JP2006079974A - Cell stack - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a cell stack wherein a case for forming a gas manifold chamber does not need to be arranged separate from the cell stack by improving the cell stack (14) arranged at a fuel cell assembly, so that the fuel cell assembly becomes sufficiently compact, and is manufactured at sufficiently low cost. <P>SOLUTION: A plurality of cells are arrayed by fixing one end face of each cell (16) on a common supporting member (58) and making one face of the cell face the other face of an adjacent cell. An opening (46) penetrating from one face to the other face, and communicating with a gas flow passage is formed at one end part of each cell, and a cylinder-shaped spacer member (48) communicating with the opening (46) is fixed between adjacent cells. A gas supply tube (22) is connected either to the opening of the cell located at a front end or to the opening of the cell located at a rear end. Additional supporting members (62, 162) located at the outside of the cell located at the front end or the cell located at the rear end are arranged to support the gas supply tube. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a cell stack used in a fuel cell assembly, and more particularly, a cell adjacent to the front surface of a cell that is generally plate-shaped and has at least one gas passage extending in the longitudinal direction. The present invention relates to a cell stack configured by arranging a plurality of cells so as to face the rear surface.

  In recent years, various types of fuel cell systems such as solid polymer, phosphoric acid, molten carbonate, and solid electrolyte have been proposed as next-generation energy. In particular, the solid oxide fuel cell system has an operating temperature as high as about 700 to 1000 ° C., but has advantages such as high power generation efficiency and the ability to use exhaust heat, and research and development are being promoted.

As disclosed in Patent Documents 1 and 2 below, a typical example of a solid oxide fuel cell system includes a fuel cell assembly including a housing that defines a power generation / combustion chamber. Is provided with a cell stack. The cell stack has a plate shape as a whole, and at least one gas passage extending in the longitudinal direction is formed so that one side of the cell faces the other side of the adjacent cell, and a plurality of cells are arranged. Configured. The lower end of each cell in such a cell stack is fixed to the upper surface wall of the case forming the gas manifold chamber. A hole is formed in the upper wall of the case so as to communicate with a gas passage formed in each cell. A hydrogen-rich fuel gas (or oxygen-containing gas) is supplied to each gas passage of the cell via a gas manifold chamber, and an oxygen-containing gas (or hydrogen-rich gas) is also supplied to the outer surface of each cell of the cell stack. Fuel gas), and thus power is generated in each of the cells.
JP 2000-149976 A JP 2003-249256 A

  Thus, in the conventional cell stack of the above-described form, a case in which a gas manifold chamber is formed separately from the cell stack is arranged, and one end of each cell is fixed to gas tight on the upper surface wall of the case. There is a problem to be solved that the fuel cell assembly becomes relatively bulky and the manufacturing cost becomes relatively expensive.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned fact, and the main technical problem thereof is that it is not necessary to arrange a case for forming a gas manifold chamber separately from the cell stack, and the fuel cell assembly is sufficiently compact. It is to provide a new and improved cell stack which can be made to be free and can also be manufactured sufficiently inexpensively.

  According to the present invention, one end surface of each cell is fixed to the common support member, and an opening that penetrates from one surface to the other surface and communicates with the gas passage is formed at one end portion of each cell. A cylindrical spacer member that allows the opening to communicate is fixed, and a gas supply pipe is connected to one of the frontmost cell and the rearmost cell. An additional support member located outside one of the cell located at the rearmost and the cell located at the rearmost is also disposed, and the gas supply pipe is supported by the additional support member, whereby the main technical problem described above is achieved. To achieve.

That is, according to the present invention, as a cell stack that achieves the main technical problem described above, one side of a cell in which at least one gas passage that is plate-shaped as a whole and extends in the longitudinal direction is formed is adjacent. A cell stack configured by arranging a plurality of cells facing the other surface of the cell,
One end surface of each of the cells is fixed to a common support member, and one end of each of the cells is formed with an opening penetrating from the one surface to the other surface and communicating with the gas passage. A cylindrical spacer member that allows the opening to communicate with each other is fixed, and a gas supply pipe is connected to one of the frontmost cell and the rearmost cell. The common support member is provided with an additional support member located outside one of the cell located at the forefront and the cell located at the rearmost position, and the gas supply pipe is connected to the additional support member. A cell stack characterized by being supported is provided.

