Hybrid reformer for fuel flexibility
View Patent ↗A reformer for a fuel cell system includes a leading segment and a trailing segment. The leading segment includes less reactive catalyst and/or more stabilizing catalyst than the trailing segment. The reformer may be used for reformation of high and low hydrocarbon fuels.
1. A reformer for a fuel cell system, comprising a leading segment and a trailing segment, wherein:
the leading segment comprises less reactive catalyst than the trailing segment;
the reactive catalyst comprises nickel;
a rhodium stabilizing catalyst is located in the reformer; and
the leading segment of the reformer contains a substantially equal amount or concentration of the rhodium stabilizing catalyst compared to the trailing segment.
2. The reformer of claim 1 , wherein the leading segment contains a lower amount of nickel than the trailing segment.
3. The reformer of claim 1 , wherein the leading segment contains a lower nickel concentration than the trailing segment.
4. The reformer of claim 1 , wherein nickel amount or concentration increases between the leading segment and the trailing segment in a single step or in a graded fashion.
5. A fuel cell system, comprising:
the reformer of claim 1 ; and
at least one fuel cell stack.
6. The system of claim 5 , wherein:
the at least one fuel cell stack comprises an internal or an external reformation type solid oxide fuel cells;
the reformer comprises an external reformer; and
the reformer is thermally integrated with the at least one fuel cell stack.
7. The system of claim 6 , further comprising a burner which is thermally integrated with the reformer.
8. The system of claim 5 , further comprising a high hydrocarbon fuel source and a low hydrocarbon fuel source which are fluidly connected to the leading segment of the reformer.
9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the high hydrocarbon fuel source comprises a diesel or jet fuel source, and the low hydrocarbon fuel source comprises a natural gas, methane, propane, ethanol or methanol fuel source.
10. A method of reforming different fuels, comprising:
providing a reformer comprising a leading segment and a trailing segment, wherein the leading segment comprises less reactive catalyst than the trailing segment;
providing a high hydrocarbon fuel into the reformer, such that the fuel passes through the leading segment before the trailing segment;
providing a reformate of the high hydrocarbon fuel into a fuel cell stack;
providing a low hydrocarbon fuel into the reformer, such that the fuel passes through the leading segment before the trailing segment; and
providing a reformate of the low hydrocarbon fuel into a fuel cell stack.
11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the reactive catalyst comprises nickel.
12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the leading segment contains a lower amount of nickel than the trailing segment.
13. The method of claim 11 , wherein the leading segment contains a lower nickel concentration than the trailing segment.
14. The method of claim 10 , wherein:
the reformer comprises an external reformer;
the fuel cell stack comprises an internal or an external reformation type solid oxide fuel cells; and
the reformer is thermally integrated with the fuel cell stack.
15. The method of claim 11 , wherein:
nickel amount or concentration increases between the leading segment and the trailing segment in a single step or in a graded fashion;
a rhodium stabilizing catalyst is located in the reformer; and
the leading segment of the reformer contains a substantially equal or higher amount or concentration of the rhodium stabilizing catalyst compared to the trailing segment.
16. A fuel cell system, comprising:
at least one fuel cell stack;
a reformer comprising a leading segment and a trailing segment, wherein the leading segment comprises less reactive catalyst than the trailing segment; and
a high hydrocarbon fuel source and a low hydrocarbon fuel source which are fluidly connected to the leading segment of the reformer.
17. The system of claim 16 , wherein the reactive catalyst comprises nickel.
18. The system of claim 17 , wherein the leading segment contains a lower amount of nickel than the trailing segment.
19. The system of claim 17 , wherein the leading segment contains a lower nickel concentration than the trailing segment.
20. The system of claim 17 , wherein nickel amount or concentration increases between the leading segment and the trailing segment in a single step or in a graded fashion.
21. The system of claim 17 , wherein:
a rhodium stabilizing catalyst is located in the reformer; and
the leading segment of the reformer contains a substantially equal amount or concentration of the rhodium stabilizing catalyst compared to the trailing segment.
22. The system of claim 17 , wherein:
a rhodium stabilizing catalyst is located in the reformer; and
the leading segment of the reformer comprises more of the rhodium stabilizing catalyst than the trailing segment.
23. The system of claim 16 , wherein:
the at least one fuel cell stack comprises an internal or an external reformation type solid oxide fuel cells;
the reformer comprises an external reformer; and
the reformer is thermally integrated with the at least one fuel cell stack.
24. The system of claim 23 , further comprising a burner which is thermally integrated with the reformer.
25. The system of claim 16 , wherein the high hydrocarbon fuel source comprises a diesel or jet fuel source, and the low hydrocarbon fuel source comprises a natural gas, methane, propane, ethanol or methanol fuel source.