Generating syngas for NOx regeneration combined with fuel cell auxiliary power generation

摘要

During normal operation of a truck engine ( 12 ), a catalytic partial oxidizer ( 30 ) provides syngas (hydrogen and carbon monoxide) to regenerate NOx traps ( 35 ), for brief periods of time, or diverted ( 33 ) to the inlet ( 13 ) of an engine ( 12 ) via the EGR system ( 43-46 ). Some hydrogen is extracted from syngas by a palladium membrane separator ( 63 ) and passed to the fuel inlet ( 52 ) of a fuel cell stack ( 51 ). The stack ( 51 ) provides auxiliary electric power to the truck. Humid air from the air outlet ( 55 ) of the stack is provided to a fuel/exhaust/air static mixer ( 25 ). A methanator ( 66 ) may convert CO, leaked through the palladium membranes, into CH₄. Water/gas shift or steam reformer catalyst ( 76 ) at the inlet to or inside of the palladium membranes separator may provide some additional H₂.