Patent ID: 7101513
Filing Date: 2006-09-05
Classification: B01B,C01B,H01M,Y02E

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for feeding a fuel to a methanol reforming apparatus that generates a hydrogen-rich gas by reacting a mixed gas of water, methanol and air on a catalyst, comprising: a first mixed water-methanol solution tank wherein the molar ratio of water/methanol is controlled to a predetermined value for use in reforming; a second mixed water-methanol solution tank wherein the molar ratio of water/methanol is controlled to 4.6 or higher; a switching means that switches the mixed water-methanol solution tanks is used as a fuel source according to conditions of operation of the methanol reforming apparatus; an evaporator that generates a mixed water-methanol gas by evaporating the mixed water-methanol solution supplied from the first or second mixed water-methanol solution tank; a condenser that recovers water from the evaporator; a first line that supplies the mixed water-methanol solution from the first mixed water-methanol solution tank to the second mixed water-methanol solution tank; a second line that supplies the water from the condenser to the second mixed water-methanol solution tank; a third line that supplies the mixed water-methanol solution from the second mixed water-methanol solution tank to the evaporator; and an electronic control unit that controls the switching means so as to supply the mixed water-methanol solution from the second mixed water-methanol solution tank to the evaporator when starting and/or stopping the methanol reforming apparatus.