Apparatus for mixing fuel and an oxidant

A method of supplying a mixture of fuel and air to an autothermal reformer that provides hydrogen to a fuel cell comprising the steps of:

• (a) inputting one of either fuel or air into a mixing vessel at a first location;
• (b) injecting the other of said fuel or air into said one fuel or air in said mixing vessel at a plurality of sites located downstream of said first location so as to form a substantially uniform mixture of fuel and air adjacent said autothermal reformer, said plurality of sites being sufficient in number to form said mixture in the immediate vicinity of said sites and sufficiently remote from said first location as to substantially preclude recirculation of said mixture upstream of said sites;
• and
• (c) exhausting said mixture from said mixing vessel into said autothermal reformer;
• whereby premature combustion of said mixture in said mixing vessel upstream of said autothermal reformer is averted.

A method of supplying a mixture of fuel and air to an autothermal reformer that provides hydrogen to a fuel cell comprising the steps of:

• (a) mixing steam with one of either air or fuel to form a first substantially uniform mixture
• (b) inputting said first mixture into a mixing vessel at a first location;
• (c) injecting the other of said fuel or air into said first mixture in said mixing vessel at a plurality of sites located downstream of said first location so as to form a second substantially uniform mixture of fuel steam and air adjacent said autothermal reformer, said plurality of sites being sufficient in number to form said second mixture in the immediate vicinity of said sites and sufficiently remote from said first location as to substantially preclude recirculation of said second mixture upstream of said sites;
• and
• (d) exhausting said second mixture from said mixing vessel into said autothermal reformer;
• whereby premature combustion of said second mixture in said mixing vessel upstream of said autothermal reformer is averted.