Provided is a fuel cell system capable of further increasing electric power generation efficiency, compared to the current circumstances, with respect to a fuel cell SOFC that generates electric power by supplying a reformed gas obtained by steam reforming to a fuel electrode. A steam reformer that reforms a hydrocarbon fuel by a steam reforming reaction; a fuel cell that operates by introducing a reformed gas to a fuel electrode; and an anode off-gas circulation path that removes condensed water while cooling an anode off-gas, and introduces the anode off-gas to the steam reformer are provided. A condensation temperature in a condensing device is controlled by a control unit that controls a steam partial pressure of the anode circulated to the steam reformer, and S/C adjustment is adapted to high-efficiency electric power generation.

The invention relates to a method for producing catalysts by the method of combustion in solution, to the catalysts produced by said method, and to the particular use thereof in the reverse water-gas shift reaction and in the partial oxidation of the methane into synthesis gas. Therefore, it is understood that the present invention pertains to the area of the green industry aimed at the reduction of CO.sub.2 on the planet.

An object of the present invention is to provide means for improving the hydrogen generation properties of a hydrogen-producing catalyst. A hydrogen-producing catalyst according to one aspect of the present invention comprises Rh and a composite containing Al, Ce, and Zr. When a ratio of the number of Al atoms to the number of Ce atoms (Al/Ce) in the composite measured by X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analysis is R.sub.I and a ratio of the number of Al atoms to the number of Ce atoms (Al/Ce,) in the composite measured by an Xray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) method is R.sub.2, a value of R.sub.2-R.sub.1 is greater than 2.25 and less than 5.92.

A process of operating a spark-ignited internal combustion engine (SI-ICE) with improved fuel efficiency and reduced emissions including under steady state and under lean-operating conditions at high overall air to fuel (AFR) ratios. A first supply of high octane hydrocarbon fuel, such as gasoline or natural gas, and a first supply of oxidant are fed to a fuel reformer to produce a gaseous reformate with a reforming efficiency of greater than 75 percent relative to equilibrium. The gaseous reformate is mixed with a second supply of oxidant, after which the resulting reformate blended oxidant is fed with a second supply of high octane hydrocarbon fuel to the SI-ICE for combustion. Steady state fuel efficiency is improved by more than 3 percent, when the reformate comprises from greater than about 1 to less than about 18 percent of the total volume of reformate blended oxidant fed to the engine.

A hydrogen producing apparatus includes a reforming unit, a feed unit, and a heating unit. The reforming unit includes a casing defining a receiving space and having gas intake and outlet ports, a plurality of reformers disposed in the receiving space, at least one gas pipe winding around one of the reformers, and a connecting pipe in fluidic communication with the gas pipe. The feed unit is in fluidic communication with the reformers and the connecting pipe such that air delivered from the gas intake port through the gas pipe and the connecting pipe is mixed with a fuel in the feed unit to form a reactant mixture to be fed to the reformers for hydrogen production. The heating unit includes a heater connected to the casing.

Integrated liquid fuel catalytic partial oxidation (CPOX) reformer and fuel cell systems can include a plurality or an array of spaced-apart CPOX reactor units, each reactor unit including an elongated tube having a gas-permeable wall with internal and external surfaces. The wall encloses an unobstructed gaseous flow passageway. At least a portion of the wall has CPOX catalyst disposed therein and/or comprising its structure. The catalyst-containing wall structure and open gaseous flow passageway enclosed thereby define a gaseous phase CPOX reaction zone, the catalyst-containing wall section being gas-permeable to allow gaseous CPOX reaction mixture to diffuse therein and hydrogen rich product reformate to diffuse therefrom. The liquid fuel CPOX reformer also can include a vaporizer, one or more igniters, and a source of liquid reformable fuel. The hydrogen-rich reformate can be converted to electricity within a fuel cell unit integrated with the CPOX reactor unit.

A PdRu alloy catalyst for hydrogen production and its preparation methods are provided. The catalyst can include a plurality of particles comprising an alloy of at least palladium (Pd) and ruthenium (Ru). Moreover, the catalyst can further include a support material such as carbon support having external or internal surfaces on which the plurality of particles is dispersed. The alloy catalyst can have a molar ratio of Pd:Ru in a range of about 0.5:1 to about 9:1. For hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), the PdRu alloy catalyst exhibits increased catalytic activities comparing to some well-known catalysts.

The present invention relates to a process for preparing a pre-reforming catalyst having resistance to deactivation by passage of steam in the absence of a reducing agent comprising ruthenium and an alumina support. Furthermore, the Ru/alumina catalyst according to the present invention becomes much more resistant to deposition of coke with the addition of Ag.

Zn-promoted and/or Ga-promoted cracking catalysts, such as cracking catalysts comprising an MSE framework zeolite or an MFI framework zeolite can provide unexpectedly superior conversion of branched paraffins when used as part of a catalyst during reforming of a hydrocarbon fuel stream. The conversion and reforming of the hydrocarbon fuel stream can occur, for example, in an internal combustion engine. The conversion and reforming can allow for formation of higher octane compounds from the branched paraffins.

The present invention provides a hydrogen generating apparatus and a hydrogen generating method, wherein the hydrogen generating apparatus generates hydrogen by dehydrating formic acid, and comprises: a reactor for containing water and a heterogeneous catalyst; a formic acid feeder for feeding formic acid into the reactor; and a moisture remover for removing moisture generated from the reactor.