Reformer and fuel cell system using the same

A fuel cell system comprising a reformer having reformer means for reforming hydrocarbon to generate a hydrogen rich gas, and a fuel cell for consuming, as a gaseous fuel, gaseous hydrogen included in the hydrogen rich gas generated by said reformer means of said reformer;

• gas feeding means for feeding a carbon dioxide rich gas discharged from said fuel cell;
• absorption means packed with a carbon dioxide absorbent for absorbing and retaining carbon dioxide in said carbon dioxide rich gas at a first temperature and releasing the absorbed and retained carbon dioxide at a second temperature which is higher than said first temperature;
• heating means for heating said absorption means at least to said second temperature at least during a non-operation state of said fuel cell, to release the carbon dioxide from said carbon dioxide absorbent packed;
• and
• replacement means for supplying the carbon dioxide released from said absorption means to at least one of said reformer means to replace said hydrocarbon with said carbon dioxide and said fuel cell to replace said hydrogen rich gas with said carbon dioxide.

A fuel cell system comprising a reformer having reformer means for reforming hydrocarbon to generate a hydrogen rich gas, a fuel cell for consuming, as a gaseous fuel, gaseous hydrogen included in the hydrogen rich gas generated by said reformer means of said reformer;

• gas feeding means for feeding a carbon dioxide rich gas discharged from said fuel cell;
• absorption means packed with a carbon dioxide absorbent for absorbing and retaining carbon dioxide in said carbon dioxide rich gas at a first pressure and releasing the absorbed and retained carbon dioxide at a second pressure which is lower than said first pressure;
• pressure reduction means for reducing pressure in said absorption means to at most said second pressure at least during a non-operation state of said fuel cell, to release the carbon dioxide from said carbon dioxide absorbent packed in said absorption means;
• and
• replacement means for supplying the carbon dioxide released from said absorption means to at least one of said reformer means to replace said hydrocarbon with said carbon dioxide and said fuel cell to replace said hydrogen rich gas with said carbon dioxide.