JP2009081023A - Fuel cell electric power generation system and its operation method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To simplify elements constituting a fuel cell power generating system, and enable downsizing of the fuel cell power generating system. <P>SOLUTION: The fuel cell power generation system has a membrane electrode assembly 8 having an anode and a cathode mutually opposed pinching an electrode membrane 3, and an anode flow passage plate 30. In this anode flow passage plate 30, a gas recovery flow passage 32 in which a gas formed in the anode is recovered via a lyophobic porous body 10, and a fuel supply passage 31 to supply a liquid fuel to the anode are formed. Furthermore, it has an anode circulation system 54 in which the fuel is made to be circulated from the outlet side of the anode flow passage 30 to the inlet of it through the outside of the anode flow passage plate 30, and a fuel supply means which is constituted so as to supply the fuel by the reduced amount from the fuel tank 45 into the anode circulation system 54 when the liquid amount of the fuel circulated in the anode circulation system 54 is reduced. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a fuel cell power generation system that generates power by directly supplying liquid fuel to an electrode, and an operation method thereof.

  A direct fuel cell that supplies liquid fuel such as alcohol directly to the power generation unit does not require an auxiliary device such as a vaporizer or a reformer, and is expected to be used for a small power source of a portable device. As such a direct type fuel cell, an alcohol aqueous solution is directly supplied to the power generation unit to extract protons, and discharges such as water discharged from the power generation unit are placed in a mixing tank or the like disposed upstream of the power generation unit Circulating fuel cell power generation systems that are circulated and reused are known.

  In a direct methanol supply fuel cell (DMFC), power generation is performed in a cell stack (power generation unit) in which power generation cells including an anode, a cathode, and a membrane electrode assembly (MEA) are stacked. A mixed solution of water and methanol is sent to the anode via a liquid feed pump or the like, and the reaction shown in the formula (1) occurs to generate carbon dioxide. On the other hand, air is sent to the cathode via an air feed pump or the like, and the reaction shown in the formula (2) occurs to generate water.

_{CH 3 OH + H 2 O →} CO 2 + 6H + + 6e - ··· (1)
3/2 O ₂ + 6H ⁺ + 6e ⁻ → 3H ₂ O (2)
The mixed solution containing CO ₂ and water generated at the anode and unreacted methanol is discharged from the anode as a gas-liquid two-phase flow. The gas-liquid two-phase flow discharged from the anode is separated into gas and liquid by a gas-liquid separator or the like provided in the flow path on the outlet side of the anode. The separated liquid is circulated to a mixing tank or the like through a recovery channel, and the separated gas is released to the atmosphere.

  The fuel consumed in the anode power generation reaction shown in the formula (1) and the fuel consumed in the crossover from the anode to the cathode are generally forcibly supplied from the fuel tank to the anode circulation system by a pump or the like. Yes. In this case, in order to forcibly supply the fuel, a fuel supply pump or the like is required, and the number of parts increases, resulting in an increase in cost and further difficulty in downsizing.

As a technique for downsizing a direct fuel cell, for example, as disclosed in Patent Document 1, a separator in which a diffusion layer of an anode electrode, a fuel supply channel and a product gas discharge channel adjacent to each other exist A technique of interposing a porous film between the two is known.
JP 2006-49115 A

  However, in the above-described example, in order to forcibly supply only the amount of liquid fuel consumed by the anode power generation reaction and crossover with high accuracy, a forced supply means such as a pump is used as described above. You may need it. Furthermore, in addition to the fuel supply pump, a power source such as a pump, a sensor for supplying fuel, and a circuit for controlling the same are required, which makes it difficult to reduce the cost and size of the fuel cell power generation system. There is.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to simplify elements constituting the fuel cell power generation system and to reduce the size of the fuel cell power generation system.

