Fuel cell device

A fuel cell device for generating power by using fuel being reformed by a reformer, said fuel cell device comprising:

• a fuel supply device for supplying fuel to the reformer;
• a reforming air supply device for supplying reforming air to the reformer;
• a water supply device for producing pure water and supplying the pure water to the reformer;
• a fuel supply flow rate detection sensor for detecting the flow rate of fuel supplied by the fuel supply device;
• an reforming air supply flow rate detection sensor for detecting the flow rate of reforming air supplied by the reforming air supply device;
• a water supply flow rate detection sensor for detecting the flow rate of water supplied by the water supply device;
• and
• a control device for controlling, at the time of startup of the fuel cell device, the flow rate of fuel supplied by the fuel supply device, the flow rate of reforming air supplied by the reforming air supply device, and the flow rate of water supplied by the water supply device to supply fuel and reforming air into the reformer to conduct a partial oxidation reforming reaction (POX), then to supply fuel, reforming air, and water into the reformer to conduct an auto-thermal reforming reaction (ATR), then to supply fuel and water into the reformer to conduct a steam reforming reaction (SR);
• wherein the water supply device is furnished with a pump for intermittently supplying water to the reformer;
• the control device controls the fuel supply device, the reforming air supply device, and the water supply device respectively to supply target supply flow rates of fuel, reforming air, and water based on the respective outputs of the fuel supply flow rate detection sensor, the reforming air supply flow rate detection sensor, and the water supply flow rate detection sensor;
• and
• the control device, in the ATR region, suppresses changes in the flow rate of fuel supplied by the fuel supply device during at least a predetermined interval following the supply of water by the pump.