JP2008192528A - Fuel cell power generating device and its ventilating device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To aim at optimizing of package ventilation and process exhaustion of a fuel cell device, and improve in efficiency from the viewpoint of inflammable gas leakage control as well. <P>SOLUTION: The fuel cell device is provided with a case 20 zoned by barrier ribs 21 into fuel/motor chamber 2 and an electricity chamber 1, a ventilating fan 4 arranged at an upper part inside the fuel/motor chamber 2 for sucking out air in it 2, and an exhaust duct 7 sucking in the air from the ventilating fan 4 and process exhaust 8 generated in the fuel/motor chamber 2 at the upper part inside the fuel/motor chamber 2, and exhausting them outside the case 20 from an exhaust port 5 at a lower part of the fuel/motor chamber 2. A suction port 3 is formed at a lower part of the electricity chamber 1, and air suctioned from the suction port 3 into the electricity chamber 1 is guided into the fuel/motor chamber 2 through gaps of the barrier ribs 21, and is exhausted outside the case 20 through the ventilating fan 4 and the exhaust duct 7 together with the process exhaust. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a fuel cell power generation device having a housing partitioned into a fuel / motor chamber (main body chamber) for accommodating a fuel cell main body and the like and an electric chamber for accommodating an inverter and the like, and a ventilator for the same.

  A fuel cell is known as a system that directly converts chemical energy contained in fuel into electricity. This fuel cell is one that takes out electricity directly by electrochemically reacting hydrogen as fuel and oxygen as oxidant, and can take out electric energy with high power generation efficiency, and at the same time, quiet and harmful exhaust This is a power generation device having an environmentally friendly feature that does not emit light. In particular, the development of small PEFC (solid polymer fuel cells) has recently been activated, and the spread of household fuel cell systems is imminent.

  By the way, this fuel cell power generation device includes a hydrogen generator (fuel reforming device), a fuel cell main body that is a power generation unit, an inverter that converts a DC voltage generated by the fuel cell main body into an AC voltage, a control device, and a heat exchanger. , Reactor, rotator and the like. These components are housed in one or more enclosures (housings) and are incorporated into an integral package. Therefore, in the fuel cell power generation apparatus using fossil fuels such as city gas and LPG, the management of combustible gas leakage by package ventilation and the maintenance of the external environment for process exhaust are important for maintaining stable operation. ing.

  FIG. 4 is a view showing a package ventilation and a process exhaust structure of a conventional fuel cell power generator. The casing 20 is divided into a fuel / motor chamber 2 and an electric chamber 1 by a partition wall 21, and the fuel / motor chamber 2 includes a hydrogen generator (fuel reformer), a fuel cell body, a heat exchanger, A reactor, a rotator and the like are accommodated. On the other hand, the electrical chamber 1 houses electrical components such as an inverter and a control device that convert a DC voltage generated by the fuel cell body into an AC voltage.

  The fuel / motor chamber 2 is provided with a ventilation fan 4, and the air taken in from the intake port 3 passes around the equipment, is mixed with the process exhaust 8 by the ventilation fan 4, and is introduced to the lower side surface by the external panel. After that, it is discharged out of the package. Further, a flammable gas detector 6 is attached to the inlet of the ventilation fan 4. If the flammable gas leaks over a certain amount in the package, the fuel cell power generator is detected by the leak detection by the flammable gas detector 6. Protection is stopped.

Furthermore, from the viewpoint of maintaining the external environment, a method of deriving exhaust gas from the fuel cell power generator from a duct or chimney provided on the roof or side wall of the building has been proposed (Patent Document 1). Further, in terms of flammable gas leakage management, a structure (Patent Documents 2 and 3) for discharging exhaust gas of the fuel cell power generator from the upper part of the package side surface has been proposed.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2005-63697 JP 2004-259491 A JP 2002-175820 A

  As described above, the proposals so far have obtained certain effects in terms of external environment and flammable gas leakage management, but the exhaust structure is complicated.

  Therefore, the present invention aims to further optimize the package ventilation and process exhaust of the fuel cell device, and to provide an efficient fuel cell device and its ventilation device from the viewpoint of flammable gas leakage management. .

  In order to achieve the above object, a fuel cell power generator according to the present invention includes a housing partitioned by a partition into a fuel / motor chamber and an electric chamber, a fuel cell main body accommodated in the fuel / motor chamber, and a modification. A control device for controlling the fuel cell body housed in the electrical chamber, an inverter that converts the direct current generated in the fuel cell body and generated in the fuel cell body into an alternating current, and a fuel and motor chamber A ventilation fan that is disposed above the fuel / motor chamber, and sucks air from the ventilation fan and process exhaust generated in the fuel / motor chamber at the upper portion of the fuel / motor chamber. An exhaust duct that discharges from the lower exhaust port of the motor chamber to the outside of the housing, and an intake port is formed in the lower portion of the electric chamber, and is sucked into the electric chamber from the intake port Air is guided into the fuel / motor chamber through the gap between the partition walls, and is discharged to the outside of the casing through the exhaust duct along with the process exhaust through the ventilation fan and the exhaust duct. It is characterized by being.

