Fuel reforming apparatus and the method of starting it

摘要

A combustion/reforming catalyst 15 is composed of a plurality of catalyst layers 15a, 15b, 15c arranged in series with intervals between them, and when a fuel reforming apparatus is started from a low temperature, while the supply of the fuel gas is stopped, air preheated in a preheater is supplied in parallel to a point upstream of each catalyst layer, thereby the catalyst in each catalyst layer is self-heated at the same time so that the entire catalyst is heated. After the whole catalyst is heated up to a temperature at which a combustion/reforming reaction can take place, the feed of air is temporarily stopped, the supply of fuel gas is started, next air is supplied while controlling the flow rate thereof so that temperatures in the catalyst do not exceed the temperature that the catalyst can withstand. Thus, no other special equipment or utilities are needed, and the apparatus can be started quickly (cold start), the reforming catalyst and the fuel cell can be protected from poisoning, and the apparatus can be made compact enough to install it in a electric vehicle.