JP2003014390A - Vehicle-mounted evaporator - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent the deterioration in an evaporating capacity even in the case when liquid fuel remains in an evaporator in a leaning way. SOLUTION: The high-temperature gas generated by a combustor 29 is exhausted outside via a supply duct 31, an evaporator 33 and an exhaust duct 35. Liquid fuel F comprising water and alcohol is fed to the evaporator 33 from a fuel feeding hole 39a, and heated by the high-temperature gas to become steam S. Then, it is fed to a fuel refining part from a steam discharge opening 41a. To the combustor 29 that is horizontally arranged to a vehicle, the evaporator 33 is tilted in such a manner that the outlet part 33b of the high-temperature gas is located higher than the inlet part 33a. Consequently, even in the case when the vehicle is tilted in such a manner that the combustor 29 side is lifted, the residence of a large amount of liquid fuel in the outlet part 33b side with the lower heat exchange capacity compared with that of the inlet part 33a is prevented. To the tilt in the direction orthogonal to the above-mentioned tilt, a movable vane 57 provided in the supply duct 31 is operated to allow the high-temperature gas to flow toward the side where a large amount of liquid fuel in the lower position side of the tilt remains.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a vehicle-mounted evaporator which is supplied with a high temperature fluid and a liquid fuel heated by the high temperature fluid to evaporate the liquid fuel heated by the high temperature fluid.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, a vehicle equipped with a fuel cell has been developed as a countermeasure for global energy problems and environmental problems. Hydrogen and oxygen (air) can be cited as the fuel supplied to the fuel cell, and one of the methods for supplying this hydrogen is to use a reformer that produces hydrogen from hydrocarbon fuel. , Constitutes one element of this reformer and plays a role of evaporating methanol, gasoline and water.

A fuel cell and a reformer are disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 5 (1999) -58.
-62697 bulletin and the 32nd Tokyo Motor Show Toyota Motor Corporation public relations material, the element parts that are generally housed on the floor of the vehicle and that compose the reformer are also included in the Toyota Technical Review Vol. 50, N
O1 (2000.6), they are arranged in series on one plane.

Next, each component will be described in detail in the methanol fuel cell system of FIG. The water and methanol pumped from the water tank 1 and the methanol tank 3 by the respective pumps 5 and 7 are changed from liquid to steam in the evaporator 9, and then steam reforming and partial oxidation generate a hydrogen reforming unit. Sent to 11. Although the reformer 11 theoretically produces hydrogen and carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide is also actually generated, which adversely affects the noble metal used in the fuel cell main body 13. 15
And then supplied to the fuel cell body 13.

On the other hand, the air (oxygen) is supplied to the fuel cell main body 13 through the air compressor 17 to generate electricity.
As a heat source for generating steam in the evaporator 9, a combustor 19 for burning surplus hydrogen in the fuel cell body 13 is used.
Hot gas from is used. The evaporator 9 described above,
Reforming unit 11, carbon monoxide removing device 15 and combustor 19
The reformer 21 is constituted by.

Now, the evaporator 9 in the reformer 21 will be described in more detail with reference to FIG. 10, including the relationship with the combustor 19.

The combustor 19, the supply duct 23, the evaporator 9 and the exhaust duct 25 are mounted on the vehicle in a state of being arranged in series along the horizontal line H. Excess hydrogen from the fuel cell main body 13 is oxidized by the action of the catalyst in the combustor 19 to 500-
It becomes a high temperature gas of 600 ° C. and is introduced into the evaporator 9 via the supply duct 23. The evaporator 9 collects the liquid fuel supplied from the water pump 5 and the methanol pump 7 at the lowermost part and uniformly supplies the liquid fuel to the heat exchanger main body 9a, and the liquid fuel at the central part as described above. The heat exchanger main body 9a for evaporating with the high temperature gas and the steam collecting section 9c for collecting the steam at the upper part and sending it to the reforming section 11 are provided.

[0008]

By the way, looking at the heat exchange capacities of several parts from the hot gas inlet (supply duct 23) to the outlet (exhaust duct 25) of the evaporator 9, as shown in FIG. The heat of the high-temperature gas is removed by the evaporation of the liquid fuel, so that the capability of the outlet decreases sharply.

