초록 ▼

A fuel gas catalyst bed for use in a fuel cell power plant is formed from a monolithic open cell foam component, the open cell lattice of which forms gas passages through the catalyst bed. The monolithic component has a lattice of internal open cells which are both laterally and longitudinally inter

A fuel gas catalyst bed for use in a fuel cell power plant is formed from a monolithic open cell foam component, the open cell lattice of which forms gas passages through the catalyst bed. The monolithic component has a lattice of internal open cells which are both laterally and longitudinally interconnected so as to produce a diffuse gas flow pattern through the catalyst bed. All areas of the monolithic component which form the gas flow pattern are provided with an underlying high porosity wash coat layer. The porous surface of the wash coat layer is provided with a nickel catalyst layer, or a noble metal catalyst layer, such as platinum, rhodium, palladium, or the like, over which the gas stream being treated flows. The base foam lattice can be a metal such as aluminum, stainless steel, a steel-aluminum alloy, a nickel alloy, a ceramic, or the like material which can be wash coated. The use of an open cell lattice as the basis of a catalyst bed enables the formation of very compact, light weight and high surface area catalyst bed with excellent gas flow-through characteristics.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A catalyst bed for use in a fuel processing system that catalytically renders a fuel gas stream useful for fueling a fuel cell power plant, said catalyst bed comprising a monolithic open cell foam member having a lattice of internal open cells which are both laterally and

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A catalyst bed for use in a fuel processing system that catalytically renders a fuel gas stream useful for fueling a fuel cell power plant, said catalyst bed comprising a monolithic open cell foam member having a lattice of internal open cells which are both laterally and longitudinally interconnected and that defines interconnected interstices which produce a laterally and longitudinally diffuse gas flow pattern through the catalyst bed, said lattice having a core which is provided with a porous wash coat layer on all surfaces of said core; and a catalyst deposited on said wash coat layer.