Abstract: A solid oxide fuel cell apparatus 1 has: multiple fuel cell units 16; a module case 8 housing multiple fuel cell units; a heat insulating material 7 disposed to cover the area around the module case 8; a reformer 20 for reforming raw fuel gas using steam, thereby producing fuel gas; a combustion chamber 18 for combusting residual fuel gas and heating the reformer 20; a heat exchanger 23 for exchanging heat between oxidant gas and exhaust gas; and a steam generator 25, disposed within the heat insulating material 7 and on the outside of the module case 8, for exchanging heat between exhaust gas and water immediately after heat is exchanged in the heat exchanger 23, thereby producing steam.

Abstract: A solid oxide fuel cell apparatus 1 has: multiple fuel cell units 16; a module case 8 housing multiple fuel cell units; a heat insulating material 7 disposed to cover the area around the module case 8; a reformer 20 for reforming raw fuel gas using steam, thereby producing fuel gas; a combustion chamber 18 for combusting residual fuel gas and heating the reformer 20; a heat exchanger 23 for exchanging heat between oxidant gas and exhaust gas; and a steam generator 25, disposed within the heat insulating material 7 and on the outside of the module case 8, for exchanging heat between exhaust gas and water immediately after heat is exchanged in the heat exchanger 23, thereby producing steam.

Abstract: To provide a solid oxide fuel cell system capable of avoiding the reduction of air electrodes. The present invention is a solid oxide fuel cell system including: a fuel cell module, a fuel supply apparatus, a water supply apparatus, an oxidant gas supply apparatus, a reformer, and a control section for controlling the extraction of power, whereby the controller having a shutdown stop circuit for executing a shutdown stop when the fuel cell stack is above the predetermined temperature, and after a shutdown stop, during a period when pressure on the fuel electrode side is sufficiently higher than pressure on the air electrode side, and no reverse flow of oxidant gas to the fuel electrode side is occurring, a temperature drop operation is executed whereby high temperature oxidant gas remaining on the oxidant gas electrode side is discharged.

Abstract: To provide a fuel cell device capable of extending the years of service life of a reformer by suppressing thermal runaways. The present invention is a solid oxide fuel cell device, including a fuel cell module having fuel cell units; a reformer disposed above the fuel cell units, for producing hydrogen by a partial oxidation reforming reaction and a steam reforming reaction; a vaporizing chamber disposed adjacent to the reformer; a combustion chamber for heating the vaporization chamber; a water supply device; an electrical generation oxidant gas supply device; and a controller for raising the fuel cell units to a temperature at which electrical generation is possible; whereby over the entire period of the startup step, the reforming oxidant gas supply device and water supply device are controlled so that partial oxidation reforming reactions do not occur independently in the reformer.

Abstract: To provide a fuel cell device capable of extending the years of service life of a reformer by suppressing thermal runaways. The present invention is a solid oxide fuel cell device, including a fuel cell module having multiple fuel cell units; a reformer disposed above the fuel cell units, for producing hydrogen by a partial oxidation reforming reaction and a steam reforming reaction; a vaporizing chamber disposed adjacent to the reformer; a combustion chamber for heating the vaporization chamber; a water supply device; a supply device for oxidant gas for electrical generation; and a controller for raising the fuel cell unit to a temperature at which electrical generation is possible; wherein fuel electrodes in each individual fuel cell unit are constituted to act as catalysts for a shift reaction, and the controller executes only the ATR step and SR step in the reformer.

Abstract: A solid oxide fuel cell apparatus 1 has: multiple fuel cell units 16; a module case 8 housing multiple fuel cell units; a heat insulating material 7 disposed to cover the area around the module case 8; a reformer 20 for reforming raw fuel gas using steam, thereby producing fuel gas; a combustion chamber 18 for combusting residual fuel gas and heating the reformer 20; a heat exchanger 23 for exchanging heat between oxidant gas and exhaust gas; and a steam generator 25, disposed within the heat insulating material 7 and on the outside of the module case 8, for exchanging heat between exhaust gas and water immediately after heat is exchanged in the heat exchanger 23, thereby producing steam.

