JP2008258017A - Control device for fuel cell - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a control device for a fuel cell capable of surely preventing the generation of clogging caused by liquid drops or the like. <P>SOLUTION: In a fuel cell system 1, a valve device 50 of the control device 5 for the fuel cell opens all of two or more first individual passages 33A-33F for a cathode to supply air (gas) to each of cells 10A-10F in a normal mode, and opens only one out of two or more first individual passages 33A-33F and closes other ones of first individual passages 33A-33F in a malfunction countermeasure mode. Therefore, in the malfunction countermeasure mode, air is supplied to only one out of the first individual passages 33A-33F from an air pump 30. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a fuel cell control device for switching an open state of a plurality of individual gas flow paths connected to each cell with respect to a pole communicating with a gas supply source in a fuel cell having a plurality of electromotive cells. Is. More specifically, the present invention relates to a technique related to elimination or prevention of problems caused by clogging in individual gas flow paths.

  A fuel cell has an anode electrode supplied with a fuel fluid containing hydrogen (such as an aqueous methanol solution or hydrogen gas) and a cathode electrode supplied with a reactant fluid containing oxygen (eg air) by a partition wall as an electrolyte. There are provided cells for electromotive partitioning, and a plurality of these cells are used in a stacked state with separators interposed therebetween. Here, the fuel fluid and the reactant fluid are often supplied to each cell from a common supply source. For example, for the cathode electrode, a common gas flow path extends from a common air pump, and a plurality of individual gas flow paths are branched and connected to each cell at an intermediate position.

In the fuel cell configured as described above, for example, in the cathode electrode of a polymer electrolyte fuel cell (PEFC / Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cell),
(3/2) O ₂ + 6H ⁺ + 6e ⁻ → 3H ₂ O
Water is produced and the water is supposed to diverge as water vapor.

  However, when the operation is completed or intermittent operation is performed, water vapor may be condensed and droplets may be generated, and the cathode electrode or the gas flow path extending from the cathode electrode may be clogged with droplets. In such a situation, unless droplets are discharged, air is not supplied to the cathode electrode of the clogged cell, resulting in a decrease in power generation capacity. Further, in a cell having a reduced power generation capacity, heat generation due to an oxidation reaction is reduced, and the temperature of the cell is lowered, so that condensation of water vapor further proceeds.

Therefore, it has been proposed that when clogging with droplets occurs, the number of revolutions of the air pump is increased and the droplets are discharged by air (see Patent Document 1).
JP 2005-44737 A

  However, in the method of Patent Document 1, even if the clogging with droplets occurs and the air flow rate is increased to increase the air flow rate, the air is supplied not only to the clogged cell but also to a normal cell. Therefore, there is a problem that the pressure cannot be increased and clogging cannot be eliminated. That is, even if the overall flow rate is increased, air flows only to a normal cell that has no clogging due to droplets and has low resistance in the pipeline, and air that has increased resistance in the pipeline due to clogging. There is almost no pressure.

  In view of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a fuel cell control device that can reliably eliminate or prevent the occurrence of clogging due to droplets or the like.

  In order to solve the above problems, an anode electrode supplied with a fuel fluid containing hydrogen, a cathode electrode supplied with a reactant fluid containing oxygen, and a partition partitioning the cathode electrode and the anode electrode A fuel cell comprising a plurality of provided cells, wherein the fuel cell switches a ventilation condition of a plurality of individual gas passages connected to each of the anode electrode or the cathode electrode connected to a gas supply source. And a normal mode in which all of the plurality of individual gas channels are opened, and only a part of the plurality of individual gas channels is opened, and the other gas channels are closed. It is characterized by including a valve device that switches to a failure countermeasure mode to be in a state.

  In the present invention, in the normal mode, all of the plurality of individual gas flow paths are opened and gas is supplied to each cell, while in the trouble countermeasure mode, only a part of the plurality of individual gas flow paths is opened. In order to make the other gas flow paths closed, gas is supplied only to some of the individual gas flow paths in the trouble countermeasure mode. For this reason, in the trouble countermeasure mode, when a gas is supplied from a gas supply source, a high-pressure gas can be supplied to some individual gas flow paths. Even when clogging occurs, such clogging can be eliminated.

  In the present invention, in the trouble countermeasure mode, it is preferable that only one individual gas channel is opened in the plurality of individual gas channels. With this configuration, since the high-pressure gas can be supplied to one individual gas flow path in the failure countermeasure mode, even when a clogging caused by droplets or the like occurs in a cell connected thereto, the clogging is surely performed. Can be resolved.

