Abstract: A fuel reforming apparatus including reaction substrates is provided. The reaction substrates of the present invention is made of stainless steel, nickel steel, or chromium steel. Each of the reaction substrates has a channel formed on the surface of the reaction substrate. Reactant for oxidation reaction or for fuel reforming reaction flow through the channel. A catalyst containing layer is formed on the surface of the channel by directly oxidizing the surface of the channel. Therefore, the catalyst containing layer is formed with oxidized steel. A catalyst layer is formed on the catalyst containing layer. A pair of substrates can be laminated to make one substrate a thermal source unit and another a reforming reaction unit.

Abstract: A plate-type heat exchanger for use in a fuel cell system that has a fuel cell stack and a reformer is provided. The heat exchanger includes a substrate and a pair of cover plates. The substrate has a first face and a second face opposite to the first face. The substrate is disposed between the cover plates, and combined with the cover plates to form a first passageway and a second passageway. The first passageway is formed in the first face and circulates steam discharged from the fuel cell stack. The steam or water condensed from the steam is supplied to a water supply source. The second passageway is formed in the second face, and circulates water supplied from the water supply source. The water is supplied to the reformer after the circulation. The heat exchanger of the present invention improves performance and efficiency of a fuel cell system.

Abstract: A carbon monoxide remover includes a reactor body having an inner space, and a catalyst provided in the inner space of the reactor body to react with the reforming gas. A diffusion unit is installed at an inlet portion of the reactor body for introducing the reforming gas to diffuse the reforming gas over the entire area of the catalyst.

Abstract: Disclosed are a fuel reforming system and a fuel cell system having the same, which comprises a reformer to generate a reformed gas mainly containing hydrogen from a hydrogen containing fuel; and a CO remover to remove carbon monoxide from the reformed gas, wherein a ratio of an opening area of an inlet to an opening area of an outlet ranges from 1:1.5 to 1:3. Thus, the opening area of the inlet for the reforming fuel is larger than that of the outlet for the reformed gas, so that the reformed gas is smoothly discharged from the reformer without stagnating in the channel, thereby enhancing the reforming efficiency of the reformer.

Abstract: A catalyst for a reformer of a fuel cell system, a reformer for a fuel cell system including the catalyst, and a fuel cell system including the reformer are provided. The reformer includes a first reacting region that generates heat energy through oxidation of fuel and includes an oxidation catalyst having a Pd catalyst supported by an Al2O3 carrier and a Pt catalyst supported by an Al2O3 carrier, and a second reacting region that generates hydrogen gas from the fuel through a reforming reaction by the heat energy. The reformer includes at least two pipes each having an independent internal space and letting the fuel containing hydrogen pass therethrough.

Abstract: A fuel reformer including a first pipe, a second pipe which is disposed in the first pipe, a main heat source, which includes an oxidation catalyst, filling the second pipe adapted to generate thermal energy with a predetermined temperature range through an oxidation reaction of a fuel using the oxidation catalyst; an auxiliary heat source which includes a torch connected to the second pipe to ignite and burn the gaseous fuel, thereby preheating the oxidation catalyst to within a reaction starting temperature range, and a reforming reaction unit which includes a reforming catalyst filling a space between the first and second pipes to generate a reforming gas containing hydrogen through the reforming reaction of the fuel using the reforming catalyst by using the thermal energy generated by the main heat source.

Abstract: A fuel reforming apparatus which generates a reformed gas containing hydrogen by reforming a fuel and supplies the reformed gas to a fuel cell body is provided. The fuel reforming apparatus is constructed with a burner which generates a flame by burning the fuel together with the atmospheric air, a reforming reactor which receives thermal energy of the flame and generates the reformed gas through a reforming reaction between the fuel and steam, an evaporator in which a pipeline for allowing the fuel and water to flow is disposed in the direction of the flame sprayed from the burner, with the water being evaporated by using the flame and the fuel and steam being supplied to the reforming reactor, and a spraying unit which is disposed in a direction of the sprayed flame to spray additional air into the evaporator.

