Fuel cell power system

A fuel cell power generating method comprising the steps of:

• supplying an anode gas containing a hydrocarbon or a reformed hydrocarbon gas and a cathode gas composed of air to each fuel cell having an anode and a cathode with an electrolyte disposed between the anode and the cathode;
• supplying a gas with a higher oxygen atom/carbon atom ratio (O/C ratio) from an upstream side in the direction of the anode gas flow;
• supplying a gas with a lower O/C ratio from a downstream side in the direction of the anode gas flow;
• reforming the gas with a lower O/C ratio supplied from the downstream side, by making use of water vapor and carbon dioxide generated by an electrochemical reaction in a region upstream in the direction of the anode gas flow, to utilize as a power generating fuel.

A fuel cell power system comprising:

• fuel cells each having an anode and a cathode with an electrolyte interposed between the anode and the cathode,
• which is designed to generate electric power by supplying an anode gas containing a hydrocarbon or a reformed hydrocarbon gas and a cathode gas composed of air,
• in which there are provided anode gas supply channels designed to supply the anode gas from at least two spots on an upstream side and a downstream side in the direction of said anode gas flow,
• an anode gas with a higher O/C ratio is supplied from the upstream side and an anode gas with a lower O/C ratio is supplied from the downstream side, and
• there is provided a means for preventing a rise of a gas temperature in a gas supply channel through which the anode gas with a lower O/C ratio is supplied.