Abstract: Methods and apparatus for producing hydrogen with reforming catalysts. The reforming catalysts may be platinum group metals on a support material, and they may be located in a reforming reaction zone of a primary reactor. The support material may be an oxidic support having a ceria and zirconia promoter, or may include a neodymium stabilizer. The support material may also include at least one Group IA, Group IIA, manganese, or iron metal promoter. The primary reactor may have a first and second reforming reaction zones, where upstream catalysts located in the first reforming reaction zone and downstream catalysts located in the second reforming reaction zone may be selected to perform optimally under the conditions in their respective reforming reaction zone.

Abstract: A method of reducing the amount of carbon monoxide in process fuel gas in a feed stream for a fuel cell. The method includes introducing a hydrocarbon feed stream into a primary reactor and reacting the hydrocarbon feed stream in effective contact with a reforming catalyst forming primary reactor products containing hydrogen, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and methane; placing a high activity water gas shift catalyst system into a water gas shift converter, introducing the primary reactor products into the water gas shift converter in effective contact with the high activity water gas shift catalyst system, and reacting the carbon monoxide and water to form carbon dioxide and hydrogen using a water gas shift reaction forming the feed stream for the fuel cell; and introducing the feed stream into the fuel cell. The high water gas shift catalyst system includes a noble metal, a support comprising a mixed metal oxide of cerium oxide and at least one of zirconium oxide or lanthanum oxide.

Abstract: A fuel-cell system, particularly a fuel-cell system for a drive system of a motor vehicle, includes an autothermic reformer unit configured to generate hydrogen from a raw material. The hydrogen is used to operate a fuel-cell unit disposed downstream of the reformer unit. An oxidation device configured to convert carbon monoxide into carbon dioxide is disposed between the reformer unit and the fuel cell unit. A water injection device is disposed in the oxidation device and is configured to inject water into the oxidation device.

Abstract: A fuel-cell system, particularly a fuel-cell system for a drive system of a motor vehicle, includes an autothermic reformer unit configured to generate hydrogen from a raw material. The hydrogen is used to operate a fuel-cell unit disposed downstream of the reformer unit. An oxidation device configured to convert carbon monoxide into carbon dioxide is disposed between the reformer unit and the fuel cell unit. A water injection device is disposed in the oxidation device and is configured to inject water into the oxidation device.

Abstract: Carbonaceous material is removed from a catalyst within an autothermal reformer by introducing an isolated oxidant stream into the autothermal reformer prior to introduction of hydrocarbon fuel into the reformer. A hydrocarbon stream is introduced into the autothermal reformer following removal of the carbonaceous material. A concurrent supply of the hydrocarbon stream and the oxidant stream to the autothermal reformer is maintained such that an exothermic reaction driven by the oxidant stream provides heat to an endothermic reaction driven by water vapor in the hydrocarbon stream. In accordance with 37 CFR 1.72(b), the purpose of this abstract is to enable the United States Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and gist of the technical disclosure. The abstract will not be used for interpreting the scope of the claims.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for producing hydrogen are provided. The methods and apparatus utilize reforming catalysts in order to produce hydrogen gas. The reforming catalysts may be platinum group metals on a support material, and they may be located in a reforming reaction zone of a primary reactor. The support material may an oxidic support having a ceria zirconia promoter. The support material may be an oxidic support and a neodymium stabilizer. The support material may also be an oxidic support material and at least one Group IA, Group IIA, manganese, or iron metal promoter. The primary reactor may have a first and second reforming reaction zones. Upstream reforming catalysts located in the first reforming reaction zone may be selected to perform optimally under the conditions in the first reforming reaction zone. Downstream reforming catalysts located in the second reforming reaction zone may be selected to perform optimally under the conditions in the second reforming reaction zone.

Abstract: A fuel-cell system, particularly a drive system for a motor vehicle, includes an autothermal reformer unit for producing hydrogen from a raw material in order to operate a downstream fuel cell unit. An oxidation device for converting carbon monoxide into carbon dioxide is arranged between the reformer unit and the fuel-cell unit. The fuel-cell system further includes a two-stage compressor, which supplies a first pressure to a cathode of the fuel cell unit by a first stage and supplies a second pressure to the reformer unit by a second stage.

Abstract: Carbonaceous material is removed from a catalyst within an autothermal reformer by introducing an isolated oxidant stream into the autothermal reformer prior to introduction of hydrocarbon fuel into the reformer. A hydrocarbon stream is introduced into the autothermal reformer following removal of the carbonaceous material. A concurrent supply of the hydrocarbon stream and the oxidant stream to the autothermal reformer is maintained such that an exothermic reaction driven by the oxidant stream provides heat to an endothermic reaction driven by water vapor in the hydrocarbon stream. In accordance with 37 CFR 1.72(b), the purpose of this abstract is to enable the United States Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and gist of the technical disclosure. The abstract will not be used for interpreting the scope of the claims.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for producing hydrogen are provided. The methods and apparatus utilize reforming catalysts in order to produce hydrogen gas. The reforming catalysts may be platinum group metals on a support material, and they may be located in a reforming reaction zone of a primary reactor. The support material may an oxidic support having a ceria zirconia promoter. The support material may be an oxidic support and a neodymium stabilizer. The support material may also be an oxidic support material and at least one Group IA, Group IIA, manganese, or iron metal promoter. The primary reactor may have a first and second reforming reaction zones. Upstream reforming catalysts located in the first reforming reaction zone may be selected to perform optimally under the conditions in the first reforming reaction zone. Downstream reforming catalysts located in the second reforming reaction zone may be selected to perform optimally under the conditions in the second reforming reaction zone.

Abstract: A process for purifying a gas stream containing hydrogen and carbon monoxide consisting of one or more catalysed reactions for the selective removal of carbon monoxide from the gas stream wherein a controlled amount of liquid water is introduced into the gas stream prior to some of the catalysed reactions so as to lower the temperature of the gas stream to a predetermined value at which preferential removal of carbon monoxide takes place in the associated catalysed reaction. The catalysed reactions may be selective oxidation, selective methanation or combination thereof. The process of the invention may be operated in combination with a water-gas shift reaction for the reduction of carbon monoxide in the hydrogen-containing gas stream.