Patent ID: 6800386
Filing Date: 2004-10-05
Classification: B01J,C01B,H01M,Y02E,Y02P

Abstract:
A process for preparing hydrogen in a fuel processor assembly comprised of a means for supplying a high voltage electrical discharge within said fuel processor, a first catalytic body disposed within said fuel processor, and a second catalytic body disposed within said fuel processor, wherein said first catalytic body and said second catalytic body have different shapes, comprising the steps of:(a) feeding methane, an oxygen-containing gas, and a water-containing gas to to said fuel processor, wherein: 1. from about 4.5 to about 5.5 moles of said methane are fed to said fuel processor assembly for each mole of oxygen in said oxygen-containing gas fed to said fuel processor; 2. from about 1.8 to about 2.2 moles of water in said water-containing gas are fed to said fuel processor assembly for each mole of methane fed to said fuel processor; (b) maintaining said methane, said oxygen-containing gas, and said water-containing gas within said fuel processor assembly at a temperature of from about 600 to about 1100 degrees Celsius and a pressure of from about 10 to about 70 pounds per square inch for from about 0.1 to about 50 seconds, thereby producing a hydrogen-containing gas; and (c) purifying said hydrogen-containing gas.