CA2174374A1 - Carbon monoxide removal method based on adsorption/steam desorption cycle - Google Patents
Carbon monoxide removal method based on adsorption/steam desorption cycleInfo
- Publication number
- CA2174374A1 CA2174374A1 CA002174374A CA2174374A CA2174374A1 CA 2174374 A1 CA2174374 A1 CA 2174374A1 CA 002174374 A CA002174374 A CA 002174374A CA 2174374 A CA2174374 A CA 2174374A CA 2174374 A1 CA2174374 A1 CA 2174374A1
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- gas stream
- adsorbent
- hydrogen rich
- rich gas
- carbon monoxide
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
Links
Classifications
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C01—INORGANIC CHEMISTRY
- C01B—NON-METALLIC ELEMENTS; COMPOUNDS THEREOF; METALLOIDS OR COMPOUNDS THEREOF NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASS C01C
- C01B3/00—Hydrogen; Gaseous mixtures containing hydrogen; Separation of hydrogen from mixtures containing it; Purification of hydrogen
- C01B3/50—Separation of hydrogen or hydrogen containing gases from gaseous mixtures, e.g. purification
- C01B3/56—Separation of hydrogen or hydrogen containing gases from gaseous mixtures, e.g. purification by contacting with solids; Regeneration of used solids
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
- H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
- H01M8/06—Combination of fuel cells with means for production of reactants or for treatment of residues
- H01M8/0662—Treatment of gaseous reactants or gaseous residues, e.g. cleaning
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C01—INORGANIC CHEMISTRY
- C01B—NON-METALLIC ELEMENTS; COMPOUNDS THEREOF; METALLOIDS OR COMPOUNDS THEREOF NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASS C01C
- C01B2203/00—Integrated processes for the production of hydrogen or synthesis gas
- C01B2203/04—Integrated processes for the production of hydrogen or synthesis gas containing a purification step for the hydrogen or the synthesis gas
- C01B2203/042—Purification by adsorption on solids
- C01B2203/043—Regenerative adsorption process in two or more beds, one for adsorption, the other for regeneration
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C01—INORGANIC CHEMISTRY
- C01B—NON-METALLIC ELEMENTS; COMPOUNDS THEREOF; METALLOIDS OR COMPOUNDS THEREOF NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASS C01C
- C01B2203/00—Integrated processes for the production of hydrogen or synthesis gas
- C01B2203/04—Integrated processes for the production of hydrogen or synthesis gas containing a purification step for the hydrogen or the synthesis gas
- C01B2203/0465—Composition of the impurity
- C01B2203/047—Composition of the impurity the impurity being carbon monoxide
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
- Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
- Y02E60/00—Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
- Y02E60/30—Hydrogen technology
- Y02E60/50—Fuel cells
Abstract
The present invention comprises a method for lowering the carbon monoxide content of a co-containing hydrogen rich gas stream by contacting the gas stream with an adsorbent capable of preferentially adsorbing the carbon monoxide in the gas stream, the adsorbent being selected from the group consisting of platinum, palladium, ruthenium, rhenium, iridium, the carbides and nitrides of tungsten, molybdenum, vanadium, chromium, tantalum, and mixtures thereof whereby a substantially CO free, hydrogen rich gas stream is obtained. Preferably the absorbent will have a surface area from 0.5 to about 200 m2/gm.
Description
- ~17437~
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a method for lo~ ing the CO content of a hydrogen rich gas mixture. More particularly the present invention is conce,l,ed with lowering the CO content of a hydrogen rich gas mixture to render to the gas mixture more suitable for use in fuel cell systems.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Fuel cells are devices that convert the filel and oxidant to electrical energy. Most efficient fuel cells use pure hydrogen as the fuel and oxygen as the oxidant. Unfortunately use of pure hydrogen has a number of known disadvantages not the least of which is its relatively high cost. Consequently, attempts have been made to operate fuel cells using other than the pure hydrogen as the fuel. For example, attempts have been made to use hydrogen rich gas mixtures obtained from steam ~ro~millg methanol as a fuel cell feed. These attempts, however, have not resulted in a practical system because carbon monoxide which is present in such gas mixtures degrades cell performance, even in relatively low concentrations.