  Preferably, the opening is circular, and the cylindrical spacer member has a large-diameter central portion having an outer diameter larger than the inner diameter of the opening and small-diameter end portions having substantially the same outer diameter as the inner diameter of the opening. The cell stack according to claim 1, wherein each of the small-diameter end portions is fitted into the opening of an adjacent cell. One end of the cylindrical member is fixed to the outer end of the opening in the one of the cell located at the forefront and the cell located at the rearmost, and the other end of the cylindrical member is the additional support member It is preferable that the gas supply pipe is connected to the opening via the cylindrical member. It is preferable that one end of a cylindrical member whose other end is closed is fixed to the outer end of the opening in the other of the cell located at the forefront and the cell located at the rearmost. The common support member is also provided with an additional support member positioned outside the other of the cell located at the forefront and the cell located at the rearmost side, and the cylindrical member with the other end closed is It is preferably supported by an additional support member. The common support member can be constituted by a flat plate member extending in the arrangement direction of the cells, and each of the cells can be fixed to the upper surface of the common support member. The upper surface of the common support member is formed with a recess corresponding to each of the cells and matching the cross-sectional shape of one end of the cell, and one end of each of the cells is inserted into the recess. It is preferable. The cylindrical spacer member is preferably made of ceramics or a refractory metal.

  In the cell stack of the present invention, hydrogen-rich fuel gas (or oxygen-containing gas) can be supplied to the gas passage from each opening of the cell through a cylindrical spacer member fixed between adjacent cells. There is no need to arrange a case for forming the gas manifold chamber separately from the stack. Further, in addition to the cells being connected to each other via the cylindrical space member, one end surface of each cell is fixed to the common support member, and the gas supply pipe is also disposed on the common support member. Since it is supported by the support member, the cell stack is assembled sufficiently firmly and integrally. Distributes the load acting on the cell located at the forefront or rearmost to which the gas supply pipe is connected to the entire stack even when the gas supply pipe is connected to external piping or during vibration or load during power generation Therefore, it has sufficient strength against external vibration and load.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of a cell stack configured according to the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 illustrates a preferred embodiment of a solid oxide fuel cell assembly which is a typical example of a fuel cell assembly to which a cell stack constructed according to the present invention is applied. The illustrated assembly includes a housing 2 having a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape. The housing 2 includes an outer frame body 4 formed of a heat-resistant metal and a heat insulating material layer 6 disposed on the inner surface. A plate-like heat insulating material layer 8 extending in the horizontal direction is disposed on the upper portion of the housing 2, and the inside of the housing 2 is above the power generation / combustion chamber 10 below the heat insulating material layer 8 and the heat insulating material layer 8. And an additional chamber 12.

  In the power generation / combustion chamber 10, four rows of cell stacks 14 are arranged in the direction perpendicular to the paper surface in FIG. 1 (see also FIG. 2). Each of the cell stacks 14 includes a plurality (seven in the illustrated example) of cells 16 arranged in the horizontal direction in FIG. The cell stack 14 and the cell 16 will be described in detail later.

  A reforming case 18 is disposed on the power generation / combustion chamber 10 so as to correspond to each cell stack 14. The reforming case 18 can be formed from an appropriate refractory metal. Each reforming case 18 accommodates an appropriate catalyst (not shown) for reforming the gas to be reformed, which may be city gas, into hydrogen-rich fuel gas. A reformed gas introduction pipe 20 is connected to one end portion (left end portion in FIG. 1) of each reforming case 18, and a fuel gas supply pipe 22 is connected to the other end portion (right end portion in FIG. 1). Yes. The reformed gas introduction pipe 20 penetrates the lower wall of the housing 2 and extends outside the housing 2 and is connected to a reformed gas supply source (not shown) which may be city gas. The fuel gas supply pipe 22 is connected to the cell stack 14 as will be further described later. In the illustrated embodiment, the reforming case 18 is provided for each of the cell stacks 14 arranged in four rows, but it is common to the cell stacks 14 arranged in four rows if desired. It is also possible to arrange one reforming case.

