Patent ID: 7157167
Filing Date: 2007-01-02
Classification: B01J,C01B,H01M,Y02E,Y02P

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for generating electricity and sustainable CO 2 -free production of hydrogen and carbon via continuous thermocatalytic decomposition of hydrocarbons over carbon-based catalyst in air and/or water-free environment, employing continuous reactivation of the catalyst, comprising the combination of: (a) a thermocatalytic reactor with a moving bed of carbon particulates; (b) means for purging the moving bed of carbon particulates of moisture and air; (c) means for recovering hydrogen-containing gas from the reactor; (d) means for separating the hydrogen-containing gas of step (c) into a first portion of pure hydrogen and a second portion of hydrogen-depleted gas; (e) means for recycling at least a portion of hydrogen-depleted gas to the reactor to sustain high catalytic activity of the carbon catalyst in-situ; (f) means for recovering carbon particles from the reactor; (g) means for disintegration of carbon particles of step (f); (h) means for heating of carbon particles to provide externally activated catalyst that is recycled to the reactor; (i) means for recovering pure hydrogen from a stream; and (j) means for transporting the pure hydrogen into anode of a fuel cell, whereby electricity is generated.