Regeneration methods to remove carbon monoxide from reformate fuel using an adsorption/electro-catalytic oxidation (ECO) approach

Abstract

This invention discloses regeneration methods to remove carbon monoxide (CO) from reformate fuel using an adsorption and electro-catalytic oxidation (ECO) approach. One method of the invention comprises a first ECO cell and a second ECO cell, and the other method comprises a first ECO cell and a first charge storage device. Both methods eliminate the requirement of an external power supply that leads to higher cost, additional power consumption and more processor complexity for the CO removal processor.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A method of removing carbon monoxide adsorbed in an electro-catalytic oxidation processor, said processor having a first electro-catalytic oxidation cell and a second electro-catalytic oxidation cell, said method comprising: 
 producing an electrical current from said first and said second electro-catalytic oxidation cells and through said first and said second electro-catalytic oxidation cells that have adsorbed said carbon monoxide; and    converting said carbon monoxide that has adsorbed in said first and said second electro-catalytic oxidation cells to carbon dioxide to thereby regenerate an adsorption capacity of said electro-catalytic oxidation processor.    
     
     
         2 . The method of    claim 1   , further comprising closing an electrical circuit between said first electro-catalytic oxidation cell and second electro-catalytic oxidation cell by a switch.  
     
     
         3 . The method of    claim 1   , further comprising opening an electrical circuit between said first electro-catalytic oxidation cell and second electro-catalytic oxidation cell by a switch.  
     
     
         4 . The method of    claim 1   , wherein said carbon monoxide is contained within a hydrocarbon reformate.  
     
     
         5 . The method of    claim 1   , producing an electrical current occurs before said electro-catalytic oxidation processor is saturated with said carbon monoxide.  
     
     
         6 . The method of    claim 1   , producing an electrical current occurs when said electro-catalytic oxidation processor becomes saturated with said carbon monoxide.  
     
     
         7 . The method of    claim 1   , wherein said electro-catalytic oxidation processor comprises a plurality of electro-catalytic oxidation cells in excess of two.  
     
     
         8 . The method of    claim 5   , further comprising sequentially producing an electrical current from said plurality of electro-catalytic oxidation cells.  
     
     
         9 . The method of    claim 5   , further comprising sequentially sending an electrical current from said plurality of electro-catalytic oxidation cells.  
     
     
         10 . The method of    claim 5   , further comprising electrically connecting said plurality of electro-catalytic oxidation cells by a plurality of switches.  
     
     
         11 . A method of removing carbon monoxide adsorbed in an electro-catalytic oxidation processor, said processor having a first electro-catalytic oxidation cell and a first charge storage device, said method comprising: 
 charging said first charge storage device by said electro-catalytic oxidation cell;    discharging an electrical current from said first charge storage device and through said first electro-catalytic oxidation cell that has adsorbed said carbon monoxide; and    converting said carbon monoxide that has adsorbed in said first electro-catalytic oxidation cell to carbon dioxide to thereby regenerate an adsorption capacity of said electro-catalytic oxidation processor.    
     
     
         12 . The method of    claim 11   , further comprising closing an electrical circuit between said first electro-catalytic oxidation cell and first charge storage device by a switch.  
     
     
         13 . The method of    claim 11   , further comprising alternating a direction of said electrical current between said first electro-catalytic oxidation cell and first charge storage device by a switch.  
     
     
         14 . The method of    claim 11   , wherein said electro-catalytic oxidation processor comprises a plurality of charge storage devices.  
     
     
         15 . The method of    claim 14   , further comprising sequentially charging said plurality of charge storage devices.  
     
     
         16 . The method of    claim 14   , further comprising sequentially discharging said plurality of charge storage devices.  
     
     
         17 . The method of    claim 11   , wherein said electro-catalytic oxidation processor comprises of a plurality of electro-catalytic oxidation cells.  
     
     
         18 . The method of    claim 17   , further comprising sequentially producing an electrical current from said plurality of electro-catalytic oxidation cells.  
     
     
         19 . The method of    claim 17   , further comprising sequentially regenerating an adsorption capacity of said plurality of electro-catalytic oxidation cells.  
     
