Patent ID: 7608120

Claim:
A compact steam reformer ( 1 ) comprising, an outer shell ( 2 ), a reformer pipe ( 5 ) arranged concentrically within the outer shell ( 2 ), the reformer pipe ( 5 ) closed at the bottom, an inner reformer pipe ( 11 ) arranged concentrically within the reformer pipe ( 5 ), the inner reformer pipe ( 11 ) closed at the bottom, a reactor ( 9 ) housed between the bottom of the reformer pipe ( 5 ) and the bottom of the inner reformer pipe ( 11 ), the reactor ( 9 ) comprising a catalyzer ( 12 ), a combustion chamber ( 15 ) operatively arranged within the bottom of the inner reformer pipe ( 11 ), a burner ( 16 ) housed within the combustion chamber ( 15 ), the material flow for the burner ( 16 ) maintained within the inner reformer pipe ( 11 ) and separate from the material flow for the reactor ( 9 ), the material flow for the burner ( 16 ) including at least partially supplied residue gas from the anode of a fuel cell ( 52 ) and air, the reactor ( 9 ) in heat transfer relationship with the burner ( 16 ), the reactor ( 9 ) for generating reformate from fuel and H 2 0 steam, a preheating arrangement ( 20 ) housed within the inner reformer pipe ( 11 ) above the combustion chamber ( 15 ) and in fluid communication with the burner ( 16 ), the preheating arrangement ( 20 ) for preheating at least one of supplied air and supplied fuel while recouping exhaust gas heat from the combustion chamber ( 15 ), an outer annular chamber ( 10 ) through which reformate flows and which is thermally insulated toward the exterior, the outer annular chamber ( 10 ) is arranged within the reformer pipe ( 5 ) above the reactor ( 9 ) and in fluid communication with the reactor ( 9 ), the outer annular chamber ( 10 ) surrounding the preheating arrangement ( 20 ), a pipe evaporator ( 24 ) housed within the outer shell ( 2 ) arranged in heat transfer relationship with the outer annular chamber ( 10 ), the pipe evaporator ( 24 ) used for the generation of H 2 0 steam under pressure, a follow-up reactor ( 37 , 39 , 39 a ) housed within the outer annular chamber ( 10 ), the follow-up reactor ( 37 , 39 , 39 a ) in fluid communication with the reactor ( 9 ), the follow-up reactor ( 37 , 39 , 39 a ) in heat transfer relationship with the pipe evaporator ( 24 ) through which water and steam flows, the follow-up reactor ( 37 , 39 , 39 a ) for the extensive removal of carbon monoxide portions of the created reformate, means for maintaining a uniform temperature for the follow-up reactor ( 37 , 39 , 39 a ), and means for performing an automatic matching of the load.