  An air manifold chamber 24 is disposed in the additional chamber 12 defined in the upper portion of the housing 2. Connected to the air manifold chamber 24 is an oxygen-containing gas introduction pipe 26 that passes through the upper wall of the housing 2 and extends out of the housing 2. The oxygen-containing gas introduction pipe 26 is connected to a supply source (not shown) of oxygen-containing gas which may be air. The air manifold chamber 24 is further connected with oxygen-containing gas ejection means (not shown) that hangs down from the lower surface between the cell stacks 14. Such oxygen-containing gas jetting means can be constituted by a jet pipe having a jet outlet or a hollow jet plate. The additional chamber 12 is further provided with an exhaust duct 28 that allows the power generation / combustion chamber 10 to communicate with the outside of the housing 2.

  2 and FIG. 2, each of the cell stacks 14 has an overall plate shape extending in the vertical direction, that is, the vertical direction in FIG. 1 and the direction perpendicular to the paper surface in FIG. A plurality of cells 16 (seven in the figure) are arranged in the left-right direction in FIGS. 1 and 2 with one side of the cell 16 facing the other surface of the adjacent cell 16. As clearly shown in FIG. 2, each of the cells 16 includes an electrode support substrate 30, a fuel electrode layer 32 that is an inner electrode layer, a solid electrolyte layer 34, an oxygen electrode layer 36 that is an outer electrode layer, and an interconnector 38. Has been.

  The electrode support substrate 30 is a plate-like piece that is elongated in the vertical direction, and has both flat surfaces and both sides of a semicircular shape. The electrode support substrate 30 is formed with a plurality (four in the illustrated case) of gas passages 40 penetrating the electrode support substrate 30 in the vertical direction. The interconnector 38 is disposed on one side (left side in FIG. 2) of the electrode support substrate 30. The fuel electrode layer 32 is disposed on the other surface (right surface in FIG. 2) and both side surfaces of the electrode support substrate 30, and both ends thereof are joined to both ends of the interconnector 38. The solid electrolyte layer 34 is disposed so as to cover the entire fuel electrode layer 32, and both ends thereof are joined to both ends of the interconnector 38. The oxygen electrode layer 36 is disposed on the main part of the solid electrolyte layer 34, that is, on the portion covering the other surface of the electrode support substrate 30, and is positioned to face the interconnector 38 with the electrode support substrate plate 30 interposed therebetween. ing. In place of such a cell, for example, a plurality of fuel electrode layers are arranged in the longitudinal direction on one side of a solid electrolyte layer continuously extending in the longitudinal direction, and a plurality of fuel electrode layers are arranged on the other side of the solid electrolyte layer. It is also possible to use other types of cells such as a cell generally referred to as a horizontal stripe type in which the oxygen electrode layers are arranged in the longitudinal direction.

  A current collecting member 42 is disposed between adjacent cells 16 in each of the cell stacks 14 to connect the interconnector 38 of one cell 16 and the oxygen electrode layer 36 of the other cell 16. In each cell stack 14, current collecting members 42 are also arranged on both ends, that is, on the outer surfaces (that is, the left and right surfaces) of the cells 16 located at the left and right ends in FIG. 2. A current collecting member 42 disposed at two one ends (left end in FIG. 2) located below the four rows of cell stacks 14 in FIG. 2 is connected by a conductive member 44, and the two current collecting members 42 located at the center are connected. The current collecting member 42 disposed at the other end (right end in FIG. 2) is also connected by the conductive member 44, and the current collecting member 42 disposed at two upper ends (left end in FIG. 2) is also conductive. The members 44 are connected. Furthermore, a conductive member 44 is connected to the current collecting member 42 disposed at one other end (right end in FIG. 2) located at the lower end of the four rows of cell tacks 14, and one end at the upper end (right end in FIG. 2). A conductive member 44 is also connected to the current collecting member 42 arranged in the above. Thus, all the cells 16 are electrically connected in series. As can be understood by referring to FIGS. 1 and 3, the length of the current collecting member 42 in the vertical direction (vertical direction in FIGS. 1 and 3) is shorter than the vertical length of the cell 16. It is arranged in the middle portion of the cell 16 as viewed.

