Abstract:
An oxidizer assembly provided with a housing having a plurality of inlets each for receiving a different gas and a plurality of outlets each corresponding to a different one of the inlets and outputting gas resulting from the gas received from its corresponding inlet. A catalyst assembly able to support gas flow therethrough is disposed within the housing and includes a catalyst able to oxidize carbon monoxide gas and to be regenerated. The catalyst assembly is further adapted to be movable such that successive parts of the assembly are able to be brought repeatedly in communication with a first inlet and its corresponding first outlet and then a second inlet and its corresponding second outlet of the housing. In the preferred form of the invention, the catalyst assembly is additionally adapted so that each section is brought in communication with a third inlet and its corresponding third outlet after being in communication with the second inlet and its corresponding second outlet and prior to being brought back into communication with the first inlet and its corresponding outlet.
Abstract:
A fuel supply assembly which receives a supply of liquid fuel feedstock including hydrocarbons having higher and lower hydrocarbon content and high molecular weight sulfur-containing compounds, the higher hydrocarbon content and high molecular weight sulfur- containing compounds being less volatile than the lower hydrocarbon content. The fuel supply assembly supplies fuel to a fuel cell assembly, and has a housing unit (201) adapted to house the liquid fuel feedstock to vaporize to form fuel feedstock vapor, the vaporization conditions being such that the concentration of lower hydrocarbon content is higher and the concentration of higher hydrocarbon content and high molecular weight sulfur-containing compounds is lower in the fuel feedstock vapor than in the liquid fuel feedstock. A collecting unit is provided in the fuel supply assembly, which has a first end coupled with the housing unit and a second end adapted to be coupled with the fuel cell assembly, which collects the fuel feedstock vapor from the housing unit to make the vapor available to the fuel cell assembly.
Abstract:
A pre-processing assembly and method for processing fuel feedstock containing oxygen and hydrocarbons having higher and lower hydrocarbon content for a fuel cell, wherein the pre-processing assembly has a deoxidizing bed for reducing oxygen in the fuel feedstock and a pre-reforming bed for reducing higher hydrocarbon content in the fuel feedstock and wherein the deoxidizing bed and the pre-reforming bed are disposed within a common reaction vessel such that the fuel feedstock first passes through the deoxidizing bed and thereafter through the pre-reforming bed. The pre-reforming assembly may further include a propane processor bed for processing propane and propylene in the fuel feedstock, where the propane processor bed is disposed within the common reaction vessel with the deoxidizing bed and the pre-reforming bed.
Abstract:
A reforming catalyst member having an elongated body whose outer surface has a number of peak and valley regions so as to increase the area of the outer surface to enhance catalyst utilization.
Abstract:
A method and apparatus for use with an oxidizer assembly of a fuel cell system in which the oxidizer assembly has an oxidizing unit for oxidizing anode exhaust gas containing electrolyte particulates and is adapted or conditioned so as to enable the electrolyte particulates to be removable from the assembly and to be removed from the assembly, and wherein the conditioning and removing occur with the oxidizing unit retained in the oxidizer assembly. The fuel cell system is also adapted so that such conditioning and removing occur with the oxidizing assembly retained in the fuel cell system.
Abstract:
A fuel processing system and method for processing fuel for a fuel cell having a first adsorbent bed (106) for adsorption of high molecular weight organic sulfurcontaining compounds and inorganic sulfur-containing compounds, and a second adsorbent bed (106A) for adsorption of low molecular weight organic sulfur-containing compounds, where the adsorbent beds are arranged such that the fuel to be processed passes through one of the adsorbent beds and, thereafter through the other adsorbent bed.
Abstract:
A fuel supply assembly which receives a supply of liquid fuel feedstock including hydrocarbons having higher and lower hydrocarbon content and high molecular weight sulfur-containing compounds, the higher hydrocarbon content and high molecular weight sulfur- containing compounds being less volatile than the lower hydrocarbon content. The fuel supply assembly supplies fuel to a fuel cell assembly, and has a housing unit (201) adapted to house the liquid fuel feedstock to vaporize to form fuel feedstock vapor, the vaporization conditions being such that the concentration of lower hydrocarbon content is higher and the concentration of higher hydrocarbon content and high molecular weight sulfur-containing compounds is lower in the fuel feedstock vapor than in the liquid fuel feedstock. A collecting unit is provided in the fuel supply assembly, which has a first end coupled with the housing unit and a second end adapted to be coupled with the fuel cell assembly, which collects the fuel feedstock vapor from the housing unit to make the vapor available to the fuel cell assembly.
Abstract:
A PEM fuel cell system in which an oxidizer is provided and in which the catalyst for the oxidizer is an OMS-2 catalyst and, in particular, an M-OAS-2 catalyst. Preferable catalysts are Co-OMS-2, Cu-OMS-2 and Ag-OAS-2 and, more preferably, Ag-OMS-2. Also, the effectiveness of the oxidizer is enhanced by one or more of the controlled addition of oxidant to the fuel feed and/or oxidizer, controlling the space velocity of the fuel feed and controlling the operaring temperature of the oxidizer. A system for regeneration of the M-OMS-2 catalyst and a method of making the catalyst are additionally provided.
Abstract:
A fuel processing system and method for processing fuel for a fuel cell having a first adsorbent bed for adsorption of high molecular weight organic sulfurcontaining compounds and inorganic sulfur-containing compounds, and a second adsorbent bed for adsorption of low molecular weight organic sulfur-containing compounds, where the adsorbent beds are arranged such that the fuel to be processed passes through one of the adsorbent beds and, thereafter through the other adsorbent bed.