The present invention is directed to a fuel reformer device that produces a
hydrogen rich gas from a
hydrocarbon and steam. The
steam reforming reaction that produces the
hydrogen rich gas from the
hydrocarbon and steam is endothermic. A known technique supplies heat required for the
steam reforming reaction by an exothermic oxidation reaction proceeding in parallel with the
steam reforming reaction. This known technique may, however, cause an excessive temperature rise in an area of the vigorous oxidation reaction in the fuel reformer device.A reformer unit 34 including a Cu—Zn catalyst receives a supply of a crude
fuel gas containing the air flown through a second
fuel supply conduit 64. The crude
fuel gas is subjected to the steam reforming reaction and the oxidation reaction proceeding inside the reformer unit 34. A resulting
hydrogen rich gaseous fuel is discharged to a third
fuel supply conduit 65. The reformer unit 34 includes an upper
stream reaction unit 80 and a lower
stream reaction unit 81. Both the reaction units 80 and 81 have
honeycomb structures, wherein the total sectional area of the flow path in the upper
stream reaction unit 80 is made smaller than the total sectional area of the flow path in the lower stream reaction unit 81. This arrangement causes the gas flowing through the reformer unit 34 to have the higher flow velocity on the upstream side than on the downstream side. The higher flow velocity on the upstream side extends the area of the vigorous oxidation reaction to the lower stream portion and enables the heat generated on the upstream side to be effectively transmitted to the lower stream portion. This arrangement thus effectively prevents an excessive temperature rise on the upstream side.