Hydrogen generating system

A hydrogen generating system for generating hydrogen rich gas by reforming a raw material, said system comprising:

• a reforming section that reforms said raw material;
• a pressure regulator that regulates a pressure in said reforming section;
• and
• a controller that controls said pressure regulator with a first control mode in which the pressure in said reforming section becomes a predetermined target pressure, and controls said pressure regulator with a second control mode different from said first control mode at start-up of said hydrogen generating system.

A vapor generating apparatus for producing a vapor of a liquid raw material, said apparatus comprising:

• a vapor generating section which is supplied with said liquid raw material and which forms a vapor-liquid mixed section of said liquid raw material, said vapor-liquid mixed section including a vapor phase portion and a liquid phase portion;
• a vapor heating section which is connected to the vapor phase portion of said vapor generating section and which heats the liquid raw material of said vapor phase portion;
• and
• a pressure regulator that regulates a pressure in said vapor generating section based on a quantitative requirement of the production of the vapor.

A method of controlling a hydrogen generating system provided with a reforming section for reforming a raw material, said system generating hydrogen rich gas by reforming said raw material, said method comprising the steps of:

• determining whether said hydrogen generating system is in the course of start-up based on predetermined parameters;
• controlling a pressure in said reforming section with a first control mode in which said reforming section becomes a predetermined target pressure when said hydrogen generating system is not in the course of start-up;
• and
• controlling the pressure in said reforming section with a second control mode different from said first control mode when said hydrogen generating system is in the course of start-up.