JPH103936A - Solid polymer type fuel cell power generation system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a fuel cell power generation system for reforming material such as natural gas, naphtha, and methanol in a reformer, and generating power in a solid polymer type fuel cell using reformed gas in which system constitution is so simple that it can be operated without providing a humidifier. SOLUTION: Hydrogen-rich reformed gas is generated by steam-reformation of raw material in a reformer 2. Power is generated using reformed gas generated in the reformer 2 in a solid polymer type fuel cell 6. At the time of power generation, a first control part 8 regulates opening quantity of a first regulating valve 3 to supply excessive quantity of steam to the reformer 2, so reformed gas supplied to the fuel cell 6 includes steam of such quantity as to saturate at a cell operation temperature, thereby humidity of solid polymer film can be maintained without providing a humidifier.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a fuel cell, and more particularly to a power generation system including a reformer for steam reforming raw materials such as natural gas and naphtha, and a polymer electrolyte fuel cell for generating power using the reformer. About.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A polymer electrolyte fuel cell has a cell in which an anode and a cathode are arranged on a solid polymer membrane, and hydrogen gas is supplied to an anode and oxygen gas is supplied to a cathode. Power generation is performed by causing an electrochemical reaction represented by the following formulas and Formula 2.

[0003]

Embedded image

[0004]

Embedded image In order to perform this electrochemical reaction, it is necessary to ensure the ionic conductivity of the solid polymer membrane.
The operation is performed while humidifying the supplied hydrogen gas or oxygen gas to keep the solid polymer membrane moist. By the way, in the field of fuel cells, power generation is generally performed by combining a reformer that generates a hydrogen-rich reformed gas by steam reforming a raw material such as natural gas or methanol, and a fuel cell that uses the reformer to generate power. Although a system has been developed, this reformed gas contains some by-product carbon monoxide, so the solid catalyst type in which the anode catalyst is easily degraded by carbon monoxide in fuel cells In the case of a fuel cell, a power generation system is not so often formed in combination with a reformer. However, with the development of an excellent carbon monoxide removal apparatus, as disclosed in JP-A-3-203165 and JP-A-7-196302, a methanol reformer and a solid polymer type are disclosed. There has been developed a power generation system which is combined with a fuel cell and in which the anode catalyst is hardly deteriorated.

FIG. 6 is a processing flow of the fuel cell power generation system described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 7-196302. In this system, a mixture of methanol and water is vaporized in a combustion unit 101 and a vaporization unit 102, reformed into a hydrogen-rich reformed gas in a reforming unit 103, and subjected to a shift reaction in a shift unit 104 to reduce the CO concentration to 1000 ppm. The CO concentration in the reformed gas is reduced to less than 100 ppm in an oxidation removing section 105 provided with a CO selective oxidation catalyst, and the CO concentration in the reformed gas is reduced to less than 100 ppm.
7 for power generation.

This power generation system can be applied to a polymer electrolyte fuel cell system using natural gas or the like other than methanol as a fuel. When a gaseous fuel is used as a raw material, the vaporization unit is used. It is considered that it is not necessary to provide 102, and it is sufficient to supply the gaseous fuel to the reforming unit 103 together with the steam.

[0007]

However, in such a power generation system, it is necessary to provide a means for humidifying the reformed gas in addition to the means for supplying the vaporizer or the steam, and in this respect, the system configuration is required. Is complicated. That is, in the fuel cell power generation system of FIG. 6, the vaporizing section 1 for vaporizing a mixture of methanol and water is used.
02, and a humidifier 106 for humidifying the reformed gas flowing through the fuel cell stack 107 is complicated. When a gaseous fuel is used as a raw material, a steam supply source and a humidifying unit are required. However, there is a problem that the configuration is similarly complicated.

