From Carbon Monoxide Patents (Class 423/437.2)
  • Patent number: 6692713
    Abstract: Process for the preferential oxidation of carbon monoxide and/or CH3OH in a hydrogen containing process stream by contacting the process stream with a catalyst comprising gold on a support comprising non-reducible magnesium aluminium oxide in form of MgAl2O4 spinel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Assignee: Haldor Topsoe A/S
    Inventors: Jan-Dierk Grunwaldt, Herman Teuissen
  • Publication number: 20040018134
    Abstract: An apparatus for preferential oxidation of carbon monoxide in a reformate flow includes a reactor defining a flow path for a reformate flow; at least one catalyst bed disposed along the flow path; and a distributor for distributing oxygen from an oxygen source to the at least one catalyst bed, the distributor including a conduit positioned at least one of upstream of and through the at least one catalyst bed, the conduit having a sidewall permeable to flow of oxygen from within the conduit to the at least one catalyst bed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2002
    Publication date: January 29, 2004
    Inventors: Ke Liu, Sean C. Emerson, Richard James Bellows
  • Patent number: 6680044
    Abstract: The present invention provides chemical reactors and reaction chambers and methods for conducting catalytic chemical reactions having gas phase reactants. In preferred embodiments, these reaction chambers and methods include at least one porous catalyst material that has pore sizes large enough to permit molecular diffusion within the porous catalyst material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignee: Battelle Memorial Institute
    Inventors: Anna Lee Y. Tonkovich, Yong Wang, Sean P. Fitzgerald, Jennifer L. Marco, Gary L. Roberts, David P. VanderWiel, Robert S. Wegeng
  • Publication number: 20040005268
    Abstract: A multi-stage shift reactor reduces a carbon monoxide content in a hydrogen-rich gas mixture stream flowing through the shift reactor in a flow direction. At least two catalyst carrier bodies have a honeycomb structure with passages through which the gas mixture stream can flow and are disposed in succession along the gas mixture stream flow direction. At least one heat exchanger is disposed between the at least two catalyst carrier bodies. Such a shift reactor is particularly suitable for the highly dynamic carbon monoxide conversion in a mobile fuel cell system. A method for reducing a carbon monoxide content in a hydrogen-rich gas mixture stream is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2003
    Publication date: January 8, 2004
    Inventors: Rolf Bruck, Jorg Zimmermann
  • Patent number: 6641795
    Abstract: A reformer disposed in the flow path of a reactant fluid includes: a catalyst unit capable of generating hydrogen from a reactant fluid containing an organic compound or carbon monoxide, by catalysis, and an electrically heatable heater unit. An electrically heatable catalyst unit includes: any of a sintered material, a metallic material, a composite material thereof, at least a portion of each of these materials having an electrically heatable property, and a composite material of (1) a heat-resistant material having no electrically heatable property and (2) the sintered material and/or the metallic material, and a catalyst capable of generating hydrogen from a reactant fluid containing an organic compound or carbon monoxide, by catalysis, which catalyst unit has porosity, thereby enables diffusion of a reactant fluid therethrough, and is electrically heatable. The above reformer can generate high-purity hydrogen for use in fuel cell of industrial or automotive application, in a short time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2003
    Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventor: Fumio Abe
  • Patent number: 6625248
    Abstract: A process for the treatment of radioactive graphite which includes the following steps: (i) reacting the radioactive graphite at a temperature in the range of from 250° C. to 900° C. with superheated steam or gases containing water vapor to form hydrogen and carbon monoxide; (ii) reacting the hydrogen and carbon monoxide from step (i) to form water and carbon dioxide; and (iii) reacting the carbon dioxide of step (ii) with metal oxides to for carbonate salts. The process enables radioactive graphite, such as graphite moderator, to be treated either in-situ or externally of a decommissioned nuclear reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2003
    Assignee: Studsvik, Inc.
