JP2005063726A - Static electricity countermeasure structure for fuel cell, fuel cell system, and fuel supplying device and method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a static electricity countermeasure structure for a fuel cell for preventing a fuel from catching fire especially at fuel supply, and to provide a fuel cell system, and a fuel supplying device. <P>SOLUTION: A conductive member 142 is arranged on an outer surface of a fuel supplying device 140, and a first grounding member 143 is connected to the conductive member. When an operator touches the fuel supplying device when supplying the fuel to the fuel cell 110, the static electricity is released from the hand to the ground through the conductive member and the first grounding member of the fuel supplying device. By the above, the structure, hardly catching fire due to the static electricity even when the fuel is evaporated at a part surrounding a fuel supplying part of the device to which the fuel is supplied, can be provided. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention particularly relates to a static electricity prevention structure for a fuel cell that prevents ignition of the fuel when fuel is supplied to the fuel cell, a fuel cell system and a fuel supply device having the static electricity prevention structure, and a fuel in the fuel cell system. It relates to a replenishment method.

In recent years, fuel cells using oxygen and hydrogen as fuels have attracted attention. Fuel cells are very low in the generation of harmful substances such as sulfur oxides and nitrogen oxides, are clean, have a very high power generation efficiency compared to conventional power generation methods such as gas engines, and can be installed in each facility. It is expected as a next-generation energy source because there is no transmission loss from electric power companies and the total efficiency is very high at around 80% because the heat generated when generating electricity can be used (co-generation). . In addition to ensuring the safety and the stable supply of fuel, LP gas, natural gas, methanol, or kerosene hydrocarbon compounds such as kerosene are passed through the catalyst in addition to the method of directly taking in dangerous hydrogen and causing a chemical reaction. A method has been developed in which only hydrogen is separated into fuel. Fuel cells can be used continuously by replenishing fuel, and cartridge fuel tanks and the like have also been developed for fuel replenishment and can be used for refueling equipment.
JP 2003-744 A

  However, in these fuel cells, LP gas, natural gas, methanol, kerosene, etc., as well as hydrogen gas as fuel, are easily ignited at room temperature. Therefore, there is a risk of igniting the fuel vaporized around the replenishing port when refueling. There is sex. In particular, when a person carries a fuel cartridge with a fuel cartridge, there is a problem that static electricity generated from clothes on the human body is likely to cause ignition. Regarding the safety device for grounding the worker in the LP gas and natural gas refueling station, countermeasures against static electricity have been proposed in the above-mentioned Patent Document 1. No effective means have been proposed yet.

FIG. 17 shows a configuration example of a fuel replenishment unit in a conventional fuel cell. In FIG. 17, 1 is a device provided with a fuel cell 3 and fueled to the fuel cell 3, 2 is a fuel replenishment section in the device 1 to be refueled, 4 is methanol of fuel in the fuel cell 3, and 5 is a fuel cell. 3, 6 is a fuel electrode of the fuel cell 3, 7 is an air electrode of the fuel cell 3, 8 is an electrolyte membrane of the fuel cell 3, 9 is an output terminal of the fuel cell 3, 10 is an output wiring of the fuel cell 3, Reference numeral 11 denotes a fuel supply cartridge containing methanol 4 to be supplied to the fuel cell 3, reference numeral 12 denotes a human hand, reference numeral 13 denotes static electricity generated by clothes on the human body, and reference numeral 14 denotes a valve provided in the fuel supply unit 2.
In the conventional fuel cell 3 configured as described above, the static electricity 13 generated by the clothing of the human body is discharged to the fuel supply unit 2 of the device 1 to be refueled from the human hand 12 or the ground of the device 1. There is a risk of igniting the fuel vaporized at the time of refueling around the valve 14 and the cartridge 11 of the refueling unit 2.
The present invention has been made in order to solve such problems, and in particular, an anti-static structure that is difficult to ignite the fuel when refueling the fuel cell, a fuel cell system having the anti-static structure, and It is an object of the present invention to provide a fuel supply device and a fuel supply method in the fuel cell system.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is configured as follows.
That is, the static electricity countermeasure structure of the first aspect of the present invention is a fuel replenisher that can be connected to a fuel cell that generates power by supplying fuel to the anode electrode and supplying air to the cathode electrode, and replenishes the fuel. In the static electricity countermeasure structure provided,
A conductive member formed on at least a portion of the refueling device that touches a human hand;
A conductive first grounding member connected to the conductive member for grounding the static electricity of the human body before refueling;
It is provided with.

