Patent ID: 9178235
Filing Date: 2015-11-03
Classification: C01B,H01M,Y02E

Abstract:
1. A reducing gas generator, comprising: an oxidant system configured to generate from air an oxidant having a variable oxygen content, and configured to provide an oxygen content of the oxidant at a selected value greater than that of ambient atmospheric air; the oxidant system including a first merging chamber configured to receive an oxygen-rich gas and a nitrogen-rich gas, and a valve controlling an amount of the nitrogen-rich gas received in the first merging chamber for mixing with the oxygen-rich gas, such that the oxidant is discharged from the first merging chamber with the oxygen content at the selected value; a second merging chamber in fluid communication with the oxidant system and a source of a hydrocarbon fuel, wherein the second merging chamber is configured to receive the hydrocarbon fuel and the oxidant and to discharge a feed stream containing both the hydrocarbon fuel and the oxidant; and a reformer in fluid communication with the second merging chamber and including a catalytic reactor, wherein the reformer is configured to receive the feed stream from the second merging chamber, to reform the feed stream into a reducing gas, and to discharge the reducing gas; a temperature sensor positioned downstream of an inlet to the reformer so as to measure at least one of a temperature of catalyst in the catalytic reactor and a temperature of reducing gas output by the catalytic reactor; and a control system in communication with the temperature sensor, the control system being programmed to control a flow rate of the feed stream, and to control both they oxygen content for the oxidant, via controlling the valve responsive to signals from the temperature sensor, and an oxidant/fuel ratio of the feed stream to maintain a predetermined control temperature while achieving a desired flammables content of the reducing gas output by the reducing gas generator; wherein the desired flammables content is in the range of approximately 45% to 80% by volume.