Method of and apparatus for reforming fuel and fuel cell system with fuel-reforming apparatus incorporated therein

A method of reforming a hydrocarbon supplied as a crude fuel to generate a hydrogen-containing gaseous fuel through a reforming reaction of the crude fuel, said method comprising the steps of:

• lowering a peak of a temperature distribution caused by heat, which is produced by an exothermic oxidation reaction for oxidizing a component included in a crude fuel gas containing the crude fuel, and expanding an area that reaches a specific temperature for activating an endothermic reforming reaction;
• feeding a supply of oxygen to the crude fuel gas for the exothermic oxidation reaction of the component included in the crude fuel gas;
• and
• utilizing the heat released through the exothermic oxidation reaction for the endothermic reforming reaction of the crude fuel.

A fuel-reforming apparatus for reforming a hydrocarbon supplied as a crude fuel to generate a hydrogen-containing gaseous fuel through a reforming reaction of the crude fuel,

• said fuel-reforming apparatus comprising:
• a reformer unit in which the reforming reaction proceeds;
• a crude fuel supply unit which feeds a supply of a crude fuel gas containing the crude fuel to said reformer unit;
• and
• an oxygen supply unit which feeds a supply of oxygen to the crude fuel gas,
• wherein said reformer unit comprises:
• a first catalyst which utilizes the supply of oxygen fed by said oxygen supply unit and accelerates an exothermic oxidation reaction of a component included in the crude fuel gas;
• and
• a second catalyst which utilizes heat produced by the oxidation reaction and accelerates an endothermic reforming reaction,
• and wherein said oxygen supply unit comprises:
• an oxygen supply control unit which specifies a ratio of the supply of oxygen to the crude fuel gas, based on a relationship between a quantity of heat generated by the oxidation reaction and a quantity of heat required for the reforming reaction, and feeds oxygen of a specific amount corresponding to the specified ratio to the crude fuel gas.

A fuel-reforming apparatus for reforming a hydrocarbon supplied as a crude fuel to generate a hydrogen-containing gaseous fuel through a reforming reaction of the crude fuel,

• wherein the hydrocarbon supplied as the crude fuel in methanol,
• said fuel-reforming apparatus comprising:
• a reformer unit in which the reforming reaction proceeds;
• a crude fuel supply unit which feeds a supply of a crude fuel gas containing the methanol to said reformer unit;
• and
• an oxygen supply unit which feeds a supply of oxygen to the crude fuel gas,
• wherein said reformer unit comprises:
• a reforming catalyst having a first activity and a second activity, said first activity utilizing the supply of oxygen fed by said oxygen supply unit and accelerating an exothermic oxidation reaction of the methanol that accompanies evolution of gaseous hydrogen, said second activity utilizing heat produced by the oxidation reaction and accelerating an endothermic reforming reaction.

A fuel-reforming apparatus for reforming a hydrocarbon supplied as a crude fuel to generate a hydrogen-containing gaseous fuel through a reforming reaction of the crude fuel,

• said fuel-reforming apparatus comprising:
• a reformer unit in which the reforming reaction proceeds;
• a crude fuel supply unit which feeds a supply of a crude fuel gas containing the crude fuel to said reformer unit;
• and
• an oxygen supply unit which feeds a supply of oxygen to the crude fuel gas, wherein
• said reformer unit comprises:
• a first catalyst which utilizes the supply of oxygen fed by said oxygen supply unit and accelerates an exothermic oxidation reaction of a component included in the crude fuel gas;
• and
• a second catalyst which utilizes heat produced by the oxidation reaction and accelerates an endothermic reforming reaction,
• said fuel-reforming apparatus further comprising:
• a temperature distribution averaging means for lowering a peak of a temperature distribution caused in said reformer unit by the heat, which is produced by the oxidation reaction, and expanding an area having temperature for activating the endothermic reforming reaction in said reformer unit.

A fuel-reforming apparatus for reforming a hydrocarbon supplied as a crude fuel to generate a hydrogen-containing gaseous fuel through a reforming reaction of the crude fuel,

• said fuel-reforming apparatus comprising:
• a reformer unit in which the reforming reaction proceeds;
• a crude fuel supply unit which feeds a supply of a crude fuel gas containing the crude fuel to said reformer unit;
• and
• an oxygen supply unit which feeds a supply of oxygen to the crude fuel gas,
• wherein said reformer unit comprises:
• a reforming catalyst having a first activity and a second activity, said first activity utilizing the supply of oxygen fed by said oxygen supply unit and accelerating an exothermic oxidation reaction of the crude fuel that accompanies evolution of gaseous hydrogen, said second activity utilizing the heat produced by the oxidation reaction and accelerating an endothermic reforming reaction,
• said fuel-reforming apparatus further comprising:
• a temperature distribution averaging means for lowering a peak of a temperature distribution caused in said reformer unit by the heat, which is produced by the oxidation reaction, and expanding an area having temperature for activating the endothermic reforming reaction in said reformer unit.

