Catalytic combustor and fuel reformer having the same

A catalytic combustor comprising:

• a housing having a cylindrical first reaction portion and a second reaction portion surrounding the first reaction portion in a double tube shape, the housing having a first opening for supplying a first fuel and an oxidant to the first reaction portion and a second opening for discharging an exhaust in the second reaction portion, the first and second openings being respectively at first sides of the first and second reaction portions, and the first and second reaction portions being connected with each other at second sides of the first and second reaction portions so that the flow of a fluid in the first and second reaction portions forms a counter flow;
• a first catalyst layer in the first reaction portion;
• a distributing portion, the distributing portion having a circumference substantially equal to a circumference of the first reaction portion and the entire distributing portion being between the first catalyst layer and the first opening;
• and
• a second catalyst layer in the second reaction portion, the second catalyst layer comprising a mesh layer and an active material coupled with the mesh layer, an active material amount of the active material in the second catalyst layer being less than that in the first catalyst layer and the active material of the second catalyst layer being coated at a density between about 0.01 and 0.4 g per 1 cc on the mesh layer.

A fuel reformer comprising:

• a catalytic combustor;
• and
• a reforming reaction portion for generating a reformate by receiving heat energy generated from the catalytic combustor and for reforming a fuel,
• wherein the catalytic combustor comprises:
• a housing having a cylindrical first reaction portion and a second reaction portion surrounding the first reaction portion in a double tube shape, the housing having a first opening for supplying a first fuel and an oxidant to the first reaction portion and a second opening for discharging an exhaust in the second reaction portion, the first and second openings being respectively at first sides of the first and second reaction portions, and the first and second reaction portions being connected with each other at second sides of the first and second reaction portions so that the flow of a fluid in the first and second reaction portions forms a counter flow;
• a first catalyst layer in the first reaction portion;
• a distributing portion, the distributing portion having a circumference substantially equal to a circumference of the first reaction portion and the entire distributing portion being between the first catalyst layer and the first opening;
• a mesh layer in the second reaction portion and configured to be heated by a heat of the first reaction portion, the mesh layer comprising a first-stage mesh layer and a second-stage mesh layer;
• and
• a second catalyst layer in the second reaction portion, the second catalyst layer comprising the mesh layer and an active material coupled with the mesh layer, an active material amount of the active material in the second catalyst layer being less than that in the first catalyst layer and the active material of the second catalyst layer being coated at a density between about 0.01 and 0.4 g per 1 cc on the mesh layer, the first-stage mesh layer and the second-stage mesh layer being separated by a space.