More specifically about the cell 16, the electrode support substrate 30 is gas permeable to allow fuel gas to permeate to the anode layer 32, and is also conductive to collect current via the interconnector 38. Can be formed from a porous conductive ceramic (or cermet) that satisfies such requirements. In order to manufacture the electrode support substrate 30 by simultaneous firing with the fuel electrode layer 32 and / or the solid electrolyte layer 34, it is preferable to form the electrode support substrate 30 from an iron group metal component and a specific rare earth oxide. In order to provide the required gas permeability, it is preferred that the open porosity is in the range of 30% or more, in particular 35 to 50%, and the conductivity is also 300 S / cm or more, in particular 440 S / cm or more. Is preferred. The fuel electrode layer 32 can be formed of a porous conductive ceramic, for example, ZrO ₂ (referred to as stabilized zirconia) in which a rare earth element is dissolved and Ni and / or NiO. The solid electrolyte layer 34 has a function as an electrolyte that bridges electrons between the electrodes, and at the same time, has a gas barrier property to prevent leakage between the fuel gas and the oxygen-containing gas. It is necessary and is usually formed from ZrO ₂ in which ₃ to 15 mol% of a rare earth element is dissolved. The oxygen electrode layer 36 can be formed of a conductive ceramic made of a so-called ABO ₃ type perovskite oxide. The oxygen electrode layer 36 is required to have gas permeability, and preferably has an open porosity of 20% or more, particularly in the range of 30% to 50%. The interconnector 38 can be formed from a conductive ceramic, but it needs to have reduction resistance and oxidation resistance because of contact with a fuel gas that may be hydrogen gas and an oxygen-containing gas that may be air. lanthanum chromite-based perovskite type oxide (LaCrO ₃ based oxide) is preferably used to. The interconnect 38 must be dense in order to prevent leakage of the fuel gas passing through the gas passages 40 formed in the electrode support substrate 30 and the oxygen-containing gas flowing outside the electrode support substrate 30, 93% or more, In particular, it is desired to have a relative density of 95% or more. The current collecting member 42 can be composed of a member having an appropriate shape formed from an elastic metal or alloy, or a member obtained by adding a required surface treatment to a felt made of metal fiber or alloy fiber. The conductive member 44 can be formed from an appropriate metal or alloy.

  In the cell stack 14 configured in accordance with the present invention, an opening that penetrates from one side to the other side and communicates with the gas passage 40 is formed at one end of each cell, and the opening is communicated between adjacent cells 16. It is important that a cylindrical spacer member is provided.

  3 to 5, in the illustrated embodiment, an opening 46 penetrating from one surface to the other surface is formed at each lower end portion of the cell 16 constituting the cell stack 14. . The cross-sectional shape of the opening 46 is circular, and as is clearly understood by referring to FIG. 5, the opening 46 is formed by all four gas passages 40 formed in the electrode support substrate 30 of the cell 16. Communicated with. A cylindrical spacer member 48 is disposed between adjacent cells 16 in the cell stack 14. As understood by referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the cylindrical spacer member 48 has a large-diameter central portion 50 having a relatively large outer diameter and small-diameter end portions 52 having a relatively small outer diameter. The outer diameter of the large-diameter central portion 50 is somewhat larger than the inner diameter of the opening 46, and the outer diameters of the small-diameter end portions 54 are substantially the same as the inner diameter of the opening 46. As clearly shown in FIG. 4, the cylindrical spacer member 48 has each of its small-diameter ends 52 fitted into the respective openings 46 of the adjacent cells 16, and both ends of the large-diameter central portion 50 and the cells 16. Each of the surfaces is fixed between adjacent cells 16 by bonding with an appropriate bonding seal material 56 and sealing with gas tight. Thus, the opening 46 of the adjacent cell 16 is communicated by the cylindrical spacer member 48. Since the cylindrical spacer member 48 is exposed to a high heat of about 700 to 1000 ° C., it is preferable that the cylindrical spacer member 48 is made of an appropriate ceramic or a refractory metal. The bonding seal material 56 may be inorganic cement or glass.

