Patent ID: 8906565
Filing Date: 2014-12-09
Classification: C01B,H01M,Y02E

Abstract:
1. A method of load following operation of a fuel cell system comprising a reformer for reforming a hydrocarbon-based fuel to produce a reformed gas containing hydrogen, said reformer having a reforming catalyst layer, and a high temperature fuel cell for generating electric power using the reformed gas, wherein at least two reforming methods selected from the group consisting of a steam reforming method, a partial oxidation reforming method, and an autothermal reforming method are determined as i-th reforming methods, where i is an integer of 1 or more and L or less, and L is 2 or 3, functions Fi=fi(P) and P=fi where P=fi −1 (Fi) is an inverse function of Fi=fi(P), a function ηi=gi(P) is obtained beforehand for every i, said function ηi=gi(P) being a function of the electrical output P of the fuel cell and an electric power generation efficiency hi of the fuel cell when a reformed gas produced by the i-th reforming method is supplied to the fuel cell to output the electrical output P from the fuel cell, Pi Fi the method of load following operation of the fuel cell system comprising: A B C D for each of said at least one i, performing step d 1 1 if a fuel cell output demand value P D is equal to or less than the maximum electrical output Pi M , and performing step d 1 2 if the fuel cell output demand value P D exceeds the maximum electrical output Pi M , d if fi(P if fi(P d if fi(Pi if fi(Pi E F