Hydrocarbon wave reformer and methods of use

Abstract

A method and system of using a type of wave rotor to reform a hydrocarbon fluid using pressure waves within the wave rotor to reformulate a hydrocarbon fluid, such as methane or the like, into a lighter hydrocarbon, hydrogen, or, in some instances, hydrogen, partially decomposed hydrocarbon fluid and carbon solids.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A method of employing a wave rotor to reform a hydrocarbon fluid by decomposing that hydrocarbon fluid into a hydrogen fluid and solid particulate, the method comprising the steps of:
 providing a wave rotor having one or more fluid inlet ports and one or more fluid outlet ports;   introducing a supply of hydrocarbon fluid at a first pressure to said wave rotor through at least one of said one or more fluid inlet ports;   introducing a supply of a pressurized fluid at a pressure different than said hydrocarbon fluid supply first pressure through another one of said one or more fluid inlet ports;   creating and using pressure waves in one or more stages of compression or expansion to crack some or all of the hydrocarbon fluid supplied within said wave rotor into said hydrogen fluid and solid particulates; and   exhausting the hydrogen fluid and any partially reformed hydrocarbon fluid from said wave reformer through at least one of said one or more fluid outlet ports.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the pressure waves being created are shock waves. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising directing the hydrogen fluid, along with any partially reformed hydrocarbon fluid, from said at least one of said one or more outlet ports into a settling chamber. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  wherein said settling chamber thermally and/or catalytically further decomposes any said partially reformed hydrocarbon fluid. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising directing the hydrogen fluid, along with any partially reformed hydrocarbon fluid, from said at least one of said one or more outlet ports into a solid carbon separator. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising directing the hydrogen fluid, along with any partially reformed hydrocarbon fluid, from said at least one of said one or more outlet ports into a catalytic carbon separator. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising the step of including a catalyst in said supply of hydrocarbon fluid being introduced at a first pressure through said at least one of said fluid inlet ports 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the catalyst includes at least one of a carbon-based solid, an iron-based catalyst, or a nickel-based catalyst. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said supply of hydrocarbon fluid being introduced at a first pressure through said at least one of said fluid inlet ports is free of any catalyst. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising the step of providing a heat exchanger to heat the supply of hydrocarbon fluid prior to being introduced to said wave reformer. 
     
     
         11 . A system for reforming a hydrocarbon fluid into a hydrogen fluid and a solid particulate, the system comprising:
 a rotating wave rotor having a plurality of wave rotor channels;   a hydrocarbon fluid source of hydrocarbon fluid at a first pressure;   said rotating wave rotor having at least one wave rotor inlet port connected to said hydrocarbon fluid source at a first pressure and sequentially aligning with said plurality of wave rotor channels as said rotor rotates about a wave rotor axis permitting flow of hydrocarbon fluid into said plurality of wave rotor channels;   a wave rotor outlet having at least one outlet port connected to and sequentially aligning with said plurality of wave rotor channels as said rotor rotates about said wave rotor axis permitting flow of hydrogen fluid and solid particulate out of said wave rotor channels; and   a supply of a driver fluid at a second pressure, said second pressure being different that than said first pressure, said driver fluid passing through said at least one wave rotor inlet port to enter at least one of said plurality of wave rotor channels containing said hydrocarbon fluid at said first pressure, wherein a pressure difference between said hydrocarbon fluid and said driver fluid within said wave rotor channel creates pressure waves in one or more stages of compression or expansion to reform some or all of the hydrocarbon fluid supplied within said rotating wave rotor into said hydrogen fluid and solid particulates.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 10  wherein the wave rotor is an axial or radial rotor. 
     
     
         13 . A method for employing a wave reformer for decomposing a hydrocarbon fluid, the method comprising:
 providing a wave reformer having at least one inlet and at least one outlet;   introducing at least one hydrocarbon fluid to be decomposed to said wave reformer through said at least one inlet; and   creating and using shock waves in one or more stages of compression or expansion to reform some or all of the hydrocarbon fluid supplied within said wave reformer into hydrogen fluid and solid particulates.