Abstract: The present invention comprises a plurality of fuel cells connected to each other in series, and a reformer configured to reform raw fuel, wherein reformed fuel by the reformer is supplied to a first stage of the plurality of fuel cells, and the fuel cell on the first stage is provided with a methane reaction suppressing function which suppresses reaction of methane included in the reformed fuel to a larger extent than at least one fuel cell on a second and later stages. Suppressing temperature drop due to endothermic reaction in the fuel cell on the first stage can improve the efficiency of electric power generation of the fuel cell system having the plurality of fuel cells arranged in series.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a plurality of fuel cells connected to each other in series, and a reformer configured to reform raw fuel, wherein reformed fuel by the reformer is supplied to a first stage of the plurality of fuel cells, and the fuel cell on the first stage is provided with a methane reaction suppressing function which suppresses reaction of methane included in the reformed fuel to a larger extent than at least one fuel cell on a second and later stages. Suppressing temperature drop due to endothermic reaction in the fuel cell on the first stage can improve the efficiency of electric power generation of the fuel cell system having the plurality of fuel cells arranged in series.

Abstract: Disclosed is a fuel cell system which comprises a power generation means that includes a plurality of fuel cells that are connectable to one another in series or in parallel through connecting terminals, a fuel gas supply conduit through which fuel electrodes of all or part of the fuel cells are connected in series and an oxidant gas supply conduit through which air electrodes of all or part of the fuel cells are connected in series; a switching means that switches an electric connection condition between the connecting terminals and connecting means of an external load device; a fuel gas supply means that supplies the fuel gas supply conduit with a fuel gas and an oxidant gas supply means that supplies the oxidant gas supply conduit with an oxidant gas; a load detecting means that detects a load of the external load device; and a control means that selects, based on an already derived relation between overall electric power output curves corresponding to the number of the fuel cells that are mutually connect

Abstract: A fuel cell power generation system according an embodiment of the present invention comprises: a fuel cell (11) which generates electric power upon supply of oxidation gas and fuel gas; and a temperature adjustment unit (23, 32, 33) which adjusts the temperature of the oxidation gas to be supplied to an oxidation-gas inlet of the fuel cell (11). In a case where the required output of the fuel cell (11) is high, the temperature adjustment unit is controlled to make the temperature of the oxidation gas to be supplied to the oxidation-gas inlet higher than that in a case where the required output is low. In this manner, in the case where the required output of the fuel cell (11) is high, the operating temperature of the fuel cell (11) is made higher than that in the case where the required output is low.

Abstract: Disclosed is a fuel cell system which comprises a power generation means that includes a plurality of fuel cells that are connectable to one another in series or in parallel through connecting terminals, a fuel gas supply conduit through which fuel electrodes of all or part of the fuel cells are connected in series and an oxidant gas supply conduit through which air electrodes of all or part of the fuel cells are connected in series; a switching means that switches an electric connection condition between the connecting terminals and connecting means of an external load device; a fuel gas supply means that supplies the fuel gas supply conduit with a fuel gas and an oxidant gas supply means that supplies the oxidant gas supply conduit with an oxidant gas; a load detecting means that detects a load of the external load device; and a control means that selects, based on an already derived relation between overall electric power output curves corresponding to the number of the fuel cells that are mutually connect

Abstract: A fuel reformer includes a reforming element (7) having at least one reforming catalyst passage (22) supporting a reforming catalyst which generates reformate gas from fuel; and a combustion element (8) having at least one combustion gas passage (11), which heats the reforming element (7) by the heat of combustion gas generated by burning the generated reformate gas supplied in air introduced in said at least one combustion gas passage (11). The reforming element (7) and combustion element (8) are laminated in the fuel reformer. The fuel reformer further includes plural supply holes (13) arranged in a line along said at least one combustion gas passage (11), each supply hole (13) communicating with said at least one combustion gas passage (11). At least part of the generated reformate gas is supplied to each supply hole, and is burnt downstream of each supply hole.