It is an object ofthe present invention therefore to treat a CO-co~ inillg~
hydrogen rich gas mixture to lower the CO content of the mixture to render it more suitable for use in filel cell systems.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a method for lowering the CO content of a hydrogen rich gas stream in a single step.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a method for redl~.in~ the CO content of a hydrogen rich gas stream which is energy efficient.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a fuel cell system in which a CO-cont~inin~ hydrogen rich gas stream is subjected to an adsorption step and in which the carbon monoxide is plerelellLially adsorbed thereby lowering the carbon monoxide content of the gas mixture to below about 10 ppm to provide a sul)s~ y CO free, hydrogen rich gas stream which is subsequently fed to the fuel cell for use therein.
, - 2~374 SUMMARY OF INVENTION
Simply stated, the present invention comprises a method for lowering the carbon monoxide content of a CO-co.,~ inp~, hydrogen rich gas stream by cont~cting the gas stream with an adsorbent capable of p,~rt;re."ially adsorbing the carbonmonoxide in the gas stream, the adsorbent being selected from the group cons;s~hlg of pl~timlm, pall~ .m, ruth~nil-m, rhPni--m, iridium, the carbides and nitrides oft.mg.~te-n, molybdenum, van~ m, chromium, t~nt~h-m and mixtures thereo Preferably the adsorbent will have a surface area from 0.5 to about 200 m2/gm.
The present invention also involves a fuel cell system comprising a fuel cell including an anode, a cathode and an electrolyte arranged in operative association with a carbon monoxide separator. The system incllldes means for bringing a hydrogen rich gas in contact with the carbon monoxide separator to provide a subst~nti~lly carbon monoxide free, hydrogen rich gas and means to feed the subst~nti~lly CO free gas to the anode ofthe fuel cell. The separator contains an adsorbent selected from pl~tinllm, p~ illm ruthenium, rhenillm iridium, the carbides and nitrides oft.m~ten, molybdenum, v~n~.1illm, chromium, t~nt~lllm and mixtures thereof. Preferably thesystem includes means for periodically feeding a desorbent gas to the separator to desorb absorbed carbon monoxide thereby regenerating the adsorbent.
These and other embodiments of the present invention will be described in the following detailed description.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Figure 1 is a sch~m~tic illustration of a fuel cell system incl~lrlin~ a CO
separator lltili7ing a selective adsorbent in accordance with this invention.
Figure 2 is a sshem~tic illustration of an alternate embodiment of the invention employing two CO separators in combination with a fuel cell.
,~ ~
~ 2174374 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The present invention has wide applicability in providing subst~nti~lly CO
free, hydrogen rich gas streams; however, the invention is particularly adapted to providing a hydrogen rich gas stream for use in fuel cells. Therefore, the present invention will be described with particular reference to fuel cell systems.
In general, the gas stream used in the present invention will be obtained by the well-known process of steam reforming a hydrocarbon such as meth~nol and thereafter subjecting the product gas stream to the equally well-known carbon monoxide shift reaction. The resl~lt~nt gas stream typically will contain about .5% CO.
Alternatively, the gas stream may be obtained by partial oxidation of hydrocarbons, especially methane.
Referring now to Figure 1, a fuel cell device 10 has been illustrated, for the sake of simplicity, as consisting of a single cell having an anode side or co~ ual ~Illent 11 and a cathode side or compartment side 12. A supply line 14 is provided for supplying an oxidant, such as oxygen or air, to the cathode side 12 of the cell. Operably connected to the fuel cell 10 is a carbon monoxide removal appal~ s or separator 20.
The carbon monoxide removal appal~ s 20 is provided with an inlet conduit 15 forintroducing a hydrogen rich reformer gas mixture into the apparatus 20.
As shown in the Figure 1 embodiment, the apparatus 20 contains a bed of solid material 21 capable of selectively adsorbing carbon monoxide in gas mixtures. A
conduit 16 is provided in apparatus 20 for removal of subst~nti~lly CO free, hydrogen rich gas and delivery of the gas to the anode conlp~ llllent 1 l of fuel cell 10. The device 20 also includes a conduit 17 for introducing a sweep gas into the separator 20 for desorbing carbon monoxide adsorbed on solid 21. Also, a conduit 18 is provided for removal of the desorbed carbon monoxide.
