The invention relates to a partial oxidation reactor (POX reactor) having a warm-up burner for producing synthesis gas by partial oxidation of fluid carbon-containing fuels in the presence of an oxygen-containing oxidant and to a process for startup of the partial oxidation reactor According to the invention the preheating of the partial oxidation reactor is carried out via a dedicated warm-up burner which is introduced via one of the media channels of the POX burner without any need to deinstall the entire POX burner.

Fuel cell system comprising at least one fuel cell stack and a reformer unit, wherein the reformer unit is adapted to convert hydrocarbon fuel into a hydrogen rich gas. The reformer unit comprises an oxidizing agent inlet, a hydrocarbon fuel inlet, a reaction chamber, where the oxidation agent and the hydrocarbon fuel are reacted to hydrogen rich gas and byproducts, and a reaction chamber outlet for exiting the hydrogen rich gas. The fuel cell system further comprises at least one housing, which is adapted to accommodate at least one hydrogen leaking unit, particularly the at least one fuel cell stack. The housing has an air inlet for flushing the housing from potentially leakage hydrogen by means of inlet air and an air outlet for exiting the potentially hydrogen contaminated air from the housing. The air outlet is directly or indirectly in fluid connection with the oxidizing agent.

In a reactor for partial oxidation of feedstock employing a hot oxygen stream that is generated by a suitable burner, the same burner that generates and provides the hot oxygen stream in full-scale partial oxidation operation can be employed in the starting-up of the partial oxidation reactor by suitable control of the characteristics of the feed to the burner, or of the pressures.

Systems for producing hydrogen gas for local distribution, consumption, and/or storage, and related devices and methods are disclosed herein. A representative system includes a pyrolysis reactor system that can be coupled to a supply of reaction material that includes a hydrocarbon. The pyrolysis reactor system includes one or more combustion components positioned to transfer heat to the reaction material to convert the hydrocarbon into an output that includes hydrogen gas and carbon particulates. The pyrolysis reactor system also includes a carbon separation system positioned to separate the hydrogen gas the carbon particulates in the output. In various embodiments, the system also includes components to locally consume the filtered hydrogen gas, such as a power generator, heating appliance, and/or a combined heat and power device.