JP2005315061A - Snow melter using high temperature heating medium - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve the problems of having a danger of increasing a load to a roof, having a danger of causing an icicle and a snowslide, and requiring snow removal by manual work when there is a large quantity of snowfall at once, since these snow melters are low in the temperature and cannot sufficiently melt snow, though there is a conventional snow melter installed on a roof for melting the snow by heating by carrying electricity to a heating wire, or melting the snow by passing hot water to a conduit by installing the hot water passing conduit on the roof. <P>SOLUTION: A highly efficient solid oxide type fuel cell (SOFC) 2 is used for a high temperature steam generator for melting the snow by passing high temperature steam through the conduit 6 installed on the roof or a parking garage. This fuel cell generates electricity and exhaust gas of about 800°C with city gas or methanol as fuel. The high temperature steam is made of this exhaust gas by a heat exchanger 4, to melt the snow by passing this steam through the conduit 6 installed on the roof or the parking garage. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention uses a high-temperature heat medium (high-temperature steam or high-temperature air) generated by heat exchange from exhaust gas of a high-efficiency solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) in order to melt snow on a roof or a parking lot, The present invention relates to a snow melting device for melting snow through a conduit attached to a roof or a parking lot.

  A conventional snow melting device attached to a roof or a parking lot, etc., generates heat through electricity through a heating wire and thereby melts snow, or attaches a conduit for passing hot water to the roof and melts snow by passing hot water through it, Furthermore, there is a combination of both heating wires and hot water (see Patent Document 1). In this patent document 1, a polymer electrolyte fuel cell (PEFC) is used, and it is described that the temperature becomes around 70 ° C. in the embodiment. Thus, since the temperature of warm water or a heating wire is low, snow melting becomes insufficient.

As an improvement measure, a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) was used to generate an exhaust gas of about 800 ° C., and a high-temperature heat medium was produced from the exhaust gas by heat exchange, thereby melting snow.
JP 2001-262868 A

  Conventional snow melting devices attached to the roof include those that generate heat through electricity through the heating wire and thereby melt the snow, or those that attach a conduit for passing hot water to the roof and melt the snow by passing hot water through it. The conventional snow melting apparatus has the following problems.

  Most of the snow-melting devices attached to the roof that appear to have reduced snow have been converted to wet snow, and not snow. If more snow falls on top of it, the load on the roof will become large, and there is a risk of causing collapse of the building.

  If the snow on the roof is melted at a low temperature, it will become icicles when the water flows down, and there is a risk that it will grow and fall.

  If only the lower part of the snow melts and slips with the snow on the roof, it is dangerous because a lump of snow will fall like an avalanche.

  A snow melting device similar to a roof is attached to a parking lot or entrance, but if there is a large amount of snow at once, it takes time to melt it, so it is necessary to remove snow manually. Especially in a small site, it will be difficult to place snow.

  All the pipes for passing hot water attached to the roof for melting snow are connected to one, and the size of the equipment etc. is decided to correspond to this. The length of the conduit attached to the roof is considerably long, which increases the output of the snow melting device and the like, which makes it expensive. It is hoped that a cheaper snow melting device will be developed. If all the pipes attached to the roof are connected to one, there is a difference in temperature between the hot water feed point and its end, and the snow at the end may remain unmelted.

  The present invention solves such conventional problems, and by using a high-temperature heat medium (high-temperature steam or high-temperature air), there is a risk of increasing the load on the roof due to insufficient snow melting, icicles and avalanches occur. It becomes a safe snow melting device without danger, and the snow melting labor is greatly reduced even at parking lots and entrances. In addition, if the conduit attached to the roof or parking lot is longer than the standard length, it is divided into several parts, one of which corresponds to the standardized fuel cell, heat exchanger output, etc. A high-temperature heat medium is sequentially passed through each part. Furthermore, by standardizing the length of the conduit in one part to an appropriate length, the temperature at the end of the conduit will be lowered and snow will not remain unmelted. In this way, it is possible to simplify the design and installation work by standardizing the snow melting device.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the snow melting device of the present invention according to claim 1 is a highly efficient solid oxide for this water vapor generating device, which melts snow by passing high temperature water vapor through a conduit attached to a roof or a parking lot. A fuel cell (SOFC) is used. This fuel cell generates electricity and exhaust gas at about 800 ° C. using city gas or methanol as fuel. High-temperature water vapor is produced from the exhaust gas by heat exchange, and this is used for melting snow through a conduit attached to a roof or a parking lot. On the other hand, electricity generated from the fuel cell is used for operation of the snow melting device itself.

