Hitachi, Ltd.

Koji Shiina

Seiichiro Sakaguchi

Michio Kuroda

Yoshiki Noguchi

Kazuhito Koyama

Shigehisa Sugita

Yasuaki Akatsu

This invention relates to a favorable method of starting a fuel cell power generation system in which fuel is used directly as a heating medium for raising the temperature of said system. Namely, the present invention relates to a method of starting a fuel cell power generation system composed of (a) a reformer which is composed of a reforming part packed with reforming catalyst and a heating part and in which a fuel is fed to the reformer inlet and the fuel is combusted at the heating part, thereby to heat the reforming part and (b) the above-mentioned fuel cell in which the fuel which has been passed through said reformer reforming part is introduced to the anode and the exhaust gas produced at said reformer heating part is fed to the cathode, comprising the step of starting the fuel cell power generation system to ignite the fuel present at the reformer heating part only when the reformer reforming part has been filled with fuel.

Method of starting fuel cell power generation system

A thermo-siphon type generator apparatus making use of a gravity-type heat pipe in which a working medium is cyclically evaporated and condensed. The apparatus has a closed vessel filled with the working fluid and defining a lower evaporating section, an upper condensing section and a heat-insulated section between the evaporating and condensing sections. A turbine connected to a generator is mounted in or on the closed vessel. A first passage is provided for introducing the vapor of the working fluid generated in the evaporating section to the turbine, while a second passage is adapted for introducing the vapor from the turbine to the condensing section. The evaporating section includes a reservoir chamber adapted to store the working fluid in liquid phase, and a vapor bubble pumping space communicated with the reservoir chamber and adapted to generate, when heated, upward movement of vapor bubbles of the working fluid thereby to forward the vapor of the working medium to the turbine through the first passage. A third passage is provided for returning the condensate liquid to the reservoir chamber.

Thermo-siphon type generator apparatus

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Hitachi, Japan

Koji Shiina