When the fuel cell static electricity prevention structure is further provided in the fuel cell,
The first grounding member may be configured to be a second grounding member that is provided in a device having the fuel cell and is grounded.

  The second grounding member extends to the vicinity of a fuel supply port in the fuel cell, and has one end contacting the conductive member in the fuel supply device immediately before the fuel supply device is connected to the fuel supply port. It can also comprise so that it may have.

  The one end portion may be configured to have a spring shape having a biasing force that contacts the conductive member.

  The second grounding member extends to the inside of a fuel supply port in the fuel cell, and has one end that contacts the conductive member in the fuel supply device immediately before the fuel supply device is connected to the fuel supply port. It can also comprise so that it may have.

  The one end can be configured to have a slit shape extending radially from the center of the fuel supply port.

The conductive member in the refueling device is formed at a fuel discharge port of the refueling device,
The second grounding member is one end projecting toward the outside of the fuel cell at a fuel supply port in the fuel cell, and the fuel discharge port of the fuel supply unit is connected to the fuel supply port. It can also be configured to have one end that contacts the conductive member as it breaks through the conductive member.

  The conductive member may be configured to be a conductive film formed by plating on the outer surface of the fuel supply device.

  The conductive member may be configured to be a conductive sheet affixed to the outer surface of the fuel supply device.

  The conductive member may be configured to be a conductive container that houses the fuel refiller.

  A non-conductive member that prevents corrosion of the conductive member due to outside air and covers the conductive member may be further provided.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a fuel cell system including the fuel cell static electricity countermeasure structure according to the first aspect.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a fuel supply device comprising the fuel cell static electricity countermeasure structure according to the first aspect.

The fuel supply method according to the fourth aspect of the present invention includes a fuel cell that generates power by supplying fuel to the anode electrode and supplying air to the cathode electrode, and is connectable to the fuel cell and supplies the fuel. In a fuel replenishment method performed in a fuel cell system including a fuel replenisher to perform,
Before refueling the fuel cell by the refueling device, the refueling is performed after grounding static electricity in the refueling device.

  In the fuel replenishing method according to the fourth aspect, a conductive member formed on at least a part of the fuel replenisher that touches the hand of the fuel replenisher extends at the fuel discharge port of the fuel replenisher. When a grounded second grounding member is provided in the vicinity of the fuel supply port, when the fuel is replenished, the conductive member comes into contact with the second grounding member and then the fuel discharge port. The outlet and the fuel supply port may be connected to perform fuel supply.

  According to the static electricity countermeasure structure for a fuel cell according to the first aspect, the fuel cell system according to the second aspect, and the fuel replenisher according to the third aspect of the present invention, a conductive member is provided on the outer surface of the fuel replenisher. The first grounding member connected to the conductive member is provided so that the operator touches the refueling device when refueling the fuel cell, so that the static electricity generated by the operator's clothes Is grounded through the conductive member of the refueling device and the first grounding member. Then, fuel supply is performed after the grounding. Therefore, it is possible to provide a structure that is difficult to be ignited by static electricity even if the fuel is vaporized around the fuel replenishing portion of the device to be refueled.

  Furthermore, the static electricity countermeasure structure for a fuel cell can be provided also in a device having a fuel cell, and one end of a second grounding member provided in the device is extended in the vicinity of a fuel supply port in the fuel cell. First, when refueling, the fuel replenishing port is formed in a slit shape with respect to the fuel replenishing port, or in a slit shape with respect to the fuel replenishing port. The conductive member and one end are in contact with each other, and static electricity is grounded. After the grounding, refueling is performed. Therefore, it is possible to more reliably prevent the fuel from being ignited due to static electricity during fuel supply.