Further, a humidifier used for humidifying the reformed gas generally takes up space, so that the whole system is likely to be increased in size accordingly. In view of such problems, the present invention provides a fuel cell power generation system in which a raw material such as natural gas, naphtha, methanol, or the like is reformed by a reformer, and the reformed gas is used to generate power in a polymer electrolyte fuel cell. Another object of the present invention is to provide a simple system configuration that can be operated without providing a humidifier.

Further, since the fuel cell needs to be heated to a predetermined operating temperature at startup (normally about 70 to 130 ° C. for a polymer electrolyte fuel cell), even in such a system, the fuel cell is started at startup. It is necessary to provide a means for raising the temperature. Conventionally, a heating heater, a heating plate, or the like is often used as a heating means. However, the present invention does not require the provision of a heating heater, a heating plate, or the like. It is another object of the present invention to provide a polymer electrolyte fuel cell power generation system capable of raising the temperature of a fuel cell at the time of startup.

[0010]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to achieve the above-mentioned main object, the present invention provides a polymer electrolyte fuel cell power generation system by reforming a raw material by steam to produce a hydrogen-rich reformed gas. And a solid polymer fuel cell that generates electricity using the reformed gas generated by the reformer, and when the steam flows into the fuel cell together with the reformed gas through the reformer during power generation, the solid A steam supply means for supplying an excessive amount of steam to the reformer to keep the polymer membrane moist is provided.

The reason for supplying an excessive amount of steam to the reformer in the present invention is as follows. Conventionally, in the case of steam reforming of a raw material such as natural gas, it is usual to supply steam in an amount suitable for efficiently (ie, with low energy consumption) reforming hydrocarbons in a supplied raw material. No steam was supplied in excess. That is, the molar ratio of steam to hydrocarbons in the raw material supplied to steam reforming (hereinafter, this ratio is referred to as S / C
Ratio) is usually supplied at about 2.5.

This is because, when steam is supplied in an excessive amount (ie, when the S / C ratio is larger than 2.5), it is necessary to set the capacity of the reformer so large that the reformer is heated accordingly. This is because a large amount of fuel is required, and the efficiency is reduced. On the other hand, the inventors of the present invention have reported that, although excessive steam is supplied to the reformer, the reformer is increased in size and efficiency is reduced. Can be moisturized, eliminating the need for a separate humidifier,
It has been found that the efficiency of the entire system does not decrease and that the configuration of the entire system can be simply reduced in size.

Further, since the S / C ratio is increased by supplying an excessive amount of steam, the precipitation of carbon in the reformer is suppressed.
Further, in the polymer electrolyte fuel cell power generation system, a configuration including a carbon monoxide remover that removes carbon monoxide by selectively oxidizing carbon monoxide contained in the reformed gas generated by the reformer is provided. Thus, deterioration of the anode catalyst can be suppressed.

[0014] Further, if the steam supply means supplies steam at a rate such that the steam fed to the fuel cell together with the reformed gas does not dew at the power generation temperature of the fuel cell,
The hydrogen ion conductivity of the solid polymer membrane is ensured, and the water vapor does not condense in the fuel cell, so that the voltage does not easily decrease even after a long operation. Further, it is preferable that the water vapor supply means controls the amount of water vapor so that the S / C ratio becomes 3.0 to 6. This is because when the S / C ratio is 3.0 or more, the effect of preventing carbon precipitation is good, and when the S / C ratio exceeds 6, it is not preferable from the viewpoint of system efficiency.

Further, in this polymer electrolyte fuel cell power generation system, the water vapor supply means is provided even at the time of startup.
Steam may be sent to the fuel cell via the reformer, and the fuel cell may be heated by the steam. In this case, even if a heating device such as a heating plate is not provided,
The temperature of the fuel cell at the time of startup is increased. The steam supply means includes a steam detection sensor for detecting an amount of steam flowing through the fuel cell, a temperature detection sensor for detecting the temperature of the fuel cell, a valve provided on a pipe for supplying steam to the reformer, This can be easily realized by adopting a configuration including a control unit that controls the valve based on the detection result of the water vapor detection sensor and the temperature detection sensor.

