Evaporator device for generating a hydrocarbon-air mixture which can be decomposed in a reformer to produce hydrogen and process for operating such an evaporator device

A process for starting an evaporator device with a burner/evaporator area with a combustion/mixing chamber with air entering the combustion chamber via an inlet opening device, a hydrocarbon evaporator including a porous evaporator medium disposed in the burner/evaporator area, and a glow-type igniting member for igniting a hydrocarbon-air mixture present in the combustion/mixing chamber, the evaporator for generating a hydrocarbon-air mixture which can be decomposed in a reformer for producing hydrogen, the process comprising the steps:

• a) heating and evaporating liquid hydrocarbon or hydrocarbon-containing liquid;
• b) mixing of the vapor generated in step a) with air;
• c) igniting of the mixture generated in step b) to start the combustion of the mixture;
• d) maintaining the combustion until the expiration of a predetermined time period and/or until a predetermined temperature is present in one or more predetermined areas of the system;
• and
• e) terminating the combustion after the expiration of the predetermined time period and/or after the predetermined temperature has been reached.