Trung C Nguyen

US Patent:

52719162, Dec 21, 1993

Filed:

Jun 30, 1992

Appl. No.:

7/908421

Inventors:

Nicholas E. Vanderborgh - Los Alamos NM
Trung V. Nguyen - College Station TX
Joseph Guante - Denver CO

Assignee:

General Motors Corporation - Detroit MI

International Classification:

C01B 3118

US Classification:

423246

Abstract:

A method and apparatus for selectively oxidizing carbon monoxide in a hydrogen rich feed stream. The method comprises mixing a feed stream consisting essentially of hydrogen, carbon dioxide, water and carbon monoxide with a first predetermined quantity of oxygen (air). The temperature of the mixed feed/oxygen stream is adjusted in a first the heat exchanger assembly (20) to a first temperature. The mixed feed/oxygen stream is sent to reaction chambers (30,32) having an oxidation catalyst contained therein. The carbon monoxide of the feed stream preferentially absorbs on the catalyst at the first temperature to react with the oxygen in the chambers (30,32) with minimal simultaneous reaction of the hydrogen to form an intermediate hydrogen rich process stream having a lower carbon monoxide content than the feed stream. The elevated outlet temperature of the process stream is carefully controlled in a second heat exchanger assembly (42) to a second temperature above the first temperature. The process stream is then mixed with a second predetermined quantity of oxygen (air).