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.

A novel NiFeAl-based catalytic material was developed for the conversion of methane, the main constituent of natural gas, to synthesis gas, which is a mixture of H.sub.2 and CO in a H.sub.2/CO molar ratio of 2, through partial oxidation by air at reasonable temperatures.

A process for producing a hydrogen-rich gas stream from a liquid hydrocarbon stream, the process comprising the steps of introducing the liquid hydrocarbon stream to a dual catalytic zone, the liquid hydrocarbon stream comprises liquid hydrocarbons selected from the group consisting of liquid petroleum gas (LPG), light naphtha, heavy naphtha, gasoline, kerosene, diesel, and combinations of the same, the dual catalytic zone comprises: a combustion zone comprising a seven component catalyst, and a steam reforming zone, the steam reforming zone comprising a steam reforming catalyst; introducing steam to the dual catalytic zone, introducing an oxygen-rich gas to the dual catalytic zone; contacting the liquid hydrocarbon stream, steam, and oxygen-rich gas with the seven component catalyst to produce a combustion zone fluid; and contacting the combustion zone fluid with the steam reforming catalyst to produce the hydrogen-rich gas stream, wherein the hydrogen-rich gas stream comprises hydrogen.

An apparatus for producing synthesis gas (syngas) is provided. The apparatus includes a hub, including an autothermal dry reforming of methane apparatus, configured to receive CO.sub.2 and O.sub.2, and configured to produce a first stream of syngas with low a H.sub.2/CO mole ratio; an autothermal steam reforming of methane apparatus, configured to receive steam and O.sub.2, and configured to produce a second stream of syngas with a high H.sub.2/CO mole ratio; an H.sub.2 separation apparatus, configured to receive H.sub.2 and CO.sub.2, and coupled to the autothermal dry reforming of methane apparatus to deliver CO.sub.2 thereto; and a reactor for converting CO to H.sub.2 using a water-gas shift reaction, coupled to the autothermal steam reforming of methane apparatus to receive the second stream of syngas, and coupled to the H.sub.2 separation apparatus to deliver a stream of H.sub.2 and CO.sub.2 thereto. A method for producing synthesis gas is provided. The method includes configuring an autothermal dry reforming of methane apparatus to receive CO.sub.2 from industrial emission sources and an H.sub.2 separation apparatus, which receives H.sub.2 and CO.sub.2 from a water gas shift reactor fed with a portion of the second stream of syngas from an autothermal steam reforming of methane apparatus.

A fuel cell system anode tail gas oxidizer (ATO) includes an inner ATO wall, an outer ATO wall, and a first catalyst ring disposed in a chamber formed between the inner ATO wall and the outer ATO wall. The first catalyst ring includes an inner wall, an outer wall, and a matrix disposed between the inner wall and the outer wall and loaded with an oxidation catalyst.

An object of the present invention is to provide a catalyst composition that partially oxidizes a hydrocarbon to produce hydrogen and carbon monoxide, the catalytic activity of which is unlikely to deteriorate even when the catalyst composition is exposed to a high temperature, and the present invention provides a catalyst composition that partially oxidizes a hydrocarbon to produce hydrogen and carbon monoxide, including: a carrier that contains α-alumina; and a supported components that are supported on the carrier, wherein the supported components includes at least one platinum group element, a Ce oxide, and a Zr oxide.

A process for producing syngas in a first reactor, the process comprising: feeding carbon dioxide, hydrogen and first hydrocarbons into the first reactor; at least partially oxidizing the first hydrocarbons in the first region of the first reactor; producing syngas from the carbon dioxide, hydrogen and the oxidized first hydrocarbons in a second region of the first reactor.

A process for the manufacture of a useful product from carbonaceous feedstock of fluctuating compositional characteristics, comprising the steps of: continuously providing the carbonaceous feedstock of fluctuating compositional characteristics to a gasification zone; gasifying the carbonaceous feedstock in the gasification zone to obtain raw synthesis gas; recovering at least part of the raw synthesis gas from the gasification zone and supplying at least part of the recovered raw synthesis gas to a partial oxidation zone; equilibrating the H.sub.2:CO ratio of the raw synthesis gas in the partial oxidation zone to obtain equilibrated synthesis gas; recovering at least part of the equilibrated synthesis gas from the partial oxidation zone and treating the gas to remove impurities and generate a fine synthesis gas; and converting the optionally adjusted fine synthesis gas into the useful product in a further chemical reaction requiring a usage ratio.

Differing from the startup temperature of partial oxidation of butane (POB) reaction stimulated by conventional rhodium-based or nickel-based catalyst reaches 700° C. or above, the present invention particularly discloses a novel catalyst consisting of fluorite-type oxide support and Ni active metal for being applied in hydrogen production by low temperature partial oxidation of light hydrocarbon (POLH), so as to effectively reduce the startup temperature of the POLH reaction. In the present invention, the said light hydrocarbon means methane, ethane, propane, or butane. Moreover, a variety of experimental data have proved that this novel catalyst makes the startup temperature of POB reactions be lowered to 250° C. On the other hand, the experimental data have also proved that, the carbon deposition formed on the catalyst during POB reaction can be obviously improved after adding a few amount of platinum into the constituting ingredients of the novel catalyst.

The invention comprises a process for obtaining a gas from a fluid fuel and an oxidising fluid, said process comprising steps in which the incoming fluid is subjected to temperature, photocatalytic action and reaction with catalysts, all this within a device with a tubular structure which the incoming fluid circulates through in a spiral manner, between a fixed bed attached to the walls of the duct and a circulating bed with an ionised gas stream that occupies a central position of the duct, producing a gas obtained.