A combustor for oxidizing a combustion fuel and pre-heating one or more
reactants for fuel reforming. The combustor includes an elongated housing
having an inlet for receiving a combustion fuel and an outlet for
exhausting combustion products. The elongated housing further includes a
cylindrical side wall, a bottom wall, and a top wall. Inert particles are
disposed within the housing adjacent the inlet. A combustion catalyst bed
is disposed within the housing above the inert particles that is a
mixture of inert particles and combustion catalyst. The inert particles
and the combustion catalyst preferably have a volumetric ratio of inert
particles to catalyst between about 2:1 and about 4:1. The combustor has
at least one heat exchanger within the combustion catalyst bed for
heating a reformer reactant and generating steam. Preferably, the
combustor includes at least two heat exchangers within the combustion
catalyst bed, the heat exchanging elements have different surface areas.
The combustor can include at least one sensor for measuring temperature
within the combustor, and preferably the reactor includes two or more
sensors for measuring temperature at two or more locations within the
combustion catalyst bed. A power-generating apparatus comprising the
combustor, a fuel processor and fuel cell is also provided. Methods for
pre-heating a reactant and generating steam for use in a fuel reformer
and for manufacturing a combustor for use in fuel reforming are provided.