Patent ID: 8561408

Claim:
A hydrogen production system comprising: a humidifier that is supplied with a process fluid containing carbon monoxide and that mixes the process fluid with steam; a reactor that allows the humidified process fluid output from the humidifier to react in the presence of a catalyst to transform the carbon monoxide in the process fluid into carbon dioxide; a first channel through which the humidified process fluid is supplied from the humidifier to the reactor; a second channel through which the high-temperature process fluid that has reacted in the reactor flows; a circulation channel through which excess water in the humidifier is circulated; a first heat exchanger, disposed at an intersection of the circulation channel and the second channel, for heat exchange between the high-temperature process fluid that has reacted in the reactor and the fluid circulated through the circulation channel; a third channel through which makeup water is supplied to the humidifier; a third heat exchanger, disposed at an intersection of the third channel and the second channel, for heat exchange between the high-temperature reacted process fluid and the makeup water flowing through the third channel; a separator disposed in the third channel to separate the fluid flowing through the third channel into water and steam; and a fourth channel through which the steam separated by the separator is supplied to the first channel; wherein the third channel and the second channel intersect at a plurality of positions, the heat exchanger being disposed at each intersection.