JP2016132585A - Hydrogen generation device and fuel cell system therewith and operation method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a hydrogen generation device which can be extended its life by lowering a heating amount of a heater when environmental temperature is low, and a fuel cell system.SOLUTION: A hydrogen generation device 400 comprises: a reactor including a reformer 100 reforming raw materials containing hydrocarbons and producing hydrogen-containing gas; a heater 20 heating at least a part of the reactor; and a controller 300 controlling the heater 20 so that heating with a smaller heating amount than a case where the environmental temperature is relatively high when the environmental temperature is relatively low.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a hydrogen generation apparatus that generates a hydrogen-containing gas and a fuel cell system including the same, and more particularly to a startup method.

  Development of a fuel cell cogeneration system (hereinafter simply referred to as “fuel cell system”) capable of high-efficiency power generation even with a small device is being developed as a power generator for a distributed energy supply source.

  This fuel cell system includes a fuel cell as a main body of the power generation unit. As this fuel cell, for example, a phosphoric acid fuel cell, a molten carbonate fuel cell, an alkaline aqueous fuel cell, a solid polymer fuel cell, a solid electrolyte fuel cell, or the like is used.

  Among these fuel cells, a phosphoric acid fuel cell and a polymer electrolyte fuel cell (abbreviated as “PEFC”) have a relatively low operating temperature during a power generation operation. Therefore, the fuel cells constituting the fuel cell system Is preferably used. In particular, solid polymer fuel cells are particularly suitable for applications such as portable electronic devices and electric vehicles because there is less deterioration of the electrode catalyst compared to phosphoric acid fuel cells and no electrolyte dissipation occurs. It is done.

  Many fuel cells, such as phosphoric acid fuel cells and polymer electrolyte fuel cells, use hydrogen as a fuel during power generation operation. However, the means for supplying hydrogen necessary for power generation operation in these fuel cells is not usually provided as an infrastructure.

  Therefore, in order to obtain electric power from a fuel cell system including a phosphoric acid fuel cell or a polymer electrolyte fuel cell, it is necessary to generate hydrogen as a fuel at the place where the fuel cell system is installed. For this reason, the fuel cell system usually includes a hydrogen generator having a reformer. In the reformer, a hydrogen-containing gas is generated by a reforming reaction from city gas, natural gas, or LPG which is a general raw material infrastructure gas.

  For example, a steam reforming reaction is generally used as the reforming reaction. In this steam reforming reaction, hydrogen is produced by reacting raw material city gas or the like with water vapor at a high temperature of about 600 ° C. to 700 ° C. using a Ni-based or Ru-based noble metal-based reforming catalyst. A hydrogen-containing gas as a main component is generated.

In order to perform the steam reforming reaction stably and efficiently, it is necessary to supply an amount of water suitable for the composition of the feedstock. For example, in a reforming reaction in which methane (CH ₄ ) or ethane (C ₂ H ₆ ) is steam reformed to generate hydrogen and carbon dioxide, theoretically, the water required for 1 mol of methane. Is 2 moles. Further, the amount of water required for 1 mol of ethane is 4 mol.

  Usually, if the amount of water supplied to the reformer is insufficient, problems such as precipitation of carbon in the feedstock will occur, and the theory calculated from the feed flow rate of the feedstock will prevent such problems. The water supply flow rate is set so that about 1.5 times the amount of water is supplied to the reformer. The operation of the hydrogen generator is controlled so that the water supply flow rate becomes a desired value in accordance with the raw material supply flow rate.

Moreover, the heat energy required for the steam reforming reaction of the reformer is supplied to the reformer by the raw material combustion of the combustor provided in the reformer. At startup, the gas flowing through the hydrogen generator is directly
When the hydrogen-containing gas is supplied to the fuel cell after returning to the combustor and burning, a method of combusting the fuel off-gas discharged from the fuel cell with the combustor is common.

  Since the reformer needs to be operated at a high temperature, it takes time to raise the reformer to a predetermined temperature, which accounts for a large percentage of the startup time of the fuel cell system.

  As a means for shortening the start-up time of the fuel cell system, a method of increasing the flow rate of the raw material and increasing the temperature of the reformer in a short time with the passage of time from the start of raw material combustion in the combustor at the time of start-up Has been proposed (for example, Patent Document 1). Further, a method has been proposed in which the gas operation amount to the heater is set to be larger and the operation is stabilized as the environmental temperature is lower (for example, Patent Document 2).

JP 2008-69029 A JP 2012-59559 A

  However, in the above conventional configuration, when the time for raising the reformer to a predetermined temperature is made constant, it is necessary to increase the heating amount as the environmental temperature is lower. Therefore, when the environmental temperature is low compared to the case where the environmental temperature is high, the structure that forms the hydrogen generator is heated indirectly, with the portion directly heated by the heater and the heat radiation to the outside being increased. Since the temperature difference with the part becomes large, the stress applied between the two parts is increased, and there is a problem that the structure is broken due to a large load.

  The present invention solves the above-described conventional problems, and provides a hydrogen generator, a fuel cell system, and an operation method thereof that can maintain the durability of a product by reducing the amount of heating when the environmental temperature is low. The purpose is to provide.

  In order to solve the above-described conventional problems, a hydrogen generator according to the present invention includes a reactor including a reformer that reforms a raw material containing hydrocarbons to generate a hydrogen-containing gas, and at least one of the reactors. A heater that heats the portion, and when the ambient temperature is relatively low, the heater is heated with a smaller heating amount than when the ambient temperature is relatively high.

  By this, when the environmental temperature is low, at the time of start-up with the temperature increase of the hydrogen generator, the heating rate can be suppressed by reducing the amount of heating, so that the portion of the hydrogen generator structure that is directly heated can be suppressed. Since the temperature difference with the part heated indirectly can be made small, stress can be suppressed.

  According to the hydrogen generator of the present invention, when the environmental temperature is low, the stress applied to the structure of the hydrogen generator can be suppressed, and damage to the structure can be suppressed. As a result, the lifetime of the hydrogen generator can be extended.

The block diagram which shows an example of a structure of the hydrogen generator which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention The flowchart which shows an example of the starting method in the hydrogen generator concerning Example 1 of Embodiment 1 of this invention The characteristic view which shows an example of the relationship between the heating amount at the time of starting of the hydrogen generator concerning Example 1 of Embodiment 1 of this invention, and environmental temperature The characteristic view which shows an example of the relationship between the amount of heating at the time of starting of the hydrogen generator concerning Example 2 of Embodiment 1 of this invention, and environmental temperature The characteristic view which shows an example of the relationship between the amount of heating at the time of starting of the hydrogen generator concerning Example 3 of Embodiment 1 of this invention, and environmental temperature The flowchart which shows an example of the starting method in the hydrogen generator concerning Example 4 of Embodiment 1 of this invention. The block diagram which shows an example of a structure of the hydrogen generator concerning the modification 1 of Embodiment 1 of this invention. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a fuel cell system according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a fuel cell system according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention.

  A hydrogen generator according to a first aspect of the present invention includes a reactor including a reformer that reforms a raw material containing hydrocarbons to generate a hydrogen-containing gas, a heater that heats at least a part of the reactor, And a controller that controls the heater so that the heating is performed with a smaller heating amount when the environmental temperature is relatively low than when the environmental temperature is relatively high.

