Patent ID: 7544346

Claim:
A process for converting hydrocarbon fuel into a hydrogen rich gas comprising: providing a fuel processor having a plurality of modules stacked end-to-end along a common axis wherein the plurality of modules includes: a first module wherein a first process step occurs within the first module wherein the first process step is the partial oxidation and steam reforming of the hydrocarbon fuel to produce a first module effluent; a second module positioned adjacent to the first module wherein a second process step occurs within the second module wherein the second process step is cooling the first module effluent to produce a second module effluent; a third module positioned adjacent to the second module wherein a third process step occurs within the third module wherein the third process step desulfurizes the second module effluent to produce a third module effluent; a fourth module positioned adjacent the third module wherein a fourth process step occurs within the fourth module wherein a fourth process step mixes water with with the third module effluent to produce a fourth module effluent; a fifth module positioned adjacent to the fourth module wherein a fifth process step occurs within the fifth module wherein the fifth process step reacts the water and the carbon monoxide contained in the fourth module effluent to produce a fifth module effluent having a reduced carbon monoxide concentration; a sixth module positioned adjacent to the fifth module wherein a sixth process process step occurs within the sixth module wherein the sixth process step is cooling the fifth module effluent to produce a sixth module effluent; a seventh module positioned adjacent to the sixth module wherein a seventh process step occurs within the seventh module wherein the seventh process step is oxidizing at least some carbon monoxide to produce the hydrogen rich gas; and feeding the hydrocarbon fuel successively through each of the modules in an axial direction to produce the hydrogen rich gas.