JP2000018718A - Hot water equipment with generation function - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To stably supply hot water for home use by performing the heat exchange of the thermal energy of waste heat being unloaded from a fuel cell and manufacturing hot water and providing a hot water storage tank for storing the hot water and a heater for heating water in the hot water storage tank according to power outputted by the fuel cell. SOLUTION: By continuously supplying hydrogen and air to a fuel cell 10, current flows to a load circuit and at the same time reaction heat is generated. A heat exchanger 110a for exchanging heat with water being supplied to a hot water storage tank 100 due to the thermal energy of waste heat that is unloaded from the fuel cell 10 is provided in the hot water storage tank 100. Also, a heater 120 is provided to heat water being supplied into the hot water storage tank 100 due to power being outputted from the fuel cell 10, thus heating water in the hot water storage tank 100 by the heater 120 as well as the thermal energy of the waste heat being unloaded due to the operation of the fuel cell 10 and securing hot water at a temperature required by a home or the like.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a water heater having a power generation function, which is used, for example, in ordinary households and produces hot water by exchanging heat energy of exhaust heat discharged by a fuel cell.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Fuel cells, which are small in scale, have high power generation efficiency, and are expected to be the mainstay of distributed power generation in the future, and their characteristics are being studied for application to general household electric appliances.

[0003] Fuel cells exhibit a high energy efficiency of 30 to 50% as power generation efficiency, but the remaining energy not used for power generation is exhausted as heat, so that the exhaust heat is reused to improve the energy efficiency. Is being considered.

For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 58-345 shown in FIG.
No. 75 proposes a fuel cell power generation system that performs necessary power supply and hot water supply in a system that performs power supply and hot water supply when there is a difference between a time zone where power demand is high and a time zone where hot water demand is high. ing.

In FIG. 16, a reformer 30 converts a supplied fuel 34 and a reforming steam 36 into a hydrogen-rich gas 38 and supplies it to a shift converter 40. The shift converter 40 reacts the carbon monoxide generated in the reformer 30 with water vapor to generate hydrogen and carbon dioxide, and the hydrogen and carbon dioxide are supplied to the anode chamber 15 of the fuel cell 10.

On the other hand, the air 24 is pressurized to a predetermined pressure by a compressor 21 and supplied to the cathode chamber 11 of the fuel cell 10, and the fuel cell 10 applies a DC voltage between the cathode 12 and the anode 14 by an electrochemical reaction. appear. The DC power extracted via the power line 71 is converted into three-phase AC power by the converter 70 and supplied to the power line 72.

When a load is connected to the power line 72, hydrogen in the anode chamber 15 is consumed, and water is generated in the cathode chamber 15.
Normally, fuel and air are supplied to the fuel cell 10 in excess of power consumption to generate gas, and water generated in the cathode chamber 15 is taken out of the fuel cell 10. The exhaust gases 62 and 66 are supplied to condensers 60 and 61 to condense water.

A part 27 of the combustion gas 26 generated by the burner 31 becomes power for the gas turbine 20 driving the air compressor 21, and is further discharged through a heat exchanger 41. On the other hand, the portion 28 of the combustion gas 26 that is not the power of the gas turbine 20 is supplied to the heat exchanger of the heat storage tank 50,
The heat energy is stored in the heat storage tank 50.

When a load is connected to the fuel cell 10 and a current flows, heat is generated in the fuel cell 10 due to Joule loss. The generated heat is extracted by the heat medium 52 circulated by the pump 51, and the heat energy is stored in the heat storage tank 50.

The thermal energy stored in the heat storage tank 50 heats the supplied water to generate hot water 124.

The temperature of the heat storage tank 50 depends on the fuel cell 10,
Determined by the heat balance of the combustion gas 26 and the hot water supply 54, the combustion gas 2
The temperature of the heat storage tank 50 is controlled by increasing or decreasing the flow rate in Step 6.

Here, the time zone in which the power demand is high and the time zone in which the hot water demand is high do not always coincide with each other, and vary depending on the day of the week, season, region, and the like. In general, power demand often peaks in the morning and afternoon in the daytime, and it is conceivable that a part of the peak power is covered by the fuel cell 10.

For example, if the fuel cell 10 is operated when the power demand exceeds a predetermined level, the generated heat of the fuel cell 10 operated in this case is stored in the heat storage tank 50.
Stored in On the other hand, the demand for hot water in ordinary households is often after dinner, which is clearly different from the previous time zone, and requires hot water when the fuel cell 10 is not exhausting heat.

Therefore, in this system, the fuel cell 10
By storing the heat energy of the exhaust heat generated in the operation in the heat storage tank 50 and using it later for hot water supply, even when there is a difference between the time zone where the power demand is high and the time zone where the hot water demand is high, the fuel cell 10 can be used. The necessary power supply and hot water supply are performed by effectively utilizing the generated heat.

[0015]

However, the above-mentioned system is a large-scale and complicated system for a multi-unit building having a large difference between the power demand and the hot water demand, and is small and simple. It is not suitable for a system for a detached house required to have a configuration.

This system also stores heat in the heat storage layer 50 during the daytime hours when power demand is high, and produces hot water during the nighttime hours when demand for hot water supply is high. Since the configuration is only for manufacturing, for example, when the power demand in the daytime is small, such as during the daytime in spring or autumn, the operation of the fuel cell 10 becomes a low-load operation, and the heat storage layer 50 lacks the heat storage amount, and cannot meet the hot water supply demand. There are cases.

