Patent ID: 8557460

Claim:
A hydrogen system comprising: a reformer in which a vaporized hydrocarbon fuel is reformed to yield a reformate gas comprising hydrogen; a hydrogen consumer arranged in fluid communication with the reformer such that the reformate gas is fed to the hydrogen consumer, the hydrogen consumer consuming at least a part of the hydrogen produced by the reformer; an offgas burner which is arranged in fluid communication with the hydrogen consumer and receives offgas exhausted from the hydrogen consumer, the offgas burner combusting remaining reformate gas in the offgas exhausted from the hydrogen consumer; a first heat exchanger which is in fluid communication with the offgas burner and receives exhaust gas from the offgas burner; an air pump which is arranged in fluid communication with the reformer and the offgas burner, the air pump supplying air to said reformer and offgas burner; and a water pump which is arranged in fluid communication with the first heat exchanger and, thereafter, the reformer, the water pump feeding water to the first heat exchanger wherein the heat energy contained in the exhaust gas from the offgas burner is used to produce steam, wherein the steam produced by the first heat exchanger is fed to the reformer, wherein the reformer includes a mixing space and a reforming space, and the reformer further includes (i) a vaporizer for the vaporization of a liquid hydrocarbon fuel, (ii) a combined inlet or separate inlets for supply of air and steam, (iii) a glow plug for the ignition of the mixture of hydrocarbon vapor and air during a warm-up period of the hydrogen system, (iv) a catalyst, and (v) an outlet for the reformate gas.