JP2008243595A - Fuel cell device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a fuel cell device capable of surely supporting and fixing a fuel cell module. <P>SOLUTION: The inside of an outer packaging container 2 including a top plate 2a, side plate 2b and a bottom plate 2c is partitioned up and down with a partition plate 7, the upper space in the outer packaging container 2 defined with the top plate 2a and the partition plate 7 is used as a fuel cell module housing chamber 4 in which a fuel cell module 3 is housed, and a lower space in the outer packaging container 2 defined with the partition plate 7 and the bottom plate 2c is used as an auxiliaries housing chamber 6 in which auxiliaries for operating the fuel cell module 3 are housed, and the fuel cell module 3 is supported and fixed to the partition plate 7 to compose the fuel cell device. A lower side support 8a to which the side plate 2b and the bottom plate 2c are fixed is installed in the auxiliaries housing chamber 6, and the partition plate 7 is fixed to the lower side support 8a. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention provides a fuel in which the interior of the outer container is partitioned vertically by a partition member, the upper space in the outer container is a fuel cell module storage chamber, and the lower space in the outer container is an auxiliary device storage chamber The present invention relates to a battery device.

  In recent years, as a next-generation energy, a fuel cell (module) capable of obtaining electric power using hydrogen gas and an oxygen-containing gas (usually air) and an auxiliary device for operating the fuel cell are externally provided. Various fuel cell devices housed in containers have been proposed.

  In the conventional fuel cell device, the interior of the outer container composed of the top plate, the side plate, and the bottom plate is divided up and down by the partition plate, and the upper space in the outer container defined by the top plate and the partition plate is the fuel cell module. The fuel cell module storage chamber is stored, and the lower space in the outer container defined by the partition plate and the bottom plate is an auxiliary device storage chamber in which auxiliary devices for operating the fuel cell module are stored. .

In such a fuel cell device, four struts are erected, these struts are connected to form a frame, and an exterior container is fixed to the frame (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2). ). And as for the support | pillar, in order to perform exterior container fixation easily, generally the integral thing extended over the full length direction in the exterior container is used.
JP 2001-185180 A JP 2003-297409 A

  However, in such a fuel cell device, for example, the fuel cell module part is the heaviest part. However, since such a heavy fuel cell module must be fixed to the column, for example, between the pair of columns There is a problem that it is necessary to hang a support member over and to fix the fuel cell module to the support member, and there remains a concern about fixing the fuel cell module. In particular, solid oxide fuel cells are heavy because most of the constituent materials are made of inorganic materials such as ceramics. For example, a 1 kW class fuel cell module is very heavy at 40 kg. It was requested to do.

  An object of this invention is to provide the fuel cell apparatus which can support and fix a fuel cell module reliably.

  In the fuel cell device of the present invention, at least the interior of the outer container composed of the top plate and the side plate is partitioned vertically by a partition member to form two spaces, and the upper space in the outer container is the fuel cell module. A fuel cell module storage chamber is stored, and a lower space in the outer container is an auxiliary device storage chamber in which an auxiliary device for operating the fuel cell module is stored, and the fuel cell module is the partition member The auxiliary device storage chamber is provided with a lower support column to which a side plate of the outer container is fixed, and the partition member is supported and fixed to the lower support column. It is characterized by.

  In such a fuel cell device, a heavy fuel cell module can be supported and fixed by the lower support column, and the fuel cell module can be stably and reliably supported and fixed. Further, in the conventional fuel cell device in which one strut continuous from the fuel cell module storage chamber to the auxiliary device storage chamber is provided in the outer container, it is difficult to fix the fuel cell module to the strut, When storing the auxiliary equipment in the lower part between the columns, the upper fuel cell module cannot be assembled. On the other hand, when the fuel cell module is installed on the upper part, the auxiliary equipment cannot be stored in the lower part. The workability is bad. In the present invention, the step of providing the fuel cell module on the partition member and the step of storing and installing the auxiliary device in the auxiliary device storage chamber are performed in parallel, and finally, the partition member provided with the fuel cell module is placed on the lower column. The fuel cell device can be easily and efficiently assembled by fixing the side plate of the outer container to the lower support column.

