HYDROCARBON FUEL GAS REFORMER ASSEMBLY FOR A FUEL CELL POWER PLANT

摘要

A fuel reformer which produces a hydrogen-enriched process fuel from a raw fuel and includes a compact array of catalyst tubes (30) in a heat-insulated housing. The catalyst tube array includes a multitude of catalyst tubes (30) arranged in an array. The interior of the catalyst tubes includes a hollow dead-ended central tube (76) which serves as a fines trap for fines entrained in the fuel stream. The catalyst tubes are provided with an upper frusto-conical portion (64) which extends the catalyst bed (72) providing a catalyst reserve. The assembly includes a side-fired startup burner allowing for a diffusion burner orifice array at the top of the reformer. The catalyst tubes (30) are supported by side walls of the assembly which stabilizes the tubes in the assembly. Internal transverse manifold plates are tied together by portions of the tube assemblies so as to support the weight of the catalyst tube array.