Methods of producing a hydrogen-enriched product and recovering CO.sub.2 are described. A synthesis gas stream from a hydrogen production process unit is separated in a hydrogen pressure swing adsorption unit into a high-pressure hydrogen stream and a hydrogen depleted tail gas stream, and the hydrogen depleted tail gas stream is compressed. The compressed tail gas stream is separated in a CO.sub.2 fractionation system into a CO.sub.2-enriched product stream and an overhead stream. The overhead stream is separated in an overhead hydrogen PSA system into a second high-pressure hydrogen stream and a low-pressure tail gas stream. The first and second high-pressure hydrogen streams and the CO.sub.2-enriched product stream are recovered. The low-pressure tail gas stream from the overhead hydrogen PSA system is combusted with oxygen to produce steam, electricity, or both.

The present invention relates to a hydrogen generator, and the purpose of the present invention is to provide a hydrogen generator wherein thermal efficiency is maximized, structural changes according to amounts of production are easily implemented, and DME is used as the main source material.

A catalyst composition for manufacturing a catalyst for hydrogen production based on thermochemical reaction of methanol is disclosed. The catalyst composition includes a support component and an active component. The support component includes cement and clay, wherein a weight ratio of the cement to the clay is 3/7 to 9/1. The active component includes copper oxide or a precursor of copper oxide. Based on 100 parts by weight of the support component, a content of the active component is 5 to 10 parts by weight.

The present invention concerns a starting burner (100a; 100b) for a fuel cell system (1000a; 1000b), having a catalyst (10) with a catalyst inlet (11) and a catalyst outlet (12), a catalyst area (13) being formed between the catalyst inlet (11) and the catalyst outlet (12), and the catalyst area (13) being surrounded by a catalyst wall (14) in a passage direction (D) from the catalyst inlet (11) to the catalyst outlet (12), and an operating fluid guide section (20) for supplying an operating fluid (F1) to the catalyst inlet (11), wherein the operating fluid guide section (20) is arranged outside the catalyst (10) at least in sections along the catalyst wall (14). The invention also concerns a fuel cell system (1000) with the starting burner (100a; 100b) and a method for heating a service fluid (F1) in the fuel cell system (1000a; 1000b).

A fuel cell system comprising a fuel cell stack, an evaporator for evaporating a mixture of methanol and water to be forwarded through a catalytic reformer for producing portions of free hydrogen. The fuel cell stack being composed of a number of proton exchange membrane fuel cells each featuring electrodes in form of an anode and a cathode for delivering an electric current. The system provides an enhanced catalytic reformer for a fuel cell system, which enables a compact design of the reformer for integration into a flat, rack mountable system.

Methods, devices, and systems are described for a reactor for converting dimethyl ether to hydrogen. The reactor includes an outer tube configured to contain heat. The reactor includes an inner tube nested inside the outer tube, the inner tube configured to conduct the heat contained by the outer tube. The inner tube forms a reaction chamber between the first end and the second end of the plurality of inner tube. The reactor includes a feed line coupled to the end of the plurality of inner tube. The feed line may be configured to pass dimethyl ether and steam to the inner tube. The reactor includes a reactor outlet configured to collect hydrogen from the inner tube and output the hydrogen.

Membrane modules for hydrogen separation and fuel processors and fuel cell systems including the same are disclosed herein. The membrane modules include a plurality of membrane packs. Each membrane pack includes a first hydrogen-selective membrane, a second hydrogen-selective membrane, and a fluid-permeable support structure positioned between the first hydrogen-selective membrane and the second hydrogen-selective membrane. In some embodiments, the membrane modules also include a permeate-side frame member and a mixed gas-side frame member, and a thickness of the permeate-side frame member may be less than a thickness of the mixed gas-side frame member. In some embodiments, the support structure includes a screen structure that includes two fine mesh screens. The two fine mesh screens may include a plain weave fine mesh screen and/or a Dutch weave fine mesh screen. The fine mesh screens may be selected to provide at most 100 micrometers of undulation in the hydrogen-selective membranes.

Hydrogen generation assemblies, hydrogen purification devices, and their components, and methods of manufacturing those assemblies, devices, and components are disclosed. In some embodiments, the devices may include an insulation base having insulating material and at least one passage that extends through the insulating material. In some embodiments, the at least one passage may be in fluid communication with a combustion region.

A fuel cell system includes a solid oxide fuel cell configured to receive a supply of an anode gas and a cathode gas to generate electric power. The fuel cell system includes an anode discharge passage through which an anode off-gas discharged from the fuel cell flows, a cathode discharge passage through which a cathode off-gas discharged from the fuel cell flows, a joining portion where the anode discharge passage and the cathode discharge passage join. The fuel cell system further includes a gas supply unit configured to supply a fuel gas using a fuel stored in a fuel tank into the anode discharge passage during a system stop.

The invention relates to the use of biomethanol from the pulp industry in the production of biohydrogen. The preferred biomethanol comprises purified biomethanol derived from black liquor. The invention also relates to a process for the production of biohydrogen from crude biomethanol recovered from black liquor and to a process for producing hydrocarbon biofuel using such biohydrogen as a hydrogen source. The invention further relates to a biofuel production facility for producing fuel from biohydrogen and biohydrocarbon, and to biofuel so produced. The invention makes it possible to produce a biofuel, wherein 100% of the raw material stems from non-fossil sources.