Patent ID: 7662195
Filing Date: 2010-02-16
Classification: B01J,C01B,H01M,Y02E,Y02P

Abstract:
1. A fuel processing system, comprising: a feedstock delivery system configured to provide a feed stream comprising methanol and water, wherein the feed stream has a methanol to water molar ratio of approximately 1:1; a steam reforming region containing at least one steam reforming catalyst bed and adapted to receive the feed stream comprising water and methanol; means for heating the reforming region to a temperature in the range of approximately 350-425° C. and vaporizing the feed stream; a catalyst within the at least one reforming catalyst bed and adapted to catalyze the formation of a mixed gas stream comprising hydrogen gas and other gases by steam reforming of the feed stream at a temperature in the range of approximately 350-425° C., wherein hydrogen gas is a majority component of the mixed gas stream, wherein the catalyst contains a mixture that includes 40-60 wt % zinc oxide, 40-60 wt % chromium oxide, and copper oxide, and further wherein the catalyst contains less than approximately 5 wt % copper oxide; and a separation region adapted to receive the mixed gas stream and to separate the mixed gas stream into a product hydrogen stream and a byproduct stream, wherein the product hydrogen stream has at least one of a greater concentration of hydrogen gas than the mixed gas stream and a reduced concentration of at least one component of the other gases than the mixed gas stream, wherein the byproduct stream contains at least one of a lower concentration of hydrogen gas than the mixed gas stream and a greater concentration of at least one component of the other gases than the mixed gas stream.