초록 ▼

The present invention provides a method for generating a gas that may be used for startup and shutdown of a fuel cell. In a non-limiting embodiment, the method may include generating a nitrogen-rich stream; merging the nitrogen-rich stream with a hydrocarbon fuel stream into a feed mixture stream; a

The present invention provides a method for generating a gas that may be used for startup and shutdown of a fuel cell. In a non-limiting embodiment, the method may include generating a nitrogen-rich stream; merging the nitrogen-rich stream with a hydrocarbon fuel stream into a feed mixture stream; and catalytically converting the feed mixture into a reducing gas.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A method for generating a reducing gas having a variable combustibles content, comprising: providing a nitrogen-rich oxidant stream, the oxidant stream having a nitrogen content greater than that of ambient air, the oxidant stream also having an oxygen (O2) content;providing a hydrocarbon fuel st

1. A method for generating a reducing gas having a variable combustibles content, comprising: providing a nitrogen-rich oxidant stream, the oxidant stream having a nitrogen content greater than that of ambient air, the oxidant stream also having an oxygen (O2) content;providing a hydrocarbon fuel stream;combining the hydrocarbon fuel stream and the oxidant stream into a feed mixture, the feed mixture having an oxidant/fuel ratio;reacting the feed mixture in a catalytic reactor to generate the reducing gas; andcontrolling both the O2 content of the oxidant stream and the oxidant/fuel ratio of the feed mixture to maintain a predetermined control temperature while also independently varying both the O2 content of the oxidant stream and the oxidant/fuel ratio of the feed mixture to obtain a selected combustibles content of the reducing gas. 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising supplying the reducing gas to a fuel cell. 3. The method of claim 1, further comprising: generating a nitrogen-rich stream; and combining the nitrogen-rich stream with air to yield the nitrogen-rich oxidant stream. 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the nitrogen-rich oxidant stream is generated by extracting nitrogen from air using a nitrogen separation membrane. 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the predetermined temperature is a predetermined temperature of the reducing gas. 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the predetermined temperature is a predetermined temperature of a catalyst of the catalytic reactor. 7. The method of claim 1, further comprising: providing feedback information pertaining to at least two of the O2 content, the temperature of the reducing gas and at least one of a hydrogen (H2) content of the reducing gas and a carbon monoxide (CO) content of the reducing gas,wherein said controlling both the O2 content of the oxidant stream and the oxidant/fuel ratio of the feed mixture to maintain the predetermined temperature is performed based on the feedback information. 8. A method for generating a reducing gas and using the reducing gas in a fuel cell, comprising: a step for providing an oxidant stream;a step for supplying a hydrocarbon fuel;a step for combining the oxidant and said hydrocarbon fuel into a feed mixture, the feed mixture having an oxidant/fuel ratio;a step for catalytically converting the feed mixture to generate a reducing gas;a step for controlling both the O2 content of the oxidant stream and the oxidant/fuel ratio of the feed mixture to maintain a predetermined temperature of the reducing gas while also independently varying at least one of the O2 content of the oxidant stream and the oxidant/fuel ratio of the feed mixture to obtain a selected combustibles content of the reducing gas; anda step for directing the reducing gas to the fuel cell. 9. A method for generating a reducing gas having a variable combustibles content, comprising: providing a nitrogen-rich oxidant stream, the oxidant stream having a nitrogen content greater than that of ambient air, the oxidant stream also having an oxygen (O2) content, wherein the nitrogen-rich oxidant stream is generated by extracting nitrogen from air using a nitrogen separation membrane;providing a hydrocarbon fuel stream;combining the hydrocarbon fuel stream and the oxidant stream into a feed mixture, the feed mixture having an oxidant/fuel ratio;reacting the feed mixture in a catalytic reactor to generate the reducing gas; andcontrolling both the O2 content of the oxidant stream and the oxidant/fuel ratio of the feed mixture to maintain a predetermined control temperature while also independently varying both the O2 content of the oxidant stream and the oxidant/fuel ratio of the feed mixture to obtain a selected combustibles content of the reducing gas.