Patent ID: 8038960

Claim:
A reformer which produces reformed gas from a hydrocarbon material, the reformer comprising: a reforming chamber having an inner cylinder, an outer cylinder, and annular top cover and an annular bottom cover, the top and bottom covers each being attached to the inner and outer cylinders; reforming catalyst filled between the outer cylinder, the inner cylinder, the top cover and the bottom cover of the reforming chamber such that a vacant space is formed in an upper part of the reforming chamber; a plurality of fuel gas feed pipes connected to the bottom cover; a plurality of return pipes respectively arranged between the fuel gas feed pipes of the plurality of fuel gas feed pipes connected to the bottom cover, the plurality of return pipes penetrating the bottom cover and the reforming catalyst and having tips arranged between the outer cylinder and the inner cylinder, such that said tips protrude from an upper surface of the reforming catalyst; a heat source which heats the reforming catalyst and the hydrocarbon material supplied to the reforming chamber; combustion gas inner flow channel through which a part of the combustion gas from the heat source flows along an inner side surface of the inner cylinder of the reforming chamber; and combustion gas outer flow channel through which the remaining part of the combustion gas from the heat source flows along an outer side surface of the reforming chamber.