[0016]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, a solid polymer fuel cell power generation system according to the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the drawings. (Description of System Configuration) FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a polymer electrolyte fuel cell power generation system according to one embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in the figure, the present system comprises a reformer 2 for steam reforming natural gas as a raw material using the heat of combustion of a burner 1, and a reformer 2 in the reformed gas generated by the reformer 2. CO remover 4 for removing carbon monoxide gas, water-cooled cooler 5 for cooling reformed gas, polymer electrolyte fuel cell 6, ejector 13 for mixing raw material with steam and supplying it to reformer 2
And the like are connected by pipes (A to G), and a control device 7 for controlling the operation of the system is provided.

The pipe A feeds steam supplied from the boiler 17 to the ejector 13, and a first adjusting valve 3 for adjusting the amount of steam is inserted in the middle of the pipe A. The pipe F is for sending the natural gas supplied from the compressor 18 to the ejector 13, and the second regulating valve 1 for adjusting the amount of the natural gas in the middle thereof.
4 is inserted.

The ejector 13 mixes the natural gas sent from the pipe F with the steam sent from the pipe A, and supplies the mixed gas to the reformer 2 via the pipe B. Burner 1
Heats the reformer 2 by burning fuel from a burner fuel source (not shown) and unreacted gas from the fuel cell 6.
Although not shown, the reformer 2 is internally provided with a catalyst layer for a reforming reaction and a catalyst layer for CO conversion. The burner 1 heats the catalyst layer for the reforming reaction to about 700 ° C. and the catalyst layer for the CO conversion to about 200 ° C. The mixed gas of the natural gas and steam sent from the pipe B is heated. Is reformed into a hydrogen-rich reformed gas by passing through these catalyst layers.

Looking at methane, which is the main component of natural gas, the reforming reaction catalyst layer is represented by the following chemical formula (3) and the CO conversion catalyst layer is represented by the following chemical formula (4). Such a shift reaction is mainly performed.

[0021]

Embedded image

[0022]

Embedded image Chemical formula 3 is an endothermic reaction, chemical formula 4 is an exothermic reaction,
The reason why the catalyst layer for CO conversion is kept at a relatively low temperature (about 200 ° C.) is to lower the carbon monoxide concentration as much as possible by shifting the equilibrium of Formula 4 to the right. Further, at the time of power generation, as will be described later, excess steam is supplied to the reformer 2 in excess of the amount of steam required for the reforming of natural gas. This is advantageous in lowering the concentration of carbon monoxide because it is shifted.

Excess steam is mixed in the reformed gas from the reformer 2. The mixed gas in which the reformed gas and the steam are mixed is sent to the fuel cell 6 via the pipe C, the CO remover 4, the pipe D, the cooler 5, and the pipe E in this order.
The CO remover 4 is provided with a selective oxidation catalyst layer (not shown) for selectively oxidizing carbon monoxide gas in the presence of oxygen. By being mixed with some air in the reactor 4 and passing through the selective oxidation catalyst layer, the carbon monoxide in the reformed gas is oxidized as shown by the following formula (5), and the carbon monoxide gas concentration becomes 10%.
It is reduced to about 0 ppm or less.

The CO remover 4 is operated at around 200.degree. In addition, the carbon monoxide removing function of the CO remover 4 is as follows.
Almost unaffected by excess steam passing with the reformed gas.

[0025]

Embedded image The fuel cell 6 is of a stacked type and is not shown, but is a solid polymer membrane (for example, a membrane of perfluorocarbonsulfonic acid).
A cell in which a cathode and an anode are arranged and a separator plate having ribs and gas channels formed on the surface thereof are alternately stacked, and a cooling system for controlling a power generation temperature is provided. Plate is inserted.

A catalyst (platinum) is used for the anode and the cathode.
Is used. The cooler 5 is
The mixed gas of about 200 ° C. from the CO remover 4 is reduced to a temperature (about 100 ° C.) suitable for the operating temperature of the fuel cell 6 (about 80 ° C.). By adjusting the temperature of the gas supplied to the fuel cell 6 in this manner, the temperature distribution in the fuel cell 6 can be made uniform.

