Mini-CPO providing hydrogen for hydrogen desulfurization of hydrocarbon feeds

Abstract

A hydrogen-rich reformate gas generator, such as a mini-CPO (catalytic partial oxidizer) ( 36 ), provides warm, dry, hydrogen-containing reformate gas to a hydrogen desulfurizer ( 17 ) which provides desulfurized reformate gas to a major reformer ( 14 ) (such as a CPO) which, after processing in a water-gas shift reactor ( 26 ) and preferential CO oxidizer ( 27 ) produces hydrogen-containing reformate in a line ( 31 ) for use, for instance, as fuel for a fuel cell power plant. The expensive prior art hydrogen blower ( 30 ) is thereby eliminated, thus reducing parasitic power losses in the power plant. The drier reformate provided by the mini-CPO to the hydrogen desulfurizer favors hydrogen sulfide adsorption on zinc oxide and helps to reduce sulfur to the parts per billion level.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A method of providing desulfurized hydrocarbon feed, comprising: 
 producing hydrogen-rich reformate from the hydrocarbon feed and air in a mini-catalytic partial oxidizer; and    feeding said hydrogen-rich reformate along with the hydrocarbon feed to a hydrogen desulfurizer.    
     
     
         2 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein said producing step comprises: 
 producing hydrogen-rich reformate from the hydrocarbon feed and humidified air.  
 
     
     
         3 . Apparatus for providing desulfurized hydrocarbon feed, comprising: 
 means including a mini-catalytic partial oxidizer for producing hydrogen from the hydrocarbon feed and humidified air;    a hydrogen desulfurizer; and    means for feeding said hydrogen along with the hydrocarbon feed to said hydrogen desulfurizer.    
     
     
         4 . A system for desulfurizing hydrocarbon feeds, comprising: 
 a source of hydrocarbon feed;    a source of air;    a mini-catalytic partial oxidizer (mini-CPO) receiving said hydrocarbon feed and said humidified air from said sources and providing hydrogen-containing reformate gas; and    a hydrogen desulfurizer receiving said hydrocarbon feed from said source of hydrocarbon feed and receiving said hydrogen-containing gas from said mini-CPO.    
     
     
         5 . A system according to  claim 1  wherein: 
 said source of air is a source of humidified air.  
 
     
     
         6 . A system for producing hydrogen-rich reformate from hydrocarbon feeds, comprising: 
 a source of hydrocarbon feed;    a source of air;    a source of water;    a mini-catalytic partial oxidizer (mini-CPO) receiving hydrocarbon feed and said humidified air from said sources to produce hydrogen-containing reformate gas;    a hydrogen desulfurizer receiving hydrocarbon feed from said source of hydrocarbon feed and hydrogen-containing reformate gas from said mini-CPO, and providing desulfurized hydrocarbon feed; and    a fuel processor including a major reformer receiving said desulfurized hydrocarbon feed and said humidified air and producing hydrogen-containing reformate, a water-gas shift reactor receiving said hydrogen-containing reformate and water and feeding the resultant gas into a preferential CO oxidizer, for producing hydrogen-containing reformate for use as fuel, whereby recycled hydrogen gas from the output of said fuel processor is not required for said desulfurizer, thereby (a) eliminating the need for an expensive, power consuming hydrogen blower and (b) reducing the steam fed into said hydrogen desulfurizer.    
     
     
         7 . A system according to  claim 6  wherein: 
 said source of air is a source of humidified air.