Hydrogen generation assemblies and methods of generating hydrogen are disclosed. In some embodiments, the method may include receiving a feed stream in a fuel processing assembly of the hydrogen generation assembly; and generating a product hydrogen stream in the fuel processing assembly from the received feed stream. Generating a product hydrogen stream may, in some embodiments, include generating an output stream in a hydrogen generating region from the received feed stream, and generating the product hydrogen stream in a purification region from the output stream. The method may additionally include receiving the generated product hydrogen stream in a buffer tank of the hydrogen generation assembly; and detecting pressure in the buffer tank via a tank sensor assembly. The method may further include stopping generation of the product hydrogen stream in the fuel processing assembly when the detected pressure in the buffer tank is above a predetermined maximum pressure.

A device for measuring the internal temperature of a reforming tube including a first structure having an axial part of tubular shape positioned in the lengthwise direction of a reforming tube and a radial part projecting radially towards the central axis of the reforming tube, a second structure of oblong shape having at least one thermocouple made of welded Nicrosil/Nisil conductors arranged longitudinally against the axial part and radially against the radial part, and an outer sheath enveloping the first structure and the second structure.

This invention relates to a power recovery process in waste steam/CO.sub.2 reformers in which a waste stream can be made to release energy without having to burn the waste or the syngas. This invention in some embodiments does not make use of fuel cells as a component but makes use of exothermic chemical reactors using syngas to produce heat, such as Fischer-Tropsch synthesis. It also relates to control or elimination of the emissions of greenhouse gases in the power recovery process of this invention with the goal of producing energy in the future carbonless world economy.

This invention relates to a power recovery process in waste steam/CO.sub.2 reformers in which a waste stream can be made to release energy without having to burn the waste or the syngas. This invention in some embodiments does not make use of fuel cells as a component but makes use of exothermic chemical reactors using syngas to produce heat, such as Fischer-Tropsch synthesis. It also relates to control or elimination of the emissions of greenhouse gases in the power recovery process of this invention with the goal of producing energy in the future carbonless world economy.

A process for on-site hydrogen reforming is disclosed. The process includes providing a combined reformer heat exchanger component in which heated air, steam, and hydrocarbon fuel react to form process gas containing hydrogen, and the process gas is cooled via the heat exchanger. The combined components enable reductions in size, materials, costs, and heat loss. Additionally, as the heat exchanger side of the component operates at a cooler temperature, an uninsulated flange for access to the catalyst chamber can be used. A combined combustion heat exchanger component is also provided with similar advantages. Process gas is processed, and hydrogen gas is produced via a purification process.

A fuel reformer module (8005) for initiating catalytic partial oxidation (CPOX) to reform a hydrocarbon fuel oxidant mixture (2025, 3025) to output a syngas reformate (2027) to solid oxide fuel cell stack (2080, 5040). A solid non-porous ceramic catalyzing body (3030) includes a plurality of catalyst coated fuel passages (3085). A thermally conductive element (9005, 10005, 11005, 13005), with a coefficient of thermal conductivity of 50 W/m K or greater is thermally conductively coupled with the catalyzing body. A first thermal sensor (8030) is thermally conductively coupled with the thermally conductive element. A second thermal sensor is thermally conductively coupled with a surface of the fuel cell stack. A control method independently modulates an oxidant input flow rate, based on first thermal sensor signal values, a hydrocarbon fuel input flow rate, based on second thermal sensor signal values.

Hydrogen purification devices and their components are disclosed. In some embodiments, the devices may include at least one foil-microscreen assembly disposed between and secured to first and second end frames. The at least one foil-microscreen assembly may include at least one hydrogen-selective membrane and at least one microscreen structure including a non-porous planar sheet having a plurality of apertures forming a plurality of fluid passages. The planar sheet may include generally opposed planar surfaces configured to provide support to the permeate side. The plurality of fluid passages may extend between the opposed surfaces. The at least one hydrogen-selective membrane may be metallurgically bonded to the at least one microscreen structure. In some embodiments, the devices may include a permeate frame having at least one membrane support structure that spans at least a substantial portion of an open region and that is configured to support at least one foil-microscreen assembly.

A fuel reformer module (8005) for initiating catalytic partial oxidation (CPOX) to reform a hydrocarbon fuel oxidant mixture (2025, 3025) to output a syngas reformate (2027) to solid oxide fuel cell stack (2080, 5040). A solid non-porous ceramic catalyzing body (3030) includes a plurality of catalyst coated fuel passages (3085). A thermally conductive element (9005, 10005, 11005, 13005), with a coefficient of thermal conductivity of 50 W/m K or greater is thermally conductively coupled with the catalyzing body. A first thermal sensor (8030) is thermally conductively coupled with the thermally conductive element. A second thermal sensor is thermally conductively coupled with a surface of the fuel cell stack. A control method independently modulates an oxidant input flow rate, based on first thermal sensor signal values, a hydrocarbon fuel input flow rate, based on second thermal sensor signal values.

Hydrogen generation assemblies, hydrogen purification devices, and their components are disclosed. In some embodiments, the devices may include a permeate frame with a membrane support structure having first and second membrane support plates that are free from perforations and that include a plurality of microgrooves configured to provide flow channels for at least part of the permeate stream. In some embodiments, the assemblies may include a return conduit fluidly connecting a buffer tank and a reformate conduit, a return valve assembly configured to manage flow in the return conduit, and a control assembly configured to operate a fuel processing assembly between run and standby modes based, at least in part, on detected pressure in the buffer tank and configured to direct the return valve assembly to allow product hydrogen stream to flow from the buffer tank to the reformate conduit when the fuel processing assembly is in the standby mode.

Hydrogen generation assemblies and methods of generating hydrogen are disclosed. In some embodiments, the method may include receiving a feed stream in a fuel processing assembly of the hydrogen generation assembly; and generating a product hydrogen stream in the fuel processing assembly from the received feed stream. Generating a product hydrogen stream may, in some embodiments, include generating an output stream in a hydrogen generating region from the received feed stream, and generating the product hydrogen stream in a purification region from the output stream. The method may additionally include receiving the generated product hydrogen stream in a buffer tank of the hydrogen generation assembly; and detecting pressure in the buffer tank via a tank sensor assembly. The method may further include stopping generation of the product hydrogen stream in the fuel processing assembly when the detected pressure in the buffer tank is above a predetermined maximum pressure.