JP2009158121A - Fuel cell stack device, fuel cell module, and fuel cell device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a fuel cell stack device capable of uniformly making close temperature distribution in the vertical direction of unit cells of the fuel cell and enhancing power generation efficiency; and to provide a fuel cell module and a fuel cell device. <P>SOLUTION: The fuel cell stack device includes: a reformer 5 fixing a cell stack 4 formed by electrically connecting a plurality of fuel cells 2 burning excess fuel gas in an upper end part to a manifold 3, and producing fuel gas supplying to the fuel cells 2; and a fuel gas supply pipe 6 through which fuel gas produced with the reformer 5 flows in the lower end part of the fuel cells 2 along the arranging direction, or flows in the periphery of the cell stack 4, then flows between the cell stacks 4, and then is supplied to the manifold 3. Accordingly, the fuel cell stack can uniformly make uniform temperature distribution in the up and down direction of the fuel cells 2 of the fuel cell and can enhance power generation efficiency. The fuel cell module and the fuel cell device are also provided. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a fuel cell stack device configured by standing a plurality of fuel cells, a fuel cell module containing the fuel cell stack device, and a fuel cell device including the fuel cell module.

  In recent years, as a next-generation energy, a cell stack formed by arranging a plurality of fuel cells that can obtain electric power using hydrogen-containing gas and air (oxygen-containing gas) and electrically connecting them in series, Various fuel cell stack devices fixed to a manifold that supplies gas to the cells, fuel cell modules that store the fuel cell stack devices, and fuel cell devices that store fuel cell modules have been proposed (for example, patents) Reference 1).

  FIG. 7 shows an example of a conventional fuel cell module 50. The fuel cell module 50 in FIG. 7 has a gas flow path through which fuel gas flows inside a rectangular parallelepiped storage container 51. The fuel cells 52 are arranged in an upright state, and are electrically connected in series between adjacent fuel cells 52 via current collecting members (not shown) to form a cell stack 54, and the fuel The lower end of the battery cell 52 is fixed to the manifold 53 with an insulating bonding material (not shown) such as a glass sealing material.

  Further, in order to obtain a hydrogen-containing gas used in the fuel battery cell 52, a reformer 55 for reforming a fuel such as natural gas or kerosene to generate a fuel gas (hydrogen-containing gas) is provided. It arrange | positions above the stack 54 (fuel cell 52). The fuel gas generated by the reformer 55 is supplied to the manifold 53 through the gas flow pipe 56 and is supplied to the gas flow path provided inside the fuel battery cell 52 through the manifold 53. With this configuration, the fuel cell stack device 57 is configured, and the fuel cell stack device 57 is stored in the storage container 51 to configure the fuel cell module 50.

In the fuel cell module 50 shown in FIG. 7, surplus fuel gas and oxygen-containing gas discharged from the gas flow path of the fuel cell 52 are combusted on the upper end side of the fuel cell 52, and the heat As a result, the temperature of the reformer 55 can be raised.
JP 2007-59377 A

  By the way, in the fuel cell stack device of the type that burns excess fuel gas and oxygen-containing gas on the upper end side of the fuel cell as described in Patent Document 1, the upper end portion of each fuel cell. There may be a non-uniform temperature distribution in which the temperature on the side is high and the temperature on the lower end side is low. In the case where the oxygen-containing gas is supplied from the side of the fuel cell stack toward the lower end of the fuel cell, the temperature at the lower end of the fuel cell further decreases, and the vertical direction of the fuel cell May cause a more uneven temperature distribution.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, the present invention provides a fuel cell stack device and a fuel cell module that can make the temperature distribution in the vertical direction of the fuel cells close to uniform and improve power generation efficiency, and a fuel cell device including the fuel cell stack device. With the goal.

  The fuel cell stack device of the present invention includes a cell stack formed by arranging and electrically connecting a plurality of columnar fuel cells each having a gas flow path in an upright state, and the fuel cell A manifold for fixing a lower end and supplying fuel gas to the fuel cell, a reformer disposed above the fuel cell and generating fuel gas to be supplied to the fuel cell, and the reformer A fuel gas supply pipe connecting the reformer and the manifold to supply the fuel gas generated by the gasifier to the manifold, and the fuel gas discharged from the gas flow path is the fuel cell. A fuel cell stack device configured to burn on the upper end side of a cell, wherein the fuel gas supply pipe includes the fuel gas flowing through the fuel gas supply pipe. Characterized in that it is configured to be supplied to the manifold lower end Le After flowing along the arrangement direction.