In operation, a CO co"~ g hydrogen rich gas stream, such as that previously described, is introduced via 15 into appalal~ls 20 for contact with the CO
co~ adsorbent therein. The purified gas, which is subst~nti~lly free of carbon 7~374 monoxide, is removed via line 16 and fed to the anode COmp~h llllell~ 1 1 of fuel cell 10.
Prior to the complete utilization of the adsorbant capacity of solid 21, the flow of the purified gas into the appal~ s 20 is terrnin~ted and a sweep or desorbent gas, such as steam, is introduced via line 17 into the bed to desorb the CO adsorbed therein. In one embodiment of the present invention, an oxygen cont~inin~ gas, such as air, is introduced into bed 21 with the sweep gas thereby oxirli7.ing the adsorbed CO to C02 for removal. In a preferred embodiment, however, a generally non-oxi~1i7ing sweep gas is used, the CO and steam are removed from the separator 20 via line 18 and plerelably are recycled to a steam reformer.
Af[er regeneration of the adsorbent solid 21 in separator 20 is complete, flow of sweep gas is terrnin~tecl and a CO co~ gas is again introduced into apparalus 20 via line 15. The CO free gas stream is then fed via line 16 to anode compartment 11. This procedure can be repeated periodically as desired.
In an alternate embodiment of the present invention shown in Figure 2, two separators 30 and 40 are provided, each cont~ining an adsorbent material 21 capable of selectively adsorbing carbon monoxide. The hydrogen rich, carbon monoxide gas to be treated is introduced alternately to separators 30 and 40 via line 35. The treated gas having subst~nti~lly all of the CO removed is discharged alternately from the adsorbers 30 and 40 via line 36 and is sent to anode compartment 11 of fuel cell 10.
Periodically, the separators 30 and 40 must be purged or reactivated to remove the adsorbed carbon monoxide from the adsorbent. This purging is done by introducing a sweep gas, such as steam, via line 37. The sweep gas will flow through adsorbers 30 or 40, as the case may be, and be removed via line 38. The various valves 22 through 29 are operated in applopliate sequence to permit the alternate use of separators 30 and 40. For example, when valves 24 and 26 are open and valves 25, 27, 22 and 29 are closed, the CO co"l~ g hydrogen rich gas introduced via line 35 will flow through the adsorbent material 21 in separator 40 and pass via line 36 into the anode compartment 11 of fuel cell 10. Before complete utilization ofthe adsorbent capacity of the adsorbent material 21 in separator 40, valves 24 and 26 will be closed and valves 25 and 27 will be open permitting the flow of reformer gas through the adsorbent material 21 in separator 30. At the same time with valves 28 and 23 closed and valves 22 and 29 open, a sweep gas such as steam, is introduced via line 37 and will flow through the separator 40 for discharge through line 38. Optionally and preferably ~17437~
the desorbed CO co~ g gas is recycled to a steam rt;fo,l,-er for the generation of additional hydrogen; however, it may be oxidized to CO2 and otherwise disposed of.
In the practice of the present invention the adsorbent 21 is one which is capable of selectively adsorbing CO in a reformer gas stream to provide a hydrogen rich gas stream co~ g less than about 10 ppm CO and preferably below about 1 ppm and preferably to a stream totally free of CO. Solid adsorbents useful include pl~timlm, p~ dillm, ruthçnillm, rh~nillm, iridium, and the carbides and nitrides oftllng~tçn, molybdenum, v~n~ m, chromium, t~nt~ m and mixtures thereo The plefe"ed adsorbents will have a surface area in the range of about 0.5 to about 200 m2/gm.
Especially plefe,l~d are the carbides and nitrides oftllngstçn and molybdenum.
The amount of adsorbent used will depend of course upon the CO
content of the gas stream to be treated, the gas flow rate and the desired length of time to elapse before desorption is required. Typically, the CO cont~ining gas stream will be processed at pressures of from about 0.5 to about 10 atmospheres at temperatures in the range of about 25C to about 500C. Preferred pressure and temperature ranges are 1 to 5 atmospheres and 70C to 300C, respectively.
