Patent ID: 7341610
Filing Date: 2008-03-11
Classification: B01D,B01J,C01B,H01M,Y02E,Y02P

Abstract:
1. A method for operating a fuel cell system, comprising: supplying at least one fuel with a first inlet temperature to a first reforming reactor; carrying out an auto-thermal reforming reaction in the first reforming reactor, wherein the reaction proceeds in thermodynamic equilibrium, thereby forming a first reformate with a first outlet temperature that is higher than the first inlet temperature; mixing the first reformate with a fuel having a lower temperature than the first outlet temperature, thereby forming a mixture having a second, lower inlet temperature; and supplying the mixture to a second reforming reactor in which, under adiabatic conditions, steam reforming and a hydrogen shift reaction take place, thereby producing a second reformate with a second outlet temperature that is below the first outlet temperature of the first reformate; wherein the fuel having a lower temperature than the first outlet temperature comprises methanol.