Patent ID: 8394154

Claim:
A fuel reforming process for generating a synthesis gas comprising: flowing an oxidation reactant stream through an oxidation chamber and a reforming reactant stream through a reforming chamber, such that the oxidation reactant stream and the reforming reactant stream are counter-current to each other, a) wherein the oxidation chamber and the reforming chamber are separated by a thermally conductive surface; b) wherein the reforming chamber comprises: an inlet for the reforming reactant stream, an outlet for a reformed stream, and a reforming catalyst disposed on a plurality of heat exchange fins; c) wherein the oxidation chamber comprises: an inlet for the oxidation reactant stream, an outlet for an oxidation product stream, and an oxidation catalyst disposed on a plurality of heat exchange fins, wherein the outlet of the oxidation chamber is adjacent to the inlet of the reforming chamber and the inlet of the oxidation chamber extends beyond the outlet of the reforming chamber thereby constituting an extended oxidation chamber, and wherein the oxidation catalyst disposed on a plurality of heat exchange fins is in the extended oxidation chamber such that any heat exchange fins in the oxidation chamber beyond the extended segment do not contain catalyst coating; and d) wherein the heat exchange fins are brazed on the thermally conductive surface.