In addition, in this system, when the electric power consumption is large regardless of day and night, such as in summer, the amount of produced hot water greatly exceeds the amount of consumed hot water, and the cooling of the fuel cell 10 becomes insufficient. There is also a problem.

The present invention has been made in order to solve such a problem, and is intended to obtain household electric power from a fuel cell.
It is an object of the present invention to obtain a water heater with a power generation function suitable for home use that stably supplies hot water, which is the base energy of the home, using the energy generated by the operation.

[0019]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A water heater with a power generation function according to the present invention is a water heater with a power generation function for producing hot water by exchanging heat energy of exhaust heat discharged by a fuel cell. And a heating heater for heating water supplied to the hot water storage tank by electric power output from the fuel cell.

Further, the heat of the exhaust heat discharged by the reformer between the reformer for reforming the raw fuel to extract the fuel to be used for the operation of the fuel cell and the water supplied to the hot water storage tank. And a heat exchanger for heat exchange of energy.

The raw fuel is methane gas, natural gas,
It is at least one of propane gas, methanol, dimethyl ether, naphtha and kerosene.

Further, the power conversion apparatus further includes a power conversion device for converting the power output from the fuel cell into AC power.

In the case where the heat exchange of the exhaust heat of the fuel cell alone is not enough to produce the desired hot water and the amount of hot water stored therein, the power output by the fuel cell is supplied to the heating heater. is there.

[0024] The fuel cell is operated based on a comparison between the temperature of the produced hot water and the amount of stored hot water, the power consumption of the load circuit that consumes the power output by the fuel cell, and the predetermined desired hot water temperature and stored hot water. It further includes a control device for controlling the operation load and the output of the heating heater.

Further, the apparatus further includes a radiator for radiating heat energy of the exhaust heat discharged from at least one of the fuel cell and the reformer, and a switching valve for switching a supply destination of the heat energy of the exhaust heat to the radiator. It is a thing.

Further, in a water heater having a power generation function for producing hot water by exchanging heat energy of waste heat discharged by a fuel cell, a detecting means for detecting a temperature of hot water and an amount of stored hot water, and a fuel cell Measuring means for measuring the power consumption of the load circuit that consumes the output power, a hot water storage tank for storing the manufactured hot water, and a heating heater for heating the water supplied to the hot water storage tank with the power output by the fuel cell, Opening / closing means for turning on / off the electric power supplied from the fuel cell to the heating heater, a fuel cell control valve for controlling the amount of fuel supplied to the operation of the fuel cell, and a desired hot water temperature and hot water storage amount in advance. The opening / closing means and the fuel cell control valve are controlled based on a comparison between the stored hot water temperature and the amount of hot water detected by the detecting means, the power consumption detected by the measuring means, and the previously stored desired hot water temperature and the amount of hot water stored. Control device Those were example.

Further, a reformer for reforming the raw fuel to extract fuel to be used for the operation of the fuel cell, a hot water storage tank for storing the produced hot water, and water supplied to the hot water storage tank are provided. A heat exchanger for exchanging heat energy of waste heat discharged from the reformer, and a reformer control valve for adjusting an inflow amount of raw fuel supplied to the reformer instead of the fuel cell control valve. Further, the control device controls the reformer control valve instead of the fuel cell control valve.

Also, a power converter for converting the power output from the fuel cell into AC power, a first regulator for adjusting the power supplied from the power converter to the load circuit, and a power converter instead of the switching means A second regulator for regulating the electric power supplied from the device to the heating heater, wherein the control device controls the first and second regulators instead of the opening / closing means.

Further, the control device outputs the fuel cell output when only the heat exchange of the heat energy of the exhaust heat exhausted by the fuel cell is insufficient for producing the hot water having the desired hot water temperature and the stored hot water amount stored in advance. A control signal for supplying electric power to the heating heater is sent to either the opening / closing means or the second regulator.

Further, the apparatus further comprises a radiator for radiating heat energy of exhaust heat discharged by at least one of the fuel cell and the reformer, and a switching valve for switching a supply destination of the heat energy of exhaust heat to the radiator. The control device switches the supply destination of the heat energy of the exhaust heat to the switching valve to the radiator when the temperature of the hot water having the desired hot water amount stored in advance exceeds the desired hot water temperature stored in advance. .

The fuel cell is a polymer electrolyte fuel cell.

[0032]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention relates to a water heater with a power generation function for producing hot water by exchanging heat energy of exhaust heat discharged by a fuel cell, wherein the hot water is heated by electric power output by the fuel cell. It is equipped with a heating heater to be manufactured, and when the power demand is small and the amount of hot water production is insufficient, the fuel cell is operated at full load to produce hot water with both the heat energy of exhaust heat and the heating heater. It is.

[0033]

[Table 1]

Table 1 shows the operating temperatures and output densities of the various fuel cells. In a large-scale system that further generates power using the heat energy of the exhaust heat discharged from the fuel cell, a high-temperature fuel cell (molten carbonate type, solid electrolyte type) having a high operating temperature is suitable. Low-temperature fuel cells (polymer electrolyte type, phosphoric acid type) are suitable for small-scale systems for industrial use.