  According to the hydrogen generator of the present invention, when the environmental temperature is low, the heating rate can be suppressed by reducing the heating amount, and the heating rate of the directly heated portion of the hydrogen generator structure can be suppressed indirectly. Since the temperature difference from the portion to be formed can be reduced, stress can be suppressed and damage to the structure can be suppressed. As a result, the lifetime of the hydrogen generator can be extended.

  In particular, the hydrogen generator according to the second aspect of the present invention is the first heating amount when the controller in the hydrogen generator of the first aspect of the present invention is such that the environmental temperature is equal to or higher than a preset first threshold value. The heater is controlled to heat, and when the environmental temperature is lower than the first threshold value, the heater is controlled to heat with a second heating amount smaller than the first heating amount. .

  According to the hydrogen generator of the present invention, a threshold is provided for the environmental temperature, and when the environmental temperature is lower than the threshold, the amount of heating is reduced to reduce the stress and Damage can be suppressed. Furthermore, since the frequency with which the startup time is lengthened can be suppressed, merchantability is not impaired.

  The hydrogen generator according to the third aspect of the invention is provided with a reactor temperature detector for detecting the reactor temperature of the reactor in the hydrogen generator of the second aspect of the invention. When the temperature is equal to or higher than the first threshold, or when the reactor temperature detected by the reactor temperature detector is equal to or higher than a second threshold set in advance, the heater is heated so as to be heated with the first heating amount. And when the environmental temperature is lower than the first threshold value and the environmental temperature is lower than the second threshold value, the heater is controlled to heat with the second heating amount. .

  According to the hydrogen generator of the present invention, unless the environmental temperature is low and the reaction temperature is low, the frequency of start-up time by reducing the heating amount is reduced by not reducing the heating amount. It can suppress, and it can suppress impairing the commercial property of a hydrogen generator.

  The hydrogen generating apparatus according to the fourth invention is characterized in that, in particular, the environmental temperature in the hydrogen generating apparatus according to any one of the first to third inventions is an ambient temperature of the hydrogen generating apparatus.

  According to the hydrogen generator of the present invention, the environmental temperature is calculated from the ambient temperature of the hydrogen generator, so that the environmental temperature can be reduced at a low cost even when a detector for directly detecting the environmental temperature is not provided. The effect of can be obtained.

  In the hydrogen generator according to the fifth aspect of the invention, in particular, the environmental temperature in the hydrogen generator of any one of the first to third aspects is a reactor temperature detected by the reactor temperature detector. Features.

  According to the hydrogen generator of the present invention, a detector that directly detects the environmental temperature by calculating the environmental temperature from the reactor temperature detected by the reactor temperature detector that is normally provided for temperature control of the hydrogen generator. Even when not provided, when the environmental temperature becomes low at the time of stopping and cooling, the stress of the structure of the hydrogen generator can be suppressed and damage to the structure can be suppressed.

  In the hydrogen generator according to the sixth invention, in particular, when the environmental temperature in the hydrogen generator of any one of the first to third inventions stops heating by the heater, or the heating amount is made constant. In this case, the temperature is detected from the rate of temperature decrease detected by the reactor temperature detector.

  According to the hydrogen generator of the present invention, the environmental temperature is calculated by calculating the environmental temperature from the reactor temperature during shutdown and cooling detected by the reactor temperature detector normally provided for temperature control of the hydrogen generator. Even when a detector for directly detecting the temperature is not provided, when the environmental temperature becomes low during stopping and cooling, the stress of the structure of the hydrogen generator can be suppressed and damage to the structure can be suppressed.

  The hydrogen generator according to the seventh aspect of the invention is particularly characterized in that the reactor temperature when the environmental temperature in the hydrogen generator of any one of the first to third aspects of the invention is a constant heating amount by the heater. It is the temperature detected from the rising speed of the temperature detected by the detector.

  According to the hydrogen generator of the present invention, the environmental temperature is calculated from the reaction temperature at the time of start-up and temperature rise detected by the reactor temperature detector normally provided for temperature control of the hydrogen generator. Even when a detector for directly detecting the temperature is not provided, when the environmental temperature becomes low at the time of startup, the stress of the structure of the hydrogen generator can be suppressed, and damage to the structure can be suppressed.

  A fuel cell system according to an eighth aspect of the present invention includes, in particular, the hydrogen generator according to any one of the first to seventh aspects, and a fuel cell that generates power using a hydrogen-containing gas supplied from the hydrogen generator. It is characterized by providing.

  According to the fuel cell system of the present invention, stress on the hydrogen generator can be suppressed and damage to the structure can be suppressed, so that the life of the fuel cell system can be extended.

  The operation method of the hydrogen generator according to the ninth invention comprises a reactor including a reformer that reforms a raw material containing hydrocarbons to generate a hydrogen-containing gas, a heater that heats the reformer, When the environmental temperature is relatively low, the heater is operated so as to heat with a smaller heating amount than when the environmental temperature is relatively high. To do.

According to the operation method of the hydrogen generator of the present invention, when the environmental temperature is low, the heating rate can be suppressed by reducing the heating amount, thereby suppressing the temperature increase rate of the directly heated portion of the hydrogen generator structure. Since the temperature difference from the portion heated by the heat can be reduced, stress can be suppressed and damage to the structure can be suppressed. As a result, the lifetime of the hydrogen generator can be extended.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the same components are denoted by the same reference symbols throughout the drawings, and description thereof is omitted.

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of the hydrogen generator 400 according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

  A hydrogen generator 400 of the present embodiment shown in FIG. 1 includes a reformer 100 that is one of reactors that generate a hydrogen-containing gas, a raw material supplier 31 that supplies a raw material to the reformer 100, and a raw material A raw material supply amount detector 30 for detecting the supply amount of water, a desulfurizer 10 for removing sulfur compounds contained in the raw material, a water supply device 51 for supplying water to the reformer 100, and a supply amount of water are detected. Water supply amount detector 50, heater 20 that heats reformer 100, air supply 71 that supplies air to heater 20, air supply amount detector 70 that detects the supply amount of air, and reaction A reformer temperature detector 80 that detects the temperature of the reformer 100, which is one of the atmospheric temperature detectors, and a reactor that reduces CO in the hydrogen-containing gas produced by the reformer 100. A certain CO reducer 150 and a reactor temperature for detecting the temperature of the CO reducer 150 It comprises a knowledge unit 90, a controller 300 for controlling the hydrogen generator 400, a.

  The reformer temperature detector 80 and the CO reducer temperature detector 90 are configured by a thermocouple, for example. The heater 20 may be, for example, a combustor, a heater, and a catalytic combustor. In the present embodiment, the case where the heater 20 is a combustor will be described. Further, the reactor only needs to include at least the reformer 100. In the present embodiment, the reactor is configured by the reformer 100 and the CO reducer 150. The structure which becomes may be sufficient.

  The reformer 100 generates a hydrogen-containing gas by a reforming reaction using a raw material and water vapor, and is composed of a stainless steel structure and is filled with a reforming catalyst that advances the reforming reaction. In the present embodiment, the reforming catalyst is a catalyst that supports Ru using alumina beads as a carrier.

  The reforming catalyst may be any catalyst as long as the reforming reaction can proceed, and is generally composed of Pt, Rh, Pd, Ir, Re, and Ni in addition to Ru. At least one selected from the group is suitably used for the catalytic metal. A honeycomb can also be used as the carrier.