The above mixed gas is sent from the pipe E to the fuel cell 6. This mixed gas is supplied to the anode in the fuel cell 6, and the hydrogen in the mixed gas is used for a reaction for power generation (formula 1), and the water vapor in the mixed gas is
It plays the role of moisturizing the solid polymer membrane. Further, since the concentration of carbon monoxide gas in the mixed gas is reduced as described above, deterioration of the anode catalyst hardly occurs.

The electric power generated by the fuel cell 6 is DC / A
It is converted into AC by the C inverter 16 and output to the outside. The remaining unreacted gas used for power generation in the fuel cell 6 is sent to the burner 1 through the pipe G and used for combustion. The control device 7 includes a first control unit 8 that controls the power generation and a second control unit 9 that controls the startup time.

During power generation, the first controller 8 controls the amount of water vapor in the fuel cell 6 input from the water vapor detection sensor 10, the temperature signal of the fuel cell 6 input from the first temperature detection sensor 11, and the ammeter. The opening / closing of the first regulating valve 3 is controlled based on the load current signal of the fuel cell 6 input from 15. The first control unit 8 stores a table of the amount of saturated steam with respect to the reformed gas measured in advance at a possible operating temperature of the fuel cell 6. For example, this table stores the amount of saturated steam (about 50 vol%) at the operating temperature (80 ° C.) of the fuel cell. Then, referring to this table, the first temperature detection sensor 1
It is possible to calculate a saturated water vapor amount corresponding to the temperature of the fuel cell 6 inputted from the step S1.

A specific example of the water vapor detection sensor 10 is as follows.
A humidity measuring sensor used in a dew point meter can be mentioned. The second controller 9 controls opening and closing of the first adjustment valve 3 and the second adjustment valve 14 based on a temperature signal in the reformer 2 input from the second temperature detection sensor 12 at the time of startup.

(Description of System Control Operation) (A) At System Start-Up FIG. 2 is a control flowchart at the time of start-up executed by the second control unit 9. The operation of the system at the time of startup will be described according to this flowchart. At system startup,
First, the burner 1 is ignited (step 01). Then, the temperature T2 in the reformer 2 is detected by the second temperature detection sensor 12 (step 02). This temperature T2 is a predetermined temperature (2
(00 ° C.) (Yes in step 03), the first regulating valve 3 is opened (step 04), and steam is supplied to the ejector 13. The steam passes through the ejector 13 to condition the reformer 2 and is further heated to a high temperature by the heat of the burner 1, and then the pipe C, the CO remover 4, the pipe D, the cooler 5, and the pipe E Through the fuel cell 6. The fuel cell 6 is heated by the steam to increase the temperature. Therefore, the heat of the steam supplied from the boiler 17 and the heat of the burner 1 are used for raising the temperature of the fuel cell 6.

Here, regarding the amount of steam supplied,
Although there is no particular limitation, it is desirable to set the fuel cell 6 to be heated to a temperature at which power can be generated by the time the conditioning of the reformer 2 is completed. It is preferable that they are the same. Subsequently, the temperature T2 in the reformer 2 is detected by the second temperature detection sensor 12 (step 05), and the temperature T1 of the fuel cell 6 is detected by the first temperature detection sensor 11 (step 06). If the temperature T2 of the reformer 2 reaches a preset temperature (500 ° C.) and the temperature T1 in the fuel cell 6 reaches a preset temperature (80 ° C.) (Yes in step 07), By opening the second regulating valve 14 (step 08), the supply of the natural gas to the reformer 2 is started. The supply of air to the fuel cell 6 is also started. Thereby, the fuel cell 6 starts power generation.