  Further, according to the fuel supply method of the fourth aspect of the present invention, the static electricity in the fuel supply device is grounded before fuel supply to the fuel cell by the fuel supply device, and the fuel supply is performed after the grounding. Therefore, even if the fuel is vaporized around the refueling part of the device to be refueled, it can be made difficult to ignite due to static electricity.

A fuel cell static electricity prevention structure according to an embodiment of the present invention, a fuel cell system and a fuel replenisher having the static electricity countermeasure structure, and a fuel replenishment method performed in the fuel cell system will be described below with reference to the drawings. To do. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected about the same component in each figure.
FIG. 1 shows a fuel cell static electricity prevention structure 101 and a fuel cell system 200 having the fuel cell static electricity prevention structure 101 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. Here, the fuel cell system 200 includes a device 180 including the fuel cell 110 and a fuel replenisher 140 that replenishes the fuel cell 110 with fuel. Further, the static electricity prevention structure 101 for the fuel cell in the first embodiment is applied to the fuel replenisher 140.

The fuel cell 110 in the present embodiment is a polymer electrolyte fuel cell (PEFC) in which an anode and a cathode are arranged with a solid polymer electrolyte interposed therebetween, and further includes methanol, dimethyl ether, and the like. For example, a direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) is a fuel cell that generates electricity by directly supplying the organic fuel to the anode electrode. Such a fuel cell 110 includes a casing 111, an electrolyte membrane 112, an anode 113, and a cathode 114 provided in the casing 111.
The electrolyte membrane 112 has a solid polymer electrolyte membrane, and is disposed between the anode electrode 113 and the cathode electrode 114. The anode 113 has a structure in which a catalyst for decomposing fuel and extracting electrons, a fuel diffusion layer, and a separator as a current collector are stacked, and the cathode 114 is a reaction catalyst for protons and oxygen, In this structure, an air diffusion layer and a separator as a current collector are stacked. Platinum and ruthenium are used as the catalyst for the anode electrode 112 and the cathode electrode 114.

The casing 111 is divided into a fuel storage part 1111 and an air storage part 1112 by an anode electrode 113, an electrolyte membrane 112, and a cathode electrode 114, and the anode electrode 113 is connected to the air storage part 1112 in the fuel storage part 1111. The cathode electrodes 114 face each other. Further, the fuel storage portion 1111 is filled with, for example, methanol 191 as the fuel, and the air storage portion 1112 is filled with air 192. The casing 111 is provided with output terminals 115 and 115 electrically connected to the anode electrode 113 and the cathode electrode 114, and output wirings 181 and 181 are connected to the output terminal 115, respectively.
Further, the casing 111 is provided with a fuel replenishing port 116 for replenishing the fuel storage portion 1111 with methanol 191, and the fuel replenishing port 116 can be attached and detached with a fuel discharge port 144 portion. In addition, a fuel cell side valve 117 for preventing leakage of methanol 191 from the fuel supply port 116 is attached. Corresponding to the valve 117, the device 180 is formed with an opening 182 through which the refueling device 140 can pass. Further, in the fuel cell 110, the means for preventing fuel leakage and starting and stopping the supply of fuel is not limited to the fuel cell side valve 117, and can function to prevent the leakage of fuel and start and stop the supply of fuel. A known structure can be adopted.

In this embodiment, the fuel replenisher 140 is integrally formed of a flexible resin material and encloses methanol 191. As shown in the drawing, the fuel replenisher 140 is crushed by a hand 290 so that the methanol 191 into the fuel storage unit 1111 is obtained. Can be injected. In addition, a conductive member 142 is provided on at least a part of the container outer surface 141 of the refueling device 140 where the hand 290 comes into contact. In this embodiment, the conductive member 142 is formed by plating over the entire outer surface 141.
Further, the fuel replenisher 140 can be connected to the front end portion of the fuel cell 110 with a valve 117, and when connected to the valve 117, methanol 191 as fuel in the fuel replenisher 140 can be supplied to the fuel cell 110. A replenisher side valve 149 is provided.

