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: In a method for starting up a fuel cell system, reforming is reliably performed from an early stage to more reliably prevent the oxidative degradation of the anode.

Abstract: There are provided an indirect internal reforming-type SOFC in which a reformer is heated by radiation heat from a SOFC, wherein the heat receiving area of a reformer can be easily made large and stable operation is possible without decreasing the efficiency, and a reformer suitable to the SOFC. The indirect internal reforming-type solid oxide fuel cell comprising a reformer capable of reforming kerosene and a solid oxide fuel cell which uses as a fuel a reformed gas obtained by the reformer is characterized in that the indirect internal reforming-type solid oxide fuel cell comprises a plurality of solid oxide fuel cell stacks; the reformer comprises a plurality of reaction tubes packed with a reforming catalyst capable of steam-reforming kerosene; and the reaction tubes are arranged in two rows with the tubes spaced from each other and form a staggered arrangement in a location interposed between the stacks.