Patent ID: 7531015

Claim:
Device for converting fuel and air into reformate comprising a reformer which includes a reaction space, a nozzle for supplying a fuel/air mixture to the reaction space, a fuel feed for supplying fuel to the nozzle, and at least one heating element for igniting the fuel/air mixture, wherein a breaker body is provided within the reaction space in the path of the fuel/air mixture supplied from the nozzle; wherein outside dimensions of the breaker body are smaller than inside dimensions of an area of the reaction space in which the breaker body is positioned, a geometry of the reaction space and of the breaker body relative to each other being such that at least part of the fuel/air mixture is able to flow around and beyond the breaker body, and wherein the breaker body is formed of a baffle plate that is generally pot-shaped at least in part and wherein an annular wall having outside dimensions that are smaller than inside dimensions of the baffle plate defines an ignition chamber in which said at least one heating element is positioned and extends from an inner wall of the pot-shape part of the baffle plate beyond the baffle plate into the reaction space, the ignition chamber being peripherally separated from the reaction space by a separate annular wall from that which forms the pot-shape of the breaker body.