US 12,139,405 B2
Apparatuses and methods for hydrogen production
Rodney John Allam, Wiltshire (GB)
Assigned to 8 Rivers Capital, LLC, Durham, NC (US)
Filed by 8 Rivers Capital, LLC, Durham, NC (US)
Filed on Jun. 12, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/208,513.
Application 18/208,513 is a continuation of application No. 17/990,443, filed on Nov. 18, 2022, granted, now 11,691,874.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/280,761, filed on Nov. 18, 2021.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/280,774, filed on Nov. 18, 2021.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/280,786, filed on Nov. 18, 2021.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/280,793, filed on Nov. 18, 2021.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/423,301, filed on Nov. 7, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2023/0322553 A1, Oct. 12, 2023
Int. Cl. C01B 3/38 (2006.01); C01B 3/50 (2006.01)
CPC C01B 3/388 (2013.01) [C01B 3/382 (2013.01); C01B 3/508 (2013.01); C01B 2203/0233 (2013.01); C01B 2203/0425 (2013.01); C01B 2203/0475 (2013.01); C01B 2203/068 (2013.01); C01B 2203/0811 (2013.01); C01B 2203/1235 (2013.01); C01B 2203/1638 (2013.01); C01B 2210/001 (2013.01); C01B 2210/0051 (2013.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A hydrogen production system comprising:
a combustor configured to combust a fuel with oxygen in the presence of a stream comprising predominately carbon dioxide and form a combustion product stream comprising at least carbon dioxide and water;
a reactor arranged to receive at least a portion of the combustion product stream as a source of convective heating of an endothermic reaction carried out in the reactor, the reaction forming a synthesis gas stream comprising at least hydrogen and carbon monoxide;
a hydrogen isolation unit arranged to receive at least a portion of the synthesis gas stream and provide at least part of the hydrogen from the synthesis gas stream as a substantially pure hydrogen product stream; and
a purification unit arranged to receive at least a portion of the combustion product stream after passage through the reactor and provide substantially pure carbon dioxide, at least a portion of which is passed to the combustor in the stream comprising predominately carbon dioxide.
 
10. A hydrogen production system comprising:
a reactor comprising a pressure containment vessel and at least one set of reaction tubes positioned within the pressure containment vessel and arranged to receive reactants for an endothermic reaction that forms a synthesis gas stream comprising at least hydrogen and carbon monoxide, the pressure containment vessel being configured to receive a stream of heated carbon dioxide as a source of convective heating of the endothermic reaction carried out within the at least one set of reaction tubes;
at least one component effective to process the synthesis gas and deliver a stream of substantially pure hydrogen product; and
at least one component effective to provide the stream of heated carbon dioxide;
wherein the at least one set of reaction tubes comprises: an outer catalyst tube; an inner reaction product gas tube; and catalyst material positioned within a space defined between an inside surface of the outer catalyst tube and an outside surface of the inner reaction product gas tube;
wherein the at least one set of reaction tubes is arranged vertically so that an upper end of the at least one set of reaction tubes defines a hot end where the reactor operates with a higher temperature, and a lower end of the at least one set of reaction tubes defines a cold end where the reactor operates with a lower temperature, relative to the hot end; and
wherein the reactor comprises a second inlet arranged so that the stream of heated carbon dioxide contacts the hot end of the at least one set of reaction tubes and flows downwardly around an outer surface of the outer catalyst tube toward a second outlet through which the stream of heated carbon dioxide leaves the reactor.