    Inventors: J. Bradley Mason, David Bradbury
  • Publication number: 20030175198
    Abstract: The invention disclosed is a method for the reduction of carbon monoxide to carbon dioxide in a gas stream comprising carbon monoxide, hydrogen and water vapor, wherein the carbon monoxide and hydrogen have a mole ratio greater than 5:1, with substantially reduced methanation. The invention utilizes a reactor having at least one channel having a catalyst positioned thereon and a flow rate of the gas stream over the catalyst such that a boundary layer having a thickness less than a maximum thickness boundary is created.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2002
    Publication date: September 18, 2003
    Inventor: Marco J. Castaldi
  • Publication number: 20030175562
    Abstract: Conventional hydrogen purification apparatuses cannot be used satisfactorily for applications in which much time is required for startup of the apparatus, and the apparatus is repeatedly started and stopped at frequent intervals because of complicated handling.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2003
    Publication date: September 18, 2003
    Inventors: Kiyoshi Taguchi, Kunihiro Ukai, Seiji Fujiwara, Takeshi Tomizawa, Hidenobu Wakita
  • Patent number: 6610259
    Abstract: A process for high-efficiency catalytic conversion of carbon monoxide (CO) to carbon dioxide (CO2) of the type comprising the steps of feeding at predetermined speed a gaseous flow comprising carbon monoxide to a reaction space (3) and reacting in the reaction space (3) said carbon monoxide to obtain a gaseous flow comprising carbon dioxide is distinguished by the preliminary step of accelerating said gaseous flow comprising carbon monoxide upstream of said reaction space (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2003
    Assignee: Ammonia Casale S.A.
    Inventors: Ermanno Filippi, Gianfranco Bedetti
  • Patent number: 6576208
    Abstract: A catalyst for selective oxidation of carbon monoxide present in a hydrogen-containing gas is provided in which the catalyst comprises ruthenium supported on an alumina hydrate. This catalyst has a high selective oxidation activity to carbon monoxide. A carbon monoxide elimination method using this catalyst is also provided. In this method, to a gas containing at least hydrogen and carbon monoxide and being richer in the hydrogen than the carbon monoxide on the basis of volume, oxygen is added in an amount necessary for oxidizing at least part of carbon monoxide present in that gas, and thereafter the gas to which the oxygen has been added is brought into contact with the catalyst described above. Also provided is a solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell system that utilizes this method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2003
    Assignees: N.E. Chemcat Corporation, Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takashi Itoh, Katsumi Kurabayashi, Takahiro Naka, Masako Takayama, Osamu Usaka, Shoji Isobe
  • Patent number: 6562309
    Abstract: A photocatalytic device for photocatalytically treating evaporative emissions comprises a substrate with a photocatalyst. A shell is disposed about the substrate, and can optionally comprises one or more sections of transparent material capable of being penetrated by an ultra violet light. Additionally, sealing agent can optionally be disposed between the shell and sections of transparent material to provide a gas tight seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2003
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: David H. Burke, Thomas E. Archer, III
  • Patent number: 6555088
    Abstract: A method for conversion of carbon monoxide to carbon dioxide and hydrogen with water in a gas mixture containing hydrogen and other oxidizable components. An oxidation-active noble metal shift catalyst is the catalyst. The necessary operating temperature of the catalyst is established and optionally maintained by partial oxidation of the oxidizable components of the gas mixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Assignee: DMC2 Degussa Metal Catalysts Cerdec AG
    Inventors: Frank Baumann, Stefan Wieland
  • Patent number: 6548034
    Abstract: In the present invention, carbon monoxide in the hydrogen-containing gas is contacted with oxygen in the presence of a catalyst comprising platinum and at least one metal selected from the group consisting of cobalt, nickel, copper and manganese.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2003
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Gas Chemical Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Koki Takamura, Yasushi Hiramatsu
  • Publication number: 20030059360
    Abstract: A catalyst (5) for selectively oxidizing carbon monoxide, wherein a noble metal (3) and an active oxygen supply material (4) capable of oxidizing carbon monoxide are supported on a substrate (6). Favorable selective oxidation of carbon monoxide can be obtained by setting the distance between the noble metal (3) and the active oxygen supply material (4) such that the noble metal (3) is close enough to accept active oxygen from the active oxygen supply material (4), and preferably within 0.1 mm. This catalyst (5) for selectively oxidizing carbon monoxide is effective at removing carbon monoxide from a reformate gas whose main component is hydrogen and which is supplied to a fuel cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2002
    Publication date: March 27, 2003
    Inventors: Maki Hoshino, Hiroaki Kaneko
  • Patent number: 6531106
