초록 ▼

A steam reformer with internal hydrogen purification includes internal bulk hydrogen purification, internal hydrogen polishing to remove trace levels of carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide, an integrated combustion method utilizing waste gas to heat the reformer, efficient integration of heat transfe

A steam reformer with internal hydrogen purification includes internal bulk hydrogen purification, internal hydrogen polishing to remove trace levels of carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide, an integrated combustion method utilizing waste gas to heat the reformer, efficient integration of heat transfer, and a compact design. One steam reformer shown includes a concentric cylindrical architecture nesting an annular combustion region, an annular reforming region, an annular hydrogen transport region, and a cylindrical polishing region. Other reformers shown include modified combustion systems distributed within a reformation region, isolated vaporization chambers, combustion systems providing uniform temperature gradient, and plate membrane construction methods.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A steam reformer, comprising:a reformation chamber containing a reformation catalyst, wherein the reformation chamber is adapted to receive a reformation feedstock and produce a reformate stream including hydrogen therefrom; anda membrane module adapted to receive the ref

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A steam reformer, comprising:a reformation chamber containing a reformation catalyst, wherein the reformation chamber is adapted to receive a reformation feedstock and produce a reformate stream including hydrogen therefrom; anda membrane module adapted to receive the reformate stream and divide the reformate stream into a byproduct stream and a hydrogen product stream, the membrane module comprising:a plurality of hydrogen permeable membranes, each having a reformate side and a permeate side, wherein the membranes are spaced-apart from each other and oriented with their permeate sides generally facing each other to define a harvesting conduit extending therebetween, and further wherein the hydrogen product stream is formed from the portion of the reformate stream that passes through the membranes to the harvesting conduit, with the remaining portion of the reformate stream which remains on the reformate side of the membranes forming the byproduct stream;a support within the harvesting conduit adapted to support the membranes, wherein the support includes a pair of generally opposed surfaces which are adapted to provide support to a respective one of the permeate sides of the membranes; anda product outlet port in fluid communication with the harvesting conduit and through which the hydrogen product stream is withdrawn from the membrane module.