Patent ID: 8623563
Filing Date: 2014-01-07
Classification: C01B,H01M,Y02E,Y02P

Abstract:
1. A method for starting-up a solid oxide fuel cell system which comprises a reformer having a reforming catalyst, for reforming raw material for producing hydrogen to produce a reformed gas containing hydrogen, and a solid oxide fuel cell which uses the reformed gas as a fuel, wherein, a catalyst having partial oxidation reforming function and a catalyst having steam reforming function are used as the reforming catalyst, and said method comprises the steps of: a) combusting a same material as the raw material for producing hydrogen in a start-up combustor to generate heated combustion gas, b) increasing the temperature of the catalyst having partial oxidation reforming function by the combustion gas to a predetermined temperature at which the partial oxidation reforming reaction can proceed, c) increasing the temperature of the solid oxide fuel cell by feeding the combustion gas to a cathode of the solid oxide fuel cell, d) conducting the partial oxidation reforming reaction after reaching the predetermined temperature, increasing the temperature of the catalyst having steam reforming function by the heat generated due to the partial oxidation reforming reaction, and increasing the temperature of the solid oxide fuel cell by feeding the reformed gas to an anode of the solid oxide fuel cell, e) combusting unused reformed gas discharged from the anode of the solid oxide fuel cell, and heating the catalyst having steam reforming function by heat generated from the combustion, wherein the temperature of the solid oxide fuel cell is increased by feeding the combustion gas produced from combustion of the unused reformed gas discharged from the anode of the solid oxide fuel cell to the cathode of the solid oxide fuel cell, and f) reducing the proportion of the partial oxidation reforming reaction or stopping the partial oxidation reforming reaction, and performing the steam reforming, after the catalyst having steam reforming function is heated to a temperature at which the steam reforming reaction can proceed; wherein steps a), b), c), d) and e) are performed prior to an initial generation of electricity at the solid oxide fuel cell.