JP4490717B2 - Reformer - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a reforming apparatus that generates a reformed gas from supplied fuel gas and water vapor and supplies the reformed gas to a fuel cell.

  The reformer constitutes a fuel cell system together with a fuel cell, etc., and generates a so-called hydrogen-rich reformed gas from supplied fuel (for example, natural gas, LP gas, kerosene, methanol, etc.) and water vapor. This reformed gas is supplied to the fuel cell. The reforming apparatus includes a reforming unit that generates and derives a reformed gas containing hydrogen by reforming the supplied fuel and reformed water with a catalyst filled therein, and the supplied combustion A combustion section that burns fuel and heats the reforming section with the combustion gas; and a carbon monoxide reduction section that reduces carbon monoxide in the reformed gas supplied from the reforming section with a catalyst filled therein. It is well known that at least a combustion section is burned to heat a reforming section to a predetermined temperature, and then fuel and reforming water are supplied to the reforming section to generate reformed gas.

  Before assembling and shipping the fuel cell system including the reformer and the fuel cell, the catalyst reduction operation and the shipping inspection are continuously performed. The catalyst reduction operation is performed for the following reason. That is, since the catalyst mounted on the reformer is generally stored in the state exposed to the atmosphere, the catalyst is oxidized, the surface of the catalyst is oxidized, or oxygen is adsorbed on the surface. I'm going. As a result, there has been a problem that the function of the catalyst is not sufficiently exhibited for a while after the start of use of the reformer. Therefore, in order to fully exert the function of the catalyst from the beginning of use, the oxygen of the oxide on the surface of the catalyst or the oxygen adsorbed on the surface is removed before the reformer is operated (before use). A catalytic reduction operation is performed.

This catalytic reduction operation is as follows.
1. The components (reforming part, carbon monoxide reducing part) filled with the catalyst are heated to a predetermined high temperature.
2. A gas mixture of hydrogen gas and inert gas is supplied to this component.
3. The hydrogen gas concentration is initially low and gradually increased, and is maintained for a while after reaching a predetermined concentration. At this time, the hydrogen gas concentration is adjusted by the supply amount of the inert gas.

4). Then, the supply of the hydrogen gas is stopped, and the supply of the inert gas is stopped after a while, and the catalyst reduction operation is finished.
Even in the fuel cell system installed at the user's site, the catalyst reduction operation may be performed after replacing the component filled with the catalyst.

The shipping inspection is continuously performed after the catalyst reduction operation is completed. This shipping inspection is performed as follows.
1. The fuel cell system is operated normally. At this time, the fuel is supplied with the maximum use flow rate, and the reforming water is supplied in an amount corresponding thereto.
2. After the start of operation and after a predetermined time has elapsed, the methane concentration and the hydrogen concentration are measured at the outlet of the reformer to confirm that they are the reference values.

In addition, a fuel cell system is known in which nitrogen is vented from the outside to a hydrogen-side gas line when the fuel cell system is started (see Patent Document 1). Specifically, as shown in FIG. 4 of Patent Document 1, when starting the fuel cell, first, the electromagnetic valve 101 is opened, and nitrogen is vented from the outside to the gas line on the hydrogen side (S101). Nitrogen passes through the gas line and reaches the fuel cell main body 115 via the hydrogen humidifier 103. Then, it enters the hydrogen humidifier 103 again through the recycle line and is exhausted therefrom. On the other hand, a certain amount of water for gas humidification is supplied to the hydrogen humidifier 103 through the hydrogen-side drain tank 111 and the hydrogen product water tank 105 (S102). The hydrogen humidifier 103 humidifies nitrogen flowing through the gas line using the water. The humidified nitrogen enters the fuel electrode side of the fuel cell main body 115, humidifies the electrolyte (not shown), and unused water is recycled to the hydrogen humidifier 103. During the start-up, after the gas is completely replaced with nitrogen, the nitrogen is exchanged with hydrogen supplied from the outside (S103). Thereby, the gas remaining inside is replaced with an inert gas to suppress the influence of impurities, and the introduction of the fuel gas and the oxidant gas is performed under the same conditions every time.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-216822 (pages 6, 8 and 4)

  In the catalyst reduction operation of the fuel cell system described above, since hydrogen gas is used, there is a problem that the equipment cost is very high from the viewpoint of safety measures. In addition, the catalyst reduction operation and the shipping inspection are carried out in this order. However, since the shipping inspection has to be performed after the catalyst reduction operation is finished once, it takes time. There is a demand for shortening man-hours by implementing the process.