The fuel cell side valve 117 and the replenisher side valve 149 employed in the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. Both have the same configuration. That is, the pistons 1172 and 1492 are pressed against the seal portions 1173 and 1493 by the springs 1171 and 1491, and the screw portions 1174 and 1494 are provided so that both can be connected. Further, a convex portion 1175 is formed at the tip portion of the piston 1172, and a convex portion 1495 is formed at the tip portion of the piston 1492. Further, the spring constant of the spring 1491 is much larger than the spring constant of the spring 1171.
In the fuel cell side valve 117 and the replenisher side valve 149 configured as described above, for example, by rotating the fuel replenisher 140, the screw portion 1494 of the replenisher side valve 149 is changed to the screw portion of the valve 117 of the fuel cell 110. As shown in FIG. 3, the projections 1175 and 1495 are brought into contact with each other, and the spring 1171 of the fuel cell side valve 117 is first compressed due to the difference in spring constant between the springs 1171 and 1491. The piston 1172 of the fuel cell side valve 117 is separated from the seal portion 1173 and the valve 117 is opened. Further, by screwing the threaded portion 1494 of the replenisher side valve 149 into the threaded portion 1174 of the valve 117 of the fuel cell 110, the piston 1492 of the replenisher side valve 149 is separated from the seal portion 1493 as shown in FIG. Opens.
The reason why the valves 117 and 149 operate in this way is as follows. That is, when the fuel is replenished, the remaining amount of fuel in the fuel storage portion 1111 of the fuel cell 110 is low, so that the fuel does not flow even if the fuel cell side valve 117 is opened first. On the other hand, the fuel replenisher 140 is filled with fuel, and if it is opened before the fuel cell side valve 117, the fuel flows out. If the fuel cell side valve 117 is not opened, the fuel leaks to the outside. It is.

  The form of the refueling device 140 is preferably the dropper-like form shown in the drawing and is easy and easy to manufacture. However, the form is not limited to this form. Can be adopted. Further, in the fuel replenisher 140, the means for preventing fuel leakage and starting and stopping the supply is not limited to the above-described replenisher side valve 149, and can function to prevent fuel leakage and to start and stop supplying fuel. Such a known structure can be adopted.

The method of forming the conductive member 142 on the outer surface 141 is not limited to the above plating. For example, a sheet made of the conductive member 142 may be attached to the outer surface 141. Further, as shown in FIG. A part of the refueling device 140 may be housed in a container 1421 such as a cylinder or box of conductive metal. When the container 1421 is used, the operator needs to contact the container 1421.
The conductive member 142 is connected to one end of a first grounding member 143 that is conductive and grounds, for example, in the shape of a belt. The other end of the first ground member 143 is always grounded. The conductive member 142 and the first grounding member 143 constitute the fuel cell static electricity countermeasure structure 101.

In the fuel cell system 200 configured as described above, when the methanol 191 in the fuel storage unit 1111 of the fuel cell 110 is consumed by the power generation by the fuel cell 110, the operator can use the fuel discharge port 144 of the fuel replenisher 140. The replenisher side valve 149 provided on the fuel cell 110 is connected to the valve 117 of the fuel cell 110 to connect the fuel cell 110 and the fuel replenisher 140. After the connection, the operator crushes the fuel replenisher 140 to inject the methanol 191 in the fuel replenisher 140 into the fuel storage portion 1111 through the fuel cell side valve 117 and the replenisher side valve 149. Replenish.
In the above-described methanol 191 replenishment operation, the fuel replenisher 140 is generated in the clothing of the human body because the conductive member 142 is formed on the outer surface 141 and grounded by the first grounding member 143 as described above. The static electricity is always grounded from the human hand 290 via the conductive member 142 and the first grounding member 143 before refueling. Therefore, even if methanol 191 vaporizes in the vicinity of the valve 117 or the fuel replenisher 140, the fuel cell has a structure that is difficult to ignite due to the static electricity, and a fuel cell that is difficult to ignite electrostatically when refueling can be provided.
Note that the other end of the first ground member 143 can be connected to the ground member of the device 180.