    Abstract: According to the present invention, provided is a method of selectively removing carbon monoxide, comprising the steps of preparing a catalyst bed capable of selectively oxidizing carbon monoxide and including a plurality of catalyst layers arranged in series and the plurality of catalyst layers differing from each other in the temperature of application and arranged in the order of the application temperature such that the catalyst layer having the highest application temperature constitutes the upstream side of the catalyst bed, and introducing a gaseous mixture containing H2, CO and an oxidizing agent of O2 into the catalyst bed through the upstream side of the catalyst bed so as to selectively oxidize and remove CO from the gaseous mixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2003
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigeru Nojima, Toshinobu Yasutake
  • Patent number: 6531105
    Abstract: Apparatus and process for removing carbon monoxide from a gas stream comprising a major portion of an inert gas and a minor portion of carbon monoxide are provided. The process involves contacting a feed gas stream with at least a primary metal oxide in a reaction zone of a reactor vessel at conditions effective to convert substantially all of the carbon monoxide to carbon dioxide, thus producing a purified gas stream consisting essentially of the inert gas and carbon dioxide and substantially free of carbon monoxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2003
    Assignees: L'Air Liquide-Societe Anonyme a'Directoire et Conseil de Surveillance pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude, American Air Liquide, Inc., Air Liquide America Corporation
    Inventors: Frederick W. Giacobbe, Eric L. Duchateau, Kevin P. McKean
  • Patent number: 6528032
    Abstract: According to the present invention, provided is a method of selectively removing carbon monoxide, comprising the step of preparing a catalyst bed capable of selectively oxidizing carbon monoxide and including a plurality of catalyst layers arranged in series and the plurality of catalyst layers differing from each other in the temperature of application and arranged in the order of the application temperature such that the catalyst layer having the lowest application temperature constitutes the upstream side of the catalyst bed, and the step of introducing a gaseous mixture containing H2, CO and an oxidizing agent of O2 into the catalyst bed through the upstream side of the catalyst bed and supplying an additional oxidizing agent to the gaseous mixture when the gaseous mixture is introduced into the catalyst layer having a high application temperature so as to selectively oxidize and remove CO from the gaseous mixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2003
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigeru Nojima, Toshinobu Yasutake
  • Patent number: 6521143
    Abstract: A process is provided for simultaneously producing a syngas product having a H2/CO ratio of less than 2.5 and a hydrogen gas product. The process includes increasing an amount of carbon dioxide being fed to a secondary reformer with carbon dioxide extracted from: (a) an effluent from a primary reformer and (b) an effluent from the secondary reformer. An apparatus for performing the process is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2003
    Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Eugene S. Genkin, Nitin Madhubhai Patel, Shoou-I Wang
  • Patent number: 6517805
    Abstract: An apparatus for producing hydrogen from hydrocarbons or alcohol, particularly methanol, by feeding a reaction mixture comprising a hydrocarbon or alcohol and water onto a catalyst. The catalyst is formed by compressing at least one catalyst powder into a compressed layer to form a shaped body. The reaction mixture flows under pressure through the catalyst layer while the pressure drops. Furthermore, the apparatus is suitable for a use in a hydrogen shift phases for reducing carbon monoxide, in carbon monoxide oxidizers and catalytic burners. A process for producing the catalyst is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2003
    Assignee: Ballard Power Systems AG
    Inventors: Martin Schuessler, Tomas Stefanovski, Detlef zur Megede
  • Patent number: 6514472
    Abstract: A method for the selective oxidation of carbon monoxide in a gas stream comprising carbon monoxide, hydrogen and oxygen in an adiabatically operated fixed-bed, catalytic reactor. In the method the inlet temperature is controlled based upon the space velocity of the gas stream through the reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2003
    Assignee: Precision Combustion, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul V. Menacherry, William C. Pfefferle
  • Patent number: 6511640
    Abstract: A process for producing a purified gaseous product from a gaseous feedstream such as air containing impurities is disclosed. The impurities such as hydrogen, water vapor, carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide are removed from the gaseous feedstream in a vessel having layers of adsorbents and oxidation catalysts. The placement of the hydrogen to water vapor conversion catalyst downstream of the step of contacting the feedstream with a catalyst to convert the carbon monoxide to the carbon dioxide and the step of removing the carbon dioxide from the feedstream improves not only performance but also the economies of the purification system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2003
