Abstract: Provided is a method for shutting down an indirect internal reforming SOFC, in which a hydrocarbon-based fuel is reliably reformed, and the oxidative degradation of the anode can be prevented by a reformed gas.

Abstract: Provided is a method for shutting down an indirect internal reforming SOFC, in which a hydrocarbon-based fuel is reliably reformed, and the oxidative degradation of the anode can be prevented by a reformed gas.

Abstract: Two or more methods selected among a steam reforming method, a partial oxidation reforming method, and an autothermal reforming method are defined as i-th reforming method. Functions Fi=fi(P), P=fi?1(Fi), and ?i=gi(P) are obtained in advance. If there is a number i which satisfies FiR?Fimin, the following process (1) is performed when PD?P is satisfied, and the following process (2) is performed when PD>PiM is satisfied. In the process (1), if fi(PD)?FiR is satisfied, Pi*=PD and Fi*=fi(PD), and if fi(PD)>FiR is satisfied, Pi*=(the maximum fi?1(FiR) which is less than PD) and Fi*=FiR. In the process (2), if fi(PiM)?FiR is satisfied, Pi*=PiM and Fi*=fi(PiM), and if fi(PiM)>FiR is satisfied, Pi*=(the maximum fi?1(FiR)) and Fi*=FiR. If there are a plurality of numbers i which satisfy FiR?Fimin, PI*, a reforming method, and FI*, which relate to the number i which provides the maximal ?i=gi(Pi*), are adopted.

Abstract: Disclosed method of load-following operation of fuel-cell system comprises pre-determining functions F=f(P) and P=f?1(F), wherein P is the electric output and F is the fuel flow-rate required to output P. If reformable flow-rate FR<Fmin (the minimum flow-rate value), power generation is stopped. If FR?Fmin and if required output PD?maximum power output PM, (1) is performed; and if FR?Fmin and if PD>PM, (2) is performed. (1) If f(PD)?FR, the output is set at PD, and the fuel flow-rate is set at f(PD); and if f(PD)>FR, the output is set at the maximum value of P lower than PD and computed using P=f?1(FR), and the fuel flow-rate is set at FR. (2) If f(PM)?FR, the output is set at PM, and the fuel flow-rate is set at f(PM); and if f(PM)>FR, the output is set at the maximum value of P computed using P=f?1(FR), and fuel flow-rate is set at FR.

Abstract: Provided is a method for shutting down an indirect internal reforming SOFC, in which a hydrocarbon-based fuel is reliably reformed, and the oxidative degradation of the anode can be prevented by a reformed gas.

Abstract: Provided is a method for shutting down an indirect internal reforming SOFC, in which reliable reforming, prevention of anode oxidative degradation, fuel saving and time saving are possible. Reforming catalyst layer temperature T is measured, and FkCALC is calculated; when FkCALC?FkE, T is measured, and FkCALC and FkMinCALC are calculated; if FkMinCALC?FkE, then the flow rate of the fuel supplied to the reformer is set to FkE and the method moves on to step D; if FkCALC?FkMinCALC<FkE, then C6 to C9 are performed in order; C6) the temperature of the reforming catalyst layer is increased; C7) T is measured, and FkCALC and FkMinCALC are calculated; C8) if FkCALC<FkE, then the flow rate of the fuel supplied to the reformer is set to FkMinCALC and the method returns to C6; C9) if FkCALC?FkE, then the flow rate of the fuel supplied to the reformer is set to FkE and the method moves on to D; D) the method waits for the anode temperature to fall below an oxidative degradation temperature.

Abstract: Provided is a fuel-cell system and a method of operating the fuel-cell system, wherein functions F=f(P) and P=f?1(F) of electrical output P and fuel flow-rate F required to output P are beforehand obtained, and a reformable fuel flow-rate FR is calculated from the temperature of reforming catalyst layer. When FR?Fmin, if the output demand PD?maximum output PM, and when f(PD)?FR, F is set to f(PD); and when f(PD)>FR, the P is set to the maximum value within a range of less than PD amongst P calculated from P=f1(FR), and F is set to FR. When PD>PM, and when f(PM)?FR, the cell output is set to PM, and F is set to f(PM). When f(PM)>FR, the cell output is set to the maximum value amongst P calculated from P=f1(FR), and F is set to FR.