Abstract: A fuel cell system comprises a fuel cell including an anode and cathode, a fuel reformer, and a water gas shift reactor. The fuel cell system is shutdown by shutting down electrical generation and then supplying air to the water gas shift reactor to oxidize CO and H2 remaining in the water gas shift reactor after shutdown of electrical generation. The introduction of air to the water gas shift reactor controls CO poisoning of the fuel cell and the emission of flammable and poisonous gases from the fuel cell system after the shutdown of electrical generation.

Abstract: A fuel processing system including a filter for reforming a hydrocarbon fuel and its operation is disclosed. The system includes a first chamber for receiving a hydrocarbon fuel and combining it with air or water; a reformer in fluid connection with and down stream of the first chamber, which receives the hydrocarbon fuel combined with either air or water to reform the fuel to a reformate stream, which contains a hydrogen rich atmosphere; a second chamber in fluid connection with the reformer which is capable of receiving the reformate stream from the reformer; a water inlet connected to the second chamber capable of introducing water to the reformate stream; and a filter in fluid connection with and down stream of the second chamber, which is capable of preventing a substantial portion of any solid particles contained in the reformate stream from passing therethrough.

Abstract: A fuel reformer includes a reforming element (7) having at least one reforming catalyst passage (22) supporting a reforming catalyst which generates reformate gas from fuel; and a combustion element (8) having at least one combustion gas passage (11), which heats the reforming element (7) by the heat of combustion gas generated by burning the generated reformate gas supplied in air introduced in said at least one combustion gas passage (11). The reforming element (7) and combustion element (8) are laminated in the fuel reformer. The fuel reformer further includes plural supply holes (13) arranged in a line along said at least one combustion gas passage (11), each supply hole (13) communicating with said at least one combustion gas passage (11). At least part of the generated reformate gas is supplied to each supply hole, and is burnt downstream of each supply hole.

Abstract: An exhaust gas purifying catalyst for purifying exhaust gas discharged from an internal combustion engine of an automotive vehicle. The exhaust gas purifying catalyst comprises a substrate on which a catalytic coat layer containing a catalyst component is formed. The catalytic coat layer is formed by coating a slurry containing the catalyst component on a surface of the substrate. A crack-preventing coat layer is formed on an upper-most surface of the catalytic coat layer. The crack-preventing coat layer has a thickness of not larger than 50 ?m.

Abstract: Hydrogen-rich reformate gas is produced by a fuel reformer (2) from fuel vapor containing hydrocarbon, which is produced by a fuel vaporizer (6), by means of a partial oxidation reaction and a steam reforming reaction. A fuel injector (8, 9) supplies fuel to the fuel vaporizer (6), and an air injector (8a) supplies air to the fuel vaporizer (6). A glow plug (13) partially oxidizes the air-fuel mixture inside the fuel vaporizer (6). By controlling the air supply amount in relation to the fuel supply amount to obtain an excess air factor corresponding to a predetermined rich air-fuel ratio, a part of the air-fuel mixture in the fuel vaporizer (6) is partially oxidized, and the remaining fuel vapor is heated by the oxidation heat. As a result, the partial oxidation reaction and steam reforming reaction in the fuel reformer (2) are performed with a favorable balance.

Abstract: A fuel cell system comprises a fuel cell including an anode and cathode, a fuel reformer, and a water gas shift reactor. The fuel cell system is shutdown by shutting down electrical generation and then supplying air to the water gas shift reactor to oxidize CO and H2 remaining in the water gas shift reactor after shutdown of electrical generation. The introduction of air to the water gas shift reactor controls CO poisoning of the fuel cell and the emission of flammable and poisonous gases from the fuel cell system after the shutdown of electrical generation.

Abstract: A fuel reforming system has a reformer (4) for reforming a fuel to produce a reformate gas; a shift converter (5) for reacting carbon monoxide (CO) contained in a reformate gas with water to produce hydrogen (H2); a CO oxidizer (6) which removes CO discharged from the shift converter; and a startup combustor (11) for supplying combustion gas to the reformer (4), a shift converter (5) and CO oxidizer (6) to warm up them. An NOx trap (16) is disposed downstream of the startup combustor so as to adsorb nitrogen oxides (NOx) in combustion gas. A fuel reforming system further has a controller for controlling warm-up operations. When the warm-up operation for the reformer, the shift converter and the CO oxidizer is completed, the reformate reactions are commenced in the reformer (4). The NOx trapped by the NOx trap is decomposed by the reformate gas which contains CO gas and H2 gas.

