Abstract: A process for supplementing steam reformation with hydrogen, oxygen and heat from dissociation of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). Steam reforming suffers from starting the overall system in an endothermic manner which leads to long start times and limited turndown capability in delivering high quality hydrogen. Using a material such as hydrogen peroxide in a controlled manner allows for instant generation of oxygen-enriched steam, an essential state in reforming hydrocarbons. It additionally, offers the opportunity to relieve parasitic power requirements associated with compressing air to reach the O2 density required for the reforming process and eliminates, or minimizes (as a function of overall power system design requirements) post process cleanup of nitrogen-oxides.

Abstract: The invention provides a controlled hypergolic approach to using concentrated hydrogen peroxide in combination with certain hydrocarbons such as ethanol, methanol, methane as well as more common fuels such as gasoline, diesel, DME, JP5, JP8 and the like to generate a gas mixture primarily composed of hydrogen and carbon dioxide. Because air is not used as the oxygen source, this novel process does not allow the formation of nitrous oxide (NOx) compounds, thereby avoiding the primary source of nitrogen contamination as well. The process is executed in a constraining system on a micro scale such that the resulting hydrogen supply is self-pressurizing. This enables the incorporation of an “on-demand” hydrogen fuel source for a variable output fuel cell power plant such as those proposed for use in automobiles, marine vessels and stationary power sources. In another embodiment of the present invention hydrogen peroxide is catalytically, or thermally reacted to provide H2O vapor and O2.

Abstract: Fluid displacement apparatus with a set of opposing pistons in traveling chambers and a set of opposing pistons in stationary bores; a second embodiment with all pistons in traveling chambers; a third embodiment with all pistons in stationary bores. In each embodiment the displacement of the pistons can be different and the displacement can be variable. The apparatus is connected to a fuel cell stack to supply compressed gaseous fluid from a portion of the chambers and receive exhaust from the fuel cell stack in other chambers to perform an expander function. The apparatus can also be connected to a fuel cell stack and a reformer to supply compressed gaseous fluid to both and to receive exhaust from both as an expander. The chambers are sized differently to provide a pressure ratio across the fuel cell stack.