  To achieve the above object, a fuel cell power generation system according to the present invention comprises a membrane electrode assembly having an anode and a cathode facing each other with an electrolyte membrane interposed therebetween, a gas recovery flow path for recovering a gas generated at the anode, and An anode channel plate having a fuel supply channel for supplying liquid fuel to the anode, and the liquid passing through the outside of the anode channel plate with respect to the membrane electrode assembly filled with the liquid fuel. An anode circulation system for forcibly circulating fuel from the outlet side to the inlet side of the anode flow path plate, a fuel tank for storing the liquid fuel to be supplied to the anode circulation system, and the anode circulation system and the fuel tank are connected to each other. It has piping, The pressure loss provision means provided between the said fuel tank of the said piping, and the said anode circulation system, It is characterized by the above-mentioned.

  The fuel cell power generation system operating method according to the present invention includes a membrane electrode assembly having an anode and a cathode facing each other across an electrolyte membrane, a gas recovery flow path for recovering a gas generated at the anode, and An anode flow path plate having a fuel supply flow path for supplying liquid fuel to the anode, and the liquid fuel passing through the outside of the anode flow path plate with respect to the membrane electrode assembly filled with the liquid fuel. An anode circulation system that forcibly circulates fuel from the outlet side to the inlet side of the anode flow path plate, a fuel tank that stores the liquid fuel supplied to the anode circulation system, and a pipe that connects the anode circulation system and the fuel tank And a pressure loss applying means provided between the fuel tank of the piping and the anode circulation system. A fuel filling step of filling and circulating the liquid fuel in the anode circulation system, and supplying the liquid fuel flowing through the anode circulation system to the anode of the membrane electrode assembly after the fuel filling step. And a fuel supply step for supplying the liquid fuel consumed in the power generation step from the fuel tank to the anode circulation system without using a pump.

  According to the present invention, elements constituting the fuel cell power generation system can be simplified, and the fuel cell power generation system can be downsized.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the same part or a similar part, and duplication description is abbreviate | omitted.

[First Embodiment]
FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view of a fuel cell power generation system showing a configuration of a first embodiment according to the present invention. The fuel cell power generation system according to this embodiment includes a membrane electrode assembly 8 having an electrolyte membrane 3 and the like disposed so as to be sandwiched between an anode and a cathode. The electrolyte membrane 3 is composed of a proton conductive solid polymer membrane or the like. The anode is composed of an anode catalyst layer 1 formed by applying a catalyst to the surface of the electrolyte membrane 3, an anode gas diffusion layer 4 formed outside the anode catalyst layer 1, and the like. The cathode is composed of a cathode catalyst layer 2 formed by applying a catalyst to the opposite surface of the electrolyte membrane 3 where the anode catalyst layer 1 is formed, and a cathode gas diffusion layer 5 formed outside the cathode catalyst layer 2. Yes.

  The fuel cell power generation system further includes a lyophobic porous body 10 disposed so as to contact the anode gas diffusion layer 4 and an anode flow path plate 30 disposed outside the lyophobic porous body 10 in contact therewith. And a cathode flow path plate 40 facing the anode flow path plate 30 via the lyophobic porous body 10 and the membrane electrode assembly 8. Further, the anode flow channel plate 30 and the cathode flow channel plate 40 seal the periphery of the membrane electrode assembly 8 through the gasket 9.

  The fuel cell power generation system includes a fuel tank 45 that stores liquid fuel such as high-concentration methanol, and a fuel supply pipe 51 that supplies the fuel.

  For the electrolyte membrane 3, a copolymer of tetrafluoroethylene and perfluorovinyl ether sulfonic acid (for example, Nafion (registered trademark of DuPont)) can be used. For the anode catalyst layer 1, platinum ruthenium or the like can be used, and for the cathode catalyst layer 2, platinum or the like can be used. For the anode gas diffusion layer 4 and the cathode gas diffusion layer 5, porous carbon paper or the like is used.

