Abstract: The present invention is directed to a fuel reformer device that produces a hydrogen rich gas from a hydrocarbon and steam. The steam reforming reaction that produces the hydrogen rich gas from the hydrocarbon and steam is endothermic. A known technique supplies heat required for the steam reforming reaction by an exothermic oxidation reaction proceeding in parallel with the steam reforming reaction. This known technique may, however, cause an excessive temperature rise in an area of the vigorous oxidation reaction in the fuel reformer device. A reformer unit 34 including a Cu—Zn catalyst receives a supply of a crude fuel gas containing the air flown through a second fuel supply conduit 64. The crude fuel gas is subjected to the steam reforming reaction and the oxidation reaction proceeding inside the reformer unit 34. A resulting hydrogen rich gaseous fuel is discharged to a third fuel supply conduit 65. The reformer unit 34 includes an upper stream reaction unit 80 and a lower stream reaction unit 81.

Abstract: The invention constructs a system which vaporizes a liquid raw material in a vaporizing section and steam-reforms the vaporized raw material in a reforming section to generate hydrogen. A pressure regulating valve for regulating the pressure in the vaporizing section is disposed at anywhere from the vaporizing section to downstream of the reforming section. When a hydrogen requirement is increased, the pressure regulating valve is controlled to decrease the pressure in the vaporizing section. The pressure reduction makes it possible to promote vaporization in the vaporizing section such that the rate of generation of steam can be improved. Moreover, during start-up of the system, the control mode is changed to open the pressure regulating valve, thereby limiting the rate of increase in pressure just after the generation of reformed gas has started.

Abstract: A fuel reformer suited for mounting on a vehicle is provided. A raw material gas containing methanol and water is vaporized at a vaporization section 30. The vaporized gas flows horizontally to a reforming section 60 with monolithic catalyst 70. The reforming section is divided into two sides, a front side 62 and a rear side 64, with an interconnecting pipe 66 bent at 180 degrees, for connecting the front and rear sides. By making the material gas flow horizontally, even when the reformer is mounted to a vehicle which has a larger space in its horizontal direction than in its vertical direction, especially a small passenger car, the contact time period between gas and catalyst can be extended. By bending the reforming section by 180 degrees, the size of the reformer can be reduced so that the reformer is suited for mounting on a vehicle having limited space.

Abstract: The invention constructs a system which vaporizes a liquid raw material in a vaporizing section and steam-reforms the vaporized raw material in a reforming section to generate hydrogen. A pressure regulating valve for regulating the pressure in the vaporizing section is disposed at anywhere from the vaporizing section to downstream of the reforming section. When a hydrogen requirement is increased, the pressure regulating valve is controlled to decrease the pressure in the vaporizing section. The pressure reduction makes it possible to promote vaporization in the vaporizing section such that the rate of generation of steam can be improved. Moreover, during start-up of the system, the control mode is changed to open the pressure regulating valve, thereby limiting the rate of increase in pressure just after the generation of reformed gas has started.

Abstract: Methanol supplied as a raw fuel is mixed with water, vaporized in an evaporator 24, and supplied to a reformer 22 as a raw fuel gas. The reformer 22 also receives a supply of the compressed air from an air tank 36. The raw fuel gas is mixed with the compressed air in the reformer 22. An oxidation reaction of methanol supplied as the raw fuel proceeds in the reformer 22 to generate hydrogen and carbon dioxide, while a steam reforming reaction of methanol simultaneously proceeds in the reformer 22 to generate hydrogen and carbon dioxide. The amount of heat required for the endothermic reforming reaction can be supplied by the oxidation reaction of methanol. No external heat source is accordingly required in the reformer 22 to supply the heat required for the reforming reaction.