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A fuel injector (11) supplies liquid fuel to a catalytic combustor (9) of a fuel reforming device during startup of a fuel reforming device. A controller sets the injection amount (Qf) for liquid fuel to a first injection amount (Qf1) during a predetermined time (t1) after starting fuel injection. A

A fuel injector (11) supplies liquid fuel to a catalytic combustor (9) of a fuel reforming device during startup of a fuel reforming device. A controller sets the injection amount (Qf) for liquid fuel to a first injection amount (Qf1) during a predetermined time (t1) after starting fuel injection. After the predetermined time, the injection amount (Qf) is set to a second injection amount (Qf2) which is larger than the first injection amount (Qf1). When the elapsed time after starting fuel injection is smaller than a value (t1), the discharged amount of uncombusted fuel is reduced by setting the injection amount (Qf) to a minimum injection amount (Qf1) which allows ignition and combustion in the catalyst.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A control device for a catalytic combustor, the catalytic combustor having a catalyst for combusting fuel, comprising:a fuel injector for injecting fuel to the catalytic, combustor during startup operations of the catalytic combustor; a supply device for supplying an oxygen-containing gas to the

1. A control device for a catalytic combustor, the catalytic combustor having a catalyst for combusting fuel, comprising:a fuel injector for injecting fuel to the catalytic, combustor during startup operations of the catalytic combustor; a supply device for supplying an oxygen-containing gas to the catalytic combustor; a sensor for detecting the temperature of the catalyst; and a controller coupled to the fuel injector, functioning to; set of fuel injection amount of the fuel injector to a first predetermined injection amount, when the catalyst temperature is less than a first predetermined temperature; set the fuel injection amount of the fuel injector to a second predetermined injection amount which is larger than the first predetermined injection amount, when the catalyst temperature is greater than the first predetermined temperature; and command the fuel injector to inject the set injection amount of fuel. 2. The control device as defined in claim 1, further comprising a flow control valve for regulating a flow rate of oxygen-containing gas supplied to the catalytic combustor;wherein the controller further functions to: calculate a flow rate of oxygen-containing gas for achieving a fixed excess-air ratio in response to the set fuel injection amount; and command the flow control valve to achieve the calculated flow rate of oxygen-containing gas. 3. The control device as defined in claim 1, further comprising a flow control value for regulating the flow rate of oxygen-containing gas supplied to the catalytic combustor;wherein the controller further functions to; calculate a flow rate of oxygen-containing gas supplied to the catalytic combustor; wherein the controller further functions to: calculate a flow rate of oxygen-containing gas for achieving a first excess-air ration when the catalyst temperature is less than a first predetermined temperature; and calculate a flow rate of oxygen-containing gas for achieving a second excess-air ratio when the catalyst temperature is greater than the first predetermined temperature, wherein the second excess-air ratio is higher than the first excess-air ratio; and command the flow control valve to achieve the calculated flow rate of oxygen-containing gas. 4. The control device as defined in claim 3, wherein the first excess-air ratio is the lowest value at which an amount of nitrogen oxide produced by the combustion of fuel is in an allowable range; and the second excess-air ratio is an excess-air ratio at which the catalyst temperature coincides with a second predetermined temperature under steady-state operating conditions of the catalytic combustor, wherein the second predetermined temperature is higher than the first predetermined temperature and lower than a maximum allowable temperature of the catalyst.5. The control device as defined in claim 1, further comprising a glow plug for igniting the fuel, the glow plug being provided in the catalytic combustor between the fuel injector and the catalyst.6. The control device as defined in claim 7, wherein the amount allowing ignition of the fuel in the catalyst; and the second predetermined injection amount is an injection amount at which a temperature of the catalyst reaches a second predetermined temperature under steady-state operating conditions of the catalytic combustor, wherein the second predetermined temperature is higher than the first predetermined temperature and lower than a maximum allowable temperature of the catalyst.7. A method for controlling an operation of a catalytic combustor, the catalytic combustor having a catalyst for combusting fuel, comprising:supplying an oxygen-containing gas to the catalytic combustor; detecting a temperature of the catalyst; determining whether the catalyst temperature is greater than a first predetermined temperature; setting a fuel injection amount of the fuel injector to a first predetermined injection amount, when the catalyst temperature is less than the first predetermined temperature; setting the fuel injection amount of the fuel injector to a second predetermined injection amount which is larger than the first predetermined injection amount, when the catalyst temperature is greater than the first predetermined temperature; and injecting the set injection amount of fuel to the catalytic combustor. 8. A control device for a catalytic combustor, the catalytic combustor having a catalyst for combusting fuel, comprising:means for supplying an oxygen-containing gas to the catalytic combustor; means for detecting a temperature of the catalyst; means for determining whether the catalyst temperature is greater than a first predetermined temperature; means for setting a fuel injection amount of the fuel injector to a first predetermined injection amount, when the catalyst temperature is less than the first predetermined temperature; means for setting the fuel injection amount of the fuel injector to a second predetermined injection amount which is larger than the first predetermined injection amount, when the catalyst temperature is greater than the first predetermined temperature; and means for injecting the set injection amount of fuel to the catalytic combustor.