  In such a fuel cell stack device, the fuel gas is supplied so that the high-temperature fuel gas generated in the reformer is supplied to the manifold after flowing along the arrangement direction in the lower end side of the fuel cell. Since the tube is configured, the temperature on the lower end side of the fuel cell can be increased. Therefore, the temperature distribution in the vertical direction of the fuel cell can be made closer to the uniformity, and the power generation efficiency of the fuel cell can be improved.

  The fuel cell stack device of the present invention includes a cell stack formed by arranging and electrically connecting a plurality of columnar fuel cells each having a gas flow path in an upright state, and the fuel cell A manifold for fixing a lower end and supplying fuel gas to the fuel cell, a reformer disposed above the fuel cell and generating fuel gas to be supplied to the fuel cell, and the reformer A fuel gas supply pipe connecting the reformer and the manifold to supply the fuel gas generated by the gasifier to the manifold, and the fuel gas discharged from the gas flow path is the fuel cell. A fuel cell stack device configured to burn on the upper end side of a cell, wherein the fuel gas supply pipe is configured such that the fuel gas flowing through the fuel gas supply pipe Characterized in that it is configured to be supplied to the manifold after flowing around the click.

  In such a fuel cell stack device, the fuel gas supply pipe is configured so that the high-temperature fuel gas generated in the reformer flows around the cell stack, so that the temperature on the lower end side of the fuel cell is increased. Can be raised more. Therefore, the temperature distribution in the vertical direction of the fuel cell can be made closer to the uniformity, and the power generation efficiency of the fuel cell can be improved.

  In the fuel cell stack device of the present invention, a plurality of the cell stacks are juxtaposed, and the fuel gas supply pipe is disposed after the fuel gas flowing through the fuel gas supply pipe flows between the cell stacks. It is preferable to be configured to be supplied to the manifold.

  In such a fuel cell stack device, when a plurality of cell stacks are juxtaposed, the fuel gas flows between the cell stacks, so the temperature on the lower end side of the fuel cell located on both sides of the fuel gas supply pipe Can be raised efficiently. Therefore, the temperature distribution in the vertical direction of the fuel cell can be made closer to the uniformity, and the power generation efficiency of the fuel cell can be improved.

  The fuel cell module of the present invention is characterized in that the fuel cell stack device according to any one of the above is housed in a housing container.

  In such a fuel cell module, the fuel cell stack device that can make the temperature distribution in the vertical direction of the fuel cell close to uniform and can improve the power generation efficiency of the fuel cell is stored in the storage container. Thus, a fuel cell module with improved power generation efficiency can be obtained.

  In the fuel cell module of the present invention, the storage container has a double structure having an inner wall and an outer wall, and a reaction gas flow path is formed between the inner wall and the outer wall, and a side surface of the fuel cell stack is formed on the inner wall. It is preferable that a reaction gas introduction member for supplying the reaction gas to the lower end side of the fuel cell is provided.

  In such a fuel cell module, since the reaction gas is supplied to the lower end side of the fuel cell, the temperature on the lower end side of the fuel cell further decreases. Here, the fuel gas supply pipe is disposed so as to flow on the lower end side of the fuel cell, thereby suppressing the temperature on the lower end side of the fuel cell from decreasing, or on the lower end side of the fuel cell. The temperature can be raised. Thereby, the temperature distribution in the vertical direction of the fuel cell can be made closer to the uniform, and a fuel cell module with improved power generation efficiency can be obtained.

  A fuel cell device according to the present invention is characterized in that any one of the above fuel cell modules is housed in an outer case.

  In such a fuel cell device, since the fuel cell module with improved power generation efficiency is housed in the outer case, a fuel cell device with improved power generation efficiency can be obtained.

