JPH05147903A - Reformer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To promote reaction by providing a first electric heater and the controlling device therefor in the desulfurizing catalyst layer of a desulfurization reactor and providing a second electric heater and the controlling device therefor in the conversion catalyst layer of CO convertor. CONSTITUTION:Raw fuel such as natural gas is introduced into a desulfurization reactor 1 incorporating a desulfurization catalyst layer 2. The following actuation is automated by a temperature detector 51 and a switching controller 53 in the reactor. In other words, a desulfurization catalyst layer 2 is heated by an electric heater 45 at the time of start-up and raised to the temperature for starting reaction to promote reaction and heating is stopped at the time of finish of reaction. The desulfurized gas is reformed into gas enriched in H2 by steam in a reformation-reactor 4 incorporating a reformation catalyst layer 7. The gas enriched in H2 is introduced into a CO converter 10 incorporating a CO conversion catalyst layer 11. The CO conversion catalyst layer 11 is automatically heated by an electric heater 46, a temperature detector 52 and a switching controller 54 to promote conversion reaction. The gas discharged from the CO converter 10 is sent to the next stage as reformed gas which is low in the concentration of gaseous CO and high in the concentration of H2.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a reformer which is incorporated in a fuel cell power generator and reforms a hydrocarbon-based raw fuel into a gas rich in hydrogen and supplies it to a fuel cell.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A fuel cell power generator is mainly composed of a fuel cell and a reformer for reforming raw fuel into a gas rich in hydrogen and supplying the reformed gas to the fuel cell. In this case, the reformer that uses a hydrocarbon-based natural gas or the like as the raw fuel is a desulfurization reactor that desulfurizes organic sulfur contained in the raw fuel, and the desulfurized raw fuel from this desulfurization reactor is converted into hydrogen. It comprises a reforming reactor for reforming into a rich gas and a carbon monoxide shifter for transforming carbon monoxide contained in the reformed gas from this reforming reactor. As a fuel cell power generation device in which such a reforming device and a fuel cell are combined, a system shown in FIG. 2 is known.

In FIG. 2, a desulfurization reactor 1 is a reactor for desulfurizing organic sulfur contained in a raw fuel of natural gas containing methane as a main component, and a hydrogenation catalyst and a desulfurization catalyst for promoting a desulfurization reaction inside. And a desulfurization catalyst layer 2 formed by filling in layers.

The reforming reactor 4 is a reactor for reforming the desulfurized natural gas from the desulfurization reactor 1 into a gas rich in hydrogen. The burner 6 is provided above the furnace vessel 5 and the reforming reaction is provided inside. A reaction tube 8 having a reforming catalyst layer 7 filled with a promoting catalyst is provided.

The carbon monoxide shift converter 10 is a reactor for shifting the carbon monoxide contained in the reformed gas from the reforming reactor 4, and is a shift reactor filled with a shift catalyst for promoting the shift reaction. It contains a catalyst layer 11.

The fuel cell 12 is supplied with the reformed gas having a low carbon monoxide concentration and air from the carbon monoxide shift converter 10 to generate electric power, holds an electrolyte layer 13 for holding an electrolyte, and a fuel electrode 14 sandwiching the electrolyte layer 13. , An air electrode 15, and a fuel chamber 16 and an air chamber 17 to which reformed gas and air are supplied to these electrodes, respectively.

The raw fuel supply system 18 is provided with a valve 19 and a heat exchanger 20 and is connected to the desulfurization reactor 1 so that the raw fuel of natural gas flowing through the desulfurization reactor 1 flows.

The steam supply system 21 is connected to the raw fuel supply system 18 at the outlet of the desulfurization reactor 1, and the steam added to the natural gas desulfurized in the desulfurization reactor 1 flows.

The reforming raw material gas supply system 22 includes a heat exchanger 23 and a confluence of the raw fuel supply system 18 and the steam supply system 21 at the outlet of the desulfurization reactor 1 and the reaction tube 8 of the reforming reactor 4. And a reforming raw material gas consisting of desulfurized natural gas and steam flows.

The reformed gas supply system 24 is a carbon monoxide transformer 1
0 and a valve 25, the outlet of the reaction tube 8 and the fuel cell 1
The reformed gas, which is connected to the second fuel chamber 16 and is steam-reformed in the reforming reactor 4 and the carbon monoxide concentration is reduced, flows in the carbon monoxide shift converter 10.

