Patent ID: 7833326

Claim:
A hydrogen-generation assembly, comprising: a fuel processing system including at least one hydrogen-producing region adapted to receive at least one feed stream and to produce a mixed gas stream containing hydrogen gas and other gases therefrom by chemical reaction of the at least one feed stream at a hydrogen-producing temperature of at least 200° C.; a pressure swing adsorption assembly adapted to receive the mixed gas stream and to produce a product hydrogen stream containing at least substantially pure hydrogen gas and having a reduced concentration of the other gases than the mixed gas stream, and to produce a byproduct stream containing at least a substantial portion of the other gases, wherein the pressure swing adsorption assembly includes a plurality of adsorbent beds adapted to separate the mixed gas stream into streams forming the product hydrogen stream and the byproduct stream; a heating assembly adapted to receive and combust the byproduct stream to produce a heated exhaust stream adapted to heat at least the hydrogen-producing region; and means for regulating the flow rate of the byproduct stream that is received and combusted by the heating assembly to maintain the temperature of the hydrogen-producing region within a determined temperature range for producing the mixed gas stream.