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A fuel processing assembly adapted to produce hydrogen gas from a carbon-containing feedstock. The fuel processing assembly includes a fuel processor, such as a steam reformer. The fuel processing assembly further includes a feed assembly adapted to deliver a carbon-containing feedstock, such as a h

A fuel processing assembly adapted to produce hydrogen gas from a carbon-containing feedstock. The fuel processing assembly includes a fuel processor, such as a steam reformer. The fuel processing assembly further includes a feed assembly adapted to deliver a carbon-containing feedstock, such as a hydrocarbon, to the fuel processor. In some embodiments, the fuel processing system includes a fuel cell stack that includes at least one fuel cell adapted to produce electrical power from hydrogen gas produced by the fuel processor.

대표청구항 ▼

We claim: 1. A fuel processing system, comprising: a fuel processor adapted to produce a product hydrogen stream from a feed stream containing a gaseous hydrocarbon feedstock and water, wherein the fuel processor comprises: a hydrogen-producing region in which a mixed gas stream containing hydrogen

We claim: 1. A fuel processing system, comprising: a fuel processor adapted to produce a product hydrogen stream from a feed stream containing a gaseous hydrocarbon feedstock and water, wherein the fuel processor comprises: a hydrogen-producing region in which a mixed gas stream containing hydrogen gas and other gases is produced from the feed stream via steam reforming; and a separation region in which the mixed gas stream is separated into a hydrogen-rich stream containing at least substantially pure hydrogen gas and a byproduct stream containing at least a substantial portion of the other gases, wherein the product hydrogen stream is formed from the hydrogen-rich stream; a feed assembly adapted to deliver the feed stream to the fuel processor, wherein the feed assembly comprises: a reservoir adapted to hold a volume of liquid water having a surface, the reservoir including a water inlet through which a supply of water is added to the reservoir, a hydrocarbon feedstock inlet through which the hydrocarbon feedstock is added to the reservoir, and an outlet through which the feed stream is delivered to the fuel processor, wherein the hydrocarbon feedstock inlet is positioned to introduce the hydrocarbon feedstock below the surface of the volume of water; a hydrocarbon feedstock delivery system adapted to deliver a stream of a hydrocarbon feedstock to the hydrocarbon feedstock inlet of the reservoir; and a control system adapted to control the ratio of water and the hydrocarbon feedstock in the feed stream, wherein the control system includes a controller in communication with the fuel processing system via a plurality of communication linkages, wherein via the communication linkages the controller is adapted to receive inputs from at least one sensor and to directly or indirectly control the pressure of the steam of the hydrocarbon feedstock delivered to the reservoir at least partially responsive thereto. 2. The fuel processing system of claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor includes a level sensor adapted to measure the volume of the liquid water in the reservoir, and further wherein responsive at least in part to the volume of the liquid water measured by the level sensor the controller is further adapted to direct a water delivery system to deliver more water to the reservoir. 3. The fuel processing system of claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor includes a sensor adapted to measure the pressure of the liquid water in the reservoir and further wherein the controller is adapted to control the pressure of the stream of carbon-containing feedstock delivered to the reservoir responsive to changes in the pressure of the water in the reservoir. 4. The fuel processing system of claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor includes a sensor adapted to measure the saturation pressure of the water in the reservoir, and further wherein the controller is adapted to control the pressure of the stream of hydrocarbon feedstock that is delivered to the reservoir responsive to changes in the saturation pressure of the water in the reservoir. 5. The fuel processing system of claim 4, wherein the controller is adapted to index the pressure of the stream of the hydrocarbon feedstock to the saturation pressure of the water in the reservoir. 6. The fuel processing system of claim 4, wherein the controller is adapted to control the pressure of the stream of the hydrocarbon feedstock to be greater than the saturation pressure of the water in the reservoir. 7. The fuel processing system of claim 4, wherein the controller is adapted to control the pressure of the stream of the hydrocarbon feedstock to be greater than the saturation pressure of water in the reservoir by a determined increment. 8. The fuel processing system of claim 1, wherein the controller is adapted to control the pressure of the stream of hydrocarbon feedstock relative to the temperature of the water in the reservoir. 9. The fuel processing system of claim 8, wherein the at least one sensor includes a sensor adapted to measure the temperature of the water in the reservoir, and further wherein the controller is adapted to control the pressure of the stream of hydrocarbon feedstock responsive at least in part to inputs from the sensor adapted to measure the temperature of the water in the reservoir. 10. The fuel processing system of claim 9, wherein the controller is adapted to index the pressure of the stream of the hydrocarbon feedstock to the temperature of the water in the reservoir. 11. The fuel processing system of claim 1, further including a heating assembly adapted to heat the reservoir. 12. The fuel processing system of claim 11, further including a water delivery system adapted to deliver the volume of liquid water to the reservoir, wherein the volume of liquid water has a temperature as it is delivered to the reservoir by the water delivery system, and further wherein the heating assembly is adapted to heat the volume of liquid water to a temperature greater than the temperature of the water when it was delivered to the reservoir by the water delivery system. 13. The fuel processing system of claim 11, wherein the heating assembly is adapted to heat the reservoir through heat exchange with a heated fluid stream. 