| 摘要 |
A system and a method are provided to reform hydrocarbon fuels, including sulfurladen liquid fuels, to produce a reformate stream containing hydrogen. The system comprises a reforming reactor containing a precious metal catalyst and using a hydrocarbon stream, a hydrogen-rich stream, and a water stream as reactants. In one embodiment, the temperature of the catalyst is lower at the inlet to prevent formation of coke by pre-reforming heavy hydrocarbons to methane, and higher at the outlet for efficient production of hydrogen. In another embodiment, air is introduced periodically into the system to burn off any metal sulfides and coke deposits that could form. In another embodiment, pure hydrogen is separated from the reformate stream using a hydrogen selective, sulfur-tolerant membrane or by pressure swing adsorption. Thus, the system and method of the prevent invention can be used to process sulfur-laden, heavy hydrocarbons to produce PEM fuel-cell quality hydrogen. |