Abstract: To provide a solid oxide fuel cell system with which the durable lifespan of the reformer can be extended by suppressing temperature unevenness in the reformer. The present invention is a solid oxide fuel cell, including a fuel cell module, a reformer for producing hydrogen by POX, ATR, and SR steps; a fuel supply apparatus, a reform air supply apparatus, a water supply apparatus, a generating air supply apparatus, and a control device which, as the temperature inside the fuel cell module rises, executes in sequence POX, ATR and SR steps at predetermined respective temperature bands, and causes a rise in temperature at which electrical generation is possible; wherein the control device comprises a localized temperature rise suppression circuit which, by causing steam reforming to occur locally within the reformer in the POX step, suppresses localized temperature rises in the reformer.

Abstract: To provide a solid oxide fuel cell system capable of avoiding the reduction of air electrodes. The present invention is a solid oxide fuel cell system including: a fuel cell module, a fuel supply apparatus, a water supply apparatus, an oxidant gas supply apparatus, a reformer, and a control section for controlling the extraction of power, whereby the controller having a shutdown stop circuit for executing a shutdown stop when the fuel cell stack is above the predetermined temperature, and after a shutdown stop, during a period when pressure on the fuel electrode side is sufficiently higher than pressure on the air electrode side, and no reverse flow of oxidant gas to the fuel electrode side is occurring, a temperature drop operation is executed whereby high temperature oxidant gas remaining on the oxidant gas electrode side is discharged.

Abstract: To provide a solid oxide fuel cell capable of executing a shutdown stop while sufficiently suppressing fuel cell oxidation. The present invention is a solid oxide fuel cell system having a fuel cell module, a fuel supply apparatus, a water supply apparatus, a generating air supply apparatus, a reformer, a fuel/exhaust gas passageway for guiding fuel/exhaust gas from a fuel supply apparatus through a reformer to outside; and a controller comprising a shutdown stop circuit; whereby the fuel/exhaust gas passageway functions as a mechanical pressure retention means, maintaining a pressure on the oxidant gas electrode side within the fuel cell module higher than atmospheric pressure, and maintaining a pressure on the fuel electrode side at a pressure higher than the pressure on the oxidant gas electrode side, until the fuel electrode temperature drops to a predetermined oxidation suppression temperature.

Abstract: To provide a solid oxide fuel cell system capable of avoiding the reduction of air electrodes. The present invention is a fuel cell system having: a fuel cell module, a fuel supply apparatus, a water supply apparatus, an air supply apparatus, a reformer, and a control section for controlling the extraction of power from a fuel cell module, whereby the controller includes a shutdown stop circuit for executing a shutdown stop when the fuel cell stack is above the oxidation suppression temperature, and after execution of a shutdown stop, during a period when pressure on the fuel electrode side is sufficiently higher than pressure on the air electrode side, and no reverse flow of air to the fuel electrode side is occurring, a temperature drop operation is executed whereby high temperature air remaining on the air electrode side is discharged.

Abstract: The present invention comprises fuel cells 84 disposed within a fuel cell module 2, a reformer 20, a reformer temperature sensor 148 for detecting a reforming state temperature, and a control section 110 for controlling the operation of the fuel cell module. The control section prohibits the normal startup POX and executes a restart control different from the normal startup POX when the reforming state temperature is at least in a high temperature region within the POX temperature band in a state in which the operation of the solid oxide fuel cell module is stopped.

Abstract: The fuel cell assembly of the present invention comprises a first fuel cell, a second fuel cell disposed adjacent to the first fuel cell, and a current collector for electrically connecting the first fuel cell and the second fuel cell. The first fuel cell and the second fuel cell are respectively furnished with an electrical generating portion for generating electricity, each of the electrical generation portion having a first electrode through the interior of which a first gas flows, a second electrode of a polarity different from the first electrode, on the exterior of which a second gas flows, and an electrolyte disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode. The current collector distributes and sources the current generated in the first fuel cell generating portion from two different locations on the first electrode on the first fuel cell to the second electrode of the second fuel cell.

Abstract: Problem: To suppress the occurrence of damage to fuel cell units caused by oxidation shrinkage of fuel electrodes. Solution Means: The invention is a solid oxide fuel cell for generating electricity by reacting hydrogen and oxidant gas in individual fuel cell units, wherein the individual fuel cell units comprise a fuel electrode, an oxidant gas electrode, and a solid electrolyte erected between fuel electrode and oxidant gas electrode; the fuel electrode comprises a composite material containing nickel, and the solid oxide fuel cell prevents shrinkage due to oxidation of the fuel electrode by maintaining the fuel electrode in an oxygen-free atmosphere until the temperature of the fuel electrode has dropped to 350° C. after electrical generation is stopped.

