Abstract: A fuel cell system (100) comprising: a fuel cell (1) for generating electric power using a fuel gas; a fuel gas generator section (2) for generating the fuel gas using a raw material gas; a combustor section (2a) for generating heat energy to be used for generating the fuel gas; an air feeder section (2b) for feeding aft when the heat energy is generated; and a controller section (101); wherein the fuel cell is filled with the raw material gas before the fuel gas is fed, and wherein the controller section (101) performs a control operation such that the feed rate of air supplied from the air feeder section (2b) to the combustor section (2a) increases when the fuel gas generated in the fuel gas generator section (2) is supplied to the fuel cell (1).

Abstract: A fuel cell system (100) comprising: a fuel cell (1) for generating electric power using a fuel gas; a fuel gas generator section (2) for generating the fuel gas using a raw material gas; a combustor section (2a) for generating heat energy to be used for generating the fuel gas; an air feeder section (2b) for feeding air when the heat energy is generated; and a controller section (101); wherein the fuel cell is filled with the raw material gas before the fuel gas is fed, and wherein the controller section (101) performs a control operation such that the feed rate of air supplied from the air feeder section (2b) to the combustor section (2a) increases when the fuel gas generated in the fuel gas generator section (2) is supplied to the fuel cell (1).

Abstract: A method of operating fuel cell system includes generating electricity by a fuel cell using fuel gas and oxidizing gas and allowing cooling water to flow in the fuel cell and thereby cooling the fuel cell. The method includes transferring moisture from exhaust gas to supply gas using a first humidifier, the exhaust gas being discharged from the fuel cell, the supply gas being supplied to the fuel cell, and transferring moisture from the cooling water to the supply gas humidified using a second humidifier. The method includes at least one of detecting humidity of the supply gas humidified, detecting temperature of the cooking water, detecting the flow rate of the supply gas and detecting the amount of electricity generated by the fuel cell. The method also includes controlling the humidity of the supply gas humidified based on the value detected.

Abstract: A fuel cell system comprising: a fuel cell (1); a cooling water tank (7) and a cooling water circulation passage (32); a hot water tank (10) and a hot water circulation passage (31); a heat exchanger (9); drain valves (25) to (27); temperature sensors (17), (18), (20); and a controller (41), wherein the controller selects circulation of at least either cooling water in the cooling water circulation passage or hot water in the hot water circulation passage, or alternatively selects water discharge by opening the drain valves, based on the water temperatures detected by the temperature sensors during suspension of the power generation of the fuel cell.

Abstract: A method of operating fuel cell system includes generating electricity by a fuel cell using fuel gas and oxidizing gas and allowing cooling water to flow in the fuel cell and thereby cooling the fuel cell. The method includes transferring moisture from exhaust gas to supply gas using a first humidifier, the exhaust gas being discharged from the fuel cell, the supply gas being supplied to the fuel cell, and transferring moisture from the cooling water to the supply gas humidified using a second humidifier. The method includes at least one of detecting humidity of the supply gas humidified, detecting temperature of the cooking water, detecting the flow rate of the supply gas and detecting the amount of electricity generated by the fuel cell. The method also includes controlling the humidity of the supply gas humidified based on the value detected.

Abstract: A fuel cell system (100) comprising: a fuel cell (1) for generating electric power using a fuel gas; a fuel gas generator section (2) for generating the fuel gas using a raw material gas; a combustor section (2a) for generating heat energy to be used for generating the fuel gas; an air feeder section (2b) for feeding air when the heat energy is generated; and a controller section (101); wherein the fuel cell is filled with the raw material gas before the fuel gas is fed, and wherein the controller section (101) performs a control operation such that the feed rate of air supplied from the air feeder section (2b) to the combustor section (2a) increases when the fuel gas generated in the fuel gas generator section (2) is supplied to the fuel cell (1).

Abstract: It has heretofore been practiced upon the occurrence of abnormalities on the equipment to make tentative conditioned operation disregarding abnormalities on the assumption that the abnormalities shall be coped with by servicemen. Thus, troubles having insignificant contents of abnormality could not be readily coped with by a simple method. There are provided a fuel cell, a fuel gas supplying unit, an oxidizer gas supplying unit, a state detecting unit of detecting the temperature of the fuel gas supplying unit, an operation controlling unit of detecting abnormalities of predetermined functions performed by the fuel gas supplying unit utilizing the results detected by the state detecting unit and performing operation control in an operation mode corresponding to the contents of abnormalities, and an operation mode switching unit of switching to an operation mode corresponding to the contents of abnormalities.