  In the present invention, any one of the anode electrode and the cathode electrode is a water generation electrode in which water is generated by a binding reaction between the hydrogen and the oxygen, and the plurality of individual gas flow paths include the plurality of individual gas flow paths. A configuration in which the cell is connected to the hydrogen generation electrode of the cell can be employed.

  In the present invention, the plurality of individual gas flow paths may be configured to be connected to the plurality of cells on the upstream side in the gas supply direction and / or to be connected to the downstream side, respectively. Can do. However, the gas supply path is always formed on the upstream side of the plurality of cells, whereas the downstream side of the cathode electrode may be opened. Therefore, it is preferable to employ a configuration in which the plurality of individual gas flow paths are respectively connected to the upstream side in the gas supply direction with respect to the plurality of cells.

  In the present invention, the valve device may employ a configuration in which the plurality of individual gas flow paths are sequentially opened and closed in the failure countermeasure mode. With this configuration, the clogging can be eliminated without specifying which one has clogged. Further, if the trouble countermeasure mode is periodically performed, clogging can be prevented.

  In the present invention, in the failure countermeasure mode, the valve device may open only the gas flow path in which the clogging due to the droplets is generated among the plurality of individual gas flow paths. In this case, for example, an electromotive force monitoring device that monitors the electromotive force for each of the plurality of cells is provided, and the valve device generates an electromotive force in a monitoring result of the electromotive force monitoring device among the plurality of individual gas flow paths. It is possible to adopt a configuration in which only the individual gas flow paths corresponding to the cells with reduced open are opened. In addition, a pipe internal resistance monitoring device that monitors the pipe internal resistance of each of the plurality of gas flow paths is provided, and the valve device includes the pipe internal resistance monitoring apparatus among the plurality of individual gas flow paths. In the monitoring result, a configuration may be adopted in which only the individual gas flow channel whose resistance in the pipe line is increased is opened.

  In the present invention, the valve device includes a flow path component member formed with a plurality of individual openings communicating with each of the plurality of individual gas flow paths, a selector member, the flow path component member, and the selector member. A drive device that switches a relative position of the selector member with respect to the flow path component member while sliding the plurality of individual openings on the sliding surface of the flow path component member with the selector member. The normal mode opening is arranged at a position where it can communicate with all of the plurality of individual openings on the sliding surface of the selector member with the flow path component member, which is arranged in a direction intersecting the driving direction of the selector member. In addition, the position of the selector member is shifted from the normal mode opening in the driving direction of the selector member and communicates with each of the plurality of individual openings at different timings. It is preferred that the openings for the number of defect countermeasure mode are formed. If comprised in this way, an open state and a closed state are realizable with a simple structure.

  In the present invention, the selector member is a cylindrical body in which the normal mode opening and the plurality of failure countermeasure mode openings are open on an outer peripheral surface, and the flow path component member includes an outer peripheral surface of the selector member. It is a cylinder provided with the inner peripheral surface which slides, Comprising: It is preferable that these individual opening part is opening by the inner peripheral surface of the said cylinder. If comprised in this way, since an open state and a closed state can be implement | achieved only by a selector member rotating only inside a flow-path structural member, size reduction of a valve apparatus can be achieved.

  In the control apparatus for a fuel cell according to the present invention, in the normal mode, all of the plurality of individual gas flow paths are opened and gas is supplied to each cell. Since only a part of the gas channel is opened and the other gas channels are closed, gas is supplied only to a part of the individual gas channels in the trouble countermeasure mode. For this reason, in the trouble countermeasure mode, when a gas is supplied from a gas supply source, a high-pressure gas can be supplied to some individual gas flow paths. Even when clogging occurs, such clogging can be eliminated.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[Embodiment 1]
An example in which the present invention is applied to, for example, a polymer electrolyte fuel cell (PEFC) will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 (a), (b), and (c). 1 (a), (b), and (c) are block diagrams showing the configuration of the fuel cell system according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, respectively, and the ventilation state of the gas channel in the normal mode in this fuel cell system It is explanatory drawing which shows, and explanatory drawing which shows the ventilation | gas_flowing state of the gas flow path in malfunction countermeasure mode.

  As shown in FIG. 1 (a), a fuel cell system 1 includes an anode electrode 12 supplied with a fuel fluid containing hydrogen (such as an aqueous methanol solution or hydrogen gas), and a reactant fluid containing oxygen (such as air). Is provided with a plurality of electromotive cells 10A to 10F partitioned by a partition wall 11 as an electrolyte, and a plurality of these cells 10A to 10F are stacked with a separator interposed therebetween. It is used.