Particularly, the polymer electrolyte fuel cell has an operating temperature of about 80 ° C. and is suitable for producing hot water, and has a high output density and a low operating temperature, so that it has good start / stop characteristics and excellent control followability. I have.

Therefore, as a fuel cell, for example, FIG.
A solid polymer fuel cell as shown in FIG.

This type of fuel cell is, as shown in FIG.
A polymer film 13 is used as an electrolyte, a fuel electrode 12 as a cathode is arranged on one side of the polymer film 13, and an air electrode 14 as an anode is arranged on the other side, and hydrogen gas 17 and air 18 are used as fuel. Can be

The hydrogen gas 17 supplied to the fuel cell 1 is
At the fuel electrode 12, hydrogen ions (H ⁺) And electrons (e^-)
Electrolyzed and hydrogen ions (H⁺) Via the polymer film 13
By moving from the fuel electrode 12 side to the air electrode 14 side, the electron
(E^-) Flows to the load circuit 19.

At the air electrode 14, oxygen in the air 18 supplied to the fuel cell 10, hydrogen ions (H ⁺ ) coming from the fuel electrode 12, and electrons (e ⁻ ) coming from the load circuit 19 react to produce water. Is generated, and a current flows through the load circuit 19 by continuously supplying hydrogen and air to the fuel cell 10. in this case,
Reaction current is generated as current flows.

As described above, a polymer electrolyte fuel cell having a high output density as a fuel cell and a relatively low operating temperature of about 80 ° C. and suitable for producing hot water has a good start / stop characteristic and a high control followability. By using this, a small-sized, high-performance, and highly controllable system suitable for home use can be configured.

Embodiment 1 FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of the water heater with a power generation function shown in the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. A heat exchanger 110a for exchanging heat with the water supplied to the hot water storage tank 100 by the heat energy of the hot water, and a heating heater 120 for heating the water supplied into the hot water storage tank 100 by the electric power output from the fuel cell 10. Are provided.

Here, the heat energy of the exhaust heat discharged from the fuel cell 10 is supplied to the heat exchanger 110a by a heat medium via the tube 190a.

The fuel cell 10 and the heating heater 120
A switch (opening / closing means) 160 for performing on / off control of the electric power supplied from the fuel cell 10 to the heating heater 120 is provided between the two.

Further, a fuel cell control valve 150b for adjusting the amount of hydrogen gas 17 which is the fuel of the fuel cell 10 to flow into the fuel cell 10 is provided.

In the water heater with the power generation function according to Embodiment 1 configured as described above, before hot water is supplied from oil storage tank 100, switch 160 is still open, and the user needs to operate the water heater. The inflow of the hydrogen gas 17 supplied to the fuel cell 10 is adjusted by the fuel cell control valve 150b so as to obtain sufficient power, and the operating condition of the fuel cell 10 is adjusted.

That is, when the electric power required by the user is high, the user can use the hydrogen gas 17 supplied to the fuel cell 10.
To increase the amount of power output from the fuel cell 10.

On the other hand, when the power required by the user is low, the user
And the amount of power output by the fuel cell 10 is reduced.

In the operation of the fuel cell 10, the oxygen used in the combustion (oxidation) of the hydrogen gas 17 in the fuel cell 10 is the oxygen in the air 18 and the oxygen used in the combustion of the hydrogen gas 17. After the fuel cell 1
It is discharged together with the water vapor generated at zero.

As a result, when the fuel cell 10 is operated, the DC power 180 is output from the fuel cell 10 and the exhaust heat is exhausted, and part of the heat energy of the exhaust heat operates the temperature inside the fuel cell 10. (Oxidation reaction), and the remaining heat energy is transferred to the heat exchanger 110 by the heat medium through the pipe 190a.
a.

Then, in the heat exchanger 110a, heat is exchanged between the water in the hot water storage tank 100 and the heat in the hot water storage tank 100 by the heat energy of the exhaust heat exhausted from the fuel cell 10. Hot water is produced.

By the way, when it becomes necessary to use hot water and hot water in hot water storage tank 100 is supplied, hot water storage tank 10
When the water is supplied in 0, the temperature of the hot water in the hot water storage tank 100 becomes low and the required hot water temperature cannot be secured.

Here, if the output capacity of the fuel cell 10 still has a margin relative to the power consumption of the load circuit 19, the user adjusts the fuel cell control valve 150b to increase the power output, and 160 and heating heater 1
In addition to supplying power to the power supply 20, the power output from the fuel cell 10 is set to the power consumption of the load circuit 19 (not shown in FIG. 2) and the power consumption of the heating heater 120.

Therefore, not only the heat energy of the exhaust heat discharged by the operation of the fuel cell 10 but also the water in the hot water storage tank 100 is heated by the heating heater 120, so that the hot water of the hot water required by the user can be obtained. Can be secured.

Therefore, according to the first embodiment, for example, when the required power amount of the load circuit 19 is small and the amount of hot water to be produced is smaller than the required amount, the switch 160 is turned on to turn on the heating heater 120. Is supplied with electricity, and the operation of the fuel cell 10 is reduced
Hot water can be produced with the power output from the fuel cell 10 and the heat energy of the exhaust heat discharged by the fuel cell 10 raised to a level corresponding to the load to which the electric power of the load circuit 19 has been added. Hot water can be supplied stably regardless of the amount.