Therefore, when the arrangement structure of FIG. 10 is mounted on a vehicle such that the combustor 19 is located in front of the vehicle, as shown in FIG. 12, when the vehicle 27 travels uphill, The combustor 19 disposed at the position is higher than the evaporator 9, and the evaporator 9 is inclined so that the left side of the combustor 19 side in FIG. 12 is higher than the right side.

At this time, in the heat exchanger body 9a, as shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 3, the liquid level L of the liquid fuel follows the horizontal plane. This relatively causes a large amount of fuel to be unevenly accumulated at the outlet side of the evaporator 9 which originally has a low heat exchange capacity, which causes a decrease in evaporation capacity.

Further, when the reformer 21 is arranged so that the combustor 19 is located on the front side of the vehicle as in the case of FIG. 12, the vehicle 27 is tilted in the left-right direction as shown in FIG. 13 and the reformer 21 also tilt to the left and right. Figure 15
FIG. 14 is a side view of FIG. 13 in the state of being tilted to the left and right. In this case, the liquid level L of the liquid fuel in the heat exchanger body 9a conforms to the horizontal plane, and is relatively inside the evaporator 9. Causes the liquid fuel to stay nonuniformly, resulting in a decrease in the evaporation capacity.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to prevent a decrease in the evaporation capacity even when the liquid fuel is unevenly accumulated in the evaporator.

[0013]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the invention of claim 1 provides a liquid heated by the high temperature fluid and a liquid fuel heated by the high temperature fluid, respectively. In an on-vehicle evaporator in which fuel evaporates, the outlet is arranged at a higher position in the vertical direction with respect to the inlet of the high temperature fluid, and at least one of the vicinity of the inlet of the high temperature fluid and the vicinity of the outlet thereof. Further, there is provided a high temperature fluid guide means for flowing the high temperature fluid toward a side where a large amount of the liquid fuel stays in a direction intersecting with the flow of the high temperature fluid.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the configuration of the first aspect of the invention, the side where a large amount of liquid fuel stays in the direction intersecting with the flow of the high temperature fluid is inclined with respect to the horizontal plane in the direction intersecting with the flow of the high temperature fluid. It is configured to be on the lower side in the vertical direction of the surface.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the structure of the first or second aspect of the invention, the high-temperature fluid guide means includes a plurality of guide plates rotatably provided with one end as a fulcrum, and the plurality of guide plates. A rod member that connects the other ends of the plates to each other and is movable in the arrangement direction of the plurality of guide plates, and a weight that is provided on the rod member and that rotates the plurality of guide plates about the fulcrum. And an elastic body that returns the plurality of guide plates to the neutral position against the weight.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the structure of the first or second aspect of the invention, the high-temperature fluid guide means includes a plurality of guide plates rotatably provided with one end as a fulcrum, and the plurality of guide plates. A rod member that connects the other ends of the plates to each other; a drive unit that moves the rod members in the arrangement direction of the plurality of guide plates to rotate the plurality of guide plates about the fulcrum; A configuration including control means for controlling the operation of the driving means, and liquid retention state detection means for detecting a state in which a large amount of liquid fuel stays in a direction intersecting with the flow of the high temperature fluid and sending an operation signal to the control means. There is.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the structure of the first or second aspect of the invention, the high temperature fluid guiding means includes a movable plate having a plurality of fluid passage portions along a horizontal direction intersecting the flow direction of the high temperature fluid. A weight provided on the movable plate for moving the movable plate in a horizontal direction intersecting the flow direction of the high-temperature fluid, and an elastic body for returning the movable plate to a neutral position against the weight. It is configured as

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, the high temperature fluid guiding means is
A movable plate having a plurality of fluid passage portions along a horizontal direction that intersects the flow direction of the high-temperature fluid, a drive unit that moves the movable plate in the horizontal direction that intersects the flow direction of the high-temperature fluid, and a drive unit of the drive unit. A control means for controlling the operation and a liquid retention state detection means for detecting a state in which a large amount of liquid fuel stays in a direction intersecting the flow of the high temperature fluid and sending an operation signal to the control means are provided. .