  The raw material contains at least an organic compound having carbon and hydrogen as constituent elements, and specific examples include natural gas, city gas, hydrocarbons such as LPG and LNG, and alcohols such as methanol and ethanol. Here, the city gas refers to a gas supplied from a gas company to each household through piping.

  In order to detect leakage, these raw materials contain at least one odorant mainly composed of a sulfur compound and are odorized. Since the odorant composed of these sulfur compounds poisons and deteriorates the reforming catalyst, it is removed in advance by the desulfurizer 10 and then supplied to the reformer 100.

  The reforming reaction may be any reforming reaction as long as it is a reaction in which a hydrogen-containing gas is generated from the raw material and steam. Specifically, steam reforming reaction, autothermal reaction, and partial oxidation reaction are exemplified, and combinations thereof may be used. The hydrogen-containing gas generated in the reformer 100 is supplied to the hydrogen utilization device 201 through the hydrogen supply path 41.

  The reformer temperature detector 80 detects the temperature of the reformer 100. It is desirable to directly measure the catalyst temperature inside the reformer 100. However, if the catalyst temperature can be estimated from the detected value, a temperature detector is installed outside or near the reformer 100. It doesn't matter. A thermocouple is used as the reformer temperature detector 80, but other examples include a thermistor.

  The raw material supplier 31 supplies the raw material to the reformer 100. The raw material supplier 31 includes, for example, at least one of a booster and a flow rate adjustment valve.

  The water supply unit 51 supplies water to the reformer 100. The water supply device 51 can adjust the supply amount of water, and includes, for example, at least one of a pump and a flow rate adjustment valve. In the present embodiment, the water supply amount is adjusted by the water supply amount detector 50, but may be based on the operation amount.

  The heater 20 heats the reformer 100. As the fuel for the heater 20, the raw material supplied from the raw material supplier 31 and part or all of the hydrogen-containing gas discharged from the reformer 100 are used. The hydrogen-containing gas supplied to the heater 20 may be supplied directly from the reformer 100 to the heater 20, or discharged from the hydrogen utilization device 201 via the hydrogen utilization device 201 and supplied to the heater 20. May be. In the heater 20, the fuel may be added to the hydrogen-containing gas from a fuel supplier (not shown) and burned.

  The air supplier 71 supplies combustion air to the heater 20. The air supply unit 71 is configured by, for example, at least one of a fan and a pump.

  The CO reducer 150 reduces CO in the hydrogen-containing gas output from the reformer 100 using at least one of a shift reaction, a selective oxidation reaction, and a methanation reaction. The CO reduction reaction in the CO reducer 150 requires reaction heat of 100 ° C. to 300 ° C. In this embodiment, the CO reducer 150 is adjacent to the relatively high temperature reformer 100 and heated by heat transfer. The method was used. A method of directly heating with the heater 20 may be used, or a combination thereof may be used. Although the combustor was used for the heater 20, a heater may be used or may be used in combination.

  The CO reducer temperature detector 90 detects the temperature of the CO reducer 150. Although it is desirable to directly measure the catalyst temperature inside the CO reducer 150, if the catalyst temperature can be estimated from the detected value, a temperature detector is installed outside or near the CO reducer 150. It doesn't matter. Although a thermocouple is used as the CO reducer temperature detector 90, other examples include a thermistor.

  If the hydrogen using device 201 does not provide the upper limit of the CO concentration of the hydrogen-containing gas, it is not necessary to provide the CO generator 150 and the CO reducer temperature detector 90 in the hydrogen generator 400.

  As the desulfurizer 10, an adsorptive desulfurizer was used in which a desulfurization vessel having a stainless steel structure was filled with zeolite ion-exchanged with silver, which is an adsorption desulfurization agent for normal temperature. There are two types of desulfurization methods: adsorptive desulfurization method and hydrodesulfurization method. If adsorptive desulfurization method is used, one or more kinds of desulfurization agents such as zeolite desulfurization agent are filled and the desulfurization function is exhibited by normal temperature or heating. .

  In the case of the hydrodesulfurization method, a recycle gas path (not shown) for supplying a part of the hydrogen-containing gas generated in the reformer 100 to the desulfurizer 10 is provided, and water filled in the desulfurizer 10 is provided. Examples of the desulfurization catalyst include a CuZn-based catalyst (including a combination with a CoMo-based catalyst). Moreover, the structure using combining a hydrodesulfurization system and an adsorption desulfurization system as a desulfurization system can also be taken.

  For example, a method of adsorbing and desulfurizing a sulfur compound by circulating a raw material gas through an adsorptive desulfurization type desulfurizer 10 at a start-up or stop step when hydrogen-containing gas cannot be supplied to a hydrodesulfurization type desulfurizer 10 from a recycle gas path. Etc.

  The controller 300 may be any control device that can control the whole or a part of the hydrogen generator 400 as long as it has a control function. The controller 300 includes a calculation unit 301 and a storage unit 302 that stores a control program. Examples of the arithmetic unit 301 include an MPU and a CPU. An example of the storage unit 302 is a memory. The controller 300 stores an operation parameter group at the time of activation in the storage unit 302.

  The controller 300 may be a single controller or a plurality of controllers. That is, each of the controllers 300 may be configured by a single controller that performs centralized control, or may be configured by a plurality of controllers that perform distributed control in cooperation with each other. This also applies to controllers of other embodiments described later.

  A raw material supply amount detector 30 for detecting the supply amount of the raw material is provided in the middle of the raw material supply path from the raw material supply device 31 to the reformer 100, and its detection output is input to the calculation unit 301. A water supply amount detector 50 that detects the amount of water supply is provided in the middle of the water supply path from the water supply device 51 to the reformer 100, and the detection output is input to the calculation unit 301. Yes. Here, the raw material supply amount detector 30 and the water supply amount detector 50 are each composed of a flow meter such as a mass flow meter.

  An air supply amount detector 70 for detecting an air supply amount is provided in the middle of an air supply path from the air supply device 71 to the heater 20, and the detection output is input to the calculation unit 301. In the first embodiment, the air supply amount is adjusted by the air supply amount detector 70, but may be based on the operation amount. Here, each of the air supply amount detectors 70 is composed of a flow meter such as a mass flow meter.

  The storage unit 302 provided in the controller 300 stores a program for controlling various operations of the hydrogen generator 400, and the arithmetic unit 301 reads out a necessary program from the storage unit 302 and executes it. By doing so, various operations of the hydrogen generator 400 are controlled.

  Hereinafter, operation | movement and an effect | action of the hydrogen generator 400 of Embodiment 1 are demonstrated. The following operations and actions are performed by the controller 300 controlling the hydrogen generator 400.

  When the hydrogen generator 400 is activated, combustion in the heater 20 is started. At this time, the sealer 40 is closed, but the fuel supply path 42 for combustion extending from the hydrogen supply path 41 to reach the heater 20 is in a gas-venting state. Therefore, when the raw material is supplied to the reformer 100 by starting the operation of the raw material supplier 31, the raw material that has passed through the reformer 100 is supplied to the heater 20 using the combustion fuel supply path 42. .

  At the same time, combustion air is supplied to the heater 20 by starting the operation of the air supply device 71. In the heater 20, an ignition operation is performed by an ignition electrode (not shown), and combustion of fuel occurs using combustion air. In this way, the reformer 100 is heated by the combustion heat supplied from the heater 20.