Abstract: A fuel cell system may include a reformer having a reforming catalyst layer; a high temperature fuel cell for generating electric power; a reforming catalyst layer temperature measuring means; a reforming catalyst layer temperature increasing means; and a control means for calculating a flow rate of the hydrocarbon-based fuel that can be reformed in the reforming catalyst layer, based on the measured temperature of the reforming catalyst layer, and for controlling the hydrocarbon-based fuel supplied to the reforming catalyst layer to flow at the calculated flow rate, and being able to increase a feed rate of the hydrocarbon-based fuel to the reforming catalyst layer, while repeatedly operating the fuel flow rate calculating function and the fuel flow rate controlling function, until the feed rate of the hydrocarbon-based fuel to the reforming catalyst layer becomes a flow rate at completion of start-up.

Abstract: A method for starting a fuel cell system may include raising the temperature of the reforming catalyst layer while measuring the temperature of the reforming catalyst layer, calculating the flow rate of a hydrocarbon fuel which can be reformed in the reforming catalyst layer based on the measured temperature of the reforming catalyst layer, and supplying the hydrocarbon fuel at the calculated flow rate into the reforming catalyst layer to reform the fuel, and supplying the resultant reformed gas into an anode of a high temperature-type fuel cell. The amount of the hydrocarbon fuel supplied into the reforming catalyst layer is increased until the amount of the hydrocarbon fuel supplied into the reforming catalyst layer reaches the flow rate at the time of the completion of the start.

Abstract: A method of load following operation of a fuel cell system may include measuring a temperature of the reforming catalyst layer, obtaining a reformable flow rate of the hydrocarbon-based fuel capable of being reformed in the reforming catalyst layer at the temperature, and controlling electric power generation based on the relationship between the reformable flow rate and a minimum value.

Abstract: Provided is a method for shutting down an indirect internal reforming SOFC, in which reliable reforming, prevention of anode oxidative degradation, fuel saving and time saving are possible. Reforming catalyst layer temperature T is measured, and FkCALC is calculated; when FkCALC?FkE, T is measured, and FkCALC and FkMinCALC are calculated; if FkMinCALC?FkE, then the flow rate of the fuel supplied to the reformer is set to FkE and the method moves on to step D; if FkCALC?FkMinCALC<FkE, then C6 to C9 are performed in order; C6) the temperature of the reforming catalyst layer is increased; C7) T is measured, and FkCALC and FkMinCALC are calculated; C8) if FkCALC<FkE, then the flow rate of the fuel supplied to the reformer is set to FkMinCALC and the method returns to C6; C9) if FkCALC?FkE, then the flow rate of the fuel supplied to the reformer is set to FkE and the method moves on to D; D) the method waits for the anode temperature to fall below an oxidative degradation temperature.

Abstract: To provide a reformer that uses a relatively inexpensive granular catalyst and can provide a more uniform temperature distribution in a catalyst bed while suppressing increase in the size of the reformer and the required power and size of an auxiliary machine, and a more compact indirect internal reforming high temperature fuel cell while suppressing increase in cost. A reformer that produces a hydrogen-containing gas from a hydrocarbon-based fuel by a steam reforming reaction has a reactor vessel and a reforming catalyst bed packed with a granular catalyst having steam reforming activity in the reactor vessel, the reformer has a partition plate that divides the reforming catalyst bed into at least two sections, the partition plate has a thermal conductivity higher than effective thermal conductivity of the catalyst bed, and the partition plate extends in the reactor vessel from a part which is at a higher temperature in a rated operation to a part which is at a lower temperature in rated operation.

