JP2007242299A - Fuel cell ventilation fan control system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a fuel cell ventilation fan control system capable of minimizing heat dissipation via a device and/or pipe, improving an exhaust heat recovering efficiency, and minimizing a ventilation fan power consumption, in keeping a packaged device at a normal operation temperature and ventilating air forcibly within the package to prevent inflammable gas retention. <P>SOLUTION: A fuel cell power generator 6 accommodates a main power generation unit including a fuel reforming device 1 for producing hydrogen from fuel gas and a fuel cell body 2 for reacting the hydrogen produced by the fuel reforming device 1 with oxygen to produce electric energy, and a controller 3 for electrically controlling power generation in a package 5 subject to forcible ventilation by a ventilation fan 4. Additionally, a temperature detection means 7 is provided to detect a temperature in the controller 3, and the ventilation fan 4 can be controlled based on the temperature detected by the temperature detection means 7a in the controller 3. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a technology for controlling a fan for forcibly ventilating a package in a fuel cell power generator in which a main unit of the power generator and a control unit for performing electrical control of the power generator are housed in the package. is there.

  Conventionally, in a fuel cell power generator, a device housed in a package is maintained at a temperature at which it can operate normally, and in order to prevent flammable gas from staying, a ventilation fan is provided in the package to forcibly ventilate the inside of the package. Things have been done. For example, see Patent Document 1.

  Conventionally, however, the air volume of the ventilation fan is usually set so that the temperature in the package falls below a predetermined temperature in the summer.

For this reason, in seasons other than summer, the temperature in the package drops more than necessary, heat radiation increases from the fuel reformer, fuel cell body, exhaust heat recovery device, piping, etc., and exhaust heat recovery efficiency deteriorates. There was a problem. In addition, since the ventilation fan is operated more than necessary, the power consumption of the ventilation fan becomes larger than necessary, leading to a decrease in power generation efficiency.
JP-A-9-223510

  The present invention has been invented in view of the above-described conventional problems, and in the forced ventilation of the package, heat dissipation from equipment and piping can be minimized and exhaust heat recovery efficiency can be improved. It is an object of the present invention to provide a fuel cell ventilation fan control system capable of minimizing the power consumed by the ventilation fan.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a fuel cell ventilation fan control system according to the present invention includes a fuel reformer 1 that produces hydrogen from fuel gas, and electric energy produced by reacting hydrogen produced by the fuel reformer 1 with oxygen. In the fuel cell power generator 6 in which the main unit of the power generator including the fuel cell main body 2 and the control unit 3 for performing electrical control of the power generator are housed in the package 5 forcedly ventilated by the ventilation fan 4, A temperature detection unit 7a for detecting the temperature of the control unit 3 is provided, and the ventilation fan 4 is controlled based on the temperature of the control unit 3 detected by the temperature detection unit 7a.

  By adopting such a configuration, the ventilation fan 4 is operated to forcibly ventilate the inside of the package 5, the device housed in the package 5 is maintained at a temperature at which normal operation is possible, and flammable gas is retained. Of course, in the forced ventilation in the package 5 by the ventilation fan 4 as described above, the ventilation fan 4 is controlled based on the temperature information of the control unit 3 that is most susceptible to the temperature restriction, and the ventilation air volume is reduced. It can be adjusted to prevent the temperature in the package 5 from rising too much, while minimizing heat dissipation from the fuel reformer 1, fuel cell body 2, other equipment, piping, etc., and exhaust heat recovery efficiency Can be improved.

  Further, a fuel reformer 1 that produces hydrogen from fuel gas, a main device of a power generator including a fuel cell main body 2 that obtains electric energy by reacting hydrogen and oxygen produced by the fuel reformer 1, and a power generator In the fuel cell power generation device 6 in which the control unit 3 for performing electrical control is housed in the package 5 that is forcibly ventilated by the ventilation fan 4, temperature detection means 7b for detecting the temperature in the package 5 is provided, The ventilation fan 4 may be controlled based on the temperature in the package 5 detected by the temperature detecting means 7b.