  3 and 4, the lower ends of the seven cells 16 constituting the cell stack 14 are fixed to the gas tight with the joint sealing material 56 to the common support member 58, and thus each of the cells 16. The lower ends of the four gas passages 40 formed in the electrode support substrate 30 are closed with gas tight. The common support member 58 can be composed of a flat plate member that extends in the arrangement direction of the cells 16 (the left-right direction in FIGS. 1, 2, and 3). Similarly to the cylindrical spacer member 48, the common support member 58 is also preferably formed of appropriate ceramics or heat resistant metal. If desired, as shown in FIG. 6, recesses 59 having a cross-sectional shape that matches the cross-sectional shape of each lower end portion of the cell 16 are formed on the upper surface of the common support member 58 at predetermined intervals. It is also possible to insert each cell 16 into the recess 59, arrange the cells 16 at a predetermined interval, and fix the gas tight with an appropriate bonding seal material.

  In the illustrated embodiment, the cylindrical spacer member 48 is also provided on the outer surface (right surface) of the cell 16 located at the forefront, that is, the rightmost of the seven cells 16 arranged in the left-right direction in FIGS. One end of the cylindrical member 60 which may be substantially the same form is fixed. On the common support member 58, an upright additional support member 62 positioned on the outer side, that is, on the right side of the cell 16 positioned on the foremost side, that is, on the rightmost side, is fixed. The end is fixed. More specifically, the tubular member 60 has a large-diameter central portion 64 and small-diameter both end portions 66, and one of the small-diameter both end portions 66 is fitted into the opening 46 of the rightmost cell 16 to join the sealing material 56. The other end 66 of the small-diameter end is fitted into a circular recess 68 formed on one side of the support member 62 and is fixed to the gas tight by the bonding seal material 56. A hole 70 extending from the other side to the circular recess 68 is also formed in the support member 62, and the tip of the fuel gas supply pipe 22 (see also FIG. 1) is fitted into the hole 70 to join the seal. The material 56 is fixed to the gas tight, and thus the tip of the fuel gas supply pipe 22 is supported by the additional support member 62. When the fuel gas supply pipe 22 is made of a heat-resistant metal, the tubular member 60 and the additional support member 62 are used to reduce the difference between the coefficient of thermal expansion of the cell 16 and the coefficient of thermal expansion of the fuel gas supply pipe 22. Is preferably formed from a ceramic such as zirconia or forsterite having a coefficient of thermal expansion between the two coefficients of thermal expansion.

  In the illustrated embodiment, one end of the cylindrical member 72 is also provided on the outer surface (left surface) of the cell 16 located at the rearmost or leftmost of the seven cells 16 arranged in the left-right direction in FIGS. The part is fixed. The cylindrical member 72 has a large-diameter central portion 74 and small-diameter both end portions 76, and one of the small-diameter both end portions 76 is fitted into the opening 46 of the cell 16 and is fixed to gas tight by the bonding seal material 56. . The other end of the cylindrical member 72 is closed by a circular end plate 78 fixed to gas tight. If desired, the circular end plate 78 can be fixed directly to the gas tight on the left side of the leftmost cell 16.