  The ventilator of the fuel cell power generator according to the present invention has a housing partitioned into a fuel / motor chamber and an electrical chamber by a partition, and the fuel cell body and the reformer are accommodated in the fuel / motor chamber. A fuel cell generator ventilator in which an inverter that converts direct current generated in the fuel cell body into alternating current and a control device that controls the fuel cell body are housed in the electrical chamber, A ventilation fan that is disposed in the upper part of the motor chamber and sucks out air in the fuel / motor chamber, and sucks air from the ventilation fan and process exhaust generated in the fuel / motor chamber in the upper part of the fuel / motor chamber. An exhaust duct that discharges from the lower exhaust port of the fuel / motor chamber to the outside of the housing, and an intake port is formed in the lower portion of the electric chamber. The discharged air is guided into the fuel / motor chamber through the gap between the partition walls, and discharged to the outside of the casing through the exhaust duct and the process exhaust through the ventilation fan and the exhaust duct. It is characterized by being.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the efficient ventilation structure can be provided from the surface of environmental temperature management in the package of a fuel cell power generation device.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Here, the same or similar parts are denoted by common reference numerals, and redundant description is omitted.

[First Embodiment]
FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing a first embodiment of a fuel cell power generator according to the present invention.

  The entire fuel cell power generator is accommodated in one housing 20. The casing 20 is divided into an electric chamber 1 and a fuel / motor chamber 2 by a partition wall 21. The fuel / motor chamber 2 houses a reformer (hydrogen generator), a heat exchanger, a reactor, a rotating machine, and the like (not shown) in addition to the fuel cell body. The electrical chamber 1 also houses electrical products (not shown) such as an inverter that converts a DC voltage generated by the fuel cell body into an AC voltage, and a control device that controls the fuel cell power generator.

  There is a gap in the partition wall 21 so that an air flow leaking between the electric chamber 1 and the fuel / motor chamber 2 can be generated.

  In the lower part of the side wall of the electric chamber 1, an air inlet 3 for taking outside air into the housing 20 is provided. A ventilation fan 4 is provided near the side wall of the fuel / motor chamber 2 so that the package air 10 in the fuel / motor chamber 2 can be discharged to the outside through the exhaust duct 7. The exhaust duct 7 extends vertically from the upper part to the lower part of the fuel / motor chamber 2, and the exhaust port 5 provided at the lower part of the exhaust duct 7 is open to the outside of the housing 20. Further, the process exhaust 8 discharged from the fuel cell main body and the reformer is discharged to the upper part of the exhaust duct 7 and is discharged out of the housing 20 through the exhaust duct 7 together with the air sent from the ventilation fan 4. ing.

  A combustible gas detector 6 is attached in the fuel / motor chamber 2 upstream of the ventilation fan 4. If a certain amount of combustible gas leaks in the package, the combustible gas detector 6 detects the leak, thereby stopping the fuel cell power generator.

  According to this embodiment, the air that has flowed into the electrical chamber 1 from the air inlet 3 and has cooled the interior of the electrical chamber 1 flows into the fuel / motor chamber 2 through the gap of the partition wall 21, and passes through the exhaust duct 7. It is discharged out of the housing 20. Since the air inlet 3 and the ventilation fan 4 are substantially at diagonal positions, and the air inlet 3 is located at the lower part of the electric chamber 1 and the ventilation fan 4 is located at the upper part of the fuel / motor chamber 2, the housing 20 It is possible to ventilate efficiently by reducing the staying part inside.

  In this embodiment, unlike the prior art, it is possible to safely exhaust air from the lower side surface of the housing 20 without applying special processing to the outer panel. Further, the ventilation fan 4 installed on the side surface on the opposite side of the air intake port 3 as compared with the conventional one can realize ventilation with less air retention. Further, leakage detection can be performed by the combustible gas detector 6 disposed at the inlet of the ventilation fan 4.

  With the configuration and operation described above, it is possible to perform efficient ventilation with less air retention without changing the specifications of the conventional ventilation fan, and it is possible to exhibit an excellent function in terms of safety.

[Second Embodiment]
FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view showing a second embodiment of the fuel cell power generator according to the present invention. In this embodiment, unlike the first embodiment, an exhaust port 5 is provided on the bottom surface of the exhaust duct 7 so that the exhaust can be safely exhausted from the lower part of the package without special processing of the external panel.

