Patent ID: 7488458

Claim:
An apparatus ( 1 ) for converting a flow of matter ( 4 ) containing hydrocarbons to a hydrogen-enriched fluid flow ( 10 ), comprising: a heating apparatus ( 5 ) for production of a heating stream ( 6 ); a first converter ( 2 ) and a second converter ( 3 ) arranged behind said first converter in a flow direction to the hydrogen-enriched fluid flow ( 10 ), wherein each of the first converter and the second converter is configured for reforming hydrocarbons to hydrogen, and wherein the flow of matter ( 4 ) containing hydrocarbons is converted in the first converter first and in the second converter further to the hydrogen-enriched fluid flow; a first heating element ( 8 ) provided with an inlet opening and an outlet opening that is flowed-through by the heating stream for heating at least one of the first and second converters ( 2 , 3 ), wherein the first heating element comprises a first flue gas chamber ( 8 a ) for heating the second converter ( 3 ) and a second flue gas chamber ( 8 b ) downstream from the first flue gas chamber for heating the first converter ( 2 ), and wherein the heating stream ( 6 ) that flows through the first flue gas chamber ( 8 a ) flows completely in a counterflow direction to the flow of matter ( 4 ) in the second converter ( 3 ); a second heating element ( 9 ) provided with an inlet opening ( 12 ) and an outlet opening ( 11 ) that is flowed-through by the heating stream ( 6 ) for heating at least one of the first and second converters, wherein the second heating element is located between the first and second converters; and flaps for closing each of the inlet opening ( 12 ) and the outlet opening ( 11 ) of the second heating element, such that the second heating element ( 9 ) forms a thermal separation between the first converter ( 2 ) and the second converter ( 3 ) when the inlet opening ( 12 ) and the outlet opening ( 11 ) are closed by the flaps during at least one operating phase.