Control system and method for a fuel processor

摘要

The mass flow rate of a first reactant stream supplied to a fuel processor is controlled based on a combined feed-forward and feedback control regime. The method is particularly applicable for actively controlling the fuel supply to a fuel processor in a system comprising a combustion engine, in which the fuel processor is fluidly connected to receive at least a portion of an engine exhaust stream from the engine. In embodiments of the system and method, the supply of fuel is controlled based on three mass flow factors.

主权项

1. A method of controlling the mass flow rate of a fuel stream supplied to a fuel processor, the method comprising:
(a) determining a first mass flow factor of said fuel stream for said fuel processor based on at least one parameter related to an oxidant stream supplied to said fuel processor at a steady-state condition, said oxidant stream comprising an exhaust stream from a combustion engine; (b) determining a second mass flow factor of said fuel stream for said fuel processor based on a rate of change to at least one parameter related to said oxidant stream supplied to said fuel processor, wherein said second mass flow factor depends upon the rate of change of at least one operating parameter of said engine, and monitoring the rate of change of at least one operating parameter of said combustion engine and obtaining the second mass flow factor based on the rate of change of the one or more monitored operating parameters; (c) determining a third mass flow factor of said fuel stream for said fuel processor based on at least one process parameter of said fuel processor; (d) determining a calculated mass flow rate taking into account said first, second and third mass flow factors; (e) determining whether said calculated mass flow rate is within a permissible range; and (f) repeating steps (a) through (e) at least periodically during operation of said fuel processor.