  In addition, although patent document 1 mentioned above shows supplying nitrogen which is an inert gas to a fuel cell at the time of starting, it only describes supplying an inert gas independently, In addition, by supplying inert gas every time the fuel cell system is started, the gas remaining inside is replaced with inert gas to suppress the influence of impurities, and the introduction of fuel gas and oxidant gas is the same every time. It is described that it is performed under the conditions.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a reformer capable of performing a catalyst reduction process without increasing costs.

In order to solve the above-described problem, the structural feature of the invention according to claim 1 is that a reformed gas containing hydrogen is generated and derived by a reforming catalyst filled with supplied fuel and reformed water. In addition, an inert gas is further added to the fuel and the reforming water in the reformer having at least a reforming section that burns the supplied combustion fuel and heats the reforming section with the combustion heat. Then, the catalyst filled in the reformer is reduced by being supplied to the reforming unit, and the gas discharged from the reformer during the reduction process is sent to the combustion unit for combustion .

  Further, the structural feature of the invention according to claim 2 is that, in claim 1, the reformer is provided with a shift reaction catalyst filled with carbon monoxide in the reformed gas derived from the reformer. The shift reaction part which is converted into hydrogen gas and carbon dioxide by reacting with water vapor is provided, and the shift reaction catalyst is reduced by reduction treatment.

  Further, the structural feature of the invention according to claim 3 is reduced by the carbon monoxide reduction catalyst according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the reformer is filled with carbon monoxide in the reformed gas. The carbon monoxide reduction unit is provided, and the carbon monoxide reduction catalyst is reduced by the reduction treatment.

Further, the structural feature of the invention according to claim 4 is that a reforming unit that generates and derives a reformed gas containing hydrogen by a reforming catalyst filled with supplied fuel and reformed water, and In a maintenance method for a reformer having at least a combustion section that burns supplied combustion fuel and heats the reforming section with the heat of combustion, reforming by further adding an inert gas to the fuel and reformed water By supplying the gas to the combustion section, reducing the catalyst filled in the reformer, sending the gas discharged from the reformer during the reduction process to the combustion section, and burning, and a predetermined amount of fuel and reforming. And an inspection process for supplying quality water to the reforming unit, measuring gas components in the reformed gas derived from the reformer, and confirming the quality.

  In the invention according to claim 1 configured as described above, when reducing the catalyst, after burning the combustion section and heating the reforming section to a predetermined temperature, fuel and reforming water are supplied to the reforming section. A hydrogen gas is generated by supplying and reforming, and the catalyst filled in the reformer by a mixed gas of this hydrogen gas and an inert gas supplied to the reforming unit simultaneously with the fuel and reforming water Is reduced. According to this, it is possible to perform the catalyst reduction process without increasing the cost without supplying hydrogen gas from the outside.

  In the invention according to claim 2 configured as described above, the reformer is caused to react with water vapor by a shift reaction catalyst filled with carbon monoxide in the reformed gas led out from the reformer. A shift reaction part that transforms into hydrogen gas and carbon dioxide is provided. By reducing the shift reaction catalyst by reduction treatment, the shift reaction catalyst in the shift reaction part is reduced simultaneously with the reduction treatment of the reforming catalyst in the reforming part. Can be processed.