  Since most of the pipes installed on the roof or parking lots are installed throughout the year, make sure that the exterior does not detract from the beauty of the building. Since high-temperature water vapor passes through the pipe installed in this roof or parking lot, if the pipe touches the roof directly, the roof will be damaged, so a heat-insulating pipe support is attached to the pipe, and this pipe is covered. To prevent burns even if people touch the outside of the cover. Attach a sign indicating that it is dangerous to touch to a person where it is easily visible.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a snow melting device of the present invention, in which a high efficiency solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) is melted through a high temperature air in a conduit attached to a roof or a parking lot. Use. This fuel cell generates electricity and exhaust gas at about 800 ° C. using city gas or methanol as fuel. Hot air is produced from the exhaust gas by heat exchange and is used for melting snow through a conduit attached to a roof or a parking lot. On the other hand, electricity generated from the fuel cell is used for operation of the snow melting device itself.

  Since most of the pipes installed on the roof or parking lot are supposed to be installed throughout the year, the appearance should not detract from the beauty of the building. Since high-temperature air passes through the pipe installed in this roof or parking lot, if the pipe touches the roof directly, the roof will be damaged, so a heat-insulating pipe support is attached to the pipe, and this pipe is covered. To prevent burns even if people touch the outside of the cover. Attach a sign indicating that it is dangerous to touch to a person where it is easily visible.

  Even if hot air is melted through a conduit attached to a roof or parking lot, the operation suddenly stops and the hot air is cooled while remaining in the conduit. It is easy to handle without deformation. It has features such as less rusting in the conduit.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a snow melting device according to the present invention, wherein a high efficiency solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) is provided in the water vapor generating device that melts snow through high temperature water vapor in a conduit attached to a roof or a parking lot. Use. This fuel cell generates electricity and exhaust gas at about 800 ° C. using city gas or methanol as fuel. Heat is generated from this exhaust gas by heat exchange, and this is used for melting snow through a conduit attached to the roof or parking lot, etc. When this snow melting operation is not performed, high temperature steam is sent to the hot water storage tank. The hot water is created by heat exchange and used to supply hot water to the bathroom and bath. On the other hand, electricity generated from the fuel cell is used for operation of the snow melting device itself.

  Since most of the pipes installed on the roof or parking lot are supposed to be installed throughout the year, make sure that the appearance does not detract from the beauty of the building. In addition, high-temperature water vapor passes through the conduit installed in this roof or parking lot, so if the conduit touches the roof directly, the roof will be damaged, so a heat-insulating conduit support is attached to the conduit. Attach a cover to the cover to prevent burns even if people touch the outside of the cover. Attach a sign indicating that it is dangerous to touch to a person where it is easily visible.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a snow melting device of the present invention, in which a high efficiency solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) is melted through a high temperature air in a conduit attached to a roof or a parking lot. Use. This fuel cell generates electricity and exhaust gas at about 800 ° C. using city gas or methanol as fuel. Heat is generated from this exhaust gas by heat exchange, and this is used for melting snow through a conduit attached to the roof or parking lot. When this snow melting operation is not performed, hot air is sent to the hot water tank. The hot water is made by heat exchange and used to supply hot water to the bathroom and bath. On the other hand, electricity generated from the fuel cell is used for operation of the snow melting device itself.

  Since most of the pipes installed on the roof or parking lot are supposed to be installed throughout the year, the appearance should not damage the aesthetics of the building. In addition, since high-temperature air passes through the pipe installed in this roof or parking lot, if the pipe touches the roof directly, the roof will be damaged, so a heat-insulating pipe support is attached to the pipe. Attach a cover to the cover to prevent burns even if people touch the outside of the cover. Attach a sign indicating that it is dangerous to touch to a person where it is easily visible.

  Even if the hot air is suddenly stopped and the hot air is cooled while remaining in the conduit by melting the snow through the conduit attached to the roof or parking lot, etc. It is easy to handle without deformation. It has features such as less rusting in the conduit.

  In addition, the invention according to claim 5 is provided with a snow detector for detecting the amount of snow, attached to the snow melting device according to claim 1, 2, 3 and 4, so that the operation start time is reported or the operation is started. It is characterized by automating operations from start to end.

