Patent ID: 7981172
Filing Date: 2011-07-19
Classification: B01J,C01B,F23D,H01M,Y02E

Abstract:
1. A method for operating a hydrogen-producing fuel processing system, the method comprising: heating a hydrogen-producing region of a fuel processing system to a hydrogen-producing temperature, wherein the hydrogen-producing region contains a catalyst adapted to catalyze the formation of a mixed gas stream comprising hydrogen gas as a majority component from water and a carbon-containing feedstock via an endothermic reaction at the hydrogen-producing temperature; providing a feed stream comprising water and a carbon-containing feedstock to the hydrogen-producing region; producing the mixed gas stream in the hydrogen-producing region via the endothermic reaction catalyzed by the catalyst, wherein the mixed gas stream further comprises other gases; separating the mixed gas stream into a product hydrogen stream containing a greater concentration of hydrogen gas than the mixed gas stream and at least one byproduct stream containing at least a substantial portion of the other gases; delivering a fuel stream and an air stream to a heating assembly; combusting the fuel stream to produce a hot combustion stream; heating at least the hydrogen-producing region with the hot combustion stream to maintain the hydrogen-producing region at a temperature of at least the hydrogen-producing temperature; and controlling the rate at which the air stream is delivered to the heating assembly to selectively increase or decrease the temperature of the hot combustion stream produced by the heating assembly, wherein the controlling includes controlling the rate at which the air stream is delivered to the heating assembly independent of the flow rate of the feed stream to the hydrogen-producing region.