JP2003217629A - Solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell power generator - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell power generator capable of raising the temperature of a fuel cell to the temperature range close to the operation temperature in a short time when the generator is started. <P>SOLUTION: In this solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell power generator comprising a reformer, a CO transformer, a CO remover, a process gas burner to burn hydrogen until each reactor is stabilized after the generator is started, a fuel cell, a water tank storing water to cool the fuel cell, and a hot water storage tank to store hot water, a pipe for feeding hydrocarbon fuel gas to the process gas burner is provided, the hydrocarbon fuel gas is fed through the pipe and singly burned when the generator is started, or burned together with hydrogen, and the heat of exhaust gas is recovered to heat the water in the water tank, and the heated hot water is circulated to the fuel cell to heat the fuel cell. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a polymer electrolyte fuel cell power generator suitable as a small-sized power source for home use, for example.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Recently, a reformer for reforming hydrocarbon fuel gas such as natural gas, city gas, methanol, LPG, butane to hydrogen, a CO shifter for transforming carbon monoxide, and a carbon monoxide. A CO remover that removes hydrogen, a process gas burner that burns hydrogen until each reactor stabilizes after startup, and a fuel cell that chemically reacts the hydrogen thus obtained with oxygen in the air to generate electricity. A water tank containing water (pure water) treated with a water treatment device such as an ion exchange resin for cooling the electrode part of the fuel cell and humidifying the reaction air, and the reformer, fuel cell, process gas burner A heat exchanger that recovers the heat of exhaust gas such as
A polymer electrolyte fuel cell power generator has been proposed as a small power source including a hot water storage tank for storing hot water.

A solid polymer electrolyte membrane used in a solid polymer fuel cell power generator functions as a proton conductive electrolyte by containing water. In the solid polymer fuel cell, reaction air, fuel gas, etc. A method is employed in which the reaction gas is saturated with water vapor and supplied to the electrode portion to operate.

When a fuel gas containing hydrogen is supplied to the fuel electrode and air is supplied to the air electrode, a fuel electrode reaction is carried out to decompose hydrogen molecules into hydrogen ions and electrons in the fuel electrode, and water is generated from oxygen, hydrogen ions and electrons in the air electrode. Each of the electrochemical reactions to generate the electric current is performed, and the electric power is supplied to the load by the electrons moving in the external circuit from the fuel electrode toward the air electrode, and the water is generated on the air electrode side.

FIG. 4 is a system diagram of a conventional polymer electrolyte fuel cell power generator (PEFC device GS). Fuel cell 6
The PEFC device GS that uses is, for example, includes a heat recovery device RD in addition to the fuel cell 6. This heat recovery device RD
Are connected by a hot water circulation path including a hot water storage tank 50, heat exchangers 32, 46, 71, and pumps 33, 47, 72.

The fuel cell 6 comprises a desulfurizer 2, a reformer 3 and a CO
Fuel gas supply device including a transformer 4, CO remover 5 and the like, air pump 11, reaction air supply device including a water tank 21, electrodes such as fuel electrode 6a and air electrode 6k, and water tank 21, pump 48, cooling A cooling device for the fuel cell 6 including a portion 6c and the like is provided.

The electric power generated by the fuel cell 6 is boosted by a DC / DC converter (not shown) and connected to a commercial power source through an inverter (not shown) connected to a distribution system.
From here, it is supplied as electric power for other electric devices such as lighting and air conditioners in homes and offices.

In the PEFC device GS using such a fuel cell 6, hot water is generated from city water by utilizing heat generated during power generation by the fuel cell 6 simultaneously with power generation, and the hot water is stored in the hot water storage tank 50. The energy stored in the fuel used in the fuel cell 6 is effectively used by storing it and supplying it to a bath or kitchen.

