Abstract: A process is disclosed for making hydrogen from a hydrocarbon feedstock and steam using heat stored in a vessel, and the vessel is then regenerated to restore the heat. Regeneration is done by preheating, separately and within the vessel, an oxygen containing gas and a hydrogen purge gas, and mixing these preheated gases so that they combust within the vessel and heat material disposed in the vessel. This is the heat which is used in converting the hydrocarbon feedstock to hydrogen.

Abstract: A reactor for steam reforming of hydrocarbon fuel to produce hydrogen having an inner cylindrical wall and outer cylindrical wall which provide an annular reaction chamber within which solid particles such as catalysts are disposed. During operation of the reactor, the reactor goes through temperature cycles in which the temperature of the reactor is increased and decreased, such as, during start up and shut down and the volume within the annular reaction chamber increases during heating a greater amount than the volume of the solid particles due to different coefficients of expansion of the inner and outer walls and of the solid particles. This differential expansion allows the solid particles to slump when the temperature of the reactor is elevated and results in pressure being exerted by the walls of the reactor against the solid particles when the temperature of the reactor is reduced. This pressure may result in crushing of the solid particles.

Abstract: A pair of reaction vessels provide hydrogen to a fuel cell by making hydrogen in one of the vessels while simultaneously regenerating the other vessel, and then reversing the function of the vessels. In the vessel making hydrogen a hydrocarbon feedstock is cracked and steam reformed using sensible heat generated during the regeneration of the vessel. Regeneration includes preheating, separately within the reaction vessel, fuel cell fuel electrode exhaust and an oxygen containing gas. Preheating is accomplished using the heat of combustion and/or sensible heat stored within material disposed within the vessel while it is making hydrogen. After being preheated the fuel electrode exhaust and oxygen containing gas are allowed to mix and combust within the vessel, thereby heating materials disposed therein. This heat is the heat used to crack and steam reform the hydrocarbon fuel.

Abstract: In a fuel cell power plant the anode and cathode exhausts are combined and burned in a burner with a first portion of the burner exhaust being delivered into fuel conditioning apparatus to provide the heat for converting a carbonaceous fuel to hydrogen. The hydrogen is then fed to the anode side of the fuel cells. A second portion of the burner exhaust is preferably used to drive a turbocharger for compressing the fuel cell oxidant which is usually air. If the fuel cells do not operate on pressurized reactants, then the energy in the second portion of the burner exhaust can be used for any other suitable purpose.

Abstract: A catalytic reaction apparatus, such as for steam reforming a hydrocarbon feedstock to produce hydrogen, includes a tubular reactor disposed within a furnace. The reactor includes an annular reaction chamber which is heated along its outer wall by a countercurrent flow of furnace gases traveling through a narrow annulus external thereof. The reaction chamber is also heated along its inner wall by regenerative heat from the reaction products which leave the annular chamber and flow countercurrent to the flow within the reaction chamber through a narrow annulus disposed along the inner wall thereof. This apparatus is capable of high reactor thermal efficiency over a wide range of heating rates, including very high heating rates. The apparatus is very compact and is particularly suited for use with a large number of closely packed tubular reactors disposed within a single furnace.

Abstract: Compact reaction apparatus, such as apparatus for steam reforming a hydrocarbon feedstock to produce hydrogen, comprises a plurality of tubular reactors vertically disposed and closely packed within a furnace. The furnace is divided into an enhanced heat transfer portion and a burner cavity. Each of the several reactors is disposed partly within the burner cavity and partly within the enhanced heat transfer portion. Heat transfer means, such as particles of a heat transfer packing material, is disposed within the enhanced heat transfer portion of the furnace and is constructed and arranged to provide substantially uniform and enhanced conductive, convective, and radiant heating of that portion of the reactors disposed within the heat transfer portion.

Abstract: Compact reaction apparatus, such as for steam reforming a hydrocarbon feedstock to produce hydrogen, includes a plurality of reactor tubes disposed within a furnace. A portion of each reactor extends into the burner cavity or combustion volume of the furnace. Baffles, such as sleeves, are disposed around these portions of the reactor tubes to shield the tubes from excessive radiant heat from the wall of the burner cavity and to more evenly distribute heat among and around all of the reactors. These baffles permit the reactor tubes to be closely packed within the furnace and reduce temperature differences between the tubes.

Abstract: A tubular catalytic reactor, such as for steam reforming a hydrocarbon feedstock to produce hydrogen, is disposed within a furnace and includes an annular first bed of reaction catalyst. A second bed of reaction catalyst is disposed coaxial with the first bed and inwardly thereof. Product gases from the first bed, without adding heat thereto, are passed through the second bed essentially adiabatically resulting in a substantial reduction in the amount of unreacted hydrocarbons heavier than methane which were present in the product gases leaving the first bed. The apparatus is compact and uses only the sensible heat in the reaction products leaving the first bed to reduce the level of unwanted hydrocarbons. Thus, in the process of the present invention, the reduction in the level of unwanted heavier hydrocarbons is accomplished in compact apparatus without burning additional fuel and without extracting additional heat energy from the furnace.