The hydrogen recycle system 26 is a reformed gas supply system 24 and a raw fuel supply system 18 at the outlet of the carbon monoxide shift converter 10.
And a part of the reformed gas for hydrogenation for desulfurizing the organic sulfur contained in the natural gas flowing through the raw fuel supply system 18 in the desulfurization reactor 1 into hydrogen sulfide.

The off-gas supply system 27 is connected to the fuel chamber 16 of the fuel cell 12 and the burner 6 of the reforming reactor 4, and is an off-gas containing hydrogen that is discharged from the fuel chamber 16 and does not contribute to the cell reaction supplied to the burner 6. Flows. The air supply system 28 is provided with a blower 29 and is connected to the air chamber 17, and reaction air supplied to the air chamber 17 flows. Reference numeral 30 is an air exhaust system through which exhaust air exhausted from the air chamber 17 flows.

The combustion air supply system 31 is provided with a blower 32 and is connected to the burner 6 so that the combustion air sent to the burner 6 flows. Reference numeral 33 is an exhaust gas system for discharging the combustion gas generated by the combustion in the burner 6 to the outside through the heat exchanger 23.

The nitrogen gas circulation system 35 is a raw fuel supply system 18 between the valve 19 and the heat exchanger 20 and the carbon monoxide transformer 1
0 and the valve 25, the blower 36 and the valves 37 and 38 are connected to the reformed gas supply system 24. Nitrogen gas as an inert gas is supplied to the nitrogen gas circulation system 3 by the blower 36.
5, the raw fuel supply system 18, the reforming raw material gas supply system 22, the reaction tube 8 of the reforming reactor 4 and the reformed gas supply system 24 are circulated.

The nitrogen gas supply system 40 has a valve 41,
Nitrogen gas is supplied to the nitrogen gas circulation system 35.

With such a configuration, the valves 37, 38
Is closed, valves 19 and 25 are opened, and the natural gas supplied through the reforming raw material supply system 18 is hydrogen recycle system 26.
The reformed gas supplied via the heat exchanger 20 is added and preheated by the heat exchanger 20 and then flows into the desulfurization reactor 1 and flows through the desulfurization catalyst layer 2 to be desulfurized. In the case of natural gas containing methane as a main component, the reaction at this time is represented by the following formula. CH ₃ --SH + H ₂ → CH ₄ + H ₂ S (1) H ₂ S + ZnO → ZnS + H ₂ O (2) The reaction of the above formula (1) is performed at a reaction temperature of about 300 ° C. under a Co—Mo hydrogenation catalyst. Done. The reaction represented by the formula (2) is carried out at about 300 ° C. under a catalyst for desulfurization of ZnO. The generated ZnS is adsorbed by the desulfurization catalyst and removed.

The reforming raw material gas consisting of natural gas and steam flowing into the reaction tube 8 flows through the reforming catalyst layer 7 in the reaction tube 8. The off gas supplied from the burner 6 via the off gas supply system 27 passes through the combustion air supply system 31 to the blower 3
2 heats the reaction tube 8 with a heat medium generated by combustion with combustion air supplied to drive the reforming raw material gas flowing through the reforming catalyst layer 7 into steam containing hydrogen as a main component. To do. The combustion gas is discharged to the outside via the exhaust gas system 33.

In the case of methane, the reaction at this time is represented by the following formula. CH ₄ + H ₂ O → 3H ₂ + CO (3) The reaction of the above formula (3) is performed under the Ni-based reforming catalyst at 650
It is carried out at 750 ° C.

The gas containing hydrogen as a main component, which is sent from the reaction tube 8 of the reforming reactor 4, flows into the carbon monoxide shift converter 10 through the reforming gas supply system 24, and flows through the shift catalyst layer 11. Carbon monoxide is metamorphosed by the reaction with excess steam, and becomes a reformed gas that is reformed into a gas rich in hydrogen having a low carbon monoxide concentration.

The reaction at this time is represented by the following formula. CO + H ₂ O → H ₂ + CO (4) The reaction of the above formula (4) is performed under a Cu—Zn-based shift catalyst.
It is carried out at 50 to 300 ° C.

The reformed gas thus obtained is supplied to the fuel cell 12, and the fuel cell 12 causes a cell reaction with the air supplied through the air supply system 28 by driving the blower 29 to generate electricity. Exhaust air containing oxygen that does not contribute to the battery reaction is exhausted from the air chamber 17 to the outside through the air exhaust system 30.

