Abstract: A control technique for use in a fuel processor is disclosed. In one aspect, a control system includes a subsystem manager controller the operation of a respective physical subsystem for each of a plurality of physical subsystems in the fuel processor. The subsystem managers take their direction from a master control manager. In a second aspect, the subsystem managers collectively form a layer operating in conjunction with a second layer capable of interfacing the subsystem managers to their respective physical subsystems, a third layer capable of interfacing the subsystem managers with the second layer. In a third aspect, master control manager manages the operation of each physical subsystem through a respective subsystem manager, directs state transitions of the subsystem managers, and routs interaction between the subsystem managers from the master control manager.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for producing hydrogen. The apparatus includes a fuel processor, a purification unit and a system controller. The controller determines a calculated flow of reformate from the fuel processor and operates the purification unit based on the calculated flow. The calculated flow is derived from a process model of the fuel processor and known feed(s) to the fuel processor. The calculated flow of reformate is used to control the flow of reformate to adsorbent beds within the purification unit and can be used to control other materials flows within the apparatus. Means for reducing fluctuations in the pressure and/or flow rate of reformate flowing from the fuel processor to the purification unit are also disclosed. The purity of the hydrogen produced can be maintained by adjusting the operation of the purification unit in response to changes in reformate composition, pressure and/or flow rate.

Abstract: A coolant subsystem for use in a fuel processor and a method for its operation are disclosed. In accordance with a first aspect, the coolant subsystem is separate from the feed to the processor reactor and is capable of circulating a coolant through the processor reactor. In accordance with a second aspect, the constituent elements of the fuel processor are housed in a cabinet, and the coolant subsystem is capable of cooling both the processor reactor and the interior of the cabinet. In various alternatives, the fuel processor can be employed to reform a fuel for a fuel cell power plant and/or may be used to provide thermal control for unrelated mechanical systems.

Abstract: A method for start-up and shut down of a fuel processor including an autothermal reformer employing a non-pyrophoric shift catalyst is disclosed. Also disclosed are a computer programmed to start-up or shut down a fuel processor including an autothermal reformer employing a non-pyrophoric shift catalyst or a program storage medium encoded with instruction that, when executed by a computer, start-up or shut down a fuel processor including an autothermal reformer employing a non-pyrophoric shift catalyst.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for producing a hydrogen-enriched reformate. The apparatus includes a fuel processor for converting a fuel to a reformate having fluctuations in pressure and or flow rate, means for reducing the fluctuations, a compression unit for compressing the reformate and one or more of a purification unit and a storage unit downstream of a compression unit. Means for reducing the fluctuations in the reformate can include one or more of a buffer and a conduit for providing a controlled flow of a supplemental fluid to an inlet of the compression unit. The supplemental fluid can include the compressed reformate, a hydrogen-enriched reformate, and mixtures thereof. The apparatus can include means for regulating power to the compression unit that can incrementally increase power to the compression unit particularly during start up. The purification unit can include one or more of a hydrogen selective membrane and a pressure swing adsorption unit. Methods for producing hydrogen are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method and system are disclosed for controlling a process by establishing a control factor for a proportional-integral-derivative (PID) controller used to control a parameter of a process relative to a setpoint. A feedback signal regarding the parameter of the process is received via a sensor of the process and a first feedback loop. Automatic adjusting of the control factor of the PID controller is based on the feedback signal.

