FUEL REFORMER

PURPOSE:To contrive an increase of reforming efficiency and compactification of a device, by applying hydrogen occlusing alloy to materials of inner tube in reforming tube of double tube structure, in a fuel reformer of double tube constitution. CONSTITUTION:A reforming tube of double tube structure consisting of plural outer tubes 1 and inner tubes 3 is provided in a body 4, spaces between outer peripheries of the outer tubes 1 and heat-insulating materials 5 inside of the body 4 are filled with heat-conducting particles 12 and annular parts between the tubes 1 and 3 are filled with reforming catalyst 2. In the device, tube-like materials by means of sintering of hydrogen occluding alloy are used as the inner tube 3. Raw gas is introduced from inlet 7 and fed to layers of the reforming catalyst 2, on the other hand, fuel and air are respectively introduced from inlets 9 and 10 and burned in combustion device 6, the high-temperature burned gas is flowed through layers of heat-conducting particles 12 and discharged from exit 11. At the instance, generated H2 is occluded in the inner tube 3 and bleeded to inside of the tube 3, coincidentally generated heat at occluding of H2 into outside of the inner tube 3 is given to the layers of the reforming catalyst. By endothermic change at the bleeding of H2, heat of return gas at high temperature is recovered, thus synergistic effect of heat flow and H2 flow is obtained.