Abstract: An apparatus for the selective catalytic oxidation of carbon monoxide contained in a hydrogen-rich mixed gas flow, includes a reaction chamber filled with a catalyst and a cooling chamber through which a coolant flows formed between successive plates. The plates have openings that form inlet and outlet channels for the mixed gas flow and the coolant. An oxidizing gas is supplied directly into the inlet channel for the mixed gas flow. For two-stage apparatuses, a separating plate without an opening for the inlet channel for the mixed gas flow is arranged between the first and the second stage, and an apparatus for supplying the oxidizing gas to the second stage is passed into the outlet channel for the mixed gas flow from the first stage.

Abstract: A process for generating a high-hydrogen, low-carbon monoxide gas comprises generating a product gas in a gas generating device. The product gas contains hydrogen and carbon monoxide that are generated from catalytic water vapor reforming of a water/fuel mixture and/or from partial oxidation of an oxygen/fuel mixture. In a gas purification stage, the carbon monoxide fraction in the product gas is reduced by selective CO oxidation on an oxidation catalyst. During a starting phase, oxygen is admixed to the supplied fuel and the flow direction is reversed such that the flow first takes place through the gas purification stage and only then through the gas generating device.

Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell with a cathode space and an anode space that are separated by a polymer electrolyte membrane. The cathode space is supplied with an oxygen-containing gas, and the anode space is supplied with a hydrogen-containing gas. A gas-generation device is provided in which a hydrogen-rich reformate containing carbon monoxide, is produced from a fuel with the aid of steam reforming and/or partial oxidation. A gas-cleaning stage selectively oxidizes the carbon monoxide in the reformate on a suitable catalyst while oxygen is added; and a heat exchanger which is arranged in the gas-cleaning stage, has a cooling medium flowing through it and serves to dissipate thermal energy. According to the invention, to dissipate the thermal energy, the anode off-gas and/or cathode off-gas emerging from the fuel cell and/or a starting-material gas which is present in the fuel cell system flows through the heat exchanger.

Abstract: A system for the water vapor reforming of a hydrocarbon includes a modular reactor unit of the plate stack and/or tube bundle type that, in an integrated manner, contains an evaporator, a prereforming unit, a main reformer, a CO removal unit and a catalytic burner unit. The evaporator and the main reformer are in a thermal contact with the catalytic burner unit and, the prereforming unit is in a thermal contact with the CO removal unit.

Abstract: A reactor unit in a system for the production of hydrogen-rich gas from a liquid raw fuel includes (1) a reaction chamber for a reaction medium and which contains a catalyst material; and (2) two tempering chambers separated from one another. The two tempering chambers are associated with different areas of the reaction chamber, so that within the reaction chamber two reaction zones are formed, which can be held at different temperature levels.

Abstract: In a method and apparatus for selective catalytic oxidation of carbon monoxide, the gas mixture and an additionally added oxidizing gas are conducted through a reactor containing the catalyst. Oxidizing gas is added at several points along the mixed gas flow path with a controlled or regulated through flow volume. The mixed gas stream is cooled passively by static mixing structures located in the inlet area of the CO-oxidation reactor. By controlling exothermal CO oxidation along the reactor path, a very variable process guidance is provided, that can be adjusted to individual situations.

Abstract: A system for generating a high-hydrogen gas comprises a reformer for the catalytic water vapor reforming of a water vapor/fuel mixture while supplying thermal energy; a gas purification stage for removing carbon monoxide from the high-hydrogen gas while releasing heat; and devices for transmitting thermal energy from the gas purification stage into the reformer. The reaction rates in the reformer and in the gas purification stage are designed such that a defined temperature level is set automatically by the coupling of the two reactions.

Abstract: A multistage device for the selective catalytic oxidation of carbon monoxide contained in a hydrogen-rich gas-mixture stream includes at least three stages, each stage having at least one CO oxidation chamber. An oxidizing medium may be metered to an inlet side of each stage. A common cooling device is provided for the first two stages and an independent cooling device is provided for the third stage.

Abstract: A process for generating a high-hydrogen, low-carbon monoxide gas comprises generating a product gas in a gas generating device. The product gas contains hydrogen and carbon monoxide that are generated from catalytic water vapor reforming of a water/fuel mixture and/or from partial oxidation of an oxygen/fuel mixture. In a gas purification stage, the carbon monoxide fraction in the product gas is reduced by selective CO oxidation on an oxidation catalyst. During a starting phase, oxygen is admixed to the supplied fuel and the flow direction is reversed such that the flow first takes place through the gas purification stage and only then through the gas generating device.

Abstract: A process for generating a high-hydrogen, low-carbon monoxide gas comprises generating a product gas in a gas generating device. The product gas contains hydrogen and carbon monoxide that are generated from catalytic water vapor reforming of a water/fuel mixture and/or from partial oxidation of an oxygen/fuel mixture. In a gas purification stage, the carbon monoxide fraction in the product gas is reduced by selective CO oxidation on an oxidation catalyst. During a starting phase, oxygen is admixed to the supplied fuel and the flow direction is reversed such that the flow first takes place through the gas purification stage and only then through the gas generating device.

Abstract: A system for the water vapor reforming of a hydrocarbon includes an evaporator, a prereforming unit, a main reformer, a CO removal unit and at least one catalytic burner unit. A first burner unit is in a thermal contact with the evaporator and a second burner unit is in a thermal contact with the main reformer, and the prereforming unit is in a thermal contact with the CO removal unit by way of one heat conducting separating medium. In addition, the outlet of the CO removal unit is connected with the inlet of the at least one burner unit. During a cold start, a heating-up operation is carried out during which first the two burner units are activated with an external feeding of hydrogen or hydrocarbon, and the reforming operation is started with a hydrocarbon fraction that is lower than in the normal operation. The resulting reformate gas, instead of the externally fed hydrogen or hydrocarbon, is introduced as fuel into the burner units.

Abstract: In a method and apparatus for selective catalytic oxidation of carbon monoxide, the gas mixture and an additionally added oxidizing gas are conducted through a reactor containing the catalyst. Oxidizing gas is added at several points along the mixed gas flow path with a controlled or regulated through flow volume. The mixed gas stream is cooled passively by static mixing structures located in the inlet area of the CO-oxidation reactor. By controlling exothermal CO oxidation along the reactor path, a very variable process guidance is provided, that can be adjusted to individual situations.