FIG. 3 shows a modification of the above embodiment. As shown in FIG. 3, the heat exchanger 110a is provided outside the hot water storage tank 100, and the water in the hot water storage tank 100 is supplied to the heat exchanger 110b by the pump 126 and heated by the heat exchanger 110b to produce hot water. Then, by supplying the hot water to the hot water supply port above the hot water storage tank 100, the hot water can be directly discharged from the heat exchanger 110b in the event of an unexpected situation where the amount of hot water stored in the hot water storage tank 100 is small.

FIG. 4 shows a modification of the above embodiment. As shown in FIG. 4, a heating heater 120 is provided in a heating tank 125 provided outside the hot water storage tank 100, and the water in the hot water storage tank 100 is supplied to the heating tank 125 by a pump 126 to be heated. The hot water is heated by the heater 120 and hot water is supplied to the hot water supply port at the top of the hot water storage tank 100.
You can tap directly from 25.

FIG. 5 shows a modification of the above embodiment. As shown in FIG. 5, the heat exchanger 110a and the heating heater 120 are connected to the hot water storage tank 100.
(Heating heater 120 and heat exchanger 110a disposed in heating tank 125), and water in hot water storage tank 100 is supplied to heat exchanger 110a by pump 126 to be heated, and then heated. By further heating by the heating heater 120 in the tank 125 and supplying hot water to the hot water supply port at the top of the hot water storage tank 100, heat exchange can be performed even in an unexpected situation where the hot water storage tank 100 has almost no hot water storage amount. Vessel 110a
By heating the water with the heating heater 120, the hot water can be directly discharged from the heating tank 125.

Embodiment 2 FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram of the water heater with a power generation function according to the second embodiment. In FIG. 6, in the water heater with a power generation function according to the second embodiment, the determination made by the user in the first embodiment is determined. The control is performed by a control device described later.

In FIG. 6, a heat exchanger 110a for exchanging heat with water supplied to the hot water storage tank 100 by the heat energy of exhaust heat discharged from the fuel cell 10 is provided in the hot water storage tank 100; A heating heater 120 for warming the water supplied into the hot water storage tank 100 by the electric power output from the battery 10 and a hot water meter (detection means) 130 for detecting the hot water temperature and the hot water storage amount in the hot water storage tank 100 are provided. ing.

The hot water meter 130 is composed of, for example, a plurality of temperature sensors mounted on a rod at regular intervals, and is disposed in the hot water storage tank 100 as shown in FIG. The hot water temperature and the hot water storage amount of the hot water at that position are known.

Here, the heat energy of the exhaust heat discharged from the fuel cell 10 is supplied to the heat exchanger 110a by a heat medium via the tube 190a.

The fuel cell 10 and the heating heater 120
A switch 160 for controlling the on / off of the electric power supplied from the fuel cell 10 to the heating heater 120 is provided between the two.

Further, a fuel cell control valve 150b for adjusting the amount of hydrogen gas 17 as fuel of the fuel cell 10 flowing into the fuel cell 10 is provided.

Further, a power meter (measuring means) 170 for measuring the power consumption of the load circuit 19 (not shown in FIG. 6) for consuming the power output from the fuel cell 10 is also provided.

Here, the power meter 170 is used as the measuring means.
Instead, for example, an ammeter or a voltmeter that detects a change in current flowing through the load circuit 19 or a change in voltage applied to the load circuit 19 may be used.

The control device 200 in which the desired (appropriate) hot water temperature and the hot water storage amount in the hot water storage tank 100 is stored in the internal memory in advance, the hot water storage tank 10 detected by the hot water meter 130
0 based on a comparison between the internal hot water temperature and hot water storage amount, the power consumption of the load circuit 19 detected by the power meter 170, and the desired hot water temperature and hot water storage amount stored in the internal memory in advance.
Opening / closing control signals are sent to the fuel cell control valves 150b to control opening and closing, respectively, so that the hot water in the hot water storage tank 100 has a desired hot water temperature and hot water storage amount.

In the water heater with the power generation function according to Embodiment 2 configured as described above, before hot water is supplied from oil storage tank 100, switch 160 is still open, and control device 200 is , Based on the output of the wattmeter 170, so that the required power for the load circuit 19 is obtained.
The operating state of the fuel cell 10 is adjusted by adjusting the flow rate of the hydrogen gas 17 supplied to the fuel cell 10 by the fuel cell control valve 150b.

That is, when the power required for the load circuit 19 is high, the control device 200 increases the inflow amount of the hydrogen gas 17 supplied to the fuel cell 10 based on the output of the power meter 170, The amount of power output from the fuel cell 10 is increased.

Conversely, when the electric power required for the load circuit 19 is low, the control device 200 reduces the inflow amount of the hydrogen gas 17 supplied to the fuel cell 10 based on the output of the power meter 170. In addition, the amount of power output from the fuel cell 10 is reduced.

In the operation of the fuel cell 10, the oxygen used in the combustion (oxidation) of the hydrogen gas 17 in the fuel cell 10 is the oxygen in the air 18 and the oxygen used in the combustion of the hydrogen gas 17. After the fuel cell 1
It is discharged together with the water vapor generated at zero.

