Patent ID: 7384702

Claim:
Apparatus for mixing gaseous fuel and an oxidant for supply to an autothermal reformer comprising: a mixing vessel for mixing said fuel and gaseous oxidant; first and second inlets to said vessel for moving said fuel and oxidant therethrough, said first and second inlets having discharge ends spaced apart from each other in the direction of flow through the vessel; and an exit from said vessel spaced from said inlets and adjacent a partial oxidation reactor that burns a mixture of fuel and oxidant exiting the mixing vessel; the first inlet comprising a plurality of tubes each having a discharge end through which the fuel or oxidant flows and extending into the mixing vessel and toward said exit such that the discharge ends of the tubes are downstream of the discharge end of said second inlet for mixing said fuel and oxidant close to said partial oxidation reactor as to preclude premature combustion of the fuel-oxidant mixture in said vessel, wherein the second inlet comprises a plate having a plurality of apertures through which said tubes extend.