Abstract: In a plate type reformer and a fuel cell system including the plate type reformer, the plate type reformer includes: a plate type combustion reactor including a distributing plate having a distributing chamber with a plurality of distributing holes adapted to supply an oxidizing agent, and a combustion plate having a combustion chamber with an oxidizing catalyst layer adapted to generate heat energy in response to the oxidizing agent supplied through the distributing holes of the distributing plate reacting with fuel; a plate type preheater including a channel adapted to introduce a mixed fuel of fuel and water is introduced, the plate type preheater adapted to preheat the mixed fuel with the heat energy generated in the plate type combustion reactor; and a plate type reforming reactor with a reforming catalyst layer adapted to generate hydrogen gas from the mixed fuel preheated by the plate type preheater, the plate type reforming reactor effecting a reforming reaction using the heat energy of the plate type

Abstract: A fuel cell system comprises: a fuel container for storing fuel liquefied with pressure; a reformer for generating hydrogen from the fuel through a catalyst reaction based on heat energy; an electric generator for generating electricity by transforming energy of an electrochemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen into electric energy; a condenser for condensing water produced in the electric generator; and a heat exchanger passing through the condenser for cooling the condenser by latent heat of the fuel. With this configuration, cooling water cooled by latent heat of a fuel container is employed to cool the condenser without using a separate cooler. Furthermore, air is mixed with butane fuel without using a separate power unit, so that it is possible to achieve a more compact and highly efficient fuel cell.

Abstract: A reformer for a fuel cell including: at least one reaction plate in which a channel is formed on a surface thereof; a cover plate disposed on the surface of the reaction plate; a bonding part which is formed between the reaction plate and the cover plate and which integrally fixes the reaction plate and the cover plate to each other; and a heat processing part which is formed outside the channel and which reduces a contact area between the reaction plate and the cover plate and controls thermal energy supplied to the reaction plate.

Abstract: A fuel cell stack that includes at least one electricity generator generating electric energy through an electrochemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen and a cooling system are provided. The electricity generator includes a membrane-electrode assembly, separators on both sides of the membrane-electrode assembly, and cooling channels placed approximately parallel to a first direction of the membrane-electrode assembly, where a coolant flows through the cooling channels, and where the cooling channels have different distribution densities in a direction perpendicular to the first direction of the membrane-electrode assembly.

Abstract: The reformer for a fuel cell system includes a reforming reaction part that generates hydrogen gas from a fuel through a catalyst reforming reaction using heat energy, and a carbon monoxide reducing part that reduces the concentration of carbon monoxide in the hydrogen gas, through an oxidizing reaction of hydrogen gas with the oxidant. The carbon monoxide reducing part includes a first reducing part including a first carbon monoxide oxidizing catalyst and a second reducing part including a second carbon monoxide oxidizing catalyst.

Abstract: A reformer that directly receives heat and performs an ATR catalyst reaction and an SR catalyst reaction. The reformer includes: a reforming reactor to reform hydrogen containing fuel into reformed gas having abundant hydrogen by performing an ATR catalyst reaction and an SR catalyst reaction; a heat source contacting one side of the reforming reactor and providing the reforming reactor with heat; and an air feeder to feed the reforming reactor with air by an air flow control unit. Thus, the ATR catalyst reaction featuring a relatively short preheating time is performed while the reformer is initially operated, so that hydrogen can be produced when the reformer is initially operated, thereby efficiently operating a fuel cell.

Abstract: A fuel reforming system and a fuel cell system including the same, the fuel reforming system including: a fuel reformer adapted to produce a reformed gas having hydrogen as a main component from a fuel containing hydrogen; a carbon monoxide (CO) remover adapted to remove carbon monoxide from the reformed gas; a heat source adapted to supply heat energy to the reformer and the CO remover; and a moving unit adapted to move the heat source between the fuel reformer and the CO remover. With this configuration, the fuel reformer and the CO remover can be directly heated by a heat source. Then, when the temperature of the CO remover reaches a catalyst activation temperature, the heat source can be moved to directly heat only the fuel reformer, thereby enhancing a reforming effect and a power generation efficiency of the fuel reforming system.