While the present invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in a particular arrangement of a selective CO adsorbing apparatus for use in removal of CO from a gaseous fuel being supplied to a fuel cell, it should be appreciated that the present invention is not limited to this particular example. Rather, the scope of the present invention is to be determined in accordance with the appended claims.
-
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a method for lo~ ing the CO content of a hydrogen rich gas mixture. More particularly the present invention is conce,l,ed with lowering the CO content of a hydrogen rich gas mixture to render to the gas mixture more suitable for use in fuel cell systems.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Fuel cells are devices that convert the filel and oxidant to electrical energy. Most efficient fuel cells use pure hydrogen as the fuel and oxygen as the oxidant. Unfortunately use of pure hydrogen has a number of known disadvantages not the least of which is its relatively high cost. Consequently, attempts have been made to operate fuel cells using other than the pure hydrogen as the fuel. For example, attempts have been made to use hydrogen rich gas mixtures obtained from steam ~ro~millg methanol as a fuel cell feed. These attempts, however, have not resulted in a practical system because carbon monoxide which is present in such gas mixtures degrades cell performance, even in relatively low concentrations.
It is an object ofthe present invention therefore to treat a CO-co~ inillg~
hydrogen rich gas mixture to lower the CO content of the mixture to render it more suitable for use in filel cell systems.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a method for lowering the CO content of a hydrogen rich gas stream in a single step.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a method for redl~.in~ the CO content of a hydrogen rich gas stream which is energy efficient.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a fuel cell system in which a CO-cont~inin~ hydrogen rich gas stream is subjected to an adsorption step and in which the carbon monoxide is plerelellLially adsorbed thereby lowering the carbon monoxide content of the gas mixture to below about 10 ppm to provide a sul)s~ y CO free, hydrogen rich gas stream which is subsequently fed to the fuel cell for use therein.
, - 2~374 SUMMARY OF INVENTION
Simply stated, the present invention comprises a method for lowering the carbon monoxide content of a CO-co.,~ inp~, hydrogen rich gas stream by cont~cting the gas stream with an adsorbent capable of p,~rt;re."ially adsorbing the carbonmonoxide in the gas stream, the adsorbent being selected from the group cons;s~hlg of pl~timlm, pall~ .m, ruth~nil-m, rhPni--m, iridium, the carbides and nitrides oft.mg.~te-n, molybdenum, van~ m, chromium, t~nt~h-m and mixtures thereo Preferably the adsorbent will have a surface area from 0.5 to about 200 m2/gm.
The present invention also involves a fuel cell system comprising a fuel cell including an anode, a cathode and an electrolyte arranged in operative association with a carbon monoxide separator. The system incllldes means for bringing a hydrogen rich gas in contact with the carbon monoxide separator to provide a subst~nti~lly carbon monoxide free, hydrogen rich gas and means to feed the subst~nti~lly CO free gas to the anode ofthe fuel cell. The separator contains an adsorbent selected from pl~tinllm, p~ illm ruthenium, rhenillm iridium, the carbides and nitrides oft.m~ten, molybdenum, v~n~.1illm, chromium, t~nt~lllm and mixtures thereof. Preferably thesystem includes means for periodically feeding a desorbent gas to the separator to desorb absorbed carbon monoxide thereby regenerating the adsorbent.
These and other embodiments of the present invention will be described in the following detailed description.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Figure 1 is a sch~m~tic illustration of a fuel cell system incl~lrlin~ a CO
separator lltili7ing a selective adsorbent in accordance with this invention.
Figure 2 is a sshem~tic illustration of an alternate embodiment of the invention employing two CO separators in combination with a fuel cell.
,~ ~
~ 2174374 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The present invention has wide applicability in providing subst~nti~lly CO
free, hydrogen rich gas streams; however, the invention is particularly adapted to providing a hydrogen rich gas stream for use in fuel cells. Therefore, the present invention will be described with particular reference to fuel cell systems.
In general, the gas stream used in the present invention will be obtained by the well-known process of steam reforming a hydrocarbon such as meth~nol and thereafter subjecting the product gas stream to the equally well-known carbon monoxide shift reaction. The resl~lt~nt gas stream typically will contain about .5% CO.
