Method for operating indirect internal reforming solid oxide fuel cell system

Abstract

Disclosed is a method for operating an indirect internal reforming solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) system that can maintain the temperature of a reformer in a stable and proper manner. The method for operating an indirect internal reforming solid oxide fuel cell system comprising a reformer with a reforming catalyst layer for producing a reformed gas from a hydrocarbon fuel, a solid oxide fuel cell that generates electric power using a reformed gas obtained in the reformer, and a combustion region for burning an anode off gas discharged from the solid oxide fuel cell. The reformer is disposed at a position that can receive combustion heat generated in a combustion region. The method comprises the step of regulating the temperature of the reforming catalyst layer by varying a power generation output value of the solid oxide fuel cell.

Description

technical field [0001] The present invention relates to an indirect internally modified solid oxide fuel cell system including an indirect internally modified solid oxide fuel cell having a reformer next to the fuel cell. Background technique [0002] In Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (Solid Oxide Fuel Cells. It is referred to as SOFC according to the following conditions.), generally, the reformer supplies the fuel produced by reforming hydrocarbon-based fuels (modified raw materials) such as kerosene or city gas. Hydrogen-containing gas (modified gas). In the SOFC, the reformed gas and air are electrochemically reacted to generate power. SOFCs typically operate at temperatures as high as 550°C to 1000°C. [0003] For modification, various reactions such as steam modification and partial oxidation modification are used. No matter which reaction must be carried out above a certain temperature. Therefore, an indirect internal modified SOFC has been developed in which a reformer i...

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Problems solved by technology

Once the temperature of the reformer drops, the reformer will not be able to maintain the temperature required for fuel modification. Therefore, there is a hidden danger that unmodified fuel will enter the battery and have a bad impact on the battery.

[0012] Even if this hidden danger is dealt with by increasing the amount of fuel input while increasing the output value of power generation to increase the amount of reformation, for example, there are cases of water vapor reformation or autothermal reformation mainly based on endothermic reactions, even if one wants to In order to solve the problem of sudden temperature drop, before the temperature of the reformer is restored by increasing the amount of combustion in the combustion area, the increase of the modification amount will often accelerate the drop of the temperature of the reformer for a while, so that the original intention to maintain The temperature drop of the modifier

On the other hand, in the case of using a system of partial oxidation modification mainly based on an exothermic reaction, the temperature of the reformer may locally rise significantly due to an increase in the combustion amount of the reforming catalyst.

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