Abstract: A regenerable adsorbent system having as constituent parts: a cylindrical perforated plate defining an interior plenum, around which is wrapped at least one layer of sorbent structure supporting a sorbent; and in thermal communication with the sorbent structure is disposed an electrical resistance heater, such as, a heating cable wrapped around the sorbent structure. In one embodiment, the perforated plate includes one or more flow constrictors disposed at a downstream end of the plate. Variations include alternating sections of sorbent structure and heating cable; as well as inserting a porous insulating material to retard heat losses. The system is useful for removing a target compound, such as a contaminant VOC, ammonia, or carbon dioxide, from a fluid flowstream, such as air. When the sorbent is saturated, the system is regenerated by heating the sorbent structure via the electrical resistance heater.

Abstract: A process of producing ethylene involving steam cracking ethane to produce a steam cracker product stream containing ethylene; cooling and drying the steam cracker product stream; contacting the cooled and dried steam cracker product stream with a MOF sorbent capable of adsorbing ethylene from the product stream, and desorbing the ethylene from the MOF sorbent using an ethylene sweep gas. The process replaces complex and energy intensive fractionation steps of the prior art with a selective adsorption step for separating ethylene from the steam cracker product stream. An energy efficient ethylene sorbent regeneration method and related apparatus systems are also disclosed.

Abstract: A solar reactor useful in reaction processes, more particularly, useful in endothermic reaction processes, such as a catalyzed process or an adsorption-desorption process. The reactor comprises a reaction pathway defined by an exterior wall and an interior wall, the exterior wall comprising a solar radiation receiver capable of converting solar radiation into heat and transmitting the heat to the reaction pathway. The reaction pathway has disposed therein, in alternating fashion, a plurality of reactive elements comprised of a catalyst or a sorbent and a plurality of heat transfer elements.

Abstract: A catalytic reactor constructed of a thermally conductive housing defining a reaction zone having disposed therein: (a) a plurality of catalytic elements, each comprising a porous material having a catalyst supported thereon, and (b) a plurality of heat transfer elements, each comprising a porous, thermally conductive, and essentially catalytically inactive material; wherein the plurality of catalytic elements and the plurality of heat transfer elements are disposed in an alternating configuration within the reaction zone. The catalytic reactor is useful in chemical reactions where heat transfer is a rate limiting step.

Abstract: A catalytic solar reactor useful in chemical processes, more particularly, useful in endothermic chemical processes. The reactor comprises a reaction pathway defined by an exterior wall and an interior wall, the exterior wall comprising a solar radiation receiver capable of converting solar radiation into heat and transmitting the heat to the reaction pathway. Further, the reaction pathway has disposed therein, in alternating fashion, a plurality of catalytic elements and a plurality of heat transfer elements. Optionally, a supplementary heater, such as a conventional fossil fuel burner, is disposed in a plenum located within the interior of the reactor. The heater is employed as a supplemental source of heat, for example, when solar radiation is unavailable.

Abstract: A solid sorbent composition including calcium oxide, calcium aluminate, and a mixed metal oxide characterized by a perovskite crystalline structure, for example, lanthanum aluminate. The solid sorbent finds utility in capturing carbon dioxide from a gaseous stream containing carbon dioxide, such as emissions streams produced in combustion processes or streams derived from closed environments including airplanes, spaceships, and submarines. A reversible carbon dioxide process is disclosed involving (a) contacting a carbon dioxide-containing gaseous stream with the solid sorbent composition in a carbonator to produce a solid mixture containing calcium carbonate and a gaseous product stream reduced in carbon dioxide concentration; and (b) heating the solid mixture containing calcium carbonate in a calcinator (decarbonator) to regenerate the solid sorbent composition and produce a gaseous stream enriched in carbon dioxide.