Next, water is supplied to the reformer 100 when the operation of the water supplier 51 starts. After the start of water supply, the hydrogen-containing gas is supplied to the hydrogen-using device 201 when the composition of the hydrogen-containing gas generated in the reformer 100 becomes a composition suitable for supply to the hydrogen-using device 201. When the hydrogen generator 400 is stopped, the raw material supplier 31 and the water supplier 51 are stopped.

  In the present embodiment, the controller 300 sets the heating amount at the startup of the hydrogen generator 400 to 40 kJ / min when the environmental temperature is 30 ° C., and raises the temperature of the reformer 100.

  Of the structure of the reformer 100, the part A that is adjacent to the heater 20 and is directly heated by the heater 20 and the part B that is not in contact with the heater 20 and is indirectly heated by heat transfer, When the temperature after 10 minutes from the start of measurement was measured and measured, the part A was 400 ° C. and the part B was 280 ° C.

  When the heating amount at the startup of the hydrogen generator 400 is set to 40 kJ / min when the environmental temperature is −30 ° C. and the temperature of the reformer 100 is increased, the site A is 400 ° C. 12 minutes after the start of the startup. The part B is 200 ° C., and the thermal stress applied to the part A and the part B is larger than the thermal stress at the environmental temperature of 30 ° C., and the damage to the structure of the hydrogen generator 400 is increased.

  In the present embodiment, when the environmental temperature is −30 ° C., the heating amount at the startup of the hydrogen generator 400 is set to 20 kJ / min, which is smaller than that at the environmental temperature of 30 ° C., and the reformer 100 is heated. It was. As a result, when the temperature after 15 minutes from the start of measurement was measured, the site A was 400 ° C and the site B was 285 ° C.

  In the present embodiment, in the structure of the hydrogen generator 400, the temperature rise rate of the part A that is directly heated that is not significantly affected by the environmental temperature is suppressed, and the structure is heated indirectly that is easily affected by the environmental temperature. Since the temperature difference between the part A and the part B can be reduced by heating the part B over time by heat transfer from the part A, the stress is suppressed and the damage to the structure is suppressed. be able to. As a result, the life of the hydrogen generator 400 can be extended.

Example 1
FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an example of a startup method in the hydrogen generator 400 according to the first example of the first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 shows a hydrogen generator 400 according to the first example of the first embodiment. It is a characteristic view which shows an example of the relationship between the amount of heating at the time of starting of, and environmental temperature.

  Since the configuration of the hydrogen generator 400 of Example 1 is the same as that of the hydrogen generator 400 of Embodiment 1, repeated description is omitted.

  The starting method of the hydrogen generator 400 of Example 1 is demonstrated using the flowchart of FIG.

  First, an activation start command is input to the controller 300 (step S100). Next, the environmental temperature Te is compared with the magnitude of the first threshold A (step S101). If Te ≧ A, the process proceeds to step S104, and if Te <A, the process proceeds to step S102.

  In the present embodiment, the first threshold value A is 0 ° C. (see FIG. 3). From the viewpoint of the durability of the structure of the hydrogen generator 400 and the catalyst, it is an environmental temperature at which stress generated at the time of start-up can be tolerated, the frequency at which the start-up time can be increased, and the commerciality is not impaired. .

  If the environmental temperature is Te ≧ A in step S101, heating by the first heating amount is started (step S104). In this case, in the heater 20, the raw material gas ignited by an ignition device (not shown) is combusted together with the combustion air.

  The raw material gas is supplied so that the heating amount by the heater 20 becomes the first heating amount, and the heat generated by the combustion is transmitted to the reformer 100 and the CO reducer 150, and the reformer 100 and the CO reducer 150 are Raise the temperature. At the same time, heating by a heater may be used in combination. The first heating amount was 40 kJ / min in this example (see FIG. 3).

  Next, water is supplied from the water supplier 51, and the reforming reaction starts (step S105). The water supply start timing may be a predetermined temperature condition when the reforming temperature detected by the reformer temperature detector 80 satisfies the predetermined temperature condition, or may be after a predetermined time has elapsed since the start of heating. When the reducer temperature detector 90 exists, the temperature measured by the CO reducer temperature detector 90 may be determined based on a preset threshold value.

  The temperatures of the reformer 100 and the CO reducer 150 of the hydrogen generator 400 reach predetermined temperatures, respectively, and hydrogen is supplied from the hydrogen generator 400 to the hydrogen utilization device 201 (step S106). Here, the predetermined temperature is, for example, a reforming temperature of 500 ° C. and a CO reducer temperature of 200 ° C.

  If the environmental temperature is Te <A in step S101, heating by the second heating amount smaller than the first heating amount is started (step S102). The first heating amount was 20 kJ / min in this example (see FIG. 3). Next, water is supplied from the water supplier 51, and the reforming reaction starts (step S103). Since steps S102 and S103 are the same as steps S104 and S105 except for the heating amount, description thereof is omitted.

  As described above, in this embodiment, a threshold value is provided for the environmental temperature, and when the environmental temperature is lower than the threshold value, the heating amount is reduced when the environmental temperature is lower than the threshold value. Among them, the heating rate of the part A that is directly heated that is not greatly affected by the environmental temperature can be suppressed, and the heating rate of the indirectly heated part B that is easily influenced by the environmental temperature is not suppressed. Since the temperature difference between the part A and the part B can be reduced, stress can be suppressed and damage to the structure can be suppressed. Furthermore, since the frequency with which the startup time is lengthened can be suppressed, merchantability is not impaired.

  Here, the threshold value of the environmental temperature is set to 0 ° C., but is not limited to this temperature. Further, the heating amount is not limited to each heating amount.

(Example 2)
FIG. 4 is a characteristic diagram illustrating an example of the relationship between the heating amount and the environmental temperature when the hydrogen generator 400 according to Example 2 of the first embodiment is started.

  The configuration and start-up method of the hydrogen generator 400 according to the second embodiment are the same as those of the hydrogen generator 400 according to the first embodiment, and thus redundant description is omitted.

  In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, a plurality of threshold values are set for the environmental temperature, and the heating amount is set to be smaller as the environmental temperature is lower.

  Specifically, when the environmental temperature is less than −12 ° C., the heating amount when the hydrogen generator 400 is started is set to 20 kJ / min, and the heating is performed when the environmental temperature is −12 ° C. or more and less than 6 ° C. The amount was set to 25 kJ / min. Thereafter, threshold values were set at 24 ° C. and 42 ° C., and when the temperature was 42 ° C. or higher, the heating amount was set to 40 kJ / min, and the temperature of the reformer 100 was increased.

As described above, in this embodiment, the hydrogen generator 4 is provided by providing a plurality of threshold values for the environmental temperature and reducing the heating amount when the environmental temperature is lower than the threshold value, compared to the case where the environmental temperature is equal to or higher than the threshold value.
In the structure of 00, the temperature increase rate of the directly heated portion A that is not significantly affected by the environmental temperature can be suppressed, and the temperature increase rate of the indirectly heated portion B that is easily affected by the environmental temperature Since the temperature difference between the part A and the part B can be reduced by not suppressing the stress, the stress can be suppressed and damage to the structure can be suppressed.

  Furthermore, since damage to the structure, which increases when the environmental temperature is low compared to when the environmental temperature is high, can be suppressed for each step with respect to the environmental temperature, the life of the hydrogen generator 400 can be extended.

  However, the set number of threshold values of the environmental temperature is not limited to the number set in the present embodiment, and the threshold values need not be set at equal intervals. Further, the heating amount is not limited to each heating amount.

