JP2002190060A - Vending machine mounting electric power source - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To secure safety against flammable gas, to cope with corrosion caused by toxic gas (SOX, NOX and the like) flowing inside a vending machine from the outside, and to maintain hygienic control of a commodity, a cup and the like against floating bacteria flowing inward in the vending machine mounting a fuel cell. SOLUTION: As an auxiliary power source, a solar battery and a storage battery part are mounted in the vending machine mounting a fuel cell functioning as a main power source. When a photocatalyst is applied to one place or combined places among a cabinet side face, a rear face, a door surface, a glass face for displaying goods, a lighting system cover, the solar battery, the storage part, a light source, a fuel cell main body surface, a cabinet inside for arranging the fuel cell, and the vending machine outside face, a solar ray and light from an artificial light source is absorbed by the photocatalyst, and because of a photochemical reaction caused by the photocatalyst absorbing the light, the flammable gas remaining inside the vending machine stopped in an emergency such as occurrence of an earthquake, the toxic gas adhering to the vending machine outside face or flowing from the outside into the inside of the vending machine, and the floating bacteria can be eliminated.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a vending machine equipped with a fuel cell as a power supply source, which is provided with natural light or artificial light when a flammable gas such as hydrogen or methanol leaks as a raw material due to an accident or disaster. The present invention relates to a technique for providing a self-purifying function to a vending machine itself by activating a photocatalyst to generate radicals rich in oxidizing action and efficiently removing combustible gas. In addition, harmful gas (NOx,
The present invention relates to a technology for removing, by photochemical reaction, when SOx or the like adheres to an outer surface of a vending machine or a surface of a fuel cell main body inside the vending machine.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, expectations for solar cells and fuel cells have increased from the viewpoints of energy saving, prevention of air pollution, and prevention of global warming. In particular, from the viewpoint of energy use efficiency, polymer electrolyte fuel cells (PEFC: Polym
er Electrolyte Fuel Cell) has high expectations. Fuel cells generate electricity directly by electrochemically reacting hydrogen obtained by reforming a fuel such as natural gas with oxygen in the air. In principle, this is the reverse phenomenon of electrolysis. is there. In addition, ordinary primary batteries will eventually run out of life because there is no entry or exit of built-in reactants, but fuel cells are batteries that continuously generate electricity by continuously supplying reactants and discharging products. is there. The actual fuel cell power generation system mainly consists of a "fuel cell body" that generates electricity, a "reformer" for steam reforming the fuel and supplying hydrogen-rich gas to this, and converts the generated DC electricity into AC. It is composed of peripheral devices such as an "inverse converter (inverter or orthogonal transformer)". Fuel cells are classified into alkaline type, phosphoric acid type, solid polymer type, sulfuric acid type, molten carbonate type, solid electrolyte type, etc., depending on the type of electrolyte used. Among them, the molten carbonate type is 650 ° C. Before and after the solid electrolyte type is operated at a high temperature of around 1000 ° C., these are called high temperature type fuel cells. On the other hand, the phosphoric acid type is operated at a relatively low temperature of about 200 ° C., and the alkaline type, solid polymer type and sulfuric acid type are operated at a relatively low temperature of about 100 ° C., and thus are classified as low temperature fuel cells. A fuel cell is generally operated using a reformed gas obtained by reforming a lower hydrocarbon such as methane or methanol, natural gas, kerosene, gasoline or the like into a component mainly composed of hydrogen. In some cases, a hydrogen cylinder, a hydrogen storage alloy, liquid hydrogen, or the like may be used as a fuel.

The photocatalyst removes harmful substances (aldehydes, etc.) and removes odorous substances (ammonia, methyl mercaptan, etc.) by the generation of hydroxyl radicals and superoxide anions on the surface of the photocatalyst by irradiation of ultraviolet rays. Odor decomposition, combustible gas (hydrogen, methane,
Use of harmless gases (lower hydrocarbons such as methanol), removal of harmful gases (NOx, SOx, etc.) such as air pollutants, and use as environmental purification materials such as antifouling and antibacterial are increasing.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-58098 discloses a photocatalyst utilization technique for a fuel cell, in which a photocatalyst device is used as a fuel reformer, and seawater supplied as fuel is decomposed into hydrogen and oxygen by photocatalysis. A characteristic fuel cell device has been proposed. In Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-321315, the C
It has been proposed to use a photocatalyst for measures against O and methanol poisoning. This technology prevents the fuel electrode from being deteriorated by CO or the like.

