Abstract: A front terminal plate (31) that is joined to a fuel cell unit (40) at the front end of a fuel cell stack has a metal-plating layer (31b) formed on the side to be joined to the fuel cell unit (40). The metal-plating layer (31b) is formed so as to cover the surface of a plate (31a), and the surface of the metal-plating layer (31b) is flat. The thickness of the metal-plating layer (31b) in an electrode-facing region (31c) that faces an electrode region of the fuel cell unit (40) is different from the thickness of the metal-plating layer (31b) in a peripheral region (31d) that surrounds the electrode-facing region (31c), and the thickness of the metal-plating layer (31b) in the peripheral region (31d) is larger than the thickness of the metal-plating layer (31b) in the electrode-facing region (31c).

Abstract: A front terminal plate (31) that is joined to a fuel cell unit (40) at the front end of a fuel cell stack has a metal-plating layer (31b) formed on the side to be joined to the fuel cell unit (40). The metal-plating layer (31b) is formed so as to cover the surface of a plate (31a), and the surface of the metal-plating layer (31b) is flat. The thickness of the metal-plating layer (31b) in an electrode-facing region (31c) that faces an electrode region of the fuel cell unit (40) is different from the thickness of the metal-plating layer (31b) in a peripheral region (31d) that surrounds the electrode-facing region (31c), and the thickness of the metal-plating layer (31b) in the peripheral region (31d) is larger than the thickness of the metal-plating layer (31b) in the electrode-facing region (31c).

Abstract: In a fuel reforming apparatus having a reformer for reforming a raw fuel containing a hydrocarbon-containing compound so as to produce a hydrogen-rich fuel gas for use in a fuel cell, a carbon removal process for removing carbon deposited on a reforming catalyst contained in the reformer is executed by controlling the amount of the raw fuel supplied to the reformer and the amount of the oxygen supplied to the reformer so that a ratio of the number of oxygen atoms O supplied to the reformer to the number of carbon atoms supplied to the reformer becomes larger than an appropriate range of the O/C ratio that is to be established during a normal operation of the reformer.

Abstract: In a fuel cell system 10, a cracking unit 20 is provided upstream of a reformer 36. When the cracking unit 20 is supplied with oxygen and gasoline as a hydrocarbon-based fuel, the gasoline is partially oxidized and decomposed using oxidation-generated heat to give a hydrocarbon with a lower carbon number. The hydrocarbon with the lower carbon number obtained by such gasoline pyrolysis is fed to the reformer 36 and supplied to a reforming reaction zone.

Abstract: In a fuel reforming apparatus having a reformer for reforming a raw fuel containing a hydrocarbon-containing compound so as to produce a hydrogen-rich fuel gas for use in a fuel cell, a carbon removal process for removing carbon deposited on a reforming catalyst contained in the reformer is executed by controlling the amount of the raw fuel supplied to the reformer and the amount of the oxygen supplied to the reformer so that a ratio of the number of oxygen atoms O supplied to the reformer to the number of carbon atoms supplied to the reformer becomes larger than an appropriate range of the O/C ratio that is to be established during a normal operation of the reformer.

Abstract: In a fuel cell system 10, a cracking unit 20 is provided upstream of a reformer 36. When the cracking unit 20 is supplied with oxygen and gasoline as a hydrocarbon-based fuel, the gasoline is partially oxidized and decomposed using oxidation-generated heat to give a hydrocarbon with a lower carbon number. The hydrocarbon with the lower carbon number obtained by such gasoline pyrolysis is fed to the reformer 36 and supplied to a reforming reaction zone.

Abstract: An exhaust gas purification device comprising a three way catalyst, an oxidizing catalyst and a NOx absorbent which are arranged in this order in the exhaust passage. A rich air-fuel mixture is burned in the combustion chamber, and secondary air is supplied upstream of the three way catalyst so as to make the air-fuel ratio of the exhaust gas flowing into the three way catalyst a rich air-fuel ratio greater than the air-fuel ratio of the air-fuel mixture burned in the combustion chamber. Further, secondary air is supplied upstream of the oxidizing catalyst to make the air-fuel ratio of the exhaust gas flowing into the oxidizing catalyst and the NOx absorbent slightly leaner than the stoichiometric air-fuel ratio.

Abstract: An exhaust gas purification device comprising a three way catalyst, an oxidizing catalyst and a NOx absorbent which are arranged in this order in the exhaust passage. A rich air-fuel mixture is burned in the combustion chamber, and the exhaust gas discharged from the engine is initially introduced into the three way catalyst. Secondary air is fed into the exhaust passage between the three way catalyst and the oxidizing catalyst so that the air-fuel ratio of the exhaust gas flowing into the oxidizing catalyst and the NOx absorbent becomes lean.