JP2004095190A - Fuel container for power generation and portable equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To stably supply fuel for power generation filled into a fuel container, regardless of the direction of the fuel container. <P>SOLUTION: This fuel container 90a is mounted on portable equipment DVC so that the longitudinal direction and the vertical direction of the portable equipment DVC may be parallel and a fuel supply port 92a for supplying fuel FL for power generation filled into the fuel container 90a to a power supply system 80 may be arranged on a bottom face side of the portable equipment DVC. The fuel container 90a has a substantially rectangular parallelopiped shape and a back face C facing to a front face A is formed to be inclined from the upper end side toward the lower end side. The fuel supply port 92a is provided at a center part of a side with which the back face C and the bottom face D of the fuel container 90a are brought into contact. The bottom face D of the fuel container 90a is formed to have an inclined surface E inclined downward toward the fuel supply port 92a. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a fuel container for power generation of a fuel cell that generates power using fuel for power generation, and a portable device equipped with the fuel container for power generation.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, various chemical batteries have been used in all fields of consumer and industrial use. For example, primary batteries such as alkaline batteries and manganese batteries are frequently used in watches, cameras, toys, portable audio equipment, and the like. It is easy to obtain.
[0003]
On the other hand, secondary batteries such as nickel-cadmium storage batteries, nickel-metal hydride storage batteries, and lithium-ion batteries are widely used in portable devices such as mobile phones, personal digital assistants (PDAs), digital video cameras, and digital still cameras, which have become increasingly popular in recent years. It is characterized by being economical because it can be repeatedly charged and discharged. Among secondary batteries, a lead storage battery is used as a power supply for starting a vehicle or a ship, or as an emergency power supply in industrial equipment or medical equipment.
[0004]
By the way, in recent years, with the growing interest in environmental issues and energy issues, the above-mentioned problems related to waste and energy conversion efficiency generated after use of a chemical battery have been highlighted.
[0005]
In particular, in the primary battery, as described above, the product price is inexpensive and easily available, and there are many devices used as a power source, and the battery capacity cannot be recovered once discharged basically. Since it can only be used once (so-called disposable), annual waste amounts to several million tons. Here, there is statistical data indicating that the ratio of the entire chemical battery recovered by recycling is only about 20%, and the remaining 80% is dumped or landfilled in the natural world. There is concern about environmental destruction and deterioration of the natural environment due to heavy metals such as mercury and indium contained in such uncollected batteries.
[0006]
Further, when the above-mentioned chemical battery is examined from the viewpoint of energy resource utilization efficiency, the primary battery is produced using approximately 300 times the energy of the dischargeable energy, so that the energy utilization efficiency is less than 1%. Absent. On the other hand, even if a secondary battery that can be repeatedly charged and discharged and is economical is charged from a household power supply (outlet), the energy efficiency will be reduced due to the power generation efficiency at the power plant and transmission line loss. Since the use efficiency is reduced to about 12%, the effective use of energy resources is not always achieved.
[0007]
Therefore, in recent years, various new power supply systems and power generation systems, including fuel cells, which have little impact on the environment (burden) and can realize extremely high energy use efficiency of, for example, about 30 to 40%. (Hereinafter, collectively referred to as "power supply system") has been attracting attention, for the purpose of application to a drive power supply for vehicles, a power supply system for business use, a cogeneration system for home use, and the like. Research and development for practical use are being conducted for the purpose of substitution.
[0008]
In particular, research and development have been conducted to reduce the size and weight of power supply systems with high energy use efficiency, such as fuel cells, and apply them to portable or portable portable power supplies, and to put them into practical use as replacements (compatible products) for the above-mentioned chemical batteries. It is being actively performed.
[0009]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
By the way, in a conventional relatively large power supply system, since the installation direction of a device equipped with the power supply system such as a stationary type is substantially fixed, a fuel supply for supplying fuel for power generation in a fuel container to the power supply system is performed. The fuel for power generation can be supplied relatively easily from the mouth.
[0010]
However, when the above-described power supply system is applied to a portable portable power supply and is mounted on a portable device such as a PDA, for example, there are the following problems. That is, since the portable device is not always used in a fixed installation state such as the installation direction, the direction of the fuel container mounted in the portable device cannot be kept constant. For this reason, the fuel for power generation in the fuel container may not be delivered to the fuel supply port, and it is difficult to stably supply the fuel for power generation to the power supply system.