[0005] Regarding the use of a photocatalyst in a conventional vending machine, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H11-86115 proposes a technique aimed at reducing maintenance of a vending machine installed outdoors and preventing contamination of a product display room. ing.

[0006] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-195170 relates to a cup-type vending machine, and particularly proposes a technique for preventing a bad smell caused by a waste liquid generated during the production of a beverage and a stain on a waste liquid bucket. Further, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-272943 proposes a vending machine with a deodorizing function for dispensing a suitable amount of drinks such as juice and coffee, shaved ice, and the like.

[0007]

Problems to be Solved by the Invention Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-580
In the technology described in Japanese Patent Publication No. 98, a photocatalytic device is used as a fuel reforming device, and seawater supplied as fuel is decomposed into hydrogen and oxygen by photocatalysis, but the description of the effect of removing hydrogen and combustible gas is given. There is no. Further, JP-A-8-
In the technology described in JP-A-321315, a photocatalyst is used for CO and methanol poisoning of the fuel electrode of the fuel cell.
It does not describe how to ensure the safety of hydrogen and flammable gas as fuel. When a vending machine is installed outdoors, harmful gases (NOx, SOx, etc.), which are air pollutants emitted from automobiles, adhere to the outside or inside of the vending machine and react with moisture in places with heavy traffic. To become acid,
There is a problem that the vending machine body and the fuel cell body are corroded.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Nos. 11-86115, 11-195170 and 11-272
No. 943 discloses a dirt prevention, antibacterial action, odor prevention from waste liquid and a deodorizing function of a vending machine using a photocatalyst. However, when a fuel cell is mounted as a power supply source, flammable gas leaks. Is not described.

Incidentally, the fuel cell power generation equipment is provided with a gas leak detection means and an emergency stop means for the equipment in order to surely and safely stop the operation when an abnormality occurs during operation.
However, it is necessary to remove some remaining combustible gas for safety at restart. In addition, harmful gases (SOx, N
Ox, etc.) and countermeasures for hygiene management of products, cups, etc. due to inflowing bacteria.

[0010] The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and includes a cabinet side surface, a rear surface, a door surface, a glass surface for displaying products, a lighting cover, a solar cell, a power storage unit, and a light source of a vending machine equipped with a fuel cell. By applying a photocatalyst to the surface of the fuel cell body, the inside of the cabinet where the fuel cell is installed, the outside of the vending machine, or a combination of these, the flammable gas remaining in the vending machine after an emergency stop is removed. It is an object of the present invention to provide a technology for removing and restarting to ensure higher safety. In addition, it removes harmful gases and airborne bacteria that adhere to the outer surface of the vending machine during normal operation or flow into the inside of the vending machine from the outside. And other sanitary measures.

[0011]

In order to solve this problem, a vending machine equipped with a fuel cell according to the present invention has a fuel cell mounted as a power supply source, a member coated with a photocatalyst, and a photocatalyst coated member. Light source for irradiating light,
It has a self-purifying function. According to the present invention, when a flammable gas such as hydrogen or methanol, which is a raw material of the fuel cell, leaks, or when a harmful gas adheres, the photocatalyst is activated by natural light or artificial light to enhance the oxidizing effect. Radicals are generated and combustible gas can be removed efficiently. Further, toxic gas, floating bacteria, and the like flowing from outside the vending machine can be removed by the effect of the photocatalyst.

The vending machine equipped with a fuel cell according to the present invention is provided with a fuel cell and a solar cell as power supply sources, a power storage unit for storing power generated from the power supply source, and a photocatalyst. The photocatalyst is provided with a coated member and a light source for irradiating the photocatalyst with light, and has a self-purifying function. According to the present invention, when a flammable gas such as hydrogen or methanol, which is a raw material of the fuel cell, leaks, or when a harmful gas adheres, the photocatalyst is activated by natural light or artificial light to enhance the oxidizing effect. Radicals are generated and combustible gas can be removed efficiently. Further, toxic gas, floating bacteria, and the like flowing from outside the vending machine can be removed by the effect of the photocatalyst. Furthermore, by storing electricity obtained from sunlight,
Power consumption can be suppressed.

