Patent ID: 7524343

Claim:
A compact fuel processor for converting a hydrocarbon fuel feed into hydrogen rich gas, comprising: a reforming module for converting the hydrocarbon fuel feed into the hydrogen rich gas, wherein the hydrogen rich gas is suitable for direct feed to a fuel cell; and an oxidizing module for oxidizing fuel cell anode tail gas to produce a hot exhaust gas, wherein the hot exhaust preheats the hydrocarbon fuel feed to the reforming module; wherein the oxidizing module comprises: a first heat exchanger core; an oxidation core vessel containing an oxidation catalyst; and a first desulfurizing vessel surrounding the oxidation core vessel and forming a first annular space filled with desulfurization catalyst; and wherein the oxidation core vessel oxidizes the fuel cell anode tail gas to produce a hot exhaust gas; and wherein the hydrocarbon fuel feed is preheated by the hot exhaust gas in the first heat exchanger coil to produce a preheated hydrocarbon fuel feed; and wherein the preheated hydrocarbon fuel feed is desulfurized in the first annular space to create a desulfurized hydrocarbon fuel feed.