초록 ▼

A fast start-up catalytic reformer for producing hydrogen-rich reformate from hydrocarbon fuel includes a reactor having an inlet for receiving a flow of fuel and a flow of air, a reforming catalyst disposed within a reforming chamber in the reactor, and an outlet for discharging the produced reform

A fast start-up catalytic reformer for producing hydrogen-rich reformate from hydrocarbon fuel includes a reactor having an inlet for receiving a flow of fuel and a flow of air, a reforming catalyst disposed within a reforming chamber in the reactor, and an outlet for discharging the produced reformate stream. An ignition device within the reactor tube ignites a first lean mixture in combustion mode to generate exhaust gases to warm the catalyst which also warms the wall of the reactor adjacent the catalyst. The reactor then switches over to a rich fuel/air mixture during reforming mode. A jacket concentrically surrounds the reactor, defining a mixing chamber therebetween which communicates with the reforming chamber via openings in the wall of the reactor. Fuel entering the reformer in combustion mode is injected directly into the reforming chamber to provide rapid warming of the catalyst. Fuel entering the reformer in reforming mode is sprayed onto the outside of the reactor in the mixing chamber, preferably in the heated region of the tube for very rapid vaporization.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A catalytic reformer for generating hydrogen-containing reformate fuel from hydrocarbons, comprising: a) a reactor closed at a first end thereof and having an outlet opening at a second end; b) a reforming catalyst disposed in said reactor and spaced apart from said closed en

What is claimed is: 1. A catalytic reformer for generating hydrogen-containing reformate fuel from hydrocarbons, comprising: a) a reactor closed at a first end thereof and having an outlet opening at a second end; b) a reforming catalyst disposed in said reactor and spaced apart from said closed end to define a combustion and reforming chamber; c) first fuel injection means disposed into said combustion and reforming chamber and connected to a source of hydrocarbon fuel; d) ignition means disposed in said combustion and reforming chamber for igniting fuel injected by said first injector; e) a jacket disposed around and off-spaced from said reactor to define a mixing chamber therebetween, said mixing chamber communicating with said combustion and reforming chamber via at least one opening in said reactor therebetween; f) air inlet means entering into said mixing chamber; and g) control means for controlling operating conditions of the reformer wherein said operating conditions controlled by the control means include at least one of controlling the timing of said ignition means, controlling the timing and flow of fuel through said first fuel injection means and said air inlet means to provide a first fuel/air mixture for combustion in said combustion and reforming chamber, and controlling the flow of fuel through said first fuel injection means and said air inlet means to provide a second fuel/air mixture for reforming in said combustion and reforming chamber to produce reformate fuel. 2. A reformer in accordance with claim 1 wherein said reactor has an outer surface having a region proximal to said catalyst within, and wherein air entering said mixing chamber is directed over said surface region. 3. A reformer in accordance with claim 1 wherein said reactor has a plurality of openings formed therein. 4. A catalytic reformer for generating hydrogen-containing reformate fuel from hydrocarbons, comprising: a) a reactor closed at a first end thereof and having an outlet opening at a second end; b) a reforming catalyst disposed in said reactor and spaced apart from said closed end to define a combustion and reforming chamber; c) first fuel injection means disposed into said combustion and reforming chamber and connected to a source of hydrocarbon fuel; d) ignition means disposed in said combustion and reforming chamber for igniting fuel injected by said first injector; e) a jacket disposed around and off-spaced from said reactor to define a mixing chamber therebetween, said mixing chamber communicating with said combustion and reforming chamber via at least one opening in said reactor therebetween; f) second fuel injection means disposed into said mixing chamber and connected to a source of hydrocarbon fuel; g) air inlet means entering into said mixing chamber; and h) control means for controlling operating conditions of the reformer. 