Example 3
FIG. 5 is a characteristic diagram illustrating an example of the relationship between the heating amount and the environmental temperature when the hydrogen generator 400 according to Example 3 of the first embodiment is started.

  The configuration and activation method of the hydrogen generator 400 according to the third embodiment are the same as those of the hydrogen generator 400 according to the first embodiment, and thus redundant description is omitted.

  In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, the environmental temperature and the heating amount are set in a function relationship so that the heating amount is decreased as the environmental temperature is lower, and the environmental temperature and the heating amount are continuously set. I did it.

Specifically, the environmental temperature Te and the heating amount W are
W = 0.22 × Te + 26.7
As a result, when the environmental temperature is −30 ° C., the heating amount at the start of the hydrogen generator 400 is set to 20 kJ / min, and when it is 60 ° C. The reformer 100 was heated to set the heating amount to 40 kJ / min.

  As described above, in this embodiment, by setting the heating amount continuously according to the environmental temperature so that the heating amount becomes small when the environmental temperature is low, the environment of the structure of the hydrogen generator 400 is reduced. The temperature increase rate of the directly heated portion A that is not greatly affected by the temperature can be suppressed, and the temperature increase rate of the indirectly heated portion B that is easily affected by the environmental temperature is not suppressed. And the temperature difference between the parts B can be reduced, so that stress can be suppressed and damage to the structure can be suppressed.

  Furthermore, since the damage to the structure that increases when the environmental temperature is low compared to when the environmental temperature is high can be set and suppressed continuously with respect to the environmental temperature, the life of the hydrogen generator 400 can be extended.

  Here, the relationship between the environmental temperature and the heating amount is set by a linear function. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and other functions may be used, or different functions may be set by providing threshold values. Further, the heating amount is not limited to each heating amount.

Example 4
FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a startup method in the hydrogen generator 400 according to the fourth example of the first embodiment. In addition, Table 1 shows an example of the relationship between the heating amount, the environmental temperature, and the detected temperature of the reformer temperature detector 80 when the hydrogen generator 400 according to Example 4 of the first embodiment is started.

実施例４の水素生成装置４００の構成については、実施例１の水素生成装置４００と同様のため、重複する説明を省略する。

About the structure of the hydrogen generator 400 of Example 4, since it is the same as that of the hydrogen generator 400 of Example 1, the overlapping description is abbreviate | omitted.

  A method for starting the hydrogen generator 400 according to the fourth embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  First, an activation start command is input to the controller 300 (step S100). Next, the environmental temperature Te is compared with the first threshold value A, and the detected temperature Te of the reformer temperature detector 80 is compared with the second threshold value B (step S107). If Te ≧ A or Tr ≧ B, The process proceeds to step S105, and if Te <A and Tr <B, the process proceeds to step S102.

  In this example, as shown in Table 1, the first threshold A was 0 ° C. and the second threshold B was 30 ° C. From the viewpoint of the durability of the structure of the hydrogen generator 400 and the catalyst, it is an environmental temperature at which stress generated at the time of start-up can be tolerated, the frequency at which the start-up time can be increased, and the commerciality is not impaired. .

  Thereby, since the load which becomes large can be suppressed when the environmental temperature is relatively lower than when the environmental temperature is relatively high, the durability of the hydrogen generator 400 can be maintained, and the startup time can be further increased. Can suppress the frequency with which the product becomes long, so that merchantability is not impaired.

  When the ambient temperature is Te ≧ A or the detected temperature of the reformer temperature detector 80 is Tr ≧ B in step S107, heating by the first heating amount is started (step S104). In this case, in the heater 20, the raw material gas ignited by an ignition device (not shown) is burned together with the combustion air.

  The raw material gas is supplied so that the heating amount by the heater 20 becomes the first heating amount, and the heat generated by the combustion is transmitted to the reformer 100 and the CO reducer 150, and the reformer 100 and the CO reducer 150 are Raise the temperature. At the same time, heating by a heater may be used in combination. As shown in Table 1, the first heating amount was 40 kJ / min in this example.

  If the ambient temperature is Te ≧ A and the temperature detected by the reformer temperature detector 80 is Tr ≧ B in step S107, heating by the second heating amount smaller than the first heating amount is started (step S102). . As shown in Table 1, the first heating amount was 20 kJ / min in this example.

  Next, water is supplied from the water supplier 51, and the reforming reaction starts (step S103). Since steps S102 and S103 are the same as steps S104 and S105 except for the heating amount, description thereof is omitted.

As described above, in this embodiment, threshold values are provided for the environmental temperature and the temperature detected by the reformer temperature detector 80, respectively, and the heating amount is reduced when the environmental temperature is lower than the threshold value when it is equal to or higher than the threshold value. As a result, it is possible to suppress the temperature increase rate of the portion A that is directly heated in the structure of the hydrogen generator 400 that is not significantly affected by the environmental temperature, and is indirectly heated that is easily affected by the environmental temperature. By not suppressing the temperature increase rate of the part B, the temperature difference between the part A and the part B can be reduced, so that stress can be suppressed and damage to the structure can be suppressed.

  Here, when the temperature detected by the reformer temperature detector 80 is equal to or higher than the threshold value, that is, when the elapsed time from the previous stop operation is relatively short and the temperature of the reactor is relatively high, the predetermined temperature at the start-up is determined. The cumulative amount of heating for raising the temperature to the temperature is reduced.

  In addition, during the stop operation, the part A that is directly heated and the part B that is indirectly heated, which are part of the structure of the hydrogen generator 400, are substantially the same, and are heated indirectly during startup. In particular, the integrated amount of the heating amount for raising the temperature of the portion B is reduced.

  Therefore, even if the environmental temperature is lower than the threshold value, when the temperature detected by the reformer temperature detector 80 is equal to or higher than the threshold value, the directly heated portion A is also indirectly heated without reducing the heating amount. The stress applied to the portion B does not increase. By not reducing the heating amount, it is possible to suppress the frequency with which the start-up time becomes long, and thus it is possible to prevent the merchantability from being impaired.

  Here, the threshold value of the environmental temperature is set to 0 ° C., and the threshold value of the temperature detected by the reformer temperature detector 80 is set to 30 ° C., but is not limited to this temperature. Further, the temperature detected by the reformer temperature detector 80 may be the temperature detected by the CO reducer detector 90 or other reactor detector temperature, and the heating amount is not limited to each heating amount.

(Example 5)
An example of the relationship between the heating amount, the environmental temperature, and the detected temperature of the reformer temperature detector 80 when the hydrogen generator 400 according to Example 5 of the first embodiment is started up is shown in (Table 2).

実施例５の水素生成装置４００の構成については、実施例１の水素生成装置４００と同様であり、起動方法は実施例４と同様のため、重複する説明を省略する。

The configuration of the hydrogen generator 400 of the fifth embodiment is the same as that of the hydrogen generator 400 of the first embodiment, and the startup method is the same as that of the fourth embodiment.

  In this embodiment, as shown in (Table 2), a plurality of threshold values are set for the environmental temperature and the detection temperature of the reformer temperature detector 80. The lower the environmental temperature is, the more the reformer temperature detector 80 is. The lower the detected temperature, the smaller the heating amount was set in a step shape.