In a vending machine equipped with a fuel cell according to the present invention, the photocatalyst is provided with a cabinet side surface, a rear surface, a door surface, a glass surface for displaying products, a lighting cover, a light source, a cabinet inside for installing a fuel cell, and a vending machine. It is characterized in that it is applied to any one of the outer surfaces of the machine or a place where a plurality of these are combined.

In the vending machine equipped with the fuel cell according to the present invention, sunlight, a fluorescent lamp, a BLB lamp, a germicidal lamp, a cold-cathode fluorescent tube, and a sun-simulated fluorescent lamp are used as a light source for irradiating the photocatalyst with light. May be used. According to the present invention, the photocatalytic reaction is constantly progressing under daylight under sunlight, and harmful gases and airborne bacteria attached to the outer surface of the vending machine can be removed. In addition, by providing the light source inside a vending machine that is not irradiated with sunlight, a photochemical reaction of a photocatalyst can be caused, and flammable gas remaining inside, harmful gas flowing from outside, and floating bacteria can be removed. it can. On the other hand, in the nighttime when the ultraviolet light is weak, by providing the light source in the vicinity of the vending machine installation location, harmful gases and floating bacteria adhering to the outer surface of the vending machine can be removed. In addition, by guiding sunlight into the vending machine through an optical fiber cable, a photochemical reaction can be caused in a dark portion inside the vending machine.

In the vending machine equipped with the fuel cell according to the present invention, the photocatalyst is amorphous titanium oxide, anatase type titanium oxide, brookite type titanium oxide, rutile type titanium oxide, zinc oxide, zirconia, barium titanate, titanium oxide. It is strontium acid, tungsten oxide, manganese oxide, ruthenium oxide, and cadmium sulfide. In particular, amorphous titanium oxide, anatase-type titanium oxide, brookite-type titanium oxide, and rutile-type titanium oxide are preferable in terms of safety, durability with chemicals, transparency, and the like.

In the vending machine equipped with the fuel cell according to the present invention, the photocatalyst includes platinum, gold, silver, copper, sodium, magnesium, aluminum, potassium, calcium, vanadium, chromium, manganese, cobalt, nickel and zinc. , Selenium, zirconium, molybdenum, palladium, tin, hafnium, metals such as tungsten, silica, alumina, inorganic substances such as zeolite, polymethacrylic resin, fluororesin, aromatic organic polymers and the like may be added. .

[0017]

Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the embodiment of the present invention, for example, titanium oxide is applied to the surface of a member forming a vending machine equipped with a fuel cell, a solar cell, and a power storage unit, and 400 n of the solar light is included.
m, absorbing flammable gas remaining in the vending machine, removing harmful gas adhering to the outer surface of the vending machine, removing floating bacteria, harmful gas flowing into the vending machine from outside, It explains that it is related to the removal of floating bacteria, but the vending machine type to apply the photocatalyst, the member to apply,
It is not limited to a photocatalyst, ultraviolet light for exciting the photocatalyst, or the like. The parts to be applied to the vending machine include: cabinet side, rear, door surface, glass surface on which products are displayed, lighting cover, solar cell, power storage unit, light source, fuel cell body surface, and inside the cabinet where fuel cells are installed. Alternatively, they can be applied to a combination of two or more of them. Sunlight can be used as a light source for activating the photocatalyst, or ultraviolet light generated by a fluorescent lamp, a BLB lamp, a germicidal lamp, a cold cathode fluorescent tube, or a sun-simulated fluorescent lamp can be used as an artificial light source. Under daytime sunlight, the photocatalytic reaction is constantly progressing, and harmful gases adhering to the outside surface of the vending machine,
Suspended bacteria can be removed. By providing the light source inside a vending machine that is not irradiated with sunlight, a photochemical reaction of a photocatalyst can be caused, and flammable gas remaining inside, harmful gas flowing from outside, and floating bacteria can be removed. it can. On the other hand, at night when the ultraviolet light is weak, it is desirable to provide the light source near the vending machine installation location. At the same time, the light from the light source can be condensed by a lens, guided into the vending machine by an optical fiber cable, and diffused. It can also be used for nighttime light source operation by mounting a solar cell. Regarding the power storage unit, when power supply by the fuel cell becomes impossible, power can be supplied to the light source to remove combustible gas and the like. Any photocatalyst can be used, but amorphous titanium oxide, anatase type titanium oxide, brookite type titanium oxide, rutile type titanium oxide, zinc oxide, zirconia, barium titanate, strontium titanate, tungsten oxide, manganese oxide, ruthenium oxide Cadmium sulfide is preferred. In particular, amorphous titanium oxide, anatase-type titanium oxide, brookite-type titanium oxide, and rutile-type titanium oxide are preferable in terms of safety, durability with chemicals, transparency, and the like. Platinum, gold, silver, copper, sodium, magnesium, aluminum, potassium, calcium, vanadium, chromium, manganese, cobalt, nickel, zinc, selenium, zirconium, molybdenum, palladium,
Metals such as tin, hafnium and tungsten, silica,
At least one of an inorganic substance such as alumina and zeolite, a polymethacrylic resin, a fluororesin, and an aromatic organic polymer can be added.

