JP2771552B

PURPOSE:To make it possible to activate a reforming catalyst again while giving no disturbance to the cell component material by applying steam to a reforming unit, and at the same time, applying a reducing gas to an anode, and after that, exhausting the steam and the reducing gas out of the system. CONSTITUTION:A constantly-closed valve 8 is provided at an anode gas distribution maniford 5, and it is opened while a reforming catalyst is in the reactivating process. A reducing gas feeding pipe 12 is furnished through a switch valve 11 at the exhaust pipe 10 of an anode exhaust gas maniford 6, a reducing gas including carbonic acid gas is fed to an anode through the feeding pipe 12 while the reforming catalyst is in the reactivating operation, and after that, it is exhausted out of the system by opening a normally-closed valve 8. Steam S is let flow in to a reforming unit 2 through a leading pipe 15, and exhausted out of the system by opening the constantly-closed valve 8 after impurities attached to the catalyst are oxidized. At the same time, by the reducing gas led through the feeding pipe 12, the anode, the electrolyte, and the like generate no trouble owing to the oxidization.