  Specifically, when the environmental temperature is less than −12 ° C., the heating amount when the hydrogen generator 400 is started is set to 20 kJ / min, and the heating is performed when the environmental temperature is −12 ° C. or more and less than 6 ° C. The amount was set to 25 kJ / min. Thereafter, threshold values were set at 24 ° C. and 42 ° C., and when the temperature was 42 ° C. or higher, the heating amount was set to 40 kJ / min, and the temperature of the reformer 100 was increased.

  As described above, in this embodiment, a plurality of threshold values are provided for the environmental temperature and the detection temperature of the reformer temperature detector 80, and when the environmental temperature is lower than the threshold value, the heating amount is set. When the temperature detected by the reformer temperature detector 80 is lower than the threshold value, the heating amount is reduced when the temperature detected by the reformer temperature detector 80 is equal to or higher than the threshold value. It is possible to suppress the temperature increase rate of the directly heated portion A, which is not so much affected, and by not suppressing the temperature increase rate of the indirectly heated portion B which is easily affected by the environmental temperature, between the portion A and the portion B Therefore, the stress can be suppressed and damage to the structure can be suppressed.

  Furthermore, even if the environmental temperature is lower than the threshold, if the temperature detected by the reformer temperature detector 80 is equal to or higher than the threshold, the portion A that is directly heated is also indirectly heated by not reducing the heating amount. The stress applied to B does not increase. For this reason, the frequency with which the startup time is lengthened can be suppressed, so that the merchantability can be prevented from being impaired.

  In addition, since it is possible to set the suppression of damage to the structure and the suppression of prolonging the startup time for each step, it is possible to provide a product with a balance between the life and the merchantability.

  However, the setting number of the environmental temperature threshold value and the setting number of the detection temperature threshold value of the reformer temperature detector 80 are not limited to the numbers set in this embodiment, and the threshold values may not be set at equal intervals. Furthermore, a continuous relationship may be set between the environmental temperature and the temperature detected by the reformer temperature detector 80 and the heating amount. The temperature detected by the reformer temperature detector 80 may be the temperature detected by the CO reducer detector 90 or other reactor detector temperature, and the heating amount is not limited to the heating amount described in this embodiment. Absent.

(Modification 1)
FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of the hydrogen generator 400 according to the first modification of the first embodiment.

  Since the method for starting the hydrogen generator 400 according to the first modification is the same as that of the hydrogen generator 400 according to the first to fifth embodiments, redundant description is omitted.

  In the first modification, an ambient temperature detector 81 capable of detecting the ambient temperature is provided around the hydrogen generator 400. The ambient temperature detector 81 was installed outside the heat insulating material covering the structure of the hydrogen generator 400 using a thermocouple. Although it is desirable to measure the ambient temperature independent of the internal temperature state of the hydrogen generator 400, if the ambient temperature can be estimated by taking into account the detected value and the operating state, a temperature detector is provided in the vicinity of the hydrogen generator 400. May be installed. Examples of the ambient temperature detector 81 include a thermistor in addition to a thermocouple.

  Moreover, if the temperature detector is provided in the hydrogen utilization apparatus 201, piping, or a housing | casing, you may use those detection temperatures as ambient temperature.

  Since the other configuration is the same as that of FIG.

  As described above, in this modification, the environmental temperature is calculated from the ambient temperature of the hydrogen generator 400, so that even when a detector that directly detects the environmental temperature is not provided, The stress of the structure of the generator 400 can be suppressed, and damage to the structure can be suppressed. As a result, the life of the hydrogen generator 400 can be extended.

(Modification 2)
The configuration of the hydrogen generator 400 of the second modification is the same as the configuration of the hydrogen generator 400 shown in FIG. 1, and the method for starting the hydrogen generator 400 of the second modification is the same as that of the first to fifth embodiments. Since it is the same as the starting method of the apparatus 400, the overlapping description is abbreviate | omitted.

  In this modification, a reformer temperature detector 80 that detects the temperature of the reformer 100 is used as the reactor temperature detector. During the operation of the normal hydrogen generator 400, the temperature of the reformer 100 is higher than the environmental temperature, but after entering a stop operation and after a sufficient time has passed, there is no difference from the environmental temperature. It can be used as a temperature measuring means. Examples of the reformer temperature detector 80 include a thermocouple and a thermistor.

  As described above, in the present modification, the detector for directly detecting the environmental temperature is not provided by calculating the environmental temperature from the reactor temperature detector normally provided for the temperature control of the hydrogen generator 400. However, when the environmental temperature is low, the stress of the structure of the hydrogen generator 400 can be suppressed, and damage to the structure can be suppressed. As a result, the life of the hydrogen generator 400 can be extended. In addition, the effect can be obtained at low cost without using a new temperature detector.

(Modification 3)
The configuration of the hydrogen generator 400 of Modification 3 is the same as the configuration of the hydrogen generator 400 shown in FIG. 1, and the startup method of the hydrogen generator 400 of Modification 3 is the hydrogen generation of Embodiments 1 to 5. Since it is the same as the starting method of the apparatus 400, the overlapping description is abbreviate | omitted.

  In this modification, a reactor temperature detector is used as the environmental temperature measurement means, and specifically, a reformer temperature detector 80 that detects the temperature of the reformer 100 is used. During the operation of the normal hydrogen generator 400, the temperature of the reformer 100 is higher than the environmental temperature, but after entering a stop operation and after a sufficient time has passed, there is no difference from the environmental temperature. It can be used as a temperature measuring means. Examples of the reformer temperature detector 80 include a thermocouple and a thermistor.

  As described above, in this modification, the detector for directly detecting the environmental temperature is not provided by calculating the environmental temperature with the reactor temperature detector normally provided for the temperature control of the hydrogen generator 400. However, when the environmental temperature is low, the stress of the structure of the hydrogen generator 400 can be suppressed, and damage to the structure can be suppressed. As a result, the life of the hydrogen generator 400 can be extended. In addition, the effect can be obtained at low cost without using a new temperature detector.

  In this modification, the reformer temperature detector 80, which is a reactor temperature detector, is used as the environmental temperature measurement means. However, even if the CO reducer temperature detector 90 is used, the temperature of other reactors is measured. A detector or a plurality of detectors may be used.

(Modification 4)
An example of the relationship between the reduction rate of the reformer temperature and the environmental temperature when the hydrogen generator 400 according to the fourth modification of the first embodiment is stopped is shown in (Table 3).

変形例４の水素生成装置４００の構成は、図１に示す水素生成装置４００の構成と同様であり、変形例４の水素生成装置４００の起動方法は、実施例１から実施例５の水素生成装置４００の起動方法と同様のため、重複する説明を省略する。

The configuration of the hydrogen generator 400 of the modification 4 is the same as the configuration of the hydrogen generator 400 shown in FIG. 1, and the startup method of the hydrogen generator 400 of the modification 4 is the hydrogen generation of the first to fifth embodiments. Since it is the same as the starting method of the apparatus 400, the overlapping description is abbreviate | omitted.

  In this modification, the rate of decrease in the reactor temperature detected by the reactor temperature detector when heating by the heater 20 is stopped is used as the environmental temperature measurement means. Specifically, the reformer temperature decrease rate of the reformer 100 detected by the reformer temperature detector 80 was used.

  The reduction rate of the reformer temperature is calculated by the arithmetic unit 301 provided in the controller 300 from the reformer temperature output from the reformer temperature detector 80 and the elapsed time, and stored in the storage unit 302 in advance. The environmental temperature was calculated by reading the relationship table (Table 3) between the reforming rate of the reformer temperature and the environmental temperature.

