Combustion heating device, fuel reforming apparatus including combustion heating device, and fuel cell system

A fuel reforming apparatus for reforming a hydrocarbon-based fuel into a hydrogen-rich fuel gas, comprising:

• (a) a combustion heating device adapted to heat and vaporize at least one of the hydrocarbon-based fuel and water as a fluid to be heated, by using heat generated through combustion of a fuel, comprising:
• a fuel supply device that supplies the fuel to the device;
• a vaporizing device that bums a portion of the fuel supplied by the fuel supply device, and vaporizes a remaining portion of the fuel by using heat generated through combustion of the portion of the fuel;
• a first air supply device that supplies air to be used for combustion of the portion of the fuel by the vaporizing device;
• and
• a second air supply device that supplies air to be used for combustion of the remaining portion of the fuel vaporized by the vaporizing device,
• wherein the first air supply device supplies air upstream of the vaporizing device, and the second air supply device supplies air downstream of the vaporizing device;
• and
• (b) a reforming device that is supplied with the at least one of the hydrocarbon-based fuel and water that has been vaporized by the combustion heating device, and reforms the hydrocarbon-based fuel into the fuel gas through a steam reforming reaction.

A fuel cell system, comprising:

• a fuel reforming apparatus adapted to reform a hydrocarbon-based fuel into a hydrogen-rich fuel gas;
• and
• a fuel cell that is supplied with the hydrogen-rich fuel gas from the fuel reforming apparatus and the air, so as to generate electric power,
• wherein the fuel reforming apparatus comprises:
• (a) a combustion heating device adapted to heat and vaporize at least one of the hydrocarbon-based fuel and water as a fluid to be heated, by using heat generated through combustion of a fuel, comprising:
• a fuel supply device that supplies the fuel to the device;
• a vaporizing device that bums a portion of the fuel supplied by the fuel supply device, and vaporizes a remaining portion of the fuel by using heat generated through combustion of the portion of the fuel;
• a first air supply device that supplies air to be used for combustion of the portion of the fuel by the vaporizing device;
• and
• a second air supply device that supplies air to be used for combustion of the remaining portion of the fuel vaporized by the vaporizing device, wherein the first air supply device supplies air upstream of the vaporizing device, and the second air supply device supplies air downstream of the vaporizing device;
• and
• (b) a reforming device that is supplied with the at least one of the hydrocarbon-based fuel and water that has been vaporized by the combustion heating device, and reforms the hydrocarbon-based fuel into the fuel gas through a steam reforming reaction;
• and
• wherein at least one of the first air supply device and the second air supply device supplies air to the fuel cell.