Apparatus and methods for mixing reformable fuels and an oxygen-containing gas and/or steam

A method of mixing reformable fuel and an oxygen-containing gas and/or steam for delivery to a reformer and/or fuel cell stack of a fuel cell unit, the method comprising:

• delivering an oxygen-containing gas and/or steam through a tube comprising a throat such that the oxygen-containing gas and/or steam experiences an increase in velocity and decrease in pressure through the throat and a rifling or twisting motion downstream of the throat along with an increase in pressure and decrease in velocity;
• introducing a reformable fuel and/or steam through a fuel source inlet into a fuel injection chamber and through one or more fuel inlets into the stream of oxygen-containing gas and/or steam downstream of the throat, whereby the reformable fuel and/or steam mixes with the stream of the oxygen-containing gas and/or steam to provide a gaseous reforming reaction mixture,
• wherein the fuel injection chamber is created by a collar present around the tube and is in fluid communication with the fuel source inlet and the interior of the tube through the one or more fuel inlets;
• and
• delivering the gaseous reforming reaction mixture to a reformer and/or a fuel cell stack of a fuel cell unit.

A method of mixing reformable fuel and an oxygen-containing gas and/or steam for delivery to a reformer and/or fuel cell stack of a fuel cell unit, the method comprising:

• delivering an oxygen-containing gas and/or steam through a tube comprising a throat such that the oxygen-containing gas and/or steam experiences an increase in velocity and decrease in pressure through the throat and an increase in pressure and decrease in velocity downstream of the throat;
• introducing a reformable fuel and/or steam through a fuel source inlet into a fuel injection chamber and through fuel inlets into the stream of oxygen-containing gas and/or steam downstream of the throat, whereby the reformable fuel and/or steam mixes with the stream of the oxygen-containing gas and/or steam to provide a gaseous reforming reaction mixture,
• wherein the fuel injection chamber is created by a collar present around the tube and is in fluid communication with the fuel source inlet and the interior of the tube through the fuel inlets;
• and
• delivering through an outlet the gaseous reforming reaction mixture to a reformer and/or a fuel cell stack of a fuel cell unit.

A method of mixing reformable fuel and an oxygen-containing gas and/or steam for delivery to a reformer and/or fuel cell stack of a fuel cell unit, the method comprising:

• delivering an oxygen-containing gas and/or steam through a fluid mixing device, wherein the fluid mixing device comprises:
• a tube having an inlet, an outlet, and a throat located between the inlet and the outlet, wherein the throat comprises a smaller internal diameter than the internal diameter of the outlet, the longitudinal axis through the tube from the inlet to the outlet defines a downstream direction, and the tube comprises one or more fuel inlets downstream from the throat;
• and
• a collar encompassing the one or more fuel inlets on the exterior surface of the tube, wherein the collar comprises a fuel source inlet in fluid communication with the one or more fuel inlets and isolates the one or more fuel inlets from the ambient environment exterior to the tube;
• introducing a reformable fuel and/or steam through the one or more fuel inlets into the stream of oxygen-containing gas and/or steam downstream of the throat, whereby the reformable fuel and/or steam mixes with the stream of the oxygen-containing gas and/or steam to provide a gaseous reforming reaction mixture;
• and
• delivering the gaseous reforming reaction mixture to a reformer and/or a fuel cell stack of a fuel cell unit.