Fuel cell power generating apparatus and method for controlling the apparatus

A fuel cell power generating apparatus which comprises a fuel cell, a fuel reforming portion for generating a reformed gas to be supplied to the fuel cell and a heating portion for heating the fuel cell, the fuel cell generating apparatus, comprising:

• a first detecting means for detecting power supplied to a load;
• an operational control means for operating an electric power command signal for leading out an electric power from said fuel cell based on a first signal detected by said first detecting means;
• and
• a current operating means for operating a current command signal for use in leading out a current from said fuel cell based on said electric power command signal;
• thereby the flow rate of a material which is fed to said fuel reforming portion to produce said reformed fuel being controlled on the basis of a control signal obtained by processing a current command signal operated by said current operating means with said processing means and an electric power being supplied to said heating portion on the basis of said first signal detected by said first detecting means.

A method for controlling a fuel cell power generating apparatus comprising a fuel cell, a fuel reforming portion for generating a reformed fuel to be supplied to the fuel cell and a heating portion for heating the fuel cell, said method comprising the steps of:

• a first detecting step for detecting an electric power supplied to a load;
• controlling an operation of a current command signal for leading out a current from said fuel cell on the basis of a first signal detected by said first detecting means;
• and
• a second detecting step for detecting a current outputted from said fuel cell based on the current command signal;
• thereby a flow rate of a material which is fed to said fuel reforming portion to produce said reformed fuel being controlled on the basis of a control signal obtained by processing a second signal detected by said second detecting step through said processing step and an electric power being supplied to said heating portion on the basis of said first signal detected through said first detecting step.

A method for controlling a fuel cell power generating apparatus comprising a fuel cell, a fuel reforming portion for generating a reformed gas to be supplied to the fuel cell and a heating portion for heating the fuel cell, said method comprising the steps of:

• a first detecting step for detecting an electric power supplied to a load;
• an operational control step for operating an electric power command signal for outputting an electric power from said fuel cell on the basis of a first signal detected by said first detecting step;
• and
• operating a current command signal for leading out a current from said fuel cell based on said electric power command signal;
• thereby the flow rate of a material which is fed to said fuel reforming portion to produce the reformed fuel being controlled on the basis of a control signal obtained by operating said current command signal processed by said current operating means through said processing step and an electric power being supplied to said heating portion on the basis of said first signal detected through the first detecting step.

A method for controlling a fuel cell to which a reformed fuel is supplied, said method comprising the steps of:

• outputting an electric power to a heating portion for heating said fuel cell and simultaneously computing a current outputted from said fuel cell based on a predetermined electric power and an electric power for charging a secondary battery when said value obtained by subtracting an electric power supplied to a load from said predetermined power based on properties of said fuel cell is positive;
• computing a current outputted from said fuel cell on the basis of said electric power supplied to said load and said power for charging said secondary battery which backs up said fuel cell when said subtraction value is not positive;
• and
• supplying, to a fuel reforming device, a material for producing a fuel corresponding to said calculated value, for supplying an electric power outputted from said fuel cell to said secondary battery and for controlling said cell so that an output therefrom becomes not less than said predetermined electric power.

A method for controlling a fuel cell to which a reformed fuel is supplied, said method comprising the steps of:

• outputting an electric power to a heating portion for heating said fuel cell and simultaneously computing a current outputted from said fuel cell based on a predetermined electric power when said value obtained by subtracting an electric power supplied to a load from said predetermined power based on properties of said fuel cell is positive;
• computing a current outputted from said fuel cell on said basis of said electric power supplied to said load when said subtraction value is not positive;
• and
• supplying a material for producing a fuel to a fuel reforming device corresponding to said calculated value and for controlling said fuel cell so that an output therefrom becomes not less than said predetermined electric power.

A method for controlling a fuel cell to which a reformed fuel is supplied, said method comprising the steps of:

• computing a current outputted from said fuel cell from a predetermined electric power based on properties of said fuel cell;
• and
• supplying a material for producing a fuel corresponding to said calculated value and for calculating an electric power outputted to a heating portion for heating said fuel cell based on a predetermined electric power and an electric power for charging a secondary battery which back up said fuel cell;
• and, during steady operation;
• outputting an electric power to said heating portion and simultaneously calculating an output current of said fuel cell on the basis of a predetermined electric power and said power for charging said secondary battery when said subtraction value obtained by subtracting an electric power supplied to a load from the predetermined power is positive;
• while if said subtraction value is not positive, said method comprising a step of calculating an output current of said fuel cell based on said power supplied to said load and said power for charging said secondary battery;
• and
• supplying a material for producing a fuel to a fuel reforming device corresponding to said calculated value, for supplying said output power from said fuel cell to said secondary battery and for controlling said fuel cell so that an output therefrom becomes not less than said predetermined electric power.