  In the fuel cell stack device of the present invention, a cell stack formed by electrically connecting a plurality of fuel cells having gas passages therein is fixed to a manifold, and the fuel cell is disposed above the fuel cell. In a fuel cell stack apparatus configured to dispose a reformer for generating fuel gas to be supplied and combust fuel gas discharged from a gas flow path on the upper end side of the fuel cell. The fuel gas supply pipe connecting the mass device and the manifold is configured to be supplied to the manifold after the fuel gas flowing through the fuel gas supply pipe flows along the arrangement direction in the lower end side of the fuel cell. Thus, the temperature distribution in the vertical direction of the fuel cell can be made closer to the uniform, and the power generation efficiency of the fuel cell can be improved. In addition, by providing the fuel cell stack device of the present invention, a fuel cell module and a fuel cell device with improved power generation efficiency can be obtained.

  FIG. 1 is an external perspective view showing an example of a fuel cell stack device 1 of the present invention (hereinafter sometimes abbreviated as “cell stack device”). In the following drawings, the same reference numerals are used for the same components. To do.

  A cell stack device 1 shown in FIG. 1 has a plurality of fuel cells 2 each having a gas flow path arranged in a standing manner at a predetermined interval, and a current collecting member between adjacent fuel cells 2 The cell stack 4 is configured by being electrically connected in series via (not shown), and the lower end of the fuel cell 2 is fixed to the manifold 3 with an insulating bonding material (not shown) such as a glass sealing material. Has been.

  The fuel battery cell 2 is a hollow flat plate type having a gas flow path through which a hydrogen-containing gas (fuel gas) flows in the longitudinal direction. A fuel-side electrode layer, a solid electrolyte layer, and oxygen are formed on the surface of the support. The solid oxide fuel cell 2 in which the side electrode layers are sequentially provided is illustrated.

  Above the cell stack 4, a reformer 5 for reforming fuel such as natural gas or kerosene to generate fuel gas to be supplied to the fuel cell 2 is disposed. The fuel gas generated in step 1 flows through the fuel gas supply pipe 6 and is supplied to the manifold 3. The fuel gas supplied to the manifold 3 flows from the lower end toward the upper end through a gas flow path provided inside the fuel battery cell 2, and generates electric power with the oxygen-containing gas supplied from the side of the fuel battery cell 2. Will be performed.

  In such a cell stack device 1, excess fuel gas and oxygen-containing gas discharged from the gas flow path are combusted on the upper end side of the fuel cell 2, and the reformer 5 is warmed by the fuel heat. be able to. Thereby, the reforming reaction in the reformer 5 can be performed efficiently.

  On the other hand, in the cell stack device that burns surplus fuel gas and oxygen-containing gas on the upper end side of the fuel cell 2, the temperature on the upper end side of each fuel cell 2 is high and the temperature on the lower end side is low. May cause a non-uniform temperature distribution.

  Further, in the fuel battery cell in which the fuel gas supplied from the manifold 3 flows from the lower end toward the upper end through the gas flow path provided inside the fuel battery cell, the oxygen-containing gas is also on the lower end side in the same manner as the fuel gas. It is preferable to flow toward the upper end side. However, when an oxygen-containing gas having a low temperature is supplied from the lower end portion side of the fuel battery cell 2, the temperature on the lower end portion side of the fuel battery cell 2 further decreases, and the temperature in the vertical direction of the fuel battery cell 2 further increases. There may be a uniform temperature distribution.

  Here, when the temperature distribution in the vertical direction of the fuel cell 2 becomes non-uniform, the power generation efficiency of the fuel cell may be reduced.

  Therefore, in the present invention, the temperature on the lower end side of the fuel cell 2 is increased, or the temperature decrease on the lower end side of the fuel pond cell 2 is suppressed, and the temperature distribution in the vertical direction of the fuel cell 2 is made uniform. The purpose is to get closer.

  Here, in the cell stack apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 1, the fuel gas supply pipe 6 causes the fuel gas to flow from the reformer 5 toward the manifold 3 (flows along the height direction of the fuel cell 2). And a stack side pipe 8 for flowing the fuel gas flowing through the supply pipe 7 along the arrangement direction on the lower end side of the fuel cell 2.