[0019]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, since the outlet portion is arranged at a higher position in the vertical direction with respect to the inlet portion of the high temperature fluid, the inlet portion in which the amount of heat of the high temperature fluid is larger than that of the outlet portion, Since a large amount of liquid fuel exists, it is possible to prevent the liquid fuel from concentrating on the high temperature fluid outlet portion having a low evaporation ability and lowering the evaporation ability. Further, since the high-temperature fluid guiding means causes the high-temperature fluid to flow toward the side where the liquid fuel stays in the direction intersecting with the flow of the high-temperature fluid, it is possible to prevent the evaporation capacity from deteriorating due to an unbalanced stay of the liquid fuel. be able to.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, even if the evaporator is tilted with respect to the horizontal plane in the direction intersecting with the flow of the high temperature fluid, the high temperature is increased toward the lower position in the vertical direction where the liquid fuel stays at this time. Since the fluid flows, it is possible to prevent the evaporation capacity from deteriorating due to an unbalanced accumulation of the liquid fuel.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, in a state where the liquid fuel is biased toward one side and a large amount is retained, the load of the weight acts on the side where a large amount of the liquid fuel is retained, and the liquid fuel is urged against the elastic body through the rod member. Since the guide plate is rotated, the high temperature fluid can flow toward the side where a large amount of liquid fuel stays.

According to the fourth aspect of the invention, since the state where the liquid fuel stays a lot on one side is detected and the guide plate is controlled so that the high temperature fluid flows toward the staying side, the high temperature is controlled. The fluid can surely flow toward the side where a large amount of liquid fuel stays.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, when a large amount of liquid fuel stays on one side, the load of the weight acts on the staying side to move the movable plate against the elastic body. As a result, the fluid passage part moves to the side where the liquid fuel stays,
The high-temperature fluid can be made to flow toward the side where a large amount of liquid fuel stays.

According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, since the state where a large amount of liquid fuel stays on one side is detected and the movable plate is controlled to move so that the high temperature fluid flows toward the staying side, the high temperature fluid Can be reliably flowed toward the side where a large amount of liquid fuel stays.

[0025]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a part of a reformer used in the fuel cell system according to the first embodiment of the present invention. From the left side in the figure, a combustor 29, a supply duct 31, and an evaporator are shown. The configuration in which the container 33 and the exhaust duct 35 are sequentially arranged is the same as that in FIG. The high temperature gas G, which is a high temperature fluid generated in the combustor 29, is discharged to the outside from the exhaust duct 35 via the supply duct 31 and the evaporator 33.

The above reformer, when mounted on a vehicle,
The center line P of the combustor 29 coincides with the horizontal line H, and the evaporator 33
The center line Q of is inclined by an angle α (about 5 to 10 degrees) with respect to the horizontal line H (center line P of the combustor 29) such that the exhaust duct 35 side is upward. That is, the evaporator 33
In the drawing, including the supply duct 31 and the exhaust duct 35, the left side, that is, the high temperature gas inlet portion 33a side, is inclined so that the right side, that is, the high temperature gas outlet portion 33b side, is located at a high position in the vertical direction. ing.

As in the case of FIG. 10, the evaporator 33 has a heat exchanger main body 37 and a fuel supply port 39a for supplying the liquid fuel supplied from a water pump and a methanol pump (not shown) to the assembly / dispersion unit. The liquid fuel F supplied from the water pump and the methanol pump is collected by the collecting / dispersing unit 39, and the collected liquid fuel is collected. After being evaporated by the high temperature gas in the heat exchanger body 37, the steam S is collected by the steam collecting unit 41 and sent to the reforming unit (not shown).

It is assumed that a plate having a large number of holes is arranged between the heat exchanger body 37 and the collecting / dispersing portion 39.

As shown in FIG. 2, the internal structure of the heat exchanger main body 37 includes a hot gas passage 43 extending horizontally and
The fuel passage 45 extending in the vertical direction and the fuel passage 45, which are partitioned from each other by a partition plate 47, are stacked in the arrow A direction. The hot gas side fins 49 and the fuel side fins 51 are accommodated in the hot gas passage 43 and the fuel passage 45, respectively, and the hot gas side end face plates 53 are provided at the upper and lower ends of the hot gas passage 43, respectively. A fuel-side end face plate 55 is attached to each.

Inside the supply duct 31, as shown in FIG. 3 which is a view taken in the direction of arrow B in FIG. 1, a plurality of guides are provided along the horizontal direction (vertical direction in FIG. 3) intersecting the flow of the high temperature gas G. The movable vanes 57 as plates are arranged at substantially equal intervals.

