Patent ID: 7432004
Filing Date: 2008-10-07
Classification: H01M,Y02E

Abstract:
1. A method of stopping fuel cell electric power generation, which is employed after electric power generation performed using: a reformer producing hydrogen-rich gas by utilizing a source gas, a source gas supplying means of supplying said source gas to said reformer, a first air supplying means of supplying purging air to said reformer, a water supplying means of supplying water to the reformer in order to generate steam or a steam supplying means of supplying steam to said reformer; and a fuel cell generating electric power by utilizing the hydrogen-rich gas produced at the reformer and air for electric power generation supplied from outside, the method comprising the sequential steps of, stopping the supply of said source gas to said reformer when the operation of said fuel cell is to be stopped, supplying said steam to said reformer, based on the operation of said water supplying means or said steam supplying means, and supplying said purging air from said first air supplying means to said reformer after lapse of a predetermined time.