Patent ID: 8231697
Filing Date: 2012-07-31
Classification: B01F,B01J,C01B,H01M,Y02E,Y02P

Abstract:
1. A method comprising: providing a fuel cell system including a fuel reforming reactor and at least one blower for selectively conveying combustion gas through a heating side of the reforming reactor at different mass flow rates; starting-up the reforming reactor by heating a reforming side of the reactor with a combustion gas flowing through the heating side of the reactor, wherein the combustion gas flows through the heating side of the reactor from a first face of the reactor to a second face of the reactor, and wherein the first and second faces each have a length and width substantially greater than the distance between the faces; and then operating the reactor to produce a reformate stream by driving an endothermic reforming reaction on the reforming side with heat from a combustion gas flowing though the heating side; wherein a mass flow rate of combustion gas through the heating side during the starting-up is at least about five times a mass flow rate of combustion gas through the heating side during the operating.