Abstract: The present invention comprises individual fuel cells 84 disposed within a fuel cell module 2; a reformer 20; a reformer temperature sensor 148 and generating chamber temperature sensor 142 for detecting the reforming state temperature inside the reformer, and a control section 110 for controlling the fuel cell module operation. In a state whereby a stopping of fuel cell module operation has been executed from a high temperature, this control section skips the normal startup ATR and executes a restart control by the SR when the reforming state temperature is within the normal startup ATR temperature band and a restart of operation has been executed.

Abstract: To provide a solid oxide fuel cell system with which the durable lifespan of the reformer can be extended by suppressing temperature unevenness in the reformer. The present invention is a solid oxide fuel cell, including a fuel cell module, a reformer for producing hydrogen by POX, ATR, and SR steps; a fuel supply apparatus, a reform air supply apparatus, a water supply apparatus, a generating air supply apparatus, and a control device which, as the temperature inside the fuel cell module rises, executes in sequence POX, ATR and SR steps at predetermined respective temperature bands, and causes a rise in temperature at which electrical generation is possible; wherein the control device comprises a localized temperature rise suppression circuit which, by causing steam reforming to occur locally within the reformer in the POX step, suppresses localized temperature rises in the reformer.

Abstract: To provide a solid oxide fuel cell device capable of smooth transition from a startup state to an electrical generating state. The present invention is a solid oxide fuel cell device (1) for generating electricity, having a fuel cell module (2); a reformer (20) for reforming fuel, heated by the combustion of remaining fuel not used in the generation of electricity; a fuel supply means (38); a water supply means (28); an electrical generation oxidant gas supply means (45); and a control means (110) for controlling the fuel supply means and water supply means at the time of startup when the solid oxide fuel cell units are raised to a temperature at which electrical generation is possible; wherein the control means controls the fuel supply means during the SR operation such that electrical generation is started after reducing the fuel supply flow rate prior to starting electrical generation.

Abstract: To provide a fuel cell device capable of extending the years of service life of a reformer by suppressing thermal runaways. The present invention is a solid oxide fuel cell device, including a fuel cell module having multiple fuel cell units; a reformer disposed above the fuel cell units, for producing hydrogen by a partial oxidation reforming reaction and a steam reforming reaction; a vaporizing chamber disposed adjacent to the reformer; a combustion chamber for heating the vaporization chamber; a water supply device; a supply device for oxidant gas for electrical generation; and a controller for raising the fuel cell unit to a temperature at which electrical generation is possible; wherein fuel electrodes in each individual fuel cell unit are constituted to act as catalysts for a shift reaction, and the controller executes only the ATR step and SR step in the reformer.

Abstract: To provide a fuel cell device capable of extending the years of service life of a reformer by suppressing thermal runaways. The present invention is a solid oxide fuel cell device, including a fuel cell module having fuel cell units; a reformer disposed above the fuel cell units, for producing hydrogen by a partial oxidation reforming reaction and a steam reforming reaction; a vaporizing chamber disposed adjacent to the reformer; a combustion chamber for heating the vaporization chamber; a water supply device; an electrical generation oxidant gas supply device; and a controller for raising the fuel cell units to a temperature at which electrical generation is possible; whereby over the entire period of the startup step, the reforming oxidant gas supply device and water supply device are controlled so that partial oxidation reforming reactions do not occur independently in the reformer.

Abstract: A fuel cell includes plural single cells and first sidewalls disposed on the outer side of a cell stack including the plural single cells. In the first sidewalls, holes for supplying the reactive gas to the cell stack are formed. The single cells are disposed in a row shape along a jetting direction (lateral direction) of the reactive gas jetted from the holes. The holes are formed such that a part of the reactive gas jetted from the holes brushes against at least the single cells disposed in positions closest to the first sidewalls and the remaining part of the reactive gas does not brush against the single cells disposed in the closest positions.

Abstract: The present invention comprises fuel cells 84 disposed within a fuel cell module 2; a reformer 20, a reformer temperature sensor 148 for detecting the temperature of the reformer; and a control section 110 for controlling the operation of a fuel cell module. When a restart of operation is executed in a state whereby stopping of the operation of the fuel cell module is being executed, the normal startup POX is skipped and restart by the ATR is executed, at least within a high temperature region within the POX temperature band, even if the reforming state temperature (Tr, Ts) is within the normal startup POX temperature band W2.