The fuel cell configured as described above includes a type called a direct methanol fuel cell. In this case, a methanol aqueous solution is used as a fuel, and no reforming process for obtaining hydrogen is performed. Therefore, at the anode electrode 12, the following reaction CH ₃ OH + H ₂ O → CO ₂ + 6H ⁺ + 6e ⁻
On the other hand, at the cathode 13, the following reaction 3 / 2O ₂ + 6H ⁺ + 6e ⁻ → 3H ₂ O
Occurs and produces water. The water generated at the cathode 13 in this way is discharged as water vapor.

  Here, the fuel fluid and the reactant fluid are respectively supplied to the cells 10A to 10F from a common supply source. That is, on the upstream side with respect to the cathode electrode 13, the first cathode common flow path 32 extends from the common air pump 30, and a plurality of first cathode individual flow paths 33 </ b> A to 33 </ b> F are located at intermediate positions. Is branched and connected to each of the plurality of cells 10A to 10F. In this embodiment, on the downstream side of the cathode electrode 13, a plurality of second cathode individual channels 34A to 34F extend from the plurality of cells 10A to 10F, respectively, and a plurality of second cathode individual channels 34A. ˜34F are joined together and connected to the second cathode common flow path 35. The second cathode individual flow paths 34A to 34F and the second cathode common flow path 35 may not be provided, and the downstream side of the cathode electrode 13 may be open.

  On the upstream side of the anode electrode 12, a first anode common flow path 22 extends from the fuel supply device 20 for supplying a methanol aqueous solution adjusted to a predetermined concentration, and a plurality of One individual anode flow path 23A to 23F is branched and connected to each of the plurality of cells 10A to 10F. In this embodiment, on the downstream side of the anode electrode 12, a plurality of second anode individual channels 24A to 24F extend from the plurality of cells 10A to 10F, respectively, and a plurality of second anode individual channels 24A. ˜24F are joined together and connected to the second common anode flow path 25. The second anode individual channels 24A to 24F and the second anode common channel 25 may not be provided, and the downstream side of the anode electrode 12 may be open.

  In the fuel cell system 1 configured as described above, the first cathode common channel 32 and the second cathode common channel 35 are each a common gas channel through which air and water vapor pass. The cathode individual gas channel and the second cathode individual gas channel are respectively individual gas channels through which air and water vapor pass. However, when the operation is completed or intermittent operation is performed, in the cathode electrode 13 or the second individual cathode flow channels 34A to 34F, water vapor may be condensed to generate droplets, which may clog the flow channel. is there.

  Therefore, in this embodiment, on the upstream side of the cathode electrode 13, the branch position from the first cathode common channel 32 to the plurality of first cathode individual channels 33A to 33F is shown in FIG. In the normal mode shown, all of the plurality of first cathode individual channels 33A to 33F are opened, and in the trouble countermeasure mode shown in FIG. 1C, the plurality of first cathode individual channels 33A to 33F. The fuel cell control device 5 includes a valve device 50 that opens only one of them and closes the other first cathode individual flow paths 33A to 33F.

  In the fuel cell control device 5 of the present embodiment, the valve device 50 sequentially opens and closes the plurality of first cathode individual flow paths 33A to 33F in the failure countermeasure mode shown in FIG. Further, the defect countermeasure mode is performed at a predetermined timing. In FIG. 1C, among the plurality of first cathode individual channels 33A to 33F, only one first cathode individual channel 33A is opened, and the other first cathode channel is opened. Although the individual flow paths 33B to 33F are in a closed state, the cathode individual flow paths that are in the closed state are sequentially shifted.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, in the normal mode, all of the plurality of first cathode individual flow paths 33A to 33F are opened and air (gas) is supplied to the cells 10A to 10F. In the trouble countermeasure mode, only one of the plurality of first cathode individual flow paths 33A to 33F is opened, and the other first cathode individual flow paths are closed. For this reason, in the trouble countermeasure mode, the gas is supplied from the air pump 30 only to one first individual cathode flow channel. Accordingly, in the trouble countermeasure mode, gas (air) can be supplied to one of the first individual cathode flow channels at a high pressure, so that the cathode electrode 13 of the cells 10A to 10F connected thereto or the second Even when clogging due to droplets occurs in the individual cathode flow paths 34A to 34F, such clogging can be reliably eliminated. Further, if the trouble countermeasure mode is performed at a predetermined timing, clogging caused by droplets can be prevented.