  Here, since the fuel gas generated in the reformer 5 is as high as about 600 ° C., the generated high-temperature fuel gas is circulated along the arrangement direction on the lower end side of the fuel cell 2. The temperature on the lower end side of the fuel cell 2 can be increased, or the temperature decrease on the lower end side of the fuel cell 2 can be suppressed. Thereby, the temperature distribution in the vertical direction of the fuel cell 2 can be made closer to uniform.

  Note that the stack side pipe 8 is preferably disposed at a portion that is not more than half the height in the height direction of the fuel cell 2, and further, the fuel gas cell 2 is located in the vicinity of the portion where the fuel cell 2 is fixed to the manifold 3. It is preferable to arrange so as to flow.

  Further, in FIG. 1, the stack side pipe 8 is arranged only on one side of the cell stack 4 (fuel cell 2), but it can also be provided on both sides so as to sandwich the cell stack 4.

  FIG. 2 shows another example of the cell stack device of the present invention. FIG. 2 (a) is an external perspective view of a cell stack device 10 in which two cell stacks 4 are juxtaposed on the manifold 3. FIG. FIG. 2A is a plan view of the cell stack device 10 shown in FIG.

  Here, in the cell stack apparatus 10 shown in FIG. 2, two cell stacks 4 are juxtaposed on the manifold 3, and a U-shaped reformer 5 is disposed above the cell stack 4 in plan view. In the cell stack apparatus 10 shown in FIG. 2, the fuel gas supply pipe 6 is a supply for flowing the fuel gas from the reformer 5 toward the manifold 3 (flowing along the height direction of the fuel cell 2). The pipe 7 and the peripheral pipe 11 for flowing the fuel gas that has flowed through the supply pipe 7 around the cell stack 4 juxtaposed.

  Here, since the fuel gas generated in the reformer 5 is as high as about 600 ° C., the lower end portion of the fuel battery cell 2 is obtained by circulating the generated high-temperature fuel gas around the cell stack 4. It is possible to increase the temperature on the side or suppress the temperature decrease on the lower end side of the fuel cell 2. Thereby, the temperature distribution in the vertical direction of the fuel cell 2 can be made closer to uniform.

  Further, similarly to the stack side pipe 8 described above, the peripheral pipe 11 is preferably arranged in the vicinity of a portion having a height equal to or less than half of the height of the fuel cell 2, and further, with the manifold 3 of the fuel cell 2. It is preferable to arrange the fuel gas in the vicinity of the fixed portion.

  In (b), conductive members 13 are arranged at both ends of the cell stack 4 so as to sandwich the cell stack 4 via the end current collecting members 12. Is provided. In addition, although the current collection member arrange | positioned between the fuel cells 2 was abbreviate | omitted and shown in (b), the same thing as the edge part current collection member 12 can be used.

  Further, when the fuel gas supply pipe 6 is constituted by the supply pipe 7 and the surrounding pipe 11, when the plurality of cell stacks 4 are juxtaposed, the plurality of cell stacks 4 are arranged in parallel with the arrangement direction of the fuel cells 2. In addition, the fuel cells 2 may be arranged vertically so that the arrangement direction of the fuel cells 2 is linear.

  FIG. 3 shows an excerpt of the portion indicated by the dotted frame A in order to show the connection between the supply pipe 7 and the surrounding pipe 11 in the cell stack apparatus 10 shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the fuel gas flowing through the supply pipe 7 from the reformer 5 side flows into the peripheral pipe 11 connected to the upper side of the supply pipe 7 and flows around the cell stack 4. The fuel gas flowing around 4 flows into the supply pipe 7 from the peripheral pipe 11 connected to the lower side of the supply pipe 7 and flows into the manifold 3. Therefore, a partition 14 is provided inside the supply pipe 7 so that the fuel gas flowing from the reformer 5 flows to the peripheral pipe 11 connected to the upper side. In addition, if the fuel gas does not permeate | transmit the partition part 14, there will be no restriction | limiting in particular in the structure.

  By using such a connection structure between the supply pipe 7 and the surrounding pipe 11, high-temperature fuel gas can flow around the cell stack 4. As a result, the temperature on the lower end side of the fuel battery cell 2 can be increased or the temperature drop on the lower end side of the fuel battery cell 2 can be suppressed, and the temperature distribution in the vertical direction of the fuel battery cell 2 can be made closer to uniform. Can do.