  As described above, in this modification, the environmental temperature is calculated by calculating the environmental temperature from the rate of decrease in the reactor temperature calculated by the reactor temperature detector normally provided for the temperature control of the hydrogen generator 400. Even when a detector that directly detects the above is not provided, when the environmental temperature is low, the stress of the structure of the hydrogen generator 400 can be suppressed, and damage to the structure can be suppressed.

As a result, the life of the hydrogen generator 400 can be extended. In addition, the effect can be obtained at low cost without using a new temperature detector. Furthermore, the environmental temperature can be estimated not only after the hydrogen generator 400 is stopped and sufficiently cooled, but also immediately after the stop operation. In this modification, the relationship table between the reforming rate of the reformer temperature and the environmental temperature ( Although Table 3) is used, a function indicating the relationship between the temperature decrease rate of the reformer 100 and the environmental temperature may be used.

  Further, different relationship tables and functions may be set according to the elapsed time since the stop operation was started.

  Further, as the environmental temperature measurement means, the rate of decrease in the reformer temperature of the reformer 100 detected by the reformer temperature detector 80 is used, but the CO reducer 150 detected by the CO reducer temperature detector 90 is used. The temperature reduction rate of the CO reducer, the rate of temperature reduction of other reactors, or a plurality of them may be used.

  In this modification, the rate of decrease in reformer temperature when heating by the heater 20 is stopped is used. However, the rate of decrease in reformer temperature when the amount of heating by the heater 20 is constant is used. Also good.

(Modification 5)
An example of the relationship between the rise rate of the reformer temperature and the environmental temperature when the hydrogen generator 400 according to the fifth modification of the first embodiment is started is shown in (Table 4).

変形例５の水素生成装置４００の構成は、図１に示す水素生成装置４００の構成と同様であり、変形例５の水素生成装置４００の起動方法は、実施例１から実施例５の水素生成装置４００の起動方法と同様のため、重複する説明を省略する。

The configuration of the hydrogen generator 400 of Modification 5 is the same as the configuration of the hydrogen generator 400 shown in FIG. 1, and the startup method of the hydrogen generator 400 of Modification 5 is the hydrogen generation of Embodiments 1 to 5. Since it is the same as the starting method of the apparatus 400, the overlapping description is abbreviate | omitted.

  In this modification, the temperature increase rate of the reactor detected by the reactor temperature detector when the heating amount by the heater 20 is made constant is used as the environmental temperature measuring means. Specifically, the rate of increase in the reformer temperature of the reformer 100 detected by the reformer temperature detector 80 was used.

  The rate of rise of the reformer temperature is calculated by the arithmetic unit 301 provided in the controller 300 from the reformer temperature output from the reformer temperature detector 80 and its elapsed time, and stored in the storage unit 302 in advance. The environmental temperature was calculated by reading the relationship table (Table 4) between the reforming rate of the reformer temperature and the environmental temperature.

  As described above, in this modification, the environmental temperature is calculated by calculating the environmental temperature from the rate of increase of the reactor temperature calculated by the reactor temperature detector that is normally provided for the temperature control of the hydrogen generator 400. Even when a detector that directly detects the above is not provided, when the environmental temperature is low, the stress of the structure of the hydrogen generator 400 can be suppressed, and damage to the structure can be suppressed.

As a result, the life of the hydrogen generator 400 can be extended. In addition, the effect can be obtained at low cost without using a new temperature detector. Furthermore, the environmental temperature can be estimated at the time of starting the hydrogen generator 400 after the stop operation, but in this modification, the relationship table of the reformer temperature and the environmental temperature is used (Table 4). Alternatively, a function indicating the relationship between the rise rate of the reformer temperature and the environmental temperature may be used.

  Further, different relationship tables and functions may be set according to the elapsed time since the start operation.

  In addition, as the environmental temperature measurement means, the rate of increase in the reformer temperature of the reformer 100 detected by the reformer temperature detector 80 is used, but the CO reducer 150 detected by the CO reducer temperature detector 90 is used. The temperature increase rate of the CO reducer, the temperature increase rate of other reactors, or a plurality of them may be used.

(Embodiment 2)
FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of the fuel cell system according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the fuel cell system 500 a of the present embodiment includes a hydrogen generator 400 and a fuel cell 200.

  The fuel cell 200 generates power using the hydrogen-containing gas supplied from the hydrogen generator 400. The fuel cell 200 generates electricity by reacting a hydrogen-containing gas with an oxidant gas. In the present embodiment, a polymer electrolyte fuel cell (PEFC) is used as the fuel cell 200, but any type of fuel cell may be used. Other examples include a solid oxide fuel cell, a phosphorous cell, and the like. An acid fuel cell, a molten carbonate fuel cell, or the like can be used.

  A sealer 40 is installed in the hydrogen supply path 41 from the hydrogen generator 400 to the fuel cell 200, a bypass path 43 is installed in the fuel supply path 42 and the hydrogen supply path 41 from the fuel cell 200 to the heater 20, A bypass sealer 44 was installed in the bypass path 43. The fuel cell system 500a includes a controller 300. The controller 300 includes a central processing unit (CPU) as a main body of the calculation unit 301 and a storage unit 302.

  A raw material supply amount detector 30 for detecting the supply amount of the raw material is provided in the middle of the raw material supply path from the raw material supply device 31 to the reformer 100, and its detection output is input to the calculation unit 301. A water supply amount detector 50 that detects the amount of water supply is provided in the middle of the water supply path from the water supply device 51 to the reformer 100, and the detection output is input to the calculation unit 301. Yes.

  Here, the raw material supply amount detector 30 and the water supply amount detector 50 are each composed of a flow meter such as a mass flow meter. The storage unit 302 provided in the controller 300 stores a program for controlling various operations of the fuel cell system 500a. The calculation unit 301 reads out a necessary program from the storage unit 302 and stores it. By executing, various operations of the fuel cell system 500a are controlled.

  A generated current detector 60 is provided in the current path from the fuel cell 200 to the output controller 61, and the detected output is input to the calculation unit 301. Here, the generated current detector 60 is composed of an ammeter. In addition, the calculation unit 301 can detect the power generation amount from the generated current obtained from the generated current detector 60, the generated voltage obtained from the output controller 61, and the generated time.

  The arithmetic unit 301 included in the controller 300 controls the overall operation of the fuel cell system 500a by inputting various detection outputs including these detection outputs and controlling the above-described components.

  Similarly, the storage unit 302 provided in the controller 300 stores programs for controlling various operations of the fuel cell system 500a. The calculation unit 301 reads out necessary programs from the storage unit 302. By executing this, various operations of the fuel cell system 500a are controlled.

  The operation and action of the fuel cell system 500a according to Embodiment 2 will be described below. The following operations and actions are performed by the controller 300 controlling the hydrogen generator 400.

  When the hydrogen generator 400 is activated, combustion in the heater 20 is started. At this time, the sealer 40 is closed, the bypass sealer 44 is opened, the fuel supply path 42 for combustion reaching the heater 20 is branched from the hydrogen supply path 41 and extending to the heater 20. .

  Therefore, when the raw material is supplied to the reformer 100 by starting the operation of the raw material supplier 31, the raw material that has passed through the reformer 100 is supplied to the heater 20 using the combustion fuel supply path 42. At the same time, combustion air is supplied to the heater 20 by starting the operation of the air supply device 71. In the heater 20, an ignition operation is performed by an ignition electrode (not shown), and fuel combustion occurs using combustion air. In this way, the reformer 100 is heated by the combustion heat supplied from the heater 20.

