Reforming system, fuel cell system, and its operation method
AssigneeNippon Oil Co., Ltd.
InventorTomotaka Ishida
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
When terminating power generation by a fuel cell 3 in a fuel cell system 1, an amount of a raw fuel material introduced to a reforming catalyst 2a of a reformer 2 is reduced. Here, before the temperature of the reforming catalyst 2a is lowered to the un-reformed gas generation temperature, an amount of water supplied to the reforming catalyst 2a is controlled to increase the temperature of the reforming catalyst 2a. Thus, upon termination of power generation in the fuel cell 3, no un-reformed gas is generated and the reformed gas is supplied to the fuel cell 3.
Claims4
A reforming system including a reformer for generating a reformed gas to be used as a fuel for a solid oxide fuel cell by reforming a raw fuel material with a reforming catalyst, the reforming system comprising:
- means for introducing the raw fuel material to the reforming catalyst;
- means for introducing water to the reforming catalyst;
- means for detecting a temperature of the reforming catalyst;
- and
- a controlling means for raising the temperature of the reforming catalyst by causing the means for introducing water to control an amount of water supplied to the reforming catalyst before the temperature detected by the means for detecting the temperature is dropped to the temperature at which an un-reformed gas is generated, by causing the means for introducing the raw fuel material to reduce an introduction amount of the raw fuel material when terminating power generation by the fuel cell.
A fuel cell system including a reformer for generating a reformed gas by reforming a raw fuel material through the use of a reforming catalyst, and a solid oxide fuel cell using the reformed gas as a fuel, the fuel cell system comprising:
- means for introducing the raw fuel material to the reforming catalyst;
- means for introducing water to the reforming catalyst;
- means for detecting a temperature of the reforming catalyst;
- and
- a controlling means for raising the temperature of the reforming catalyst by causing the means for introducing water to control an amount of water supplied to the reforming catalyst before the temperature detected by the means for detecting the temperature is dropped to the temperature at which an un-reformed gas is generated, by causing the means for introducing the raw fuel material to reduce an introduction amount of the raw fuel material when terminating power generation by the fuel cell.
An operation method of the fuel cell system including a reformer for generating a reformed gas by reforming a raw fuel material through the use of the reforming catalyst, and a solid oxide fuel cell using the reformed gas as a fuel, wherein the method comprises a controlling step for raising a temperature of the reforming catalyst by causing the means for introducing water to control an amount of water supplied to the reforming catalyst before the temperature is dropped to the temperature at which an un-reformed gas is generated, by reducing an introduction amount of the raw fuel material to the reforming catalyst when terminating power generation by the fuel cell.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.