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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Compact hydrogen generator

Patent ·
OSTI ID:5033739
A compact reformer for use in reforming a raw hydrocarbon fuel into a hydrogen rich fuel gas suitable for use in a mobile fuel cell power plant is described comprising: (a) a housing having a cylindrical side wall and opposed end walls; (b) a burner opening into the housing through one of the end walls, the burner being coaxial with the cylindrical side wall; (c) an annular thermally insulated flame tube surrounding the burner and extending from one of the end walls toward the other of the end walls, and the flame tube having an open end remote from one of the end walls and spaced apart from the other of the end walls; (d) a heating chamber radially inwardly bounded by the flame tube and radially outwardly bounded by the cylindrical side wall of the housing; (e) a helical tube disposed in the heating chamber and extending from one end to the other of the heating chamber; (f) a fuel inlet extending through a wall of the housing and opening into an end of the helical tube remote from the burner and operable to supply raw hydrocarbon fuel to the interior of the helical tube; and (g) an outlet extending through a wall of the housing and opening into an end of the helical tube proximate burner and operable to duct reformed hydrogen rich fuel gas from the helical tube.
Assignee:
International Fuel Cells Corp., South Windsor, CT
Patent Number(s):
US 4737161
OSTI ID:
5033739
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English