Patent ID: 7232553

Claim:
A compact plate-type steam reformer comprising: a housing; a plate-type burner means positioned on a bottom of said housing; a reforming reactor requiring at least a first temperature for operation, said reforming reactor positioned over said burner; a first water gas shift reactor requiring at least a second temperature for operation, said first water gas shift reactor positioned over said reforming reactor in said housing, said second temperature being less than said first temperature; a second water gas shift reactor requiring at least a third temperature for operation, said second water gas shift reactor positioned over said first water gas shift reactor in said housing, said third temperature being less than said second temperature, said burner means for heating said reforming reactor and said first and second water gas shift reactors, said burner means being a broad area heat source; a first dividing plate positioned in a space between said reforming reactor and said first water gas shift reactor; a second dividing plate positioned in a space between said first water gas shift reactor and said second water gas shift reactor; a third dividing plate positioned in a space between said burner means and said reforming reactor, said burner means for producing combustion exhaust gas that flows over said dividing plates and in contact with an exterior surface of said reactors so as to supply heat to said reactors, each of said dividing plates having an opening only at one side thereof; a first damper hingedly positioned at one end of said reforming reactor so as to selectively move between a first position closing a space between said reforming reactor and an inner wall of said housing and a second position away from said inner wall of said housing so as to allow the exhaust gas to pass therethrough; a second damper hingedly positioned at one end of said first water gas shift reactor so as to selectively move between a first position closing a space between said first water gas shift reactor and said inner wall of said housing and a second position away from said inner wall of said housing so as to allow the exhaust gas to pass therethrough; and a third damper hingedly positioned at one end of said second water gas shift reactor so as to selectively move between a first position closing a space between said second water gas shift reactor and an inner wall of said housing and a second position away from said inner wall of said housing so as to allow the exhaust gas to pass therethrough, each of said first damper and said second damper and said third damper suitable for controlling an amount of the exhaust gas flowing around each of said reactors.