  By adopting such a configuration, the ventilation fan 4 is operated to forcibly ventilate the inside of the package 5, the device housed in the package 5 is maintained at a temperature at which normal operation is possible, and flammable gas is retained. Of course, in the forced ventilation in the package 5 by the ventilation fan 4, the ventilation fan 4 can be controlled based on the temperature information in the package 5 to adjust the ventilation air volume. While preventing the temperature in the package 5 from rising too much, heat dissipation from the fuel reformer 1, the fuel cell main body 2, other equipment, piping, etc. can be minimized to improve exhaust heat recovery efficiency. it can.

  Further, a fuel reformer 1 that produces hydrogen from fuel gas, a main device of a power generator including a fuel cell main body 2 that obtains electric energy by reacting hydrogen and oxygen produced by the fuel reformer 1, and a power generator In a fuel cell power generator 6 in which a control unit 3 for performing electrical control is housed in a package 5 forcedly ventilated by a ventilation fan 4, at least one of a CO remover and a CO transformer of the fuel reformer 1 is provided. The ventilation fan 4 may be controlled based on the operation time of the cooling fan 8 to be cooled.

  By adopting such a configuration, the ventilation fan 4 is operated to forcibly ventilate the inside of the package 5, the device housed in the package 5 is maintained at a temperature at which normal operation is possible, and flammable gas is retained. Of course, the cooling fan 8 for cooling at least one of the CO remover and the CO converter of the fuel reformer 1 in the forced ventilation in the package 5 by the ventilation fan 4 can be prevented. Based on the time, the ventilation fan 4 can be controlled to easily adjust the ventilation air volume, thereby preventing the temperature in the package 5 from rising excessively, and the fuel reformer 1, the fuel cell body 2, and other devices. In addition, heat dissipation from piping and the like can be minimized and exhaust heat recovery efficiency can be improved.

It is preferable to install a plurality of ventilation fans 4 and control the number of ventilation fans 4 to be operated.
In adjusting the ventilation air volume by controlling the ventilation fan 4, it is possible to easily adjust to the optimum ventilation air volume by controlling the number of the ventilation fans 4 to be operated among the plurality of ventilation fans 4.

  As described above, the present invention keeps the device housed in the package at a temperature at which it can operate normally, and operates the ventilation fan to forcibly ventilate the package in order to prevent flammable gas from staying. Therefore, by controlling the ventilation fan based on the temperature of the control unit, the temperature in the package, or the operation time of the cooling fan for cooling the CO remover of the fuel reformer, Regardless of changes and changes in the outside air temperature during the day, heat dissipation from equipment and piping can be minimized, exhaust heat recovery efficiency can be improved, and power consumed by the ventilation fan can be minimized. , Power generation efficiency can be improved.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described based on embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an embodiment of the fuel cell power generator 6. The package 5 that constitutes the outer shell of the fuel cell power generator 6 houses the main equipment of the power generator such as the fuel reformer 1, the fuel cell main body 2, the DC / AC converter 9, the exhaust heat recovery device 10, and the blower 11. It is. The package 5 further houses a control unit 3 for performing electrical control of the power generator. The package 5 is provided with a ventilation fan 4 for forcibly ventilating the inside of the package 5. In the figure, 17 is an outside air intake provided in the package 5, and 18 is an air outlet provided in the package 5. When the ventilation fan 4 is operated, outside air flows into the package 5 from the outside air inlet 17, and the air outlet 18. To the outside of the package 5 by forced ventilation.

  The fuel reformer 1 is for producing hydrogen from a fuel gas obtained by mixing steam with city gas, and includes a fuel reformer, a CO converter, and a CO remover. Reforming by quality reaction, CO conversion by CO converter, CO selective oxidation by CO remover to remove carbon monoxide to produce hydrogen rich reformed gas with low CO concentration Yes. In addition, as shown in FIG. 1, the temperature suitable for performing the CO selective oxidation reaction in the CO remover of the fuel reformer 1 and / or the temperature suitable for performing the shift reaction in the CO converter is not exceeded. A cooling fan 8 for cooling is provided. In the figure, reference numeral 15 denotes a valve for supplying or stopping the supply of fuel gas to the fuel reformer 1, and is controlled to be opened and closed by the control unit 3.

