Patent ID: 7195663

Claim:
A steam reforming fuel processor adapted to produce a product hydrogen stream containing at least substantially pure hydrogen gas, the fuel processor comprising: a vaporization region adapted to receive and vaporize a liquid feed stream comprising a carbon-containing feedstock and water; a steam reforming hydrogen-producing region containing a steam reforming catalyst, wherein the hydrogen-producing region is adapted to receive the vaporized feed stream and to produce therefrom a reformate stream comprising hydrogen gas and other gases, wherein the hydrogen gas forms a majority component of the reformate stream; a separation assembly comprising at least one hydrogen-selective membrane, wherein the separation assembly is adapted to receive at least a portion of the reformate stream and to divide the portion of the reformate stream into a hydrogen-rich permeate stream comprising at least substantially pure hydrogen gas and a byproduct stream comprising at least a substantial portion of the other gases, and further wherein the product hydrogen stream includes at least a portion of the permeate stream; a combustion region adapted to receive and combust a fuel stream to produce a heated exhaust stream to heat at least the hydrogen-producing region; and at least one fluid conduit extending through the hydrogen-producing region, wherein the at least one fluid conduit defines a passage extending through the hydrogen-producing region but not in contact with the steam reforming catalyst, and further wherein the heated exhaust stream from the combustion region is adapted to flow through the passage to heat the hydrogen-producing region.