    Assignee: The BOC Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Ravi Kumar, Shuguang Deng
  • Publication number: 20030009943
    Abstract: The invention concerns a method for producing a gas mixture containing hydrogen and carbon monoxide, and optionally nitrogen, from at least a hydrocarbon such as methane, propane, butane or LPG or natural gas, which consists in performing a partial catalytic oxidation (1) of one or several hydrocarbons, at a temperature of 500° C., at a pressure of 3 to 20 bars, in the pre of oxygen or a gas containing oxygen, such as air, to produce hydrogen and carbon monoxide; then in recuperating the gas mixture which can subsequently be purified or separated, by pressure swing adsorption, temperature swing adsorption of by permeation (3), to produce hydrogen having a purity of at least 80% and a residue gas capable of supplying a cogeneration unit In another embodiment, the gas mixture can subsequently be purified of its water vapour impurities and carbon dioxide to obtain a thermal treatment atmosphere containing hydrogen, carbon monoxide and nitrogen.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2002
    Publication date: January 16, 2003
    Inventors: Cyrille Millet, Daniel Gary, Philippe Arpentinier
  • Patent number: 6500403
    Abstract: A high temperature shift process using an iron oxide-containing catalyst wherein the feed gas is contacted with an iron-free, copper-containing, catalyst at an inlet temperature in the range 280-370° C. before contact with the iron oxide-containing catalyst in order to effect some shift reaction and thus avoid conditions conducive to over-reduction of the iron oxide containing catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2002
    Assignee: Imperial Chemical Industries PLC
    Inventor: Andrew Mark Ward
  • Publication number: 20020192515
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for producing a catalytic component on a metallic or ceramic support for a fuel cell system, in which the catalytic component is applied to the metallic or ceramic support in at least one layer. This at least one layer contains at least one hydrophobic material component, which is applied together or alternately with at least one catalytically active material component in one process step. The invention also relates to a catalytic component, which is applied to a metallic or ceramic support, for a chemical reactor in a fuel cell system, and to methods of using the catalytic component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2002
    Publication date: December 19, 2002
    Applicant: Ballard Power Systems AG.
    Inventors: Patrick Bachinger, Berthold Keppeler, Dagmar Nowak, Thomas Roeser, Michael Schmidt
  • Patent number: 6495113
    Abstract: A carbon monoxide concentration reducing apparatus that raises the internal temperature of a CO-selective oxidation unit carrying a selective oxidation catalyst in as short a time period as possible after the apparatus is started, and a driving method for the apparatus are disclosed. In addition to the selective oxidation catalyst, the CO-selective oxidation unit contains an oxidation catalyst. The oxidation catalyst is capable of facilitating oxidation of an oxidizable gas component of a hydrogen-rich gas, even at temperatures substantially equal to a normal room temperature. The oxidation catalyst is, for example, a platinum (Pt) catalyst. Even when the internal temperature of the CO-selective oxidation unit is substantially equal to a normal room temperature, the oxidizable gas component of the hydrogen-rich gas can be oxidized by oxygen contained in an oxidative gas, via the function of the Pt catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2002
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Satoshi Aoyama
  • Patent number: 6488838
    Abstract: The present invention is a chemical reactor and method for catalytic chemical reactions having gas phase reactants. The chemical reactor has reactor microchannels for flow of at least one reactant and at least one product, and a catalyst material wherein the at least one reactant contacts the catalyst material and reacts to form the at least one product. The improvement, according to the present invention is: the catalyst material is on a porous material having a porosity that resists bulk flow therethrough and permits molecular diffusion therein. The porous material further has a length, a width and a thickness, the porous material defining at least a portion of one wall of a bulk flow path through which the at least one reactant passes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2002
    Assignee: Battelle Memorial Institute
    Inventors: Anna Lee Y. Tonkovich, Yong Wang, Sean P. Fitzgerald, Jennifer L. Marco, Gary L. Roberts, David P. Vanderwiel, Robert S. Wegeng
  • Patent number: 6482378
    Abstract: Disclosed is a selective carbon monoxide oxidizing catalyst capable of selectively oxidizing CO contained in a gaseous mixture containing H2, CO and an oxidizing agent of O2, comprising a carrier and an active metal consisting of at least one kind of metal selected from the group consisting of Pt, Pd, Ru, Rh and Ir and supported on the carrier, the carrier being a crystalline silicate having the highest to the fifth highest peaks in the powder X-ray diffraction using CuK&agr; ray in the lattice spacing of 3.65±0.1 Å, 3.75±0.1 Å, 3.85±0.1 Å, 10.0±0.3 Å, and 11.2±0.3 Å, and having the composition represented by formula (1) under a dehydrated state: (1±0.8)R2O.[aM2O3.bNO.cAl2O3].
