Electrochemical cells for the production of hydrogen from liquid fuels and methods of operating the cells to produce hydrogen and electricity are provided. The electrochemical cells are solid state cells that incorporate a thermochemical conversion catalyst and a hydrogen oxidation catalyst into the anode and utilize solid acid electrolytes. This cell design integrates thermally driven chemical conversion of a starting fuel with electrochemical removal of hydrogen from the conversion reaction zone.

A combined reforming apparatus is provided. The combined reforming apparatus includes a body, a first catalyst tube disposed inside the body and reacting at a first temperature to reform hydrocarbons (C.sub.xH.sub.y) having two or more carbon atoms into methane (CH.sub.4), a second catalyst tube disposed inside the body, connected to the first catalyst tube, and reacting at a second temperature higher than the first temperature to reform methane (CH.sub.4) into synthesis gas comprising hydrogen (H.sub.2) and carbon monoxide (CO), and a combustion unit configured to supply heat to the first and second catalyst tubes.

A steam reforming catalyst that includes treated black powder (primarily hematite), and a method of treating black powder (e.g., from a natural gas pipeline) to give the treated black powder. A steam reformer having the treated black powder as reforming catalyst, and a method of producing syngas with the steam reformer.

An apparatus for producing hydrogen in a steam methane reformer with reduced carbon emissions, the apparatus comprising: a first heat exchanger configured to heat a feed stream comprising methane to produce a heated feed stream that is at a temperature above 500° C.; a reaction zone in fluid communication with the first heat exchanger, wherein the reaction zone is configured to receive the heated feed stream under conditions effective for catalytically cracking the heated feed stream and catalytically crack the heated feed stream to produce a reformed stream, wherein the reformed stream comprises hydrogen, carbon monoxide, and unreacted methane; a shift conversion unit in fluid communication with the reaction zone, wherein the shift conversion unit is configured to receive the reformed stream in the presence of steam and produce a shifted gas stream comprising hydrogen and carbon dioxide; and a hydrogen purification unit configured to receive the shifted gas stream and purify the shifted gas stream to produce a hydrogen product stream and a tail gas; wherein the conditions effective for catalytically cracking the heated feed stream comprise providing heat to the reaction zone via combustion of a fuel and a hydrogen fuel stream in presence of an oxidizer, wherein the fuel comprises ammonia, wherein a flue gas is produced by the combustion of the fuel and the hydrogen fuel stream.

A solar thermochemical processing system is disclosed. The system includes a first unit operation for receiving concentrated solar energy. Heat from the solar energy is used to drive the first unit operation. The first unit operation also receives a first set of reactants and produces a first set of products. A second unit operation receives the first set of products from the first unit operation and produces a second set of products. A third unit operation receives heat from the second unit operation to produce a portion of the first set of reactants.

A method of installing a temperature measuring device inside a reactor tube while filling the tube with catalyst is provided. The method includes inserting a positioning system, including a single inflatable bladder connected at a central location to a centering ring, into a reactor tube, the reactor tube comprising a distal end and a proximal end. Then inserting the centering ring around the temperature measurement device. Then locating the positioning system at a first predetermined distance from the distal end, and inflating the single inflatable bladder, thereby centering the centering ring and the temperature measurement device within the SMR tube. Then introducing catalyst into the SMR tube, thereby enclosing the temperature measurement device in catalyst.

A device for centering a temperature measurement device inside a reactor tube that will be filled with catalyst, including multiple inflatable bladders mechanically and fluidically attached to a centering ring.

A method of installing a temperature measuring device inside a reactor tube while filling the tube with catalyst is provided. The method includes inserting a positioning system, including multiple inflatable bladders connected at a central location to a centering ring, into reactor tube, the reactor tube comprising a distal end and a proximal end. Then inserting a temperature measurement device into the centering ring. Locating the positioning system at a first predetermined distance from the distal end. Then inflating the multiple inflatable bladders, thereby centering the centering ring and the temperature measurement device within the SMR tube, and introducing catalyst into the SMR tube, thereby enclosing the temperature measurement device in catalyst.

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.

The present invention relates to a method to prevent the fluidization of a catalytic fixed bed present in a tubular reactor operated in upward-flow configuration by estimating a pressure drop margin remaining before fluidization of the catalytic bed and adjusting the reactant gas flow in response. It relates also to a method to operate safely a furnace suitable for performing endothermic reactions containing a plurality of catalytic fixed bed reactors operated in upward-flow configuration, and to a method to debottleneck safely a catalytic fixed bed reactor involving a gas flowing in up flow direction.