Chemical apparatus and process disinfecting – deodorizing – preser – Chemical reactor – Waste gas purifier
Reexamination Certificate
1997-06-26
2001-03-13
Beck, Shrive (Department: 1764)
Chemical apparatus and process disinfecting, deodorizing, preser
Chemical reactor
Waste gas purifier
C422S168000, C422S173000, C165S167000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06200536
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to an active microchannel heat exchanger. As used herein, the term “active” means that there is an exothermic reaction chamber as a source of heat. Further, as used herein, the term “microchannel” is a groove with a maximum depth of 10 mm and a maximum width of 1 mm and any length.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Process heating is necessary in many industries from electric power production to food canning. Because heating is often ancillary, recovery of waste heat is often beneficial and economical. However, waste heat is often low temperature that is difficult to recover and use.
Fuel cells have been researched for years as a promising alternative to internal combustion engines for automotive transportation. One of the practical limitations of fuel cells is the necessity of providing hydrogen to the fuel cells. It has been proposed that liquid hydrocarbon fuel be processed on board to produce hydrogen to avoid the need for storage of hydrogen. Hydrogen is obtained from hydrocarbon liquid fuel by reforming and/or by partial oxidation. Because both of these are gas phase reactions, it is necessary to vaporize the liquid fuel prior to converting it to hydrogen. Because fuel cells have an exhaust that includes unburned hydrogen, the exhaust provides an opportunity to provide heat for the vaporization of fuel. In certain fuel cell systems, steam may be needed for steam reforming and/or water shift reacting.
Accordingly, there is a need for a small, lightweight and efficient active microchannel heat exchanger, especially for use in a fuel cell power system as a fuel vaporizer and/or as a steam generator.
Further, in chemical processes, many reactions are endothermic, requiring a source of heat to sustain the endothermic reactions. Also in chemical processes, exothermic reactions often require initial heating to initiate the exothermic reaction(s). Accordingly, there is a need for a small, lightweight and efficient active microchannel heat exchanger especially for use in chemical processes.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is an active microchannel heat exchanger with an active heat source and with microchannel architecture. The active microchannel heat exchanger has:
(a) an exothermic reaction chamber having a first shell defining an exothermic reactant flow path and exhaust flow path, the first shell penetrated with at least one inlet, and an exhaust outlet;
(b) an exhaust chamber having a second shell with a containment wall defining an exhaust flow path connected to said exhaust outlet, said second shell penetrated by an exhaust chamber outlet, the exhaust chamber having microchannels through which an exhaust flows; and
(c) a heat exchanger chamber in thermal contact with the exhaust chamber, said heat exchanger chamber having a third shell defining a working fluid flow path and having a third exterior surface penetrated by a working fluid inlet and a working fluid outlet through which a working fluid flows; wherein
(d) heat from the exothermic reaction chamber is convected by an exothermic reaction exhaust through the exhaust chamber and by conduction through the containment wall to the working fluid in the heat exchanger chamber thereby raising a temperature of the working fluid.
The invention is particularly useful as a liquid fuel vaporizer and/or a steam generator for fuel cell power systems, and as a heat source for sustaining endothermic chemical reactions and initiating exothermic reactions.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an active microchannel heat exchanger for heating a working fluid.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a working fluid vaporizer.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a fuel vaporizer for a fuel cell power system.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a steam generator for a fuel cell power system.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a methanizer.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a chemical process reaction heat source.
The subject matter of the present invention is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of this specification. However, both the organization and method of operation, together with further advantages and objects thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with accompanying drawings wherein like reference characters refer to like elements.
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Call Charles J.
Roberts Gary L.
Tonkovich Anna Lee Y.
Wang Yong
Wegeng Robert S.
Battelle (Memorial Institute)
Beck Shrive
Doroshenk Alexa A.
Zimmerman Paul W.
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