Abstract: A system for adding sulfur to a reformate stream feeding a fuel cell stack, having a sulfur source for providing sulfur to the reformate stream and a metering device in fluid connection with the sulfur source and the reformate stream. The metering device injects sulfur from the sulfur source to the reformate stream at a predetermined rate, thereby providing a conditioned reformate stream to the fuel cell stack. The system provides a conditioned reformate stream having a predetermined sulfur concentration that gives an acceptable balance of minimal drop in initial power with the desired maximum stability of operation over prolonged periods for the fuel cell stack.

Abstract: A system for adding sulfur to a reformate stream feeding a fuel cell stack, having a sulfur source for providing sulfur to the reformate stream and a metering device in fluid connection with the sulfur source and the reformate stream. The metering device injects sulfur from the sulfur source to the reformate stream at a predetermined rate, thereby providing a conditioned reformate stream to the fuel cell stack. The system provides a conditioned reformate stream having a predetermined sulfur concentration that gives an acceptable balance of minimal drop in initial power with the desired maximum stability of operation over prolonged periods for the fuel cell stack.

Abstract: A system for adding sulfur to a fuel cell stack, having a reformer adapted to reform a hydrocarbon fuel stream containing sulfur contaminants, thereby providing a reformate stream having sulfur; a sulfur trap fluidly coupled downstream of the reformer for removing sulfur from the reformate stream, thereby providing a desulfurized reformate stream; and a metering device in fluid communication with the reformate stream upstream of the sulfur trap and with the desulfurized reformate stream downstream of the sulfur trap. The metering device is adapted to bypass a portion of the reformate stream to mix with the desulfurized reformate stream, thereby producing a conditioned reformate stream having a predetermined sulfur concentration that gives an acceptable balance of minimal drop in initial power with the desired maximum stability of operation over prolonged periods for the fuel cell stack.

Abstract: A system for adding sulfur to a fuel cell stack, having a reformer adapted to reform a hydrocarbon fuel stream containing sulfur contaminants, thereby providing a reformate stream having sulfur; a sulfur trap fluidly coupled downstream of the reformer for removing sulfur from the reformate stream, thereby providing a desulfurized reformate stream; and a metering device in fluid communication with the reformate stream upstream of the sulfur trap and with the desulfurized reformate stream downstream of the sulfur trap. The metering device is adapted to bypass a portion of the reformate stream to mix with the desulfurized reformate stream, thereby producing a conditioned reformate stream having a predetermined sulfur concentration that gives an acceptable balance of minimal drop in initial power with the desired maximum stability of operation over prolonged periods for the fuel cell stack.

Abstract: A fuel reformer catalyst includes a substrate, and disposed thereon a carrier and combination of at least two metals selected from the group consisting of Rh, Ni, Ir, Pd, Pt, Au, and combinations thereof. Rh is present in the catalyst in an amount not exceeding about 0.5 wt. %, based on the total combined weight of the metals and carrier.

Abstract: A system for removing sulfur from a continuous reformate stream feeding a fuel cell stack. First and second sulfur traps are disposed in parallel between a hydrocarbon reformer and the fuel cell stack. The ends of the sulfur traps are connected to conventional four-way valves such that either trap may be selected for trapping sulfur from the reformate stream, while the other trap is undergoing regeneration by backflushing the accumulated adsorbed sulfur deposits. Thus, the sulfur traps may be used and stripped alternately, permitting continuous supply of desulfurized reformate to the fuel cell assembly. In a currently preferred embodiment, the hot cathode air exhaust is used to assist in stripping the out-of-service trap. In an alternative embodiment, two reformers are provided and the reformers are alternately regenerated along with their respective traps.

Abstract: A useful partial oxidation catalyst element includes a catalyst component, a support component, and a substrate. The catalyst component is formed by combining a catalytically active metal with a first support material to form a mixture and calcining the mixture. The support component is formed by calcining a second support material, not containing the active metal. The first and second support materials include particles having an average particle diameter of less than 20 microns. A catalyst material is formed by combining the catalyst component and the support component, wherein the catalyst material contains less than 20% of the catalyst component by weight. The catalyst material is applied to a substrate configured for gas flow therethrough, thereby formulating the partial oxidation catalyst element. The partial oxidation catalyst element is especially useful for fuel reforming and fuel cell applications.