When the reformer is started from a low temperature, the desulfurization reactor 1 and the carbon monoxide shift converter 10 are at a low temperature.
It is necessary to raise the temperature of the desulfurization catalyst layer 2 and the shift conversion catalyst layer 11 in the reactors 1 and 10 to a temperature at which the desulfurization reaction and the carbon monoxide shift conversion reaction can be started.

Therefore, the valves 19 and 25 are closed, the valves 37, 38 and 41 are opened to sufficiently supply the nitrogen gas from the nitrogen supply system 40 to the nitrogen gas circulation system 35 and the like, and then the valve 41 is closed. The blower 36 is driven to circulate the nitrogen gas through the nitrogen gas circulation system 35 to the desulfurization reactor 1, the reaction tube 8 of the reforming reactor 4, and the carbon monoxide shift converter 10. At this time, when the burner 6 of the reforming reactor 4 burns the fuel and the nitrogen gas flows through the reaction tube 8, the nitrogen gas is heated, and the heated nitrogen gas heats the desulfurization catalyst layer 2 and the desulfurization catalyst layer 2 of the desulfurization reactor 1. The shift conversion catalyst layer 11 of the carbon monoxide shift converter 10 is heated to a temperature at which the reaction can be started.

[0024]

As described above, when the reformer is started, the desulfurization catalyst layer 2 in the desulfurization reactor 1 and the shift conversion catalyst layer 11 of the carbon monoxide shift converter 10 are heated by the circulating nitrogen gas. To heat, it is necessary to provide a nitrogen gas circulation system 35 and a nitrogen gas supply system 40 equipped with a blower and a valve, so that there is a problem that the system becomes complicated, the equipment cost rises, and the operation becomes complicated. ..

Further, when the load during the operation of the reformer is reduced, the reaction temperature of each reactor is constant even if the load changes, so that the heat radiation from each reactor does not change with the load, and therefore the reactors When viewed from the whole, the rate of heat radiation is relatively large, and therefore the operating temperature of the desulfurization reactor 1 and the carbon monoxide shift converter 10 is a temperature at which it drops. This tendency becomes remarkable in the reformer of the small-sized fuel cell power generator, and therefore, there is a drawback that the desulfurization reaction and the carbon monoxide shift conversion reaction do not proceed sufficiently and the gas composition after the reaction is deteriorated.

An object of the present invention is to provide a desulfurization catalyst layer in a desulfurization reactor and a shift catalyst layer in a carbon monoxide shift converter without a heating pipe when starting the reforming apparatus. It is an object of the present invention to provide a reformer capable of raising the temperature to a temperature at which a carbon oxide shift conversion reaction can be started and maintaining a temperature at which these reactions are sufficiently promoted when the load during operation is reduced.

[0027]

In order to solve the above problems, according to the present invention, a desulfurization catalyst layer filled with a desulfurization catalyst for promoting a reaction for desulfurizing sulfur contained in a hydrocarbon-based raw fuel. A desulfurization reactor, a reforming reactor for reforming the desulfurized raw fuel from the desulfurization reactor into a gas rich in hydrogen, and carbon monoxide contained in the reformed gas from the reforming reactor. In a reformer comprising a carbon monoxide shift converter having a shift catalyst layer filled with a shift catalyst for promoting a shift reaction, a first electric heater is provided in the desulfurization catalyst layer of the desulfurization reactor while one side Second in the shift catalyst layer of the carbon shifter
The electric heater of is to be provided.

In the above reformer, the temperature detector for detecting the temperature of the desulfurization catalyst layer of the desulfurization reactor, the switch for opening and closing the electric circuit of the first electric heater, and the temperature detected by the temperature detector are activated. Equipped with an opening / closing controller that closes the switch when the temperature is lower than a predetermined temperature sufficient to accelerate the desulfurization reaction and when the temperature is lower than the predetermined temperature to accelerate the desulfurization reaction when the load decreases during operation, and opens the switch when the temperature exceeds the predetermined temperature. And

Further, a temperature detector for detecting the temperature of the shift catalyst layer of the carbon monoxide shift converter, a switch for opening and closing the electric circuit of the second electric heater, and the temperature detected by the temperature detector are monoxide at startup. An opening / closing controller that closes the switch when the temperature is lower than a predetermined temperature that is sufficient to accelerate the carbon monoxide shift reaction when the temperature is low enough to start the carbon shift reaction and when the load decreases during operation, and opens when the temperature exceeds the predetermined temperature. Shall be provided.