[Variation 1 of Embodiment 1]
In the first embodiment, the valve device 50 of the fuel cell control device 5 is configured as the first cathode individual flow paths 33A to 33F. However, as shown in FIG. You may arrange | position at the confluence | merging point of the flow paths 34A-34F and the 2nd common flow path 35 for cathodes. Also in this case, in the normal mode shown in FIG. 2B, all of the plurality of second cathode individual flow paths 34A to 34F are opened, and in the failure countermeasure mode shown in FIG. Only one of the two cathode individual channels 34A to 34F is opened, and the other second cathode individual channel is closed. In the failure countermeasure mode shown in FIG. 2C, the plurality of first cathode individual flow paths 33A to 33F are sequentially opened and closed.

  Even in such a configuration, in the trouble countermeasure mode, gas (air) can be supplied to one of the first individual cathode flow channels at a high pressure, so that the cathodes of the cells 10A to 10F connected thereto can be provided. Even when clogging due to droplets occurs in the pole 13 or the second cathode individual flow paths 34A to 34F, the same effects as those of the first embodiment can be obtained, such as the clogging being reliably eliminated.

[Modification 2 of Embodiment 1]
The above embodiment employs a configuration in which the plurality of first cathode individual flow paths 33A to 33F are sequentially opened and closed in the failure countermeasure mode shown in FIG. Of the first cathode individual flow paths 33A to 33F, only the flow path that is clogged with the liquid droplets may be opened. For example, an electromotive force monitoring device that monitors electromotive force is provided for each of the plurality of cells 10A to 10F, and the valve device 50 monitors the electromotive force monitoring device among the plurality of first cathode individual flow paths 33A to 33F. You may employ | adopt the structure which opens only the 1st individual flow path for cathodes corresponding to the cell 10A-10F in which the electromotive force fell in the result. In addition, an in-pipe resistance monitor for monitoring the in-pipe resistance is provided for each of the plurality of first cathode individual channels 33A to 33F, and the valve device 50 includes a plurality of first cathode individual channels. Of 33A to 33F, a configuration may be adopted in which only the first cathode individual flow channel whose resistance in the pipeline has increased in the monitoring result of the pipeline resistance monitoring device is closed. Such a configuration may be applied to the failure countermeasure mode shown in FIG.

[Embodiment 2]
An example in which the present invention is applied to, for example, a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC / Solid Oxide Fuel Cell) will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 (a), 3 (b), and 3 (c). FIGS. 3A, 3B, and 3C are block diagrams showing the configuration of the fuel cell system 1 according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention, respectively, and ventilation of the gas channel in the normal mode in the fuel cell system 1 It is explanatory drawing which shows a state, and explanatory drawing which shows the ventilation state of the gas flow path in malfunction countermeasure mode.

  As shown in FIG. 3 (a), the fuel cell system 1 of the present embodiment also has an anode electrode 12 to which a fuel fluid containing hydrogen (such as an aqueous methanol solution or hydrogen gas) is supplied, and oxygen as in the first embodiment. Are provided with a plurality of electromotive cells 10A to 10F that are partitioned by a partition wall 11 serving as an electrolyte. It is used in a state where a plurality of layers are stacked via separators.

In the fuel cell configured as described above, for example, when hydrogen gas obtained by reforming methane gas contained in city gas is used as the fuel, the following reaction 2H ₂ + 2O ²⁻ → 2H ₂ is performed at the anode electrode 12. O + 4e ^-
Is generated and water is generated, while the following reaction O ₂ + 4e ⁻ → 2O ²⁻ is generated at the cathode 13.
Happens. The water generated at the anode 12 in this way is discharged as water vapor.

  Here, the fuel fluid and the reactant fluid are respectively supplied to the cells 10A to 10F from a common supply source. That is, on the upstream side with respect to the cathode electrode 13, the first cathode common flow path 32 extends from the common air pump 30, and a plurality of first cathode individual flow paths 33 </ b> A to 33 </ b> F are located at intermediate positions. Is branched and connected to each of the plurality of cells 10A to 10F. In this embodiment, on the downstream side of the cathode electrode 13, a plurality of second cathode individual channels 34A to 34F extend from the plurality of cells 10A to 10F, respectively, and a plurality of second cathode individual channels 34A. ˜34F are joined together and connected to the second cathode common flow path 35. The second cathode individual flow paths 34A to 34F and the second cathode common flow path 35 may not be provided, and the downstream side of the cathode electrode 13 may be open.

