Integrated catalyst-heat exchanger and method of oxidising carbon monoxide in a hydrogen reformer of a fuel cell system

摘要

The present invention involves a system and method of oxidizing carbon monoxide in a preferential oxidizer for a hydrogen reformer of a fuel cell system for vehicular and stationary applications. The method includes providing a heat exchange system of the preferential oxidizer, wherein the heat exchange system has a single integrated oxidation reaction region in which an oxidation catalyst is disposed for oxidizing carbon monoxide to carbon dioxide. The method further includes introducing a hydrogen-rich reformate to the heat exchange system, wherein the hydrogen-rich reformate is at a predetermined temperature and has a first content of carbon monoxide. The method further includes injecting oxygen to the hydrogen-rich reformate, wherein the oxygen is at a predetermined stoichiometric oxygen/carbon monoxide ratio. The method further includes oxidizing at least a portion of the carbon monoxide to carbon dioxide with the oxidation catalyst when the hydrogen-rich reformate and oxygen contact the single integrated oxidation reaction region so that the hydrogen-rich reformate has a second content of carbon monoxide less than the first content at the predetermined temperature. The method further includes maintaining the hydrogen-rich reformate at the predetermined temperature when the carbon monoxide is oxidized in the single integrated reaction region of the heat exchange system.