Patent ID: 8177545
Filing Date: 2012-05-15
Classification: F23C

Abstract:
1. A method for operating a combustor associated with a downstream fuel processing reactor, the method comprising the steps of: providing a combustor associated with a downstream fuel processing reactor wherein the combustor comprises a catalyst bed in fluid communication with a heat exchange section; directing a flow of air through the catalyst bed; providing heat to the catalyst bed; sensing temperature in an upstream portion of the catalyst bed to provide an upstream temperature; directing a flow of a fuel through the catalyst bed to produce a combustion reaction when the upstream temperature is at least about a light-off temperature of the fuel; increasing the flow of the fuel until the flow of air and the flow of fuel have a selected air to fuel ratio; controlling the combustion reaction within the catalyst bed by adjusting the flow of air and the flow of fuel while maintaining the selected air to fuel ratio; controlling the combustion reaction within the catalyst bed by adjusting a combined space velocity for air and fuel through the catalyst bed; and sending heated combustion products to the heat exchange section for preheating of fuel processing reactants and for converting water to steam for the fuel processing reactor.