  Further, on the upstream side with respect to the anode electrode 12, the first anode common flow path 22 extends from the fuel supply device 20, and a plurality of first anode individual flow paths 23 </ b> A to 23 </ b> F are provided at intermediate positions. It branches and is connected to each of several cell 10A-10F. In this embodiment, downstream of the anode electrode 12, a plurality of first gas cells 10A to 10F pass through a plurality of hydrogen gases that have not undergone water generation reaction due to the combination of water vapor and oxygen at the anode electrode 12. The two individual anode flow paths 24A to 24F extend, and the plurality of second individual anode flow paths 24A to 24F merge to be connected to the second common anode flow path 25. A device for burning hydrogen gas that has not been reacted may be provided on the downstream side of the anode 12.

  In the fuel cell system 1 configured as described above, the first cathode common channel 32 and the second cathode common channel 35 are each a common gas channel through which air passes, while the first cathode The individual gas flow paths 33A to 33F for use and the individual gas flow paths 34A to 34F for the second cathode are respectively individual gas flow paths through which air passes. Therefore, when the operation is completed or intermittent operation is performed, the cathode 13 or the second cathode individual flow paths 34A to 34F prevent water vapor contained in the air from condensing and the flow paths from being clogged with droplets. For this purpose, a fuel cell control device 5 similar to that of the first embodiment can be configured.

  In this embodiment, the first anode common flow path 22 and the second anode common flow path 25 are each a common gas flow path through which hydrogen as fuel, unreacted hydrogen, water vapor, and the like pass. The first anode individual flow paths 23A to 23F and the second anode individual flow paths 24A to 24F are also common gas flow paths through which hydrogen as fuel, unreacted hydrogen, water vapor, and the like pass. Further, when the operation is completed or intermittent operation is performed, water vapor generated at the anode electrode 12 may condense and liquid droplets may be generated. The liquid droplets on the anode side (the anode electrode 12 or the second electrode) are generated by the liquid droplets. The individual anode flow paths 24A-24F) may become clogged.

  Therefore, in this embodiment, on the upstream side of the anode electrode 12, the branch position from the first anode common flow path 22 to the plurality of first anode individual flow paths 23A to 23F is shown in FIG. In the normal mode shown, all of the plurality of first anode individual channels 23A to 23F are opened, and in the failure countermeasure mode shown in FIG. 3C, the plurality of first anode individual channels 23A to 23F. The fuel cell control device 5 includes a valve device 50 that opens only one of them and closes the other first anode individual flow path.

  In the fuel cell control device 5 of the present embodiment, the valve device 50 sequentially opens the plurality of first anode individual flow paths 23A to 23F in the failure countermeasure mode shown in FIG. In FIG. 3C, among the plurality of first anode individual channels 23A to 23F, only one first anode individual channel 23A is opened, and the other first anode channel is opened. Although the individual flow paths 23B to 23F are in a closed state, the anode individual flow paths that are in the closed state sequentially shift.

  As described above, in this embodiment, in the normal mode, all of the plurality of first anode individual flow paths 23A to 23F are opened, and hydrogen (gas) is supplied to the cells 10A to 10F. In the failure countermeasure mode, only one of the plurality of first anode individual flow paths 23A to 23F is opened, and the other first anode individual flow paths are closed. Therefore, in the trouble countermeasure mode, the gas is supplied from the fuel supply device 20 only to one first anode individual flow path. Accordingly, in the trouble countermeasure mode, high-pressure hydrogen can be supplied to one first anode individual flow path, so that the anode electrode 12 of each of the cells 10A to 10F connected thereto or the second anode individual flow path can be supplied. Even when clogging due to droplets occurs in the flow paths 24A to 24F, such clogging can be reliably eliminated. Further, if the trouble countermeasure mode is performed at a predetermined timing, clogging caused by droplets can be prevented.

[Modification 1 of Embodiment 2]
In the second embodiment, the valve device 50 of the fuel cell control device 5 is configured as the first individual anode flow passages 23A to 23F. However, as shown in FIG. You may arrange | position at the confluence | merging point of the flow paths 24A-24F and the 2nd common anode flow path 25. FIG. Also in this case, in the normal mode shown in FIG. 4B, all of the plurality of second anode individual flow paths 24A to 24F are opened, and in the failure countermeasure mode shown in FIG. Only one of the two anode individual flow paths 24A to 24F is opened, and the other second anode individual flow path is closed. In the failure countermeasure mode shown in FIG. 4C, the plurality of first anode individual flow paths 24A to 24F are sequentially closed.

