a computer, start-up or shut down a fuel processor including an autothermal reformer employing a non-pyrophoric shift catalyst.

公开(公告)号：US20050143862A1

公开(公告)日：2005-06-30

申请号：US11016676

申请日：2004-12-17

申请人： Hongqiao Sun ,  Daniel Casey ,  Vesna Mirkovic ,  Bhaskar Balasubramanian ,  W. Wheat ,  Curtis Krause

发明人： Hongqiao Sun ,  Daniel Casey ,  Vesna Mirkovic ,  Bhaskar Balasubramanian ,  W. Wheat ,  Curtis Krause

IPC分类号： G05B19/042 ,  H01M8/04 ,  H01M8/06 ,  G05B21/00

CPC分类号： H01M8/04992 ,  G05B19/0421 ,  G05B2219/2208 ,  G05B2219/2668 ,  H01M8/04223 ,  H01M8/04225 ,  H01M8/04228 ,  H01M8/04302 ,  H01M8/04303 ,  H01M8/0612 ,  H01M8/0662 ,  Y10T436/11 ,  Y10T436/115831 ,  Y10T436/12

摘要： A method and apparatus for use in regenerating a reactor shift bed catalyst are disclosed. The method comprises monitoring the saturation level of a reactor shift bed catalyst in a reformer; automatically detecting that the reactor shift bed catalyst has entered a saturated state; and automatically regenerating the reactor shift bed catalyst in response to automatically detecting the saturated state. The apparatus may be, in various aspects, a program storage method encoded with instructions that, when executed by a computing device, performs such a method; a computing apparatus programmed to perform such a method, or a control system performing such a method.

摘要翻译： 公开了一种用于再生反应器换床催化剂的方法和装置。 该方法包括监测重整器中反应器换档床催化剂的饱和水平; 自动检测反应器换档床催化剂已进入饱和状态; 并响应于自动检测饱和状态而自动再生反应器换档床催化剂。 该装置可以是在各种方面的编码有指令的程序存储方法，所述指令在由计算装置执行时执行这种方法; 被编程为执行这种方法的计算装置，或执行这种方法的控制系统。

公开(公告)号：US20060014062A1

公开(公告)日：2006-01-19

申请号：US10408006

申请日：2003-04-04

申请人： W. Wheat ,  Vesna Mirkovic ,  David Melton ,  David Harrison

发明人： W. Wheat ,  Vesna Mirkovic ,  David Melton ,  David Harrison

IPC分类号： H01M8/04

CPC分类号： H01M8/04776 ,  G05D9/12 ,  H01M8/04186 ,  H01M8/04291 ,  H01M8/04828 ,  Y10T137/0324 ,  Y10T137/7303 ,  Y10T137/731

摘要： The present invention provides a method and apparatus for controlling a level in a receptacle capable of storing a fluid. The apparatus includes a first valve governing ingress of the fluid to the receptacle, a second valve governing egress of fluid from the receptacle, wherein the second valve is positioned below the first valve. The apparatus also includes a first switch deployed between the first valve and the second valve, wherein the first switch is capable of providing a first signal indicative of fluid at the first switch and a second switch deployed between the first switch and the second valve, wherein the second switch is capable of providing a second signal indicative of an absence of fluid at the second switch. The apparatus also includes a controller capable of controlling a fluid level in the receptacle by opening and closing the first and second valves responsive to the first and second signals.

公开(公告)号：US20060137245A1

公开(公告)日：2006-06-29

申请号：US11015588

申请日：2004-12-17

申请人： Dean Kenefake ,  W. Wheat ,  Hongqiao Sun ,  Bhaskar Balasubramanian ,  Vesna Mirkovic ,  Daniel Casey

发明人： Dean Kenefake ,  W. Wheat ,  Hongqiao Sun ,  Bhaskar Balasubramanian ,  Vesna Mirkovic ,  Daniel Casey

IPC分类号： C01B3/24

CPC分类号： C01B3/38 ,  C01B3/501 ,  C01B3/56 ,  C01B2203/0233 ,  C01B2203/0244 ,  C01B2203/0261 ,  C01B2203/0283 ,  C01B2203/0405 ,  C01B2203/043 ,  C01B2203/044 ,  C01B2203/0455 ,  C01B2203/047 ,  C01B2203/0485 ,  C01B2203/066 ,  C01B2203/1241 ,  C01B2203/16 ,  C01B2203/1604 ,  C01B2203/1628