  In the invention according to claim 3 configured as described above, the reformer is provided with a carbon monoxide reduction unit that reduces the carbon monoxide in the reformed gas using a carbon monoxide reduction catalyst filled therein. By reducing the carbon monoxide reduction catalyst by the reduction treatment, the carbon monoxide reduction catalyst of the carbon monoxide reduction portion can be reduced simultaneously with the reduction treatment of the reforming catalyst of the reforming portion. At the same time as the reduction treatment of the reforming catalyst in the reforming portion and the shift reaction catalyst in the shift reaction portion, the carbon monoxide reduction catalyst in the carbon monoxide reduction portion can be reduced.

In the invention according to claim 4 configured as described above, in the maintenance method for the reformer, an inert gas is further added to the fuel and the reforming water to be supplied to the reforming unit, whereby the reformer is provided in the reformer. A step of reducing the charged catalyst, an inspection step of supplying a predetermined amount of fuel and reforming water to the reforming unit, measuring a gas component in the reformed gas derived from the reformer, and checking the quality Therefore, it is possible to maintain a reformer that exhibits a sufficiently high catalytic function.

  Hereinafter, a fuel cell system to which an embodiment of a reforming apparatus according to the present invention is applied will be described. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an outline of this fuel cell system. The fuel cell system includes a fuel cell 10 and a reformer 20 that generates and supplies hydrogen gas necessary for the fuel cell 10. The reformed gas is supplied from the CO purification unit 60 to the fuel electrode 11 of the fuel cell 10, and air from the outside is supplied to the air electrode 12 of the fuel cell 10. It reacts with oxygen gas in the air to generate electricity.

  The reformer 20 steam-reforms fuels such as natural gas, LP gas, kerosene, methanol, etc., and supplies hydrogen-rich reformed gas to the fuel cell 10, and includes a burner 21, a reformer 22, and evaporation. And a carbon monoxide shift reaction part (hereinafter referred to as a CO shift part) 25 and a carbon monoxide selective oxidation reaction part (hereinafter referred to as a CO selective oxidation part) 26.

  The burner 21 is supplied with combustion fuel and combustion air from the outside during start-up, or anode off-gas (reformed gas discharged to the fuel cell and not used) from the fuel electrode 11 of the fuel cell 10 during steady operation. Is supplied, the supplied gas is combusted, and the combustion gas is led out to the reforming unit 22. This combustion gas heats the reforming section 22 (so as to be in the activation temperature range of the catalyst of the reforming section 22), and then heats the reforming water supplied to the evaporation section 23 through the evaporation section 23. Exhausted outside.

  The reforming unit 22 reforms a mixed gas obtained by mixing the fuel supplied from the outside with the water vapor (reformed water) from the evaporation unit 23 by the reforming catalyst 22a charged in the reforming unit 22, and generates hydrogen gas. Carbon monoxide gas is produced (so-called steam reforming reaction). At the same time, carbon monoxide and steam generated by the steam reforming reaction are converted into hydrogen gas and carbon dioxide (so-called carbon monoxide shift reaction). These generated gases (so-called reformed gas) are led to the heat exchanging unit 24. As the reforming catalyst 22a, Ru type or Ni type is used. These are metal catalysts supported on a carrier such as alumina (γ alumina). The reforming unit 22 includes a first temperature sensor 22b that detects the temperature in the reforming unit 22 (the temperature of the reforming catalyst 22a).

  The evaporating unit 23 heats the reformed water supplied from the reformed water tank Sw by the heat of the combustion gas to vaporize it. The reforming water in the reforming water tank Sw is sent to the evaporation unit 23 by the operation of the reforming water pump 32 when the open / close solenoid valve 31 is open. The amount of supply (supply amount) of the reforming water pump 32 is controlled by a command from a control device (not shown).

  The heat exchange unit 24 is supplied with a mixed gas obtained by mixing the fuel supplied from the fuel supply source Sf with the water vapor derived from the evaporation unit 23 and supplied with the reformed gas derived from the reforming unit 22. . The fuel of the fuel supply source Sf is sent to the reforming unit 22 through the heat exchanging unit 24 by the operation of the fuel pump 34 when the open / close electromagnetic valve 33 is in the open state. The delivery amount (supply amount) of the fuel pump 34 is controlled by a command from a control device (not shown). The heat exchange section 24 performs heat exchange between the reformed gas and the mixed gas, the temperature of the reformed gas is lowered from about 650 ° C. to 200 to 300 ° C., and the mixed gas is raised from about 100 ° C. to 550 ° C. Be warmed.