  Even in such a configuration, in the trouble countermeasure mode, hydrogen (air) can be supplied to one of the second individual anode flow paths 24A to 24F at a high pressure, so that the cells 10A to 10A connected thereto can be supplied. Even when clogging due to droplets occurs in the anode electrode 12 of 10F or the second individual anode flow paths 24A to 24F, such clogging can be reliably eliminated, and the same effects as in the second embodiment Play.

[Modification 2 of Embodiment 2]
The above embodiment employs a configuration in which the plurality of first anode individual flow paths 23A to 23F are sequentially opened and closed in the failure countermeasure mode shown in FIG. Of the first individual flow paths for anodes 23A to 23F, only the flow path in which clogging with droplets has occurred may be opened. For example, an electromotive force monitoring device that monitors electromotive force is provided for each of the plurality of cells 10A to 10F, and the valve device 50 monitors the electromotive force monitoring device among the plurality of first anode individual flow paths 23A to 23F. In the result, a configuration may be adopted in which only the first individual anode flow paths 23A to 23F corresponding to the cells 10A to 10F in which the electromotive force is reduced are opened. In addition, an in-pipe resistance monitor for monitoring the in-pipe resistance is provided for each of the plurality of first anode individual channels 23A to 23F, and the valve device 50 includes a plurality of first anode individual channels. Of 23A to 23F, a configuration may be adopted in which only the first individual anode flow path whose pipe resistance is increased in the monitoring result of the pipe resistance monitoring apparatus is closed. Such a configuration may be applied to the failure countermeasure mode shown in FIG.

[Specific Configuration of Valve Device 50]
FIG. 5 is an explanatory view of the valve device 50 used in the fuel cell control device 5 of the present embodiment. FIGS. 5A to 5I are perspective views of the valve device 50 as viewed from the left side, and as viewed from the right side. They are a perspective view, a front view, a right side view, a left side view, an AA ′ sectional view, an explanatory view of a selector member, an exploded perspective view, and an exploded front view.

  In configuring the fuel cell control device 5 used in the first and second embodiments and the modifications thereof, the valve device 50 includes a plurality of individual gas flow paths (not shown) as shown in FIG. The flow path constituting member 52 formed with a plurality of individual openings 522 communicating with each of the above, the selector member 51, and the flow path constituting member of the selector member 51 while sliding the flow path constituting member 52 and the selector member 51. And a driving device (indicated by an arrow L) for switching the relative position to 52.

  In this embodiment, the selector member 51 is a cylindrical body in which a normal mode opening 511 and a plurality of failure countermeasure mode openings 512 are opened on the outer peripheral surface. In the selector member 51, the inner side is a common gas flow path 510, and the normal mode opening 511 and the plurality of failure countermeasure mode openings 512 communicate with the inner common gas flow path 510. Cover members 518 and 519 are attached to both ends of the selector member 51, and a shaft 514 passing through the central axis of the selector member 51 is held by the cover members 518 and 519. Both end portions of the shaft 514 protrude from the lid members 518 and 519, respectively. A plurality of ventilation holes are formed in the lid member 519.

  The selector member 51 includes a plate material processed into a substantially double cylindrical shape. A shaft 514 is fixed to the cylindrical portion 515 on the inner side, and a normal mode opening 511 is formed by a groove-shaped cut portion. Has been. In addition, a plurality of failure countermeasure mode openings 512 are formed in the outer cylindrical portion 516.

  The flow path constituting member 52 is a rectangular tube body having a wall surface that slides with the outer peripheral surface of the selector member 51, and a plurality of individual openings 522 are opened on the inner wall of the tube body. Of the both end portions of the flow path component 52, one end portion is a bottom portion from which the gas introduction port 525 protrudes, and a lid member 518 is fixed to the other end portion. The gas inlet 525 communicates with the common gas flow path 510 of the selector member 51. An end portion of the shaft 514 of the selector member 51 protrudes from the lid member 528, and a driving device is connected to the end portion of the shaft 514.

