Patent ID: 6299994
Filing Date: 2001-10-09
Classification: B01J,C01B,H01M,Y02E,Y02P

Abstract:
A process for producing electric power from a hydrocarbon feedstock comprising the following steps:a) passing the hydrocarbon feedstock and steam to a convection heated pre-reforming zone at a pre-reforming temperature to produce a pre-reforming effluent;b) passing the pre-reforming effluent and a first air stream to a partial oxidation zone in a reaction chamber to produce a partial oxidation effluent;c) passing the partial oxidation effluent to a reforming zone disposed in the reaction chamber to produce a reforming effluent comprising hydrogen and carbon monoxide;d) passing the reforming effluent at a reforming exit temperature to a carbon monoxide reduction zone to produce a hydrogen product;e) passing the hydrogen product to a fuel cell zone to produce electric power and withdrawing an anode waste gas stream comprising hydrogen; and,f) combusting the anode waste gas stream and a second air stream to provide a flue gas stream at a flue gas temperature and heating the pre-reforming zone with the flue gas stream in a heat exchange zone having a steady-state temperature profile.