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2002
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries
    Inventors: Shigeru Nojima, Toshinobu Yasutake
  • Patent number: 6475454
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for selectively oxidizing carbon monoxide in the presence of hydrogen gas while leaving the hydrogen substantially unoxidized. This method utilizes a catalytic material, such as copper/copper oxide, silver/silver oxide, nickel/nickel oxide, and the higher and lower oxides of cerium, which in a more oxidized state is readily reduced by carbon monoxide and which in a more reduced state is readily oxidized by air. A carbon monoxide/hydrogen gas mixture and air are alternately contacted with the catalytic material, such that the carbon monoxide is selectively oxidized and the catalytic material is regenerated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2002
    Assignee: GE Energy & Environmental Research Corporation
    Inventors: Jerald A. Cole, Richard K. Lyon
  • Patent number: 6455182
    Abstract: A shift converter (16) in a fuel processing subsystem (14, 16, 18) for a fuel cell (12) uses an improved catalyst composition (50) to reduce the amount of carbon monoxide in a process gas for the fuel cell (12). The catalyst composition (50) is a noble metal catalyst having a promoted support of mixed metal oxide, including at least both ceria and zirconia. Cerium is present in the range of 30 to 50 mole %, and zirconium is present in the range of 70 to 50 mole %. Additional metal oxides may also be present. Use of the catalyst composition (50) obviates the requirement for prior reducing of catalysts, and minimizes the need to protect the catalyst from oxygen during operation and/or shutdown.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2002
    Assignee: UTC Fuel Cells, LLC
    Inventor: Ronald G. Silver
  • Publication number: 20020122764
    Abstract: The invention provides processes for selectively oxidizing carbon monoxide from an input gas stream that contains carbon monoxide, oxygen and hydrogen. The process includes the step of contacting the input gas stream with a preferential oxidation catalyst. The preferential oxidation catalysts are copper-based catalysts containing low concentrations of platinum group metals. In some embodiments, the processes of the invention are conducted using preferential oxidation catalysts having an oxide support on which is dispersed copper or an oxide thereof, a platinum group metal and a reducible metal oxide. In other embodiments, the processes of the invention are conducted with a preferential oxidation catalysts having a cerium oxide support on which is dispersed copper or an oxide thereof and a platinum group metal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2001
    Publication date: September 5, 2002
    Inventors: Lawrence Shore, Wolfgang F. Ruettinger, Robert J. Farrauto
  • Publication number: 20020113228
    Abstract: A method of gasifying large molecular weight organic materials (carbonaceous compounds) such as coal, shredded waste tire or waste oil into gaseous fuel, carbon monoxide and hydrogen, and an apparatus therefore are provided. The method comprises the steps of supplying initial fuel gas and oxygen into a gasification reactor to produce water and carbon dioxide, supplying the organic materials into the reactor and reacting them with the water and carbon dioxide to produce carbon monoxide and hydrogen gas, discharging the carbon monoxide and hydrogen gas from the reactor, recycling a part of the carbon monoxide and hydrogen gas discharged from the reactor into the reactor, and reacting the carbon monoxide and hydrogen gas supplied into the reactor with oxygen to produce water and carbon dioxide. The method facilitates the control of temperature in the gasification reactor as well as produces fuel gas of high quality by increasing the concentration of hydrogen.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2001
    Publication date: August 22, 2002
    Inventors: Hyun Yong Kim, Young Don Yoo
  • Patent number: 6403049
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2002
    Assignee: Johnson Matthey Public Limited Company
    Inventors: Arjan Nicolaas Johan Van Keulen, Jessica Grace Reinkingh
  • Patent number: 6403051
    Abstract: A method, apparatus and system for treating a stream containing H2S are disclosed. A preferred method comprises mixing the stream containing H2S with a light hydrocarbon stream and an oxygen containing stream to form a feed stream; contacting the feed stream with a catalyst while simultaneously raising the temperature of the stream sufficiently to allow partial oxidation of the H2S and partial oxidation of the light hydrocarbon to produce a product stream containing elemental sulfur, H2O, CO and hydrogen, and cooling the product stream sufficiently to condense at least a portion of the elemental sulfur and produce a tail gas containing CO, H2, H2O and any residual elemental sulfur, and any incidental SO2, COS, and CS2 from the hydrocarbon stream or produced in the process. The tail gate is contacted with a hydrogenation catalyst so that CO is then reacted with water to produce CO2 and hydrogen and any elemental sulfur, SO2, COS, and CS2 in the tail gas is preferably converted into H2S.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2002
    Assignee: Conoco Inc.
