Importance

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Abstract

A method for operating a combustor having a catalyst bed. The method includes the steps of directing a flow of air through a catalyst bed, providing heat to the catalyst bed, sensing the temperature in an upstream portion of the catalyst bed to provide an upstream temperature, directing a flow of a fuel through the catalyst bed when the upstream temperature reaches a light-off temperature to produce a combustion reaction, increasing the flow of the fuel until the flow of air and the flow of fuel have a selected air to fuel ratio, and controlling the combustion reaction within the catalyst bed by adjusting the flow of air and the flow of fuel while maintaining the selected air to fuel ratio. The method can include sensing temperatures within the catalyst bed and controlling the combustion reaction in response to the sensed temperatures. The heat provided to the catalyst bed can also be adjusted in response to the sensed temperatures. The methods can further include exchanging heat between heated combustion products and one or more reforming reactants.

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First Claim