Abstract: A process and apparatus are disclosed for the operation of a fuel cell to generate electric power from a feed stream comprising a hydrocarbon or an alcohol. The fuel cell comprises a proton exchange membrane which produces electric power from a hydrogen product stream which comprises essentially no carbon monoxide. The hydrogen product stream is produced from the feed stream in a novel steam reforming zone containing a steam reforming catalyst disposed in a bell-shaped catalyst zone. The bell-shaped catalyst zone is disposed over a combustion zone such that the exhaust gas from the combustion flows around the bell-shaped catalyst zone to heat the catalyst from the inside and the outside of the catalyst zone. Furthermore, the bell-shaped catalyst zone maintains a high inlet and a high outlet temperature to avoid methane slippage in the steam reforming zone. Heat for the steam reforming zone is provided by a fuel stream and at least a portion of the anode waste gas stream from the fuel cell.

Abstract: A natural gas-using hydrogen generator is provided which is able to produce high purity hydrogen from natural gas and water. The generator comprises a desulfurization reactor, a reformer and a PSA. The natural gas-using hydrogen generator also comprises a first pipe line for connecting the reformer with the desulfurization reactor to provide hot combustion gas from the reformer to the desulfurization reactor. A first valve controls air flow being fed to the reformer, which is provided on a second pipe line for feeding air into the reformer. A heat exchanger is provided for exchanging heat between a third pipe line, whose both ends are connected to the second pipe line with the first valve therebetween. A fourth pipe line leads a hot product gas from the reformer to the CO conversion reactor to cool the product gas. A second valve, provided on the third pipe line, controls air flow being fed to the third pipe line.

Abstract: Production of fuel gas which generates little nitrogen oxides on combustion, has a prolonged combustion period for unit volume, and presents a high combustion temperature.Alcohol or other liquid fuel is burnt in a fuel layer 20 in a combustion chamber 18 to generate a primary fuel gas, which is mixed in a gas pipe 14 with pressurized air ejected by an air nozzle 16, where spiral flow of air is formed around the ejected air. The ratio of the cross section of the primary fuel gas flow to that of air ejected from the air nozzle 16 is first decreased and then increased, so that vortices are formed in the area where the cross section changes to react the primary fuel gas with air and decompose hydrocarbons in the primary fuel gas into carbon and hydrogen with high reactivity, thus producing a fuel gas capable of high temperature combustion with low amount of nitrogen oxides generated.

Abstract: The direct conversion of methane to hythane, an alternative fuel for internal combustion engines, is effected by subjecting methane to a controlled oxidation with water vapor at a temperature of about 400.degree. to about 500.degree. C. and a pressure of about 1 to about 5 atmospheres, in the presence of a catalyst comprising palladium or a binary alloy thereof with another metal selected from the group consisting of elements belonging to Group IB, Group IIA, Group VIII and the lanthanide series of the Periodic Table, the catalyst being supported on a porous carrier. The direct conversion of methane to hythane under conditions of low temperature and pressure in accordance with the present invention enables hythane to be produced not only economically and efficiently, but also at or near vehicle fueling sites, thereby eliminating the storage and transportation of dangerously reactive hydrogen for mixing with methane or natural gas.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for transferring heat to or from metal hydrides contained in storage containers as hydrogen gas is being charged to or withdrawn from the storage containers, wherein the hydrogen gas being charged to or withdrawn from the storage containers functions as a convective energy carrier. A plurality of the containers are connected together in flow communication in series, so that when a pressure differential is established across the series of containers, hydrogen gas associated with the metal hydride will flow from one container to the next container in the direction of the lower pressure. A pressure differential is created across the series of containers by charging hydrogen to either the first or last container in the series, or by withdrawing hydrogen from either the first or last container in a series of containers that has been previously charged with hydrogen.

Abstract: A combustible mixture for torches and burners is formed essentially of at least 15% of a member of the group consisting of methylacetylene and/or propadiene diluted with up to 85% of a diluent which itself is formed of a mixture of at least one C.sub.3 hydrocarbon and at least one C.sub.4 hydrocarbon, and in addition wherein the C.sub.3 diluent comprises at least about 45% of all the C.sub.3 hydrocarbons including the C.sub.3 acetylenes, such that the endothermic heat of formation of the mixture for a molar volume is at least 10 KCal and that the proportion between the C.sub.3 and C.sub.4 hydrocarbons in the diluent is between 70/30 and 95/5.

Abstract: A method of operating an internal combustion engine with a combustible gas which comprises the steps of: transforming a refined product of crude oil into a combustible gas in a gas generator by admitting said refined product into said gas generator with 60-120 % of the stoichiometric volume of oxygen needed to oxidize said refined product under the partial oxidation conditions of 400.about.800.degree.C with a space velocity ranging from 5000.about.50,000 V/VC .times. hr.sup..sup.-1 ; passing the combustible gas produced to an internal combustion engine to start and operate said internal combustion engine; and discharging the exhaust gases from said internal combustion engine.

Abstract: A fuel conversion system is provided in which a petroleum fraction is circulated past the outside of the cylinders of an internal combustion engine in contact with a cracking catalyst to thereby crack the fuel as a result of the combined action of the catalyst and the heat imparted to the fuel through the cylinder walls, simultaneously providing oxygen and hydrogen to the fuel, circulating the resulting fuel to the interior of the cylinders where it is burned to drive the cylinders' piston.