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Abstract

A fuel gas-steam reformer assembly, preferably an autothermal reformer assembly, for use in a fuel cell power plant, includes a mixing station for intermixing a relatively high molecular weight fuel and an air-steam stream so as to form a homogeneous fuel-air-steam mixture for admission into a catalyst bed. The catalyst bed can include catalyzed alumina pellets, or a monolith such as a foam or honeycomb body which is preferably formed from a high temperature material such as a steel alloy, or from a ceramic material. The air-steam stream is fed into a manifold in the mixing station. The mixing station also comprises a plurality of tubes which open into the catalyst bed, and which pass through the manifold. The tubes extend through the manifold and include tangential openings which interconnect the interior of the tubes with the manifold. The openings have axes which are tangential to the circumference of each of the tubes. There is a first set of openings which are tangential to the tubes in one direction, and a second set of openings which are tangential to the tubes in the opposite direction. The first set of openings create a swirling mixture of the fuel, air and steam inside of the tubes, and the second set of openings creates a counter force which nulls the swirling mixture and results in an intimate admixture of fuel, air and steam in a stream with reduced swirling in the tubes prior to entry of the fuel, air and steam stream into the catalyst bed. The fuel is a fuel which preferably has a higher molecular weight than ethane or methane. The fuel may also include a small amount of steam admixed therewith prior to entry into the mixing tubes.

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