Patent ID: 8211387
Filing Date: 2012-07-03
Classification: C01B,F23C,F23D,F23L,H01M,Y02E,Y02P,Y10T

Abstract:
1. Combustor for oxidizing a combustion fuel and pre-heating one or more reactants for fuel reforming, the apparatus comprising: an elongated housing having an inlet for receiving a combustion fuel; and an outlet for exhausting combustion gases; optionally, a mixer located at the inlet; inert particles disposed within the housing adjacent the inlet with a first bed of inert particles being positioned to receive the combustion fuel from the inlet, the inert particles further comprising a second bed of inert particles which receives the combustion fuel after passing through the first bed, wherein the first bed is comprised of inert particles that are larger in size from the inert particles of the second bed; optionally, heating means for heating the combustion fuel; a combustion catalyst bed disposed within the housing to receive the combustion fuel after passing through the first and second beds of inert particles, wherein the combustion catalyst bed comprises catalyst particles mixed with inert particles in addition to the first and second layers of inert particles thereby defining mixed inert particles; and a heat exchanging element having an inlet for receiving a reformer reactant and an outlet for directing a heated reformer reactant out of the elongated housing for use in fuel reforming, at least a portion of the heat exchanging element disposed within the combustion catalyst bed.