초록 ▼

Hydrogen generation and fuel cell operation are integrated through the use of a low-cost hydrogen generation zone which comprises a pre-reforming zone, a partial oxidation zone, a reforming zone, and a water gas shift zone. Anode waste gas from the fuel cell is burned to provide heat to pre-reform t

Hydrogen generation and fuel cell operation are integrated through the use of a low-cost hydrogen generation zone which comprises a pre-reforming zone, a partial oxidation zone, a reforming zone, and a water gas shift zone. Anode waste gas from the fuel cell is burned to provide heat to pre-reform the feed to the hydrogen generation zone while the burner exit temperature and the reforming zone exit temperatures are controlled using a simplified control system to eliminate thermal cycling in the hydrogenation zone. This simplified control of the hot side temperatures in the hydrogen generation zone below about 700.degree. C. combined with use of the pre-reforming zone, surprisingly permits the use of carbon steel and/or stainless steel for construction of the hydrogenation zone while providing an efficient system which does not require external fuel and offers a high degree of feedstock flexibility at low cost.

대표청구항 ▼

[ We claim:] [1.]1. A process for starting up a system for generating hydrogen from a hydrocarbon feedstock for a fuel cell, said process comprising:a) passing a hydrocarbon feedstock and a steam stream to a pre-reforming zone and withdrawing a pre-reforming effluent stream;b) passing the pre-reform

[ We claim:] [1.]1. A process for starting up a system for generating hydrogen from a hydrocarbon feedstock for a fuel cell, said process comprising:a) passing a hydrocarbon feedstock and a steam stream to a pre-reforming zone and withdrawing a pre-reforming effluent stream;b) passing the pre-reforming effluent stream and a first air stream at a first air rate to a partial oxidation zone containing a partial oxidation catalyst;c) igniting the hydrocarbon feedstock having a feedstock temperature to raise the feedstock temperature to effective partial oxidation conditions and to convert the hydrocarbon feedstock to a partial oxidation effluent stream;d) passing the partial oxidation effluent stream to a reforming zone to produce a reforming effluent stream at a reforming exit temperature of between about 500 and about 700.degree. C.;e) passing the reforming effluent and a first water stream to a water gas shift zone containing at least one water gas shift catalyst zone, said water gas shift zone being in intimate thermal contact with a water gas shift heat exchange zone to establish a steady-state temperature profile to produce a crude hydrogen product stream and simultaneously passing a second water stream to the water gas shift exchange zone to cool the water gas shift zone and provide a steam stream;f) passing the crude hydrogen product stream to a hydrogen processing module to provide a processed hydrogen stream;g) passing the processed hydrogen stream to an anode side of the fuel cell and contacting a cathode side of the fuel cell with an oxygen-containing stream to produce electric power and withdrawing an anode waste gas from the anode side;h) burning the anode waste gas admixed with a second air stream in a burner zone to produce a flue gas stream at a flue gas temperature of about 500 to about 700.degree. C.;i) passing the flue gas stream to a pre-reforming heat exchange zone to establish a steady-state temperature profile to heat the pre-reforming zone to an effective pre-reforming temperature to convert at least a portion of the hydrocarbon feedstock and a portion of the steam stream to provide a pre-reforming effluent at a pre-reforming exit temperature; andj) passing the pre-reforming effluent to the partial oxidation zone and continuing said igniting step until effective partial oxidation conditions are achieved.