Fuel cell system and method for starting up the same

Abstract

A fuel cell system may include a reformer having a reforming catalyst layer; a high temperature fuel cell for generating electric power; a reforming catalyst layer temperature measuring means; a reforming catalyst layer temperature increasing means; and a control means for calculating a flow rate of the hydrocarbon-based fuel that can be reformed in the reforming catalyst layer, based on the measured temperature of the reforming catalyst layer, and for controlling the hydrocarbon-based fuel supplied to the reforming catalyst layer to flow at the calculated flow rate, and being able to increase a feed rate of the hydrocarbon-based fuel to the reforming catalyst layer, while repeatedly operating the fuel flow rate calculating function and the fuel flow rate controlling function, until the feed rate of the hydrocarbon-based fuel to the reforming catalyst layer becomes a flow rate at completion of start-up.

1 .- 8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . A fuel cell system comprising:
 a reformer having a reforming catalyst layer, for reforming a hydrocarbon-based fuel to produce a hydrogen-containing gas;   a high temperature fuel cell for generating electric power using the hydrogen-containing gas;   a reforming catalyst layer temperature measuring means for measuring a temperature of the reforming catalyst layer;   a reforming catalyst layer temperature increasing means for increasing a temperature of the reforming catalyst layer; and   a control means having a fuel flow rate calculating function for calculating a flow rate of the hydrocarbon-based fuel that can be reformed in the reforming catalyst layer, based on the measured temperature of the reforming catalyst layer, and a fuel flow rate controlling function for controlling the hydrocarbon-based fuel supplied to the reforming catalyst layer to flow at the calculated flow rate, and being able to increase a feed rate of the hydrocarbon-based fuel to the reforming catalyst layer, while repeatedly operating the fuel flow rate calculating function and the fuel flow rate controlling function, until the feed rate of the hydrocarbon-based fuel to the reforming catalyst layer becomes a flow rate at completion of start-up.