摘要 |
Hydrogen generation and fuel cell operation are integrated through the use o f a fuel processor (104) or hydrogen generation zone which comprises a pre- reforming zone, a partial oxidation zone, a reforming zone, a water gas shif t zone and a preferential oxidation zone. According to the present invention, an oxygen-enriched stream (14, 16) is provided to the fuel processor (104) and to the fuel cell (106) from the adsorption effluent (12) withdrawn from an adsorption zone (101). The oxygen-enriched stream is depleted in nitrogen which improved the efficiency of the fuel processor and the fuel cell by reducing nitrogen dilution. A further advantage resulted in fuel processor/fuel cell systems which burn the anode waste gas (20) in a combustion zone (108) to provide heat to the fuel processor zone. By dilutin g the anode waste gas with an oxygen-reduced gas (24), it is possible to maintain the combustion temperature in the convection range and reduce or eliminate the amount of excess air employed in the combustion zone. |