[0030]

By reforming the desulfurization catalyst layer of the reformer, the desulfurization catalyst layer is provided with the first electric heater, while the shift catalyst layer of the carbon monoxide shift converter is provided with the second electric heater. When the equipment is started from a low temperature, the low temperature desulfurization catalyst layer and the shift conversion catalyst layer are heated by energizing the first and second electric heaters to the temperature at which the desulfurization reaction can be started and the temperature at which the carbon monoxide shift reaction can be started, respectively. Raise the temperature. After the temperature is raised, the energization of the first and second electric heaters is stopped and the hydrocarbon-based raw fuel is supplied to the reformer to cause the desulfurization reaction and the carbon monoxide shift reaction.

Further, since the temperature of the desulfurization catalyst layer and the shift conversion catalyst layer drops due to heat dissipation as described above when the load decreases during operation, the desulfurization catalyst layer is energized by energizing the first and second electric heaters of each catalyst layer. Layer and shift catalyst layer are heated to desulfurize,
The temperature is raised to a temperature sufficient to accelerate the carbon monoxide shift reaction. After the end of the temperature rise, the electric power supply to each electric heater is stopped.
By doing so, even if the load is reduced, the temperature of the desulfurization catalyst layer and the shift conversion catalyst layer is prevented from lowering, and the reaction proceeds at a reaction temperature at which the desulfurization reaction and the carbon monoxide shift conversion reaction proceed sufficiently.

By the way, the heating and heating of the desulfurization catalyst layer of the desulfurization reactor by the first electric heater at the time of starting and at the time of load reduction during operation are automatically performed as follows.
That is, a signal of the temperature of the desulfurization catalyst layer detected by the temperature detector is input to the opening / closing controller, and the opening / closing controller causes the temperature detected by the temperature detector to be the first predetermined temperature at which the desulfurization reaction can be started and during operation. When the temperature is lower than the second predetermined temperature sufficient to accelerate the desulfurization reaction when the load is reduced, the switch of the electric circuit is closed to energize the first electric heater to heat the desulfurization catalyst layer, and the first and second predetermined temperatures are set. Raise to temperature. When the first and second predetermined temperatures are exceeded, the switch is opened and the first electric heater is de-energized.

The second of the shift catalyst layer of the carbon monoxide shift converter
The heating by the electric heater at the time of start-up and at the time of load reduction during operation is automatically performed as described below. That is, a signal of the temperature of the shift catalyst layer detected by the temperature detector is input to the opening / closing controller, and the temperature detected by the temperature detector is the third predetermined temperature at which the carbon monoxide shift reaction can be started at startup. And when the load is reduced during operation, when the temperature is lower than the fourth predetermined temperature sufficient to promote the carbon monoxide shift reaction, the switch of the electric circuit is closed and the second electric heater is energized to heat the shift catalyst layer to The temperature is raised to the third and fourth predetermined temperatures. In addition,
When the temperature exceeds the third and fourth predetermined temperatures, the switch is opened and the second electric heater is de-energized.

[0034]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a system diagram of a reformer according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, the same parts as those in the conventional example of FIG. 2 are designated by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted. 1 differs from the conventional example of FIG. 2 in the following points.

The nitrogen gas circulation system 35, the nitrogen gas supply system 40 and the valves 19, 25, 37 and 38 shown in FIG.
A first electric heater 45 is installed inside the desulfurization catalyst layer 2 of the desulfurization reactor 1, while a second electric heater 46 is installed inside the shift conversion catalyst layer 11 of the carbon monoxide shift converter 10. A switch 48 is provided in the electric circuit 47 of the first electric heater 45, and a switch 50 is provided in the electric circuit 49 of the second electric heater 46.
To provide. Further, a temperature detector 51 for detecting the temperature of the desulfurization catalyst layer 2 and a temperature detector 5 for detecting the temperature of the shift catalyst layer 11
2 and are provided. Further, the temperature detected by the temperature detector 51 is higher than the first predetermined temperature at which the desulfurization reaction can be started at start-up and the first predetermined temperature sufficient to accelerate the desulfurization reaction at the time of load reduction during operation. An opening / closing controller 53 is provided which closes the switch 48 of the electric circuit 47 when the temperature is below the set value and opens the switch 48 when the set value is exceeded.

