Patent ID: 6207132
Filing Date: 2001-03-27
Classification: B01D,B01J,C01B

Abstract:
A process for producing high purity hydrogen by steam-reforming a carbonaceous fuel, comprising the steps of:providing a double jacket reactor which comprises:a palladium membrane tube comprising a porous stainless steel support and a palladium layer plated on a surface of said steel support, said palladium layer having a thickness of 1 to 20 .mu.m;a reforming chamber loaded with a copper-based reforming catlyst bed, wherein said reforming chamber surrounds said membrane tube; andan oxidation chamber loaded with a palladium-based oxidation catalyst bed, wherein said oxidation chamber surrounds said reforming chamber, and wherein said membrane tube confines a hydrogen compartment;feeding a mixture of methanol and steam, said mixture having a steam-to-carbon mole ratio of 1:1 to 2:1 and a WHSV of 8 hr.sup.-1 or less for the methanol, into said reforming catalyst bed to undergo a steam-reforming reaction at a temperature of from 250 to 375.degree. C. and a pressure of 3 to 9 atm, thereby producing hydrogen and other reformed gases, wherein a portion of said hydrogen instantaneously permeates into said hydrogen compartment with a flow rate of 0.53 to 3.25 m.sup.3 /hr-m.sup.2 ; andfeeding air into said combustion catalyst bed and allowing the hydrogen which did not permeate into said hydrogen compartment and said other reformed gases to enter from said reforming chamber into said combustion catalyst bed to undergo a catalytic oxidation, thereby converting said hydrogen which did not permeate into said hydrogen compartment and said other reformed gases into non-polluting gases and providing heat for the steam-reforming reaction.