Further, as a modification of the fuel replenisher 140, a form of a fuel replenisher 140-1 shown in FIG. That is, the fuel replenisher 140-1 further includes a non-conductive member 146 that covers the conductive member 142 formed on the outer surface 141 of the container and prevents the conductive member 142 from being corroded by the outside air. FIG. 6 shows the case where the conductive member 142 is formed only on a part of the outer surface 141 of the container, but it is not limited to this form as described above. The non-conductive member 146 is provided so as to be easily peelable from the conductive member 142.
According to such a fuel replenisher 140-1, the non-conductive member 146 prevents the conductive member 142 from being corroded and can prevent deterioration. Note that the non-conductive member 146 is peeled off from the conductive member 142 when refueling. Therefore, static electricity can be reliably removed.
The non-conductive member 146 can also be applied to each embodiment and modification described below.

FIG. 7 shows a fuel cell static electricity prevention structure 102 and a fuel cell system 201 having the fuel cell static electricity prevention structure 102 according to the second embodiment of the present invention. Here, the fuel cell system 201 includes a device 180-1 including the fuel cell 110 and a fuel replenisher 140-2 that replenishes the fuel cell 110 with fuel. Further, the fuel cell static electricity countermeasure structure 102 in the second embodiment is applied to the fuel cell 110 and the fuel replenisher 140-2. The configuration of the fuel cell 110 is the same as that in the first embodiment described above, and a description thereof is omitted here. The fuel replenisher 140-2 has a configuration in which the first grounding member 143 is removed from the fuel replenisher 140, and other configurations are the same as those of the fuel replenisher 140.
The device 180-1 has a second grounding member 183 that is grounded, and the second grounding member 183 extends to the opening 182 in the fuel cell 110, and more preferably, as shown in FIG. 116, more preferably and specifically in contact with the valve 117, and the conductivity in the refueling device 140-2 immediately before fuel is supplied from the refueling device 140-2 to the fuel cell 110. One end 183 a that contacts the member 142 is provided. Further, the one end 183a preferably has a spring shape having a biasing force enough to be pressed against the conductive member 142 so as to be surely in contact with the conductive member 142. In addition, as for this spring shape, as shown in FIG. 7, a leaf | plate spring shape is simple, and in order to suppress the resistance at the time of mounting | wearing of the fuel supply device 140-2, it is preferable to bend | curve in the mounting direction 145.

Also in the fuel cell system 201 described above, as in the case of the fuel cell system 200, the fuel replenisher 140-2 is loaded into the valve 117 for replenishing methanol 191. On the other hand, since one end portion 183a of the second grounding member 183 extends to the valve 117 portion, at the time of loading, first, the one end portion 183a and the conductive member 142 of the fuel replenisher 140-2 contact each other. After that, the replenisher side valve 149 provided at the fuel discharge port 144 of the fuel replenisher 140-2 is screwed into the fuel cell side valve 117, and the fuel replenisher 140-2 and the fuel cell 110 are connected. Done.
For this reason, the static electricity generated by the clothing of the human body flows from the human hand 290 to the second grounding member 183 through the conductive member 142 and the one end 183a of the refueling device 140-2, and is grounded. Thereafter, refueling is started. Therefore, even if fuel vaporizes in the vicinity of the valve 117 of the fuel replenishing unit and the fuel replenisher 140-2, the fuel cell system is less likely to be ignited even when fuel is replenished.

  As described above, the second grounding member 183 can also have one end 183b as shown in FIG. The one end portion 183b extends to the inside 116a of the fuel supply port 116 of the fuel cell 110, and the conductive member of the fuel supply device 140-2 immediately before the fuel supply device 140-2 is connected to the fuel supply port 116. 142 is configured to contact. Further, the one end 183b on the inner side 116a of the fuel supply port 116 can be formed by plating, or at least a part of the fuel supply port 116 may be formed by a conductive metal.

Also, as shown in FIG. 9, one end of the second grounding member 183 is provided so as to cover the opening 182 or the fuel supply port 116, and radially from the central portion 116b of the fuel supply port 116 as shown in FIG. The slit-shaped one end 183c may be extended. In this case, the fuel discharge port 144 of the fuel supply unit 140-2 is inserted into the fuel supply port 116 by pushing open the slit-shaped one end 183c as shown in FIG. After refueling, when the fuel replenisher 140-2 is detached from the fuel replenishing port 116, the slit-shaped one end 183c returns to its original state.
Also by the one end portions 183b and 183c, the same effect as in the case of the one end portion 183a can be obtained.