  The invention according to claim 6 standardizes the output of the solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC), the heat exchanger, etc. constituting the snow melting device according to claims 1, 2, 3 and 4 to about one kind. . For this purpose, a conduit for passing high-temperature water vapor (or high-temperature air) installed on a roof or a parking lot or the like is made in accordance with this. If the length of the conduit is larger than the standard due to the size of the roof, etc., divide this into several parts, and one part will correspond to the standardized fuel cell, heat exchanger output, etc. To do. In this way, with a standardized fuel cell, heat exchanger, etc., high-temperature water vapor (or high-temperature air) can be sequentially switched to each part of the conduit and used for melting snow. In this way, it is characterized by standardizing the equipment constituting the snow melting device and simplifying the design and construction.

  Since the snow melting device of the present invention uses high-temperature steam (or high-temperature air), there is an advantage that snow such as a roof or a parking lot can be completely melted in a short time. In addition, standardize the output of this snow melting equipment to about one kind, and the length of the conduit through which high temperature steam (or high temperature air) is installed on the roof or parking lot is also divided into standard lengths corresponding to this, There is an advantage that design and construction can be simplified.

  The snow melting device according to the present invention has a different amount of snow depending on the region to which it is attached and the operation time of the snow melting device is different. On the other hand, when there is little snow accumulation and there are few operations for melting snow, it is desirable to use it for supplying hot water to the bathroom and bath in addition to melting snow. High temperature heat medium for melting snow includes high temperature steam and high temperature air, but high temperature air is suitable when simple handling is desired. In the following, an embodiment that takes this into consideration will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the snow melting device according to the first aspect of the present invention. Connected to city gas facilities by connecting to city gas 1 (if there is no city gas facility, equipment such as methanol must be installed), solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) 2 which is a kind of fuel cell Supply city gas (or methanol, etc.). This solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) 2 generates electricity and exhaust gas of about 800 ° C. by the reaction of city gas (or methanol or the like) and air. The exhaust gas of about 800 ° C. is put into a heat exchanger 4 through an exhaust gas conduit 3 of a fuel cell to create high-temperature steam, and this high-temperature steam is passed through a high-temperature steam conduit 6 and sent to a high-temperature steam delivery device 7. . A water tap 5 attached to the heat exchanger 4 is a water tap attached to supply water to the heat exchanger. The high-temperature steam is passed through the high-temperature steam conduit 6 installed on the roof 12 by the high-temperature steam delivery device 7 to melt the snow on the roof 12. On the other hand, the electricity generated in the solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) 2 enters the electrical switchboard 11 through the conducting wire 10 that sends electricity, and is connected to the heat exchanger 4 and the high-temperature steam delivery device 7 through the conducting wire 10 that sends electricity from there. And used for operations such as high-temperature steam delivery.

  When the operation of melting snow is stopped, if it stops with water vapor remaining in the conduit, it will change to water and freeze, etc., so when the operation is stopped, the high-temperature water vapor will be sent for a while after the supply of water vapor from the heat exchanger is stopped. The device 7 is operated to send air into the conduit and expel water vapor from the conduit.

  Since most of the pipes installed on the roof are supposed to be installed throughout the year, the appearance should not be detracted from the beauty of the building. Since high-temperature steam passes through the conduit installed on the roof, the conduit support with heat insulation is attached to the conduit because the roof is damaged when the conduit touches the roof directly. In addition, a cover is attached to the conduit so that no burns will occur if a person touches the outside of the cover. Attach a sign indicating that it is dangerous to touch to a person where it is easily visible.

  We explained snow melting on the roof, but the same applies to parking lots.

  FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of the snow melting device according to the second aspect of the present invention. Connected to city gas facilities by connecting to city gas 1 (if there is no city gas facility, equipment such as methanol must be installed), solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) 2 which is a kind of fuel cell Supply city gas (or methanol, etc.). This solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) 2 generates electricity and exhaust gas of about 800 ° C. by the reaction of city gas (or methanol or the like) and air. The exhaust gas at about 800 ° C. is put into a heat exchanger 4 through an exhaust gas conduit 3 of the fuel cell to create high-temperature air, and this hot air is sent to a high-temperature air delivery device 14 through a high-temperature air conduit 13. Hot air is passed through a high-temperature air conduit 13 installed on the roof 12 by the high-temperature air delivery device 14 to melt snow on the roof 12. On the other hand, the electricity generated in the solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) 2 enters the electrical switchboard 11 through the conducting wire 10 that sends electricity, and is connected to the heat exchanger 4 and the high-temperature air delivery device 14 through the conducting wire 10 that sends electricity from there. It is used for operation of high-temperature air delivery.

