Patent ID: 6977002
Filing Date: 2005-12-20
Classification: B01B,B01J,B60L,C01B,Y02P,Y02T

Abstract:
1. A fuel reforming apparatus comprising: a partial oxidation reformer filled with a combustible reforming catalyst that converts a fuel gas into a reformed gas containing hydrogen by partially oxidizing the fuel gas and generates heat generated thereby, an air feed line for feeding air to the partial oxidation reformer, and a flow controller that controls the flow rate of the air in the air feed line, wherein when the apparatus is started from a low temperature, the supply of the fuel gas is stopped, and air preheated to a temperature at which the catalyst can be oxidized is fed to the catalyst from the air feed line, in such a manner that the catalyst generates its own heat, and the whole of the catalyst is heated up, and wherein further the combustible reforming catalyst comprises a plurality of catalyst layers disposed in series with intervals therebetween, and the air feed line comprises a plurality of branch lines that feed air independently into a point upstream of each of the catalyst layers, whereby the preheated air is fed in parallel from each branch line.