In the fuel gas supply device of the PEFC device GS described above, a hydrocarbon-based raw fuel 1 such as natural gas, city gas, LPG, or butane is supplied to a desulfurizer 2, where the raw fuel serves as a reforming catalyst. Harmful sulfur components are removed. When the raw fuel that has passed through the desulfurizer 2 is pressurized by the booster pump 10 and supplied to the reformer 3, the raw fuel is removed from the water tank 21.
Hot water is sent via 2 and is joined by the steam generated by being heated by the heat exchanger 17 and supplied. The reformer 3 produces a reformed gas containing hydrogen, carbon dioxide, and carbon monoxide. The gas that has passed through the reformer 3 is supplied to the CO shift converter 4, where carbon monoxide contained in the reformed gas is transformed into carbon dioxide. The gas that has passed through the CO shift converter 4 is supplied to the CO remover 5, where the untransformed carbon monoxide in the gas that has passed through the CO shift converter 4 is reduced to, for example, 10 ppm or less, and the water gas having a high hydrogen concentration The reformed gas) is supplied to the fuel electrode 6a of the fuel cell 6 via the pipe 64.

At this time, the amount of water added to the reformed gas is adjusted by adjusting the amount of hot water supplied from the water tank 21 to the reformer 3. In the reaction air supply device, humidification is performed by supplying air from the air pump 11 to the water tank 21 and bubbling the reaction air into the hot water in the water tank 21 and sending the reaction air to the gas phase portion 53. In this way, the reaction air that has been moistened so that the reaction in the fuel cell 6 is appropriately maintained is supplied from the water tank 21 to the air electrode 6k of the fuel cell 6 via the pipe 25.

In the fuel cell 6, the hydrogen in the reformed gas supplied to the fuel electrode 6a and the oxygen in the air supplied to the air electrode 6k via the air pump 11 and the gas phase portion 53 of the water tank 21 are used. Power is generated by an electrochemical reaction. Fuel cell 6
In order to prevent the fuel cell 6 from overheating due to the reaction heat of this electrochemical reaction, the cooling device of FIG.
a, 6k are juxtaposed with each other. Hot water in the water tank 21 is circulated as cooling water by the pump 48 in the cooling unit 6c, and the temperature in the fuel cell 6 is suitable for power generation (for example, 70 The temperature is controlled to be maintained at about 80 ° C.

Since the chemical reaction in the reformer 3 is an endothermic reaction, it has a burner 12 for continuing the chemical reaction while heating, to which the raw fuel is supplied through a pipe 13 and a fan 14 Air is supplied via the fuel cell 6 and unreacted hydrogen via the fuel electrode 6a is supplied via the pipe 15. When the PEFC device GS is started, the burner 12 and the pipe line 13
The raw fuel is supplied through and burned, and after startup,
When the temperature of the fuel cell 6 becomes stable, the supply of raw fuel from the pipe 13 is cut off, and instead, unreacted hydrogen (off gas) discharged from the fuel electrode 6a is supplied via the pipe 15 to burn the fuel. Continued.

On the other hand, the chemical reaction carried out in the CO shift converter 4 and the CO remover 5 is an exothermic reaction. During operation, cooling control is performed so that the heat of the exothermic reaction does not raise the temperature above the reaction temperature. In this way, the reformer 3, the CO converter 4, the CO
A predetermined chemical reaction and power generation are continued in the remover 5 and the fuel cell 6.

Heat exchangers 18 and 19 are provided between the reformer 3 and the CO shift converter 4 and between the CO shift converter 4 and the CO remover 5, respectively.
Are connected. The hot water in the water tank 21 circulates through the heat exchangers 18 and 19 via the pumps 23 and 24, and the hot water cools the gas passing through the reformer 3 and the CO shift converter 4, respectively. Although not shown, a heat exchanger may be connected between the CO remover 5 and the fuel cell 6 to cool the gas passing through the CO remover 5. The heat exchanger 17 is connected to the exhaust system 31 of the reformer 3, and when the hot water in the water tank 21 is supplied via the pump 22, the heat exchanger 1
It is vaporized at 7, and this vapor is mixed with the raw fuel and supplied to the reformer 3.