Abstract: A fuel reformer catalyst includes a substrate, and disposed thereon a carrier and combination of at least two metals selected from the group consisting of Rh, Ni, Ir, Pd, Pt, Au, and combinations thereof. Rh is present in the catalyst in an amount not exceeding about 0.5 wt. %, based on the total combined weight of the metals and carrier.

Abstract: A reformer substrate for supporting a catalyst in a hydrocarbon reformer, comprising a graded structure that is inhomogeneous either radially, longitudinally, or both. The inhomogeous graded structure components are selected and arranged to maintain the catalyst operating temperature during extended periods of catalytic inactivity. Selection is based primarily on heat capacity and/or thermal loss properties. Generally, the perimeter of the substrate, radially and/or longitudinally comprises a thick wall of high thermal mass materials to reduce conductive and radiated heat loss, and a high thermal capacity material within the substrate to reduce radiated heat loss. Preferred materials are open-cell rigid foams such as zirconia-toughened alumina reticulated foam, for negative thermal loads in endothermic reaction regimes, and zirconia-mullite honeycomb monolith, for positive or neutral thermal loads in exothermic or autothermic reaction regimes.

Abstract: A catalyst member formed of a substrate configured for gas flow therethrough, a base metal catalytic component disposed in a base metal catalytic layer on the substrate, and a rhodium catalytic material disposed in a rhodium layer. The base metal catalytic component is formed of a base metal; namely, nickel, cobalt, or a combination of at least one of the foregoing base metals. The catalyst member is made by depositing a base metal catalytic component on a substrate configured for gas flow therethrough, and depositing a rhodium catalytic material over the base metal catalytic component.

Abstract: A catalyst can comprise rhodium and zirconia. The zirconia can have a morphology parameter of greater than or equal to about 800. The method for making the catalyst can comprise: combining rhodium and a zirconium compound, wherein the zirconium compound has a morphology parameter of greater than or equal to about 800, to form a mixture, and disposing the mixture onto a substrate.

Abstract: In a process for forming a methane-enriched fuel, a hydrocarbon feedstock that includes hydrocarbons having molecular weights greater than that of methane (CH4) is mixed with an oxidizable gaseous reactant that includes water (H2O) and is free of molecular oxygen (O2). The mixture, which has a H2O/total hydrocarbon (H2O/C) ratio of less than about 1, is heated to an elevated temperature in the presence of a catalyst to form a methane-enriched pre-reformate product. At least a portion of the feedstock hydrocarbons having molecular weights greater than that of methane is converted to methane (CH4) in the process.

Abstract: A useful partial oxidation catalyst element includes a catalyst component, a support component, and a substrate. The catalyst component is formed by combining a catalytically active metal with a first support material to form a mixture and calcining the mixture. The support component is formed by calcining a second support material, not containing the active metal. The first and second support materials include particles having an average particle diameter of less than 20 microns. A catalyst material is formed by combining the catalyst component and the support component, wherein the catalyst material contains less than 20% of the catalyst component by weight. The catalyst material is applied to a substrate configured for gas flow therethrough, thereby formulating the partial oxidation catalyst element. The partial oxidation catalyst element is especially useful for fuel reforming and fuel cell applications.

Abstract: A CO-selective catalyst comprises a catalytic material, wherein the catalytic material is selected from the group consisting of Pt, Pd, Rh, Ir, Os, Ru, Ta, Zr, Y, Ce, Ni, Cu, and oxides, alloys, compounds, and combinations comprising at least one of the foregoing; a modifying agent selected from the group consisting of Pb, Bi, Ge, Si, Sb, As, P, and combinations comprising at least one of the foregoing; and a support. In one embodiment, the method for forming the CO selective catalyst comprises combining a catalytic material and a support with about 2 to about 25 atomic percent of a modifying agent, based on the total surface atoms of the catalytic material, to form a modified catalyst-containing support and disposing the modified catalyst-containing support on or into a substrate.