Abstract: Two or more methods selected among a steam reforming method, a partial oxidation reforming method, and an autothermal reforming method are defined as i-th reforming method. Functions Fi=fi(P), P=fi-1(Fi), and ?i=gi(P) are obtained in advance. If there is a number i which satisfies FiR?Fimin, the following process (1) is performed when PD?P is satisfied, and the following process (2) is performed when PD>PiM is satisfied. In the process (1), if fi(PD)?FiR is satisfied, Pi*=PD and Fi*=fi(PD), and if fi(PD)>FiR is satisfied, Pi*=(the maximum fi-1(MR) which is less than PD) and Fi*=FiR. In the process (2), if fi(PiM)?FiP, is satisfied, Pi*=PiM and Fi*=fi(PiM), and if fi(PiM)>FiR is satisfied Pi*=(the maximum fi-1(FiR)) and Fi*=FiR. If there are a plurality of numbers i which satisfy FiR?Fimin. P1*, a reforming method, and F1*, which relate to the number i which provides the maximal ?i=gi(Pi*), are adopted.

Abstract: Provided is a method for load following operation of a fuel cell system in which reliable reforming and the prevention of flow blockage and anode degradation are possible. Functions F=f(P) and P=f?1(F) of an electrical output P and a fuel flow rate F required to output P are beforehand obtained. Reforming catalyst layer temperatures Tj and reformable fuel flow rates Gj at Tj are predetermined. Gj corresponding to the maximum Tj that is equal to or less than the measured temperature T of the catalyst layer is set as FR. When FR<Fmin (minimum F), electric power generation is stopped. When FR?Fmin, 1 is performed if an output demand value PD?a maximum output PM, and 2 is performed if PD>PM. 1) In the case of f(PD)?FR, output is set to PD and the fuel flow rate is set to f(PD). In the case of f(PD)>FR, the output is set to a value that is less than PD and the maximum among P calculated by P=f?1(FR), and the fuel flow rate is set to FR.

Abstract: Provided is a method for shutting down an indirect internal reforming SOFC, in which reliable reforming and the prevention of the oxidative degradation of the anode are possible.

Abstract: Provided is a method for stopping an indirect internally reforming SOFC with which a hydrocarbon fuel is reformed reliably and it is possible to prevent oxidative degradation of the anode by the reformed gas.

Abstract: Provided is a method for load following operation of a fuel cell system in which reliable reforming and the prevention of flow blockage and anode degradation are possible. The correspondence between cell outputs Pi and fuel flow rates Fi are set beforehand, and a reformable fuel flow rate FR is obtained from a reforming catalyst layer temperature. When FR<Fmin (minimum Fi), electric power generation is stopped. When FR?Fmin, 1) is performed if an output demand value PD is equal to or less than the maximum output PM, and 2) is performed if PD>PM. 1) FDS described in the description is obtained. In the case of FDS?FR, the output is set to PD, and the fuel flow rate is set to FDS.

Abstract: Provided is a method of load following operation of a fuel cell system in which reliable reforming and the prevention of flow blockage and anode degradation are possible. Functions F=f(P) and P=f?1(F) of an electrical output P and a hydrocarbon-based fuel flow rate F required to output P are beforehand obtained, and a reformable fuel flow rate FR is calculated from the measured temperature of the reforming catalyst layer. When FR<Fmin (the minimum value of the fuel flow rate), electric power generation is stopped. When FR<Fmin, the following 1 is performed if an output demand value PD is equal to or less than a cell maximum output PM, and the following 2 is performed if PD>PM, 1) When f(PD)?FR, the cell output is set to PD, and the feed fuel flow rate is set to f(PD).

Abstract: Provided is a method for starting up a fuel cell system, in which reforming can be reliably performed from an early stage to more reliably prevent the oxidative degradation of the anode.

Abstract: Provided is a method for starting up a fuel cell system, in which reforming can be reliably performed from an early stage to more reliably prevent the oxidative degradation of the anode.