The PEFC device GS is provided with a process gas burner (PG burner) 34. At the time of starting the PEFC device GS, the composition of the reformed gas that has passed through the reformer 3, the CO shifter 4, and the CO remover 5 has not reached a stable specified value suitable for the operation of the fuel cell 6, so that it is stable. Until then, this gas cannot be supplied to the fuel cell 6. Therefore, until the respective reactors become stable, the gas whose gas composition has not reached the specified value is introduced into the PG burner 34 and burned. Reference numeral 37 is a fan that sends combustion air to the PG burner 34.

Then, after each reactor is stabilized and the CO concentration in the gas reaches a specified value (for example, 10 to 20 ppm or less), it is introduced into the fuel cell 6 to generate electricity. The unreacted gas that could not be used for power generation in the fuel cell 6 was initially guided to the PG burner 34 and burned, and after the temperature of the fuel cell 6 became stable, the off gas from the fuel cell 6 was modified via the pipe line 15 It is introduced into the burner 12 of the quality device 3 and burned.

That is, after the PEFC unit GS is started, the on-off valve 91 is closed and the reformed gas is supplied to the PG burner 34 via the pipe line 35 and the on-off valve 36 until the temperature of each reactor becomes stable. It

When the temperature of each reactor is stable, the on-off valve 91 is opened and the on-off valve 92 is opened until the temperature of the fuel cell 6 stabilizes in the temperature range near the operating temperature (for example, 70 to 80 ° C.). Is closed, and the reformed gas is supplied to the PG burner 34 via the pipe 38 and the opening / closing valve 39, and is burned there.

When the temperature of the fuel cell 6 is stabilized at the operating temperature and power is continuously generated, the on-off valve 91,
The on-off valve 92 is opened, the on-off valve 36 and the on-off valve 39 are closed, and the unreacted gas (off gas) that has passed through the fuel cell 6 is supplied to the burner 12 via the pipe 15.

City water is supplied to the hot water storage tank 50 through a water pipe 61. The city water supplied to the hot water storage tank 50 is heated by the exhaust heat generated from the PEFC device GS, and the heated hot water is supplied to the outside through the hot water supply pipe 62. For example, the exhaust system 31 includes a heat exchanger 17
In addition to the above, another heat exchanger 32 is connected, and the water in the hot water storage tank 50 circulates in the heat exchanger 32 via the pump 33 to recover the exhaust heat.

A heat exchanger 46 is connected to the exhaust system 45 of the PG burner 34, and water in the hot water storage tank 50 is circulated through the heat exchanger 46 via a pump 47 to recover heat in the hot water storage tank 50. Done. The water tank 21 has a pump 2
The water returning through the heat exchangers 18 and 19 by the cooling devices 3, 24 and 48 and the cooling water circulating in the cooling portion 6c of the fuel cell 6 are the water pipes 7.
A water supply device 68 is connected to supply water to the water tank 21 while flowing in through The water replenishing device 68 is composed of an electric valve 56, a supply tank 67, a pump 74, and the like. The supply tank 67 is a tank capable of temporarily storing the water generated from the city water supply device 69 and the fuel cell 6 via the pipe line 70 and supplying the water to the water tank 21.

For the water generated from the fuel cell 6, for example, the gas discharged from the air electrode 6k of the fuel cell 6 is used as the heat exchanger 7.
1 and the drain water obtained by cooling the inside of the heat exchanger 71 with the water circulating between the heat exchanger 71 and the hot water storage tank 50 and the water contained in the gas discharged from the fuel electrode 6a. is there.

