Abstract: In a fuel cell system that includes a reformer adapted to reform a feedstock, and a fuel cell that uses fuel gas contained in the reformed gas produced by this reformer to generate electricity, aims to improve generation efficiency in the fuel cell through a relatively simple feature. The fuel cell system includes a feedstock supplying section such as a pressurizing pump for supplying the feedstock to the reformer; a burner adapted to combust the fuel gas that was not consumed by electricity generation in the fuel cell, and heat the reformer; a temperature sensor for sensing the temperature of the burner; and a control unit adapted to control on the basis of the sensed temperature the feed rate of the feedstock supplied from the feedstock supplying section to the reformer, so as to maintain the temperature of the reformer within a prescribed temperature range optimized for reforming the feedstock.

Abstract: A fuel cell system including a fuel cell, a reformer, a combustor that heats the reformer using anode off-gas of the fuel cell as a fuel, and a ratio controller that controls a ratio of a combustion component supplied to the combustor in accordance with a temperature distribution in a gas flow direction inside the combustor.

Abstract: A fuel cell system includes: a fuel cell stack that is formed of a plurality of serially connected fuel-cell cells that use fuel gas and oxidant gas to generate electric power; a detecting unit that detects an output power generated by each of a first fuel-cell cell group and a second fuel-cell cell group that are grouped on the basis of a power generation performance factor; and an operating condition changing unit that changes an operating condition of the fuel-cell cells on the basis of a rate of deviation between the generated output power of the first fuel-cell cell group, detected by the detecting unit, and the generated output power of the second fuel-cell cell group, detected by the detecting unit.

Abstract: A fuel cell system includes: an input-amplitude-value obtain unit that obtains an amplitude value of an input value given to a fuel cell; an output-amplitude-value obtain unit that obtains an amplitude value of an output value output from the fuel cell; and an operation condition change unit that changes an operation condition of the fuel cell according to a comparison of an amplitude value of an input value obtained by the input-amplitude-value obtain unit and an amplitude value obtained by the output-amplitude-value obtain unit.

Abstract: A fuel reforming system includes a reformer that produces fuel gas that includes hydrogen by reforming a reforming fuel by a steam reforming reaction using reforming water, and; supply amount regulating means for regulating an amount of the reforming water supplied to the reformer; pressure detecting means for detecting a gas pressure in the reformer; and correcting means for correcting the amount of supplied reforming water with the supply amount regulating means based on a fluctuation amount in the gas pressure detected by the pressure detecting means.

Abstract: A fuel cell system includes: a fuel cell that generates power using an oxidant gas and a fuel gas; estimating means for estimating an electric resistance of the fuel cell in accordance with a voltage and a current of the fuel cell; and temperature controlling means for performing control to raise a temperature of the fuel cell when the electric resistance estimated by the estimating means exceeds a target electric resistance range and reduce the temperature of the fuel cell when the estimated electric resistance falls below the target electric resistance range.

Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell, a fuel supply portion that supplies fuel to the fuel cell, a combustion portion that burns an anode exhaust gas discharged from the anode of the fuel cell, and an oxygen concentration detection portion that detects the oxygen concentration in a predetermined gas. The fuel flow control portion controls the amount of flow of fuel supplied from the fuel supply portion to the fuel cell so that the amount of fluctuation of the oxygen concentration in the combustion exhaust gas discharged from the combustion portion which is detected by the oxygen concentration detection portion is between a first value and a second value that is larger than the first value.

Abstract: In control over an oxygen sensor, a temperature of the oxygen sensor, which detects a concentration of oxygen in exhaust gas from a combustion chamber in which anode off-gas of a fuel cell is burned, is adjusted to a target temperature, and an output of the oxygen sensor is calibrated. When the temperature of the oxygen sensor is adjusted to the target temperature, a plurality of the target temperatures are set, a calibration target temperature higher than or equal to a first predetermined temperature is selected from among the plurality of target temperatures when the output of the oxygen sensor is calibrated, and a target temperature, which is lower than the calibration target temperature, is selected from among the plurality of target temperatures during power generation of the fuel cell.

Abstract: In a fuel cell system that includes a reformer adapted to reform a feedstock, and a fuel cell that uses fuel gas contained in the reformed gas produced by this reformer to generate electricity, aims to improve generation efficiency in the fuel cell through a relatively simple feature. The fuel cell system includes a feedstock supplying section such as a pressurizing pump for supplying the feedstock to the reformer; a burner adapted to combust the fuel gas that was not consumed by electricity generation in the fuel cell, and heat the reformer; a temperature sensor for sensing the temperature of the burner; and a control unit adapted to control on the basis of the sensed temperature the feed rate of the feedstock supplied from the feedstock supplying section to the reformer, so as to maintain the temperature of the reformer within a prescribed temperature range optimized for reforming the feedstock.

Abstract: In a hydrogen generation device according to the invention, PSR reformers have a heat capacity smaller than that of the other PSR reformers. Therefore, the temperature of the catalyst reaches to a reforming-start temperature more quickly in the PSR reformers than in the other PSR reformers. When the hydrogen generation device is started and the reforming reaction is carried out, the mixture of gasoline vapor and water vapor is selectively and preferentially supplied to the PSR reformers so that the reforming reaction is carried out in the PSR reformers.