A fuel-reforming apparatus for reforming a hydrocarbon supplied an a crude fuel to generate a hydrogen-containing gaseous fuel through a reforming reaction of the crude fuel,

• said fuel-reforming apparatus comprising:
• a reformer unit in which the reforming reaction proceeds;
• a crude fuel supply unit which feeds a supply of a crude fuel gas containing the crude fuel to said reformer unit;
• and
• an oxygen supply unit which feeds a supply of oxygen to the crude fuel gas,
• wherein said reformer unit comprises:
• a reforming catalyst having a first activity and a second activity, said first activity utilizing the supply of oxygen fed by said oxygen supply unit and accelerating an exothermic oxidation reaction of the crude fuel that accompanies evolution of gaseous hydrogen, said second activity utilizing the heat produced by the oxidation reaction and accelerating an endothermic reforming reaction,
• said fuel-reforming apparatus further comprising
• a plurality of oxygen supply elements arranged along a flow of said crude fuel gas in said reformer unit.

A fuel-reforming apparatus for reforming a hydrocarbon supplied an a crude fuel to generate a hydrogen-containing gaseous fuel through a reforming reaction of the crude fuel,

• said fuel-reforming apparatus comprising:
• a reformer unit in which the reforming reaction proceeds;
• a crude fuel supply unit which feeds a supply of a crude fuel gas containing the crude fuel to said reformer unit;
• and
• an oxygen supply unit which feeds a supply of oxygen to the crude fuel gas,
• wherein said reformer unit comprises:
• a reforming catalyst having a first activity and a second activity, said first activity utilizing the supply of oxygen fed by said oxygen supply unit and accelerating an exothermic oxidation reaction of the crude fuel that accompanies evolution of gaseous hydrogen, said second activity utilizing the heat produced by the oxidation reaction and accelerating an endothermic reforming reaction,
• said fuel-reforming apparatus further comprising
• at least one pipe having heat dispersion characteristics.

A fuel-reforming apparatus for reforming a hydrocarbon supplied an a crude fuel to generate a hydrogen-containing gaseous fuel through a reforming reaction of the crude fuel,

• said fuel-reforming apparatus comprising:
• a reformer unit in which the reforming reaction proceeds;
• a crude fuel supply unit which feeds a supply of a crude fuel gas containing the crude fuel to said reformer unit;
• and
• an oxygen supply unit which feeds a supply of oxygen to the crude fuel gas,
• wherein said reformer unit comprises:
• a reforming catalyst having a first activity and a second activity, said first activity utilizing the supply of oxygen fed by said oxygen supply unit and accelerating an exothermic oxidation reaction of the crude fuel that accompanies evolution of gaseous hydrogen, said second activity utilizing the heat produced by the oxidation reaction and accelerating an endothermic reforming reaction,
• wherein said reformer unit has a first portion close to inlets of said crude fuel gas and oxygen and a second portion close to an outlet of said gaseous fuel generated by said endothermic reforming reaction, a total surface area of said catalyst existing in said first portion being smaller than a total surface area of said catalyst existing in said second portion.

A fuel-reforming apparatus for reforming a hydrocarbon supplied an a crude fuel to generate a hydrogen-containing gaseous fuel through a reforming reaction of the crude fuel,

• said fuel-reforming apparatus comprising:
• a reformer unit in which the reforming reaction proceeds;
• a crude fuel supply unit which feeds a supply of a crude fuel gas containing the crude fuel to said reformer unit;
• and
• an oxygen supply unit which feeds a supply of oxygen to the crude fuel gas,
• wherein said reformer unit comprises:
• a reforming catalyst having a first activity and a second activity, said first activity utilizing the supply of oxygen fed by said oxygen supply unit and accelerating an exothermic oxidation reaction of the crude fuel that accompanies evolution of gaseous hydrogen, said second activity utilizing the heat produced by the oxidation reaction and accelerating an endothermic reforming reaction,
• wherein said reformer unit has a first portion close to inlets of said crude fuel gas and oxygen and a second portion close to an outlet of said gaseous fuel generated by said endothermic reforming reaction, said first portion having a greater flow sectional area than that of said second portion.