Abstract: A method for operating a combustor having a catalyst bed. The method includes the steps of directing a flow of air through a catalyst bed, providing heat to the catalyst bed, sensing the temperature in an upstream portion of the catalyst bed to provide an upstream temperature, directing a flow of a fuel through the catalyst bed when the upstream temperature reaches a light-off temperature to produce a combustion reaction, increasing the flow of the fuel until the flow of air and the flow of fuel have a selected air to fuel ratio, and controlling the combustion reaction within the catalyst bed by adjusting the flow of air and the flow of fuel while maintaining the selected air to fuel ratio. The method can include sensing temperatures within the catalyst bed and controlling the combustion reaction in response to the sensed temperatures. The heat provided to the catalyst bed can also be adjusted in response to the sensed temperatures.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for use in controlling the apparatus are disclosed. The apparatus includes a purified hydrogen generator; at least one of a compression unit, a storage unit, and a dispensing unit; and a system controller. The system controller is capable of monitoring the operation of the hydrogen generator and the compression unit, storage unit, or dispensing unit at a system level and shutting down at least one of hydrogen generator and the compression unit, storage unit, or dispensing unit upon the detection of a dangerous condition.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for producing a hydrogen-enriched reformate. The apparatus includes a fuel processor for producing a reformate having fluctuations in a pressure and/or flow rate and means for reducing the fluctuations. The reformate comprises impurities that are removed by a purification unit having a plurality of adsorbent beds. A valve assembly controls the flow of reformate to the adsorbent beds based upon sensed product data generated by a product sensor. A compression unit optionally compresses the reformate prior to entering the purification unit. Means for reducing fluctuations in the pressure and/or flow rate include a buffer and/or a conduit for providing a controlled flow of a supplemental fluid to an inlet of the compression unit. A product valve can control the flow of hydrogen-enriched reformate out of the purification unit.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed. The apparatus includes a store of at least one historical sensor measurement, a store of potential cut-off frequencies, and a filter. Each potential cut-off frequency is associated with a respective potential difference between a sensor measurement and the stored historical sensor measurement. The filter has a cut-off frequency dynamically selected from the stored potential cut-off frequencies on the basis of a difference between the stored historical sensor measurement and a current sensor measurement. The method includes determining a difference between a current sensor measurement and a historical sensor measurement; and dynamically selecting a cut-off frequency for a filter for the current sensor measurement from the difference.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for the preferential oxidation of carbon monoxide in a hydrogen-rich fluid. The apparatus utilizes one or more reactors that are dimensioned to optimize the exothermic oxidation reaction and the transfer of heat to and from the catalyst bed. A reactor of the apparatus has an elongated cylindrical catalyst bed and heat transfer means adjacent the catalyst bed. The heat transfer means is suitable for pre-heating the catalyst bed during start-up operations and for removing the heat from the catalyst bed during the oxidation reaction. One or more reactors of different dimensions may be utilized depending upon the pressure of the hydrogen-rich fluid to be directed into the apparatus and the pressure requirements for the carbon monoxide-depleted fluid exiting the apparatus. For instance, in low pressure operations where it may be desirable to minimize the pressure drop across the apparatus, two or more reactors having relatively smaller dimensions can be utilized.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for identifying an activation of a burst disk. A pressure data or a temperature data relating to a flow is received. A determination is made whether the flow is interrupted based upon the at least one of the pressure data and the temperature data. A burst disk activation is identified in response to determining that the flow is interrupted.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for controlling a level in a receptacle capable of storing a fluid. The apparatus includes a first valve governing ingress of the fluid to the receptacle, a second valve governing egress of fluid from the receptacle, wherein the second valve is positioned below the first valve. The apparatus also includes a first switch deployed between the first valve and the second valve, wherein the first switch is capable of providing a first signal indicative of fluid at the first switch and a second switch deployed between the first switch and the second valve, wherein the second switch is capable of providing a second signal indicative of an absence of fluid at the second switch. The apparatus also includes a controller capable of controlling a fluid level in the receptacle by opening and closing the first and second valves responsive to the first and second signals.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for use in generating hydrogen are disclosed. The apparatus includes a fuel processor capable of producing a reformate from a fuel; a hydrogen purifier capable of generating a purified hydrogen gas stream from the reformate; a compressor capable of providing the reformate from the fuel processor to the pressure swing adsorption unit at a desired pressure; and a control system capable of integrating and controlling the operation of the fuel processor, the pressure swing adsorption unit, and the compressor. In another aspect, the invention includes a method for controlling the operation of a purified hydrogen generator, the method comprising: controlling the operation of a hydrogen generator; controlling the operation of a hydrogen purifier; and synchronizing the controlled operation of the hydrogen generator with the controlled operation of the hydrogen purifier.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for use in regenerating a reactor shift bed catalyst are disclosed. The method comprises monitoring the saturation level of a reactor shift bed catalyst in a reformer; automatically detecting that the reactor shift bed catalyst has entered a saturated state; and automatically regenerating the reactor shift bed catalyst in response to automatically detecting the saturated state. The apparatus may be, in various aspects, a program storage method encoded with instructions that, when executed by a computing device, performs such a method; a computing apparatus programmed to perform such a method, or a control system performing such a method.

Abstract: A coolant subsystem for use in a fuel processor and a method for its operation are disclosed. In accordance with a first aspect, the coolant subsystem is separate from the feed to the processor reactor and is capable of circulating a coolant through the processor reactor. In accordance with a second aspect, the constituent elements of the fuel processor are housed in a cabinet, and the coolant subsystem is capable of cooling both the processor reactor and the interior of the cabinet. In various alternatives, the fuel processor can be employed to reform a fuel for a fuel cell power plant and/or may be used to provide thermal control for unrelated mechanical systems.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing a balanced fluid supply through multiple feeds are disclosed. The method comprises supplying the fluid through a plurality of feeds from a common fluid accumulator; determining the fluid pressure in a common fluid accumulator; and controlling the fluid pressure in the common fluid accumulator responsive to the fluid pressure sensed therein to maintain the fluid pressure within a predetermined range. The balanced fluid supply comprises a common fluid accumulator; a plurality of feeds from the common fluid accumulator; and a control system capable of controlling the pressure of the fluid supplied from the common fluid accumulator to the feeds responsive to a determined pressure of fluid in the common fluid accumulator.

Abstract: A specialized mounting arrangement for an accessory such as an engine driven air conditioner compressor to an engine is utilized featuring a pair of press fitted bushings in a pair of arms of the mount and a single bolt extending therethrough. The arms of the mount assembly are constructed so that they straddle portions of an anchor member attached to the engine. A connector bolt is inserted through one bushing in one arm of the mount and then thorough a passage in the anchor member, and next into engagement with internal threads carried by the other bushing which his carried by the other arm of the mount. Rotation of the bolt moves the bushings toward one another and against the ends of the anchor member to clamp the anchor and thus the accessory therebetween.

Abstract: A specialized mounting arrangement for an accessory such as an engine driven air conditioner compressor to an engine is utilized featuring a pair of press fitted bushings in a pair of arms of the mount and a single bolt extending therethrough. The arms of the mount assembly are constructed so that they straddle portions of an anchor member attached to the engine. A connector bolt is inserted through one bushing in one arm of the mount and then thorough a passage in the anchor member, and next into engagement with internal threads carried by the other bushing which his carried by the other arm of the mount. Rotation of the bolt moves the bushings toward one another and against the ends of the anchor member to clamp the anchor and thus the accessory therebetween.

Abstract: A system for recycling post-industrial-use plastic waste based on coloring an object, which will become post-industrial-use plastic waste, a user-specified color, said color correlated with a system for identifying plastic based on the resin content of the object. Said object, in the user-specified color, provided to the end user to protect a part shipped by a parts manufacturer, with sorting of the objects into homogenous resin groups being done by the end user based on color.