Abstract: A fuel cell system comprising: a fuel cell (1); a cooling water tank (7) and a cooling water circulation passage (32); a hot water tank (10) and a hot water circulation passage (31); a heat exchanger (9); drain valves (25) to (27); temperature sensors (17), (18), (20); and a controller (41), wherein the controller selects circulation of at least either cooling water in the cooling water circulation passage or hot water in the hot water circulation passage, or alternatively selects water discharge by opening the drain valves, based on the water temperatures detected by the temperature sensors during suspension of the power generation of the fuel cell.

Abstract: A hydrogen generating apparatus or the like is able to detect an excess water state or an excess steam state in the interior of a shift converter or a selective oxidation device.

Abstract: There are provided a fuel cell, a fuel gas supplying unit, an oxidizer gas supplying unit, a state detecting unit of detecting the temperature of the fuel gas supplying unit, an operation controlling unit of detecting abnormalities of predetermined functions performed by the fuel gas supplying unit utilizing the results detected by the state detecting unit and performing operation control in an operation mode corresponding to the contents of abnormalities, and an operation mode switching unit of switching to an operation mode corresponding to the contents of abnormalities.

Abstract: The fuel cell system includes a humidifying unit for humidifying supply air to be supplied to the fuel cell, utilizing cooling water used for cooling the fuel cell. It also includes a pre-humidifying unit for humidifying the supply air beforehand with air discharged from the fuel cell, the pre-humidifying unit being positioned in the upstream of the humidifying unit within a supply air path. The cooling water, which recovered heat generated when the fuel cell generated electricity, releases heat in a cooling water heat radiator. The heat is then utilized for heating water which circulates in a hot water path and the hot water is stored in a hot water reserve tank.

Abstract: A rotary compressor has a cylinder, a crank shaft having an eccentric part disposed in said cylinder, a bearing which rotatably supports said crank shaft, a roller which moves in said cylinder following said eccentric part, and a vane whose all or part of the tip is of R configuration, wherein a groove with which the vane tip is disposed in contact is provided on the outer periphery of said roller, a first oil groove is provided on the end face of said roller, and said roller is provided with an oil hole communicating said first oil groove and said groove of the roller.

Abstract: A rotary compressor has a cylinder, a crank shaft having an eccentric part disposed in said cylinder, a bearing which rotatably supports said crank shaft, a roller which moves in said cylinder following said eccentric part, and a vane whose all or part of the tip is of circular configuration, wherein a groove with which the vane tip is disposed in contact is provided on the outer periphery of said roller, a first oil groove is provided on the end face of said roller, and said roller is provided with an oil hole communicating said first oil groove and said groove of the roller.

Abstract: A free-piston compressor which has a cylinder, a compressor piston disposed movably in the cylinder, thereby first and second chambers being formed in the cylinder, a low pressure pipe coupled to the first chamber through which pipe, low pressure fluid flows, a high pressure pipe coupled to the first chamber through which, high pressure fluid flows, two valves coupled between the low pressure and high pressure pipes, and the second chamber, a control device for controlling the two valves in a manner that a dead point position of the compressor piston is kept at a target point, and driving means for driving the compressor piston.

Abstract: In a sealing mechanism for a reciprocation apparatus for use in a cycle engine having a reciprocation member (108), such as Stirling engine, oil or a fluid is enclosed in a fluid room constituted by a pair of flexible partioning members (112, 113) such as diaphragms or multiple bellows and side walls (111a, 111b) of a cylinder (111) or the like, and the fluid room is divided in two parts (114, 115) by a pressure-resistive sealing member (116) fixed to inside wall of a rigid partion wall (111f) to roughly seal the fluid allowing sliding motions of the reciprocating member therein.

Abstract: In a sealing mechanism for a reciprocation apparatus for use in a reciprocating engine having a reciprocation member (108), such as Stirling engine, oil or a fluid is enclosed in a fluid room constituted by a pair of flexible partioning members (112,113) such as diaphragms or multiple bellows and side walls (111a,111b) of a cylinder (111) or the like, and the fluid room is divided in two parts (114,115) by a pressure-resistive sealing member (116) fixed to inside wall of a rigid partion wall (111f) to roughly seal the fluid allowing sliding motions of the reciprocating member therein.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a Stirling engine which includes a first wall member forming a part of a vessel, a second wall member forming a part of the vessel, a third wall member forming a part of the vessel which is transformable and at the same time the transformation of which can change the positional relationship of the second wall member relative to the first wall member, a working fluid sealed in the vessel, a heater for heating the working fluid in the vessel through the first wall member, a cooler for cooling the working fluid in the vessel through the second wall member, a regenerator and a mechanical device which is driven by the working fluid when the working fluid is moved relative to the second wall member to change the pressure so that a part of the heat generated by the heater and transferred to the working fluid is used for driving the mechanical device.