Patent ID: 6841279
Filing Date: 2005-01-11
Classification: C01B,H01M,Y02E,Y02P

Abstract:
1. A process for producing electricity in a fuel cell which comprises reacting a higher carbon (C 2+ ) hydrocarbon fuel with steam in a steam pre-reformer at a temperature in the pre-reformer of no greater than 500° C. to produce a fuel stream including hydrogen and no less than about 20% by volume methane measured on a wet basis, and supplying the fuel stream and an oxidant to a high temperature fuel cell, said fuel cell having an anode comprising a material that catalyzes methane reforming reactions, whereby in the fuel cell methane in the fuel stream is reformed at the anode to produce hydrogen, and electricity is produced by reacting hydrogen at the anode and by reacting the oxidant at a cathode of the fuel cell, said reactions at the fuel cell anode and cathode occurring at a temperature of at least 650° C.