As a result, when the fuel cell 10 is operated, the DC power 180 is output from the fuel cell 10 and the exhaust heat is exhausted, and part of the heat energy of the exhaust heat operates the temperature inside the fuel cell 10. (Oxidation reaction), and the remaining heat energy is transferred to the heat exchanger 110 by the heat medium through the pipe 190a.
a.

In the heat exchanger 110a, heat exchange is performed between the water in the hot water storage tank 100 and the heat in the hot water storage tank 100 by the heat energy of the exhaust heat discharged from the fuel cell 10. Hot water is produced.

When hot water is supplied from the hot water storage tank 100, low-temperature water is supplied into the hot water storage tank 100, and the temperature of the hot water in the hot water storage tank 100 becomes low, so that the required hot water temperature cannot be secured.

If the output capacity of the fuel cell 10 still has a margin compared to the power consumption of the load circuit 19, the control device 200 sends a switching control signal based on the output of the The power output is increased by adjusting the fuel cell control valve 150b, the switch 160 is turned on by sending an open / close control signal to supply power to the heating heater 120, and the power output from the fuel cell 10 is (Not shown in FIG. 6) and power consumption of heater 1
20 power consumption.

Therefore, not only the heat energy of the exhaust heat discharged by the operation of the fuel cell 10 but also the desired heater temperature and the desired amount of hot water stored in the internal memory in the hot water storage tank 100 by the heating heater 120. Hot water is produced.

Therefore, according to the second embodiment, for example, when the required power amount of the load circuit 19 is small and the amount of hot water to be produced is smaller than the required amount, the switch 160 is controlled based on the output of the control device 200. Is supplied, the heating heater 120 is energized, and the operation of the fuel cell 10 is changed to the load circuit 19.
To the level corresponding to the load obtained by adding the electric energy of the heating heater 120 to the required electric energy of the fuel cell 10.
Hot water can be produced using the power output by the fuel cell and the heat energy of the exhaust heat exhausted by the fuel cell 10, and stable hot water supply is possible regardless of the amount of power required by the load circuit 19.

FIG. 7 shows a modification of the above embodiment. As shown in FIG. 7, a heat exchanger 110a is provided outside the hot water storage tank 100, and water in the hot water storage tank 100 is supplied to the heat exchanger 110b by the pump 126 and heated by the heat exchanger 110b to produce hot water. Then, by supplying the hot water to the hot water supply port above the hot water storage tank 100, the hot water can be directly discharged from the heat exchanger 110b in the event of an unexpected situation where the amount of hot water stored in the hot water storage tank 100 is small.

FIG. 8 shows a modification of the above embodiment. As shown in FIG. 8, a heating heater 120 is provided in a heating tank 125 provided outside the hot water storage tank 100, and the water in the hot water storage tank 100 is supplied to the heating tank 125 by a pump 126 to be heated. The hot water is heated by the heater 120 and hot water is supplied to the hot water supply port at the top of the hot water storage tank 100.
You can tap directly from 25.

FIG. 9 shows a modification of the above embodiment. As shown in FIG. 9, the heat exchanger 110a and the heating heater 120 are connected to the hot water storage tank 100.
(Heating heater 120 and heat exchanger 110a disposed in heating tank 125), and water in hot water storage tank 100 is supplied to heat exchanger 110a by pump 126 to be heated, and then heated. By further heating by the heating heater 120 in the tank 125 and supplying hot water to the hot water supply port at the top of the hot water storage tank 100, heat exchange can be performed even in an unexpected situation where the hot water storage tank 100 has almost no hot water storage amount. Vessel 110a
By heating the water with the heating heater 120, the hot water can be directly discharged from the heating tank 125.

Embodiment 3 The structure of the fuel cell 10 is most simple when hydrogen gas is used. In the first and second embodiments, the fuel cell 10 is hydrogen gas. Requires new social capital investment, and there are many difficulties at this time.

Therefore, it is conceivable to reform another raw fuel to extract crude hydrogen. However, since the load fluctuation in the load circuit 19 is large in household appliances, the reformer has a quick start-up and good controllability. It is preferable to operate at a low temperature, and the raw fuel is preferably one that can be reformed at a low temperature.

In terms of fuel supply and storage, in addition to gas fuels such as methane gas, natural gas (mainly composed of methane), and propane gas, which are currently established, methanol, which is liquid and easily stored at room temperature, is used. , Dimethyl ether, naphtha,
Since gasoline, kerosene, and the like are suitable, they are reformed and used as raw fuel in the third embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a configuration diagram of a water heater with a power generation function shown in Embodiment 3 (for convenience of explanation, Embodiment 3
Is described as a modification of the second embodiment.) The water heater is further provided with a reformer 30 for extracting a hydrogen component from the raw fuel and supplying the hydrogen component to the fuel cell 10.
In addition to the extraction of the hydrogen component at 0, other unnecessary components are burned (oxidized) in the reformer 30, and part of the heat energy of the exhaust heat discharged by this combustion is used to keep the reformer 30 warm. After the heat exchanger is used, the remainder is provided in the hot water storage tank 100 via the pipe 190b by the heat medium.
b.

The extracted hydrogen component is supplied to the fuel cell 10, and the fuel cell 10 is provided for the operation as described above.

The heat exchanger 110 b provided in the hot water storage tank 100 exchanges heat with the water in the hot water storage tank 100 by using the heat energy of the exhaust heat discharged from the reformer 30. .