     
         20 . The method of    claim 17   , further comprising electrically connecting said plurality of electro-catalytic oxidation cells by a plurality of switches.  
     
     
         21 . The method of    claim 11   , wherein said carbon monoxide is contained within a hydrocarbon reformate.  
     
     
         22 . The method of    claim 11   , producing said electrical current occurs before said electro-catalytic oxidation processor is saturated with said carbon monoxide.  
     
     
         23 . The method of    claim 11   , producing said electrical current occurs when said electro-catalytic oxidation processor becomes saturated with said carbon monoxide.  
     
     
         24 . An electro-catalytic oxidation processor for removing carbon monoxide from a hydrocarbon reformate, comprising: 
 a first electro-catalytic oxidation cell;    a second electro-catalytic oxidation cell; and    a switch disposed between said first and second electro-catalytic oxidation cells.    
     
     
         25 . The processor of    claim 24   , wherein said switch comprises a polarity switch.  
     
     
         26 . The processor of    claim 24   , wherein said switch comprises a double pole double throw switch.  
     
     
         27 . The processor of    claim 24   , wherein said switch is a mechanical switch.  
     
     
         28 . The processor of    claim 24   , wherein said switch is an electronic solid state switch.  
     
     
         29 . The processor of    claim 24   , wherein said switch is electrically connected to said first and second electro-catalytic oxidation cells in series.  
     
     
         30 . The processor of    claim 24   , wherein said switch is electrically connected to said first and second electro-catalytic oxidation cells in parallel.  
     
     
         31 . The processor of    claim 24   , further comprising a plurality of electro-catalytic oxidation cells in excess of two and a plurality of switches in excess of two.  
     
     
         32 . The processor of    claim 31   , wherein said reformate passes through said plurality of electro-catalytic oxidation cells in series.  
     
     
         33 . The processor of    claim 31   , wherein said reformate passes through said plurality of electro-catalytic oxidation cells in parallel.  
     
     
         34 . An electro-catalytic oxidation processor for removing carbon monoxide from a hydrocarbon reformate, comprising: 
 a first electro-catalytic oxidation cell;    a first charge storage device; and    a switch disposed between said first electro-catalytic oxidation cell and first charge storage device.    
     
     
         35 . The processor of    claim 34   , wherein said switch comprises a single pole single throw switch.  
     
     
         36 . The processor of    claim 34   , wherein said switch comprises a double pole double throw switch.  
     
     
         37 . The processor of    claim 34   , wherein said switch is a mechanical switch.  
     
     
         38 . The processor of    claim 34   , wherein said switch is an electronic solid state switch.  
     
     
         39 . The processor of    claim 36   , wherein said double pole double throw switch provides three positions.  
     
     
         40 . The processor of    claim 39   , wherein no electrical current passes through said double throw double switch when said switch is in a ground position.  
     
     
         41 . The processor of    claim 40   , wherein said ground position comprises a center position.  
     
     
         42 . The processor of    claim 40   , wherein said ground position comprises an off position.  
     
     
         43 . The processor of    claim 34   , wherein an electrical current produced by said processor is reversed.  
     
     
         44 . The processor of    claim 34   , wherein an electrical current produced by said processor is not reversed.  
     
     
         45 . The processor of    claim 34   , wherein said switch is electrically connected to said first electro-catalytic oxidation cell and first charge storage device in series.  
     
     
         46 . The processor of    claim 34   , wherein said switch is electrically connected to said first electro-catalytic oxidation cell and first charge storage device in parallel.  
     
     
         47 . The processor of    claim 34   , further comprising a plurality of electro-catalytic oxidation cells.  
     
     
         48 . The processor of    claim 47   , wherein at least one of said electro-catalytic oxidation cells is dedicated to recharging said first charge storage device.  
     
     
         49 . The processor of    claim 47   , further comprising a plurality of charge storage devices.  
     
     
         50 . The processor of    claim 47   , further comprising a plurality of switches disposed among said plurality of electro-catalytic oxidation cells and charge storage devices.