Differential pressure controlling method and apparatus for plate reformer of fuel cell power generation system

A method of controlling a differential pressure of a plate reformer installed in a fuel cell power generation system, a raw material gas being reformed to a fuel gas in a reforming chamber of the plate reformer, the fuel gas being fed to an anode of a fuel cell, an anode exhaust gas from the anode being fed to a combustion chamber of the plate reformer, and a combustion exhaust gas from the combustion chamber being fed to a cathode of the fuel cell together with an air, comprising the steps of:

• placing the plate reformer in a pressure vessel;
• maintaining a pressure of a cathode exhaust gas to a constant value;
• feeding part of the air to be fed to the cathode and the anode exhaust gas into the combustion chamber to make a pressure of the air and that of the anode exhaust gas substantially the same so as to make a pressure of the reforming chamber and that of the combustion chamber substantially the same;
• providing a combustion exhaust gas line for feeding the combustion exhaust gas to the cathode from the combustion chamber;
• and
• forming an opening on the combustion exhaust gas line to allow the combustion exhaust gas to enter the pressure vessel so as to make the pressure of the reforming chamber, that of the combustion chamber and that of the pressure vessel substantially the same.

A method of controlling a differential pressure of a plate reformer installed in a fuel cell power generation system, a raw material gas being reformed to a fuel gas in a reforming chamber of the plate reformer, the fuel gas being fed to an anode of a fuel cell, an anode exhaust gas from the anode being fed to a combustion chamber of the plate reformer, and a combustion exhaust gas from the combustion chamber being fed to a cathode of the fuel cell together with an air, comprising the steps of:

• placing the plate reformer in a pressure vessel;
• maintaining a pressure of the cathode exhaust gas to a constant value;
• feeding part of the cathode exhaust gas, which contains an air, and the anode exhaust gas into the combustion chamber to make a pressure of the cathode exhaust gas and that of the anode exhaust gas substantially the same so as to make a pressure of the reforming chamber and that of the combustion chamber substantially the same;
• providing a combustion exhaust gas line for feeding the combustion exhaust gas to the cathode from the combustion chamber;
• and
• forming an opening on the combustion exhaust gas line to allow the combustion exhaust gas to enter the pressure vessel so as to make the pressure of the reforming chamber, that of the combustion chamber and that of the pressure vessel substantially the same.

An apparatus for controlling a differential pressure of a plate reformer installed in a fuel cell power generation system, a raw material gas being reformed to a fuel gas in a reforming chamber of the plate reformer, the fuel gas being fed to an anode of a fuel cell, an anode exhaust gas from the anode being fed to a combustion chamber of the plate reformer, a combustion exhaust gas from the combustion chamber being fed to a cathode of the fuel cell together with an air, and the air being fed to the cathode by an air line, comprising:

• a pressure vessel for housing the plate reformer;
• pressure control means for maintaining a pressure of a cathode exhaust gas to a constant value;
• pressure equalizing means for making a pressure of the reforming chamber and that of the combustion chamber substantially the same, the pressure equalizing means including
• a line branched from the air line for feeding part of the
• air into the combustion chamber, and
• an anode exhaust gas line connecting an exit of the anode
• with the combustion chamber for feeding the anode exhaust
• gas into the combustion chamber;
• and
• opening means provided on the branched line for allowing the air in the branched line to enter the pressure vessel so as to make the pressure of the reforming chamber, that of the combustion chamber and that of the pressure vessel substantially the same.

An apparatus for controlling a differential pressure of a plate reformer installed in a fuel cell power generation system, a raw material gas being reformed to a fuel gas in a reforming chamber of the plate reformer, the fuel gas being fed to an anode of a fuel cell, an anode exhaust gas from the anode being fed to a combustion chamber of the plate reformer, a combustion exhaust gas from the combustion chamber being fed to a cathode of the fuel cell together with an air, and the air being fed to the cathode by an air line, comprising:

• a pressure vessel for housing the plate reformer;
• pressure control means for maintaining a pressure of a cathode exhaust gas to a constant value;
• pressure equalizing means for making a pressure of the reforming chamber and that of the combustion chamber substantially the same, the pressure equalizing means including
• a line branched from the air line for feeding part of the
• air into the combustion chamber, and
• an anode exhaust gas line connecting the anode with the
• combustion chamber for feeding the anode exhaust gas to the
• combustion chamber;
• a combustion exhaust gas line for connecting the combustion chamber with the cathode;
• and
• opening means provided on the combustion exhaust line for allowing the combustion exhaust gas to enter the pressure vessel so as to make the pressure of the reforming chamber, that of the combustion chamber and that of the pressure vessel substantially the same.

An a apparatus for controlling a differential pressure of a plate reformer installed in a fuel cell power generation system, a raw material gas being reformed to a fuel gas in a reforming chamber of the plate reformer, the fuel gas being fed to an anode of a fuel cell, an anode exhaust gas from the anode being fed to a combustion chamber of the plate reformer, a combustion exhaust gas from the combustion chamber being fed to a cathode of the fuel cell together with an air, and the air being fed to the cathode by an air line, comprising:

• a pressure vessel for housing the plate reformer;
• pressure control means for maintaining a pressure of the cathode exhaust gas to a constant value;
• pressure equalizing means for making a pressure of the reforming chamber and that of the combustion chamber substantially the same, the pressure equalizing means including
• a line branched from a cathode exhaust gas line for feeding
• the cathode exhaust gas, which includes an air, to the
• combustion chamber, and
• an anode exhaust gas line connecting the anode with the
• combustion chamber for feeding the anode exhaust gas to the
• combustion chamber;
• and
• a combustion exhaust gas line extending between the combustion chamber and the cathode;
• and
• opening means provided on the combustion exhaust gas line for allowing the combustion exhaust gas in the combustion exhaust gas line to enter the pressure vessel to make the pressure of the reforming chamber, that of the combustion chamber and that of the pressure vessel substantially the same.