US 12,006,479 B1
Systems and processes for reforming a liquid hydrocarbon fuel
Guanghui Zhu, Dhahran (SA); Maryam M. Al-Taher, Dammam (SA); and Qingyuan Hu, Dhahran (SA)
Assigned to Saudi Arabian Oil Company, Dhahran (SA)
Filed by Saudi Arabian Oil Company, Dhahran (SA)
Filed on Dec. 15, 2022, as Appl. No. 18/066,521.
Int. Cl. C10G 27/04 (2006.01); B01J 31/02 (2006.01); B01J 35/56 (2024.01); B01J 35/66 (2024.01); C10G 61/02 (2006.01); C10L 1/04 (2006.01); F02M 27/02 (2006.01); F02M 31/12 (2006.01); F02M 31/16 (2006.01)
CPC C10G 27/04 (2013.01) [B01J 31/0271 (2013.01); B01J 35/56 (2024.01); B01J 35/66 (2024.01); C10G 61/02 (2013.01); C10L 1/04 (2013.01); F02M 27/02 (2013.01); F02M 31/12 (2013.01); F02M 31/16 (2013.01); C10G 2300/307 (2013.01); C10G 2300/4068 (2013.01); C10G 2300/80 (2013.01); C10G 2400/02 (2013.01); C10L 2200/0423 (2013.01); C10L 2270/02 (2013.01); C10L 2290/06 (2013.01); C10L 2290/24 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system for reforming a liquid hydrocarbon fuel, the system comprising:
a mixing zone comprising:
a fuel intake fluidly coupled to a liquid hydrocarbon fuel source;
an oxygen-containing gas intake fluidly coupled to an oxygen-containing gas source;
at least one atomizing nozzle; and
a fuel distribution zone downstream of the at least one atomizing nozzle; and
a catalyst reaction zone downstream of the mixing zone, the catalyst reaction zone comprising a monolith block having a plurality of flow channels defined by monolith walls and a reforming catalyst coated onto the monolith walls in the plurality of flow channels, where:
the oxygen-containing gas intake and fuel intake are in fluid communication with an inlet of the at least one atomizing nozzle;
the fuel distribution zone is in fluid communication with an outlet of the at least one atomizing nozzle;
the at least one atomizing nozzle is configured to generate a plurality of droplets suspended in an oxygen-containing gas, the plurality of droplets comprising a liquid hydrocarbon fuel;
the fuel distribution zone is configured to distribute the plurality of droplets and the oxygen-containing gas to each of the plurality of flow channels;
the reforming catalyst comprises N-hydroxyphthalimide (NHPI); and
the catalyst reaction zone is configured to contact the plurality of droplets with the oxygen-containing gas in the presence of the reforming catalyst in each of the plurality of flow channels.