Abstract: The invention relates to a method for adjusting the temperature profile of a catalyst in a reformer. In accordance with the invention it is provided for that the fuel feed rates in various media feed zones are tweaked so that a wanted temperature profile results in the reforming zone of the reformer whilst maintaining the air ratio as applicable to the overall reforming process.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for regenerating a reformer fed with a mixture of fuel and an oxidant having a mean air number ?1 in continuous reformer operation, the air number being varied for the purpose of regenerating the reformer. In accordance with the invention it is provided for that regeneration occurs in a shutoff phase of the reformer in that the reformer is operated during several successive time intervals with an air number ?2 higher than in reformer operation (?2>?1). Again in accordance with the invention it may be provided for that regeneration occurs in a starting phase of the reformer in that the reformer is continually operated with an air number increased as compared to reformer operation ?2>?1 until a critical temperature threshold is attained. The invention relates furthermore to a system including a reformer and a controller for implementing a method in accordance with the invention.

Abstract: The invention relates to a reformer for converting fuel and oxidising agent into a reformate, the reformer comprising an oxidising zone to which a mixture of fuel and oxidising agent is supplyable via a first fuel supply and a first oxidising agent supply and an injection and mixture formation zone disposed downstream of the oxidising zone to which further fuel is supplyable via a second fuel supply, a second oxidising agent supply being provided via which further oxidising agent is supplyable to the injection and mixture formation zone. According to the invention it is contemplated that the second oxidising agent supply is, relative to the second fuel supply, arranged so that it generates a barrier oxidising agent cushion in the area in front of the second fuel supply to prevent a heat transfer from the mixture from the oxidising zone to the second fuel supply. The invention further relates to a method for operating such a reformer.

Abstract: The invention relates to a reformer (10) comprising a first media feeder portion (12) for receiving a supply of fuel (14) and oxidant (16), following the first media feeder portion an oxidation zone (18) in which the media supplied to the first media feeder portion react at least in part into flue gas (20), a second media feeder portion (22) for receiving at least a supply of fuel (24), a mixture formation zone following the oxidation zone (18) and the second media feeder portion and in which a fuel/flue gas mixture (28) can be generated, and following the mixture formation zone (26) a reforming zone in which the fuel/flue gas mixture (28) is catalytically reformable. In accordance with the invention it is provided for that the volume of the mixture formation zone is in the range of 20 to 90 cm3.

Abstract: The invention relates to a reformer system for generating a hydrogen-rich reformate comprising a reformer to which fuel and an oxidising agent can be supplied. According to the invention it is contemplated that the fuel supplied to the reformer is at least partly coolable by a fluid having other functions in addition to the function of cooling the fuel in the reformer system or a parent system into which the reformer system is integrated. The invention further relates to a method for generating a hydrogen-rich reformate as well as a fuel cell system comprising a reformer system according to the invention.

Abstract: A reformer (10) for a fuel cell has a chamber (26) including a chamber inlet (20) for the input of a reactant gas mixture and a chamber outlet (24) for the output of a reformed gas, a catalytic active medium being arranged in the chamber. The reformer (10) has a heat pipe (12) with an outer cylindrical pipe wall (14) and an inner cylindrical wall (16), the chamber (26) being disposed between the outer pipe wall (14) and the inner wall (16). Advantageously, the heat pipe has a passage with a helical shapes.

Abstract: The invention relates to a reformer for a fuel cell system for generating a reformate comprising a plurality of function units for treating the fuel, at least one function unit being adapted to a first type of fuel. In this arrangement the invention is characterized to advantage in that the function unit adapted to the first type of fuel can be releasably coupled to the reformer as a module by means of an interface which is also designed to couple a replacement function unit instead of the function unit adapted to the first type of fuel, the replacement function unit being adapted to a second type of fuel different from the first type of fuel. The invention relates furthermore to a function unit for such a reformer, to a fuel cell system having such a reformer and to a motor vehicle having such a fuel cell system.

Abstract: A reformer (10) for reacting fuel (12, 14) and oxidizer (16, 18) into reformate (20), with a plurality of reaction zones (22, 24) to which the fuel (12) and oxidizer (16) are supplied and in each which the fuel and oxidizer are reacted into reformate. The process for reacting fuel and oxidizer into reformate separately adjusting the fuel and/or oxidizer supplied to the reaction zones for varying the reformate output produced.

Abstract: A device for providing a homogenous mixture of fuel and oxidant including an arrangement (5) for feeding liquid fuel to an evaporator, an arrangement (4) for feeding gaseous oxidant into a mixing zone (12) downstream of the evaporator, and a reaction zone downstream of the mixing zone in which a packed structure (3) is arranged. The packed structure can be a ceramic cylindrical molding having a diameter in the range 25 to 35 mm and an axial length in the range 15 to 50 mm or it can have flow conduits that are square in cross-section and have a cell density in the range 400 to 1200 cpsi.

Abstract: A reformer (10) for reacting fuel (12, 14) and oxidizer (16, 18) into reformate (20), with a plurality of reaction zones (22, 24) to which the fuel (12) and oxidizer (16) are supplied and in each which the fuel and oxidizer are reacted into reformate. The process for reacting fuel and oxidizer into reformate separately adjusting the fuel and/or oxidizer supplied to the reaction zones for varying the reformate output produced.