  It seems that most of the pipes installed on the roof are installed throughout the year, so that the appearance does not detract from the beauty of the building. Since high-temperature air passes through the conduit installed on the roof, if the conduit directly touches the roof or the like, the roof is damaged, so a conduit support with heat insulation is attached to the conduit. In addition, a cover is attached to the conduit so that no burns will occur if a person touches the outside of the cover. Attach a sign indicating that it is dangerous to touch to a person where it is easily visible.

  When snow melts through hot air through a conduit attached to the roof, even if the operation suddenly stops and the hot air cools while remaining in the conduit, it transforms into a liquid-like object. It is easy to handle. It has features such as less rusting in the conduit.

  I explained the melting snow on the roof, but the same goes for parking lots. "

  FIG. 3 shows an embodiment of the snow melting device according to the third aspect of the present invention. Connected to city gas facilities by connecting to city gas 1 (if there is no city gas facility, equipment such as methanol must be installed), solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) 2 which is a kind of fuel cell Supply city gas (or methanol, etc.). This solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) 2 generates electricity and exhaust gas of about 800 ° C. by the reaction of city gas (or methanol or the like) and air. The exhaust gas of about 800 ° C. is put into a heat exchanger 4 through an exhaust gas conduit 3 of a fuel cell to create high-temperature steam, and this high-temperature steam is passed through a high-temperature steam conduit 6 and sent to a high-temperature steam delivery device 7. . A water tap 5 attached to the heat exchanger 4 is a water tap attached to supply water to the heat exchanger. The high-temperature steam is passed through the high-temperature steam conduit 6 installed on the roof 12 by the high-temperature steam delivery device 7 to melt the snow on the roof 12. When this snow melting operation is not performed, the high-temperature steam delivery device 7 sends the high-temperature steam to the heat exchanger in the hot water tank 8 through the high-temperature steam conduit 6. The hot water storage tank 8 is provided with a water tap 5 for replenishing water and a hot water supply tap 9 for supplying hot water to a washroom and a bath. Hot water having a set temperature is supplied from the hot water supply tap 9. The On the other hand, the electricity generated in the solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) 2 enters an electrical switchboard 11 by a conducting wire 10 that sends electricity, and the heat exchanger 4 and the high-temperature steam delivery device 7 and a hot water tank by the conducting wire 10 that sends electricity from there. 8 is used for operation of high-temperature steam delivery.

When the operation of melting snow is stopped, if it stops with water vapor remaining in the conduit, it will change to water and freeze, etc., so when the operation is stopped, the high-temperature water vapor will be sent for a while after the supply of water vapor from the heat exchanger is stopped. The device 7 is operated to send air into the conduit and expel water vapor from the conduit.

  Since most of the pipes installed on the roof are supposed to be installed throughout the year, the appearance should not detract from the beauty of the building. Since high-temperature steam passes through the conduit installed on this roof, if the conduit touches the roof directly, the roof will be damaged. Avoid burns when people touch the outside of the cover. Attach a sign indicating that “it is dangerous to touch” to a place where it is easy to see.

  We explained snow melting on the roof, but the same applies to parking lots.

  FIG. 4 shows an embodiment of the snow melting device according to the fourth aspect of the present invention. Connected to city gas facilities by connecting to city gas 1 (if there is no city gas facility, equipment such as methanol must be installed), solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) 2 which is a kind of fuel cell Supply city gas (or methanol, etc.). This solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) 2 generates electricity and exhaust gas of about 800 ° C. by the reaction of city gas (or methanol or the like) and air. The exhaust gas at about 800 ° C. is put into a heat exchanger 4 through an exhaust gas conduit 3 of the fuel cell to create high-temperature air, and this hot air is sent to a high-temperature air delivery device 14 through a high-temperature air conduit 13. The hot air is fed through the high-temperature air conduit 13 installed on the roof 12 by the high-temperature air delivery device 14 to melt snow on the roof 12. When the snow melting operation is not performed, the hot air is sent to the heat exchanger in the hot water tank 8 through the high temperature air conduit 13 by the high temperature air delivery device 14, and the hot water tank 5 for supplying water to the hot water tank 8 is provided. A hot water supply tap 9 for supplying hot water to a washroom and a bath is provided. Hot water having a set temperature is supplied from the hot water supply tap 9. On the other hand, the electricity generated in the solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) 2 enters the electrical switchboard 11 through the conducting wire 10 that sends electricity, and the heat exchanger 4 high-temperature air delivery device 14 and hot water tank through the conducting wire 10 that sends electricity from there. 8 is used for operation of high-temperature air delivery.