5. A reformer in accordance with claim 4 wherein said operating conditions controlled by the control means include at least one of controlling the timing of said ignition means, controlling the timing and flow of fuel through said first fuel injection means and said air inlet means to provide a first fuel/air mixture for combustion in said combustion and reforming chamber, and controlling the flow of fuel through said second fuel injection means and said air inlet means to provide a second fuel/air mixture for reforming in said combustion and reforming chamber to produce reformate fuel. 6. A reformer in accordance with claim 4 wherein said reactor has an outer surface having a region proximal to said catalyst within, and wherein said second fuel injection means is so positioned to inject fuel onto said surface region. 7. A reformer in accordance with claim 4 wherein said first fuel/air mixture is leaner in fuel than said second fuel/air mixture. 8. A reformer in accordance with claim 4 wherein said second fuel/air mixture is about three times richer in fuel than said first fuel/air mixture. 9. A reformer in accordance with claim 4 wherein a length of time exists between cessation of said flow of fuel through said first injection means and commencement of said flow of fuel through said second injection means. 10. A reformer in accordance with claim 4 wherein said air inlet means includes at least two ducts. 11. A reformer in accordance with claim 10 wherein a first of said at least two ducts is disposed radially of said jacket and a second of said at least two ducts is disposed tangentially of said jacket. 12. A reformer in accordance with claim 11 wherein mass flows of air through said first and second ducts are independently controlled by said controller to provide a predetermined air flow pattern within said mixing chamber. 13. A method for starting up a catalytic reformer for generating hydrogen-containing reformate fuel from hydrocarbons comprising the steps of: a. directing a first flow of fuel and air into a reactor at a first predetermined fuel and air flow rate to provide a first fuel/air mixture; b. continuing said flow of fuel/air mixture for a predetermined period of time; c. combusting said fuel/air mixture by an igniter means to thereby heat a catalyst and an outer surface of said reactor; d. shutting off the fuel/air mixture; e. waiting a period of time for combustion to cease; f. directing a second flow of fuel and air into said reactor at a second predetermined fuel/air mixture to generate said reformate fuel. 14. A method in accordance with claim 13 wherein at least one of said second flow of fuel and second flow of air is directed over said heated outer surface of said reactor. 15. A method in accordance with claim 13 wherein said fuel is selected from the group consisting of natural gas, light distillates, methanol, propane, naphtha, kerosene, gasoline, diesel fuel, and combinations thereof. 16. A method in accordance with claim 13 wherein said reformer is coupled to a fuel cell. 17. A method in accordance with claim 16 wherein said fuel cell is a solid-oxide fuel cell. 18. A method in accordance with claim 16 wherein said fuel cell provides electric power to a vehicle. 19. A method in accordance with claim 18 wherein said vehicle is selected from the group consisting of land vehicle, boat, ship, and aircraft including spacecraft. 20. A method in accordance with claim 13 wherein said reformer is coupled to an internal combustion engine for providing a hydrogen-rich reformate for combustion. 21. A method in accordance with claim 13 wherein said first fuel/air mixture ratio is at about stoichiometric. 22. A method in accordance with claim 13 wherein the range of said second fuel/air mixture ratio is about 2.5:1 to about 5:1 with respect to said first fuel/air mixture ratio. 23. A method in accordance with claim 13 wherein said period of time is less than five seconds. 24. A method in accordance with claim 13 wherein at least one of said directing, continuing, combusting, shutting off and waiting steps is controlled by a control means. 25. A vehicle comprising a hydrocarbon fuel reformer for generating hydrogen reformate fuel, said reformer including a reactor closed at a first end thereof and having an outlet opening at a second end, a reforming catalyst disposed in said reactor and spaced apart from said closed end to define a combustion and reforming chamber, first fuel injection means disposed into said combustion and reforming chamber and connected to a source of hydrocarbon fuel, ignition means disposed in said combustion and reforming chamber for igniting fuel injected by said first injector, a jacket disposed around and off-spaced from said reactor to define a mixing chamber therebetween, said mixing chamber communicating with said combustion and reforming chamber via at least one opening in said reactor therebetween, second fuel injection means disposed into said mixing chamber and connected to a source of hydrocarbon fuel, air inlet means entering into said mixing chamber, and control means for controlling operating conditions of the reformer. 