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 Method and apparatus for controlling the temperature of a reforming reaction catalyst

Details
Inventors: Takabayashi, Yasuhiro;
Assignee: Fuji Electric Co., Ltd. (Kawasaki, JP)
Primary Examiner: Kalafut; Stephen J.
Assistant Examiner:
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Spencer & Frank

A method and an apparatus for controlling the temperature of a reforming reaction catalyst in which a reforming gas to be supplied to a fuel cell is produced by allowing it to react against a catalyst so that the fuel cell can provide output power to be supplied to a load. The present temperature for the reforming reaction catalyst may be modified in response to any variations in the load condition so that the amount of the combustion air output from the reforming burner can be reduced. The temperature control sequence for the reforming reaction catalyst may be performed near to the equilibrium point of the endothermic reaction following the catalytic reaction, thereby minimizing any variation that may occur in the catalyst temperature, and protecting the catalyst against its degradation. The temperature control sequence may be triggered at the time when the catalyst temperature has reached within the temperature setting range, thereby ensuring that the temperature control sequence can proceed stably and reliably.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION An object of the present invention is to provide a control method and a control apparatus wherein the catalyst temperature control can be achieved with high precision, so that the problems described above are eliminated.
In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, there is provided a reforming reaction catalyst temperature control method in which a reforming gas to be supplied to a fuel cell is produced by allowing the reforming gas to react against a reforming reaction catalyst, so that the fuel cell can provide output power to be supplied to a load, in which the method comprises the steps of: detecting the temperature of the reforming reaction catalyst during the catalytic reaction process; detecting any current flow from the fuel cell to the load; setting a value for the catalyst temperature that may vary depending upon the load condition as well a temperature control range that is determined from the set value for the catalyst temperature on the basis of a relationship between the variations in the load and the corresponding variations in the catalyst temperature; determining any deviation that occurs between the set value for the catalyst temperature and the detected catalyst temperature by calculating the deviation; and starting controlling of the temperature for the catalyst when the deviation has reached within the temperature control range.
Here, the step of detecting the temperature of the reforming reaction catalyst may include sensing the temperature by using a thermocouple.
The step of detecting any current flow from the fuel cell to the load may include detecting any current flow by means of a Hall CT.
The step of starting controlling of the temperature for the reforming reaction catalyst may include starting controlling of the temperature by using means that includes a temperature regulator, a material for reforming delivery pump controller, and a combustion air blower controller.
The temperature regulator may include a polarity discriminator and a plurality of operational amplifiers


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