Plate type reformer assembly

A reformer assembly, comprising:

• a multi-layer unit including fuel introduction plates, combustion chamber plates, reforming chamber plates and a separation plate,
• each fuel introduction plate having a first plate member and a first masking frame, the first masking frame being integrally mounted on the periphery of the first plate member, a fuel feeding port being formed in the first masking frame, a pair of first partition members being provided on the fuel introduction plate, each partition member having a crenellated structure, a fuel introduction room being defined between the pair of first partition members, a first entrance room and a first exit room being defined outside the first partition members respectively, the fuel feeding port being open to the first entrance room,
• each combustion chamber plate having a second plate member and a second masking frame, the second masking frame being integrally mounted on the periphery of the second plate member, and an air feeding port, an exhaust gas discharging port and a combustion catalyst insertion opening being respectively formed in the second masking frame, a pair of second partition members being provided on the combustion chamber plate, each second partition member having a crenellated structure, a combustion chamber being formed between the second pair of partition members, a second entrance room and a second exit room being defined outside the second pair of partition members respectively, the second plate member having a plurality of dispersion openings between the pair of second partition members, the air feeding port being open to the second entrance room, the exhaust gas discharging port being open to the second exit room, the combustion catalyst insertion opening being open to the combustion chamber, the combustion catalyst insertion opening being aligned with one of the second partition members such that a combustion catalyst moves to the combustion catalyst insertion opening along the one of the second partition members when the combustion catalyst is withdrawn out of the combustion chamber through the combustion catalyst insertion opening,
• each reforming chamber plate having a third plate member and a third masking frame, the third masking frame being integrally mounted on the periphery of the third plate member, and a raw material gas feeding port, a reformed gas discharging port and a reforming catalyst insertion opening being respectively formed in the third masking frame, a third pair of partition members being provided on the reforming chamber plate, each third partition member having a crenellated structure, a reforming chamber being defined between the pair of third partition members, a third entrance room and a third exit room being defined outside the pair of third partition members respectively, the raw material gas feeding port being open to the third entrance room, the reformed gas discharging port being open to the third exit room, the reforming catalyst insertion opening being open to the reforming chamber, the reforming catalyst insertion opening being aligned with one of the third partition members such that a reforming catalyst moves to the reforming catalyst insertion opening along the one of the third partition members when the reforming catalyst is withdrawn out of the reforming chamber through the reforming catalyst insertion opening, the fuel introduction plates, the combustion chamber plates and the reforming chamber plates being stacked in turn to define multiple layers, a top one of said layers being referred to as an uppermost layer, the multi-layer unit having a lateral face, with the feeding ports, discharging ports, combustion catalyst insertion openings and reforming catalyst insertion openings being respectively aligned in a direction in which the plates are stacked, the separation plate being provided on the reforming chamber plate of the uppermost layer of the unit, the fuel introduction plate, the combustion chamber plate, the reforming chamber plate and the separation plate being connected to each other at the peripheries thereof;
• manifolds attached to the lateral face of the multi-layer unit to cover the feeding and discharging ports;
• a combustion catalyst layer being defined by a combustion catalyst in each combustion chamber plate;
• a reforming catalyst layer being defined by a reforming catalyst in each reforming chamber plate;
• first sealing means for opening and closing the combustion catalyst insertion openings;
• and
• second sealing means for opening and closing the reforming catalyst insertion openings.