[0011]
The present invention has been made in view of the above-described conventional circumstances, and has as its object to stably supply power generation fuel sealed in a fuel container regardless of the direction of the fuel container.
[0012]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above problems, the invention described in claim 1 is
A power generation fuel container having a columnar shape, in which power generation fuel used for a fuel cell is sealed,
One end in the longitudinal direction of the fuel container for power generation, the other end having a fuel supply port,
A cross-sectional area of the other end is larger than a cross-sectional area of the one end.
[0013]
According to the first aspect of the present invention, the fuel cell for power generation in which the fuel for power generation is sealed is provided with a fuel supply port for supplying the fuel for power generation to the outside than the cross-sectional area of one end portion thereof. Since the cross-sectional area of the other end portion is larger, the fuel for power generation can be sent to the other end side even when the fuel container for power generation is tilted or tilted sideways.
[0014]
The invention according to claim 2 is the fuel container for power generation according to claim 1,
The other end portion side of the fuel cell for power generation is characterized by being formed having an inclined surface inclined toward the fuel supply port and a bottom surface on which the fuel supply port is formed. .
[0015]
According to the second aspect of the present invention, the other end of the fuel container for power generation has an inclined surface inclined toward the fuel supply port provided on the other end. The power generation fuel delivered to the unit side can be supplied to the fuel supply port.
[0016]
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the fuel container for power generation according to the first or second aspect,
The power generation fuel container is substantially prismatic,
At least one of the longitudinal side surfaces of the fuel cell for power generation is characterized by being inclined from the one end to the other end.
[0017]
According to the third aspect of the present invention, at least one of the side surfaces of the fuel container for power generation is formed in a shape inclined from one end to the other end. According to this, when the fuel container for power generation is inclined to the side surface side, or when the fuel container for power generation is installed so that the side surface is on the lower side, the fuel for power generation is supplied along the inclination of the side surface. It can be sent to the other end side where the supply port is provided.
[0018]
The invention according to claim 4 is the fuel container for power generation according to claim 3,
The fuel supply port is provided at a portion where one of the inclined side surfaces is in contact with the bottom surface of the other end.
[0019]
According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, since the fuel supply port is provided at a portion where the inclined side surface and the bottom surface at the other end contact each other, the fuel container for power generation is inclined toward the side surface. In such a case, or in the case where the side face is set to be on the lower side, the fuel for power generation sent to the other end side along the inclination of the side face can be supplied to the fuel supply port.
[0020]
Furthermore, the invention according to claim 5 provides the fuel container for power generation according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
An impregnating agent is arranged at the other end.
[0021]
According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, since the impregnating material is arranged on the other end side of the power generation fuel container, that is, on the fuel supply port side, the impregnating material is supplied to the other end side. To the fuel supply port by capillary action. In addition, since the impregnating material is disposed on the other end side of the fuel cell for power generation, the capacity of the fuel for power generation that can be sealed in the fuel container for power generation can be made substantially the same as that before the impregnating material is disposed. it can.
[0022]
Further, the invention according to claim 6, wherein the fuel for power generation is sealed, has a columnar shape, and has one end in the longitudinal direction of the fuel container for power generation and the other end provided with a fuel supply port, A power generation fuel container having a cross-sectional area of the other end portion larger than the cross-sectional area of the one end portion, a mounting portion for mounting the power generation fuel container, and power generation using the power generation fuel supplied from the power generation fuel container. A portable device driven by electric power generated by the fuel cell system, comprising:
The mounting unit may hold the power generation fuel container such that one end of the power generation fuel container is above the portable device and the other end of the power generation fuel container is below the mobile device. Features.
[0023]
According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, the fuel supply port of the fuel cell for power generation is provided for a portable device having a fuel cell system that generates power using the fuel for power generation supplied from the fuel container for power generation. The fuel container for power generation can be mounted with the other end side down. According to this, when the power supply of the portable device whose installation state is not fixed is a fuel cell, even if the portable device is tilted or tilted sideways, the fuel for power generation is stored in the fuel container for power generation. And the fuel can be supplied to a fuel supply port provided on the other end. Therefore, the fuel for power generation can be stably supplied from the fuel supply port regardless of the installation direction of the portable device, that is, the direction of the fuel container for power generation.