  The fuel cell main body 2 is formed by stacking a large number of cells each having a fuel electrode 12, an electrolyte 13 and an air electrode 14 as layers, and via separators (not shown). Here, the fuel electrode 12 and the air electrode 14 are structured to allow gas to pass through, and as shown in FIG. 2, the hydrogen-rich reformed gas produced by the fuel reformer 1, that is, hydrogen is supplied to the fuel electrode 12. However, by supplying air from the blower 11 to the air electrode 14, hydrogen is separated into electrons by the action of the catalyst in the fuel electrode 12 to become hydrogen ions, and the electrolyte 13 has the property of passing only ions. The separated electrons go out, and the hydrogen ions that have moved through the electrolyte react with the oxygen sent to the air electrode 14 on the opposite side and the electrons returned from the outside through the electric wire (external circuit). It becomes water. Since the electricity generated in this way is direct current, it is converted into alternating current by the direct current alternating current converter 9.

  The exhaust heat discharged from the fuel reformer 1 and the fuel cell main body 2 is recovered by an exhaust heat recovery device 10 such as a condenser. For example, the exhaust heat is recovered and cold water is used as hot water.

  In the fuel cell power generation device 6 configured as described above, the reaction temperature in the fuel reformer 1 and the fuel cell main body 2 is maintained to maintain an efficient operation state, and an excessive temperature in the package 5 due to heat dissipation. In order to suppress the rise, the outer surfaces of the fuel reformer 1 and the fuel cell main body 2 are covered with a thick heat insulating material, and the temperature rise in the package 5 due to heat dissipation from the outer surface is increased by the ventilation fan 4 in the package 5. The air is cooled by forced ventilation, and at the same time, the combustible gas is prevented from staying in the package 5.

  Here, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the temperature detection means 7 a for detecting the temperature of the control unit 3 is provided in the control unit 3 for performing electrical control of the power generation device. Based on the information on the temperature of the control unit 3 that is most susceptible to temperature restrictions, the control unit 3 controls the ventilation fan 4 to adjust the ventilation air volume, thereby allowing the equipment housed in the package 5 to operate normally. In the forced ventilation in the package 5 to prevent the flammable gas from staying, the temperature in the package 5 is prevented from excessively rising, and the fuel reformer 1, the fuel cell body 2, Heat dissipation from equipment and piping is minimized and exhaust heat recovery efficiency is improved.

  FIG. 3 shows another embodiment of the fuel cell power generator 6 of the present invention. In this embodiment, the control of the ventilation fan 4 is only different from the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 described above, and other configurations are the same as those of the above-described embodiment. Only different points will be described.

  That is, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 described above, the control unit 3 for performing electrical control of the power generator is provided with a temperature detection means 7a for detecting the temperature of the control unit 3, and the control unit 3 The control unit 3 controls the ventilation fan 4 based on the temperature to adjust the ventilation air volume, but in the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, in order to detect the temperature in the package 5 in the package 5. Temperature detecting means 7b is provided. The temperature detecting means 7b is preferably provided in the upper part in the package 5 so as to detect the temperature in the upper part in the package 5.

  Since the temperature in the package 5 has a correlation with the temperature of the controller 3, the temperature in the package 5 is detected by the temperature detector 7b, and the temperature information in the package 5 detected by the temperature detector 7b is detected by the controller. 3, and the ventilation fan 4 is controlled by the control unit 3 based on the temperature information in the package 5 to adjust the ventilation air volume, thereby keeping the device housed in the package 5 at a temperature at which it can operate normally. In the forced ventilation in the package 5 for preventing the flammable gas from staying, the temperature in the package 5 is prevented from excessively rising, and the fuel reformer 1, the fuel cell main body 2, and the like. Heat dissipation from equipment and piping is minimized and exhaust heat recovery efficiency is improved.

  FIG. 4 shows another embodiment of the fuel cell power generator 6 of the present invention. In this embodiment, the control of the ventilation fan 4 is only different from the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 described above, and other configurations are the same as those of the above-described embodiment. Only different points will be described.