    Inventor: Alfred E. Keller
  • Publication number: 20020059754
    Abstract: In a method and apparatus for producing a hydrogenous gas stream for a fuel cell system, the share of CO contained in the gas stream, is reduced by providing one or more selective oxidation stages which preferably are thermally coupled to a reformer for the reforming of hydrocarbons, or to a heat exchanger. In order to supply the fuel cell system, as quickly as possible, with a hydrogenous gas stream having a low share of CO, so that it can be placed in operation at the temperature of the surrounding environment, one or more additional, thermally decoupled, selective oxidation stages is series-connected to the existing selective oxidation stages at the beginning or end of the series, or at intermediate points.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2001
    Publication date: May 23, 2002
    Inventors: Stefan Boneberg, Martin Schaefer, Martin Schuessler, Erik Theis, Matthias Wolfsteiner
  • Publication number: 20020048545
    Abstract: A process and apparatus for producing and burning synthesis gas. Carbonaceous waste material is pyrolytically decomposed in a primary reactor in the presence of steam to produce raw product gas containing H2 and CO. The raw product gas and CO2 is then introduced into a coke containing secondary reactor under pyrolyzing conditions, so that the CO2 and coke react to produce combustible gas having an increased CO content. The combustible gas is mixed with oxygen and CO2 to produce a combustible mixture which is burned as a fuel to produce heat, CO2 and H2O. A portion of the produced CO2 is recovered and used as the source of CO2 gas in the combustible mixture and as a source of CO2 gas for the secondary reactor. Preferably filters and scrubbers are used in a closed loop system to avoid undesirable emissions into the environment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2001
    Publication date: April 25, 2002
    Inventor: Arlin C. Lewis
  • Publication number: 20020041986
    Abstract: The method for generating a hydrogen-rich stream from hydrocarbon fuels, ultimately to produce hydrogen gas, involves the following two steps performed in a cyclic fashion: (1) pyrolysis of the hydrocarbon fuel to obtain a carbon-rich fraction and a hydrogen-rich fraction; and (2) oxidation of the carbon-rich fraction, or a portion of it, for heat generation. The method involves the following optional steps: (3) steam gasification of part of the carbon-rich fraction to produce additional amounts of hydrogen and carbon monoxide; (4) water-gas shift reaction to convert carbon monoxide to carbon dioxide with the simultaneous formation of additional amounts of hydrogen; and (5) steam reforming of light hydrocarbons that may be produced in step (1) to produce more hydrogen and carbon monoxide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2001
    Publication date: April 11, 2002
    Inventors: Marek A. Wojtowicz, Michael A. Serio, Erik Kroo, Eric M. Suuberg
  • Patent number: 6361896
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for combined purification and compression of hydrogen containing CO. Said device comprises a polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) cell with a proton-conducting polymer membrane (3), an anode on one side of the membrane and a cathode (4) on the other side thereof. Said anode is in the form of a two-layer anode (5) which comprises a CO-oxidation-selective catalytic layer (1) on the side facing away from the membrane and an electrochemically active layer (2) for oxidation of the hydrogen to form protons on the side facing the membrane. The PEM cell also has a flat, porous gas distribution layer provided on the anode side and attached to a current collector. Consequently, the PEM cell resists differential pressures of at least approximately 10 bar. The invention also relates to a process for combined purification and compression of hydrogen containing CO using said device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2002
    Assignee: Zentrum fur Sonnenenergie und Wasserstoff-Forschung Baden Wuetternberg Gemeinnuetzige Stiftung
    Inventors: Klaus Eberle, Bernd Rohland, Joachim Scholta, Raimund Stroebel
  • Publication number: 20020025456
