Patent ID: 8262756
Filing Date: 2012-09-11
Classification: C01B,H01M,Y02E

Abstract:
1. A method of operating a hydrogen generator comprising the steps of: (a) heating a reformer by a heater; (b) causing a steam reforming reaction to proceed to generate a reformed gas by said reformer; (c) causing a shift reaction of carbon monoxide in the reformed gas to proceed by a shift converter; (d) counting the number of times of start-up and/or stop of said hydrogen generator including said reformer, said shift converter, and said heater; and (e) counting an accumulated operation time of said hydrogen generator, wherein the step (c) includes: step (c1) causing the shift reaction to proceed at a first controlled temperature if the counted number of times of start-up and/or stop of said hydrogen generator is less than a predetermined number of times, step (c2) causing the shift reaction to proceed at a second controlled temperature higher than the first controlled temperature if the counted number of times of start-up and/or stop of said hydrogen generator is not less than the predetermined number of times, (c3) causing the shift reaction to proceed at a third controlled temperature if the counted accumulated operation time of said hydrogen generator is less than a predetermined time, and (c4) causing the shift reaction to proceed at a fourth controlled temperature higher than the third controlled temperature if the counted accumulated operation time of said hydrogen generator is not less than the predetermined time.