Patent ID: 7384621

Claim:
A method for generating hydrogen, the method comprising the steps of: reforming a hydrocarbon fuel in a first catalyst bed comprising a reforming catalyst and a carbon dioxide fixing material at a reforming temperature to produce a reformate comprising hydrogen and at least one impurity selected from the group consisting of carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and unreacted hydrocarbon fuel, the carbon dioxide fixing material fixing at least a portion of the carbon dioxide in the reformate to produce a hydrogen-rich reformate and fixed carbon dioxide; monitoring the amount of hydrogen or the least one impurity in the reformate; calcinating the carbon dioxide fixing material within the first catalyst bed at a calcination temperature to release the fixed carbon dioxide; and then hydrating the calcinated carbon dioxide fixing material with steam, said hydrating occurring when the monitored amount of hydrogen or the at least one impurity in the reformate is at a predetermined level.