Patent ID: 7267699
Filing Date: 2007-09-11
Classification: B01J,C01B

Abstract:
1. A fuel processing system for reforming a hydrocarbon fuel characterized by: a first vaporization zone for receiving a hydrocarbon fuel and combining it with air or water; a reformer in fluid connection with and down stream of the first vaporization zone, which receives the hydrocarbon fuel combined with either air or water to reform the fuel to a reformate stream, which contains a hydrogen rich atmosphere; a second vaporization zone in fluid connection with the reformer which is capable of receiving the reformate stream from the reformer; a water inlet connected to the second vaporization zone capable of introducing water to the reformate stream; and a filter in fluid connection with and down stream of the second vaporization zone, which is capable of preventing a substantial portion of any soot contained in the reformate stream from passing therethrough, wherein the system is adapted to introduce water and air to the second vaporization zone to oxidize any soot collected on the filter in the hydrogen atmosphere of the reformate stream by reactions of the following formulas (1) and/or (2):