  If desired, in order to increase the strength of the cell stack 14, the cell 16 located at the rearmost or leftmost position on the common support member 58, as shown by a two-dot chain line in FIGS. 1, 3, and 4. An upright additional support member 63 located on the outer side, that is, on the left side of the cylindrical member 72 is disposed, and the distal end portion, that is, the left end portion of the cylindrical member 72 is inserted and fixed in a circular recess formed in the additional support member 63, thus the cylindrical member. 72 can also be supported by the additional support member 63. Further, in order to make the interval between the adjacent cells 16 sufficiently uniform over the entire longitudinal direction of the cells, that is, the entire vertical direction, as shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. Can also be provided. The spacer member 74 can be formed, for example, from a cylindrical member having a predetermined length or a solid block having a predetermined thickness.

  FIG. 7 illustrates a modification of the additional support member for supporting the cylindrical member 60 and the fuel gas supply pipe 22 and the additional support member for supporting the cylindrical member 72. In such a modification, upright additional support members 162 and 163 are fixed to both ends of the upper surface of the common support member 58. An annular member 165 is fixed to the inner side surface of the additional support member 162. The inner diameter of the annular member 165 is substantially the same as the outer diameter of the small-diameter end portion 62 of the tubular member 60, and the small-diameter end portion 62 of the tubular member 60 is inserted into the annular member 165 and gas tight It is fixed to. A through hole 170 is formed at the center of the additional support member 162, and a protruding cylindrical protrusion 167 that extends outwardly in alignment with the through hole 170 is integrally formed on the outer surface of the additional support member 162. Has been. An annular flange 169 is integrally formed at the tip of the protruding portion 167. On the other hand, an annular flange 171 is also formed at the tip of the fuel gas supply pipe 22. The flange 169 and the flange 171 are connected by appropriate fastening means (not shown) such as bolts and nuts. A gasket 173 is interposed between the flange 169 and the flange 171. The fuel gas supplied through the fuel gas supply pipe 22 is supplied to the opening 46 of the cell 16 through the through hole 170 of the additional support member 162 and the cylindrical member 60. An annular member 175 is also fixed to the inner side surface of the additional support member 163. The inner diameter of the annular member 175 is substantially the same as the outer diameter of the small-diameter end portion 76 of the cylindrical member 72, and the small-diameter end portion 76 of the cylindrical member 72 is inserted into the annular member 175 and is gas tight by the bonding seal material 56. It is fixed to. Thus, the cylindrical member 72 is supported by the additional support member 163 and the outer end surface of the cylindrical member 72 is closed by the additional support member 163.

  In the battery assembly as described above, the gas to be reformed, which may be city gas, is supplied to the reforming case 18 through the gas to be reformed introduction pipe 20, and reformed into hydrogen-rich fuel gas in the reforming case 18. The Thereafter, the gas is supplied to each opening 46 of the cell 16 through the fuel gas supply pipe 22, the cylindrical member 60, and the cylindrical spacer member 48, and introduced into the gas passage 40 formed in each electrode support substrate 30 of the cell 16. As a result, the gas passage 40 is raised. On the other hand, an oxygen-containing gas, which may be air, is introduced into the air manifold chamber 24 through the oxygen-containing gas introduction pipe 26, and the oxygen-containing gas is ejected into the power generation / combustion chamber 10 through oxygen-containing gas ejection means (not shown). And thus supplied to each of the cells 16. In each cell 16, an electrode reaction of the following formula (1) is generated in the oxygen electrode layer 36, and an electrode reaction of the following formula (2) is generated in the fuel electrode layer 32 to generate electric power.

