Patent ID: 7341609

Claim:
A reformer for separating and purifying hydrogen from a hydrogen rich feedstock comprising: a linear metallic pressure vessel having a catalyst bed disposed along a linear axis within the pressure vessel for producing hydrogen, said vessel constructed and arranged with a feedstock inlet for introducing pressurized fuel to be reformed to said catalyst bed and a reformed gas outlet, a hydrogen selective membrane positioned downstream of the catalyst bed and operable to receive reformed gas and separate the reformed gas into hydrogen and raffinate, and a heating unit located upstream of said pressure vessel and directly discharging a heated fluid stream through the catalyst bed laterally to the linear axis of the catalyst bed, said heated fluid stream having a length substantially corresponding to the length of the catalyst bed; and wherein said pressure vessel is mounted within a housing, the housing including a vertical wall dividing said housing into an air inlet passageway including an air inlet chamber on one side of said vertical wall to supply air to heating and unit located upstream of said pressure vessel and defining an exhaust passageway including an exhaust chamber on the opposite side of said wall to discharge exhaust gas from said heating unit; and wherein said heating unit comprises a catalytic burner with said inlet air passing through said catalytic burner, said raffinate connected to a fuel dispersing unit located upstream of the burner in the inlet air passageway, said dispersing unit mixes said inlet air with said raffinate and directs said air/raffinate fuel mixture to said catalytic burner for generating said heated fluid stream passing laterally over the pressure vessel to heat the catalyst bed to a desired reaction temperature for production of hydrogen; and a counterflow exhaust heat recuperating system for heating of the inlet air supply, said recuperating system comprising a plurality of heat transmitting plates formed of thermally conductive material, and each of said plates transversely mounted on said vertical wall and extending across said inlet and exhaust passageways and including a plurality of distributed opening to permit essentially free air flow and exhaust gas flow through said plates, and sealing means between said plates and said vertical wall to prevent mixing exhaust and inlet gas streams, whereby said plate facilitate the flow of heat from the exhaust flue gas stream to the inlet air supply.