Abstract: A power generation system has a power generation unit (1), a casing (2) accommodating the power generation unit (1), a ventilator (3) configured to ventilate the interior of the casing (2), and a first exhaust gas passage (4) configured to pass therethrough an exhaust gas from the ventilator (3) which is discharged out of the casing (2). The first exhaust gas passage (4) merges with a second exhaust gas passage (6) connected to a duct (11) open to outside air before the second exhaust gas passage (6) is connected to the duct (11), the second exhaust gas passage (6) being configured to pass a combustion exhaust gas from a combustion device (5) configured to generate heat to be supplied to a heat load.

Abstract: A power generation system of the present invention comprises: a power generation unit (1); a casing (2) that accommodates the power generation unit (1); a ventilator (3) that ventilates the interior of the casing (2); a first gas flow passage (5), arranged inside the casing (2), for a flow therethrough of gas which flows as the ventilator (3) operates; and a second gas flow passage (6), arranged inside the casing (2), for a flow therethrough of combustion exhaust gas from the power generation unit (1), wherein within the casing (2), the second gas flow passage (6) merges into the first gas flow passage (5).

Abstract: A method for operating a hydrogen generator includes producing a hydrogen-containing gas from a source gas fed from a hydrodesulfurizer and reforming water with a reformer; feeding part of the hydrogen-containing gas to the hydrodesulfurizer as a recycle gas, and removing a sulfur compound contained in the source gas with the hydrodesulfurizer; condensing water vapor contained in the recycle gas in a recycle-gas channel through which the recycle gas flows, and separating the resulting condensed water from the recycle-gas channel; and regulating the amount of reforming water fed to the reformer on the basis of the temperature of the reformer.

Abstract: A power generation system of the present invention comprises a fuel cell system (101), a gas supply device, a controller (102), a combustion device (103), an exhaust passage (70), a gas passage used to supply a gas supplied from the gas supply device to the exhaust passage (70), and a back-flow preventing device (20) placed in the gas passage or the exhaust passage (70), and the controller (102) executes an operation for relieving a state in which a valve element remains incapable of moving away from a valve seat in the back-flow preventing device (20) in such a manner that the gas supply device is operated so that a differential pressure between an upstream side and a downstream side of the back-flow preventing device (20) becomes a value equal to or greater than the predetermined time which can relieve the state in which valve element remains incapable of moving away from the valve seat, during a shut-down state or at start-up of the fuel cell system (101).

Abstract: A power generation system includes: an air intake passage; a fuel cell system that includes a fuel cell; a case configured to house the fuel cell, a ventilator (air supply unit), and an air intake temperature detector configured to detect a temperature of the intake air supplied to the case; a combustion device that includes a combustor; an exhaust gas passage configured to discharge a flue gas generated in the combustion device to the outside; and a controller. The air intake passage and the exhaust gas passage are configured to allow heat exchange to occur between media flowing through the passages. The controller causes the combustion device to operate when the fuel cell system is activated and the temperature detected by the air intake temperature detector is equal to or lower than a first predetermined temperature.

Abstract: A hydrogen generator has: a reformer that produces hydrogen-containing gas from raw material gas through reforming; a temperature detector that detects the temperature of the reformer; a hydro-desulfurizer that removes sulfur from the raw material gas through hydrodesulfurization; a recycle flow passage through which recycle gas as a portion of the hydrogen-containing gas is supplied to the hydro-desulfurizer; a raw material gas flow detector that detects the flow rate of the raw material gas, the raw material gas flow detector located somewhere in a flow passage for the raw material gas upstream of a junction of the recycle gas and the raw material gas; and a controller that controls the flow rate of the recycle gas in accordance with the temperature of the reformer, the flow rate of the raw material gas, and the flow rate of the recycle gas.

Abstract: A fuel cell system is provided that can operate continuously and appropriately when a water self-sustaining operation of the fuel cell system is difficult due to environmental conditions and operating conditions, etc. When a first water level corresponding to a water shortage in a condensed water tank is detected using a water level detector, a controller implements a water-saving mode where the output of a fuel cell is decreased regardless of the external power load and the amount of reforming water used is reduced. When it is determined using a cooling determination device during the water-saving mode that the exhaust gas cooling capability in a condenser brought about by a cooling medium is at least a prescribed value, the controller implements a water recovery mode where the output of the fuel cell is increased regardless of the external power load and the amount of condensed water recovered is increased.