Oxygen electrode: 1 / 2O ₂ + 2e ⁻ → O ²⁻ (solid electrolyte) (1)
Fuel electrode: O ²⁻ (solid electrolyte) + H ₂ → H ₂ O + 2e ⁻ (2)

The fuel gas flowing through the gas passage 40 of the electrode support substrate 30 in the cell 16 that has not been used for the electrode reaction is caused to flow into the power generation / combustion chamber 10 from the upper end of the electrode support substrate 30. The fuel gas discharged into the power generation / combustion chamber 10 is burned simultaneously with the outflow. Appropriate ignition means (not shown) is disposed in the power generation / combustion chamber 10, and when the fuel gas starts to flow out into the power generation / combustion chamber 10, the ignition means is activated to start combustion. . The oxygen in the oxygen-containing gas ejected into the power generation combustion chamber 10 that is not used for the electrode reaction is used for combustion. The inside of the power generation / combustion chamber 10 becomes a high temperature of, for example, about 700 to 1000 ° C. due to power generation in the cell 16 and combustion of combustion gas.
Combustion gas generated by combustion in the power generation / combustion chamber 10 is discharged from the upper end of the power generation / combustion chamber 10 to the outside of the housing 2 through the exhaust duct 28.

1 is a simplified vertical cross-sectional view showing a fuel cell assembly with a preferred embodiment of a cell stack constructed in accordance with the present invention. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a cell stack in the fuel cell assembly of FIG. 1. The front view which shows the lower part of the cell stack in the fuel cell assembly of FIG. Sectional drawing which shows the lower part of the cell stack in the fuel cell assembly of FIG. The side view which shows the lower end part of the cell of the cell stack in the fuel cell assembly of FIG. The partial slope figure which shows the modification of a common support member. Sectional drawing which shows the modification of an additional support member.

Explanation of symbols

2: Housing 10: Power generation / combustion chamber 14: Cell stack 16: Cell 22: Fuel gas supply pipe 40: Gas passage 46: Opening 48: Cylindrical spacer member 50: Large diameter central portion of the cylindrical spacer member 52: Both ends of small diameter of cylindrical spacer member 58: Common support member plate 59: Recessed portion 60: Cylindrical member 62: Additional support member 63: Additional support member 72: Cylindrical member 162: Additional support member 163: Additional support member

Claims (8)

It is configured by arranging a plurality of cells with one side of a cell having a plate shape as a whole and having at least one gas passage extending in the longitudinal direction facing the other side of an adjacent cell. Cell stack
One end surface of each of the cells is fixed to a common support member, and one end of each of the cells is formed with an opening penetrating from the one surface to the other surface and communicating with the gas passage. A cylindrical spacer member that allows the opening to communicate with each other is fixed, and a gas supply pipe is connected to one of the frontmost cell and the rearmost cell. The common support member is provided with an additional support member located outside one of the cell located at the forefront and the cell located at the rearmost position, and the gas supply pipe is connected to the additional support member. A cell stack characterized by being supported.   The opening is circular, and the cylindrical spacer member has a large-diameter central portion having an outer diameter larger than the inner diameter of the opening, and a small-diameter end portion having an outer diameter substantially the same as the inner diameter of the opening, The cell stack according to claim 1, wherein each of the small-diameter end portions is fitted into the opening of an adjacent cell.   One end of the cylindrical member is fixed to the outer end of the opening in the one of the cell located at the forefront and the cell located at the rearmost, and the other end of the cylindrical member is the additional support member The cell stack according to claim 1, wherein the gas supply pipe is connected to the opening via the cylindrical member.   The cell stack according to claim 3, wherein one end of a cylindrical member whose other end is closed is fixed to an outer end of the opening in the other of the cell located at the forefront and the cell located at the rearmost. .   The common support member is also provided with an additional support member positioned outside the other of the cell located at the forefront and the cell located at the rearmost side, and the cylindrical member with the other end closed is The cell stack according to claim 4, wherein the cell stack is supported by an additional support member.   The cell stack according to claim 1, wherein the common support member is a flat plate member extending in an arrangement direction of the cells, and each of the cells is fixed to an upper surface of the common support member. .   The upper surface of the common support member is formed with a recess corresponding to each of the cells and matching the cross-sectional shape of one end of the cell, and one end of each of the cells is inserted into the recess. The cell stack according to claim 6.   The cell stack according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the cylindrical spacer member is made of ceramics or heat-resistant metal.

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