[0024]
According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the portable device according to the sixth aspect,
The other end portion side of the fuel cell for power generation is characterized by being formed having an inclined surface inclined toward the fuel supply port and a bottom surface on which the fuel supply port is formed. .
[0025]
According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, since the other end of the power generation fuel container has an inclined surface inclined toward the fuel supply port, the power generation fuel delivered to the other end is provided. Fuel can be easily supplied to the fuel supply port.
[0026]
The invention according to claim 8 is the portable device according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the fuel cell for power generation has a substantially prismatic shape, and at least one of the side surfaces in the longitudinal direction of the fuel container for power generation. One side surface is characterized by being inclined from the one end to the other end.
[0027]
According to the invention described in claim 8, at least one of the side surfaces of the power generation fuel container is formed in a shape inclined from one end to the other end, so that the power generation fuel container is formed. Even when the container is inclined to the side surface or when the container is installed such that the side surface is on the lower side, the fuel for power generation is easily delivered to the other end portion along the inclination of the side surface. be able to.
[0028]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, an embodiment of a fuel container for power generation to which the present invention is applied will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5. In the following, a case where a power supply system using a fuel cell is mounted on a portable device such as a portable information terminal will be described as an example.
[0029]
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of a portable device DVC according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the portable device DVC includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 10, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 20, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 30, a touch panel 50, an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) 60, and an LCD driver 70. , The power supply system 80. Note that these configurations merely show typical configurations of portable devices such as portable information terminals, and it goes without saying that the configurations may have other configurations.
[0030]
The CPU 10 issues an instruction to each functional unit constituting the portable device DVC, transfers data, and the like. That is, the CPU 10 reads a processing program stored in the ROM 20 and develops the processing program in the RAM 30 according to, for example, an operation instruction input via the touch panel 50, and executes processing based on the processing program. Then, the processing result is stored in the RAM 40, and a display signal for displaying the processing result is output to the LCD driver 70 as appropriate.
[0031]
The ROM 20 stores an initial program for performing various initial settings, hardware inspection, or loading necessary programs. The CPU 10 sets the operating environment by executing this initial program when the power of the portable device DVC is turned on. The ROM 20 stores various processing programs related to the operation of the mobile device DVC, programs and data for realizing various functions of the mobile device DVC, and the like.
[0032]
The RAM 30 includes a memory area for temporarily storing various programs executed by the CPU 10 and data related to the execution of these programs.
[0033]
The touch panel 50 is, for example, an input device provided integrally with the LCD 60. The touch panel 50 detects position coordinates on the LCD 60 specified by a finger or a dedicated touch pen or the like, and outputs the coordinates to the CPU 10. CPU 10 executes the corresponding processing based on the position coordinates and the like input from touch panel 50. Various operation instruction means can be realized by selecting an area on the LCD 60 using the touch panel 50.
[0034]
The LCD driver 70 controls the driving of the LCD 60 based on the display signal input from the CPU 10 and causes the LCD 60 to display display information corresponding to the display signal.
[0035]
A fuel container 90 (power generation fuel container) in which power generation fuel FL is sealed is detachably connected to the power supply system 80. The power supply system 80 uses the power generation fuel FL supplied from the fuel container 90 to drive the portable device DVC operated by the power supply of the power supply system 80 with a drive power supply (voltage / current) by an electrochemical reaction or a fuel reaction. The following predetermined electric energy is generated (power generation).
[0036]
The fuel container 90 is filled with a power generation fuel FL composed of a liquid fuel containing hydrogen in its composition or a liquefied fuel. Examples of the power generation fuel FL sealed in the fuel container 90 include alcohol-based liquid fuels such as methanol, ethanol, and butanol, and liquefied liquid hydrocarbons such as dimethyl ether, isobutane, and natural gas, which are gases at normal temperature and pressure. Fuel can be applied.
[0037]
The present invention relates to the shape of the fuel container 90, and an embodiment of the fuel container 90 to which the present invention is applied will be described below.