  Further, by arranging the exhaust port 5 on the bottom surface, it is possible to prevent foreign matters such as rain water and dust from being mixed as much as possible, and the stable operation of the fuel cell power generator can be continued.

  With the configuration and operation described above, it is possible to perform efficient ventilation with less air retention without changing the specifications of the conventional ventilation fan, and it is possible to exhibit an excellent function in terms of safety.

[Third Embodiment]
FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view showing an exhaust duct in the third embodiment of the fuel cell power generator according to the present invention. The exhaust duct 7 is disposed in the fuel / motor chamber 2 in the same manner as the fuel cell power generator (FIG. 1) of the first embodiment. A process exhaust inlet 9 and a package air inlet 11 are provided above the exhaust duct 7. Further, a drain discharge port 13 is provided at the bottom of the exhaust duct 7. A sound absorbing material 12 is attached to the inner surface of the exhaust duct 7.

  The package air 10 in the fuel / motor chamber 2 is introduced into the upper part of the exhaust duct 7 from the package air inlet 11, and the process exhaust 8 from the fuel cell main body etc. is introduced into the upper part of the exhaust duct 7 from the process exhaust inlet 9. Mix in 7. The mixed gas in the exhaust duct 7 is discharged to the outside from the exhaust port 5 on the lower side surface of the exhaust duct 7. On the other hand, the condensed water accumulated on the bottom surface of the exhaust duct 7 is drained to the outside from the drain drain port 13.

  According to this embodiment, in addition to the functions in the first and second embodiments, an excellent function can be exhibited in terms of the external environment by reducing the noise of the ventilation fan as much as possible.

1 is a schematic perspective view showing a fuel cell power generator according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The typical perspective view which shows the fuel cell electric power generating apparatus which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. The typical perspective view which shows the exhaust duct in the fuel cell power generator which concerns on the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. The typical perspective view which shows the conventional fuel cell electric power generating apparatus.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Electric room 2 ... Fuel and motor room 3 ... Intake port 4 ... Ventilation fan 5 ... Exhaust port 6 ... Combustible gas detector 7 ... Exhaust duct 8 ... Process exhaust 9 ... Process exhaust inlet 10 ... Package air 11 ... Package air Inlet 12 ... Sound absorbing material 13 ... Drain drain 20 ... Housing 21 ... Bulkhead

Claims (6)

A housing partitioned by a partition into a fuel / motor chamber and an electrical chamber;
A fuel cell body and a reformer housed in the fuel / motor chamber;
An inverter that is housed in the electrical chamber and converts direct current generated in the fuel cell body into alternating current;
A control device that is housed in the electric chamber and controls the fuel cell body;
A ventilation fan that is arranged in the upper part of the fuel / motor chamber and sucks out air in the fuel / motor chamber;
An exhaust duct that sucks air from the ventilation fan and process exhaust generated in the fuel / motor chamber at the upper part of the fuel / motor chamber and exhausts the exhaust from the exhaust port at the lower part of the fuel / motor chamber;
Have
An air inlet is formed in the lower part of the electric chamber, and air sucked into the electric chamber from the air inlet is led into the fuel / motor chamber through the gap of the partition wall, and is passed through the ventilation fan and the exhaust duct. The fuel cell power generator is configured to be discharged to the outside of the casing through the exhaust duct together with the process exhaust.   2. The fuel cell power generator according to claim 1, wherein the exhaust port is provided on a side surface of the fuel / motor chamber.   The fuel cell power generator according to claim 1, wherein an exhaust port of the exhaust duct is provided on a bottom surface of the fuel / motor chamber.   The fuel cell power generator according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a drain drain port is provided on a bottom surface of the exhaust duct.   The fuel cell power generator according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a sound absorbing material is attached in the exhaust duct. It has a housing partitioned into a fuel / motor chamber and an electric chamber by a partition wall, and a fuel cell body and a reformer are housed in the fuel / motor chamber, and converts direct current generated in the fuel cell body into alternating current. An inverter and a control device for controlling the fuel cell main body are a ventilator for a fuel cell power generator housed in the electric chamber,
A ventilation fan that is arranged in the upper part of the fuel / motor chamber and sucks out air in the fuel / motor chamber;
An exhaust duct that sucks air from the ventilation fan and process exhaust generated in the fuel / motor chamber at the upper part of the fuel / motor chamber and exhausts the exhaust from the exhaust port at the lower part of the fuel / motor chamber;
Have
An air inlet is formed in the lower part of the electric chamber, and air sucked into the electric chamber from the air inlet is led into the fuel / motor chamber through the gap between the partition walls, and is passed through the ventilation fan and the exhaust duct. A ventilator for a fuel cell power generator, wherein the ventilator is configured to be discharged to the outside of the casing through the exhaust duct together with the process exhaust.

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