FUEL STEAM REFORMER SYSTEM AND REFORMER STARTUP PROCESS

摘要

A hydrogen generation system is disclosed that has a vaporization section receiving and vaporizing fuel along with water and passing the vapor to a reformer catalyst section heated by a combustor section which generates reformate gas and is fueled by off-gas from a H2 purification unit along with a combustion air source. The off-gas outlet feeds the combustor section in the reformer assembly to heat the catalyst section and the vaporization section. An H2 storage unit connected to the H2 purification unit pure H2 outlet receives the pure H2. The storage unit has an outlet selectively connectable to the reformer assembly process inlet during startup, such that during start-up stored H2 flows only through the reformer catalyst section before being passed to the combustor section, without the need for a spark igniter.