FIGS. 12 and 13 show a fuel cell static electricity prevention structure 103 according to the third embodiment and a fuel cell system 202 having the fuel cell static electricity prevention structure 103. Here, the fuel cell system 202 includes a device 180-2 including the fuel cell 110 and a fuel replenisher 140-3 that replenishes the fuel cell 110 with fuel. Further, the static electricity prevention structure 103 for the fuel cell in the third embodiment is applied to the fuel cell 110 and the fuel replenisher 140-3. The configuration of the fuel cell 110 is the same as that in the first embodiment described above, and a description thereof is omitted here.
The fuel replenisher 140-3 is provided with a resin material 146 that removes the first grounding member 143 from the fuel replenisher 140, deletes the refiller side valve 149, and covers the fuel discharge port 144. Further, the resin material 146 is provided with a conductive member 146a covering the outer surface, and the conductive member 146a is electrically connected to the conductive member 142 of the fuel replenisher 140-3. Other configurations are the same in the case of the fuel replenisher 140.
The device 180-2 is different from the device 180-1 only in one end portion of the second grounding member 183. That is, one end portion 183d of the device 180-2 extends to the fuel supply port 116 of the fuel cell 110, and further has a plate-like base portion 183d-1 formed so as to cover the fuel supply port 116, and the foundation. A needle-like part 183d-2 projecting from the part 183d-1 toward the outside of the fuel cell 110. As shown in FIG. 13, the base portion 183d-1 has an opening 183d-3 that passes through the base portion 183d-1 in the thickness direction of the base portion 183d-1 in order to allow fuel to pass therethrough.

In the fuel cell system 202 described above, as in the case of the fuel cell system 200, the fuel replenisher 140-3 is loaded into the valve 117 in order to replenish methanol 191. On the other hand, the fuel discharge port 144 of the fuel supply unit 140-3 is provided with a resin material 146 provided with a conductive member 146a, and the fuel supply port 116 of the fuel cell 110 is provided with one end portion 183d of the second grounding member 183. Needle-like portions 183d-2 are formed. Therefore, at the time of loading, as shown in FIG. 14, first, the needle-like portion 183d-2 comes into contact with the conductive member 146a of the fuel discharge port 144 of the fuel replenisher 140-3. Since the conductive member 146a is connected to the conductive member 142 of the fuel replenisher 140-3, the static electricity of the human body is generated from the human hand 290 by the contact described above, and the conductive member 142, the conductive member 146a, and the needle-like shape. It is grounded through the part 183d-2 and the second grounding member 183. After the grounding, as the fuel supply unit 140-3 moves in the mounting direction 145, the needle-like portion 183d-2 causes the conductive member 146a of the fuel discharge port 144 of the fuel supply unit 140-3 to move as shown in FIG. And break through the resin material 146. At this time, the fuel discharge port 144 is not inserted into the fuel storage portion 1111 side beyond the base portion 183d-1 of the one end portion 183d.
By breaking the conductive member 146a and the resin material 146, the fuel is supplied from the fuel replenisher 140-3 to the fuel cell 110 through the fuel discharge port 144, the opening 183d-3 of the one end 183d, and the fuel replenishment port 116.
As described above, also in the third embodiment, since the fuel is first grounded before the fuel is supplied, it is difficult to ignite even if the fuel vaporizes around the valve 117 of the fuel supply unit or the fuel supply unit 140-3. Thus, it is possible to provide a fuel cell system that is less likely to be ignited by static electricity when refueling.