In the present embodiment, the cooler 5 is not operated at the time of start-up. However, in some cases, the cooler 5 may be operated to lower the temperature of the steam to be sent to the fuel cell 6 and slowly raise the temperature. In the present embodiment, st
Although the steam is fed after the reformer 2 reaches a predetermined temperature as in ep01 to ep04, the temperature of the fuel cell 6 can be raised by supplying steam regardless of the temperature of the reformer 2.

As described above, in the present system, the reformer 2
Since the temperature of the fuel cell 6 is raised by utilizing the heat of the steam supplied to the fuel cell, there is no need to provide a heating heater or a plate.
To that extent, the system configuration can be simplified. (B) At the time of system power generation FIG. 3 is a control flowchart at the time of power generation performed by the first control unit 8. The operation of the system at the time of power generation will be described according to this flowchart.

The first controller 8 sets the flow rate of natural gas based on the load current of the fuel cell 6 input from the ammeter 15 (steps 09 and 10). The flow rate is set such that the consumption rate of the reformed gas in the fuel cell 6 becomes a substantially constant value (about 80%). Then, the opening amount of the second adjustment valve 14 is adjusted according to the set flow rate (s
step11).

The amount of water vapor (vol%) in the fuel cell 6 is detected by the water vapor detection sensor 10 (step 12), and the temperature T1 in the fuel cell 6 is detected by the first temperature detection sensor 11 (step 13). Hereinafter, the amount of saturated steam in the reformed gas is referred to as PV, and the amount of saturated steam in the reformed gas corresponding to the temperature T1 is referred to as SV.

The first controller 8 calculates the SV by referring to the above-described table, and determines whether or not the relationship of 0.95 SV ≧ PV is satisfied (step 14). 0.
If 95SV ≧ PV is satisfied (Ye in step 14)
s), the opening amount of the first adjusting valve 3 is increased (step
15). If the relationship of 0.95 SV ≧ PV is not satisfied (No in step 14), it is determined whether or not SV ≦ PV (step 16). If Yes, the first regulating valve 3 is throttled (step 17), and If so, the opening amount of the first adjustment valve 3 is left as it is (step 1).
8).

By adjusting the opening amount of the first adjustment valve 3 in this manner, the reformed gas supplied to the fuel cell 6 is adjusted so as to contain an amount of water vapor saturated at the operating temperature of the cell. Will be. Accordingly, moisture can be sufficiently retained to secure the ionic conductivity of the solid polymer membrane, and water vapor does not condense on the solid polymer membrane to form water droplets. Is unlikely to occur.

[0039]

【Example】

Example The cell voltage and the S / C ratio were measured while operating the fuel cell 6 at various values using the polymer electrolyte fuel cell power generation system of the above embodiment.
FIG. 4 is a characteristic diagram showing the results, showing the relationship between the temperature T1 of the fuel cell and the cell voltage (the thin line graph) and the relationship between the temperature T1 and the S / C ratio (the thick line graph). is there.

As can be seen from the thin line graph, in the battery temperature range of 70 to 80 ° C., a high battery voltage is obtained, and the variation of the battery voltage with respect to the variation of the battery temperature is slight. Thus, the set temperature of the battery is 7
It turns out that 0-80 degreeC is preferable. 70 ° C
The reason why the cell temperature is increased in the range of up to 80 ° C. is that, in a fuel cell, generally, the higher the cell temperature, the higher the power generation voltage. However, as the amount of saturated steam increases, more steam is supplied and hydrogen gas is supplied. Since the concentration of
It is considered that when the temperature exceeds 0 ° C., the effect appears.

The bold line graph is a straight line and can be expressed by the following equation (1).

[0042]

(Equation 1) The bold line graph and Expression 1 represent the S / C ratio that saturates the reformed gas at the power generation temperature of the fuel cell in the system of the embodiment. The higher the battery temperature, the higher the S / C ratio is because the higher the temperature, the larger the saturated steam amount.

