(19)
(11)EP 1 690 826 A3

(12)EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(88)Date of publication A3:
29.08.2007 Bulletin 2007/35

(43)Date of publication A2:
16.08.2006 Bulletin 2006/33

(21)Application number: 06001972.6

(22)Date of filing:  31.01.2006
(51)Int. Cl.: 
C01B 3/38  (2006.01)
C01B 3/58  (2006.01)
B01D 53/047  (2006.01)
C01B 3/48  (2006.01)
C01B 3/50  (2006.01)
(84)Designated Contracting States:
AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC NL PL PT RO SE SI SK TR
Designated Extension States:
AL BA HR MK YU

(30)Priority: 07.02.2005 US 52253
05.05.2005 US 122662

(71)Applicant: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
Allentown, PA 18195-1501 (US)

(72)Inventors:
  • Herb, Blaine Edward
    New Tripoli PA 18066 (US)
  • Wang, Shoou-i
    Las Vagas NV 89148 (US)
  • Peng, Xiang-Dong
    Orefield PA 18069 (US)
  • Rooney, William Carl
    Macungie PA 18062 (US)
  • Fogash, Kevin Boyle
    Wescosville PA 18106 (US)
  • Ying, David Hon Sing
    Allentown PA 18106 (US)

(74)Representative: Schwabe - Sandmair - Marx 
Stuntzstrasse 16
81677 München
81677 München (DE)

  


(54)Method and apparatus for the production of hydrogen-rich gas


(57) A method and apparatus for the production of hydrogen-rich gas are provided. The method and apparatus prevent over-reduction of iron oxide-based shift catalyst (1) by introducing an oxidative stream (21) along with a carbon monoxide containing gaseous feed stream (11) from a catalytic steam reformer (81) to the catalyst bed region and thereby limits structural deterioration of the catalyst. Various sources may provide the oxidative stream including a shift catalyst bed region and a selective oxidation catalyst region.