The movable vane 57 is rotatable about a rotation shaft 59 provided at one end on the left side in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 1, the upper and lower ends of the rotating shaft 59 are rotatably supported with respect to the supply duct 31. In the longitudinal direction of the other end portion of the movable vane 57 on the right side in FIG.
A rod member 61 is fixedly attached to the movable vane 57 near the lower end in the vertical direction.

Both ends of the rod member 61 are
As shown in FIG. 3, it projects outside the supply duct 31, and a weight 63 is provided at the projecting end. Further, a biasing spring 65 as an elastic body for holding the movable vane 57 in the neutral position shown in FIG. 3 during normal operation is interposed between the weight 63 and the supply duct 31.

The movable vane 57 and the rod member 6 described above.
1, the weight 63, the biasing spring 65, etc. constitute a high temperature fluid guide means.

Next, the operation will be described. First, the case where the reformer is inclined along the flow direction of the high temperature gas will be described.

The reformer here is assumed to be mounted on the vehicle such that the combustor 29 is on the front side of the vehicle and the evaporator 33 is on the rear side of the vehicle. In this case, when the vehicle is horizontal, the evaporator 33 is higher on the vehicle rear side (exhaust duct 33b side) than the center line P (horizontal line H) of the combustor 29, as shown in FIG. It is tilted to the position.

Therefore, at this time, a large amount of the liquid fuel F flows into the inlet 33a side of the evaporator 33 and stays there. However, due to the characteristics of the evaporator shown in FIG. 11, since the heat exchange capacity of the inlet portion 33a is high, the liquid fuel F is efficiently vaporized even at the inlet portion 33a where a large amount of the liquid fuel F stays, and the evaporation performance is high. Maintained.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 12, when the vehicle travels uphill, the combustor 29 side on the front side of the vehicle is lifted, for example, by the angle α as shown in FIG. Even if the inlet portion 33a side of 33 is lifted at the same angle, the center line Q of the evaporator 33 coincides with the horizontal line H. Therefore, the liquid fuel F in the evaporator 33 does not stay in the high temperature gas outlet portion 33b in an unbalanced manner, and the performance of the evaporator 33 is maintained as desired.

When the vehicle travels on a downhill, the evaporator 33 has a high-temperature gas inlet 33a having a high heat exchange capacity.
However, since the position is lower than that of the outlet 33b, the performance as the evaporator 33 is maintained as desired.

Further, when the vehicle is in an accelerating state, the liquid fuel F in the evaporator 33 moves to the outlet 33b side of the evaporator 33 by the inertial force, but the liquid fuel F is the evaporator 33 shown in FIG. Since a large amount is retained on the high temperature gas inlet portion 33a side due to the inclination of, the large amount is retained on the outlet portion 33b, and the performance as the evaporator 33 is maintained as desired.

On the contrary, when the vehicle is in the deceleration state, the liquid fuel F in the evaporator 33 is at the inlet portion 3 on the front side of the vehicle due to the inertial force.
Although it moves to the 3a side, the performance as the evaporator 33 is maintained as desired because the heat exchange capacity is high on the inlet 33a side.

In the above example, it is assumed that the combustor 29 is mounted on the vehicle such that the combustor 29 is on the front side of the vehicle and the evaporator 33 is on the rear side of the vehicle. On the contrary, the evaporator 33 is mounted on the vehicle. When the combustor 29 is mounted on the vehicle so that the combustor 29 is located on the rear side of the vehicle, the evaporator 33 changes from the state of FIG. The gas outlet portion 33b side is displaced so as to go down with respect to the inlet portion 33a.

If the displacement angle at this time is α, for example, the evaporator 33 will be in a state where its center line Q coincides with the horizontal line H. Therefore, the liquid fuel F in the evaporator 33 is
Does not tend to stay in the high temperature gas outlet 33b in an unbalanced manner, and the performance of the evaporator 33 is maintained as desired.

When the vehicle travels uphill, the hot gas inlet 33a of the evaporator 33 is located at a position lower than the outlet 33b, so that the performance of the evaporator 33 is maintained as desired.

Further, in this case, when the vehicle is in the deceleration state, the liquid fuel F in the evaporator 33 moves to the outlet portion 33b side of the evaporator 33 by the inertial force, but the liquid fuel F becomes
Due to the inclination of the evaporator 33 shown in FIG.
Since much stays on the 3a side, many stays at the outlet 33b are prevented, and the performance as the evaporator 33 is maintained as desired.