  Since most of the pipes installed on the roof are supposed to be installed throughout the year, the appearance should not detract from the beauty of the building. Since high-temperature air passes through the conduit installed on the roof, if the conduit directly touches the roof or the like, the roof is damaged, so a conduit support with heat insulation is attached to the conduit. In addition, a cover is attached to the conduit so that no burns will occur if a person touches the outside of the cover. Attach a sign indicating that “it is dangerous to touch” to a place where it is easy to see.

  By melting hot snow through a conduit attached to the roof, even if it suddenly stops and the hot air is cooled while remaining in the conduit, it transforms into a liquid-like object. It is easy to handle. It has features such as less rusting in the conduit.

  We explained snow melting on the roof, but the same applies to parking lots.

  FIG. 5 shows an embodiment in which the snow cover is attached to the snow melting device described in the fourth embodiment. (When a snow detector is attached to the snow melting device described in the first, second, and third embodiments, the same applies to the fourth embodiment.) The snow detection state of the roof 12 is detected by the snow detection unit 15. A signal is transmitted to the snow display / control unit 16 through the signal line 17. The snow cover display / controller 16 displays a solid snow fuel cell (SOFC) 2 and a heat exchanger 4 to display a start of a snow melting operation and an instruction of a snow melting operation when the snow has reached a predetermined height according to a built-in program. The control line 18 is used for the hot air delivery device 14 and the hot water tank 8. In addition, the power supply to the snow cover display / controller is supplied from a power distribution board 11 through a conducting wire 10 that sends electricity. In this way, when snow is melted and there is no snow, the snow detector 15 detects that there is no snow and transmits a signal to the snow display / controller 16 via the signal line 17. The snow cover display / controller 16 displays the end of the snow melting operation and the stop of the snow melting operation by a built-in program to display the solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) 2, the heat exchanger 4, the high-temperature air delivery device 14, and the hot water tank 8. The control line 18 is used.

  When an instruction to start snow melting operation is given, if hot air is sent to the hot water tank, whether to wait for the snow melting operation for a while or to stop the hot water tank operation and give priority to the snow melting operation The program is set in the controller 16.

  I explained about melting snow on the roof, but the same goes for parking lots.

  FIG. 6 shows an embodiment in which the snow melting apparatus described in the fourth embodiment is standardized for the devices constituting the snow melting apparatus according to the sixth aspect of the invention. FIG. 6 shows the high pressure air delivery device 14 in FIG. And the portion of the hot air conduit installed on the roof 12 is different. (When it is applied to the snow melting apparatus described in Example 1, Example 2, and Example 3, it follows that in Example 4.) The fuel cell (SOFC) 2 has an output of about 1 kW and the heat exchanger 4 And so on. The conduits installed on the roof were divided into two, and the amount of high-temperature air sent into one of the conduits (20 or 21) corresponded to the output of 1 kW of the fuel cell (SOFC) 2. In order to send high-temperature air to one of the divided pipes 20, the control automatic valve (for delivery to one of the divided pipes) 22 and the control automatic valve (for collecting one of the divided pipes) 25 are opened for control. The automatic valve (for delivery to the other divided pipe) 23 and the control automatic valve (for collecting the other divided pipe) 24 are closed, and the hot air is divided by the control electric delivery machine 19 into one conduit 20. send. After a while, in order to send hot air to the other divided pipe 21, a control automatic valve (for sending to one divided pipe) 22 and a control automatic valve (for collecting one divided pipe) ) 25 is closed, the control automatic valve (for delivery to the other divided conduit) 23 and the control automatic valve (for releasing the other divided conduit) 24 are opened, and the control electric delivery machine 19 is used to supply hot air. Is sent to the other divided conduit 21. In addition, in order to send high-temperature air to one of the divided conduits 20 after a short time, the control automatic valve or the like is operated as described above, or the control automatic valve or the like is operated on the thus divided conduit. Repeat the operation of sending hot air in order. In this way, even if the size of the roof changes and the length of the conduit changes, the fuel cell will be standardized to an output of about 1 KW and the heat exchanger will be compatible with this. Snow is melted by sequentially switching the high-temperature air to the parts of the pipe divided by dividing the pipe.