    Abstract: A process for producing electrical energy with the aid of a fuel cell, which includes the steps of reforming an organic fuel, removing carbon monoxide from the reformate, and reacting the hydrogen present in the reformate with oxygen, in a fuel cell, to thereby produce electrical energy. The carbon monoxide is removed from the reformate by treating the reformate in a bioreactor which contains a thermophilic microorganism strain which metabolizes carbon monoxide, under anaerobic conditions, to give carbon dioxide and hydrogen.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2001
    Publication date: February 28, 2002
    Inventors: Jurgen Gieshoff, Helga Vollmer, Barbara Diehl, Egbert Lox, Thomas Kreuzer
  • Patent number: 6350423
    Abstract: The present invention provides a technique of reducing the concentration of carbon monoxide included in a hydrogen rich gas, which is fed as a supply of gaseous fuel to fuel cells. It is required that the activity of a carbon monoxide selective oxidation reaction for reducing the concentration of carbon monoxide is kept at a sufficiently high level in a wider temperature range. A CO selective oxidation unit 34, which reduces the concentration of carbon monoxide included in a hydrogen rich gas fed to fuel cells 20, has a carbon monoxide selective oxidation catalyst that includes a second element, such as lithium, in addition to ruthenium as a primary component. This arrangement enables the activity of the carbon monoxide selective oxidation reaction in the CO selective oxidation unit 34 to be kept at a sufficiently high level in a wider temperature range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2002
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Satoshi Aoyama
  • Patent number: 6334987
    Abstract: A catalyst for the full oxidation of volatile organic compounds (VOC), particularly hydrocarbons, and of CO to CO2, which comprises a compound having the formula A2B3O6±d where A is an alkaline-earth metal, an alkaline metal, a lanthanide, or a solid solution thereof, B is a transition metal, an element of group III, or a solid solution thereof, and d has a value between 0 and 1; and a method for the full oxidation of volatile organic compounds using the catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2002
    Assignees: Consiglio Nazionale Delle Ricerche, Universita' Degli Studi Di Bologna
    Inventors: Francesco Cino Matacotta, Gianluca Calestani, Fabrizio Cavani, Giuseppe Fornasari
  • Patent number: 6333015
    Abstract: A process and apparatus for producing and burning synthesis gas. Carbonaceous waste material is pyrolytically decomposed in a primary reactor in the presence of steam to produce raw product gas containing H2 and CO. The raw product gas and CO2 is then introduced into a coke containing secondary reactor under pyrolyzing conditions, so that the CO2 and coke react to produce combustible gas having an increased CO content. The combustible gas is mixed with oxygen and CO2 to produce a combustible mixture which is burned as a fuel to produce heat, CO2 and H2O. A portion of the produced CO2 is recovered and used as the source of CO2 gas in the combustible mixture and as a source of CO2 gas for the secondary reactor. Preferably filters and scrubbers are used in a closed loop system to avoid undesirable emissions into the environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2001
    Inventor: Arlin C. Lewis
  • Patent number: 6309768
    Abstract: A process for regenerating a selective oxidizer bed, by the introduction of oxygen is provided. In a single oxidizer bed environment, regeneration may be carried out on shut-down or on start-up. On start-up, the process includes providing a selective oxidizer bed as well a fuel processor. The selective oxidizer bed is heated to approximately 180° F. Air is passed through the selective oxidizer bed while maintaining the selective oxidizer bed at a temperature of approximately 180° F. for 1-2 minutes. The selective oxidizer is then purged with steam to remove residual air therefrom. Fuel is then introduced from the fuel processor into the selective oxidizer. On shut-down, residual fuel is purged from the oxidizer bed and then air is passed therethrough while maintaining the bed at a temperature between approximately 180° F. to approximately 220° F. The oxidizer is allowed to cool to ambient temperature and then heated to 180° F.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2001
    Assignee: International Fuel Cells LLC
    Inventors: Timothy W. Patterson, Jr., Roger R. Lesieur
  • Patent number: 6299853
