A method can be employed to regulate and stably operate a steam reforming system that is operated by steam reforming, that has a capacity utilization level that can be regulated, and that comprises a steam reformer, a hydrogenating and desulfurizing unit that is positioned upstream of the steam reformer and is configured for feedstock desulfurization, and a firing unit of the steam reformer. According to the method, a mandated capacity utilization level for the steam reforming system is established with automated regulation of the following continuously monitored parameter ratios: a hydrogen-to-feedstock ratio in the hydrogenating and desulfurizing unit, a steam-to-carbon ratio in the steam reformer, and a fuel-to-air ratio in the firing unit of the steam reformer.

A reforming device is provided with: a reformer in which an ammonia gas is burnt by air to generate heat to reform the ammonia gas utilizing the generated heat; a supply pipe through which a gas comprising the ammonia gas and air to be fed to the reformer flows; a gas inlet which is arranged in the supply pipe and through which the ammonia gas and air are introduced into the inside of the supply pipe in such a manner that a tubular flow can be generated; an igniter which can ignite the ammonia gas introduced into the inside of the supply pipe through the gas inlet; and an ammonia gas inlet which is arranged in the supply pipe on a side closer to the reformer than the gas inlet and through which the ammonia gas is introduced into the inside of the supply pipe.

A hydrogen reforming system is provided and includes a steam reforming system, a dry reforming system, and a water supply device. The steam reforming system is configured to (i) receive a raw material gas and react the raw material gas with water to generate a first mixed gas containing hydrogen and carbon monoxide, (ii) react the first mixed gas with the water to generate hydrogen and carbon dioxide, and (iii) discharge hydrogen and carbon dioxide. The dry reforming system is configured to (i) receive and react the raw material gas and the carbon dioxide discharged from the steam reforming system to generate a second mixed gas containing hydrogen, (ii) react the second mixed gas with the water to generate hydrogen and carbon dioxide, and (iii) discharge hydrogen and carbon dioxide. The water supply device is configured to supply the water to the steam reforming system and the dry reforming system.

A hydrogen generator includes: a reformer configured to generate a hydrogen-containing gas by a reforming reaction of a material gas; a combustor configured to heat the reformer by diffusion combustion of the material gas and combustion air; a supplementary air flow rate adjuster configured to adjust the flow rate of supplementary air added to the material gas; and a controller configured to control the supplementary air flow rate adjuster such that the flow rate of a mixture gas of the material gas and the supplementary air becomes a predetermined value.

The invention relates to a plant for production of hydrogen, and to a method for operating this plant, comprising a steam reforming reactor having a furnace, in which reactor water and at least one carbonaceous energy carrier are reacted to form a hydrogen-containing crude synthesis gas, and at least one cleaning device for purifying the crude synthesis gas, to which the crude synthesis gas is fed from the steam reforming via at least one feed line. According to the invention, upstream of one of the at least one cleaning devices at least one return line branches off from the feed line, through which the crude synthesis gas is at least in part recirculated into the furnace of the steam reforming reactor.

A SOFC system having a fuel reformer for reforming a gaseous hydrocarbon stream and steam into a hydrogen rich gas, a solid oxide fuel cell stack including an anode and a cathode for electrochemically reacting the hydrogen rich gas and a cathode air stream to produce electricity, an anode exhaust stream and a cathode depleted air stream. The anode exhaust stream and the cathode depleted air stream are kept separate, a burner for combusting a mixture of the anode exhaust stream and a fresh air stream to complete combustion and produce heat for the reformer control unit and a blower are also provided. The control unit controlling the blower for controlling the mass flow rate of the fresh air stream to provide heat to the reformer to reform the gaseous hydrocarbon stream and to produce a burner exhaust stream.

A hydrogen reforming system includes: a steam reforming system (i) receiving a raw material gas and reacting the raw material gas with water to generate a first mixed gas containing hydrogen, (ii) reacting the first mixed gas with the water to separate the first mixed gas into hydrogen and carbon dioxide, and (iii) discharging hydrogen and carbon dioxide; a dry reforming system (i) receiving and reacting the raw material gas and the carbon dioxide discharged from the steam reforming system to generate a second mixed gas containing hydrogen, (ii) reacting the second mixed gas with the water to separate the second mixed gas into hydrogen and carbon dioxide, and (iii) discharge hydrogen and carbon dioxide; and a water supply device supplying the water to the steam reforming system and the dry reforming system.

A process for on-site hydrogen reforming is disclosed. The process includes providing a combined reformer heat exchanger component in which heated air, steam, and hydrocarbon fuel react to form process gas containing hydrogen, and the process gas is cooled via the heat exchanger. The combined components enable reductions in size, materials, costs, and heat loss. Additionally, as the heat exchanger side of the component operates at a cooler temperature, an uninsulated flange for access to the catalyst chamber can be used. A combined combustion heat exchanger component is also provided with similar advantages. Process gas is processed, and hydrogen gas is produced via a purification process.

A solid oxide fuel cell system includes: an igniting portion configured to ignite a raw material when starting up the solid oxide fuel cell system; a raw material supply portion configured to supply the raw material; a reforming air supply portion configured to supply reforming air; and an electric power generation air supply portion configured to supply electric power generation air. When starting up the solid oxide fuel cell system, the raw material supply portion supplies the raw material, and the electric power generation air supply portion supplies the electric power generation air. The igniting portion ignites the raw material. After the ignition, the reforming air supply portion supplies the reforming air. With this, the safety can be increased in consideration of characteristics in respective phases from the start-up of the solid oxide fuel cell system until the electric power generation.

The invention relates to a process for providing a fuel gas (4) which is generated at regeneration pressure as residual gas (3) during the regeneration of a pressure swing adsorption plant (D) used for fractionation of synthesis gas (1) and after an intermediate storage in a buffering vessel (P) is passed through a control valve (Z1) in order to be passed to a burner (B) with a controlled mass flow. The characterizing feature here is that by specification of a manipulated variable (8) determined by the load on the pressure swing adsorption plant (D) the control valve (Z1) is positioned at an operating point wherein the pressure in the buffering vessel (P) is in a defined range.