[0018]

Embodiment 1 Quartz tube (length 550 mm, diameter 30 mm)
Was coated with 0.05 g of the photocatalyst described in Example 1. NO gas (concentration 3 ppm, air balance) 1
L / min, and a BLB lamp (0.98 mW / cm 2) was irradiated from outside the tube as simulated sunlight. N by light irradiation
The O removal rate was 95%, and the NOx removal rate was 50% or more.
(Fig. 1)

[0019]

Example 2 The surface of a slide glass was coated with the photocatalyst described in Example 1 to prepare a test piece. The prepared slide glass was placed in a glass petri dish, heated at 70 ° C. for 1 hour, and allowed to cool. Then, on the slide glass surface, Es
0.2 ml (5 × 10 5 cells / ml) of a bacterial solution in which cherichia coli IFO12734 was cultured was added dropwise, the lid of the Petri dish was closed, and the ultraviolet intensity was 0.03 mW /
cm2 (wavelength 365 nm) was irradiated at 25 ° C. for a certain period of time.
After the bacterial solution on the slide glass was wiped off with sterile gauze, the gauze was put in sterile saline and stirred. In addition, in order to collect the bacterial solution remaining on the slide glass, the total amount of physiological saline combined with that washed and put in gauze is 1
The volume was 0 ml. The bacterial solution was applied to a Petri dish containing SCDLPS agar medium by a plate culture method, and 0.1 ml was applied thereto.
The cells were cultured in the dark for 24 hours. When the number of colonies formed on the agar medium on SCDLPS was counted and the survival rate was calculated, the survival rate of Escherichia coli was 10% by irradiation with ultraviolet rays for 120 minutes. (Fig. 2)

[0020]

Comparative Example 1 The antibacterial test of Example 2 was carried out on a slide glass not coated with a photocatalyst. As a result, the survival rate of Escherichia coli was 100%, and no antibacterial activity was confirmed. (Fig. 2)

[0021]

Example 3 Anatase-type titanium oxide (KH manufactured by Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd.)
-142) was coated on the inner surface of a 2 L quartz separable flask and dried at 110 ° C. for 30 minutes. The titanium oxide coated on the inner surface of the separable flask is 0.1%.
04 g. The application area was 0.062 m 2, and 90% of the separable flask was applied. Sunlight (UV intensity 0.3-0.8 mW / cm) in separable flask
2) was irradiated to evaluate the decomposition characteristics of 200 ppm of methane. Due to the irradiation of sunlight, the methane value in the flask decreased, and the entire amount disappeared in about 60 minutes. Methane was decomposed and removed by the photocatalyst of anatase type titanium oxide.