    Abstract: A system for generating hydrogen-rich gas has a reformer for catalytic water vapor reforming of a water vapor/fuel mixture by an input supply of thermal energy, and a CO oxidation stage for removing carbon monoxide from the hydrogen-rich gas while emitting heat, with the reformer and the CO oxidation stage being thermally coupled. An oxygen quantity fed to the CO oxidation stage is adjusted as a function of the gas temperature in or at the output of the reformer/oxidation stage. This can take place by an automatic (feedback) control, a combination of open loop control and automatic control or by an adaptive characteristic diagram.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2001
    Assignee: Xcellsis GmbH
    Inventors: Stefan Boneberg, Stefan Brauchle, Dirk Georg, Joachim Guertler, Martin Schaefer, Martin Schuessler, Matthias Wolfsteiner
  • Patent number: 6299995
    Abstract: Disclosed is a hydrogen generation process for use with fuel cells which includes a preferential oxidation step to reduce the concentration of carbon monoxide. The preferential oxidation step includes contacting a fuel stream comprising hydrogen and carbon monoxide in the presence of an oxygen at a preferential oxidation temperature of between about 70° and about 160° C. with preferential oxidation catalyst for reducing the concentration of carbon monoxide to produce a treated fuel gas stream comprising less than about 50 ppm-vol carbon monoxide. The preferential oxidation catalyst comprises ruthenium metal disposed on an alumina carrier having a low density and a high porosity. Superior performance at low preferential oxidation temperatures below 130° C. was observed when the alumina carrier contained a bimodal pore distribution with an average pore distribution of from about 20 to about 3000 angstroms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2001
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Suheil F. Abdo, Cynthia A. DeBoy, Geralyn F. Schroeder
  • Publication number: 20010024632
    Abstract: A high temperature shift process using an iron oxide-containing catalyst wherein the feed gas is contacted with an iron-free, copper-containing, catalyst at an inlet temperature in the range 280-370° C. before contact with the iron oxide-containing catalyst in order to effect some shift reaction and thus avoid conditions conducive to over-reduction of the iron oxide containing catalyst.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2001
    Publication date: September 27, 2001
    Inventor: Andrew Mark Ward
  • Patent number: 6290926
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the preparation of novel catalysts made from transition metal compounds and “tridentate” 4,5-diphosphinoacridine ligands (“acriphos”). The novel ligands employed herein are diphosphine compounds of 4,5-disubstituted acridine which coordinate transition metals in a three-fold way with the two phosphorus atoms and the acridine nitrogen. The invention also relates to the use of the novel catalysts for the catalysis of carbon monoxide conversion via the water-gas shift reaction (WGSR: CO+H2O→CO2+H2) and for the catalysis of the following reactions: hydroformylation, carbonylation, carboxylation, hydrogenation, hydrocyanogenation, hydrosilylation, polymerization, isomerization, cross-couplings and metathesis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2001
    Assignee: Studiengesellschaft Kohle mbH
    Inventors: Matthias W. Haenel, Stefan Hillebrand
  • Patent number: 6287529
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2001
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AG
    Inventors: Dietmar Heil, Barbara Strobel, Norbert Wiesheu, Detlef zur Megede, Uwe Benz
  • Patent number: 6254848
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2001
    Assignee: Xcellsis GmbH
    Inventors: Rainer Autenrieth, Barbara Strobel
  • Publication number: 20010005498
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2000
    Publication date: June 28, 2001
    Inventors: Uwe Benz, Alexandra Hassert, Marco Lippert, Martin Schafer, Martin Schussler, Barbara Strobel, Mantred Strohmaier, Alexander Suss, Frank Sussemilch, Matthias Wolfsteiner, Detlef Zur Megede
  • Patent number: 6238640
    Abstract: The invention provides a carbon monoxide conversion method for hydrogen-containing gas. The method comprises selective CO conversion in hydrogen-containing gas through contact of CO with steam and oxygen in the presence of a catalyst containing copper, alumina and zinc oxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2001
    Assignee: Idemitsu Kosan Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Koichi Eguchi, Koshi Sekizawa, Sei-ichi Yano, Toshimasa Utaka, Hiromichi Arai