[0038]
[First Embodiment]
First, a first embodiment will be described. FIGS. 2A and 2B are a top view (a) and a BB cross-sectional view (b) of the fuel container 90a (power generation fuel container) according to the first embodiment. As shown in the figure, the fuel container 90a has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape having a columnar shape. For example, the left side of the figure (b) is the front A of the fuel container 90a, the right side is the back C, the lower surface in the figure is the bottom, and the lowermost surface of the bottom provided with the fuel supply port 92a described later is the lower surface. In the case of the bottom surface D, the back surface C of the fuel container 90a is formed to be divergently inclined from the upper end toward the lower end. Further, a fuel supply port 92a for supplying the power generation fuel FL sealed in the fuel container 90a to the power supply system 80 is provided at a central portion of a side where the back surface C and the bottom surface D of the fuel container 90a are in contact. The fuel supply port 92 a is connected to, for example, a suction pump (not shown) for supplying the power generation fuel FL to the power supply system 80. An inclined surface E that is inclined downward toward the fuel supply port 92a is formed at the bottom of the fuel container 90a.
[0039]
FIG. 3 is a top view (a), a front view (b), and a side view (c) of the mobile device DVC. As shown in the figure, the fuel container 90a is arranged such that the longitudinal direction of the fuel container 90a is parallel to the vertical direction of the portable device DVC, and the fuel supply port 92a is arranged on the bottom side of the portable device DVC. Then, it is mounted in the portable device DVC.
[0040]
This portable device DVC is usually installed vertically (or vertically) with the bottom side of the portable device DVC down as shown in FIG. It is used in a state where it is horizontally laid (horizontal installation state). When the installation state of the portable device DVC is the vertical installation state, as shown in FIG. 3 (c), the bottom of the fuel container 90a attached to the portable device DVC has an inclined surface E inclined downward toward the fuel supply port 92a. For example, even when the remaining amount of the power generation fuel FL in the fuel container 90a is small, the power generation fuel FL is delivered to the fuel supply port 92a without remaining in the fuel container 90a. Can be supplied.
[0041]
FIG. 4 shows a horizontal installation state of the mobile device DVC. As shown in the figure, when the installation state of the mobile device DVC is the horizontal installation state, the back surface C of the fuel container 90a attached to the mobile device DVC is inclined downward toward the fuel supply port 92a. As in the case of the vertically installed state, the fuel FL for power generation can be sent out and supplied to the fuel supply port 92a without remaining in the fuel container 90a.
[0042]
That is, regardless of the installation state of the portable device DVC, either the vertical installation state or the horizontal installation state, the lower surface of the fuel container 90a in the installation state faces downward toward the fuel supply port 92a. Since the fuel tank 90 is inclined, even if the remaining amount of the power generation fuel FL in the fuel container 90a is small, the power generation fuel FL is delivered to the fuel supply port 92a without remaining in the fuel container 90a. Can be supplied. Therefore, the fuel for power generation in the fuel container 90a can be used up, and it is possible to avoid wasting the fuel for power generation.
[0043]
In addition, the case where the back surface C of the fuel container 90a is formed so as to be inclined from the upper end to the lower end side has been described, but not only the back surface C but also the front A and both side surfaces from the upper end to the lower end side. It may be formed so as to be inclined toward. Further, as in the second embodiment, an impregnating material may be disposed around the fuel supply port 92a.
[0044]
[Second embodiment]
Next, a second embodiment will be described. FIG. 5 is a top view (a) of the fuel container according to the second embodiment, and is a cross-sectional view (b) taken along line FF. As shown in the drawing, the fuel container 90b (fuel cell for power generation) has a substantially cylindrical shape, and a central portion of the bottom surface is used to supply the power generation fuel FL sealed in the fuel container 90b to the power supply system 80. The fuel supply port 92b is provided. This fuel supply port 92b is connected to, for example, a suction pump (not shown) for supplying the power generation fuel FL to the power supply system 80. The fuel container 90b is mounted on the portable device DVC such that the central axis thereof is parallel to the longitudinal direction of the portable device, and the fuel supply port 92b is arranged on the bottom side of the portable device DVC. .
[0045]
Further, as shown in FIG. 5B, the fuel container 90b has a peripheral surface area (in other words, an area of a cut surface (circle) cut vertically and horizontally toward FIG. From the bottom toward the lower end. Further, a portion close to the fuel supply port 92b provided on the bottom surface of the fuel container 90b is filled with the impregnating material 94b. For example, urethane foam or the like is used as the impregnating material 94b. Further, in the present embodiment, the bottom of fuel container 90b is formed in a funnel shape inclining toward fuel supply port 92b provided at the center of the bottom surface.