  As already described, the fuel reformer 1 is suitable for performing a shift reaction in the CO and / or CO converter at a temperature suitable for performing the CO selective oxidation reaction in the CO remover of the fuel reformer 1. Although the cooling fan 8 for cooling so as not to exceed the temperature is provided, in this embodiment, the operation time of the cooling fan 8 for cooling the CO remover is counted, and the operation of the cooling fan 8 is performed. Based on the time information, the control unit 3 controls the ventilation fan 4 to adjust the ventilation air volume. Here, for example, by counting how many minutes the cooling fan 8 is operating during a certain period of time (for example, 1 hour) during which the operation is performed near the rated output, the temperature of the control unit 3 and the inside of the package 5 are counted. The temperature is analogized, and based on this, the ventilation fan 4 is controlled to adjust the ventilation air volume. As a result, the temperature in the package 5 is prevented from excessively rising due to forced ventilation in the package 5 that keeps the device housed in the package 5 at a temperature at which it can operate normally and prevents the combustion of flammable gas. In addition, heat dissipation from the fuel reformer 1, the fuel cell main body 2, other equipment, piping, and the like can be minimized and the exhaust heat recovery efficiency can be improved.

  By the way, when adjusting the ventilation air volume by controlling the ventilation fan 4, for example, the voltage and frequency applied to the ventilation fan 4 can be adjusted by inverter control or the like, but as shown in FIG. 5. A plurality of ventilation fans 4 are installed in the package 5, and the cooling for cooling the temperature of the control unit 3, the temperature in the package 5, or the CO remover of the fuel reformer 1 as in the above-described embodiments. The number of ventilation fans 4 to be operated may be controlled based on information on the operation time of the fans 8.

It is a schematic structure figure showing one embodiment of a fuel cell power generator of the present invention. It is a schematic diagram of the fuel cell main body in the same as the above. It is a schematic block diagram which shows other embodiment of the fuel cell electric power generating apparatus of this invention. It is a schematic block diagram which shows other embodiment of the fuel cell electric power generating apparatus of this invention. It is a schematic block diagram which shows other embodiment of the fuel cell electric power generating apparatus of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Fuel reformer 2 Fuel cell main body 3 Control part 4 Ventilation fan 5 Package 6 Fuel cell power generation device 7a Temperature detection means 7b Temperature detection means

Claims (4)

  The fuel reformer that produces hydrogen from the fuel gas, the main equipment of the power generator including the fuel cell main body that obtains electric energy by reacting the hydrogen and oxygen produced by the fuel reformer, and the electrical control of the power generator In the fuel cell power generation apparatus in which the control unit for the housing is housed in a package that is forcibly ventilated by a ventilation fan, temperature detection means for detecting the temperature of the control unit is provided, and the temperature of the control unit detected by the temperature detection unit A fuel cell ventilation fan control system that controls a ventilation fan based on   The fuel reformer that produces hydrogen from the fuel gas, the main equipment of the power generator including the fuel cell main body that obtains electric energy by reacting hydrogen and oxygen produced by the fuel reformer, and the electrical control of the power generator In the fuel cell power generation apparatus in which the control unit is housed in a package forcedly ventilated by a ventilation fan, temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature in the package is provided, and the temperature in the package detected by the temperature detecting means is set. A fuel cell ventilation fan control system characterized in that the ventilation fan is controlled based on the control.   The fuel reformer that produces hydrogen from the fuel gas, the main equipment of the power generator including the fuel cell main body that obtains electric energy by reacting hydrogen and oxygen produced by the fuel reformer, and the electrical control of the power generator In the fuel cell power generation apparatus in which the control unit is housed in the package forcedly ventilated by the ventilation fan, based on the operation time of the cooling fan that cools at least one of the CO remover and the CO transformer of the fuel reformer A fuel cell ventilation fan control system for controlling a ventilation fan. The fuel cell ventilation fan control system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a plurality of ventilation fans are installed and the number of ventilation fans to be operated is controlled.

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