Patent ID: 7270689

Claim:
A reformer for reacting a raw material gas to be reformed, with an oxidizing agent gas and a reforming agent gas in the presence of an oxidation catalyst and a reforming catalyst to obtain a hydrogen-containing gas, comprising: a reactor vessel; a single set of catalyst layers provided in the reactor vessel, said set of catalyst layers consisting of one oxidation catalyst layer and one first reforming catalyst layer provided downstream of the oxidation catalyst layer; one second reforming catalyst layer provided downstream of the first reforming catalyst layer, wherein the oxidation catalyst layer, the first reforming catalyst layer, and the second reforming catalyst layer are the only catalyst layers provided in the reactor vessel; an inlet for feeding the oxidizing agent gas to the oxidation catalyst layer, disposed inside the oxidation catalyst layer; an inlet for feeding the oxidizing agent gas between the first reforming catalyst layer and the second reforming catalyst layer; and an inlet for feeding the raw material gas into the reactor vessel, disposed inside the oxidation catalyst layer close to the inlet for feeding the oxidizing agent gas disposed inside the oxidation catalyst layer, wherein each of the inlets for feeding the oxidizing agent gas and the inlet for feeding the raw material gas are separately coupled to the reactor vessel with regard to gas mixing.