On the contrary, when the vehicle is in an accelerating state, the liquid fuel F in the evaporator 33 is on the rear side of the vehicle due to the inertial force, which is the inlet portion 3
Although it moves to the 3a side, the performance as the evaporator 33 is maintained as desired because the heat exchange capacity is high on the inlet 33a side.

As shown in FIG. 5, the high temperature gas passage 43 of the heat exchanger main body 37 of the evaporator 33 is divided into an upper passage 43a and a lower passage 43b by a dividing plate 67 at the central portion in the vertical direction, so that the high temperature Also in the case where the gas makes a U-turn in the U-turn duct 69 and flows, as in the case of FIG. 1, the evaporator 33 is connected to the high temperature gas inlet 33a side corresponding to the upper passage 43a in which the combustor is installed. On the other hand, the downstream end 71 of the upper passage 43a may be inclined so as to be at a high position in the vertical direction.

Next, when the reformer shown in FIG. 1 is inclined along a direction intersecting at right angles to the flow direction of the high temperature gas (direction orthogonal to the paper surface in FIG. 1), that is, FIG. When the reformer of FIG. 1 is mounted on the vehicle in the left-right direction in FIG. 1 in the front-rear direction of the vehicle as described above, the case where the evaporator 33 tilts when the vehicle leans in the left-right direction will be described.

FIG. 6 (b) is a view taken in the direction of arrow C in FIG. 1 when the evaporator 33 is tilted as the vehicle is tilted in the left-right direction, and FIG. 6 (a) is shown in FIG. 6 (b). FIG.

In this state, a large amount of the liquid fuel F stays in the right direction in FIG. On the other hand, at this time, the rod member 61 overcomes the biasing springs 65, 65 by the component force of the two weights 63, 63 and moves to the right in FIG. 6, moving the rear end of the movable vane 57 to the position shown in FIG. ) Turn to the right as shown in. As a result, the high-temperature gas flows toward the right side where a large amount of liquid fuel stays, and the deterioration of the evaporation capacity of the evaporator 33 is prevented.

Contrary to FIG. 6, when the evaporator 33 is tilted to the left in FIG. 6, the rod member 61 includes the two weights 6.
The component force of 3,63 overcomes the biasing springs 65, 65 and moves to the left in FIG. 6, and the rear end of the movable vane 57 is directed to the left opposite to that in FIG. 6 (a). The hot gas flows toward the left, where a large amount of liquid fuel stays,
It is possible to prevent the evaporation capacity of the evaporator 33 from decreasing.

When the vehicle travels on a curved road,
The liquid fuel in the evaporator 33 is displaced by the centrifugal force in the same manner as described above, but at this time, the centrifugal force also acts on the weight 63 to rotate the movable vane 57, so that the vehicle leans to the left and right. As in the case of the above, the high temperature gas flows toward the side where a large amount of liquid fuel stays, and the deterioration of the evaporation capacity is prevented.

FIG. 7 shows a second embodiment of the present invention and corresponds to FIG. In this embodiment, a tooth profile 73 is formed at one end of the rod member 61 in place of the weight 63 and the biasing spring 65 of FIG. 3, and a spur gear 75 meshes with this tooth profile 73. The spur gear 75 can be rotated by a step motor 77 as a drive unit fixed to the outer wall of the evaporator 33, and the step motor 77 receives a detection signal from a G sensor 79 as a liquid retention state detection unit. The operation is controlled by the control unit 81 as means.

That is, when the evaporator 33 tilts downward to the right as in the example of FIG. 6, the G sensor 79 senses this and rotates the step motor 75 so as to push the rod member 61 downward in FIG. . As a result, the movable vanes 57 rotate in the same manner as in FIG. 6A to flow the high temperature gas toward the lower side in FIG. 7 where a large amount of liquid fuel stays, and thus the same effect as that of the first embodiment is obtained. Obtainable.

In this case, the G sensor 79 causes the evaporator 33 to
Since the movable vane 57 is surely rotated by detecting the inclination of the high temperature gas, it becomes possible to reliably flow the high temperature gas to the side where a large amount of liquid fuel stays.