Alternatively, the gas stream may be obtained by partial oxidation of hydrocarbons, especially methane.
Referring now to Figure 1, a fuel cell device 10 has been illustrated, for the sake of simplicity, as consisting of a single cell having an anode side or co~ ual ~Illent 11 and a cathode side or compartment side 12. A supply line 14 is provided for supplying an oxidant, such as oxygen or air, to the cathode side 12 of the cell. Operably connected to the fuel cell 10 is a carbon monoxide removal appal~ s or separator 20.
The carbon monoxide removal appal~ s 20 is provided with an inlet conduit 15 forintroducing a hydrogen rich reformer gas mixture into the apparatus 20.
As shown in the Figure 1 embodiment, the apparatus 20 contains a bed of solid material 21 capable of selectively adsorbing carbon monoxide in gas mixtures. A
conduit 16 is provided in apparatus 20 for removal of subst~nti~lly CO free, hydrogen rich gas and delivery of the gas to the anode conlp~ llllent 1 l of fuel cell 10. The device 20 also includes a conduit 17 for introducing a sweep gas into the separator 20 for desorbing carbon monoxide adsorbed on solid 21. Also, a conduit 18 is provided for removal of the desorbed carbon monoxide.
In operation, a CO co"~ g hydrogen rich gas stream, such as that previously described, is introduced via 15 into appalal~ls 20 for contact with the CO
co~ adsorbent therein. The purified gas, which is subst~nti~lly free of carbon 7~374 monoxide, is removed via line 16 and fed to the anode COmp~h llllell~ 1 1 of fuel cell 10.
Prior to the complete utilization of the adsorbant capacity of solid 21, the flow of the purified gas into the appal~ s 20 is terrnin~ted and a sweep or desorbent gas, such as steam, is introduced via line 17 into the bed to desorb the CO adsorbed therein. In one embodiment of the present invention, an oxygen cont~inin~ gas, such as air, is introduced into bed 21 with the sweep gas thereby oxirli7.ing the adsorbed CO to C02 for removal. In a preferred embodiment, however, a generally non-oxi~1i7ing sweep gas is used, the CO and steam are removed from the separator 20 via line 18 and plerelably are recycled to a steam reformer.
Af[er regeneration of the adsorbent solid 21 in separator 20 is complete, flow of sweep gas is terrnin~tecl and a CO co~ gas is again introduced into apparalus 20 via line 15. The CO free gas stream is then fed via line 16 to anode compartment 11. This procedure can be repeated periodically as desired.
In an alternate embodiment of the present invention shown in Figure 2, two separators 30 and 40 are provided, each cont~ining an adsorbent material 21 capable of selectively adsorbing carbon monoxide. The hydrogen rich, carbon monoxide gas to be treated is introduced alternately to separators 30 and 40 via line 35. The treated gas having subst~nti~lly all of the CO removed is discharged alternately from the adsorbers 30 and 40 via line 36 and is sent to anode compartment 11 of fuel cell 10.
Periodically, the separators 30 and 40 must be purged or reactivated to remove the adsorbed carbon monoxide from the adsorbent. This purging is done by introducing a sweep gas, such as steam, via line 37. The sweep gas will flow through adsorbers 30 or 40, as the case may be, and be removed via line 38. The various valves 22 through 29 are operated in applopliate sequence to permit the alternate use of separators 30 and 40. For example, when valves 24 and 26 are open and valves 25, 27, 22 and 29 are closed, the CO co"l~ g hydrogen rich gas introduced via line 35 will flow through the adsorbent material 21 in separator 40 and pass via line 36 into the anode compartment 11 of fuel cell 10. Before complete utilization ofthe adsorbent capacity of the adsorbent material 21 in separator 40, valves 24 and 26 will be closed and valves 25 and 27 will be open permitting the flow of reformer gas through the adsorbent material 21 in separator 30. At the same time with valves 28 and 23 closed and valves 22 and 29 open, a sweep gas such as steam, is introduced via line 37 and will flow through the separator 40 for discharge through line 38. Optionally and preferably ~17437~
the desorbed CO co~ g gas is recycled to a steam rt;fo,l,-er for the generation of additional hydrogen; however, it may be oxidized to CO2 and otherwise disposed of.