The city water supply device 69 is connected to the water source 78 through the water pipe 52 having the motor-operated valve 76, and indicates that the water level in the supply tank 67 has decreased and the water level has decreased.
When 9 detects, the liquid level control device 77 opens the motor-operated valve 76 and utilizes the water pressure of the water source 78 to supply water to the supply tank 67 via the water pipe 52 and the water treatment device (ion exchange resin) 51. It is a device that holds the amount of water that does not hinder the supply of water to the water tank 21. In the water tank 21, a liquid level control device LC that keeps the water level of water so that an air portion (vapor phase portion) 53 is always formed in the upper part of the tank, and temperature control that keeps the water temperature in the water tank 21 within a set range. And a device TC.

The liquid level control device LC is provided with a control device for the water level gauge 54 and the motor-operated valve 56 to constantly monitor the amount of water in the water tank 21, and when the reaction air passes through the water tank 21. Water is stored in the tank so as to be appropriately humidified and supplied to the fuel cell 6, and the amount of water is controlled so that the gas phase portion 53 is formed in the upper part. When the water level drops, the pump 74
Of the supply tank 67 by adjusting the opening degree of the motor-operated valve 56.
The treated water is introduced through the pipe line 84 to maintain the water level in the water tank 21 within the set range. Reference numeral 55 is a wave-eliminating plate that prevents the detection of the water level by the water level gauge 54 from becoming unstable due to foaming or the like.

The temperature control device TC controls the temperature of the water in a temperature range of, for example, 50 to 80 ° C. so that the water can be appropriately humidified when the reaction air is supplied to the air electrode 6k of the fuel cell 6. It is a device that keeps the temperature at the set temperature. 63 is a perforated plate for bubbling.

The PEFC device GS having the above-mentioned configuration is
Since it takes the form of a cogeneration system of power generation and heat utilization, not only is the power generation efficiency of the fuel cell improved,
This has the effect of effectively reusing the water used in this system. However, when the apparatus is started, the temperature of the water in the water tank 21 and the temperature of the fuel cell 6 are low, and there is a problem that it takes time until the temperature of the fuel cell 6 stabilizes in a temperature range near the operating temperature.

In view of this problem, when starting the apparatus, hydrogen is burned in the process gas burner 34 to recover the heat of the exhaust gas to raise the temperature of the water in the water tank 21, and the warmed water is circulated to the fuel cell 6. Then, a polymer electrolyte fuel cell power generation device was proposed in which the fuel cell 6 was heated by heating the fuel cell 6 (Japanese Patent Application No. 2001-006349). FIG. 3 is a system diagram for explaining the polymer electrolyte fuel cell power generator. In FIG. 3, the same components as those shown in FIG. 4 are designated by the same reference numerals, and a duplicate description will be omitted.

In the polymer electrolyte fuel cell power generator GS1 shown in FIG. 3, the gas discharged from the heat exchanger 32 of the exhaust system 31, the heat exchanger 46 of the exhaust system 45 and the air electrode k of the fuel cell 6 is used. A heat exchanger HEX is further installed after the heat exchanger 71, and the water in the hot water storage tank 50 is sent by the pump P to the heat exchangers 71, 32, 46 through the heat exchangers HEX, 32, 46 for heat exchange and discharge. The recovered hot water A is directly supplied to the water tank 21.
A line L1 is provided to circulate and send heat to the heat exchanger.
A line L2 for sending the hot water A to the hot water storage tank 50 when the hot water A does not have to be sent to the water tank 21 via the line L1 is provided side by side.
2, the line L2 is provided with an on-off valve 81, respectively.
T1 is a thermometer provided in the pipe (water pipe) 73 for detecting the temperature of the cooling water circulating in the cooling section 6c of the fuel cell 6, and T2 is a thermometer provided in the water tank 21 for It is a means for detecting the temperature of the tank 21. The polymer electrolyte fuel cell power generator GS1 is the same as the polymer electrolyte fuel cell generator GS shown in FIG. 4 except that the heat recovery device RD1 and the like are provided.

