# US 2010/0248048 A1 · Fuel cell system

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- Number: US 2010/0248048 A1
- Document ID: US20100248048A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 12/751,500
- Filed: 2010-03-31
- Published: 2010-09-30
- Earliest claimed: 2009-03-31
- Assignees: Toto Ltd.
- Inventors: Toshiharu OOE; Kiyotaka NAKANO; Yoshiyuki KAWAMURA; Katsuhisa TSUCHIYA; Tsukasa SHIGEZUMI
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20100248048A1

## CPC

- C01B 3/382: Processes with two or more reaction steps, of which at least one is catalytic, e.g. steam reforming and partial oxidation
- H01M 8/04373: {of auxiliary devices, e.g. reformers, compressors, burners}
- H01M 8/04425: {at auxiliary devices, e.g. reformers, compressors, burners}
- H01M 8/04776: {at auxiliary devices, e.g. reformer, compressor, burner}
- H01M 8/04828: Humidity; Water content
- H01M 8/0618: {Reforming processes, e.g. autothermal, partial oxidation or steam reforming}
- H01M 8/1231: with both reactants being gaseous or vaporised
- C01B 2203/0244: the reforming step being an autothermal reforming step, e.g. secondary reforming processes
- C01B 2203/0261: containing a catalytic partial oxidation step [CPO]
- C01B 2203/066: with fuel cells
- C01B 2203/1064: Platinum group metal catalysts
- C01B 2203/1258: Pre-treatment of the feed
- C01B 2203/148: involving a recycle stream to the feed of the process for making hydrogen or synthesis gas
- C01B 2203/1604: Starting up the process
- C01B 2203/1609: Shutting down the process
- C01B 2203/1619: Measuring the temperature
- H01M 8/04022: {Heating by combustion}
- H01M 8/04268: {Heating of fuel cells during the start-up of the fuel cells}
- H01M 2008/1293: {Fuel cells with solid oxide electrolytes}
- Y02E 60/50: Fuel cells
- C01B: NON-METALLIC ELEMENTS; COMPOUNDS THEREOF; {METALLOIDS OR COMPOUNDS THEREOF NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASS C01C}
- H01M: PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
- Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION

## Abstract

The fuel cell system shifts, at least during start, in switching a pulse pump from a stop state to a pumping state to start pumping of the water, to normal control after performing start-operation-control for setting a water supply ability of the pulse pump higher for a predetermined time than the water supply ability during normal control.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A fuel cell system comprising:
a fuel cell module having a solid-oxide fuel cell and a reformer that performs steam reforming of a fuel gas supplied to the fuel cell;
a water supplying unit having a water storage tank that stores water to be supplied to the reformer, a pump that pumps the water stored in the water storage tank to the reformer, and a flow rate detecting unit that detects a supply amount of the water to the reformer by the pump;
a control unit that controls the water supplying unit and,
at least during start up of the fuel cell system, in switching the pump from a stop state to a pumping state to start pumping or the water, the control unit shifts to normal control after performing start-operation-control for setting a water supply ability of the pump higher than the water supply ability during normal control for a predetermined time.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The fuel cell system according to claim 1, wherein the control unit starts, during start up, the reforming reaction in the reformer from partial oxidation reforming and transitions the reforming reaction to auto thermal reforming and then to steam reforming, and the control unit executes the start-operation-control during the start of the auto thermal reforming.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The fuel cell system according to claim 2, wherein
the auto thermal reforming includes first auto thermal reforming in which an amount of water supplied to the reformer is a first amount and second auto thermal reforming that is a reaction performed following the first auto thermal reforming when the temperature of the reformer rises to be equal to or higher than predetermined temperature and in which an amount of water supplied to the reformer is a second amount larger than the first amount, and
the control unit executes the start-operation-control during the start of the first auto thermal reforming.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The fuel cell system according to claim 3, wherein, during execution of the start-operation-control, the control unit shifts to the normal control after determining, on the basis of a detection result of the flow rate detecting unit, that water is pumped from the pump to the reformer.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The fuel cell system according to claim 4, wherein the control unit suppresses the water supply ability of the pump after determining the pumping of water from the pump to the reformer, reduces an amount of air supplied to the reformer, and shifts to the normal control.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The fuel cell system according to claim 1, wherein the start-operation-control is control for maximizing the water supply ability of the pump.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The fuel cell system according to claim 1, wherein the pump is arranged above the water storage tank and near a side of the fuel cell module including the fuel cell.

### Claim 8

A fuel cell system comprising:
a fuel cell module having a solid-oxide fuel cell and a reformer that performs steam reforming of a fuel gas supplied to the fuel cell;
water supplying means for supplying water to the reformer; and
control means for controlling the water supplying means, wherein
the water supplying means includes:
a water storage tank that stores water to be supplied to the reformer;
a pump that pumps the water stored in the water storage tank to the reformer; and
flow rate detecting means for detecting a supply amount of the water to the reformer by the pump, and
at least during start up of the fuel cell system, in switching the pump from a stop state to a pumping state to start pumping of the water, the control means shifts to normal control after performing start-operation-control for setting a water supply ability of the pump higher than the water supply ability during normal control for a predetermined time.