Compact steam reformer with automatic load matching capability

A compact steam reformer (1) comprising,

• an outer shell (2),
• a reformer pipe (5) arranged concentrically within the outer shell (2), the reformer pipe (5) closed at the bottom,
• an inner reformer pipe (11) arranged concentrically within the reformer pipe (5), the inner reformer pipe (11) closed at the bottom,
• a reactor (9) housed between the bottom of the reformer pipe (5) and the bottom of the inner reformer pipe (11), the reactor (9) comprising a catalyzer (12),
• a combustion chamber (15) operatively arranged within the bottom of the inner reformer pipe (11),
• a burner (16) housed within the combustion chamber (15), the material flow for the burner (16) maintained within the inner reformer pipe (11) and separate from the material flow for the reactor (9), the material flow for the burner (16) including at least partially supplied residue gas from the anode of a fuel cell (52) and air, the reactor (9) in heat transfer relationship with the burner (16), the reactor (9) for generating reformate from fuel and H20 steam,
• a preheating arrangement (20) housed within the inner reformer pipe (11) above the combustion chamber (15) and in fluid communication with the burner (16), the preheating arrangement (20) for preheating at least one of supplied air and supplied fuel while recouping exhaust gas heat from the combustion chamber (15),
• an outer annular chamber (10) through which reformate flows and which is thermally insulated toward the exterior, the outer annular chamber (10) is arranged within the reformer pipe (5) above the reactor (9) and in fluid communication with the reactor (9), the outer annular chamber (10) surrounding the preheating arrangement (20),
• a pipe evaporator (24) housed within the outer shell (2) arranged in heat transfer relationship with the outer annular chamber (10), the pipe evaporator (24) used for the generation of H20 steam under pressure,
• a follow-up reactor (37, 39, 39a) housed within the outer annular chamber (10), the follow-up reactor (37, 39, 39a) in fluid communication with the reactor (9), the follow-up reactor (37, 39, 39a) in heat transfer relationship with the pipe evaporator (24) through which water and steam flows, the follow-up reactor (37, 39, 39a) for the extensive removal of carbon monoxide portions of the created reformate,
• means for maintaining a uniform temperature for the follow-up reactor (37, 39, 39a), and
• means for performing an automatic matching of the load.