Process, control system and apparatus for the optimal operation of a selective oxidation reactor

摘要

The present invention provides a process of selectively oxidizing carbon monoxide in a reformate stream comprising the steps of passing a fuel stream comprising hydrogen and carbon monoxide into a reaction chamber wherein the reaction chamber contains an effective amount of at least one catalyst to promote oxidation of said carbon monoxide to carbon dioxide; supplying an oxygen-containing stream into said reaction chamber; and periodically interrupting the flow of said oxygen-containing stream into said reaction chamber. In one embodiment of the invention, the oxygen-containing stream is interrupted for a predetermined duration of time. In general, it was found that more frequent short interruptions of the oxygen flow produced a consistently lower carbon monoxide level than less frequent longer interruptions. The interruption in oxygen flow may also be triggered upon an increase in carbon monoxide concentration within the reaction chamber.