Abstract:
A hydrogen generator including a raw material supplying unit supplying a raw material containing a sulfur component and composed of an organic compound, a water supplying unit supplying water, a reformer producing hydrogen gas, the reformer provided with a reforming catalyst to make the raw material and water undergo a reaction, and a carbon monoxide removing unit reducing the content of carbon monoxide in hydrogen gas produced in the reformer, wherein the reforming catalyst is constituted by a carrier composed of platinum and a metal oxide is provided.
Abstract:
In a hydrogen generator according to the invention, a reformer temperature sensor detects the temperature of a reformer at a start of a stop operation of a hydrogen generator. In a controller, a processing and controlling portion compares the detected temperature with first to fourth reference temperatures pre-stored in a storage portion, and determines which of the following conditions is the temperature condition of the hydrogen generator at the stop; a first condition in which water condensation occurs, a second condition in which water condensation and carbon deposition are avoidable, a third condition in which carbon deposition occurs, a fourth condition in which disproportionation reaction occurs, and a fifth condition in which oxidization of catalyst occurs. According to the determination result, an appropriate setting is selected among first to fifth replacement settings pre-stored in the controller corresponding to the first to fifth conditions, and an internal gas replacement operation is performed according to the selected setting.
Abstract:
The present specification disclosed a hydrogen refinement apparatus comprising a reformed gas feeding part containing at least a hydrogen gas and water vapor, and a reaction chamber equipped with a carbon monoxide shifting catalyst body downstream said reformed gas feeding part, wherein said carbon monoxide shifting catalyst body comprises a carrier supporting Pt, the carrier being composed of at least one metal oxide having a BET specific surface area of 10 m2/g or more, and a method for operating the apparatus. The present invention provides improved heat-resistance of the CO shifting catalyst body, and can operate stably even if the apparatus is activated and stopped repeatedly.
Abstract:
The present specification discloses a hydrogen generator for generating a hydrogen gas, comprising at least a fuel supply part for supplying a hydrocarbon type fuel, a fuel combustion part, a water supply part, a gas, mixing part for mixing the fuel and a water, and a reforming part filled with the reforming catalyst, wherein at least one of the gas mixing part and the reforming part is heated by an exhaust gas generated in the combustion part. The hydrogen generator according to the present invention aims to improve the heat efficiency, reducing the heat loss from the apparatus with a simple constitution and collecting the waste heat for an effective use thereof.
Abstract:
A combustion control method for use in a catalytic combustion system having (a) a gaseous mixture inlet port, located at the upstream side of said catalytic combustion system, for the entrance of a fuel-air mixture; (b) an exhaust gas outlet port, located at the downstream side of said catalytic combustion system, for the exit of an exhaust gas; (c) a primary combustion chamber in which a catalyst body is disposed, said catalyst body being formed of a porous base material with numerous communicating holes that supports thereon an oxidation catalyst; (d) a secondary supply port, located downstream of said primary combustion chamber, for the supply of a gaseous mixture or air; and (e) a secondary combustion chamber located downstream of said secondary supply port; comprising such process that an excess air ratio of said primary combustion chamber is initially set above 1 and after the rate of combustion of said secondary combustion chamber exceeds a given level, combustion is made to take place, with the excess air ratio of said primary combustion chamber set below 1.
Abstract:
Provided are a fuel cell system capable of shortening the wait time of an observer who confirms set points of a system interconnection protective device before starting a system interconnection operation, and a method for operating the fuel cell system.A fuel cell system 100 includes: a hydrogen generating unit 16 configured to generate a hydrogen-containing gas by using a raw material; a heater 18 configured to heat the hydrogen generating unit; an electric power generation start command unit 32 configured to receive a command of start of an electric power generating operation of the fuel cell system, the command being input by a manual operation of an operator, the electric power generating operation being interconnected with an electric power system; and a controller 28 configured to: execute electric power generation stand-by, in which the fuel cell system stands by for the start of the electric power generating operation interconnected with the electric power system, while executing a temperature maintaining process of the hydrogen generating unit by the heater after completion of a temperature increasing process of the hydrogen generating unit by the heater; and when the electric power generation start command unit receives the command of the start of the electric power generating operation, stop the electric power generation stand-by and start the electric power generating operation interconnected with the electric power system.
Abstract:
A hydrogen generation apparatus (100) includes: a reformer (10) configured to generate a hydrogen-containing gas by using a raw material and steam; a raw material passage (21) through which the raw material that is supplied to the reformer (10) flows; a hydrodesulfurizer (13) provided downstream from a most downstream valve (11) on the raw material passage (21) and configured to remove a sulfur compound from the raw material; a sealer (15) provided on a passage (24) downstream from the reformer (10) and configured to block communication between the reformer (10) and the atmosphere; and a depressurizer (16) provided on the raw material passage (21) at a portion connecting the hydrodesulfurizer (13) and the reformer (10) and configured to release, to the atmosphere, pressure in the reformer (10) that has increased after the sealer (15) is closed.
Abstract:
A hydrogen generation apparatus according to the present invention includes: a hydrogen generator configured to generate a fuel gas through a reforming reaction by using a raw fuel; a combustor configured to heat the hydrogen generator; an on-off valve configured to open/block a gas passage through which the gas that is sent out from the hydrogen generator is supplied to the combustor; a combustion air supply device configured to supply combustion air to the combustor; an ignition device provided at the combustor; and a controller. In a case where flame extinction has occurred at the combustor during generation of a hydrogen-containing gas in a start-up process, the controller performs an ignition operation of the ignition device with the on-off valve kept opened.
Abstract:
A fuel cell system (301) of the present invention comprises a fuel cell (1); a water circulating path (9) through which water associated with an operation of the fuel cell (1) circulates; a water circulator (10) for circulating water in the water circulating path (9); a heater (14) for heating the water circulating path (9); a first abnormality detector (29, 30) for detecting a first abnormality which is an abnormality relating to leakage of water from the water circulating path (9); and a controller (16); the fuel cell system being configured to cause the water circulator (10) to perform a water circulating operation for circulating the water in the water circulating path (9) and cause the heater (14) to perform a heating operation for heating the water circulating path (9), to suppress freezing in the water circulating path, wherein the controller (16) is configured to inhibit the water circulating operation for suppressing freezing and not to inhibit the heating operation for suppressing freezing, in a case where the fuel cell system (301) is shut down in response to detection of the first abnormality by the first abnormality detector (29, 30).
Abstract:
A fuel cell system of the present invention includes: a fuel cell (1) configured to generate electric power using a hydrogen-containing fuel gas; a combustible gas path (4, 17, 1a) including a fuel gas channel (1a) of the fuel cell; 0 a shutoff valve (21) disposed on the combustible gas path, located upstream of the fuel cell, to close when the fuel cell stops generating the electric power; a casing (11) containing the fuel cell, the combustible gas path, and the shutoff valve; a ventilation fan (12) configured to ventilate the casing; a stop unit (51, 52) configured to stop a ventilation operation of the ventilation fan by a manual operation of an operator; and a controller (10) configured to, when leakage of a combustible gas occurs in the casing, execute the ventilation operation of the ventilation fan as long as the ventilation operation is not stopped by the stop unit.