  Between the anode catalyst layer 1 and the anode gas diffusion layer 4, a carbon anode microporous layer 6 having a submicron pore diameter and having a thickness of several tens of microns may be disposed. Between the cathode catalyst layer 2 and the cathode gas diffusion layer 5, a carbon cathode microporous layer 7 having a submicron pore diameter and having a thickness of several tens of microns may be disposed.

  The lyophobic porous body 10 has a surface in contact with the anode gas diffusion layer 4 and a surface in contact with the anode flow path plate 30. That is, they are arranged so as to be sandwiched between the anode gas diffusion layer 4 and the anode flow path plate 30. It is desirable that at least a part of the surface side of the lyophobic porous body 10 in contact with the anode flow path plate 30 is a conductive material having a lyophobic average pore diameter of about 1 micrometer or less.

  When methanol aqueous solution is used as liquid fuel, since methanol has low surface tension, high concentration methanol is lyophobized with tetrafluoroethylene resin (for example, Teflon (registered trademark of DuPont)) and has an average pore size of submicrometer. It penetrates easily into dense porous bodies. A methanol aqueous solution having a concentration of 3 M (mol / L) or less did not permeate into a dense porous body of a carbon material having an average pore size smaller than about 1 micrometer subjected to a lyophobic treatment with tetrafluoroethylene resin or the like.

  The lyophobic porous body 10 includes carbon paper having a pore diameter of several micrometers made of a lyophobic carbon fiber, a material in which a sintered metal is subjected to a lyophobic treatment, and a pore diameter having electrical conductivity of several micrometers. A material having a lyophobic property with a porous body of a meter or less can be used. In that case, it is desirable that at least the surface in contact with the anode flow path plate 30 is a dense porous layer having a lyophobized average pore diameter of less than about 1 micrometer.

  The anode flow path plate 30 has a fuel supply flow path 31 through which liquid fuel is circulated and a gas recovery flow path 32. The fuel supply channel 31 includes, for example, a serpentine channel 31a for liquid fuel and a fuel supply unit 31b. The liquid fuel serpentine flow path portion 31a is a flow path formed to meander and flow the liquid fuel from the upstream side to the downstream side through at least one flow path. On the other hand, the fuel supply part 31b branches from the liquid fuel serpentine flow path part 31a to the anode gas diffusion layer 4 side and supplies part of the fuel flowing through the liquid fuel serpentine flow path part 31a to the anode gas diffusion layer 4 It is formed to do.

The gas recovery channel 32 is composed of, for example, a gas channel 32a and a gas recovery unit 32b. The gas recovery unit 32 b is formed so as to recover a gas such as CO ₂ in the anode gas diffusion layer 4.

  The fuel supply pipe 51 that supplies liquid fuel from the fuel tank 45 is provided with an open / close valve 49 and a circulation pump 48 in order, and is connected to the inlet side of the liquid fuel serpentine flow path portion 31a. Further, the fuel supply pipe 51 joins again from the outlet side of the liquid fuel serpentine flow path portion 31 a to the upstream side of the circulation pump 48 on the downstream side of the on-off valve 49 through the back pressure valve 50 and the like. That is, a circulation path is formed on the downstream side of the opening / closing valve 49. In the present embodiment, this circulation path is defined as the anode circulation system 54. Moreover, the above-mentioned part to be joined is defined as the anode circulation system inlet 55.

  The cathode flow path plate 40 has an intake air supply hole 41 for supplying air to the cathode catalyst layer 2. A porous body 20 having a moisturizing function for preventing the cathode catalyst layer 2 from drying may be provided between the cathode gas diffusion layer 5 and the cathode flow path plate 40.

  In this example, since the air intake supply hole 41 is provided in the cathode flow path plate 40, air can be supplied to the membrane electrode assembly 8 by breathing (natural intake system).

  In addition, the lyophobic used in the description of the present embodiment is used in the sense that the methanol aqueous solution does not permeate the porous body or the like or is difficult to permeate.