The polymer electrolyte fuel cell power generator G
At the start of starting S1, the water temperature of the water tank 21 (the water temperature measured by the thermometer T2) is equal to or lower than the set temperature (for example, 50 to 80 ° C.).
Below, the temperature of the fuel cell 6 is below the set temperature (for example, 70
-80 ° C. or less), a signal is sent from a control device (not shown) to the PG burner 34, the fan 37, the open / close valves 81 and 8.
2. Send to the pump P to operate the fan 37, supply hydrogen through the conduit 35 and the on-off valve 36 to operate the PG burner 34 to ignite, and open / close the valve 81 on the line L2.
Closed, the opening / closing valve 82 of the line L1 is opened, and the pump P is operated to heat the hot water storage tank 50 containing the warm water A whose temperature is recovered by the heat exchanger 46 connected to the PG burner 34.
The hot water of No. 2 is circulated and sent to the line L1 to heat the water in the water tank 21. Then, a signal is sent from the control device (not shown) to the pump 48 to operate the pump 48 to drive the fuel cell 6
The hot water is circulated and sent to the cooling section 6c to raise the temperature of the main body of the fuel cell 6. If the temperature of the fuel cell 6 main body rises sufficiently and the fuel cell 6 operates normally, the opening / closing valve 8 of the line L2
1 is opened, the on-off valve 82 of the line L1 is closed, the circulation of the hot water to the line L1 is stopped, and the hot water A whose temperature is recovered by the heat exchanger 46 and heated is supplied to the hot water storage tank 50.

By doing so, the time for heating the temperature of the fuel cell 6 of the polymer electrolyte fuel cell power generator GS1 to a temperature range close to the operating temperature at the time of start-up was greatly shortened, but after the start-up, reforming was performed. Until the respective devices such as the reactor 3 become stable, the reformed gas having a low hydrogen concentration including carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide is supplied to the PG burner 34, so that there is a problem that the combustion heat amount is small and stable combustion cannot be performed. Therefore, there was still room for improvement.

[0031]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and to heat the temperature of the fuel cell to a temperature range close to the operating temperature in a short time at the time of starting, so that the starting time can be shortened. A molecular fuel cell power generator is provided.

[0032]

That is, the polymer electrolyte fuel cell power generator according to claim 1 of the present invention is a reformer for reforming hydrocarbon fuel gas into hydrogen, and carbon monoxide is metamorphosed. A CO shift converter and a CO remover for removing carbon monoxide;
A process gas burner that burns hydrogen until each reactor becomes stable after startup, a fuel cell that generates electricity by hydrogen, a water tank that stores water for cooling the fuel cell, the reformer, the fuel cell, and the process gas burner. A polymer electrolyte fuel cell power generator comprising a heat exchanger for collecting heat of exhaust gas such as hot water and a hot water storage tank for storing the hot water, and supplying hydrocarbon fuel gas to the process gas burner. A hydrocarbon gas is supplied through the pipe at the start of the apparatus and burned alone in the process gas burner, or burned with hydrogen to recover the heat of the exhaust gas and the water tank. The water of
It is characterized in that the heated hot water is circulated and sent to the fuel cell to heat the fuel cell.

The polymer electrolyte fuel cell power generator according to claim 2 of the present invention is the polymer electrolyte fuel cell generator according to claim 1, wherein the process gas burner is carbonized when the reformer is stabilized after startup. It is characterized in that the supply of the hydrogen-based fuel gas is stopped and hydrogen is burned by the process gas burner.

In the polymer electrolyte fuel cell power generator of the present invention, the hydrocarbon-based fuel gas is burned alone in the process gas burner at the time of starting the device, or is burned together with hydrogen to recover the heat of the exhaust gas, and The water in the water tank is heated, and the heated hot water is circulated and sent to the fuel cell to heat the fuel cell, so the temperature of the fuel cell can be heated to a temperature range close to the operating temperature in a short time, and the startup time is shortened. it can.
Then, after the reformer is stabilized after starting, and the reformed gas having a high hydrogen concentration and a high combustion heat amount can be supplied to the PG burner, the supply of the hydrocarbon fuel gas to the PG burner is stopped, and the hydrogen is stopped. If only the reformed gas having a high concentration is burned by the process gas burner, the consumption of the hydrocarbon fuel gas can be reduced and stable combustion can be performed.

