The Technology

Genesis reformers are designed to produce high purity hydrogen from methanol. Fuel is mixed with water, pumped into the reformer, heated, and converted to hydrogen and carbon dioxide in a catalyst bed. Most of the hydrogen is removed from the reformed gases using a purification membrane. The leftover hydrogen and the carbon dioxide (referred to as raffinate) is sent to a burner to provide heat.

The reforming reaction for methanol is:

Methanol

CH3OH + H2O→3H2 + CO2

  • The Genesis Process (PURIFICATION REFORMING) is a higher pressure steam reforming process where the hydrogen is removed from the reformed mixture through a hydrogen-selective membrane. The extra pressure is needed to “push” the hydrogen through the selective membrane. Purification reforming does not require a carbon-monoxide cleanup step since the hydrogen-selective membrane allows only production of purified hydrogen. This makes the reformer simpler, and will prevent poisoning of the fuel cell. Fuel cells are easier to design and operate on pure hydrogen, and produce more power than when running on a diluted hydrogen stream.