FIG. 16 shows a fuel cell static electricity prevention structure 104 and a fuel cell system 203 having the fuel cell static electricity prevention structure 104 according to the fourth embodiment. Here, the fuel cell system 203 includes a fuel cell 110-1 and a fuel tank 140-4 that functions as a fuel replenisher that supplies fuel to the fuel cell 110-1. Further, the fuel cell static electricity countermeasure structure 104 in the fourth embodiment is applied to the fuel tank 140-4.
The fuel cell 110-1 is provided with a fuel immersion portion 1113 instead of the fuel storage portion 1111 in the fuel cell 110 described above, and further includes a fuel supply valve 118 at the fuel supply port 116. Other configurations are the same as those of the fuel cell 110, and a description thereof is omitted here. In FIG. 16, the fuel supply valve 118 is illustrated in a simplified manner, but has the same structure as the fuel cell side valve 117.
The fuel tank 140-4 is an exchangeable fuel tank that is detachable from the fuel immersion part 1113. The casing 147 is filled with methanol 191 as a fuel, and the fuel discharge port has a fuel cell 110. A fuel supply valve 148 that can be connected to the -1 fuel supply valve 118 is provided. Further, on the outer surface of the casing 147, a conductive member 142 is provided, for example, by plating at least at a portion where the operator's hand 290 comes into contact. As in the case of the first embodiment described above, the conductive member 142 is provided. Is connected to one end of a first grounding member 143 which is conductive and has a strip shape, for example. The other end of the first ground member 143 is grounded. In FIG. 16, the fuel supply valve 148 is illustrated in a simplified manner, but has the same structure as the replenisher side valve 149.

In the fuel cell system 203 configured as described above, as in the case of the fuel cell system 200, the fuel supply valve 148 of the fuel tank 140-4 is used to replenish methanol 191, and the fuel supply valve of the fuel cell 110-1 is used. 118. On the other hand, since the conductive member 142 and the grounded first grounding member 143 are provided in the fuel tank 140-4, static electricity generated in the clothing of the human body is generated from the human hand 290 to the fuel tank 140-. 4 conductive members 142 and the first grounding member 143 are grounded. After the grounding, the fuel tank 140-4 is connected to the fuel cell 110-1.
Therefore, even when the fuel supply valve 118 to the fuel immersion part 1113 and the methanol 191 as fuel in the vicinity of the fuel supply valve 148 of the fuel tank 140-4 are vaporized at the time of replenishment, it is difficult to ignite due to static electricity. Thus, it is possible to provide the fuel cell 110-1 using the replaceable fuel tank 140-4 that is difficult to be ignited by static electricity when refueling.

In each of the above explanations, methanol is taken as an example of fuel. However, in the present invention, the same effect can be obtained even when applied to a fuel cell using LP gas other than methanol, natural gas, hydrogen gas, or kerosene. It is done.
Moreover, each embodiment can also be comprised combining suitably.

  The fuel cell static electricity prevention structure according to the embodiment of the present invention is particularly useful for preventing ignition of fuel when fuel is supplied to the fuel cell, and a fuel cell system including the fuel cell, and The fuel cell can be used for a fuel replenisher that replenishes fuel.

It is a figure which shows the fuel cell system of 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the fuel cell side valve | bulb and replenisher side valve | bulb shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows the state which the fuel cell side valve | bulb and replenisher side valve | bulb shown in FIG. 1 contacted. It is a figure which shows the state which the fuel cell side valve | bulb shown in FIG. 1 and the replenisher side valve | bulb are connected, and can supply fuel. It is a figure which shows the modification of the electroconductive member provided in the fuel supply device shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows the modification of the fuel supply device shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows the fuel cell system of 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the modification of the fuel cell system shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows another modification of the fuel cell system shown in FIG. It is a top view of the one end part shown in FIG. FIG. 10 is a perspective view conceptually showing a state in which a refueling device is connected to one end shown in FIG. 9. It is a figure which shows the fuel cell system of 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is a top view of the one end part shown in FIG. In the fuel cell system shown in FIG. 12, it is a figure which shows the state which the fuel supply device contacted the fuel cell. In the fuel cell system shown in FIG. 12, it is a figure which shows the state which can supply a fuel to a fuel cell from a fuel replenisher. It is a figure which shows the fuel cell system of 4th Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the conventional fuel cell system.

Explanation of symbols

101-104 ... Static electricity prevention structure for fuel cells, 110, 110-1 ... Fuel cells,
113 ... Anode electrode, 114 ... Cathode electrode, 116 ... Fuel supply port,
140, 140-1 to 140-4 ... refueling device, 141 ... outer surface,
142 ... conductive member, 143 ... first grounding member, 144 ... fuel outlet,
146 ... non-conductive member, 180, 180-1, 180-2 ... equipment,
183 ... second grounding member, 183a, 183b, 183c, 183d ... one end,
191 ... Methanol,
200 to 203 ... fuel cell system,
1111: Fuel storage unit, 1112: Air storage unit, 1113: Fuel immersion unit.

