Method for reforming liquid hydrocarbon mixtures

Abstract

A method for reforming a liquid hydrocarbon mixture, in which the hydrocarbon mixture is initially completely vaporized before it is contacted with the gaseous reactants and caused to undergo reaction. Usable as a reformer system in this context is a device which has at least two reforming chambers composed of a vaporization chamber and at least one reaction chamber, and in which a metering device for liquid hydrocarbons is provided in the region of the vaporization chamber, and an introducing device for gaseous reactants is provided in the region between at least two of the reforming chambers. The present invention allows liquid hydrocarbon mixtures to be reformed without the formation of unwanted residues such as tar or soot.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method for reforming a liquid hydrocarbon mixture, comprising: 
 (a) supplying the liquid hydrocarbon mixture continuously and in metered quantities;    (b) vaporizing the liquid hydrocarbon mixture so as to achieve essentially complete vaporization and so as to produce a vaporized hydrocarbon mixture substantially without decomposition;    (c) contacting the vaporized hydrocarbon mixture with at least one gaseous reactant so as to produce a gaseous hydrocarbon-reactant mixture;    (d) causing the gaseous hydrocarbon-reactant mixture to undergo a reforming reaction so as to produce a reformate gas; and    (e) directing the reformate gas toward an intended use.    
     
     
         2 . The method as recited in  claim 1  further comprising performing steps (a) through (d) at least a second time before performing step (e).  
     
     
         3 . The method as recited in  claim 1  wherein the vaporizing includes supplying thermal energy.  
     
     
         4 . The method as recited in  claim 3  wherein, during a starting phase of the vaporizing, the thermal energy is supplied by at least a heating element.  
     
     
         5 . The method as recited in  claim 3  wherein the thermal energy is supplied by at least one of the gaseous reactants after an operating temperature is reached.  
     
     
         6 . The method as recited in  claim 3  wherein the thermal energy is supplied in a quantity sufficient for the causing of the reforming reaction.  
     
     
         7 . The method as recited in  claim 1  further comprising producing a vortex motion.  
     
     
         8 . The method as recited in  claim 1  wherein the liquid hydrocarbon mixture is autothermally reformed and wherein the at least one gaseous reactant includes water vapor and the gaseous hydrocarbon-reactant mixture includes a gaseous hydrocarbon-water vapor mixture.  
     
     
         9 . The method as recited in  claim 8  wherein the causing of the gaseous hydrocarbon-reactant mixture to undergo a reforming reaction so as to produce a reformate gas includes the steps of: 
 at least partially reforming the hydrocarbon-water vapor mixture so as to produce an at least partially reformed mixture;  
 contacting the at least partially reformed mixture from with an oxygen-containing gas mixture; and  
 completing the reformation so as to produce a reformate gas.  
 
     
     
         10 . Wherein the oxygen-containing gas mixture includes air.  
     
     
         11 . The method as recited in  claim 1  wherein the liquid hydrocarbon mixture is steam-reformed and wherein the at least one gaseous reactant includes water vapor and the gaseous hydrocarbon-reactant mixture includes a gaseous hydrocarbon-water vapor mixture.  
     
     
         12 . A reformer device for reforming a liquid hydrocarbon mixture, the reformer device comprising: 
 at least two reforming chambers disposed in a vessel, the at least two reforming chambers including a vaporization chamber and at least one reaction chamber;    a metering device configured to meter a liquid hydrocarbon mixture, the metering device disposed in a first region of the vaporization chamber;    an introducing device configured to introduce gaseous reactants, the introducing device disposed between two of the at least two reforming chambers.    
     
     
         13 . The device as recited in  claim 12  wherein the introducing device is disposed between the vaporization chamber and a first adjoining reaction chamber downstream of the vaporization chamber.  
     
     
         14 . The device as recited in  claim 12  wherein the vaporization chamber is in heat-conductive contact with a first adjoining reaction chamber arranged downstream of the vaporization chamber.  
     
     
         15 . The device as recited in  claim 12  wherein each of the at least two reforming chambers is in heat-conductive contact with an adjoining reforming chamber.  
     
     
         16 . The device as recited in  claim 12  further comprising a swirling device configured to swirl a substance flow in at least one reforming chamber.  
     
     
         17 . The device as recited in  claim 16  wherein the swirling device includes a heat-conductive material.  
     
     
         18 . The device as recited in  claim 17  wherein the heat-conductive material includes one of a metal and a metal alloy.  
     
     
         19 . The device as recited in  16  wherein the swirling device includes metal wire.  
     
     
         20 . The device as recited in  claim 19  wherein the swirling device includes one of a knitted wire mesh and a woven metal mesh.  
     
     
         21 . The device as recited in  claim 16  wherein the swirling device includes a plurality of permeable openings and wherein a mean diameter of the openings increases in a direction of flow.  
     
     
         22 . The device as recited in  claim 12  further comprising at least one heating element.  
     
     
         23 . The device as recited in  claim 22  wherein the at least one heating element includes an electrical resistance heater.  
     
     
         24 . The device as recited in  claim 23  wherein the electrical resistance heater includes a glow plug.  
     
     
         25 . The method as recited in  claim 1  wherein the intended use includes a use by a fuel cell of a vehicle.  
     
     
         26 . The method as recited in  claim 25  further comprising operating the fuel cell for a propulsion of the vehicle.  
     
     
         27 . The method as recited in  claim 25  further comprising operating the fuel cell for supplying the vehicle with electric energy.  
     
     
         28 . The method as recited in  claim 27  wherein the electrical energy is supplied for an auxiliary power unit of the vehicle.