From the thick line graph and the equation 1, when the battery temperature is in the range of 70 to 80 ° C., the value of the S / C ratio is 3.0 to
It can be seen that it falls within the range of 6. Thus, in the system of the first embodiment, the operating temperature of the battery is set to 70 to 80.
It can be seen that setting the temperature in the range of ° C. controls the value of the S / C ratio in the range of 3.0 to 6. Next, using the polymer electrolyte fuel cell power generation system of the above embodiment,
Following the startup, an operation of generating power at a cell temperature of 80 ° C. was performed, and the temperatures of the reformer 2 and the fuel cell 6 at this time were measured over time.

FIG. 5 is a graph showing the results.
The horizontal axis represents the elapsed time, and the vertical axis represents the temperatures of the fuel cell 6 and the reformer 2. As shown in the heating pattern at the time of start-up (region H in the figure), about 50 minutes after the burner ignition (about 30 minutes from the start of steam supply), the reformer reaches 500 ° C., and the fuel cell also The operating temperature (80 ° C.) has been reached.

As shown in the temperature rise pattern at the time of power generation (region I in the figure), about 30 minutes after the start of power generation, the temperature of the reformer reached about 700 ° C., and steady operation was started. FIG.
As can be seen from FIG.
The generated voltage per cell is 530 mV, and the S / C ratio is about 6. The amount of water vapor sent into the fuel cell 6 is about 50 vol%, which is the amount of saturated water vapor at the operating temperature (80 ° C.) of the fuel cell.

Comparative Example On the other hand, if the S / C ratio is set to about 2.5 as in the conventional polymer electrolyte fuel cell system, the mixed gas after reforming (reformed gas + water vapor)
The amount of water vapor in the inside is about 10 vol%. Therefore, in this case, if the fuel cell is operated at 80 ° C., which is the same as the embodiment, in order to make the amount of water vapor in the mixed gas supplied to the fuel cell a saturated amount (about 50 vol%), a humidifier or the like is used. It will be necessary to supply steam. (Other Matters) In the above embodiment, the example in which the opening amount of the first adjustment valve 3 is adjusted based on the amount of water vapor in the fuel cell detected by the water vapor detection sensor 10 has been described. Even if the amount of water vapor in the fuel cell is not detected, the reforming gas supplied to the fuel cell is saturated with water vapor by adjusting the opening amount of the first control valve 3 so that the S / C ratio satisfies the above equation (1). Will be controlled so that

In the above-described embodiment, an example has been described in which the reformed gas is supplied to the fuel cell at normal pressure and the fuel cell is operated at about 70 to 80 ° C., but the reformed gas is supplied to the fuel cell while being pressurized. The present invention can be applied to a polymer electrolyte fuel cell power generation system that operates at about 120 to 130 ° C. Further, in the above-described embodiment, an example in which natural gas is used as a raw material has been described. When using a liquid fuel such as methanol as a raw material,
If the reformer is provided with a portion for vaporizing methanol, the same operation can be performed.

Further, in the above embodiment, an example has been shown in which the concentration of carbon monoxide is reduced and the deterioration of the anode catalyst is suppressed by providing a CO remover having a selective oxidation catalyst. In the above, a CO remover equipped with a selective oxidation catalyst is not essential, and if the carbon monoxide concentration in the reformed gas can be reduced or the durability of the anode catalyst to carbon monoxide can be improved by other methods, the same applies. It is thought that it can be carried out.

[0049]

As described above, the present invention relates to a fuel cell power generation system in which a raw material such as natural gas is reformed by a reformer and power is generated by a polymer electrolyte fuel cell using the reformed gas. At the time of power generation, a configuration including steam supply means for supplying an excessive amount of steam to the reformer so that the steam flows into the fuel cell together with the reformed gas via the reformer and moisturizes the solid polymer membrane, As a result, the system configuration can be simplified, and the precipitation of carbon in the reformer can be suppressed to extend the life of the reformer.

