Regenerative oxidizer assembly for use in pem fuel cell applications

Abstract

A method of using a catalyst body able to support gas flow therethrough and having a catalyst for promoting a catalytic reaction of a component of a first gas and being able to be regenerated by a second gas, comprising: providing at least the first gas and the second gas; and repeatedly moving successive parts of the catalyst body into communication with the first gas and then into communication with the second gas; wherein: the part of the catalyst body in communication with the first gas causes the component of the first gas to be reacted as the first gas passes though and exits the part of the catalyst body; and the part of the catalyst body in communication with the second gas has the catalyst of that part regenerated as the second gas passes through and exits the part.

1 . A method of using a catalyst body able to support gas flow therethrough and having a catalyst for promoting a catalytic reaction of a component of a first gas and being able to be regenerated by a second gas, comprising:
 providing at least said first gas and said second gas; and   repeatedly moving successive parts of said catalyst body into communication with said first gas and then into communication with said second gas;   wherein: the part of said catalyst body in communication with said first gas causes said component of said first gas to be reacted as said first gas passes though and exits the part of the catalyst body; and the part of said catalyst body in communication with said second gas has the catalyst of that part regenerated as said second gas passes through and exits the part.   
     
     
         2 . A method in accordance with  claim 1 , further comprising:
 providing a third gas;   and said repeatedly moving is carried out by moving successive parts of said catalyst body into communication with said first gas, then said second gas and then said third gas.   
     
     
         3 . A method in accordance with claim catalyst  2 , wherein said repeatedly moving is carried out such that successive parts of said catalyst body are simultaneously in communication with said first, second and third gases. 
     
     
         4 . A method in accordance with  claim 3 , wherein said parts of said catalyst body in communication with said first second and third gases are sealed from each other so as to inhibit mixing of said first, second and third gases. 
     
     
         5 . A method in accordance with  claim 4 , wherein said first gas is a hydrogen containing gas and said component is carbon monoxide; said second gas is an oxidant gas; and said third gas is a cooling gas. 
     
     
         6 . A method in accordance with  claim 5 , wherein: said catalyst is M-OMS-2. 
     
     
         7 . A method in accordance with  claim 6 , wherein said M-OMS-2 catalyst is one of Cu-OMS-2, Co-OMS-2 and Ag-OMS-2. 
     
     
         8 . A method in accordance with  claim 7 , wherein said catalyst body is formed from ceramic corderite structure having pores and coated with said catalyst. 
     
     
         9 . A method in accordance with  claim 8 , wherein the temperature of said first gas is approximately 100° Celsius, the temperature of said second gas is approximately is between 150 and 200° Celsius and the temperature of said third gas is approximately 100° Celsius. 
     
     
         10 . A method in accordance with  claim 9 , further comprising supplying the first gas after passage through said catalyst body to the anode section of a PEM fuel cell. 
     
     
         11 . A method in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said parts of said catalyst body in communication with said first and second gases are sealed from each other so as to inhibit mixing of said first and second gases. 
     
     
         12 . A method in accordance with  claim 11 , wherein said catalyst is M-OMS-2. 
     
     
         13 . A method in accordance with  claim 12 , wherein said M-OMS-2 catalyst is one of Cu-OMS-2, Co-OMS-2 and Ag-OMS-2. 
     
     
         14 . A method in accordance with  claim 13 , wherein said catalyst body is formed from ceramic corderite structure having pores and coated with said catalyst. 
     
     
         15 . A method in accordance with  claim 14 , wherein said first gas is a hydrogen containing gas and said second gas is an oxidant gas. 
     
     
         16 . A method in accordance with  claim 15 , further comprising supplying the first gas after passage through said catalyst body to the anode section of a PEM fuel cell. 
     
     
         17 . A method in accordance with  claim 1 , further comprising supplying the first gas after passage through said catalyst body to the anode section of a PEM fuel cell. 
     
     
         18 . A catalyst body for use in an fuel cell system, said catalyst body being formed from a ceramic corderite structure having pores and coated with a catalyst. 
     
     
         19 . A catalyst body in accordance with  claim 18 , wherein said catalyst is M-OMS-2. 
     
     
         20 . A catalyst body in accordance with  claim 19 , wherein said M-OMS-2 catalyst is one of Cu-OMS-2, Co-OMS-2 and Ag-OMS-2. 
     
     
         21 . A catalyst body in accordance with  claim 20 , wherein said ceramic corderite structure is elongated between first and second ends and said pores extend between said first and second ends. 
     
     
         22 . A catalyst body in accordance with  claim 21 , wherein said ceramic corderite structure includes approximately 300 to 500 pores per square inch. 
     
     
         23 . A catalyst body in accordance with  claim 19 , wherein:
 said catalyst body includes a plurality of parts, each of said plurality of parts being adapted to pass a gas therethrough, and   said catalyst body is adapted to repeatedly move successive parts of said plurality of parts into communication with at least a first gas and a second gas.   
     
     
         24 . A catalyst body in accordance with  claim 23 , wherein said plurality of parts are sealed from each other so as to inhibit mixing of said at least first and second gases. 
     
     
         25 . A method of making a catalyst body for use in a fuel cell system comprising:
 preparing a solution of a binder and an M-OMS-2 catalyst;   applying said solution to a ceramic corderite structure having pores to coat said structure.   
     
     
         26 . A method in accordance with  claim 25 , wherein said solution includes one or more of a wetting agent and a inking agent. 
     
     
         27 . A method in accordance with  claim 26 , wherein said wetting agent is TFE Teflon® and said inking agent is Polox WSR-301. 
     
     
         28 . A method in accordance with  claim 25 , further comprising applying a wetting agent to said ceramic corderite structure prior to applying said solution to said ceramic corderite structure. 
     
     
         29 . A method in accordance with  claim 28 , wherein said wetting agent is deionized water. 
     
     
         30 . A method in accordance with  claim 25 , wherein said coating contains approximately 4% binder by weight. 
     
     
         31 . A method in accordance with  claim 25 , wherein said catalyst facilitates oxidation of carbon monoxide; and the capacity of said catalyst is approximately 0.125% by weight of carbon monoxide per gram of catalyst.