Even when the evaporator 33 is tilted in the direction opposite to that shown in FIG. 6, the G sensor 79 senses this tilt and the movable vanes are caused to flow the high temperature gas toward the tilted low position side where much liquid fuel stays. Rotate 57.

When the vehicle travels on a curved road,
The liquid fuel in the evaporator 33 is deviated by the centrifugal force as described above, but at this time, the centrifugal force also acts on the G sensor 79 to drive the step motor 75 so as to rotate the movable vane 57. Therefore, as in the case where the vehicle leans to the left and right, the high-temperature gas flows toward the side where a large amount of liquid fuel stays, and the deterioration of the evaporation capacity is prevented.

FIG. 8 is a view showing a third embodiment of the present invention, in which a part corresponding to FIG. 3 is omitted. In this embodiment, the supply duct 31 is penetrated vertically in FIG.
A movable plate 83 is provided to cover a flow path of high-temperature gas communicating from the supply duct 31 to the evaporator 33, and a large number of holes 83a as fluid passage portions are formed in the central portion of the movable plate 83 except for the vicinity of upper and lower ends in FIG. is doing.

In FIG. 8, the weight 85 is attached to the upper and lower ends of the movable plate 83 protruding outside from the supply duct 31. Between the weight 85 and the supply duct 31, the movable plate 87 is normally provided.
A biasing spring 87 is interposed as an elastic body for holding the above-mentioned at the neutral position shown in FIG.

In this example, if a downward force is generated in FIG. 8 when the vehicle leans to the left or right or when the vehicle travels on a curved road, the movable plate 83 is moved by the action of the weights 85 and 85. It moves downward in the inside, and the state shown in FIG. As a result, in the upper side opposite to the lower side in FIG. 8 where a large amount of liquid fuel stays, the passage is blocked by the region where the hole 83a of the movable plate 83 is not formed, and a large amount of liquid fuel stays in the high temperature gas. It is forcibly flown to the lower side in FIG. 8 to prevent deterioration of the evaporation performance of the evaporator 33.

The movable plate 83, the weight 85, and the biasing spring 8 described above.
7, the high temperature fluid guide means is constituted, but instead of the weight 85 and the urging spring 87, the G sensor 79 detects the inclination of the vehicle and the liquid fuel is biased as shown in FIG. The control unit 81 may move the movable plate 83 via the step motor 75 based on the detection of a large amount of staying.

In each of these embodiments, the high temperature fluid guide means is installed near the inlet portion 33a of the evaporator 33. However, depending on the empty space before and after the evaporator 33, the high temperature fluid guide means is provided on the outlet portion 33b side. The same effect can be obtained even when installed in.

Further, in each of the above embodiments, the combustor 2
9 and the evaporator 33 are arranged in the vehicle front-rear direction, the reformer is mounted on the vehicle.
The reformer may be mounted on the vehicle with the evaporator and the evaporator 33 arranged in the vehicle width direction.

In this case, when the vehicle is traveling uphill or downhill, or when the vehicle is accelerating or decelerating,
The high-temperature fluid guide means allows the high-temperature gas to flow to the side where a large amount of liquid fuel stays, and when the vehicle leans in the left-right direction or travels on a curved road, it is arranged horizontally as shown in FIG. Due to the configuration in which the evaporator 33 is arranged to be inclined with respect to the combustor 29, the hot gas outlet 33b
Avoid too much liquid fuel retention.

Further, in each of the above embodiments, the evaporator 33 is used.
On the other hand, the liquid fuel F is supplied from the lower part and the vapor S is discharged from the upper part. On the contrary, the liquid fuel F is supplied from the upper part and the vapor S is discharged from the lower part. Also, the present invention can be applied.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram showing an arrangement of a combustor and an evaporator in a reformer used in a fuel cell system showing a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an internal structure of a heat exchanger body in the evaporator of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a view on arrow B of FIG.

FIG. 4 is an operation explanatory view when the evaporator of FIG. 1 is inclined in the flow direction of high-temperature gas.

FIG. 5 is a front view of the evaporator showing a case where a high temperature gas flow in the evaporator is different from that of the first embodiment.

6A and 6B are operation explanatory views when the evaporator of FIG. 1 is inclined in a direction orthogonal to a flow direction of high-temperature gas, FIG. 6A is a top view of FIG. 6B, and FIG. It is a figure.

