Patent ID: 7497883

Claim:
A method for operating a fuel reformer system at a desired air flow of (Q O 2 -Desired ) comprising the steps of: (A) combusting a fuel mixture stream comprising air and fuel to form a gas stream, wherein the fuel mixture stream has an air to fuel ratio having a first value and an initial air flow rate of (Q O 2 -Start-Up ); (B) establishing a stoichiometric air to fuel ratio (A/F Stoich ) by: (1) measuring temperature of the gas stream until it reaches a dew point plateau temperature having a second value; (2) changing the air to fuel ratio of the fuel mixture stream to a third value; (3) measuring the gas stream temperature until it reaches a dew point plateau having a fourth value; (4) comparing the fourth value to the second value; (a) if the fourth value is less than the second value, then establishing the second value as the stoichiometric air to fuel ratio (A/F Stoich ); (b) if the fourth value is greater than the second value, resetting the first value to a number equal to the third value, resetting the second value to a number equal to the fourth value, and repeating steps (B)(2)-(B)(4) until step (B)(4)(a) is satisfied; and (C) controlling the air to fuel ratio to a desired air to fuel ratio, (A/F Desired ), according to the following formula: ( A / F Desired ) = ( A / F Stoich ) ⁢ ( Q O 2 - Start ⁢ - ⁢ Up ) ( Q O 2 - Desired ) .