In the practice of the present invention the adsorbent 21 is one which is capable of selectively adsorbing CO in a reformer gas stream to provide a hydrogen rich gas stream co~ g less than about 10 ppm CO and preferably below about 1 ppm and preferably to a stream totally free of CO. Solid adsorbents useful include pl~timlm, p~ dillm, ruthçnillm, rh~nillm, iridium, and the carbides and nitrides oftllng~tçn, molybdenum, v~n~ m, chromium, t~nt~ m and mixtures thereo The plefe"ed adsorbents will have a surface area in the range of about 0.5 to about 200 m2/gm.
Especially plefe,l~d are the carbides and nitrides oftllngstçn and molybdenum.
The amount of adsorbent used will depend of course upon the CO
content of the gas stream to be treated, the gas flow rate and the desired length of time to elapse before desorption is required. Typically, the CO cont~ining gas stream will be processed at pressures of from about 0.5 to about 10 atmospheres at temperatures in the range of about 25C to about 500C. Preferred pressure and temperature ranges are 1 to 5 atmospheres and 70C to 300C, respectively.
While the present invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in a particular arrangement of a selective CO adsorbing apparatus for use in removal of CO from a gaseous fuel being supplied to a fuel cell, it should be appreciated that the present invention is not limited to this particular example. Rather, the scope of the present invention is to be determined in accordance with the appended claims.
-
Claims (9)
1. A method for removing CO from a CO containing, hydrogen rich gas stream to provide a substantially CO free, hydrogen rich gas stream comprising:
passing the CO containing gas stream through are an adsorbent capable of selectively adsorbing CO and selected from the group consisting of platinium, palladium, ruthenium, rhenium, iridium, the carbides and nitrides of tungsten, molybdenum, vanadium, chromium, tantalum and mixtures thereof, whereby a substantially CO free, hydrogen rich gas stream is obtained.
passing the CO containing gas stream through are an adsorbent capable of selectively adsorbing CO and selected from the group consisting of platinium, palladium, ruthenium, rhenium, iridium, the carbides and nitrides of tungsten, molybdenum, vanadium, chromium, tantalum and mixtures thereof, whereby a substantially CO free, hydrogen rich gas stream is obtained.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the adsorbent has a surface area in the range of from about 0.5 to about 200 m2/gm.
3. A fuel cell system comprising:
a fuel cell having an anode compartment and a cathode compartment;
at least one separator containing an adsorbent capable of selectively adsorbing CO in a CO containing hydrogen gas stream to produce a substantially CO free, hydrogen rich gas stream;
a conduit for feeding a CO containing, hydrogen gas stream to the separator;
a conduit operably connecting the separator to the anode compartment of the fuel cell for delivering the substantially CO free, hydrogen rich gas stream thereto; and a conduit for feeding an oxidant to the cathode compartment.
a fuel cell having an anode compartment and a cathode compartment;
at least one separator containing an adsorbent capable of selectively adsorbing CO in a CO containing hydrogen gas stream to produce a substantially CO free, hydrogen rich gas stream;
a conduit for feeding a CO containing, hydrogen gas stream to the separator;
a conduit operably connecting the separator to the anode compartment of the fuel cell for delivering the substantially CO free, hydrogen rich gas stream thereto; and a conduit for feeding an oxidant to the cathode compartment.
4. The system of claim 3 including two separators.
5. The system of claim 1 and 4 including a conduit for feeding a sweep gas to the separator to desorb adsorbed CO.
6. The system of claim 5 wherein the separator contains an adsorbent selected from the group consisting of platinum, palladium, ruthenium, rhenium, iridium, the carbides and nitrides of tungsten, molybdenum, vanadium, chromium, tantalum and mixtures thereof whereby a substantially CO free, hydrogen rich gas stream is obtained.
