Process for the production of hydrogen

Abstract

A process and apparatus are disclosed for the generation of hydrogen from hydrogen rich compounds. The process uses hydrogen peroxide as an oxidizer with a hydrogen rich compound forming a mixture such that when the mixture is exposed to a catalyst forming a hydrogen rich gas.

1 . An apparatus for the generation of hydrogen comprising: 
 a housing having an inlet for admitting a feedstream, and an outlet, wherein the feedstream comprises a fuel having an oxygenate and an oxidizer;    a first catalyst bed having an inlet in fluid communication with the feedstream inlet, an outlet, and a decomposition catalyst disposed within the first bed wherein the catalyst decomposes the oxidizer;    a second catalyst bed having an inlet in fluid communication with the first catalyst bed outlet, an outlet, and a reforming catalyst disposed within the second bed wherein the catalyst reforms the oxygenate to generate a product gas containing hydrogen with a concentration of greater than 5 weight percent.    
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a third catalyst bed having an inlet in fluid communication with the second catalyst bed outlet, an outlet, and a watergas shift catalyst disposed within the third bed.  
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the decomposition catalyst comprises at least one metal selected from the group consisting of Ca, Sc, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Sr, Y, Zr, Nb, Mo, Tc, Ru, Rh, Pd, Ag, Cd, Ba, La, Hf, Ta, W, Re, Os, Ir, Pt, Au, Hg, Sn, and mixtures thereof.  
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 3  wherein the decomposition catalyst an oxide, or sulfide of the metal.  
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 4  wherein the decomposition catalyst comprises manganese oxide (MnO 2 ).  
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the reforming catalyst comprises at least one metal selected from the group consisting of Cr, Au, Zn, Cu, Pt, Ag, Pd, Rh, Re, Os, Ru, Ir, and mixtures thereof.  
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 6  wherein the reforming catalyst comprises zinc oxide (ZnO).  
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein the watergas shift catalyst comprises at least one metal selected from the group consisting of Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Y, Zr, Nb, Mo, Tc, Ru, Rh, Pd, Ag, Cd, La, Hf, Ta, W, Re, Os, Ir, Pt, Au, Hg, and mixtures thereof.  
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the housing comprises an exterior housing section and an interior housing section with the interior housing section disposed inside the exterior housing section, and wherein the first catalyst bed is disposed within the exterior housing section and second catalyst bed is disposed within an interior housing section.  
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein the housing comprises an interior housing section, an intermediate housing section, and an exterior housing section with the interior housing section disposed within the intermediate housing section and the intermediate housing section disposed within the exterior housing section, and wherein the first catalyst bed is disposed within the exterior housing section, the second catalyst bed is disposed within the intermediate housing section and the third catalyst bed is disposed within the interior housing section.