  The CO shift unit 25, which is a shift reaction unit, causes hydrogen gas and carbon dioxide to react with the carbon monoxide and water vapor contained in the reformed gas derived from the heat exchange unit 24 by the shift reaction catalyst 25a filled therein. It has been transformed into gas. As a result, the reformed gas is led to the CO selective oxidation unit 26 with the carbon monoxide concentration reduced. As the shift reaction catalyst 25a, a Cu—Zn system is used. This catalyst is in the form of an oxide when filled, and in order to act as a catalyst, it is necessary to reduce the copper oxide to metallic copper in order to act as a catalyst. The CO shift unit 25 includes a second temperature sensor 25b that detects the temperature in the CO shift unit 25 (the temperature of the shift reaction catalyst 25a).

  The CO selective oxidation unit 26 which is a carbon monoxide reduction unit is a selective oxidation in which carbon monoxide remaining in the reformed gas and oxidization air for CO selective oxidation further supplied from the outside are filled therein. Carbon dioxide is produced by the reaction with the catalyst 26a. Thereby, the reformed gas is led to the fuel electrode 11 of the fuel cell 10 with the carbon monoxide concentration further reduced (10 ppm or less). In this embodiment, the carbon monoxide reduction unit is constituted by the CO selective oxidation unit 26. However, the carbon monoxide reduction unit is allowed to react with a methanation catalyst filled with carbon monoxide and hydrogen without supplying oxygen. It may be configured by a carbon monoxide methanation portion that converts methane and water vapor. As the selective oxidation catalyst 26a and the methanation catalyst, Ru-based or Pt-based noble metal catalysts are used. Similar to the reforming catalyst 22a, these are metal catalysts supported on a carrier.

  Further, the reforming unit 22 is supplied with an inert gas (for example, nitrogen gas) from an inert gas supply source Sn (for example, a high-pressure cylinder in which the inert gas is accommodated). The inert gas supplied from the inert gas supply source Sn is pumped out to the reforming unit 22 when the open / close solenoid valve 33 is open and the solenoid valve 35 capable of adjusting the flow rate is open. The flow rate (supply amount) of the solenoid valve 35 is controlled by a command from a control device (not shown).

  The reformed gas generated by the reformer 20 described above is activated for a while (starting up) after the fuel cell system is started, and the catalysts of the CO shift unit 25 and the CO selective oxidation unit 26 are kept in their activation temperature ranges. Since the carbon monoxide contained in the reformed gas cannot be reduced, the carbon monoxide is not supplied to the fuel cell stack 10 but is supplied to the combustion unit 21 through the open / close electromagnetic valve 41 in the open state. On the other hand, when the catalysts of the CO shift unit 25 and the CO selective oxidation unit 26 reach their activation temperature range, the carbon monoxide contained in the reformed gas is reduced, so that it passes through the open / close electromagnetic valve 42 in the open state. It is supplied to the fuel cell stack 10 (at the time of steady operation). Note that the open / close solenoid valves 42 and 43 are closed during startup, and the open / close solenoid valve 41 is closed during steady operation.

  Next, the catalyst reduction process and the shipping inspection of the fuel cell system that operates in this way will be described. The catalyst reduction process and the shipping inspection are continuously performed after the fuel cell system is assembled and before shipping. The catalyst reduction treatment is performed for the following reason. In other words, since the catalyst mounted on the reformer is generally stored in a state exposed to the atmosphere, the catalyst is oxidized, the surface of the catalyst is oxidized, or oxygen is adsorbed on the surface. I'm going. As a result, there has been a problem that the function of the catalyst is not sufficiently exhibited for a while after the start of use of the reformer. Therefore, in order to fully exert the function of the catalyst from the beginning of use, a catalyst reduction operation for removing oxygen of the oxide of the catalyst or oxygen adsorbed on the surface before the reformer is operated (before use). Has been implemented.

