Patent ID: 7431746

Claim:
A fuel reformer comprising: an enclosure having: first and second opposing surfaces; a sidewall connecting said first and second opposing surfaces; and an inlet port and an outlet port in said sidewall; a plate assembly for supporting catalyst disposed within said enclosure; and a plurality of baffles in said enclosure each extending between the first and second opposing surfaces of the enclosure, the plurality of baffles comprising: a main baffle extending into said enclosure from a point of said sidewall between said inlet and outlet ports, said main baffle cooperating with said enclosure and said plate assembly to establish a flow path for the flow of fuel gas through said reformer from said inlet port to said outlet port; and at least a first directing baffle extending in said enclosure and cooperating with said enclosure and said plate assembly to alter said flow path, and wherein said first directing baffle extends from said sidewall; and said plurality of baffles include a second directing baffle extending in said enclosure from said main baffle and cooperating with said enclosure and plate assembly to alter said flow path; said first directing baffle extends from said sidewall at a point adjacent said outlet port; and said second directing baffle extends from said main baffle at a point spaced from said outlet port; and said sidewall comprises: first and second opposing sidewall sections and third and fourth opposing sidewall sections, said first sidewall section being connected between a first set of opposing ends of said third and fourth sidewall sections and said second sidewall section being connected between a second set of opposing ends of said third and fourth sidewall sections; said inlet port and said outlet port are in said first sidewall section such that said outlet port is closer to said fourth sidewall section than said inlet port; said main baffle extends from a point in said first sidewall section between said inlet and outlet ports and in spaced relationship to said third and fourth sidewall sections to a point in said enclosure spaced from said second sidewall section; said first directing baffle extends from said fourth sidewall section in the direction of said main baffle to a point spaced from said main baffle; and said second directing baffle extends from said main baffle in the direction of said fourth sidewall section to a point spaced from said fourth sidewall; and wherein the end of said main baffle in said enclosure comprises: a first segment angled toward said fourth sidewall section and away from a corner at which the fourth sidewall section connects to the second sidewall section; and a second segment proceeding from said first segment and angled toward said fourth sidewall section and said corner.