PURPOSE: To decrease energy dependency on the outside source of power generating system and increase total energy efficiency of power generating system by keeping and increasing temperature of a stack and a reformer during suspension of operation or at starting of the fuel cell respectively.
CONSTITUTION: During normal operation of a fuel cell, discharged heat from a cell stack 1 and a reformer 3 is stored in a regenerating material 14 in a regenerator 13 by heat medium which circulates in a heat recovery pipe 16 connecting heat recovery equipment 8 and 9 to a heat exchange coil 15a of the regenerator 13 respectively. When temperature of the regenerator 13 reaches a specified value, for example, 170°C, valves 18a and 18b are closed and storage of discharged heat is stopped. When temperature of the regenerator 13 is decreased to less than a specified value, valves 18a and 18b are opened again to store discharged heat. During suspension of operation of a cell, temperature of the stack 1 and reformer 3 is kept in such a way that valves 21a and 21c opened and a circulation pump 20 is driven, and thereby high temperature medium is circulated in a regenerating pipe 19 connecting a heat exchange coil 15b to heat exchange coils 11 and 12 of the stack 1 and reformer 3 respectively.
IDE MASAHIRO
TAJIMA OSAMU