This catalytic reduction treatment is as follows.
1. A start switch (not shown) is turned on to start the fuel cell system (step 102).
2. Combustion fuel and combustion air are supplied to the combustion section 21 and burned to generate combustion gas (step 104).
3. The reforming section 22 is heated by heating the combustion gas (step 106).
4). When the temperature in the reforming unit 22 detected by the first temperature sensor 22b reaches the first predetermined temperature, supply of fuel, reforming water, and inert gas to the reforming unit 22 is started (step 108). . Specifically, the open / close solenoid valves 31 and 33 are opened, the reforming water pump 32 and the fuel pump 34 are operated, fuel and reforming water are supplied to the reforming unit 22, and the solenoid valve 35 is The inert gas is also supplied to the reforming unit 22 in an open state. At the start of supply of fuel, reforming water and inert gas to the reforming section 22, the fuel, reforming water, and so on so that the concentration of the inert gas is increased, that is, the concentration of generated hydrogen is decreased. The supply amount of the inert gas is adjusted. Further, the open / close solenoid valves 42 and 43 are closed and the open / close solenoid valve 41 is open, so that the reformed gas and the inert gas derived from the reformer 20 are not supplied to the fuel cell 10. The gas is supplied to the combustion unit 21 through the open / close electromagnetic valve 41.
5). Until the temperature in the reforming unit 22 reaches the second predetermined temperature, the supply amounts of fuel, reforming water, and inert gas are adjusted so that the concentration of generated hydrogen gradually increases (step 110). ).
6). The supply amounts of fuel, reforming water, and inert gas are adjusted so that the temperature in the reforming unit 22 is maintained at the second predetermined temperature for a predetermined time (step 112). 5.6. During this process, oxygen in the surface of each catalyst 22a, 25a, 26a or oxygen adsorbed on the surface is removed by hydrogen in the reformed gas.
7). After a predetermined time has elapsed, the solenoid valve 35 is closed, the supply of the inert gas is stopped, and the catalyst reduction process ends (step 114).

  The second predetermined temperature and the predetermined time described above are combined with oxygen adsorbed on the catalysts 22a, 25a, and 26a charged in the reforming unit 22, the CO shift unit 25, and the CO selective oxidation unit 26 or the same catalyst. Since the temperature and time required to separate oxygen from the respective catalysts 22a, 25a, and 26a are set, the reduction treatment is performed by the respective catalysts filled in the reforming unit 22, the CO shift unit 25, and the CO selective oxidation unit 26. This is performed for a required time at a temperature required to separate the oxygen adsorbed on 22a, 25a and 26a or the oxygen combined with the catalyst from each catalyst 22a, 25a and 26a.

The shipment inspection is an inspection process in which the gas components in the reformed gas derived from the reformer 20 are measured and the quality is confirmed, and is continuously performed after the completion of the catalyst reduction process. This shipping inspection is performed as follows.
8). The fuel cell system is steadily operated (step 116). It is confirmed that the temperature in the CO shift unit 25 detected by the second temperature sensor 25b has reached the third predetermined temperature, that is, the amount of carbon monoxide in the reformed gas is not more than a predetermined amount. If it is equal to or less than the predetermined value, the next process can be executed in that state because it is a steady operation, but if it is greater than the predetermined value, the next process is executed after waiting for the predetermined value or less.
9. A predetermined amount of fuel is supplied, and a corresponding amount of reforming water is supplied (step 118).
10. After a while, the methane concentration and the hydrogen concentration, or the methane concentration and the carbon monoxide (CO) concentration are measured at the outlet of the reformer 20, and it is confirmed that they are the reference values corresponding to the fuel supply amount ( Step 120).

