REDUCTION OF AMMONIA FORMATION DURING FUEL REFORMING

摘要

Method and apparatus for reducing formation of ammonia in a fuel reforming process, such as an autothermal reforming process. The process includes reacting a fuel (16) with air (20) and water (18) in a reforming unit (12) containing a precious metal catalyst bed (14) to produce a hydrogen containing reformate stream (22) substantially free of ammonia. The precious catalyst can be, for example, platinum, palladium, rhodium, ruthenium, iridium and combinations thereof. The operating temperature and pressure for the reforming unit (12) can be controlled to minimize the formation of ammonia in the reformate stream (22).