Abstract: A fuel cell system includes an electricity generator for generating electric energy through a reaction of hydrogen and oxygen, a reformer for generating a reforming gas containing the hydrogen from a fuel through a catalytic reaction using thermal energy and for supplying the reforming gas to the electricity generator, a burner for generating the thermal energy and for supplying the thermal energy to the reformer, a fuel supply unit for supplying the fuel to the reformer, and an air supply unit for supplying air to the electricity generator. The fuel supply unit includes a main fuel tank for storing the fuel, at least one auxiliary fuel tank connected with the main fuel tank and the reformer, and a heating unit disposed in connection with the auxiliary fuel tank to heat the fuel stored in the auxiliary fuel tank.

Abstract: A reformer includes a burner that generates thermal energy, and a reforming reaction unit that is supplied with thermal energy from the burner to generate a hydrogen-rich gas from a fuel, wherein the burner includes a burner main body having first and second portions that are constructed by bending the burner main body to form bended portions and coupling the bended portions together, wherein the burner main body is disposed in an inner portion of the reforming reaction unit, and wherein a first catalyst is filled in an inner portion of the burner main body.

Abstract: An apparatus for supplying mixed fuel includes a water container storing water; a fuel container storing fuel, including at least gaseous fuel, the fuel container being coupled to the water container by a pressure pipe for transferring internal pressure of the fuel container to the water container; and a mixer coupled to the water container through a water supplying pipe and coupled to the fuel container through a fuel supplying pipe, the mixer outputting mixed fuel through a mixed fuel supplying pipe. A water supplying unit includes a water container storing water and connected to a water supplying pipe, the water container having an outlet; and a pressure applying unit coupled to the water container for applying gas pressure to an inside of the water container to discharge water from the water container through the outlet.

Abstract: A stack for a fuel cell system includes an electricity generating unit, end plates, a restraint portion, and an element for reducing stress. The electricity generating includes a membrane-electrode assembly (MEA) and separators respectively disposed on opposite surfaces of the MEA. The end plates are respectively disposed at opposite sides of the electricity generating unit. The restraint portion is joined with the end plates to fasten the end plates and the electricity generating unit together. The restraint portion includes a restraint rod which is disposed in the end plates, and a nut which is screw-joined with the restraint rod so that the restraint rod is fastened to the end plates. The element for reducing stress concentration is coupled to each of the end plates to reduce (or minimize or prevent) a stress force generated by the nut from concentrating at a portion where the restraint portion is disposed.

Abstract: An apparatus for supplying mixed fuel includes a water container storing water; a fuel container storing fuel, including at least gaseous fuel, the fuel container being coupled to the water container by a pressure pipe for transferring internal pressure of the fuel container to the water container; and a mixer coupled to the water container through a water supplying pipe and coupled to the fuel container through a fuel supplying pipe, the mixer outputting mixed fuel through a mixed fuel supplying pipe. A water supplying unit includes a water container storing water and connected to a water supplying pipe, the water container having an outlet; and a pressure applying unit coupled to the water container for applying gas pressure to an inside of the water container to discharge water from the water container through the outlet.

Abstract: A fuel cell reformer includes a main body having a first pipe with a second pipe inside the first pipe, a thermal source unit in the second pipe, a reforming reaction unit in a first region between the first pipe and the second pipe to generate a reforming gas containing hydrogen through a reforming reaction of a fuel, and a carbon monoxide reduction unit in a region other than the first region between the first pipe and the second pipe to reduce a concentration of carbon monoxide contained in the reforming gas. A thermal treatment unit in the main body supplies thermal energy to the reforming reaction unit and the carbon monoxide reduction unit at a time of initial driving of the reformer such that the supplied thermal energy corresponds to a unique operational temperature range in the reforming reaction unit, and to a unique operational temperature range in the carbon monoxide reduction unit.