Patent ID: 6238815
Filing Date: 2001-05-29
Classification: B01J,C01B,F28D,F28F,H01M,Y02E,Y02P

Abstract:
A thermally-integrated, fuel processor including a reformer for the two stage conversion of methanol into a H.sub.2 -rich fuel gas comprising:a. a housing;b. a fan for recirculating a gaseous heat transfer medium through said housing and back to said fan, said medium comprising first concentrations of water vapor, hydrogen, carbon dioxide and methanol vapor;c. a water inlet to said housing for introducing water into said medium;d. a methanol inlet to said housing for introducing methanol into said medium;e. a heater within said housing downstream of said fan in the direction of flow of said medium for heating said medium;f. a first reactor within said housing downstream from said heater for substantially isothermally converting a portion of said medium to a reformate gas that is exhausted from said first reactor and has second concentrations of hydrogen, and carbon dioxide greater than said first concentrations, and concentrations of said water and methanol vapors less than said first concentrations, said first reactor including a plurality of first and second channels separated each from the other by a thermally conductive partition, said first channels being adapted to receive said portion of said medium and containing a first catalyst for effecting said converting, and said second channels being adapted to receive medium heated by said heater for heating said first catalyst in said first channels;g. a second reactor within said housing downstream from said heater, said second reactor containing a second catalyst and adapted to contact said second catalyst with said medium heated by said heater so as to react some of the water and methanol in the said medium to form said hydrogen, and carbon dioxide in said medium; andh. a shunt for diverting said portion of said medium through said first channel of said first reactor.