Patent ID: 8071241
Filing Date: 2011-12-06
Classification: C01B,C10J,C25B,H01M,Y02E,Y02P,Y02T

Abstract:
1. A method of producing hydrogen, comprising: providing a carbon containing fuel and an oxidizer into a high temperature fuel cell; generating a fuel side exhaust stream from the fuel cell while the fuel and the oxidizer are provided into the fuel cell operating in a fuel cell mode; providing the fuel side exhaust stream to a hydrogen separator; separating in the hydrogen separator at least a portion of hydrogen from a stream consisting of the fuel side exhaust stream during the fuel cell mode; providing at least a first portion of the separated hydrogen from the hydrogen separator to a hydrogen storage vessel or to a hydrogen using device; recycling at least a second portion of the separated hydrogen the hydrogen separator to the fuel cell; and providing a remainder of the fuel side exhaust stream from the hydrogen separator as tail gas, and wherein the step of separating in the hydrogen separator at least the portion of hydrogen occurs prior to recycling a portion of the fuel side exhaust stream toward the fuel cell.