Claims (15)

Fuel replenishment that can be connected to the fuel cells (110, 110-1) that generate power by supplying fuel (191) to the anode electrode (113) and supplying air to the cathode electrode (114) and replenishing the fuel. In the static electricity countermeasure structure provided in the container (140, 140-1 to 140-4),
A conductive member (142) formed on at least a portion of the refueling device that touches a human hand;
A conductive first ground member (143) connected to the conductive member and grounding the static electricity of the human body before refueling;
An anti-static structure for a fuel cell, characterized by comprising: When the fuel cell static electricity prevention structure is further provided in the fuel cell,
2. The static electricity countermeasure for a fuel cell according to claim 1, wherein the first grounding member is a second grounding member (183) provided in a device (180, 180-1, 180-2) having the fuel cell and grounded. Construction.   The second grounding member extends in the vicinity of the fuel supply port (116) in the fuel cell and contacts the conductive member in the fuel supply device immediately before the fuel supply device is connected to the fuel supply port. The antistatic structure for a fuel cell according to claim 2, further comprising an end portion (183 a).   4. The static electricity prevention structure for a fuel cell according to claim 3, wherein the one end portion is formed in a spring shape having a biasing force that contacts the conductive member.   The second grounding member extends to the inside of a fuel supply port (116) in the fuel cell, and contacts the conductive member in the fuel supply device immediately before the fuel supply device is connected to the fuel supply port. The static electricity prevention structure for fuel cells according to claim 2, further comprising one end (183 b).   6. The static electricity prevention structure for a fuel cell according to claim 5, wherein the one end portion has a slit shape extending radially from a center portion of the fuel supply port. The conductive member in the refueling device is formed in a fuel discharge port (144) of the refueling device,
The second grounding member is one end projecting toward the outside of the fuel cell at a fuel supply port (116) in the fuel cell, and the fuel discharge port of the fuel supply device is the fuel supply port. 3. The static electricity prevention structure for a fuel cell according to claim 2, further comprising an end portion (183 c) that comes into contact with the conductive member when breaking through the conductive member when connected to the fuel cell.   8. The static electricity prevention structure for a fuel cell according to claim 1, wherein the conductive member is a conductive film formed by plating on an outer surface (141) of the fuel supply device.   8. The static electricity prevention structure for a fuel cell according to claim 1, wherein the conductive member is a conductive sheet affixed to an outer surface (141) of the fuel supply device. 9.   3. The static electricity prevention structure for a fuel cell according to claim 1, wherein the conductive member is a conductive container that houses the fuel supply device. 4.   The antistatic structure for a fuel cell according to any one of claims 1 to 10, further comprising a non-conductive member (146) that prevents corrosion of the conductive member due to outside air and covers the conductive member.   A fuel cell system comprising the static electricity prevention structure for a fuel cell according to any one of claims 1 to 11.   A fuel replenisher comprising the static electricity countermeasure structure for a fuel cell according to any one of claims 1 to 11. A fuel cell (110, 110-1) that generates power by supplying fuel (191) to the anode electrode (113) and supplying air to the cathode electrode (114), and can be connected to the fuel cell, and the fuel cell In a fuel replenishing method performed in a fuel cell system including fuel replenishers (140, 140-1 to 140-4) for replenishing,
A fuel replenishing method, wherein the fuel replenishment is performed after grounding static electricity in the fuel replenisher before refueling the fuel cell by the fuel replenisher.   The fuel discharge port (144) of the refueling device is provided with an extended conductive member (142) formed on at least a portion of the refueling device that touches the hand of the refueling device. 116), when the grounded second grounding member (183) extends and is provided, when the fuel is replenished, the conductive member comes into contact with the second grounding member, The fuel supply method according to claim 14, wherein fuel supply is performed by connecting a fuel discharge port and the fuel supply port.

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