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Abstract

Hydrogen-producing fuel processing assemblies, including steam reforming fuel processing assemblies, startup assemblies for use therein, and methods of operating the same. In some embodiments, the startup assemblies include a startup reforming region that is upstream from a primary, or second, hydrogen-producing reforming region. In some embodiments, the startup reforming region and primary reforming regions are both steam reforming regions. In some embodiments, the startup assembly further includes at least one of a vaporization region and a startup heating assembly. In some embodiments, the startup heating assembly is an electrically powered heating assembly, and the fuel processing assembly further includes a (primary) heating assembly that combusts a byproduct stream from the fuel processing assembly to produce a combustion exhaust stream. In some embodiments, the startup reforming region is adapted to produce a gaseous output stream that will remain a gas-phase stream even if cooled below a minimum hydrogen-producing temperature.

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First Claim