Abstract: A combustor having a filter used to trap soot generated during its operation that is arranged upstream of a fuel reformer, is disclosed. During a startup period, the combustor functions to regenerate the filter by burning the trapped soot with a lean fuel-air mixture thereby regenerating the filter while continuously heating downstream components.

Abstract: Hydrogen-rich reformate gas is produced by a fuel reformer (2) from fuel vapor containing hydrocarbon, which is produced by a fuel vaporizer (6), by means of a partial oxidation reaction and a steam reforming reaction. A fuel injector (8, 9) supplies fuel to the fuel vaporizer (6), and an air injector (8a) supplies air to the fuel vaporizer (6). A glow plug (13) partially oxidizes the air-fuel mixture inside the fuel vaporizer (6). By controlling the air supply amount in relation to the fuel supply amount to obtain an excess air factor corresponding to a predetermined rich air-fuel ratio, a part of the air-fuel mixture in the fuel vaporizer (6) is partially oxidized, and the remaining fuel vapor is heated by the oxidation heat. As a result, the partial oxidation reaction and steam reforming reaction in the fuel reformer (2) are performed with a favorable balance.

Abstract: An exhaust gas purifying catalyst for purifying exhaust gas discharged from an internal combustion engine of an automotive vehicle. The exhaust gas purifying catalyst comprises a substrate on which a catalytic coat layer containing a catalyst component is formed. The catalytic coat layer is formed by coating a slurry containing the catalyst component on a surface of the substrate. A crack-preventing coat layer is formed on an upper-most surface of the catalytic coat layer. The crack-preventing coat layer has a thickness of not larger than 50 ?m.

Abstract: An exhaust gas purifying system for an automotive internal combustion engine. The exhaust gas purifying system comprises a flow-through monolithic catalyst disposed in an exhaust gas passageway through which exhaust gas flows. The monolithic catalyst functions to adsorb and oxidize a soluble organic fraction in exhaust gas, to adsorb nitrogen oxides in exhaust gas in a condition in which a temperature of exhaust gas is not higher than 200° C. and to allow carbon particle in exhaust gas to pass through the monolithic catalyst. Additionally, a filter catalyst is disposed in the exhaust gas passageway downstream of the flow-through monolithic catalyst. The filter catalyst functions to trap the carbon particle and to oxidize hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide and nitrogen monoxide in exhaust gas.

Abstract: A combustor having a filter used to trap soot generated during its operation that is arranged upstream of a fuel reformer, is disclosed. During a startup period, the combustor functions to regenerate the filter by burning the trapped soot with a lean fuel-air mixture thereby regenerating the filter while continuously heating downstream components.

Abstract: A fuel processing system including a filter for reforming a hydrocarbon fuel and its operation is disclosed. The system includes a first chamber for receiving a hydrocarbon fuel and combining it with air or water; a reformer in fluid connection with and down stream of the first chamber, which receives the hydrocarbon fuel combined with either air or water to reform the fuel to a reformate stream, which contains a hydrogen rich atmosphere; a second chamber in fluid connection with the reformer which is capable of receiving the reformate stream from the reformer; a water inlet connected to the second chamber capable of introducing water to the reformate stream; and a filter in fluid connection with and down stream of the second chamber, which is capable of preventing a substantial portion of any solid particles contained in the reformate stream from passing therethrough.

Abstract: A fuel reformer for use with a fuel cell system is combined with an absorber to absorb unreacted hydrocarbon fuel at a first temperature and release the unreacted hydrocarbon fuel at a second temperature, and subsequent burning of the unreacted hydrocarbon in a burner downstream. The absorber, such as a zeolite, is effective to increase efficiency of the reformer and fuel cell especially under low temperature or start-up conditions.