The control device 200 is the same as that of the first embodiment,
Instead of the fuel cell control valve 150b shown in FIG. 2, an opening / closing control signal is sent to a reformer control valve 150c for adjusting an inflow amount of raw fuel supplied to the reformer 30.

In the water heater with a power generation function according to Embodiment 3 configured as described above, the hydrogen component extracted from the raw fuel in the reformer 30 is sent to the fuel cell 10 and the fuel cell 10 described above. Such operation is performed. On the other hand, the control device 200 has the same switches as in the second embodiment,
Controls opening and closing of control valves.

However, in the third embodiment, a reformer control valve 150c is provided instead of the fuel cell control valve 150b, and the control device 200 replaces the fuel cell control valve 150b with the reformer control valve 150c. To control the inflow of the raw fuel supplied to the reformer 30.

Therefore, according to the third embodiment, the heat energy of the waste heat discharged from the reformer 30 is further transferred to the pipe 19.
0b via the hot water storage tank 1
Hot water is produced by heating water in 00, and hot water can be produced even when a fuel other than hydrogen is used.

Instead of hydrogen whose supply infrastructure is delayed as a fuel, natural gas (mainly composed of methane gas), propane gas, which can be reformed at a relatively low temperature and whose supply infrastructure is maintained, is replaced with hydrogen. The fuel cell 10 is reformed in a reformer 30 using methanol, dimethyl ether, naphtha, kerosene, or the like, which can be handled in the same manner as gasoline, as a raw fuel.
The fuel supply system of the fuel cell 10 is secured even when the fuel cell 10 is used for home use.

FIG. 11 shows a modification of the above embodiment. As shown in FIG. 11, the heat exchangers 110a and 110b
Of the hot water storage tank 100 and the pump 126
By supplying the hot water to the heat exchangers 110a and 110b in sequence and heating the respective heat exchangers, and supplying hot water to the hot water supply port at the top of the hot water storage tank 100, the hot water storage amount in the hot water storage tank 100 is small. In this case, hot water can be directly discharged from the heat exchanger 110b.

FIG. 12 shows a modification of the above embodiment. As shown in FIG. 12, a heating heater 120 is provided in a heating tank 125 provided outside the hot water storage tank 100, and water in the hot water storage tank 100 is supplied to the heating tank 125 by a pump 126 to be heated. The hot water is heated by the heater 120 to produce hot water, and the hot water is supplied to a hot water supply port above the hot water storage tank 100, so that the hot water storage tank 100
In the event of an unexpected situation where the amount of hot water stored is small, the hot water can be directly discharged from the heating tank 125.

FIG. 13 shows a modification of the above embodiment. As shown in FIG. 13, heat exchangers 110 a and 110 b and a heating heater 120 are provided outside hot water storage tank 100 (heating heater 120 disposed in heating tank 125, heat exchangers 110 a and 110
b), the water in the hot water storage tank 100 is sequentially supplied to the heat exchangers 110a and 110b by the pump 126 and heated to produce hot water, and further heated by the heating heater 120 in the heating tank 125. By supplying hot water to the hot water supply port at the upper part of the hot water storage tank 100, even in the case of an unexpected situation where the hot water storage amount in the hot water storage tank 100 is almost zero, the heat exchanger 110
The water can be directly discharged by warming the water with the heaters a and 110b and the heating heater 120.

Embodiment 4 FIG. 14 is an explanatory view of the water heater with a power generation function shown in the fourth embodiment. In FIG. 14, the illustration of the oil storage tank 100 and the like described so far is omitted, and the configuration of a controller described later is mainly shown. I have.

In FIG. 14, between the fuel cell 10 and the wattmeter 170, the DC power output from the fuel cell 10 is converted into an AC commercial power supply, and the load circuit 19 (see FIG. Are not shown) and a controller 300 for controlling electric power supplied to the heating heater 120 is provided.

The controller 300 is supplied to the power converter 310 for converting the DC power output from the fuel cell 10 into AC commercial power (100 V or 200 V), and to the load circuit 19 based on the output of the controller 200. Load output controller (first regulator) 320 for controlling the power
Heating heater output controller (second regulator) 330 that controls the power supplied to heating heater 120 based on the output of control device 200 (instead of switch 160).
It is composed of

The control device 200 converts the sum of the power supplied by the load output controller 320 to the load circuit 19 and the power supplied by the heating heater output controller 330 to the heating heater 120 by the power conversion device 310. Control signals are sent to the heating heater output controller 320 and the load output controller 330 so that the commercial AC power is obtained.

That is, the control device 200 grasps the power consumption of the load circuit 19 from the output of the wattmeter 170, controls the power supplied to the load circuit 19 based on this, and converts the power to the power circuit 310. Commercial AC power load circuit 19
An output control signal is sent to each of the load output controller 320 and the heating heater output controller 330 so that the remaining power not supplied to the heating heater 120 becomes the power to be supplied to the heating heater 120.

In the water heater with the power generation function according to Embodiment 4 configured as described above, the DC output 1
8 is an AC commercial power (100 V
Or 200V) and supplied to the load output control device 320 and the heating heater output controller 330.

Then, control device 200 controls oil storage tank 1
When the temperature of the hot water stored in 00 is low, power meter 17
The output control signal is sent to the load output control device 200 based on the output of 0 to control the magnitude of the commercial AC power supplied from the power converter 310 to the load circuit 19, and the magnitude of the controlled power Sends an output control signal to the heating heater output controller 330 according to the
From 0, the power supplied to the heating heater 120 is adjusted.