  The fuel cell device of the present invention is characterized in that the partition member is placed on the lower support column. In such a fuel cell device, since the partition member provided with the fuel cell module is placed on the lower support column, the fuel cell module can be easily and reliably supported and fixed to the lower support column.

  Furthermore, the fuel cell device of the present invention is characterized in that the fuel cell module housing chamber is provided with an upper column to which the side plate of the outer container is fixed. In such a fuel cell device, the upper portion of the outer container can be fixed by the upper support column.

  In the fuel cell device of the present invention, the lower portion of the upper support column is connected to the upper portion of the lower support column. In such a fuel cell device, the lower support column and the upper support column are connected to form a single support column, so that the outer container can be reliably supported and fixed.

  In the fuel cell device of the present invention, the fuel cell module can be used particularly effectively when a solid oxide fuel cell is used. Since the solid oxide fuel cell is mainly made of a ceramic material and has a large weight, the present invention can be used effectively.

  In the fuel cell device of the present invention, a heavy fuel cell module can be supported and fixed by the lower support column, and the fuel cell module can be stably and reliably supported and fixed. In the fuel cell device of the present invention, the step of providing the fuel cell module on the partition member and the step of storing and installing the auxiliary device in the auxiliary device storage chamber are performed in parallel, and finally the fuel cell module is provided. By fixing the partition member to the lower support column and fixing the side plate of the outer container to the lower support column, the fuel cell device can be easily and efficiently assembled.

  FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a configuration diagram of a fuel cell system. The fuel cell system illustrated in FIG. 1 includes a power generation unit, a hot water storage unit that stores hot water that is heat-exchanged between exhaust gas and water of the fuel cell, It consists of circulation piping for water to circulate between each unit.

  In FIG. 1, the power generation unit includes an air supply means 103 for supplying an oxygen-containing gas (air), a raw fuel and water supply means X (a water supply pipe 105, a water supply valve 106, A reformer 104 that performs steam reforming with water (including steam) supplied from an activated carbon filter device 107, an RO membrane device 108, an ion exchange resin device 109, a water tank 110, and a water pump 111). The fuel cell 101 is supplied with air and fuel reformed by the reformer 104 (reformed gas or the like), and the fuel cell 101 generates power.

  The exhaust gas generated by the power generation of the fuel cell 101 is used to increase or maintain the temperature of the fuel cell 101 in order to effectively use the heat of the exhaust gas, and then circulates (circulates) through the heat exchanger 113. After heat exchange with water, it is exhausted. The heat-exchanged water (hot water) is circulated through the circulation pipe 117 and stored in the hot water storage tank 118.

  Here, the circulation pipe 117 is provided with a temperature sensor 115 for measuring the temperature after heat exchange and a circulation pump 116 for circulating water, and these are controlled by the control device 114. The electric power generated by the fuel cell 101 is converted into AC power by the power conditioner 112 and then supplied to an external load.

  In FIG. 1, a broken line indicates a main signal transmitted to the control device 114 or a main signal transmitted from the control device 114, and an arrow indicates a flow direction of oxygen-containing gas, fuel, water, exhaust gas, or the like. Is shown.

  Here, each member constituting the power generation unit is housed in an outer container to constitute a fuel cell device. Hereinafter, the fuel cell device of the present invention will be described.

  FIG. 2 is a schematic view schematically showing the fuel cell device of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view thereof. In FIG. 3, some members are omitted. In the following drawings, the same number is assigned to the same member.