Further, the temperature detected by the temperature detector 52 is set to a third predetermined temperature at which the carbon monoxide shift conversion reaction can be started at the time of start-up and a third predetermined temperature sufficient to accelerate the carbon monoxide shift reaction when the load is reduced. An opening / closing controller 54 is provided which closes the switch 50 of the electric circuit 49 when the temperature is equal to or lower than the preset value of the fourth predetermined temperature higher than the temperature, and opens the switch 50 when the preset value is exceeded.

As described above, the electric heater 4 is provided on the desulfurization catalyst layer 2.
On the other hand, the electric heater 46 is provided on the shift catalyst layer 11 so that the desulfurization catalyst layer 2 is turned on by the electric heater 45 to a predetermined temperature at which the desulfurization reaction and the carbon monoxide shift reaction at the start of the reformer can be started. The shift catalyst layer 11 can be heated and raised in temperature by the electric heater 46.

When the load during operation is reduced and the temperatures of the desulfurization catalyst layer 2 and the shift conversion catalyst layer 11 are lowered, the desulfurization catalyst layer 2 is heated by the electric heater 45, while the shift catalyst layer 11 is heated by the electric heater 46. The temperature can be raised to a predetermined temperature sufficient to accelerate the desulfurization reaction and the carbon monoxide reaction.

The temperature of the desulfurization catalyst layer 2 and the shift conversion catalyst layer 11 is automatically increased as described below.

When the reformer is started, the set value of the first predetermined temperature at which the desulfurization reaction can be started in the desulfurization reactor 1 is input to the opening / closing controller 53 in advance, while in the carbon monoxide shift converter 10, the monoxide is converted. The set value of the third predetermined temperature at which the carbon shift reaction can be started is input to the opening / closing controller 54.

When the desulfurization reactor 1 is started, the temperature of the desulfurization catalyst layer 2 is low, so that the temperature detected by the temperature detector 51 of the desulfurization catalyst layer 2 becomes less than the set value. 48 is closed and the electric heater 45 is energized to raise the temperature of the desulfurization catalyst layer 2 to the first predetermined temperature. When the temperature detected by the temperature detector 51 exceeds the set value, the switch 48 is opened and the electric heater 45 is de-energized.

On the other hand, when the carbon monoxide shift converter 10 is started, since the shift catalyst layer 11 is at a low temperature as described above, the detected temperature of the shift catalyst layer 11 detected by the temperature detector 52 becomes equal to or lower than the set value, so that the opening / closing operation is performed. Switch 5 by controller 54
0 is closed and the electric heater 46 is energized so that the shift catalyst layer 11
Is heated to a third predetermined temperature. When the temperature detected by the temperature detector 52 exceeds the set value, the switch 50 is opened and the electric heater 46 is de-energized.

In the reaction tube 8 of the reforming reactor 4, the combustion in the burner 6 raises the temperature of the reforming catalyst layer 7 to a predetermined temperature at which the reforming reaction can be started.

When the desulfurization catalyst layer 2, the shift conversion catalyst layer 11, and the reforming catalyst layer 7 reach the temperatures at which desulfurization reaction, carbon monoxide shift reaction, and reforming reaction can be started, natural gas and water vapor are generated. Is supplied to the reformer to operate.

When the reformer is operated, the opening / closing controller 53 in the desulfurization reactor 1 is set in advance with the set value of the second predetermined temperature, while the carbon monoxide shift converter 10 is opened in the opening / closing controller 54 with the fourth preset temperature. Enter the set value for the specified temperature.

Here, when the reformer is operated and the load is reduced, the temperatures of the desulfurization catalyst layer 2 of the desulfurization reactor 1 and the shift catalyst layer 11 of the carbon monoxide shift converter 10 are lowered. At this time, in the desulfurization reactor 1, a signal of the temperature of the desulfurization catalyst layer 2 detected by the temperature detector 51 is input to the opening / closing controller 53. When the temperature detected by the temperature detector 51 is less than or equal to the second preset temperature set value by the switching controller 53, the electric circuit 47
Switch 48 is closed and the first electric heater 45 is energized to raise the temperature of the desulfurization catalyst layer 2 to a predetermined temperature. When the temperature exceeds the predetermined temperature, the switch 48 opens and the first electric heater 45 is de-energized. As a result, the desulfurization reaction is
Even if the load is reduced, the temperature of the desulfurization catalyst layer 2 is raised, so that the desulfurization catalyst layer 2 is sufficiently advanced.