摘要： An apparatus and method for producing a hydrogen-enriched reformate. The apparatus includes a fuel processor for converting a fuel to a reformate having fluctuations in pressure and or flow rate, means for reducing the fluctuations, a compression unit for compressing the reformate and one or more of a purification unit and a storage unit downstream of a compression unit. Means for reducing the fluctuations in the reformate can include one or more of a buffer and a conduit for providing a controlled flow of a supplemental fluid to an inlet of the compression unit. The supplemental fluid can include the compressed reformate, a hydrogen-enriched reformate, and mixtures thereof. The apparatus can include means for regulating power to the compression unit that can incrementally increase power to the compression unit particularly during start up. The purification unit can include one or more of a hydrogen selective membrane and a pressure swing adsorption unit. Methods for producing hydrogen are also disclosed.

摘要翻译： 一种生产富氢重整产品的装置和方法。 该装置包括用于将燃料转化为具有压力和/或流速波动的重整产品的燃料处理器，用于减少波动的装置，用于压缩重整产品的压缩单元和净化单元和存储单元下游的一个或多个 压缩单元。 用于减少重整产品波动的方法可以包括一个或多个缓冲器和用于向压缩单元的入口提供受控流动的补充流体的导管。 补充流体可以包括压缩的重整油，富氢重整油及其混合物。 该装置可以包括用于调节压缩单元的功率的装置，其可以增量地增加对压缩单元的功率，特别是在启动期间。 净化单元可以包括氢选择性膜和变压吸附单元中的一种或多种。 还公开了生产氢的方法。

公开(公告)号：US20060130402A1

公开(公告)日：2006-06-22

申请号：US11015711

申请日：2004-12-17

申请人： W. Wheat ,  Hongqiao Sun ,  Bhaskar Balasubramanian ,  Vesna Mirkovic

发明人： W. Wheat ,  Hongqiao Sun ,  Bhaskar Balasubramanian ,  Vesna Mirkovic

IPC分类号： C10J3/46

CPC分类号： F17C11/005 ,  B01D53/0446 ,  B01D53/047 ,  B01D2256/16 ,  B01D2259/40005 ,  B01D2259/40007 ,  B01D2259/40083 ,  B01D2259/40086 ,  B01D2259/40088 ,  C01B3/382 ,  C01B3/48 ,  C01B3/56 ,  C01B2203/0244 ,  C01B2203/0283 ,  C01B2203/042 ,  C01B2203/043 ,  C01B2203/044 ,  C01B2203/0455 ,  C01B2203/047 ,  C01B2203/0485 ,  C01B2203/16 ,  C01B2203/1642 ,  Y02E60/321 ,  Y02P90/45

摘要： An apparatus and method for producing a hydrogen-enriched reformate. The apparatus includes a fuel processor for producing a reformate having fluctuations in a pressure and/or flow rate and means for reducing the fluctuations. The reformate comprises impurities that are removed by a purification unit having a plurality of adsorbent beds. A valve assembly controls the flow of reformate to the adsorbent beds based upon sensed product data generated by a product sensor. A compression unit optionally compresses the reformate prior to entering the purification unit. Means for reducing fluctuations in the pressure and/or flow rate include a buffer and/or a conduit for providing a controlled flow of a supplemental fluid to an inlet of the compression unit. A product valve can control the flow of hydrogen-enriched reformate out of the purification unit. A controller can control the valve assembly, the flow of supplemental fluid and the product valve among other apparatus components to maintain a stable pressure within the purification unit and to produce a desired hydrogen-enriched reformate.

摘要翻译： 一种生产富氢重整产品的装置和方法。 该装置包括用于产生具有压力和/或流速波动的重整产物的燃料处理器以及用于减小波动的装置。 重整产品包括通过具有多个吸附床的净化单元除去的杂质。 基于由产品传感器产生的感测产品数据，阀组件控制重整产物到吸附剂床的流动。 压缩单元在进入净化单元之前可选地压缩重整产品。 用于减小压力和/或流速波动的装置包括用于向压缩单元的入口提供受控流动的补充流体的缓冲器和/或导管。 产品阀可以控制净化单元中富氢重整产品的流动。 控制器可以控制阀组件，补充流体和产品阀在其他设备组件中的流动，以保持纯化单元内的稳定压力并产生所需的富氢重整产物。