Abstract: A hydrogen generation apparatus according to the present invention includes: a reformer configured to generate a hydrogen-containing gas through a reforming reaction; a combustor configured to heat the reformer; an air supply device configured to supply air to the combustor; a fuel supply device configured to supply a fuel to the combustor; a CO detector configured to detect a carbon monoxide concentration in a flue gas discharged from the combustor; and a controller configured to control at least one of the air supply device and the fuel supply device to increase an air ratio in the combustor such that the CO concentration in the flue gas increases, and then test the CO detector for abnormality.

Abstract: A power generation system includes: a combustor operative to combust a fuel; a power generator operative to utilize energy obtained from the combustor when generating electric power; a fuel supplier operative to supply the fuel to the combustor; an air supplier operative to supply combustion air to the combustor; a discharged gas passage through which a discharged gas from the combustor flows; a CO detector operative to detect CO in the discharged gas; a temperature detector operative to detect a temperature of the discharged gas; and control circuitry operative to, when the discharged gas is flowing through the discharged gas passage, perform at least one of an operation of detecting an abnormality of the discharged gas passage based on a difference between detected temperatures of the temperature detector relative to a difference between heated amounts of the discharged gas heated by a heater and an operation of detecting the abnormality of the discharged gas passage based on the difference between the dete

Abstract: A fuel cell system according to the present invention comprises a hydrogen generator including a burner which is detachably accommodated in the hydrogen generator in a manner to allow the burner to be detached from and attached to the hydrogen generator through the top of the hydrogen generator, a stack configured to generate power by causing hydrogen generated by the hydrogen generator and an oxidizing gas to react with each other, and a main body package which includes at least a top plate and within which the hydrogen generator and the stack are disposed. Detachable piping, which is detachably configured, is provided above the hydrogen generator. Space that is formed above the burner when the detachable piping is removed from the main body package has a size larger than or equal to the size of the burner.

Abstract: A hydrogen generating apparatus includes a reformer generating hydrogen-containing gas through a reforming reaction, a raw material supplier supplying a raw material to the reformer, a reaction gas supplier supplying reaction gas other than the raw material to the reformer, a hydro-desulfurizer removing a sulfur compound in the raw material supplied to the reformer, a recycle flow passage through which part of the hydrogen-containing gas generated by the reformer is supplied to the hydro-desulfurizer, a closing device that closes the recycle flow passage, and a controller that, when stopping operation, closes the closing device and controls the raw material supplier and the reaction gas supplier such that the raw material and the reaction gas are supplied to the reformer, before a temperature of the reformer drops down to a temperature at which deposition of carbon from the raw material on a reformation catalyst disposed inside the reformer is suppressed.

Abstract: A power generation system includes a fuel cell unit, a combustion apparatus, and a controller. The fuel cell unit includes a fuel cell, a casing, a ventilation fan (an air supply device), and a temperature detector configured to detect the temperature of outside air supplied to the casing. An air supply passage through which the outside air is supplied to the casing, and a discharge passage through which a flue gas from the combustion apparatus is discharged, are configured in such a manner as to allow a medium flowing through the air supply passage and a medium flowing through the discharge passage to exchange heat with each other. When the fuel cell unit is to be started up, if the temperature detected by the temperature detector is lower than or equal to a predetermined first temperature and the combustion apparatus is not in operation, the controller refrains from causing the fuel cell unit to operate.

Abstract: A fuel cell system 100 includes: a reformer 1 configured to generate a hydrogen-containing gas by using a raw material; a fuel cell 6 configured to generate electric power by using the hydrogen-containing gas; an ammonia remover 5 configured to remove ammonia from the hydrogen-containing gas generated in the reformer before the hydrogen-containing gas is supplied to the fuel cell; a fluid passage configured to allow the ammonia remover to be in communication with the atmosphere; an on-off valve 8 provided on the fluid passage and configured to allow and block the communication between the ammonia remover and the atmosphere; and a controller 80 configured to open the on-off valve in at least one of a water draining process and a water loading process of the ammonia remover.

