Method of integrating a fuel cell with a steam methane reformer

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11831057-B2
Application number	US-201917416334-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 18, 2019
Priority date	Dec 18, 2018
Publication date	Nov 28, 2023
Grant date	Nov 28, 2023

Abstract

A method of integrating a fuel cell with a steam methane reformer is provided. The system includes at least one fuel cell including an anode and a cathode, and a steam methane reformer including a syngas stream, and a flue gas stream. The method includes introducing at least a portion of the flue gas stream to the cathode, thereby producing a CO2 depleted flue gas stream and introducing a hydrocarbon containing stream to the anode, thereby producing an electrical energy output and a carbon dioxide and hydrogen containing stream from the fuel cell.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of integrating a fuel cell with a steam methane reformer, comprising;
at least one fuel cell 100 comprising an anode 104 and a cathode 103 ,
a steam methane reformer 114 comprising a syngas stream 305 , and a flue gas stream 101 ,

the method comprising;
a) introducing at least a portion of the flue gas stream 101 to the cathode 103 , thereby producing a CO2 depleted flue gas stream 112
b) introducing a hydrocarbon containing stream 303 to the anode 104 , thereby producing an electrical energy output 107 and a carbon dioxide and hydrogen containing stream 307 from the fuel cell 100 ,
c) separating a hydrogen-rich stream 306 from the carbon dioxide and hydrogen containing stream 307 , thereby producing a carbon dioxide rich stream 111 ,
d) combining the hydrogen-rich stream 306 with the syngas stream 305 , thereby producing a combined syngas stream, and
e) introducing the combined syngas stream into a hydrogen separation device 115 , thereby producing a second high purity hydrogen stream 116 .

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the hydrocarbon containing stream 303 is natural gas.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the hydrocarbon containing stream is desulfurized prior to introduction into the anode 104 .

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the carbon dioxide and hydrogen containing stream 307 passes through a water-gas shift reactor 108 between steps b) and c).

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the syngas stream 305 has passed through a water-gas shift reactor 108 prior to step d).

Assignees

• Air Liquide
• Guerif Pierre Philippe
• Rodriges Guillaume

Inventors

• Guerif Pierre-Philippe
• Rodriges Guillaume

Classifications

• H01M8/0618 Primary

  Reforming processes, e.g. autothermal, partial oxidation or steam reforming · CPC title

• C01B3/48

  followed by reaction of water vapour with carbon monoxide · CPC title

• C01B3/501

  by diffusion · CPC title

• H01M8/0637

  Direct internal reforming at the anode of the fuel cell · CPC title

• H01M8/0668

  Removal of carbon monoxide or carbon dioxide · CPC title