  FIG. 4 shows still another embodiment of the cell stack device of the present invention, and (a) is an external perspective view of a cell stack device 15 in which two cell stacks 4 are juxtaposed on the manifold 3. (b) has shown the top view of the state which removed the reformer 5 among the cell stack apparatuses 10 shown by (a).

  Here, in FIG. 4, two cell stacks 4 are juxtaposed on the manifold 3, and a U-shaped reformer 5 is disposed above the cell stack 4 in plan view. In the cell stack device 15 shown in FIG. 4, the fuel gas supply pipe 6 is a supply for flowing the fuel gas from the reformer 5 toward the manifold 3 (flowing along the height direction of the fuel cell 2). The pipe 7 and the inter-cell stack distribution pipe 16 for allowing the fuel gas flowing through the supply pipe 7 to flow between the two cell stacks 4 arranged side by side are configured.

  When the fuel gas supply pipe 6 is constituted by the supply pipe 7 and the inter-cell stack distribution pipe 16, when arranging the plurality of cell stacks 4 side by side, the arrangement directions of the fuel cells 2 are arranged in parallel. Can be arranged.

  Here, since the fuel gas generated in the reformer 5 is as high as about 600 ° C., the generated high-temperature fuel gas circulates between the cell stacks 4, so that the lower end side of the fuel cell 2. Or a temperature drop on the lower end side of the fuel cell 2 can be suppressed. Thereby, the temperature distribution in the vertical direction of the fuel cell 2 can be made closer to uniform.

  In FIG. 4, the shape of the inter-cell stack distribution pipe 16 is a shape that flows into the manifold 3 at the target position with the supply pipe 7. It may be U-shaped.

  As described above, in the fuel cell stack apparatus of the present invention, the high-temperature fuel gas generated by the reformer 5 is circulated around the cell stack 4 along the arrangement direction of the cell stack 4. Or by circulating between the cell stacks 4, the temperature on the lower end side of the fuel cell 2 can be increased or the temperature decrease on the lower end side of the fuel cell 2 can be suppressed. It can be set as the fuel cell stack apparatus which can make temperature distribution in an up-down direction close uniformly.

  And it can be set as the fuel cell module which improved electric power generation efficiency by accommodating the fuel cell stack apparatus as mentioned above in a storage container.

  FIG. 5 is an external perspective view showing an example of the fuel cell module 17 of the present invention (hereinafter sometimes abbreviated as “module”). The cell stack device shown in FIG. The example which accommodates and comprises 10 is shown.

  5 shows a state in which a part (front and rear surfaces) of the storage container 18 is removed, and the fuel cell stack device 10 stored inside is taken out rearward. Here, in the module 17 shown in FIG. 5, when the fuel cell stack device 10 is slid and stored in the storage container 18, the surrounding tube 11 is at a height that does not come into contact with a reaction gas introduction member 22 described later. It is preferable to provide it.

  FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the module 17 shown in FIG. The storage container 18 constituting the module 17 has a double structure having an inner wall 19 and an outer wall 20, and an outer frame of the storage container 18 is formed by the outer wall 20, and the cell stack 4 (cell stack device 10 or the like) is formed by the inner wall 19. Is formed. Further, in the module 17 (storage container 18), a reaction gas flow path through which a reaction gas (oxygen-containing gas) introduced into the fuel cell 2 flows is provided between the inner wall 19 and the outer wall 20.

  Here, the inner wall 19 extends from the upper surface of the inner wall 19 to the side surface side of the cell stack 4, corresponds to the width in the arrangement direction of the cell stack 4, and leads to a flow path formed by the inner wall 19 and the outer wall 20, A reaction gas introduction member 22 for introducing an oxygen-containing gas into the cell stack 4 is provided. Further, an outlet 23 for introducing an oxygen-containing gas into the fuel cell 2 is provided on the lower end side of the reaction gas introduction member 22 (lower end side of the fuel cell 2).

  Here, the reactive gas introduction member 22 has a length equal to or longer than the width in the arrangement direction of the cell stack 4 in order to efficiently introduce the oxygen-containing gas into each fuel cell 2 constituting the cell stack 4. It is preferable to configure.