  Next, water is supplied to the reformer 100 when the operation of the water supplier 51 starts. After the start of water supply, when the composition of the hydrogen-containing gas generated in the reformer 100 becomes a composition suitable for supply to the fuel cell 200, the sealer 40 is opened and the bypass sealer 44 is closed. As a result, the hydrogen-containing gas is supplied to the fuel cell 200.

  The fuel cell 200 generates electricity by reacting an oxidant gas supplied from an oxidant supply path (not shown) and a hydrogen-containing gas.

  When stopping the fuel cell system 500a, the raw material supplier 31 and the water supplier 51 are stopped.

  In the present embodiment, the controller 300 sets the heating amount at the startup of the hydrogen generator 400 to 40 kJ / min when the environmental temperature is 30 ° C., and raises the temperature of the reformer 100.

  Of the structure of the reformer 100, the part A that contacts the heater 20 and is directly heated by the heater 20, and the part B that does not contact the heater 20 and is indirectly heated by heat transfer, When the temperature after 10 minutes from the start of measurement was measured and measured, the part A was 400 ° C. and the part B was 280 ° C.

  When the heating amount at the startup of the hydrogen generator 400 is set to 40 kJ / min when the environmental temperature is −30 ° C. and the temperature of the reformer 100 is increased, the site A is 400 ° C. 12 minutes after the start of the startup. The part B is 200 ° C., and the thermal stress applied to the part A and the part B is larger than the thermal stress at the environmental temperature of 30 ° C., and the damage to the structure of the hydrogen generator 400 is increased.

  In the present embodiment, when the environmental temperature is −30 ° C., the heating amount at the startup of the hydrogen generator 400 is set to 20 kJ / min, which is smaller than that at the environmental temperature of 30 ° C., and the reformer 100 is heated. It was. As a result, when the temperature after 15 minutes from the start of measurement was measured, the site A was 400 ° C and the site B was 285 ° C.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the structure of the hydrogen generator 400 constituting the fuel cell system 500a is reduced by reducing the heating amount when the environmental temperature is lower than when the environmental temperature is relatively high. In the body, the heating rate of the directly heated portion A that is not affected by the environmental temperature is suppressed, and the indirectly heated portion B that is easily affected by the environmental temperature takes time to transfer heat from the portion A. Since the temperature difference between the part A and the part B can be reduced by increasing the temperature over time, stress can be suppressed and damage to the structure can be suppressed. As a result, the lifetimes of the hydrogen generator 400 and the fuel cell system 500a can be extended.

(Embodiment 3)
FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of the fuel cell system according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 9, in the fuel cell system 500b of Embodiment 3, the fuel cell 200 is configured to be able to exchange heat with the reformer 100 and is used as a heater of the reformer 100.

  A polymer electrolyte fuel cell uses a polymer electrolyte membrane and normally operates at 80 ° C. to 90 ° C. Even at high temperatures, the limit is about 200 ° C., and it is not used as a heater of the reformer 100.

  However, the solid oxide fuel cell uses a heat-resistant ceramic-based electrolyte, operates at 700 ° C. to 1000 ° C., and the operating temperature is higher than the set temperature 600 ° C. to 700 ° C. of the reformer 100. It can be used as a heater for the mass device 100. The molten carbonate fuel cell also has an operating temperature of 650 ° C. to 700 ° C. and can be used as a heater for the reformer 100.

  The fuel cell system 500b uses the fuel cell 200 as a heater of the reformer 100 and reduces the amount of heating when the environmental temperature is lower than when the environmental temperature is relatively high, thereby reducing the fuel cell system 500b. Among the structures constituting the structure, the temperature rise rate of the directly heated portion A that is not significantly affected by the environmental temperature is suppressed, and the indirectly heated portion B that is easily affected by the environmental temperature is transmitted from the portion A. Since the temperature difference between the part A and the part B can be reduced by increasing the temperature with heat, stress can be suppressed and damage to the structure can be suppressed. As a result, the life of the fuel cell system 500b can be extended.

  From the foregoing description, many modifications and other embodiments of the present invention are apparent to persons skilled in the art. Accordingly, the foregoing description should be construed as illustrative only and is provided for the purpose of teaching those skilled in the art the best mode of carrying out the invention. Without departing from the spirit of the invention, both the structure and / or function thereof can be substantially changed.

  As described above, the hydrogen generator according to the present invention, the fuel cell system using the same, and the operation method thereof suppress the stress applied to the structure of the hydrogen generator when the environmental temperature is low, and damage the structure. Can be suppressed, and the life of the hydrogen generator can be extended, so that it can be applied to a hydrogen generator and a fuel cell system having high durability and high commerciality.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Desulfurizer 20 Heater 30 Raw material supply amount detector 31 Raw material supply device 40 Sealing device 41 Hydrogen supply path 50 Water supply amount detector 51 Water supply device 71 Air supply device 100 Reformer 150 CO reducer 200 Fuel cell 201 Hydrogen-utilizing device 300 Controller 301 Calculation unit 302 Storage unit 400 Hydrogen generator 500a Fuel cell system 500b Fuel cell system

Claims (9)

A reactor including a reformer that reforms a feedstock containing hydrocarbons to produce a hydrogen-containing gas;
A heater for heating at least a portion of the reactor;
A controller that controls the heater to heat with a smaller heating amount than when the environmental temperature is relatively high, when the environmental temperature is relatively low;
A hydrogen generator comprising:   The controller controls the heater to heat with a first heating amount when the environmental temperature is equal to or higher than a preset first threshold, and when the environmental temperature is lower than the first threshold. The hydrogen generator according to claim 1, wherein the heater is controlled to be heated at a second heating amount smaller than the first heating amount. A reactor temperature detector for detecting the reactor temperature of the reactor;
When the environmental temperature is equal to or higher than the first threshold, or when the reactor temperature detected by the reactor temperature detector is equal to or higher than a second threshold set in advance, the controller Controlling the heater to heat at a heating amount, and heating the second heating amount when the environmental temperature is lower than the first threshold and the environmental temperature is lower than the second threshold. The hydrogen generator according to claim 2, wherein the heater is controlled.   The hydrogen generating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the environmental temperature is an ambient temperature of the hydrogen generating apparatus.   The hydrogen generation apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the environmental temperature is a reactor temperature detected by the reactor temperature detector.   The environmental temperature is a temperature detected from a rate of decrease in the reactor temperature detected by the reactor temperature detector when heating by the heater is stopped or when a heating amount is made constant. To 4. The hydrogen generator according to any one of items 1 to 3.   4. The temperature according to claim 1, wherein the environmental temperature is a temperature detected from a rate of increase in the reactor temperature detected by the reactor temperature detector when the heating amount by the heater is constant. 5. The hydrogen generator described in 1.   A fuel cell system comprising: the hydrogen generator according to any one of claims 1 to 7; and a fuel cell that generates electric power using a hydrogen-containing gas supplied from the hydrogen generator.   An operation method of a hydrogen generator comprising a reactor including a reformer that reforms a raw material containing hydrocarbons to generate a hydrogen-containing gas, and a heater that heats the reformer, the environmental temperature When the temperature is relatively low, the operation method of the hydrogen generator is such that the heater is operated to heat with a smaller heating amount than when the environmental temperature is relatively high.

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