Method and apparatus for injecting a liquid hydrocarbon fuel into a fuel cell power plant reformer

A fuel processing assembly for use in connection with a fuel cell power plant, said fuel processing assembly comprising:

• a) a fuel vaporizing chamber;
• b) a fuel atomizing section leading to said fuel vaporizing chamber;
• c) a first line for injecting a hydrocarbon fuel stream into said atomizing section;
• d) a second line for injecting steam into said atomizing section, said second line being located downstream of said first line;
• e) a third line for injecting super heated steam into said fuel processing assembly, said third line being located downstream of said second line and immediately upstream of said vaporizing chamber;
• and
• f) a fuel reformer located downstream of said vaporizing chamber for receiving vaporized fuel from said vaporizing chamber.

A method for processing a liquid hydrocarbon fuel so as to render the fuel suitable for use in powering a fuel cell power plant and also limit carbon deposition on fuel processing components, said method comprising the steps of:

• a) providing a fuel vaporizing chamber;
• b) forming and directing a mixture of atomized fuel droplets and steam toward said fuel vaporizing chamber;
• c) injecting a super heated vaporizing stream comprising steam into said fuel processing assembly, said line being located between said atomizing section and said vaporizing chamber whereby said super heated vaporizing stream can be injected into said mixtures of fuel droplets and steam so as to vaporize said fuel droplets in said mixture of fuel droplets and steam;
• and
• d) providing a fuel reformer located downstream of said fuel vaporizing chamber for receiving vaporized fuel from said fuel vaporizing chamber.