  Next, the flow of liquid fuel or the like will be described. In this embodiment, high-concentration methanol is used as the liquid fuel. The liquid fuel stored in the fuel tank 45 is supplied to the anode circulation system 54. That is, the liquid fuel flows through the fuel supply pipe 51, flows through the anode circulation system inlet 55 through the opening / closing valve 49 disposed in the fuel supply pipe 51, and is supplied to the anode circulation system 54. The liquid fuel supplied to the anode circulation system 54 is supplied to the inlet side of the liquid fuel serpentine channel 31 a of the fuel supply channel 31 provided in the anode channel plate 30 via the circulation pump 48.

  A part of the liquid fuel supplied to the liquid fuel serpentine flow path portion 31a is supplied, for example, as methanol and water vapor to the anode gas diffusion layer 4 side through the lyophobic porous body 10 subjected to the lyophobic treatment. The The liquid fuel flowing through the anode gas diffusion layer 4 is supplied to the anode catalyst layer 1 and used for power generation or the like. Other liquid fuels are circulated through the fuel supply pipe 51 connected to the outlet side of the liquid fuel serpentine channel 31a. The liquid fuel supplied to the fuel supply pipe 51 from the outlet side of the liquid fuel serpentine channel 31a is supplied to the anode circulation system inlet 55 via the back pressure valve 50, and again the inlet of the liquid fuel serpentine channel 31a. Supplied to the side.

On the other hand, CO ₂ generated by the reaction of the formula (1) during power generation flows through the gas recovery unit 32b without flowing through the fuel supply flow channel 31, flows through the gas flow channel unit 32a, and CO 2. It is exhausted from the _second exhaust unit 52 to the outside of the fuel cell power generation system. The gas volume is larger than the liquid volume. Accordingly, CO ₂ can be prevented from flowing into the liquid fuel serpentine flow path portion 31a and the fuel supply portion 31b formed in the anode flow path plate 30, and the volume of the fluid flowing through the fuel supply flow path 31 is increased. It becomes possible to suppress an increase in loss.

CO ₂ is generated by the anode power generation reaction represented by the formula (1), and this CO ₂ flows through the lyophobic porous body 10 through the anode gas diffusion layer 4. At this time, CO ₂ preferentially flows through the gas recovery unit 32 b at the interface between the anode flow path plate 30 and the lyophobic porous body 10. That is, CO ₂ in the lyophobic porous body 10 forms bubbles and enters into the fuel supply part 31b filled with the liquid fuel because the lyophobic porous body 10 has lyophobic properties. It is easier to circulate toward the gas recovery unit 32b that is not filled with liquid fuel.

  As a result, gas can be prevented from being mixed into the liquid fuel flowing through the outlet side of the fuel supply flow path 31 of the anode flow path plate 30, so that formation of a gas-liquid two-phase flow is suppressed. Therefore, it is possible to suppress an increase in flow rate due to volume expansion and an increase in fluid pressure loss due to meniscus formation. Therefore, the pressure loss of the anode (fuel supply flow path 31) can be significantly reduced.

In addition, since the CO ₂ permeation flow rate per unit area in the anode gas diffusion layer 4 is small, the pressure loss when CO ₂ passes through the lyophobic porous body 10 is small. Further, even when the membrane electrode assembly 8 is tilted in an arbitrary direction, the liquid-phobic porous body 10 is disposed, so that CO ₂ and unreacted fuel can be easily gas-liquid separated. is there.

  Unused liquid fuel discharged to the outlet side of the fuel supply channel 31 is circulated to the inlet of the fuel supply channel 31. Methanol and water consumed in the anode power generation reaction shown in Formula (1) and methanol and water crossing over from the anode side to the cathode side decrease the fluid volume of the anode circulation system 54 by the liquid volume. Since the fuel tank 45 in which the high-concentration methanol aqueous solution is stored and the anode circulation system 54 communicate with each other through the fuel supply pipe 51 filled with liquid, the fuel tank 45 and the anode circulation system 54 are connected to the anode by the fluid volume reduction amount of the anode circulation system 54 The fuel stored in the fuel tank 45 is supplied to the circulation system 54.