  On the inner wall of the flow path component 52 (sliding surface with the selector member 51), the plurality of individual openings 522 are arranged in a line in the axial direction orthogonal to the drive direction (circumferential direction) of the selector member 51. On the other hand, the normal mode opening 511 extends linearly in the axial direction perpendicular to the drive direction of the selector member 51 on the outer peripheral surface of the selector member 51 (sliding surface with the flow path component member 52). Opened as a groove. Further, on the outer peripheral surface of the selector member 51 (sliding surface with the flow path constituting member 52), there are a plurality of problems at a position shifted in the driving direction of the selector member 51 with respect to the opening position of the normal mode opening 511. Countermeasure mode openings 512 are diagonally formed in a line. Further, in the flow path constituting member 52, the plurality of individual openings 522 are respectively positioned on the trajectories of the plurality of failure countermeasure mode openings 512 when the selector member 51 rotates.

  In the valve device 50 configured as described above, the drive device includes a stepping motor or the like as a drive source, and the selector member 51 is driven to rotate around the shaft 514 inside the flow path constituting member 52 and at a predetermined position. Stop and hold.

  Accordingly, when the drive device rotates the selector member 51 so that the normal mode openings 511 overlap the plurality of individual openings 522 of the flow path component member 52 and holds the selector member 51 at the position, Each of the individual gas flow paths communicates with a common gas flow path 510 formed inside the selector member 51 via a plurality of individual openings 522 and a normal mode opening 511. On the other hand, the drive device rotates the selector member 51 so that any one of the plurality of individual openings 522 of the flow path component 52 overlaps the corresponding failure countermeasure mode opening 512. When the selector member 51 is held at that position, one of the plurality of individual gas flow paths is configured inside the selector member 51 via the corresponding individual opening 522 and failure countermeasure mode opening 512. The common gas flow path 510 communicated.

  Therefore, for example, the common gas channel 510 is used as the first cathode common channel 32 shown in FIG. 1A, and a plurality of first cathode individual channels 33A to 33F (a plurality of individual gas flows) are used. When each of the roads is communicated with a plurality of individual openings 522, the normal mode and the failure countermeasure mode described with reference to FIGS. 1B and 1C can be realized. Further, the common gas channel 510 is used as the second cathode common channel 35 shown in FIG. 2A, and a plurality of second cathode individual channels 24A to 24F (a plurality of individual gas channels) are used. When communicating with the plurality of individual openings 522, the normal mode and the failure countermeasure mode described with reference to FIGS. 2B and 2C can be realized. Further, the common gas flow path 510 is used as the first anode common flow path 22 shown in FIG. 3A, and a plurality of first anode individual flow paths 23A to 23F (a plurality of individual gas flow paths) are used. When communicating with the plurality of individual openings 522, the normal mode and the failure countermeasure mode described with reference to FIGS. 3B and 3C can be realized. Furthermore, the common gas channel 510 is used as the second anode common channel 25 shown in FIG. 4A, and a plurality of second anode individual channels 24A to 24F (a plurality of individual gas channels) are used. When communicating with a plurality of individual openings 522, the normal mode and the failure countermeasure mode described with reference to FIGS. 4B and 4C can be realized.

  Further, according to the valve device 50 of the present embodiment, since the open state and the closed state can be realized only by the relative rotation of the selector member 51 inside the flow path component member 52, the valve device 50 can be reduced in size. be able to.

[Other embodiments]
In the above embodiment, in the trouble countermeasure mode, a gas such as air or hydrogen supplied from the air pump 30 and the fuel supply device 20 is used for discharging the droplets, but in addition to the air pump 30 and the fuel supply device 20. Alternatively, gas may be supplied from a compression cylinder instead of the air pump 30 and the fuel supply device 20.

  Further, although the rotary valve device has been described with reference to FIG. 5, the flow path component member and the selector member may be configured to slide on a flat slide surface.

(A), (b), (c) is a block diagram showing the configuration of the fuel cell system according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, respectively, and an explanation showing the ventilation state of the gas channel in the normal mode in this fuel cell system It is explanatory drawing which shows the ventilation state of the gas flow path in a figure and malfunction countermeasure mode. (A), (b), (c) is a block diagram which shows the structure of the fuel cell system which concerns on the modification of Embodiment 1 of this invention, respectively, The ventilation state of the gas flow path of the normal mode in this fuel cell system FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a ventilation state of the gas flow path in the trouble countermeasure mode. (A), (b), (c) is a block diagram showing a configuration of a fuel cell system according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention, and an explanation showing a ventilation state of a gas channel in a normal mode in the fuel cell system It is explanatory drawing which shows the ventilation state of the gas flow path in a figure and malfunction countermeasure mode. (A), (b), (c) is a block diagram which shows the structure of the fuel cell system which concerns on the modification of Embodiment 2 of this invention, respectively, The ventilation state of the gas flow path of the normal mode in this fuel cell system FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a ventilation state of the gas flow path in the trouble countermeasure mode. It is explanatory drawing of the valve apparatus used for the control apparatus for fuel cells to which this invention is applied.