  In FIG. 2, the fuel cell apparatus includes a fuel cell module storage chamber 4 (hereinafter referred to as a module) in which a fuel cell module 3 (hereinafter abbreviated as a module) in which a plurality of fuel cells are accommodated is disposed in an outer container 2. And an auxiliary device storage chamber 6 in which auxiliary devices 12 such as a blower (blower) which is a means for supplying air (oxygen-containing gas) to the module 3 are arranged below the storage chamber. 4 and the auxiliary device storage chamber 6 are partitioned vertically by a partition plate (partition member) 7 disposed in the exterior container 2. The exterior container 2 includes a top plate 2a, a side plate 2b, and a bottom plate 2c, and has a rectangular parallelepiped shape.

  The auxiliary device 12 is for operating the fuel cell module. For example, the air supply means 103, the raw fuel supply means 102, the water supply means X (the water supply pipe 105, the water supply valve 106, the activated carbon filter device 107). , RO membrane device 108, ion exchange resin device 109, water tank 110, water pump 111) and the like.

  In addition, the partition plate 7 should just partition the module storage chamber 4 and the auxiliary device storage chamber 6, and the partition plate 7 may have a hole.

  Further, in FIG. 2, hollow struts 8 are provided in the height direction of the outer container 2 in order to increase the strength of the outer container 2. The support column 8 includes a lower support column 8a and an upper support column 8b. As shown in FIG. 3, a total of four support columns 8 are provided at each corner of the exterior container 2. 3 shows an example in which a total of four support columns 8 are provided at each corner of the exterior container 2, the number can be appropriately increased or decreased according to the size, weight, etc. of the exterior container 2.

  The lower support column 8a is provided in the auxiliary device storage chamber 6. The side plate 2b and the bottom plate 2c of the exterior container 2 in the auxiliary device storage chamber 6 are fixed to the side surface of the lower support column 8a. The partition plate 7 to which the fuel cell module 3 is fixed is placed and supported and fixed.

  The upper column 8b is provided in the module storage chamber 4. The side plate 2b and the top plate 2a of the outer container 2 in the module storage chamber 4 are fixed to the side surface of the upper column 8b, and the lower end of the upper column 8b is The lower support column 8a is fixed to the upper end portion.

  That is, as shown in FIG.4 (c), the upper end part of the lower side support | pillar 8a is diameter-reduced and protrudes from the partition plate 7, This protrusion part 8a1 is inserted in the lower end part 8b1 of the upper support | pillar 8b, In this state, the protruding portion 8a1 of the lower support column 8a and the lower end portion 8b1 of the upper support column 8b are fixed with a bolt or the like, whereby the lower portion 8b1 of the upper support column 8b is connected to the protruding portion 8a1 of the lower support column 8a. .

  At the four corners of the partition plate 7, holes 7a into which the protrusions 8a1 of the lower support column 8a can be inserted are formed. The protrusions 8a1 are inserted through the holes 7a of the partition plate 7, and the support plate 7 is inserted into the shoulders. The partition plate 7 is placed on the lower support column 8a, and the partition plate 7 is supported and fixed to the lower support column 8a.

  As shown in FIG. 5, such a fuel cell device performs the process of fixing the module 3 to the partition plate 7 and the process of storing and installing the auxiliary device in the auxiliary device storage chamber 6 in parallel. Further, the partition plate 7 to which the module 3 is fixed can be supported and fixed to the lower support column 8a, and the side plate 2b of the outer container 2 can be fixed to the lower support column 8a.

  That is, first, a portion constituting the auxiliary device storage chamber 6 and a portion constituting the module storage chamber 4 are separately manufactured. The portion constituting the auxiliary device storage chamber 6 can be manufactured by setting auxiliary devices such as various water pumps and blowers on the bottom plate 2c fixed to the lower support column 8a. On the other hand, the part which comprises the module storage chamber 4 can be produced by mounting the module 3 in the partition plate 7, and fixing it. And as shown in FIG. 5, the part which comprises the module storage chamber 4 on the part which comprises the auxiliary device storage chamber 6 so that the protrusion part 8a1 of the lower side support | pillar 8a may penetrate the hole 7a of the partition plate 7. As shown in FIG. Place. Thereafter, the lower end portion 8b1 of the upper support column 8b is fitted into the protruding portion 8a1 of the lower support column 8a and fixed with a bolt or the like. Thereafter, by fixing the top plate 2a and the side plate 2b of the outer container 2 to the side surfaces of the upper column 8b and the lower column 8a, the fuel cell device can be easily and efficiently manufactured.