7. The system of claim 6 wherein the adsorbent has a surface area in the range of from about 0.5 to about 200 m/gm.
8. The system of claim 8 wherein the adsorbent is tungsten carbide.
9. The system of claim 8 wherein the adsorbent is molybednum carbide.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US494,206 | 1990-03-15 | ||
| US08/494,206 US5604047A (en) | 1995-06-23 | 1995-06-23 | Carbon monoxide removal method based on adsorption/steam desorption cycle |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2174374A1 true CA2174374A1 (en) | 1996-12-24 |
Family
ID=23963501
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA002174374A Abandoned CA2174374A1 (en) | 1995-06-23 | 1996-04-17 | Carbon monoxide removal method based on adsorption/steam desorption cycle |
Country Status (5)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| US (1) | US5604047A (en) |
| EP (1) | EP0750361B1 (en) |
| JP (1) | JPH0910538A (en) |
| CA (1) | CA2174374A1 (en) |
| DE (1) | DE69604340T2 (en) |
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| DE19652341C2 (en) * | 1996-12-17 | 2000-01-20 | Forschungszentrum Juelich Gmbh | Process for the preparation of fuel for fuel cells and suitable fuel cell for carrying out the process |
| US5955214A (en) * | 1997-07-24 | 1999-09-21 | Exxon Research And Engineering Co | Carbon monoxide removal method based on a regenerable CO scavenger |
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| WO2000017953A1 (en) * | 1998-09-18 | 2000-03-30 | Alliedsignal Inc. | Method and system for removing carbon monoxide from a reformate gas stream for fuel cell application |
| US6475454B1 (en) * | 1999-01-14 | 2002-11-05 | Ge Energy & Environmental Research Corporation | Thermally limited selective oxidation methods and apparatus |
| EP1195353A4 (en) * | 1999-04-02 | 2003-01-22 | Ebara Corp | Method and apparatus for production of hydrogen by gasification of combusible material |
| US6641625B1 (en) | 1999-05-03 | 2003-11-04 | Nuvera Fuel Cells, Inc. | Integrated hydrocarbon reforming system and controls |
| DE10012224A1 (en) * | 2000-03-14 | 2001-09-27 | Xcellsis Gmbh | Process for shortening the cold start time of a carbon monoxide oxidation catalyst in a reformate gas of a fuel cell system of a vehicle comprises adsorbing start-delaying gas |
| DE10019772B4 (en) * | 2000-04-20 | 2007-06-21 | Nucellsys Gmbh | Device for compensating for concentration fluctuations in fuel cell systems |
| WO2002035623A2 (en) * | 2000-10-27 | 2002-05-02 | Questair Technologies Inc. | Systems and processes for providing hydrogen to fuel cells |
| US7097925B2 (en) * | 2000-10-30 | 2006-08-29 | Questair Technologies Inc. | High temperature fuel cell power plant |
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| US6770390B2 (en) | 2000-11-13 | 2004-08-03 | Air Products And Chemicals, Inc. | Carbon monoxide/water removal from fuel cell feed gas |
| AU2002215752A1 (en) * | 2000-12-08 | 2002-06-18 | Denis Connor | Methods and apparatuses for gas separation by pressure swing adsorption with partial gas product feed to fuel cell power source |
| CA2329475A1 (en) * | 2000-12-11 | 2002-06-11 | Andrea Gibbs | Fast cycle psa with adsorbents sensitive to atmospheric humidity |
| US6517963B2 (en) * | 2000-12-13 | 2003-02-11 | Plug Power Inc. | Carbon monoxide filter |
| US20020112479A1 (en) * | 2001-01-09 | 2002-08-22 | Keefer Bowie G. | Power plant with energy recovery from fuel storage |
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-
1995
- 1995-06-23 US US08/494,206 patent/US5604047A/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
-
1996
- 1996-04-17 CA CA002174374A patent/CA2174374A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 1996-06-13 JP JP8152224A patent/JPH0910538A/en active Pending
- 1996-06-20 EP EP96304593A patent/EP0750361B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1996-06-20 DE DE69604340T patent/DE69604340T2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
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| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| DE69604340T2 (en) | 2000-05-11 |
| EP0750361A1 (en) | 1996-12-27 |
| EP0750361B1 (en) | 1999-09-22 |
| JPH0910538A (en) | 1997-01-14 |
| US5604047A (en) | 1997-02-18 |
| DE69604340D1 (en) | 1999-10-28 |
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| Date | Code | Title | Description |
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| EEER | Examination request | ||
| FZDE | Discontinued |