A cylindrical steam reforming unit contains a plurality of cylindrical
bodies consisting of a first cylindrical body, a second cylindrical body
and a third cylindrical body of successively increasing diameters
disposed in concentric spaced relationship, a radiation cylinder disposed
within and concentrically with the first cylindrical body, a burner
disposed in the radial central portion of the radiation cylinder, and a
reforming catalyst layer with a reforming catalyst filled in a gap
between the first and second cylindrical bodies, wherein a CO shift
catalyst layer and a CO removal catalyst layer are disposed in a gap
between the second and third cylindrical bodies, the CO shift catalyst
layer being formed in a gap with the direction of flow reversing at one
axial end of the reforming catalyst layer and through a heat recovery
layer of predetermined length. According to this reforming unit, without
internally disposing a heat insulation layer, a cooling mechanism or the
like, the reforming catalyst layer, CO shift catalyst layer, and CO
removal catalyst layer can be integrated, achieving various useful
effects, including size and weight reductions and the shortening of
startup time.