[0035]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a system diagram illustrating an embodiment of a polymer electrolyte fuel cell power generator of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing an embodiment of the flow of hot water in the polymer electrolyte fuel cell power generator according to the present invention shown in FIG. 1-2, the same components as those shown in FIGS. 3-4 are designated by the same reference numerals, and the duplicated description will be omitted.

The solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell power generator GS2 of the present invention shown in FIG. 1 is provided with a conduit 101 having an opening / closing valve 100 for supplying a hydrocarbon fuel gas to the PG burner 34, and at the start of the apparatus start-up. The on-off valve 100 is opened, and the hydrocarbon fuel gas is supplied to the PG burner 34 via the pipe 101 and burned independently to recover the heat of the exhaust gas to raise the temperature of the water in the water tank 21 and raise the temperature of the water. The hot water in the tank 21 is replaced by the fuel cell 6
It is the same as the polymer electrolyte fuel cell power generator GS1 shown in FIG. 3 except that the fuel cell 6 is heated by circulating it to the fuel cell 6.

The polymer electrolyte fuel cell power generator G of the present invention
When the water temperature of the water tank 21 is equal to or lower than the set temperature and the temperature of the fuel cell 6 is equal to or lower than the set temperature at the start of the start of S2, a signal is output from a control device (not shown) to the PG burner 34 and the fan 3.
7, the on-off valves 81, 82, 100, and the pump P to operate the fan 37, and the hydrocarbon fuel gas is supplied to the conduit 101.
Is supplied to operate the PG burner 34 to ignite it, close the on-off valve 81 of the line L2, open the on-off valve 82 of the line L1, and operate the pump P to operate the PG.
The hot water in the hot water storage tank 50 containing the hot water A whose temperature has been recovered and heated by the heat exchanger 46 connected to the burner 34 is circulated through the line L1 to heat the water in the water tank 21 (FIG. 2).
reference). The pump 4 sends a signal from a control device (not shown).
8 to operate the pump 48 to circulate and send the hot water in the water tank 21 to the cooling unit 6c of the fuel cell 6
Increase the temperature of the main unit.

When the temperature of the fuel cell 6 main body rises sufficiently and the fuel cell 6 operates normally, the open / close valve 81 of the line L2 is opened, the open / close valve 82 of the line L1 is closed, and hot water is supplied to the line L1.
The hot water A whose temperature has been recovered by the heat exchanger 46 and whose temperature has been raised is supplied to the hot water storage tank 50.

In the above example, an example in which the hydrocarbon fuel gas is burned by the PG burner 34 alone at the start of the apparatus is shown, but the reformed gas having a low hydrogen concentration or the reformed gas having a high hydrogen concentration is supplied to the pipe 35. , PG burner 34 through on-off valve 36
Can be supplied to the PG burner 34 and burned together with the hydrocarbon fuel gas. Then, after starting, the reformer 3
Is stable, and for example, the temperature of the reformer 3 is the set temperature (about 600
(° C), a reformed gas having a high hydrogen concentration and a high combustion heat amount is obtained. Therefore, this reformed gas is supplied to the PG burner 34, and the supply of the hydrocarbon-based fuel gas to the PG burner 34 is stopped. By burning only the high-concentration reformed gas in the PG burner 34, it is possible to reduce the consumption of the hydrocarbon fuel gas and to perform stable combustion. By doing so, the temperature of the fuel cell 6 can be heated to a temperature range near the operating temperature in a short time at the time of startup, and the startup time can be shortened.

The above description of the embodiments is for explaining the present invention and does not limit the invention described in the claims or reduce the scope thereof. Further, the configuration of each part of the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications can be made within the technical scope described in the claims.