  As can be understood from the above description, in this embodiment, when the catalyst is reduced, the combustion unit 21 is combusted and the reforming unit 22 is heated to the first predetermined temperature. Hydrogen gas is generated by supplying and reforming fuel and reformed water, and reformed by a mixed gas of this hydrogen gas and an inert gas supplied to the reforming unit 22 simultaneously with the fuel and reformed water. Each catalyst 22a, 25a, 26a filled in the apparatus 20 is reduced. According to this, it is possible to perform the catalyst reduction process without increasing the cost without supplying hydrogen gas from the outside.

  In the reduction process, oxygen adsorbed on each catalyst 22a, 25a, 26a filled in the reforming unit 22, the CO shift unit 25, and the CO selective oxidation unit 26 or oxygen combined with the catalyst 22a, 25a is used. , 26a, the catalyst 22a, 25a, 26a can be reliably reduced by being performed at a temperature required for separation from the catalyst 26a for a required time.

  When the reforming catalyst 22a and the shift reaction catalyst 25a are normally operated in the presence of an oxide, the catalyst heat resistance temperature is increased by a rapid exothermic reaction (a reaction in which an oxide and hydrogen react to generate water). However, since the catalyst subjected to the above-described reduction treatment does not contain oxides, such catalyst deterioration does not occur.

  Further, the temperature and time required for separating oxygen adsorbed on the catalyst or oxygen combined with the catalyst from the catalyst are the highest in the catalyst activation temperature range among the catalysts 22a, 25a, and 26a, that is, the heat-resistant temperature is high. Since it is set assuming the reforming catalyst 22a of the reforming unit 22, the catalysts 25a and 26a of the CO shift unit 25 and the CO selective oxidation unit 26 can also be reliably reduced.

  Moreover, the hydrogen concentration can be easily and accurately adjusted by adjusting the concentration of hydrogen produced by adjusting the supply amounts of fuel, reforming water, and inert gas.

  Further, the reforming apparatus 20 has a shift reaction in which carbon monoxide in the reformed gas derived from the reforming unit 22 is reacted with water vapor by the shift reaction catalyst 25a filled therein to be converted into hydrogen gas and carbon dioxide. By providing the above-described reduction process, the shift reaction catalyst 25a of the shift reaction part 25 can be reduced simultaneously with the reduction process of the reforming catalyst 22a of the reforming part 22.

  Further, the reformer 20 is provided with a carbon monoxide reduction unit 26 that reduces the carbon monoxide in the reformed gas by a carbon monoxide reduction catalyst 26a filled therein, and performs the above-described reduction process. Thus, the carbon monoxide reduction catalyst 26a of the carbon monoxide reduction unit 26 can be reduced simultaneously with the reduction process of the reforming catalyst 22a of the reforming unit 22 and the shift reaction catalyst of the shift reaction unit.

  In the structure in which the shift reaction unit 25 is deleted from the reforming device 20 described above, the carbon monoxide is simultaneously with the reduction process of the reforming catalyst 22a of the reforming unit 22 by performing the above-described reduction process. The carbon monoxide reduction catalyst 26a of the reduction unit 26 can also be reduced.

  In addition, when the reformer is manufactured, the catalyst reduction process and the inspection process are processes for stopping the supply of the inert gas without performing the catalyst reduction process with a termination process that involves stopping the supply of fuel and reforming water. It is possible to perform the inspection process continuously after the reduction process is completed simply by executing the above. Therefore, the number of steps can be reduced by carrying out the two steps as a series of steps.

  Further, in the reformer manufacturing method, the inert gas is further added to the fuel and the reforming water, and the resultant is supplied to the reforming unit 22, whereby the respective catalysts 22 a, 25 a, and 26 a filled in the reformer 20 are supplied. There are provided a reduction process, and an inspection process for supplying a predetermined amount of fuel and reforming water to the reforming unit, measuring gas components in the reformed gas derived from the reformer 20, and confirming the quality. Therefore, a reformer that exhibits a sufficiently high catalytic function can be manufactured.