Abstract: A hybrid system includes an electrical motor generating motive power, a storing portion providing electrical power to the electrical motor, a fuel cell that provides electrical power to the electrical motor or the storing portion within a predetermined output range, an internal combustion engine absorbing loading of the fuel cell, a determination portion that determines whether the loading of the fuel cell is above the maximum output in the predetermined range, and a control portion that controls the internal combustion engine so as to operate if it is determined that the loading of the fuel cell is above the maximum output in the predetermined range.

Abstract: A fuel cell system including a fuel cell, a reformer, a combustor that heats the reformer using anode off-gas of the fuel cell as a fuel, and a ratio controller that controls a ratio of a combustion component supplied to the combustor in accordance with a temperature distribution in a gas flow direction inside the combustor.

Abstract: A reforming system including: a mixing section that mixes a reforming fuel and a reforming raw material other than the reforming fuel to produce a mixed gas; a reforming section that generates hydrogen from the mixed gas; a reforming fuel supply flow path; a reforming raw material supply flow path; a first supply device disposed in one flow path of the reforming fuel supply flow path and the reforming raw material flow path, that causes periodic fluctuation in a supply quantity of fluid flowing in the one flow path; a second supply device disposed in the other flow path of the reforming fuel supply flow path and the reforming raw material flow path; and a controller that controls the second supply device so that the second supply device supplies the fluid flowing in the other flow path in synchronization with the periodic fluctuation.

Abstract: A power system of the invention includes fuel cells and a fuel gas generation system that generates a fuel gas to be supplied to the fuel cells. At the time of stopping supply of hydrogen, the fuel gas generation system selectively uses a stop process that replaces hydrogen in a hydrogen separator unit with the air for removal of hydrogen and a pause process that allows hydrogen to remain in the hydrogen separator unit. The stop process is selected when the fuel gas generation system stops the supply of hydrogen for a long time period. The pause process is selected when the fuel gas generation system temporarily stops the supply of hydrogen. The arrangement of the invention desirably shortens a restart time of the fuel gas generation system and reduces a potential energy loss.

Abstract: A hybrid system includes an electrical motor generating motive power, a storing portion providing electrical power to the electrical motor, a fuel cell that provides electrical power to the electrical motor or the storing portion within a predetermined output range, an internal combustion engine absorbing loading of the fuel cell, a determination portion that determines whether the loading of the fuel cell is above the maximum output in the predetermined range, and a control portion that controls the internal combustion engine so as to operate if it is determined that the loading of the fuel cell is above the maximum output in the predetermined range.

Abstract: In a hydrogen generation device according to the invention, PSR reformers have a heat capacity smaller than that of the other PSR reformers. Therefore, the temperature of the catalyst reaches to a reforming-start temperature more quickly in the PSR reformers than in the other PSR reformers. When the hydrogen generation device is started and the reforming reaction is carried out, the mixture of gasoline vapor and water vapor is selectively and preferentially supplied to the PSR reformers so that the reforming reaction is carried out in the PSR reformers.

Abstract: The fuel cell 60 comprises a proton-conductive, solid electrolyte layer and a hydrogen-permeable metal layer joined to the electrolyte layer. When the fuel cell 60 generates power, reformed gas produced in a reformer 62 is supplied as fuel gas to the anode of the fuel cell 60. When power generation by the fuel cell 60 is stop, air supplied by a blower 67 is fed to the anode of the fuel cell 60, so that the fuel gas within the fuel cell 60 is replaced by air.

Abstract: A fuel reforming apparatus includes a premixed fuel tank. In the premixed fuel tank, premixed fuel which is formed by emulsifying gasoline and water that are mixed with each other at a predetermined ratio, using a emulsifier. The premixed fuel is sprayed into a vaporizing portion through a nozzle. Heat can be supplied to the vaporizing portion by the reformer in which oxidation reaction proceeds, a first heating portion, and air supplied to the vaporizing portion through a heat exchanger. The premixed fuel sprayed into the vaporizing portion is vaporized immediately by the thus supplied heat, and is supplied to the reformer. In addition, air which has been humidified in a humidifying module cam be supplied to the vaporizing portion.

Abstract: A power system of the invention includes fuel cells and a fuel gas generation system that generates a fuel gas to be supplied to the fuel cells. At the time of stopping supply of hydrogen, the fuel gas generation system selectively uses a stop process that replaces hydrogen in a hydrogen separator unit with the air for removal of hydrogen and a pause process that allows hydrogen to remain in the hydrogen separator unit. The stop process is selected when the fuel gas generation system stops the supply of hydrogen for a long time period. The pause process is selected when the fuel gas generation system temporarily stops the supply of hydrogen. The arrangement of the invention desirably shortens a restart time of the fuel gas generation system and reduces a potential energy loss.

Abstract: In a double air-fuel ratio sensor system including two air-fuel ratio sensors upstream and downstream of a catalyst converter provided in an exhaust passage, the actual air-fuel ratio is adjusted in accordance with an air-fuel ratio correction amount calculated by using the output of the upstream-side air-fuel ratio sensor and an air-fuel ratio feedback control parameter such as delay time periods, skip amounts, or integration amounts calculated by using the output of the downstream-side air-fuel ratio sensor, and the calculation of the air-fuel ratio feedback control parameter is prohibited when the downstream-side air-fuel ratio sensor is in an abnormal state.