[0041]

The polymer electrolyte fuel cell power generator according to claim 1 of the present invention simplifies the maintenance of the fuel cell and takes the form of a cogeneration system for power generation and heat utilization. Not only the efficiency is improved, but also the water used in this system is effectively reused, and at the time of startup, the temperature of the fuel cell can be heated to a temperature range close to the operating temperature in a short time, and the startup can be started. It has a remarkable effect that the time can be shortened.

The polymer electrolyte fuel cell power generator according to claim 2 of the present invention is the polymer electrolyte fuel cell generator according to claim 1, wherein the process gas burner is carbonized when the reformer becomes stable after startup. The supply of the hydrogen-based fuel gas is stopped, and only hydrogen is burned by the process gas burner, so that the same function and effect as the polymer electrolyte fuel cell power generator according to claim 1 are obtained, and the consumption amount of the hydrocarbon-based fuel gas is also increased. It is possible to obtain a further remarkable effect that the combustion amount can be reduced and stable combustion can be performed.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a system diagram showing one embodiment of a polymer electrolyte fuel cell power generator according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing an embodiment of a flow of hot water in the polymer electrolyte fuel cell power generator according to the present invention shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a system diagram of a conventional polymer electrolyte fuel cell power generator.

FIG. 4 is a system diagram of another conventional polymer electrolyte fuel cell power generator.

[Explanation of symbols]

3 reformer 4 CO shifter 5 CO remover 6 fuel cell 6c cooling unit 10, 23 to 25, 28, 43, 47, 48 pump 21 water tank 34 process gas burner 17, 18, 19, 32, 71 heat exchanger 37 Fan for sending combustion air to the process gas burner 46 Heat exchanger 50 connected to the process gas burner 50 Hot water storage tank L1 Line L2 for circulating hot water A to the water tank in a heat exchangeable manner, Line GS for sending hot water A to the hot water tank, GS1, GS2 Polymer electrolyte fuel cell power generators RD, RD1 Heat recovery device HEX heat exchangers T1, T2 Thermometer P Exhaust heat recovery pump 100 Open / close valve 101 Pipe line

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    (72) Inventor Masatoshi Ueda             2-5-3 Keihan Hondori, Moriguchi City, Osaka Prefecture             Within Yo Denki Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Taketoshi Koki             2-5-3 Keihan Hondori, Moriguchi City, Osaka Prefecture             Within Yo Denki Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Koji Shindo             2-5-3 Keihan Hondori, Moriguchi City, Osaka Prefecture             Within Yo Denki Co., Ltd. F-term (reference) 5H026 AA06                 5H027 AA06 BA01 DD06

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A reformer for reforming a hydrocarbon fuel gas into hydrogen, a CO shifter for transforming carbon monoxide, a CO remover for removing carbon monoxide, and each reactor being stable after startup. Process gas burner that burns hydrogen, a fuel cell that uses hydrogen to generate electricity, a water tank that stores water to cool the fuel cell, and the heat of exhaust gas from the reformer, fuel cell, process gas burner, etc. A polymer electrolyte fuel cell power generator comprising a heat exchanger for converting the hot water to hot water, and a hot water storage tank for storing the hot water, wherein a pipe line for supplying a hydrocarbon fuel gas to the process gas burner is provided. At the start of startup, a hydrocarbon fuel gas is supplied through the pipe and burned alone in the process gas burner, or burned with hydrogen to recover the heat of the exhaust gas and recover the water in the water tank. The temperature was raised, the polymer electrolyte fuel cell power generation apparatus characterized by heating the fuel cell by sending circulated to the fuel cell the hot water heated. 2. The solid height according to claim 1, wherein when the reformer becomes stable after startup, the supply of the hydrocarbon fuel gas to the process gas burner is stopped and hydrogen is burned by the process gas burner. Molecular fuel cell power generator.