STAGED LEAN COMBUSTION FOR RAPID START OF FUEL PROCESSOR

摘要

PPROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a fuel processor having two-staged lean combustion system for rapid start of the fuel processor. PSOLUTION: The fuel processor for rapidly achieving operating temperature during start-up is provided with a reformer, a shift reactor and a preferential oxidation reactor to derive hydrogen for use in creating electricity in a plurality of fuel cells. A 1st combustion heater system is coupled to at least one of the reformer, the shift reactor and the preferential oxidation reactor to preheat the component during rapid start-up sequence. That is, the 1st combustion heater system is operable to produce thermal energy as a product of the combustion of air and fuel in the form of a 1st heated exhausted stream. The 1st heated exhaust stream is then used to heat the component directly or by using a heat exchanger type system. The 1st heated exhaust stream is also used by a 2nd combustion device as a source of oxygen or diluent. PCOPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO