Patent ID: 8152872

Claim:
A modular thermal reformer assembly, comprising: a top end plate; a bottom end plate; and, a plurality of planar modular reformer elements stacked together between the top end plate and the bottom end plate; wherein each modular element comprises: a reformate inlet component layer; a reformate outlet component layer; a combustion inlet component layer; a combustion outlet component layer; and a reformation cavity and combustion cavity centrally located within the modular reformer element; wherein the reformate inlet component layer comprises an inlet reformate manifold located at an outer edge of the reformate inlet component layer, an inlet reformate process fluid flow passage , and an inlet flow distribution region, wherein the inlet reformate manifold allows for entry of a reformate process fluid into the inlet reformate process fluid flow passage for the inward flow of reformate process fluid towards the inlet flow distribution region and into the centrally located reformation cavity; and, wherein the reformate outlet component layer comprises a reformate outlet manifold located at an outer edge of the reformate outlet component layer, an outlet reformate process fluid flow passage and an outlet distribution region, wherein the outlet reformate process fluid flow passage allows for the outward flow of reformate process fluid from the centrally located reformation cavity and the outlet distribution region and the reformate outlet manifold allows for the exit of reformate process fluid from the outlet reformate process fluid flow passage.