[0046]
That is, the shape of the fuel container 90b in which the fuel FL for power generation is sealed is such that when the fuel container 90b is mounted on the portable device DVC instead of the fuel container 90a shown in FIGS. In this state, the area of the peripheral surface on the upper side is formed to be smaller than the area of the lower peripheral surface provided with the fuel supply port 92b for supplying the power generation fuel FL to the power supply system 80. For this reason, even when the portable device DVC is installed in a tilted state or in a horizontally inclined state, the lower surface of the fuel container 90b in the installed state of the portable device DVC is the fuel supply port 92b. Inclined downward toward the surface provided with. Therefore, the power generation fuel FL can be delivered to the fuel supply port 92b.
[0047]
Further, since the impregnating material 94b is arranged in a region near the fuel supply port 92b of the fuel container 90b, the impregnating material 94b is impregnated with the power generation fuel FL delivered to the bottom surface side of the fuel container 90b, and the capillarity causes The fuel can be supplied to the fuel supply port 92b. According to this, even if the remaining amount is small, the power generation fuel FL in the fuel container 90b can be sent out and supplied to the fuel supply port 92b without remaining in the fuel container 90b. it can. Further, even when the fuel container 90b is temporarily turned upside down, the power generation fuel FL impregnated in the impregnating material 94b can be supplied to the fuel supply port.
[0048]
Further, it is sufficient that the impregnating material 94b is arranged in a peripheral area of the fuel supply port 92b close to the fuel supply port 92b provided on the bottom surface of the fuel container 90b. Therefore, the capacity of the power generation fuel FL that can be sealed in the fuel container 90b can be made substantially the same as before the impregnation material 94b is arranged.
[0049]
Note that the shape of the fuel container 90b is not limited to the substantially columnar shape described above, and may be a prismatic shape.
[0050]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, even when the fuel container in which the fuel for power generation is sealed is tilted or turned over, the fuel for power generation is delivered to the other end and supplied to the fuel supply port. Can be.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of a portable device including a fuel container to which the present invention has been applied.
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a fuel container according to the first embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of an application form of the fuel container of FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a horizontal installation state of the mobile device.
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a fuel container according to a second embodiment.
[Explanation of symbols]
DVC portable device 80 power supply system 90a, 90b fuel container 92a, 92b fuel supply port 94b impregnation material

Claims (8)

A power generation fuel container having a columnar shape, in which power generation fuel used for a fuel cell is sealed,
One end in the longitudinal direction of the fuel container for power generation, the other end having a fuel supply port,
The cross-sectional area of the other end is larger than the cross-sectional area of the one end. The other end side of the fuel container for power generation,
2. The fuel container for power generation according to claim 1, wherein the fuel container is configured to have an inclined surface inclined toward the fuel supply port and a bottom surface on which the fuel supply port is formed. 3. The power generation fuel container is substantially prismatic,
The fuel for power generation according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the side surfaces in the longitudinal direction of the fuel container for power generation is inclined from the one end to the other end. container. The fuel container for power generation according to claim 3, wherein the fuel supply port is provided at a portion where one of the inclined side surfaces and the bottom surface of the other end portion are in contact with each other. The fuel container for power generation according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein an impregnating agent is disposed at the other end. The fuel for power generation is sealed and has a columnar shape, and has one end in the longitudinal direction of the fuel container for power generation and the other end provided with a fuel supply port, and the cross-sectional area of the other end is equal to that of the one end. A fuel cell for power generation having a larger cross-sectional area, a mounting portion for mounting the fuel container for power generation, and a fuel cell system for generating power using the fuel for power generation supplied from the fuel container for power generation; A portable device driven by electric power generated by a battery system,
The mounting unit may hold the power generation fuel container such that one end of the power generation fuel container is above the portable device and the other end of the power generation fuel container is below the mobile device. Characteristic mobile devices. The other end side of the fuel container for power generation,
7. The portable device according to claim 6, wherein the portable device is formed to have an inclined surface inclined toward the fuel supply port and a bottom surface on which the fuel supply port is formed. The power generation fuel container is substantially prismatic,
The portable device according to claim 6, wherein at least one of the side surfaces in a longitudinal direction of the fuel cell for power generation is inclined from the one end to the other end.

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