Patent ID: 7005113

Claim:
A fuel processing system, comprising: a fuel processor adapted to produce a product hydrogen stream from a feed stream containing a gaseous hydrocarbon feedstock and water, wherein the fuel processor comprises: a hydrogen-producing region in which a mixed gas stream containing hydrogen gas and other gases is produced from the feed stream via steam reforming; and a separation region in which the mixed gas stream is separated into a hydrogen-rich stream containing at least substantially pure hydrogen gas and a byproduct stream containing at least a substantial portion of the other gases, wherein the product hydrogen stream is formed from the hydrogen-rich stream; a feed assembly adapted to deliver the feed stream to the fuel processor, wherein the feed assembly comprises: a reservoir adapted to hold a volume of liquid water having a surface, the reservoir including a water inlet through which a supply of water is added to the reservoir, a hydrocarbon feedstock inlet through which the hydrocarbon feedstock is added to the reservoir, and an outlet through which the feed stream is delivered to the fuel processor, wherein the hydrocarbon feedstock inlet is positioned to introduce the hydrocarbon feedstock below the surface of the volume of water; a hydrocarbon feedstock delivery system adapted to deliver a stream of a hydrocarbon feedstock to the hydrocarbon feedstock inlet of the reservoir; and a control system adapted to control the ratio of water and the hydrocarbon feedstock in the feed stream, wherein the control system includes a controller in communication with the fuel processing system via a plurality of communication linkages, wherein via the communication linkages the controller is adapted to receive inputs from at least one sensor and to directly or indirectly control the pressure of the steam of the hydrocarbon feedstock delivered to the reservoir at least partially responsive thereto.