  In the above-described embodiment, the temperature and time required to separate oxygen adsorbed on the catalyst or oxygen combined with the catalyst from the catalyst are set assuming the reforming catalyst 22a of the reforming unit 22. However, it may be set assuming each catalyst 25a, 26a. According to this, the reduction treatment can be performed with emphasis on the catalyst.

  In addition, the present invention is applied to the case where the catalyst reduction process and the shipping inspection are performed at the time of manufacturing the reformer. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the catalyst reduction process and the shipping inspection are performed on the reformer. It can be applied to other cases. For example, the present invention can be applied during the maintenance of the reformer (including installation of the reformer). In this case, when the reformer 20 is maintained, after the maintenance is completed, the inert gas is further added to the fuel and the reformed water, and the reformer 20 is supplied to the reformer 22 by filling it. A step of reducing each of the catalysts 22a, 25a, 26a, a predetermined amount of fuel and reforming water are supplied to the reforming unit 22, gas components in the reformed gas derived from the reformer 20 are measured, and the quality It is only necessary to provide an inspection process to be confirmed, whereby maintenance can be performed on a reformer that exhibits a sufficiently high catalytic function.

  Further, the present invention can be applied not only during the production and maintenance of the reformer, but also during the production and maintenance of the fuel cell system (including installation of the fuel cell system).

1 is a schematic diagram showing an outline of an embodiment of a fuel cell system to which a reformer according to the present invention is applied. It is process drawing which shows the reduction process of the catalyst of the reformer shown in FIG. 1, and a shipping inspection.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Fuel cell, 11 ... Fuel electrode, 12 ... Air electrode, 20 ... Reformer, 21 ... Combustion part, 22 ... Reformation part, 22a ... Reformation catalyst, 23 ... Evaporation part, 24 ... Heat exchange part, 25 ... CO shift unit, 25a ... shift reaction catalyst, 26 ... CO selective oxidation unit, 26a ... selective oxidation catalyst, 31, 33, 41, 42, 43 ... open / close solenoid valve, 32 ... reforming water pump, 34 ... fuel pump, 35 ... Solenoid valve, Sf ... Fuel supply source, Sn ... Inert gas supply source, Sw ... Reformed water tank.

Claims (4)

A reforming unit that generates and derives a reformed gas containing hydrogen by a reforming catalyst filled with the supplied fuel and reforming water, and burns the supplied combustion fuel and generates the reformed gas by the combustion heat. In the reformer comprising at least a combustion section for heating the reforming section,
By further adding an inert gas to the fuel and reforming water and supplying the reforming unit, the catalyst filled in the reforming device is reduced, and the catalyst is discharged from the reforming device during the reduction processing. The reformer is characterized by sending the burned gas to the combustion section for combustion.   2. The shift device according to claim 1, wherein the reformer is made to react with water vapor by a shift reaction catalyst filled with carbon monoxide in the reformed gas led out from the reforming unit to be converted into hydrogen gas and carbon dioxide. A reformer provided with a reaction section, wherein the shift reaction catalyst is reduced by the reduction treatment.   3. The reformer according to claim 1, wherein the reformer is provided with a carbon monoxide reduction unit that reduces carbon monoxide in the reformed gas by a carbon monoxide reduction catalyst filled therein. A reformer characterized in that the carbon monoxide reducing catalyst is reduced by treatment. A reforming unit that generates and derives a reformed gas containing hydrogen by a reforming catalyst filled with the supplied fuel and reforming water, and burns the supplied combustion fuel and generates the reformed gas by the combustion heat. In a maintenance method for a reformer comprising at least a combustion section for heating the reformer,
By further adding an inert gas to the fuel and reforming water and supplying the reforming unit, the catalyst filled in the reforming device is reduced, and the catalyst is discharged from the reforming device during the reduction processing. A step of sending the burned gas to the combustion section and burning it,
An inspection step of supplying a predetermined amount of the fuel and reforming water to the reforming unit, measuring a gas component in the reformed gas derived from the reformer, and confirming the quality is provided. The maintenance method of the reformer which performs .

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