  As a result, the liquid fuel circulating in the fuel supply channel 31 becomes a low-concentration methanol aqueous solution having a concentration of 3M or less. Since low concentration methanol of 3M or less hardly penetrates into the lyophobic porous body 10, it can be prevented from flowing out from the fuel supply channel 31 into the gas recovery channel 32 through the lyophobic porous body 10.

  Therefore, gas-liquid separation can be performed without disposing a gas-liquid separator or the like as a separate body, and the fuel cell power generation system can be further downsized.

  Further, as described above, liquid fuel flows through the circulation path, so that high-concentration fuel can be stored in the fuel tank 45.

  The anode circulation system 54 is a system filled with a liquid, and is configured to communicate with the fuel tank 45 by keeping the open / close valve 49 open. That is, when the amount of liquid in the anode circulation system 54 decreases due to the consumption of methanol and water by the anode power generation reaction shown in Formula (1) or the decrease in methanol and water by crossover from the anode side to the cathode side, the fuel tank 45 Thus, the effect of sucking the liquid fuel into the anode circulation system 54 is produced.

  The concentration of methanol stored in the fuel tank 45 is determined from the amount of methanol and water consumed in the anode power generation reaction shown in Formula (1) and the amount of methanol and water crossover from the anode side to the cathode side. It is almost equal to the concentration. However, the amount of methanol and water that crossover from the anode side to the cathode side may change as the power generation conditions and the characteristics of the membrane electrode assembly 8, such as temperature, change. As a result, there may be a difference between the concentration of the liquid fuel stored in the fuel tank 45 and the amount consumed by the membrane electrode assembly 8.

  For example, when the amount of methanol crossover decreases, the consumption of methanol decreases, so the concentration of liquid fuel flowing through the anode circulation system 54 increases. However, as the concentration of methanol flowing through the anode circulation system 54 increases, the amount of methanol crossover increases, and the concentration in the anode circulation system 54 stabilizes at a slightly higher concentration than the predetermined concentration.

  When the amount of methanol crossover increases, the consumption of methanol increases, so the concentration of liquid fuel flowing through the anode circulation system 54 decreases. However, when the concentration of methanol flowing through the anode circulation system 54 becomes low, the amount of methanol crossover decreases. Therefore, the concentration of the liquid fuel flowing through the anode circulation system 54 at a concentration slightly lower than the predetermined concentration is stabilized.

  That is, liquid fuel is automatically supplied from the fuel tank 45 as the amount of liquid in the anode circulation system 54 decreases, so that the amount of liquid in the anode circulation system 54 is adjusted within a certain range. The methanol concentration in 54 is automatically adjusted within a certain range. Further, the pressure loss applying means, for example, the opening / closing valve 49 has a larger pressure loss than the fuel supply pipe 51, and the effect of sucking the liquid fuel is more effective than the reverse diffusion of liquid fuel from the anode circulation system 54 to the fuel tank 45. large. Therefore, the methanol concentration in the anode circulation system 54 is highly effective in being automatically adjusted within a certain range.

  When the liquid fuel in the fuel tank 45 becomes empty and the fuel tank 45 is to be replaced, the opening / closing valve 49 is first closed, the empty fuel tank 45 is removed, and the fuel tank filled with the liquid fuel. Wear 45. After that, by opening the opening / closing valve 49, the fuel cell power generation system can be operated continuously. When the fuel tank 45 is replaced, even if a small amount of air is mixed into the fuel supply pipe 51, the fuel suction is continued, and even if a small amount of air is mixed into the anode circulation system 54, the gas recovery flow path 32 is used. To be released.

  Therefore, according to the present embodiment, since the liquid fuel stored in the fuel tank 45 is automatically supplied to the anode circulation system 54, it is unnecessary to install a pump or the like on the upstream side of the on-off valve 49, for example. Become. Therefore, since a device for controlling the pump or the like is not necessary, the constituent elements of the fuel cell power generation system are simplified, so that the manufacturing cost is suppressed and the size can be further reduced.