Here, the control device 200 converts the sum of the power supplied by the load output controller 320 to the load circuit 19 and the power supplied by the heating heater output controller 330 to the heating heater 120 by the power conversion device 310. Control signals are sent to the load output controller 320 and the heating heater output controller 330 so that the commercial AC power is obtained.

For example, the control device 200 controls the water meter 130
If the hot water in the hot water storage tank 100 does not satisfy the desired hot water temperature condition previously stored in the internal memory of the control device 200 based on the output of the control device 200, a control signal is sent to the fuel cell control valve 150b to send the fuel cell 10 is controlled to full load operation or set load operation, and if there is a margin in the commercial AC power converted by the power conversion device 310 compared to the power consumption of the load circuit 19, the output of the power meter 170 is used. Then, an output control signal is sent to the heating heater output controller 330 to increase the output from the heating heater output controller 330 to the heating heater 120 to produce necessary hot water.

Therefore, according to the fourth embodiment, the DC output 18 from the fuel cell 10 is converted into AC commercial power and supplied to the load circuit 19 and the heating heater 120
Of the hot water stored in the hot water storage tank 100, while controlling the operating state of the fuel cell 10 according to the required output to distribute the power. When the consumption exceeds the production, the heating is switched to the heating heater 120 (so-called hot water production mode) to produce hot water. Therefore, the output supplied from the fuel cell 10 to the load circuit 19 which is household power is output. In the case of obtaining hot water, it is possible to stably supply hot water, which is the base energy of the home, by using the heat energy of the exhaust heat discharged in the operation.

Embodiment 5 FIG. If the demand for electric power is large and the demand for hot water is relatively small in summer or the like, the temperature of the hot water stored in the hot water storage tank 100 rises to a predetermined temperature or more and boils, or the cooling of the fuel cell 10 becomes impossible. It may be enough.

Therefore, in order to prevent this problem, the water heater with the power generation function shown in the fifth embodiment has a radiator 191 for cooling the heat medium flowing through the pipe 190a, as shown in FIG. A switching valve 150d for switching the flow of the heat medium to the heat radiator 191 instead of the heat exchanger 110a based on the output of 200 is provided in the pipe 190a. The fifth embodiment will be described as an improved example of the fourth embodiment (however, the reformer 30 is omitted for convenience of explanation).

In the water heater with a power generation function according to the fifth embodiment configured as described above, the desired temperature and amount of hot water stored in the internal memory of control device 200 as described above in the fourth embodiment are used. Manufacturing is usually performed.

Here, for example, control device 200 sets the temperature of hot water in hot water storage tank 100 based on the output of hot water temperature gauge 130 to a value higher than a desired hot water temperature stored in the internal memory of control device 200 in advance. In the case of rising and boiling, a switching control signal is sent to the switching valve 150d.

Then, the switching valve 150d changes the flow of the heat medium in the pipe 190b based on the switching signal to the heat exchanger 11
Switch to radiator 191 instead of 0a.

Here, control device 200 operates hot water storage tank 1
If the temperature of the hot water (in the amount previously stored in the internal memory of the control device 200) in 00 is lower than the temperature of the hot water previously stored in the internal memory of the control device 200, the output of the hot water temperature gauge 130 is used. To send a switching control signal to the switching valve 150d.

The switching valve 150d controls the flow of the heat medium in the pipe 190b based on the switching control signal.
Switch from 91 to the heat exchanger 110a again.

Therefore, according to the fifth embodiment, for example, when the demand for electric power is large and the demand for hot water is relatively small in summer or the like, the temperature of the hot water in the hot water storage tank 100 rises to a desired temperature or higher, and the storage temperature increases. A radiator 191 is provided to prevent the temperature of the hot water stored in the hot tank 100 from boiling or the cooling of the fuel cell 10 to be insufficient, and control is performed when the hot water production becomes excessive. The switching valve 150d is switched based on the output of the device 200, and the heat energy of the exhaust heat discharged in the operation of the fuel cell 10 is radiated by the radiator 191 to maintain the stable operation of the fuel cell 10 during the power demand period. When obtaining the output supplied from the fuel cell 10 to the load circuit 19 which is household power, the heat energy of the exhaust heat discharged in the operation is used to stabilize the hot water supply which is the base energy of the home. Offer It can be.

[0112]

According to the present invention, when household electric power is obtained from a fuel cell, it is possible to stably supply hot water, which is the base energy of the household, by utilizing the energy generated by the operation.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of a fuel cell.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of the water heater with a power generation function shown in Embodiment 1.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of the water heater with a power generation function shown in the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of the water heater with a power generation function shown in the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of the water heater with a power generation function shown in the first embodiment.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of the water heater with a power generation function shown in the second embodiment.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of a water heater with a power generation function shown in Embodiment 2.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of a water heater with a power generation function shown in Embodiment 2.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of a water heater with a power generation function shown in Embodiment 2.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of a water heater with a power generation function shown in Embodiment 3.

11 is an explanatory diagram of a water heater with a power generation function shown in Embodiment 3. FIG.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram of a water heater with a power generation function shown in Embodiment 3.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram of a water heater with a power generation function shown in Embodiment 3.

FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram of a water heater with a power generation function shown in Embodiment 4.

FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram of a water heater with a power generation function shown in Embodiment 5.

FIG. 16 is an explanatory diagram of a conventional fuel cell power generation system disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 58-34575.

[Explanation of symbols]

19 load circuit, 100 hot water storage tank, 110a, 11
0b heat exchanger, 120 heating heater, 125 heating tank, 126 pump, 130 water meter, 150b
Fuel cell control valve, 150c Reformer control valve, 150c
Switching valve, 160 switch, 170 wattmeter, 190
a, 190b tube, 200 controller, 300 controller, 310 power converter, 320 load output controller, 330 heating heater output controller.

Claims (14)

[Claims] 1. A water heater having a power generation function for producing hot water by exchanging heat energy of exhaust heat discharged by a fuel cell, wherein a hot water storage tank for storing the produced hot water and water supplied to the hot water storage tank are provided. A water heater with a power generation function, comprising: a heating heater that heats with the electric power output by the fuel cell. 2. The waste heat discharged by the reformer between a reformer for reforming raw fuel and extracting fuel to be used for operation of a fuel cell, and water supplied to the hot water storage tank. The water heater with a power generation function according to claim 1, further comprising a heat exchanger that performs heat exchange of the heat energy. 3. The water heater according to claim 2, wherein the raw fuel is at least one of methane gas, natural gas, propane gas, methanol, dimethyl ether, naphtha, and kerosene. 4. The water heater with a power generation function according to claim 1, further comprising a power conversion device that converts power output from the fuel cell into AC power. 5. A method for supplying electric power output from a fuel cell to a heating heater when heat exchange of exhaust heat of a fuel cell alone is insufficient for producing hot water having a desired hot water temperature and hot water storage amount. Item 5. A water heater with a power generation function according to any one of Items 1 to 4. 6. The fuel cell based on a comparison between the temperature of the manufactured hot water and the amount of hot water stored therein, the power consumption of a load circuit that consumes the power output by the fuel cell, and a predetermined desired hot water temperature and hot water storage amount. The water heater with a power generation function according to any one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising a control device for controlling the operation load and the output of the heating heater. 7. A radiator for radiating heat energy of exhaust heat discharged by at least one of the fuel cell and the reformer, and a switching valve for switching a supply destination of the heat energy of exhaust heat to the radiator. The water heater with a power generation function according to claim 1, further comprising: 8. A water heater with a power generation function for producing hot water by exchanging heat energy of waste heat discharged by a fuel cell, detecting means for detecting a hot water temperature and an amount of stored hot water, and the fuel Measuring means for measuring the power consumption of a load circuit that consumes the power output by the battery; a hot water storage tank for storing the manufactured hot water; and heating for heating water supplied to the hot water storage tank with the power output by the fuel cell. A heater, opening / closing means for turning on / off electric power supplied from the fuel cell to the heating heater, a fuel cell control valve for controlling an inflow amount of fuel supplied to the operation of the fuel cell, Storing the hot water temperature and the hot water storage amount, and comparing the hot water temperature and the hot water storage amount detected by the detection means with the power consumption detected by the measurement means and the previously stored desired hot water temperature and the hot water storage amount; Opening / closing means, front A water heater with a power generation function, comprising: a control device for controlling the fuel cell control valve. 9. A reformer for reforming raw fuel to extract fuel to be used for operation of a fuel cell, a hot water storage tank for storing manufactured hot water, and a water supplied to the hot water storage tank. A heat exchanger for exchanging heat energy of waste heat discharged by the reformer, and a reformer for adjusting an inflow amount of the raw fuel supplied to the reformer instead of a fuel cell control valve. The water heater with a power generation function according to claim 8, further comprising a control valve, wherein the control device controls the reformer control valve instead of the fuel cell control valve. 10. The raw fuel is methane gas, natural gas, propane gas, methanol, dimethyl ether, naphtha,
The water heater with a power generation function according to claim 9, wherein the water heater is at least one of kerosene. 11. A power converter for converting power output from a fuel cell into AC power, a first regulator for regulating power supplied from the power converter to a load circuit, A second regulator that regulates electric power supplied from the power converter to the heating heater, wherein the controller controls the first and second regulators instead of the opening / closing means. The water heater with a power generation function according to any one of claims 1 to 10. 12. The control device according to claim 1, wherein said fuel cell is configured to output when the heat exchange of heat energy of exhaust heat exhausted by the fuel cell is insufficient for producing hot water having a desired hot water temperature and storage amount stored in advance. The water heater with a power generation function according to any one of claims 8 to 11, wherein a control signal for supplying the generated power to the heating heater is transmitted to one of the opening / closing means and the second regulator. 13. A radiator for radiating heat energy of exhaust heat discharged by at least one of the fuel cell and the reformer, and a switching valve for switching a supply destination of the heat energy of the exhaust heat to the radiator. The control device may further include: when the temperature of the hot water having a desired stored hot water amount stored in advance exceeds the desired hot water temperature stored in advance, the control valve sends the destination of the heat energy of the exhaust heat to the radiator. The water heater with a power generation function according to any one of claims 8 to 12, wherein control is performed to switch to (i). 14. The water heater with a power generation function according to claim 1, wherein the fuel cell is a polymer electrolyte fuel cell.