[0022]

As described above, the present invention has the following advantages. (1) Combustible gas leaked from a fuel section, a fuel reforming section, or a battery body due to an earthquake or the like is collected by titanium oxide, and decomposed into water by sunlight or active radicals excited by an artificial light source. (2) The combustible gas leaked from the fuel section, the fuel reforming section, and the battery body due to an earthquake or the like is collected by titanium oxide, and decomposed into water by sunlight or active radicals excited by an artificial light source. (3) Since sunlight is used, energy is saved, and performance can be maintained semipermanently. (4) Flammable gas and harmful gas can be removed even at night when the photocatalytic reaction of the photocatalyst does not occur due to the artificial light source.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a graph showing the results of a NOx removal test according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a graph showing the antibacterial effect of the present invention.

──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) H01M 8/00 B01D 53/36 ZABJ 102C (72) Inventor Akihiro Murakami 1-1-1, Kawasaki-cho, Akashi-shi, Hyogo Prefecture Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd. Akashi Plant (72) Inventor Kenkichi Sakai 2-4-1, Hamamatsucho, Minato-ku, Tokyo Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd. Tokyo Head Office F-term (reference) 3E044 AA01 FB15 FB20 4D048 AA02 AA06 AA17 AA21 AB03 BA01Y BA02Y BA03Y BA06Y BA07X BA08Y BA11Y BA14Y BA15Y BA16Y BA18Y BA21Y BA23Y BA25Y BA26Y BA27Y BA28Y BA30Y BA31Y BA32Y BA34Y BA35Y BA37Y BA38Y BA41X BA42Y BA46Y BB03 CC38 EA01 4G069 AA03 AA08 BA01A BA02A BA04A BA04B BA05A BA07A BA48A BB02A BB04A BB06A BB09A BC02A BC03A BC09A BC10A BC12A BC13A BC16A BC22A BC31A BC32A BC33A BC35A BC36A BC50A BC51A BC52A BC54A BC58A BC59A BC6 0A BC62A BC67A BC68A BC70A BC72A BC75A BD09A CA01 CA10 CA11 CA12 CA13 CA15 DA06 EA11 EC22X EC22Y EC26 ED04 FA03 ZA01A

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. A vending machine equipped with a fuel cell as a power supply source, a member coated with a photocatalyst, and a light source for irradiating the photocatalyst with light, and having a self-cleaning function. 2. A member on which a fuel cell and a solar cell are mounted as a power supply source, a power storage unit for storing power generated from the power supply source, a member coated with a photocatalyst, and a light source for irradiating the photocatalyst with light 2. The vending machine according to claim 1, further comprising: a self-cleaning function. 3. The vending machine according to claim 1, wherein the fuel cell is a low-temperature fuel cell. 4. The vending machine according to claim 1, wherein the flammable gas remaining inside the vending machine is decomposed and removed by the light source and the photocatalyst. 5. The vending machine according to claim 1, wherein said light source and said photocatalyst remove harmful gases or airborne bacteria which flow in and adhere from outside the vending machine. 6. The member coated with the photocatalyst may be any one of a cabinet side surface, a rear surface, a door surface, a product display surface, a lighting cover, a solar cell, a power storage unit, a light source, an inside of a cabinet for installing a fuel cell, and an external surface of a vending machine. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the coating is applied to a place where a plurality of these are combined.
A vending machine according to any one of claims 1 to 5. 7. The light source is sunlight, a fluorescent light, a BLB light,
The vending machine according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein any one of a germicidal lamp, a cold cathode fluorescent tube, and a simulated sunlight fluorescent lamp or a combination thereof is used. 8. The vending machine according to claim 1, wherein said sunlight is guided into said vending machine by an optical fiber cable. 9. The photocatalyst includes amorphous titanium oxide, anatase type titanium oxide, brookite type titanium oxide, rutile type titanium oxide, zinc oxide, zirconia, barium titanate, strontium titanate, tungsten oxide, manganese oxide, ruthenium oxide, 9. The vending machine according to claim 1, wherein said vending machine is made of any one of semiconductors such as cadmium sulfide or a combination thereof. 10. The photocatalyst is platinum, gold, silver, copper, sodium, magnesium, aluminum, potassium, calcium, vanadium, chromium, manganese, cobalt,
Nickel, zinc, selenium, zirconium, molybdenum,
It is characterized by adding metals such as palladium, tin, hafnium and tungsten, inorganic substances such as silica, alumina and zeolite, polymethacrylate resins, fluororesins, aromatic organic polymers and the like, or a combination thereof. The vending machine according to claim 1.