  In FIG. 6, the reaction gas introduction member 22 is formed by forming a reaction gas introduction flow path by a pair of plate members arranged in parallel at a predetermined interval and joining the bottom member on the lower end side. In FIG. 6, the reaction gas introduction member 22 is disposed so as to be positioned between two cell stacks 4 juxtaposed inside the storage container 18. The reactive gas introduction member 22 may be arranged so as to be sandwiched from, for example, both side surfaces of the cell stack 4 depending on the number of the cell stacks 4 stored in the storage container 18.

  The temperature sensor 24 is inserted into the reaction gas introduction member 22 from the upper surface side of the storage container 28 so that the temperature measuring unit 25 of the temperature sensor 24 is located. For example, a thermocouple can be used as the temperature sensor 24. Note that the temperature sensor 24 is a central portion where the temperature measuring unit 25 is at the highest temperature of the cell stack 4 (the central portion in the arrangement direction of the cell stack 4 and the central portion in the longitudinal direction of the fuel cell 2). ) Is preferably measured. Thereby, the temperature management of the cell stack 4 can be performed.

  Further, in the power generation chamber 21, the temperature in the module 17 is maintained at a high temperature so that the heat in the module 17 is extremely dissipated and the temperature of the fuel cell 2 (cell stack 4) is lowered to reduce the amount of power generation. A heat insulating material 26 is appropriately provided.

  The heat insulating material 26 is preferably arranged in the vicinity of the cell stack 4. In particular, the heat insulating material 26 is juxtaposed on the side surface side of the cell stack 4 along the arrangement direction of the fuel cells 2, and the outer shape of the side surface of the cell stack 4. It is preferable to arrange the heat insulating material 26 having a size equal to or larger than the above. In addition, it is preferable that the heat insulating material 26 is arranged in parallel on both side surfaces of the cell stack 4. Thereby, it can suppress effectively that the temperature of the cell stack 4 falls. Further, the oxygen-containing gas supplied from the reaction gas introduction member 22 can be prevented from being discharged from the side surface side (the side surface opposite to the side where the oxygen-containing gas is supplied) of the cell stack 4. The flow of the reaction gas between the fuel cells 2 constituting the fuel cell 2 can be promoted.

  In addition, the exhaust gas flow is caused by the exhaust gas inner wall 27 provided at a predetermined interval with respect to the bottom surface (inner bottom surface) formed by the inner wall 19 and the side surface (inner side surface) formed along the arrangement direction of the fuel cells 2. A passage is formed, and an exhaust hole 28 provided at the bottom of the storage container 18 and an exhaust gas passage communicate with each other.

  Thereby, the exhaust gas generated with the operation of the module 17 (during start-up processing, power generation, and stop processing) flows through the exhaust gas passage and is then exhausted from the exhaust hole 28. The exhaust hole 28 may be formed by cutting out a part of the bottom of the storage container 18 or may be formed by providing a tubular member.

  By the way, in such a fuel cell module, the fuel gas supplied from the manifold 3 flows from the lower end toward the upper end through the gas flow path provided in the fuel cell 2. The supplied oxygen-containing gas is preferably supplied so as to flow from the lower end side of the fuel battery cell 2 toward the upper end side. Therefore, in the storage container 18 in the fuel cell module 17 of the present invention, the outlet 23 of the reaction gas introduction member 22 for supplying the oxygen-containing gas to the fuel cell 2 is located on the lower end side of the fuel cell 2. It is preferable to be provided.

  However, when the oxygen-containing gas supplied from the air outlet 23 is low temperature, the low-temperature oxygen-containing gas is supplied, so that the temperature on the lower end side of the fuel cell 2 is lowered, thereby the fuel cell. The temperature distribution in the vertical direction of the cell becomes non-uniform, and the power generation efficiency of the fuel cell may be reduced.

  Therefore, in the fuel cell module 17 of the present invention, the high-temperature fuel gas supplied from the reformer 5 as described above is circulated around the cell stack 4 along the arrangement direction of the cell stack 4. Alternatively, by circulating between the cell stacks 4, the temperature on the lower end side of the fuel cell 2 can be increased, or the temperature decrease on the lower end side of the fuel cell 2 can be suppressed. Since the cell stack device capable of making the temperature distribution in the direction close to uniform is housed, a fuel cell module with improved power generation efficiency can be obtained.

