Patent ID: 8389166

Claim:
A method of controlling a hydrogen generating apparatus, comprising: (a) removing sulfur compounds present in a raw material supplied to a reformer for generating a hydrogen-containing gas, using a desulfurizer; (b) measuring an amount of the sulfur compounds removed in (a), which amount is hereinafter referred to as an amount of removal of sulfur compounds, using a meter device; (c) shutting down an operation of the hydrogen generating apparatus when an integrated value of the amount of removal of sulfur compounds measured in (b) is greater than or equal to a first threshold value; and (d) inhibiting next start-up of said hydrogen generating apparatus if i) a shut-down process of the hydrogen generating apparatus is started when the integrated value of the amount of removal of sulfur compounds measured in (b) is smaller than the first threshold value and ii) the integrated value of the amount of removal of sulphur compounds measured by said meter device is greater than or equal to a second threshold value which is smaller than the first threshold value before the next start-up.