公开(公告)号：US20060134568A1

公开(公告)日：2006-06-22

申请号：US11015408

申请日：2004-12-17

申请人： Hongqiao Sun ,  Vesna Mirkovic ,  Bhaskar Balasubramanian ,  W. Wheat

发明人： Hongqiao Sun ,  Vesna Mirkovic ,  Bhaskar Balasubramanian ,  W. Wheat

IPC分类号： F23D3/40

CPC分类号： F23C13/02 ,  F23C13/04

摘要： A method for operating a combustor having a catalyst bed. The method includes the steps of directing a flow of air through a catalyst bed, providing heat to the catalyst bed, sensing the temperature in an upstream portion of the catalyst bed to provide an upstream temperature, directing a flow of a fuel through the catalyst bed when the upstream temperature reaches a light-off temperature to produce a combustion reaction, increasing the flow of the fuel until the flow of air and the flow of fuel have a selected air to fuel ratio, and controlling the combustion reaction within the catalyst bed by adjusting the flow of air and the flow of fuel while maintaining the selected air to fuel ratio. The method can include sensing temperatures within the catalyst bed and controlling the combustion reaction in response to the sensed temperatures. The heat provided to the catalyst bed can also be adjusted in response to the sensed temperatures. The methods can further include exchanging heat between heated combustion products and one or more reforming reactants.

摘要翻译： 一种操作具有催化剂床的燃烧器的方法。 该方法包括以下步骤：引导空气流过催化剂床，向催化剂床提供热量，感测催化剂床的上游部分中的温度以提供上游温度，引导燃料流通过催化剂床 当上游温度达到关闭温度以产生燃烧反应时，增加燃料的流量直到空气流和燃料流量具有选定的空气与燃料比，并且通过以下方式控制催化剂床内的燃烧反应 调节空气流量和燃料流量，同时保持所选择的空气燃料比。 该方法可以包括感测催化剂床内的温度并响应于所感测的温度来控制燃烧反应。 提供给催化剂床的热也可以响应于所感测的温度来调节。 所述方法还可以包括在加热的燃烧产物和一种或多种重整反应物之间交换热量。

公开(公告)号：US20050188614A1

公开(公告)日：2005-09-01

申请号：US11015238

申请日：2004-12-17

申请人： Vesna Mirkovic ,  Hongqiao Sun ,  W. Wheat ,  Daniel Casey ,  Bhaskar Balasubramanian

发明人： Vesna Mirkovic ,  Hongqiao Sun ,  W. Wheat ,  Daniel Casey ,  Bhaskar Balasubramanian

IPC分类号： G05B19/042 ,  H01M8/04 ,  H01M8/06 ,  B01J7/00

CPC分类号： H01M8/04992 ,  G05B19/0421 ,  G05B2219/2208 ,  G05B2219/2668 ,  H01M8/04223 ,  H01M8/04225 ,  H01M8/04228 ,  H01M8/04302 ,  H01M8/04303 ,  H01M8/0612 ,  H01M8/0662 ,  Y10T436/11 ,  Y10T436/115831 ,  Y10T436/12

摘要： A method and apparatus for use in generating hydrogen are disclosed. The apparatus includes a fuel processor capable of producing a reformate from a fuel; a hydrogen purifier capable of generating a purified hydrogen gas stream from the reformate; a compressor capable of providing the reformate from the fuel processor to the pressure swing adsorption unit at a desired pressure; and a control system capable of integrating and controlling the operation of the fuel processor, the pressure swing adsorption unit, and the compressor. In another aspect, the invention includes a method for controlling the operation of a purified hydrogen generator, the method comprising: controlling the operation of a hydrogen generator; controlling the operation of a hydrogen purifier; and synchronizing the controlled operation of the hydrogen generator with the controlled operation of the hydrogen purifier.

摘要翻译： 公开了一种用于产生氢气的方法和装置。 该装置包括能够从燃料产生重整产物的燃料处理器; 一种能够从重整产生纯化氢气流的氢气净化器; 压缩机，能够以所需的压力将燃料处理器的重整产物提供给变压吸附单元; 以及能够集成和控制燃料处理器，变压吸附单元和压缩机的操作的控制系统。 另一方面，本发明包括一种用于控制纯化氢发生器的操作的方法，所述方法包括：控制氢气发生器的运行; 控制氢气净化器的运行; 并使氢发生器的受控操作与氢气净化器的受控操作同步。