Abstract: When a product gas producing operation is stopped, a purge operation is executed in which steam purge processing and product gas purge processing are sequentially performed. The steam purge is supplying, instead of a source gas, a product gas from a product gas tank to a reformer using a compressor, and supplying a reformed gas from a reforming processing unit to a plurality of adsorption towers, which perform a pressure swing adsorption operation, while the reformer is heated by a heating burner and steam is supplied to the reformer. The product gas purge is supplying the product gas from the product gas tank to the reformer using the compressor, and supplying the product gas from the reforming processing unit to the plurality of adsorption towers, which perform the pressure swing adsorption operation, while the supply of the steam is stopped and the heating of the reformer is maintained.

Abstract: Provided is a reactor that is capable of suppressing deformation and damage of catalyst grains due to contraction of a reaction tube after thermal expansion thereof. A reactor includes: a reaction tube A aligned in an up-down direction and having, in a bottom section thereof, a catalyst supporter receiving packed catalyst grains and allowing a processed gas to flow therethrough; and a burning unit configured to heat an outer face of the reaction tube A. The reaction tube A has a cylindrical catalyst support face U that is in contact with the catalyst grains in the reaction tube A and that have, in the up-down direction, a plurality of engaging recesses each capable of receiving a portion of the catalyst grain in contact with the catalyst support face in such a manner that the portion of the catalyst grain is fitted into the engaging recess.

Abstract: When the product gas producing operation is stopped, a stand-by operation is executed in which a product gas filling up a reforming processing unit is circulated, in a state in which an adsorbent of adsorption towers is maintained in a state in which adsorption target components are desorbed, and the heating of a reformer by a heating burner is maintained, and when the stand-by operation is stopped and the product gas producing operation is started, initial operation processing is executed in which immediately after the start, a source gas and steam are supplied to the reformer to produce a reformed gas, and the reformed gas from the reforming processing unit supplied to the adsorption towers to produce the product gas, and then the product gas producing operation in which the product gas is collected in a product gas tank is executed.

Abstract: When a product gas producing operation is stopped, a purge operation is executed in which steam purge processing and product gas purge processing are sequentially performed. The steam purge is supplying, instead of a source gas, a product gas from a product gas tank to a reformer using a compressor, and supplying a reformed gas from a reforming processing unit to a plurality of adsorption towers, which perform a pressure swing adsorption operation, while the reformer is heated by a heating burner and steam is supplied to the reformer. The product gas purge is supplying the product gas from the product gas tank to the reformer using the compressor, and supplying the product gas from the reforming processing unit to the plurality of adsorption towers, which perform the pressure swing adsorption operation, while the supply of the steam is stopped and the heating of the reformer is maintained.