14. The fuel processing system of claim 13, wherein the fuel processor includes a heated exhaust stream and the heated fluid stream includes the heated exhaust stream from the fuel processor. 15. The fuel processing system of claim 13, wherein the heated fluid stream includes an exhaust stream from a combustion chamber. 16. The fuel processing system of claim 13, wherein the fuel processing system further includes a combustion chamber with an exhaust stream and the heated fluid stream includes the exhaust stream from the combustion chamber. 17. The fuel processing system of claim 13, wherein the fuel processing system further includes a fuel cell stack including at least one fuel cell adapted to produce electrical power from the product hydrogen stream, wherein the fuel cell stack includes a cooling fluid stream, and further wherein the heated fluid stream includes the cooling fluid stream from the fuel cell stack. 18. The fuel processing system of claim 13, wherein the heated fluid stream includes an exhaust stream from a burner. 19. The fuel processing system of claim 13, wherein the reservoir includes one or more conduits passing through the reservoir and not in fluid communication with the volume of liquid water, and the heating assembly is adapted to deliver the heated fluid stream through the conduits. 20. The fuel processing system of claim 13, wherein the reservoir includes a shell surrounding at least a portion of the reservoir, wherein the shell is spaced away from the reservoir to define a cavity therebetween, and further wherein the heating assembly is adapted to deliver the heated fluid stream to the cavity. 21. The fuel processing system of claim 11, wherein the controller is adapted to control the operation of the heating assembly. 22. The fuel processing system of claim 21, wherein the controller is adapted to regulate the delivery of heat to the reservoir by the heating assembly responsive at least in part to the temperature of the water in the reservoir. 23. The fuel processing system of claim 22, wherein the at least one sensor includes a temperature sensor adapted to measure the temperature of the reservoir, and further wherein the controller is further adapted to control the operation of the heating assembly responsive at least in part to the temperature of the reservoir measured by the temperature sensor. 24. The fuel processing system of claim 22, wherein the at least one sensor includes a temperature sensor adapted to measure the temperature of the liquid water in the reservoir, and further wherein the controller is further adapted to control the operation of the heating assembly responsive at least in part to the temperature of the liquid water measured by the temperature sensor. 25. The fuel processing system of claim 1, wherein the controller includes stored values and is adapted to compare a value measured by the at least one sensor with the stored values. 26. The fuel processing system of claim 25, wherein the controller is adapted to actuate one or more components of the fuel processing system if the value measured by the at least one sensor exceeds a corresponding stored value. 27. The fuel processing system of claim 1, wherein the controller is further adapted to control the operation of the fuel processor responsive at least in part to the inputs. 28. The fuel processing system of claim 1, wherein the controller is adapted to control the molar ratio of water to hydrocarbon feedstock in the feed stream to be within the range of 2-5:1. 29. The fuel processing system of claim 28, wherein the controller is adapted to control the molar ratio of water to hydrocarbon feedstock in the feed stream to be within the range of 2.5-3.5:1. 30. The fuel processing system of claim 29, wherein the controller is adapted to control the molar ratio of water to hydrocarbon feedstock in the feed stream to be approximately 3:1. 31. The fuel processing system of claim 1, wherein the water inlet is below the surface. 32. The fuel processing system of claim 1, wherein the water inlet is below the hydrocarbon feedstock inlet. 33. The fuel processing system of claim 1, wherein the communication linkages are adapted to enable two-directional communication. 34. The fuel processing system of claim 1, wherein the communication linkages include mechanical linkages. 35. The fuel processing system of claim 1, wherein the communication linkages include electronic linkages. 36. The fuel processing system of claim 35, wherein the communication linkages include wireless electronic linkages. 37. The fuel processing system of claim 1, wherein the reservoir includes a tank having an internal compartment with a first region adapted to receive and contain the volume of liquid water, and a second region that is above the first region and does not contain the volume of liquid water. 38. The fuel processing system of claim 1, wherein the hydrocarbon feedstock includes at least one of methane and propane. 39. The fuel processing system of claim 1, wherein the separation region includes at least one hydrogen-selective membrane, and further wherein the product hydrogen stream is formed from a portion of the mixed gas stream that passes through the at least one membrane and the byproduct stream is formed from a portion of the mixed gas stream that does not pass through the at least one membrane. 40. The fuel processing system of claim 39, wherein at least one of the membranes is a hydrogen-selective metal membrane containing an alloy of palladium and copper. 41. The fuel processing system of claim 1, wherein the separation region is adapted to produce the product hydrogen stream from the mixed gas stream via a pressure swing absorption process. 42. The fuel processing system of claim 1, wherein the separation region is contained within the fuel processor. 43. The fuel processing system of claim 1, wherein the fuel processor includes a housing and the separation region is mounted on the housing. 44. The fuel processing system of claim 1, wherein the fuel processor includes a housing containing the hydrogen-producing region, and further wherein the separation region is external and physically separated from the housing but in fluid communication with the hydrogen-producing region to receive the mixed gas stream therefrom. 45. The fuel processing system of claim 1, further including a fuel cell stack adapted to receive at least a portion of the product hydrogen stream.