Patent ID: 7332237

Claim:
A process for converting a carbon containing fuel and water vapor into a reformate gas comprising hydrogen, carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide, using water molecules that diffuse through a membrane by steam permeation reforming, the process comprising: (a) providing a ceramic membrane comprising an oxide ceramic having intrinsic and extrinsic oxygen ion vacancies, and having first and second surfaces; wherein the oxide ceramic capable of reacting with gaseous water molecules at the first surface by the reversible reaction, H 2 O(g)+V O •• +O x O 2OH • O ; and the oxide ceramic capable of producing gaseous water molecules at the second surface by the reversible reaction, 2OH • O H 2 O(g)+V O •• +O x O ; (b) contacting water vapor with the first surface; (c) contacting the reformate gas with the second surface; whereby solid state ambipolar diffusion of oxygen ion vacancies and protons across the membrane occurs; and the ambipolar diffusion produces a net diffusion flux of water molecules through the membrane from the first surface to the second surface; and, whereby reaction of the water molecules with the carbon containing fuel generates the reformate gas; whereby the chemical activity of water molecules at the first surface is maintained greater than or equal to the chemical activity of water molecules at the second surface.