FIG. 7 is a view corresponding to FIG. 3, showing a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a view showing a third embodiment of the present invention, in which a part corresponding to FIG. 3 is omitted, (a) shows a state where the movable plate is in a neutral position, and (b) shows the movable plate on one side. The moving state is shown respectively.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing the entire methanol reforming fuel cell system.

FIG. 10 is a conceptual diagram of a reformer showing an arrangement of a combustor and an evaporator.

FIG. 11 is a correlation diagram of the distance from the evaporator inlet and the heat exchange capacity of the evaporator.

FIG. 12 is a conceptual diagram showing a positional relationship between a vehicle inclination and a reformer.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram showing the liquid level of the liquid fuel inside the evaporator when the evaporator is inclined in the hot gas flow direction.

FIG. 14 is a conceptual diagram showing a positional relationship between a vehicle lateral inclination and a reformer.

FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram showing the liquid level of the liquid fuel inside the evaporator when the evaporator is inclined in the direction perpendicular to the high temperature gas flow.

[Explanation of symbols]

33 evaporator 33a inlet part 33b outlet part 57 movable vane (guide plate, high temperature fluid guide means) 61 rod member (high temperature fluid guide means) 63,85 weight (high temperature fluid guide means) 65,87 urging spring (elastic body, High temperature fluid guide means 77 Step motor (driving means, high temperature fluid guide means) 79 G sensor (liquid retention state detecting means, high temperature fluid guide means) 81 Control unit (control means, high temperature fluid guide means) 83 Movable plate (high temperature fluid) Guide means) 83a hole (fluid passage, high temperature fluid guide means)

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. In a vehicle-mounted evaporator in which a high-temperature fluid and a liquid fuel heated by the high-temperature fluid are respectively supplied to evaporate the liquid fuel heated by the high-temperature fluid, The outlet portion is arranged at a high position in the vertical direction, and at least one of the inlet portion and the outlet portion of the high temperature fluid,
An in-vehicle evaporator, comprising: a high temperature fluid guide means for flowing the high temperature fluid toward a side where a large amount of the liquid fuel stays in a direction intersecting with the flow of the high temperature fluid. 2. The side where a large amount of liquid fuel stays in the direction intersecting with the flow of the high temperature fluid is the lower side in the vertical direction of the inclined surface with respect to the horizontal plane in the direction intersecting with the flow of the high temperature fluid. The vehicle-mounted evaporator according to claim 1. 3. The high temperature fluid guide means connects a plurality of guide plates rotatably provided with one end as a fulcrum and the other ends of the plurality of guide plates to each other, and the plurality of guide plates are connected. Of the rod member, a weight provided on the rod member for rotating the plurality of guide plates around the fulcrum, and a plurality of guide plates at a neutral position against the weight. The in-vehicle evaporator according to claim 1, further comprising an elastic body for returning. 4. The high-temperature fluid guide means includes a plurality of guide plates rotatably provided with one end as a fulcrum, a rod member connecting the other ends of the plurality of guide plates to each other, and the rod. By moving the member in the arrangement direction of the plurality of guide plates,
Drive means for rotating the plurality of guide plates about the fulcrum, and control means for controlling the operation of the drive means,
3. A liquid retention state detecting means for detecting a state in which a large amount of liquid fuel stays in a direction intersecting with the flow of the high-temperature fluid and sending an operation signal to the control means. In-vehicle evaporator. 5. The high temperature fluid guide means includes a movable plate having a plurality of fluid passage portions along a horizontal direction intersecting the flow direction of the high temperature fluid, and the movable plate is provided on the movable plate. 3. The in-vehicle evaporation according to claim 1, further comprising a weight that moves in a horizontal direction intersecting the flow direction and an elastic body that returns the movable plate to a neutral position against the weight. vessel. 6. The high-temperature fluid guide means includes a movable plate having a plurality of fluid passage portions along a horizontal direction intersecting the flow direction of the high-temperature fluid, and a horizontal direction intersecting the movable plate with the flow direction of the high-temperature fluid. Drive means for moving the drive means, control means for controlling the operation of the drive means, liquid retention in which a large amount of liquid fuel in the direction intersecting with the flow of the high temperature fluid is detected and an operation signal is sent to the control means. The vehicle-mounted evaporator according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a state detection unit.