Fuel reforming system and process
Fuel reforming processes and systems are disclosed. The fuel reforming process includes providing a fuel reformer, the fuel reformer comprising a reaction zone configured for exothermic partial oxidation to generate reformates and a heat exchanger extending from the reaction zone, the heat exchanger configured to expel the reformates through a reformate path and receive fuel-rich reactants through a fuel path, generating the reformates by the exothermic partial oxidation of the fuel-rich reactants within the reaction zone, heating the fuel-rich reactants in reaction zone with the heat exchanger by heat from the reformates in the reformate path. The process is energetically self-sustained and operates without a catalyst. The fuel reforming system includes the fuel reformer with a spiral heat exchanger and a component capable of operation with the reformates and incompatible with combustion products, such as a fuel cell.
1. A fuel reforming process, comprising:
providing a fuel reformer, the fuel reformer comprising:
a reaction zone configured for exothermic partial oxidation to generate reformates; and
a spiral heat exchanger extending from the reaction zone, the heat exchanger configured to expel the reformates through a spiral reformate path and receive fuel-rich reactants through a spiral countercurrent fuel path, the spiral reformate path being adjacent to the spiral countercurrent fuel path;
generating the reformates by the exothermic partial oxidation of the fuel-rich reactants within the reaction zone;
heating the fuel-rich reactants with the heat exchanger by heat from the reformates in the reformate path;
wherein the process is energetically self-sustained and operates without a catalyst.
2. The process of claim 1 , wherein the spiral heat exchanger comprises a heat transfer enhancements configured to form Dean vortices capable of increasing heat transfer.
3. The process of claim 1 , wherein the reformate path and the fuel path spiral from the reaction zone.
4. The process of claim 3 , wherein the reformate path and the fuel path spiral each form at least 3 turns.
5. The process of claim 1 , comprising introducing the fuel-rich reactants at a flow velocity of at least 200 cm/s.
6. The process of claim 1 , comprising introducing the fuel-rich reactants at a flow volume of at least 250 cc/s.
7. The process of claim 1 , comprising introducing the fuel-rich reactants with a Reynolds number of at least 314.7.
8. The process of claim 1 , wherein H 2 in the reformate is at a molar concentration of at least 17%.
9. The process of claim 1 , wherein CO in the reformate is at a molar concentration of at least 18.5%.
10. The process of claim 1 , wherein H 2 in the reformate is at a molar ratio of at least 60% compared to the equilibrium concentration.
11. The process of claim 1 , wherein CO in the reformate is at a molar ratio of at least 87% compared to the equilibrium concentration.
12. The process of claim 1 , wherein the reaction temperature exceeds the adiabatic flame temperature of the fuel-rich reactants.
13. The process of claim 1 , wherein the fuel-rich reactants include fluid selected from the group consisting of a methane-air mixture, a propane-air mixture, an n-heptane-air vaporized liquid-fuel mixture, a kerosene-based fuel-air mixture, a Jet Propellant 8 jet fuel-air mixture, a pulverized coal-air mixture, a biomass-air mixture, and combinations thereof.
14. The process of claim 1 , comprising operating the fuel reformer in a system incompatible with combustion products.
15. The process of claim 14 , wherein the operating of the fuel system is as a hydrogen storage container, an auxiliary power unit, a portable power system, a micro-combined heat and power system, a robotic system, an after-treatment system in a diesel engine, a hydrogen-enhancement combustion engine, or a combination thereof.
16. The process of claim 14 , wherein the system is a power generation system, a reactor, a diesel engine, gasoline engine, an independently-powered device, or a combination thereof.
17. The process of claim 1 , comprising operating the fuel reformer in conjunction with a device selected from the group consisting of:
a water gas shift reactor having water introduced or produced, the water reacting with CO(g) in the reformate to produce additional H 2 by the equation CO+H 2 O→CO 2 +H 2 ;
a Fischer-Tropsch reactor having a Fischer-Tropsch catalyst to synthesize liquid fuels; and
a fuel cell.