Explanation of symbols

1 .. Fuel cell systems 10A to 10F... Cell 11.. Bulkhead 12. Anode electrode 13. Cathode electrode 20 Fuel supply device 22 First anode common flow path 23A to 23F. Individual anode flow paths 24A to 24F, second individual anode flow paths 25, second anode common flow path 30, air pump (gas supply source)
32. First cathode common flow paths 33A to 33F. First cathode individual flow paths 34A to 34F. Second cathode individual flow paths 35. Second cathode common flow path 52.・ Flow path component 51 ・ ・ Selector member 511 ・ ・ Normal mode opening 512 ・ ・ Problem countermeasure mode opening 510 ・ ・ Common gas flow path 522 ・ ・ Individual opening 525 ・ ・ Gas inlet

Claims (10)

A fuel including a plurality of cells each including an anode electrode supplied with a fuel fluid containing hydrogen, a cathode electrode supplied with a reactant fluid containing oxygen, and a partition wall partitioning the cathode electrode and the anode electrode. In the battery, a control device for a fuel cell that switches a ventilation condition of a plurality of individual gas passages connected to each cell with respect to a pole communicating with a gas supply source among the anode electrode or the cathode electrode,
A normal mode in which all of the plurality of individual gas flow paths are in an open state, and a failure countermeasure mode in which only a part of the plurality of individual gas flow paths is in an open state and the other gas flow paths are in a closed state; A control device for a fuel cell comprising a valve device for switching between the two.   2. The fuel cell control device according to claim 1, wherein, in the failure countermeasure mode, only one individual gas channel is opened in the plurality of individual gas channels. Either one of the anode electrode and the cathode electrode is a water generation electrode in which water is generated by a binding reaction between the hydrogen and the oxygen,
3. The fuel cell control device according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of individual gas flow paths are respectively connected to the hydrogen generation electrodes of the plurality of cells. 4.   4. The fuel cell control according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of individual gas flow paths are connected to the plurality of cells on an upstream side in a gas supply direction. 5. apparatus.   5. The fuel cell control device according to claim 1, wherein the valve device sequentially opens and closes the plurality of individual gas flow paths in the failure countermeasure mode. 6.   5. The valve device according to claim 1, wherein, in the failure countermeasure mode, only the gas flow path in which the clogging due to the liquid droplet is generated is opened among the plurality of individual gas flow paths. The fuel cell control device according to one item. An electromotive force monitoring device for monitoring electromotive force for each of the plurality of cells;
The valve device opens only an individual gas flow path corresponding to a cell whose electromotive force has decreased in the monitoring result of the electromotive force monitoring device among the plurality of individual gas flow paths. 7. The fuel cell control device according to 6. A pipe resistance monitor for monitoring the pipe resistance for each of the plurality of gas flow paths;
The valve device is characterized in that, among the plurality of individual gas flow paths, only the individual gas flow path whose resistance in the pipe line has increased in the monitoring result of the pipe line resistance monitoring device is opened. 7. The fuel cell control device according to 6. The valve device is configured to slide a flow path component member having a plurality of individual openings communicating with each of the plurality of individual gas flow paths, a selector member, the flow path component member, and the selector member. A drive device for switching the relative position of the selector member with respect to the flow path component,
In the sliding surface of the flow path component with the selector member, the plurality of individual openings are arranged in a direction intersecting the driving direction of the selector member,
The sliding surface of the selector member with the flow path component member is formed with a normal mode opening at a position where it can communicate with all of the plurality of individual openings, and in the drive direction of the selector member. A plurality of failure countermeasure mode openings that can communicate with each of the plurality of individual openings at different timings are formed at positions shifted from the normal mode openings. Item 9. The fuel cell control device according to any one of Items 1 to 8. The selector member is a cylindrical body in which the normal mode opening and the plurality of failure countermeasure mode openings are opened on an outer peripheral surface;
The flow path component is a cylinder having an inner peripheral surface that slides with an outer peripheral surface of the selector member, and the plurality of individual openings are opened on the inner peripheral surface of the cylinder. The fuel cell control device according to claim 9, wherein the control device is a fuel cell control device.

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