Patent ID: 7192460
Filing Date: 2007-03-20
Classification: B01J,C01B,F28D,H01M,Y02E

Abstract:
1. A method of cooling a reformate flow to desired temperature ranges for first and second catalytic reactions in a fuel processing subsystem for a proton exchange membrane fuel cell system wherein the reformate undergoes the first catalytic reaction before the second catalytic reaction, the method comprising the steps of: a) between the first and second catalytic reactions, transferring heat from the reformate flow to an initial pass of a coolant flow; b) before the first catalytic reaction, transferring heat from the reformate flow to the coolant flow heated in step a); c) before the first catalytic reaction, transferring heat from the reformate flow cooled in step b) to the coolant flow heated in step b); d) between the first and second catalytic reaction, transferring heat from the reformate flow cooled in step c) to the coolant flow heated in step c).