  In the fuel cell device configured as described above, the heavy module 3 can be supported and fixed by the lower support column 8a, and the fuel cell module 3 can be fixed stably and reliably. In particular, since the solid oxide fuel cell is mainly made of a ceramic material and has a large weight, the present invention can be used effectively. In particular, since the partition plate 7 to which the module 3 is fixed is placed on the shoulder of the lower support column 8a, the module 3 can be easily and reliably supported and fixed to the lower support column 8a.

  In the present invention, as described above, the step of providing the module 3 on the partition plate 7 and the step of storing the auxiliary device 12 in the auxiliary device storage chamber 6 are performed in parallel, and finally the module 3 is fixed. The fuel cell device can be easily and efficiently assembled by supporting and fixing the partition plate 7 to the lower support column 8a and fixing the side plate 2b of the outer casing 2 to the lower support column 8a.

  Furthermore, in the present invention, the lower portion of the upper support column 8b is connected to the protruding portion of the lower support column 8a and is a single support column, so that the outer container 2 can be supported and fixed reliably.

  In the above embodiment, the fuel cell device having the upper support column 8b has been described. However, in the present invention, as shown in FIG. 6, the module 3 can be easily attached to the lower support column 8a even when the upper support column is not used. And can be securely supported and fixed.

  Further, a moving means comprising, for example, a concave rail provided on the lower support column 8a and a convex rail provided on the partition plate 7 is provided, and the partition plate 7 to which the heavy module 3 is fixed is lowered. The fuel cell device can be assembled by moving along a rail provided on the side support column 8a, which further facilitates the assembly of the fuel cell device.

  Further, in the above embodiment, the embodiment has been described in which the partition plate 7 is used as a partition member, and the module 3 is fixed to one partition plate 7. However, in the present invention, the partition member is configured by a plate-like member having an opening. The partition member may be constituted by a plurality of members, and the module may be provided on the partition member via a support member such as L-shaped steel that supports the module.

It is a block diagram which shows an example of the fuel cell system comprised from a power generation unit, a hot water storage unit, and circulation piping. It is the schematic which shows an example of the fuel cell apparatus of this invention. It is a disassembled perspective view of the fuel cell apparatus of this invention shown in FIG. (A) is sectional drawing which follows the AA line of FIG. 2, (b) is sectional drawing which follows the BB line of FIG. 2, (c) is sectional drawing of the connection part of an upper column and a lower column. . It is an assembly process figure of the fuel cell device of the present invention. It is the schematic which shows the fuel cell apparatus of the form which does not comprise an upper support | pillar.

Explanation of symbols

2: Exterior container 2a: Top plate 2b: Side plate 2c: Bottom plate 3: Fuel cell module 4: Fuel cell module storage chamber 6: Auxiliary device storage chamber 7: Partition plate (partition member)
8: Column 8a: Lower column 8b: Upper column 12: Auxiliary device

Claims (4)

A fuel cell module storage chamber in which at least the interior of the outer container composed of at least a top plate and a side plate is partitioned vertically by a partition member to form two spaces, and the upper space in the outer container is stored in the fuel cell module And a lower space in the outer container is an auxiliary device storage chamber in which an auxiliary device for operating the fuel cell module is stored, and the fuel cell module is provided in the partition member The auxiliary device storage chamber is provided with a lower support column to which a side plate of the outer container is fixed, and the partition member is supported and fixed to the lower support column. Battery device. The fuel cell device according to claim 1, wherein the partition member is placed on the lower support column. 3. The fuel cell device according to claim 1, wherein an upper support column is provided in the fuel cell module storage chamber, and a side plate of the outer container is fixed to the upper support column. The fuel cell device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a lower portion of the upper support column is connected to an upper portion of the lower support column.

Images