In this system, the deterioration of the anode catalyst is reduced by providing a carbon monoxide remover for removing carbon monoxide by selectively oxidizing carbon monoxide contained in the reformed gas generated by the reformer. Since it is suppressed, it can be made highly practical. In addition, if the steam in the reformed gas sent into the fuel cell is supplied at a rate that does not cause dew condensation at the power generation temperature of the fuel cell, the hydrogen ion conductivity of the solid polymer membrane is ensured and the steam is condensed in the fuel cell. Therefore, the voltage does not easily decrease even after long-time operation.

Further, when the steam is supplied to the fuel cell via the reformer at the time of starting by using the steam supply means and the temperature of the fuel cell is raised, a heating device such as a heating plate can be provided. The temperature of the fuel cell can be raised without providing the fuel cell.
The steam supply means includes a steam detection sensor for detecting an amount of steam flowing through the fuel cell, a temperature detection sensor for detecting the temperature of the fuel cell, a valve provided on a pipe for supplying steam to the reformer, At the time, it can be easily realized by adopting a configuration including a control unit that controls a valve based on the detection result of the water vapor detection sensor and the temperature detection sensor.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a polymer electrolyte fuel cell power generation system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a control flowchart at the time of starting which is executed by a second control unit shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a control flowchart at the time of power generation performed by a first control unit shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 shows the fuel cell temperature, the cell voltage, and the S / O ratio when the polymer electrolyte fuel cell power generation system according to the embodiment is operated.
It is a graph which shows the relationship with C ratio.

FIG. 5 is a graph showing the results of measuring the temperatures of the reformer and the fuel cell over time when the polymer electrolyte fuel cell power generation system according to the example is operated.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a processing flow in an example of a system in which a conventional polymer electrolyte fuel cell is combined.

[Description of Signs] 1 burner 2 reformer 3 first regulating valve 4 CO remover 5 cooler 6 fuel cell 7 control device 8 first control unit 9 second control unit 10 water vapor detection sensor 11 first temperature detection sensor 12 Second temperature detection sensor 13 Ejector 14 Second adjustment valve 15 Ammeter

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Shigeru Sakamoto 2-5-5 Keihanhondori, Moriguchi City, Osaka Prefecture Inside Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Yasuo Miyake 2-5-5 Keihanhondori, Moriguchi City, Osaka Prefecture No. 5 Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.

Claims (6)

[Claims] A reformer for producing a hydrogen-rich reformed gas by steam reforming a raw material; a polymer electrolyte fuel cell for generating electricity using the reformed gas generated by the reformer; Steam supply means for supplying an excessive amount of steam to the reformer such that steam flows into the fuel cell together with the reformed gas via the reformer and the solid polymer membrane during power generation during power generation. A polymer electrolyte fuel cell power generation system comprising: 2. The polymer electrolyte fuel cell power generation system according to claim 2, further comprising removing carbon monoxide by selectively oxidizing carbon monoxide contained in the reformed gas generated by said reformer. The polymer electrolyte fuel cell power generation system according to claim 1, further comprising a remover. 3. The steam supply means according to claim 1, wherein the steam is supplied such that the molar ratio of steam to hydrocarbon in the raw material supplied to the reformer is 3.0 to 6. Or the polymer electrolyte fuel cell power generation system according to 2. 4. The steam supply device according to claim 1, wherein said steam supply means supplies steam at a rate at which steam fed together with the reformed gas into said fuel cell does not dew at the power generation temperature of said fuel cell. Solid polymer fuel cell power generation system. 5. The steam supply means according to claim 1, wherein the steam is supplied to the fuel cell via the reformer even when the fuel cell is started, and the fuel cell is heated by the steam. 5. The polymer electrolyte fuel cell power generation system according to any one of claims 4 to 4. 6. The steam supply means includes: a steam detection sensor that detects an amount of steam flowing through the fuel cell; a temperature detection sensor that detects a temperature of the fuel cell; and a pipe that supplies steam to the reformer. The solid polymer fuel according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising: a valve provided; and a control unit that controls the valve based on detection results of the water vapor detection sensor and the temperature detection sensor during power generation. Battery power generation system.