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Abstract

The present invention provides a method for starting up a reactor for producing a hydrogen containing gas and subsequently maintaining the reactor at a working temperature, wherein a fuel cell is fluidly connected to the reactor downstream thereof and to a catalytic afterburner upstream thereof, the method comprising storing a hydrogen containing gas in a vessel; opening the vessel and releasing the hydrogen containing gas from the vessel; reacting the released hydrogen containing gas intermixed with an oxygen containing gas, preferably air, in a catalytic afterburner to create heat and a heated exhaust gas; introducing the heat and/or the heated exhaust gas to the reactor in order to heat the reactor to the working temperature; when the temperature of the reactor is higher than or equal to a predetermined temperature, feeding fuel to the reactor to generate hydrogen containing gas and introducing the generated hydrogen containing gas to the catalytic afterburner to further heat the reactor, wherein during start-up hydrogen containing gas bypasses the fuel cell and subsequently when the reactor has reached the working temperature the hydrogen containing gas flows through the fuel cell prior to being introduced into the catalytic afterburner. It furthermore provides a system for reforming a fuel.

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First Claim