Appeal 2007-3670
Application 10/404,701
We AFFIRM-IN-PART.
INTRODUCTION
Appellant claims an apparatus for mixing gaseous fuel and an oxidant
for supply to an autothermal reformer reactor which comprises, in relevant
part, “the first inlet comprising a plurality of tubes each having a discharge
end through which the fuel or oxidant flows and extending into the mixing
vessel and toward said exit such that the discharge ends of the tubes are
downstream of the discharge end of said second inlet” (claim 1). Appellant
discloses that the claimed invention improves the mixing of the fuel and
oxidant to eliminate premature burning or flashing of the mixture before it
enters a POX reactor (Specification 3).
Claims 1, 3, and 5 are illustrative:
1. Apparatus for mixing gaseous fuel and an oxidant for supply to an
autothermal reformer comprising:
a mixing vessel for mixing said fuel and gaseous oxidant;
first and second inlets to said vessel for moving said fuel and oxidant
therethrough,
said first and second inlets having discharge ends spaced apart from
each other in the direction of flow through the vessel; and
an exit from said vessel spaced from said inlets and adjacent a partial
oxidation reactor that burns a mixture of fuel and oxidant exiting the mixing
vessel; the first inlet comprising a plurality of tubes each having a discharge
end through which the fuel or oxidant flows and extending into the mixing
vessel and toward said exit such that the discharge ends of the tubes are
downstream of the discharge end of said second inlet for mixing said fuel
and oxidant close to said partial oxidation reactor as to preclude premature
combustion of the fuel-oxidant mixture in said vessel.
2
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