Patent ID: 6746650
Filing Date: 2004-06-08
Classification: B01J,C01B,Y02P,Y10S

Abstract:
A methanol and ethanol fuel gas autothermal reformer assembly for converting a methanol or ethanol fuel gas stream into a hydrogen-enriched process gas steam, said assembly comprising:a) a monolithic open cell foam catalyst bed, said bed including an inlet end and an outlet end, a first inlet region of said catalyst bed being provided with a catalyst which is operable to combust a portion of the fuel gas stream so as to raise the temperature of said fuel gas stream in said first region to a temperature in the range of about 300Â° to about 500Â° F. while inhibiting carbon deposition in catalyzed cells of said foam catalyst bed, and said catalyst bed further including a subsequent second region which contains a copper and/or zinc catalyst; b) a fuel gas stream inlet passage, said fuel gas stream inlet passage being disposed in heat exchange relationship with a process gas stream outlet passage from said catalyst bed whereby heat is transferred to said fuel gas stream inlet passage from the process gas stream; c) an air inlet passage, said air inlet passage being disposed in heat exchange relationship with the process gas stream whereby heat from the process gas stream is transferred to said air inlet passage; and d) a fuel gas stream reforming catalyst deposited in said foam catalyst bed.