  And the fuel cell module of this invention is comprised by accommodating the fuel cell module 17 as mentioned above in an exterior case. Thereby, since the fuel cell module 1 that can make the temperature distribution in the vertical direction of the fuel cell 2 more uniform can be housed, a fuel cell device with improved power generation efficiency can be obtained.

  Although the present invention has been described in detail above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications and improvements can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

  For example, in a fuel cell stack apparatus in which a plurality of cell stacks are arranged, the cell stacks are arranged side by side so as to be parallel to the arrangement direction of the fuel cells, and the fuel gas flowing through the fuel gas supply pipe is It is also possible to configure the fuel gas supply pipe so as to flow both around the stack and between the cell stacks. In this case, the lower end side of the fuel cell 2 can be heated from both side surfaces in the arrangement direction of the fuel cells 2 constituting the cell stack 4, and the temperature distribution in the vertical direction of the fuel cell 2 is made more uniform. can do.

It is an external appearance perspective view which shows an example of the fuel cell stack apparatus of this invention. The other example of the fuel cell stack apparatus of this invention is shown, (a) is an external appearance perspective view, (b) is a top view of the fuel cell stack apparatus from which the reformer was removed. It is an enlarged view which extracts and shows the dotted-line frame A shown in FIG. FIG. 5 shows still another example of the fuel cell stack device of the present invention, where (a) is an external perspective view, and (b) is a plan view of the fuel cell stack device with the reformer removed. It is an external appearance perspective view which shows an example of the fuel cell module of this invention. It is sectional drawing of the fuel cell module shown in FIG. It is an external appearance perspective view which shows an example of the conventional fuel cell module.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1, 10, 15: Fuel cell stack apparatus 2: Fuel cell 3: Manifold 4: Cell stack 5: Reformer 6: Fuel gas supply pipe 17: Fuel cell module 18: Storage container

Claims (6)

  A cell stack formed by arranging and electrically connecting a plurality of columnar fuel cells having gas flow paths therein, and a lower end of the fuel cell fixed to the fuel cell A manifold for supplying fuel gas; a reformer disposed above the fuel cell to generate fuel gas to be supplied to the fuel cell; and the fuel gas generated by the reformer A fuel gas supply pipe connecting the reformer and the manifold for supplying to the manifold; and the fuel gas discharged from the gas flow path is combusted on the upper end side of the fuel cell. A fuel cell stack device comprising the fuel gas supply pipe, wherein the fuel gas flowing through the fuel gas supply pipe flows along the arrangement direction on the lower end side of the fuel battery cell. Fuel cell stack apparatus characterized by being configured to be supplied to the manifold after.   A cell stack formed by arranging and electrically connecting a plurality of columnar fuel cells having gas flow paths therein, and a lower end of the fuel cell fixed to the fuel cell A manifold for supplying fuel gas; a reformer disposed above the fuel cell to generate fuel gas to be supplied to the fuel cell; and the fuel gas generated by the reformer A fuel gas supply pipe connecting the reformer and the manifold for supplying to the manifold; and the fuel gas discharged from the gas flow path is combusted on the upper end side of the fuel cell. A fuel cell stack apparatus comprising: the fuel gas supply pipe, wherein the fuel gas supply pipe is connected to the manifold after the fuel gas flowing through the fuel gas supply pipe flows around the cell stack. Fuel cell stack apparatus characterized by being configured to be supplied to.   A plurality of the cell stacks are juxtaposed, and the fuel gas supply pipe is configured to be supplied to the manifold after the fuel gas flowing through the fuel gas supply pipe flows between the cell stacks. The fuel cell stack device according to claim 1.   A fuel cell module comprising the fuel cell stack device according to any one of claims 1 to 3 housed in a housing container.   The storage container has a double structure having an inner wall and an outer wall, and a reaction gas flow path is formed between the inner wall and the outer wall, extends to the side surface side of the cell stack on the inner wall, and a lower end portion of the fuel cell. The fuel cell module according to claim 4, further comprising a reaction gas introduction member for supplying the reaction gas to the side. A fuel cell comprising the fuel cell module according to claim 4 or 5 in an outer case.

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