[Second Embodiment]
FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a fuel cell power generation system showing the configuration of the second embodiment according to the present invention. In the present embodiment, the fuel supply hole 61 is formed in the lyophobic porous body 10. In other words, the lyophobic porous body 10 is divided into a fuel supply hole 61 and a lyophobic porous region 63 in which many holes having a pore diameter of 1 micrometer or less are formed in other regions.

The liquid fuel flowing through the anode circulation system 54 flows through the fuel supply hole 61 and is supplied to the anode of the membrane electrode assembly 8. The CO ₂ generated by the anodic power generation reaction flows through the lyophobic porous region 63 of the lyophobic porous body 10 without flowing through the fuel supply hole 61 while forming bubbles, as in the first embodiment. To do. Thereafter, the gas is circulated through the gas recovery passage 32 and exhausted from the CO ₂ exhaust part 52 to the outside of the fuel cell power generation system.

[Third Embodiment]
FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a fuel cell power generation system showing the configuration of the third embodiment according to the present invention. In the present embodiment, a lyophilic porous body 15 is used instead of the lyophobic porous body 10 in the first and second embodiments. The lyophilic porous body 15 is formed with a gas recovery hole 62 for circulating a gas such as CO ₂ . That is, the lyophilic porous body 15 is divided into a gas recovery hole 62 and a lyophilic porous area 64 in which many holes having a diameter of 1 micrometer or less are formed in other areas.

In the present embodiment, the liquid fuel flows through the lyophilic porous region 64 of the lyophilic porous body 15 and is supplied to the anode. On the other hand, the CO ₂ generated by the anode power generation reaction or the like flows through the gas recovery passage 32 through the gas recovery hole 62. Thereafter, the gas is exhausted from the CO ₂ exhaust part 52 to the outside of the fuel cell power generation system.

  In addition, the lyophilic property used in the description of the present embodiment is used in the sense that the aqueous methanol solution penetrates into the porous body or the like or easily penetrates.

[Fourth Embodiment]
FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a fuel cell power generation system showing a fourth embodiment according to the present invention. In the present embodiment, a check valve 58 is disposed on the downstream side of the fuel tank 45 in the fuel supply pipe 51 and upstream of the anode circulation system inlet 55. The check valve 58 is formed so that liquid fuel flows only from the fuel tank 45 toward the anode circulation system 54. That is, the check valve 58 is used as an alternative to the on-off valve 49 in the first embodiment.

  When the amount of liquid in the anode circulation system 54 decreases, the liquid fuel in the fuel tank 45 is supplied to the anode circulation system 54 via the check valve 58. When the liquid fuel in the fuel tank 45 becomes empty and the fuel tank 45 is replaced, the reverse flow of the liquid fuel circulating in the anode circulation system 54 can be suppressed by the check valve 58 even if the fuel tank 45 is removed. . For this reason, it becomes possible to replace the fuel tank 45 more easily.

[Other Embodiments]
The description of the above embodiment is an example for explaining the present invention, and does not limit the invention described in the claims. Moreover, each part structure of this invention is not restricted to the said embodiment, A various deformation | transformation is possible within the technical scope as described in a claim.

  The configurations of the fuel supply channel 31 and the gas recovery channel 32 described above are not limited to the serpentine type. This is merely an example, and other various fuel supply passages 31 and gas recovery passages 32 can be employed.

  The liquid fuel is a liquid other than methanol, and for example, alcohol, hydrocarbon, ether and the like can be used.

  Further, both the on-off valve 49 used in the first embodiment and the check valve 58 used in the second embodiment may be attached in series.

  In addition, by making the pressure in the anode circulation system 54 negative with respect to the pressure in the fuel tank 45, liquid fuel can be sucked from the fuel tank 45 into the anode circulation system 54 more easily. Good.

