Patent ID: 7682718

Claim:
A hydrogen-producing fuel processing system, comprising: a fuel processor having a hydrogen-producing region adapted to produce a stream comprising hydrogen gas as a majority component from a feed stream comprising water and a carbon-containing feedstock; a heating assembly adapted to receive and combust a fuel stream to produce a combustion exhaust stream for heating at least the hydrogen-producing region to a hydrogen-producing operating temperature of at least 250° C.; a feedstock delivery system comprising a reservoir and a pump assembly, wherein the reservoir contains a liquid mixture that consists essentially of at least 31 vol % water and the carbon-containing feedstock; wherein the pump assembly includes at least one pump adapted to draw liquid mixture from the reservoir as the feed stream and to deliver the feed stream to the hydrogen-producing region; and further wherein the pump assembly includes at least one pump adapted to draw liquid mixture from the reservoir as at least a portion of the fuel stream and to deliver the fuel stream to the heating assembly.