26. A reformer for generating hydrogen-containing reformate fuel from hydrocarbons, comprising: a) a reactor closed at a first end thereof and having an outlet opening at a second end; b) a reforming catalyst disposed in said reactor and spaced apart from said closed end to define a reforming chamber; c) a jacket disposed around and off-spaced from said reactor to define a mixing chamber therebetween, said mixing chamber communicating with said reforming chamber via at least one opening in said reactor therebetween; f) fuel injection means disposed into said mixing chamber and connected to a source of hydrocarbon fuel; g) air inlet means entering into said mixing chamber; and h) control means for controlling operating conditions of the reformer, wherein said reactor has an outer surface having a region proximal to said catalyst within, and wherein said fuel injection means is so positioned to inject fuel onto said surface region. 27. A reformer in accordance with claim 26 wherein said reactor has an outer surface having a region proximal to said catalyst within, and wherein said air inlet means is so positioned to direct air onto said surface region. 28. A catalytic reformer for generating hydrogen-containing reformate fuel from hydrocarbons, comprising: a) a reactor closed at a first end thereof and having an outlet opening at a second end; b) a reforming catalyst disposed in said reactor and spaced apart from said closed end to define a combustion and reforming chamber; c) a first fuel injector disposed into said combustion and reforming chamber and connected to a source of hydrocarbon fuel; d) an igniter device disposed in said combustion and reforming chamber for igniting fuel injected by said first fuel injector; e) a jacket disposed around said reactor to define a mixing chamber therebetween, said mixing chamber communicating with said combustion and reforming chamber via at least one opening in said reactor therebetween; f) a second fuel injector disposed into said mixing chamber and connected to a source of hydrocarbon fuel; g) an air inlet entering into said mixing chamber; and h) control means for controlling operating conditions of the reformer. 29. A reformer in accordance with claim 28 wherein said operating conditions controlled by the control means include at least one of controlling the timing of said igniter device, controlling the timing and flow of fuel through said first fuel injector and said air inlet to provide a first fuel/air mixture for combustion in said combustion and reforming chamber, and controlling the flow of fuel through said second fuel injector and said air inlet to provide a second fuel/air mixture for reforming in said combustion and reforming chamber to produce reformate fuel. 30. A reformer in accordance with claim 28 wherein said reactor has an outer surface having a region proximal to said catalyst within, and wherein said second fuel injector is so positioned to inject fuel onto said surface region. 31. A reformer in accordance with claim 28 wherein said air inlet includes at least two ducts. 32. A reformer in accordance with claim 31 wherein a first of said at least two ducts is disposed radially of said jacket and a second of said at least two ducts is disposed tangentially of said jacket. 33. A catalytic reformer for generating hydrogen-containing reformate fuel from hydrocarbons, comprising: a) a reactor closed at a first end thereof and having an outlet opening at a second end; b) a reforming catalyst disposed in said reactor and spaced apart from said closed end to define a combustion and reforming chamber; c) a first fuel injector disposed into said combustion and reforming chamber and connected to a source of hydrocarbon fuel; d) an igniter device disposed in said combustion and reforming chamber for igniting fuel injected by said first injector; e) a jacket disposed around said reactor to define a mixing chamber therebetween, said mixing chamber communicating with said combustion and reforming chamber via at least one opening in said reactor therebetween; f) an air inlet entering into said mixing chamber; and g) control means for controlling operating conditions of the reformer wherein said operating conditions controlled by the control means include at least one of controlling the timing of said igniter device, controlling the timing and flow of fuel through said first fuel injector and said air inlet to provide a first fuel/air mixture for combustion in said combustion and reforming chamber, and controlling the flow of fuel through said first fuel injector and said air inlet to provide a second fuel/air mixture for reforming in said combustion and reforming chamber to produce reformate fuel. 34. A reformer in accordance with claim 33 wherein said reactor has a plurality of openings formed therein.