On the other hand, in the carbon monoxide transformer 10,
A signal of the temperature of the shift catalyst layer 11 detected by the temperature detector 52 is input to the opening / closing controller 54. And the open / close controller 54
When the temperature detected by the temperature detector 52 is equal to or lower than the preset value of the fourth predetermined temperature, the switch 50 of the electric circuit 49 is closed, the second electric heater 46 is energized, and the shift catalyst layer 11 is turned on.
Is heated to a predetermined temperature. When the temperature exceeds the predetermined temperature, the switch 50 opens and the second electric heater 46 is de-energized. As a result, the carbon monoxide shift reaction is
Even if the load is reduced, the temperature of the shift conversion catalyst layer 11 is raised, so that the process proceeds sufficiently.

[0048]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, an electric heater is provided in each of the desulfurization catalyst layer in the desulfurization reactor of the reformer and the shift catalyst layer in the carbon monoxide reactor. According to this, at the time of load reduction during startup and operation of the reformer, the desulfurization catalyst layer and the shift conversion catalyst layer are heated by respective electric heaters to reach a predetermined temperature at which start-up desulfurization reaction and carbon monoxide shift reaction can be started. In addition, the temperature can be set to a predetermined temperature sufficient to accelerate the desulfurization reaction and the carbon monoxide shift conversion reaction when the load is reduced.

At this time, in order to raise the temperatures of the desulfurization catalyst layer and the shift catalyst layer to the respective predetermined temperatures at the time of starting and during load reduction during operation, the switches of the electric circuit are opened and closed in the respective catalyst layers in the temperature detector. Since the temperature is detected via the opening / closing controller according to the detected temperature, the desulfurization catalyst layer and the shift catalyst layer can be automatically heated to a predetermined temperature at the start-up and the load reduction.

Therefore, it is not necessary to install a nitrogen gas circulation system for heating the catalyst layer at the time of start-up as in the conventional case, which has the effect of facilitating the operation and reducing the equipment cost.

Further, when the load during operation is reduced, the temperatures of the desulfurization catalyst layer and the shift conversion catalyst layer do not decrease, and it becomes possible to maintain the reaction temperature at which the respective reactions proceed sufficiently, and the composition of the reaction gas produced deteriorates. The effect is that the required composition can be obtained without doing so.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a system diagram of a reformer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[Fig. 2] System diagram of a conventional reformer

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 desulfurization reactor 2 desulfurization catalyst layer 4 reforming reactor 10 carbon monoxide shift converter 11 shift catalyst layer 45 electric heater 46 electric heater 48 switch 50 switch 53 open / close controller 54 open / close controller

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁵ Identification code Office reference number FI technical display location H05B 3/00 330 Z Z 8918-3K

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A desulfurization reactor having a desulfurization catalyst layer filled with a desulfurization catalyst for promoting a reaction of desulfurizing sulfur contained in a hydrocarbon-based raw fuel, and a desulfurized raw material from the desulfurization reactor. A reforming reactor for reforming the fuel into a gas rich in hydrogen, and a shift catalyst layer filled with a shift catalyst for promoting the reaction for transforming carbon monoxide contained in the reformed gas from this reforming reactor are provided. A reformer comprising a carbon monoxide shift converter having a first electric heater in the desulfurization catalyst layer of the desulfurization reactor and a second electric heater in the shift catalyst layer of the carbon monoxide shift converter. A reformer characterized by the above. 2. The reforming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a temperature detector for detecting the temperature of the desulfurization catalyst layer of the desulfurization reactor,
The switch that opens and closes the electric circuit of the electric heater, and the temperature detected by the temperature detector are below the predetermined temperature at which the desulfurization reaction can be started at startup and at a predetermined temperature sufficient to accelerate the carbon monoxide shift reaction during load reduction during operation. A reformer comprising: an opening / closing controller that closes the switch when the temperature exceeds a predetermined temperature. 3. The reformer according to claim 1, wherein a temperature detector for detecting the temperature of the shift catalyst layer of the carbon monoxide shift reactor, a switch for opening and closing an electric circuit of the second electric heater, and a temperature The switch is closed when the temperature detected by the detector is below the specified temperature at which the carbon monoxide shift reaction can be started at startup or below the temperature sufficient to accelerate the carbon monoxide shift reaction during load reduction during operation. A reforming device comprising an opening / closing controller that opens a switch when the switch is opened.