Patent ID: 7399342

Claim:
A method for regulating the temperature of a hydrogen-producing region of a fuel processing system adapted to produce a mixed gas stream containing hydrogen gas and other gases, the method comprising: producing a mixed gas stream containing hydrogen gas and other gases in a heated hydrogen-producing region of a fuel processing system; delivering the mixed gas stream to a pressure swing adsorption assembly having a plurality of adsorbent beds containing adsorbent and adapted to produce a byproduct stream containing at least a substantial portion of the other gases and a product hydrogen stream containing a greater concentration of hydrogen gas than the mixed gas stream; adsorbing the other gases from the mixed gas stream to produce a product hydrogen stream containing a greater concentration of hydrogen gas than the mixed gas stream; depressurizing the adsorbent beds to facilitate desorption of the other gases from the adsorbent; purging the adsorbent beds with a flow of purge gas to further facilitate desorption of the other gases, wherein the depressurizing and purging steps produce gas streams from which the byproduct stream is formed; combusting the byproduct stream with air in a heating assembly adapted to produce a heated exhaust stream; heating the hydrogen-producing region of the fuel processing system with the heated exhaust stream; and regulating the flow rate of purge gas to the adsorbent beds to produce a sufficient flow of byproduct gas to maintain the hydrogen-producing region within a determined temperature range for producing the mixed gas stream, the regulating including one or more of selectively increasing and decreasing over a time period the flow rate of the purge gas.