1 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a configuration of a first embodiment of a fuel cell power generation system according to the present invention. It is a schematic sectional drawing which shows the structure of 2nd Embodiment of the fuel cell power generation system which concerns on this invention. It is a schematic sectional drawing which shows the structure of 3rd Embodiment of the fuel cell power generation system which concerns on this invention. It is a schematic sectional drawing which shows the structure of 4th Embodiment of the fuel cell power generation system which concerns on this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Anode catalyst layer, 2 ... Cathode catalyst layer, 3 ... Electrolyte membrane, 4 ... Anode gas diffusion layer, 5 ... Cathode gas diffusion layer, 6 ... Anode microporous layer, 7 ... Cathode microporous layer, 8 ... Membrane electrode composite , 9 ... gasket, 10 ... lyophobic porous body, 15 ... lyophilic porous body, 30 ... anode channel plate, 31 ... fuel supply channel, 31a ... serpentine channel part for liquid fuel, 31b ... fuel supply 32, gas recovery channel, 32a ... gas channel, 32b ... gas recovery unit, 40 ... cathode channel plate, 41 ... intake air supply hole, 45 ... fuel tank, 48 ... circulation pump, 49 ... open / close valve , 50 ... back pressure valve, 51 ... fuel supply pipe, 52 ... CO ₂ exhaust unit, 54 ... anode circulation system, 55 ... anode circulating system inlet, 58 ... check valve, 61: fuel supply hole 62 ... gas recovery hole , 63 ... lyophobic Pore region, 64 ... lyophilic porous region

Claims (5)

A membrane electrode assembly having an anode and a cathode facing each other across an electrolyte membrane;
A gas recovery flow path for recovering gas generated at the anode, and an anode flow path plate having a fuel supply flow path for supplying liquid fuel to the anode;
An anode circulation system for forcibly circulating the liquid fuel from the outlet side to the inlet side of the anode channel plate through the outside of the anode channel plate with respect to the membrane electrode assembly filled with the liquid fuel; ,
A fuel tank for storing the liquid fuel to be supplied to the anode circulation system;
A pipe connecting the anode circulation system and the fuel tank;
Pressure loss applying means provided between the fuel tank of the pipe and the anode circulation system;
A fuel cell power generation system comprising:   The fuel cell power generation system according to claim 1, wherein the liquid fuel supplied to the anode is a methanol aqueous solution having a concentration of 3M or less.   3. The fuel cell power generation system according to claim 1, wherein a concentration of the liquid fuel stored in the fuel tank is higher than a concentration of the liquid fuel circulating in the anode circulation system. 4. .   The pressure loss applying means is provided with an on-off valve or a check valve, and the liquid fuel flows from the fuel tank side toward the anode circulation system side when generating electricity with the membrane electrode assembly. The fuel cell power generation system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the fuel cell power generation system is configured as described above. A membrane electrode assembly having an anode and a cathode facing each other with an electrolyte membrane interposed therebetween, a gas recovery channel for recovering a gas generated at the anode, and an anode having a fuel supply channel for supplying liquid fuel to the anode The liquid fuel is forcedly circulated from the outlet side to the inlet side of the anode channel plate through the outside of the anode channel plate with respect to the channel plate and the membrane electrode assembly filled with the liquid fuel. An anode circulation system, a fuel tank that stores the liquid fuel supplied to the anode circulation system, a pipe that connects the anode circulation system and the fuel tank, and the fuel tank and the anode circulation system of the pipe In a method for operating a fuel cell power generation system having a pressure loss applying means provided therebetween,
A fuel filling step of filling and circulating the liquid fuel in the anode circulation system;
After the fuel filling step, a power generation step of generating power by supplying the liquid fuel flowing through the anode circulation system to the anode of the membrane electrode assembly;
A fuel replenishing step of supplying the liquid fuel consumed in the power generation step to the anode circulation system from the fuel tank without passing through a pump;
A method for operating a fuel cell power generation system, comprising:

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