Steam reforming fuel processor, burner assembly, and methods of operating the same

摘要

A burner assembly (400') receiving at least one liquid and/or gaseous fuel stream (408) mixing said stream with air (410) and combusting the mixed stream to provide heat for a fuel processor. The burner assembly fuel stream (408) may originate as at least one combustible stream produced by fuel processing and/or fuel cell system and have the same composition as a stream that is delivered for non-combustion purposes to another portion of the fuel processing and/or fuel cell system. Additionally the burner assembly (400') may receive and vaporize a fuel stream (82) that includes the same carbon-containing feedstock and/or has the same overall composition as feed stream from which the fuel processor, e.g. steam reformer, produces hydrogen gas.