Abstract: A power generation system includes: a power generation unit configured to discharge a flue gas; a housing configured to accommodate the power generation unit; a ventilator configured to ventilate the housing; a first gas channel through which a gas discharged from the ventilator flows; a second gas channel through which the flue gas from the power generation unit flows; a merging portion where the first gas channel and the second gas channel merge; a third gas channel through which the gases merged at the merging portion flow; a water trap unit connected to the first gas channel and including a water sealing structure; and a water discharge channel through which water in the water trap unit is discharged to an outside of the housing.

Abstract: A fuel cell system of the present invention includes: a reformer (1) configured to generate a hydrogen-containing fuel gas from a material gas and steam; a fuel cell (101) configured to generate electric power by using a fuel gas supplied from the reformer (1); a water tank (3) configured to store water; a water utilizing device configured to utilize the water supplied from the water tank (3); a first water supply unit (5) disposed on a water passage (30) extending from the water tank (3) to the water utilizing device and configured to supply the water in the water tank (3) to the water utilizing device; and a purifier (4) disposed on the water passage (30) and configured to purify the water flowing through the water passage (30), and the purifier (4) is provided such that when a water level of the water tank (3) is a full water level, the purifier (4) is filled with the water by the weight of the water.

Abstract: A fuel cell system includes: a fuel cell to generate electric power; a casing accommodating at least the fuel cell, the casing including an air inlet and an exhaust outlet; a supply passage connected to the air inlet, to introduce external air into the casing; an exhaust passage connected to the exhaust outlet, to exchange heat with the supply passage and discharge at least air inside the casing; an air supply device to introduce the external air into the casing; a temperature detector to detect a temperature; and a controller configured to control at least the air supply device. If the temperature detected by the temperature detector after the controller has caused the air supply device to operate is lower than or equal to a first predetermined temperature, the controller reduces an amount of air supplied by the air supply device and causes the air supply device to continue operating.

Abstract: A fuel cell system (100) includes: a hydrogen generator (2) including a reformer (3); a combustor (5) configured to supply heat to the reformer (3); a fuel cell (1); a first channel (10); a second channel (8); a third channel (16) through which an oxidation gas flows, the oxidation gas being supplied to the first channel (10) extending between a branch portion (10a) and the fuel cell (1); a first on-off valve (7a) provided on the first channel (10) located downstream of a meeting portion (10c); a second on-off valve (6) provided on the second channel (8); an oxidation gas supply unit (15) provided on the third channel (16); and a controller (200) configured such that when the first on-off valve (7a) is closed and the second on-off valve (6) is opened, and a hydrogen-containing gas is discharged from the hydrogen generator (2) at the time of start-up, the controller (200) activates the oxidation gas supply unit (15) to supply the oxidation gas through the third channel (16) to the first channel (10) located do

Abstract: The possibility of carbon deposition from a raw material gas is made lower than before in a pressure compensating operation carried out after stopping the stop process of a hydrogen generator and a fuel cell system including the hydrogen generator.

Abstract: A hydrogen generator of the present invention includes: a reformer (1) including a reforming catalyst (1A) containing nickel and configured to generate a hydrogen-rich fuel gas by using a raw material and steam; a temperature detector (12) configured to detect a temperature of the reforming catalyst (1A); a purge gas supplying device (7) configured to supply a purge gas to the reformer (1); and a controller (13). When the temperature detected by the temperature detector (12) is a first predetermined temperature or higher, the controller (13) purges the reformer (1) with the purge gas supplied from the purge gas supplying device (7).

Abstract: A power generation system according to the present invention includes: a fuel cell unit including a fuel cell, a hydrogen generator having a first combustor, and a case; a controller; a combustion unit including a second combustor; and a discharge passage formed to cause the case and the combustion unit to communicate with each other. In a case where the controller causes one of the first combustor and the second combustor to perform the ignition operation, the controller maintains an operating state of the other combustor during the period of the ignition operation of the one combustor.