  I explained melting snow on the roof, but parking lots are also in line with this.

The block diagram of the snow melting apparatus of Example 1 The block diagram of the snow melting apparatus of Example 2 The block diagram of the snow melting apparatus of Example 3 The block diagram of the snow melting apparatus of Example 4 Installation drawing of the snow cover of Example 5 High pressure air delivery and conduit configuration diagram for standardization of equipment of Example 6

Explanation of symbols

1 Connected to city gas 2 Solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 3 Fuel cell exhaust gas conduit 4 Heat exchanger 5 Water supply tap 6 High temperature steam conduit 7 High temperature steam delivery device 8 Hot water storage tank 9 Hot water supply tap 10 Conducting wire 11 Electric switchboard 12 Roof 13 Hot air conduit 14 Hot air delivery Device 15 Snow Cover Detection Unit 16 Snow Cover Display / Controller 17 Signal Line 18 Control Line 19 Controlled Electric Transmitter 20 Divided One Pipe 21 Divided Other Pipe 22 Control Automatic Valve (For sending to one divided pipe) )
23 Automatic valve for control (For delivery to the other divided pipe)
24 Automatic valve for control (for recovery of the other divided pipe)
25 Automatic valve for control (for collecting one of the divided pipes)

Claims (6)

  A high-efficiency solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) is used for this steam generator, which melts snow by passing hot steam through a conduit attached to a roof or a parking lot. This fuel cell generates electricity and exhaust gas at about 800 ° C. using city gas or methanol as fuel. High-temperature water vapor is produced from the exhaust gas by heat exchange, and this is used for melting snow through a conduit attached to a roof or a parking lot. On the other hand, the electricity generated from the fuel cell is used for operation of the snow melting device itself.   A high-efficiency solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) is used for this air generator that melts snow by passing hot air through a conduit attached to a roof or a parking lot. This fuel cell generates electricity and exhaust gas at about 800 ° C. using city gas or methanol as fuel. Hot air is produced from the exhaust gas by heat exchange and is used for melting snow through a conduit attached to a roof or a parking lot. On the other hand, the electricity generated from the fuel cell is used for operation of the snow melting device itself.   A high-efficiency solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) is used for this steam generator, which melts snow by passing hot steam through a conduit attached to a roof or a parking lot. This fuel cell generates electricity and exhaust gas at about 800 ° C. using city gas or methanol as fuel. Heat is generated from this exhaust gas by heat exchange, and this is used for melting snow through a conduit attached to the roof or parking lot, etc. When this snow melting operation is not performed, high temperature steam is sent to the hot water storage tank. The hot water is created by heat exchange and used to supply hot water to the bathroom and bath. On the other hand, the electricity generated from the fuel cell is used for operation of the snow melting device itself.   A high-efficiency solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) is used for this air generator that melts snow by passing hot air through a conduit attached to a roof or a parking lot. This fuel cell generates electricity and exhaust gas at about 800 ° C. using city gas or methanol as fuel. Heat is exchanged from this exhaust gas to create hot air, which is used for melting snow through a conduit attached to the roof or parking lot, etc. When this snow melting operation is not performed, hot air is sent to the hot water tank. The hot water is created by heat exchange and used to supply hot water to the bathroom and bath. On the other hand, the electricity generated from the fuel cell is used for operation of the snow melting device itself.   Automating the operation start time notification or the operation from the start to the end of operation by attaching a snow detector for detecting the amount of snow to the snow melting device described in claims 1, 2, 3 and 4. Snow melting device characterized by. The output of the solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC), the heat exchanger, etc. constituting the snow melting device according to claims 1, 2, 3, and 4 is standardized to about one type. For this purpose, a conduit for passing high-temperature water vapor (or high-temperature air) installed on a roof or a parking lot or the like is made in accordance with this. If the length of the conduit is larger than the standard due to the size of the roof, etc., divide this into several parts, so that one part corresponds to the standardized fuel cell, heat exchanger output, etc. To do. In this way, with a standardized fuel cell, heat exchanger, etc., high-temperature water vapor (or high-temperature air) can be sequentially switched to each part of the conduit and used for melting snow. In this way, the snow melting device is characterized by standardizing the equipment constituting the snow melting device and simplifying the design and construction.

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