JP2010113883A - Fuel battery module - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a fuel battery module for making it hard to diffuse heat of exhaust gas including that generated by combustion of residue fuel gas not contributing to power generation reaction and residue oxidant gas in a plurality of fuel battery cells. <P>SOLUTION: The fuel battery module FC includes a plurality of fuel battery cells 4, a reformer 5 arranged at one end side of the plurality of the fuel battery cells 4 with a given interval for reforming gas to be reformed into fuel gas, and wall parts so formed to inhibit flow of exhaust gas, that is, gas flowing through the surroundings of the reformer 5 from a side of the plurality of the fuel battery cells 4, generated by combustion of residue fuel gas not contributing to power generation reaction and residue oxidant gas in the plurality of the fuel battery cells 4. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a fuel cell module including a plurality of fuel cells that operate when fuel gas and oxidant gas flow from one end side to the other end side.

In a fuel cell module including a plurality of fuel cells that operate when fuel gas and oxidant gas flow from one end side to the other end side, city gas or the like as reformed gas is supplied from the outside. City gas or the like is introduced into a reformer containing a reforming catalyst, reformed into a hydrogen-rich fuel gas, and then supplied to a plurality of fuel cells.

The technique described in Patent Document 1 below is for solving a reduction in reforming efficiency caused by a reduction in reformer temperature accompanying a reduction in output that occurs when, for example, a load following operation is performed. In Patent Document 1 below, in order to solve this problem, the reformer is provided with a heat transfer plate extending to the fuel cell side. With this heat transfer plate, the radiant heat of the fuel battery cell is transferred to the reformer, thereby maintaining the temperature of the reformer at a high temperature. A pair of heat transfer plates are provided so as to be positioned away from each other in the direction (width direction) intersecting the direction toward the fuel cell of the reformer. Further, the heat transfer plate is attached to the side surface of the reformer (see FIG. 3 of Patent Document 1 below).

Moreover, as a fuel cell module with description regarding exhaust gas, what is described in the following patent document 2 is also proposed.
JP 2008-34205 A JP 2003-109639 A

By the way, for the purpose of effectively using the heat of the combustion section, a reformer is disposed at a predetermined interval between a plurality of fuel cells, and air supplied to the cells is sometimes heated. .
However, there was no idea to prevent the heat diffusion in the combustion section, and the heat in the combustion section could not be used efficiently.

  Therefore, in the present invention, a fuel cell that makes it difficult to diffuse the heat of exhaust gas including gas generated by combustion of residual fuel gas and residual oxidant gas that did not contribute to power generation reaction in a plurality of fuel cells. The purpose is to provide modules.

In order to solve the above-described problem, a fuel cell module according to the present invention includes a plurality of fuel cells that operate when fuel gas and oxidant gas flow from one end side to the other end side;
A fuel cell module comprising a combustion section in which the remaining fuel gas and the remaining oxidant gas that did not contribute to the power generation reaction on the other end side burn,
A wall portion disposed on the inner side of the wall surface of the container of the fuel cell module, and disposed on the outer side of the plurality of fuel cells,
The wall portion is arranged from below the other end side of the plurality of fuel cells to above the other end side.

  According to the present invention, the fuel that makes it difficult to diffuse the heat of the exhaust gas including the gas generated by the combustion of the remaining fuel gas that did not contribute to the power generation reaction and the remaining oxidant gas in the plurality of fuel cells. A battery module can be provided.

Prior to describing the best mode for carrying out the present invention, the function and effect of the present invention will be described.

A fuel cell module according to the present invention includes a plurality of fuel cells that operate when fuel gas and oxidant gas flow from one end side to the other end side;
A fuel cell module comprising a combustion section in which the remaining fuel gas and the remaining oxidant gas that did not contribute to the power generation reaction on the other end side burn,
A wall portion disposed on the inner side of the wall surface of the container of the fuel cell module, and disposed on the outer side of the plurality of fuel cells,
The wall portion is arranged from below the other end side of the plurality of fuel cells to above the other end side.

  In the present invention, the wall portion is disposed from below the other end side of the plurality of fuel cells to above the other end side. Therefore, the exhaust gas including the gas generated by the combustion of the remaining fuel gas and the remaining oxidant gas that did not contribute to the power generation reaction in the plurality of fuel cells does not go to the wall portion side of the module container. Therefore, the heat of the exhaust gas can be prevented from escaping to the outside.

  In the fuel cell module according to the present invention, it is preferable that the wall portion is disposed on both sides of the plurality of fuel cells so as to sandwich the plurality of fuel cells.

  Since the wall portion is positioned so as to sandwich the cell, the effect of not letting out the heat of the exhaust gas becomes more reliable.

  In the fuel cell module according to the present invention, it is also preferable that the wall portion is provided on all four sides of the plurality of fuel cells so as to surround the plurality of fuel cells.

  Accordingly, the upper side of the other end side of the plurality of fuel cells is surrounded by the wall portion, and the heat of the exhaust gas at the other end side is more difficult to escape to the outside without fail.

DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In order to facilitate the understanding of the description, the same constituent elements in the drawings will be denoted by the same reference numerals as much as possible, and redundant description will be omitted.

FIG. 1 shows a fuel cell module FC which is an embodiment of a fuel cell module according to the present invention.
It is a perspective view which shows, Comprising: It is a figure which shows the state which removed the cover member. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the fuel cell module FC, and in the direction of arrow A in FIG.
It is sectional drawing in the center vicinity. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the fuel cell module FC,
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view in the vicinity of the center of the fuel cell module FC in the direction of arrow B in FIG. 1.
In FIGS. 2 and 3, the cross-sectional hatching is omitted.

The cover member (not explicitly shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 is shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 2) has a rectangular parallelepiped shape by a front side wall, a pair of longitudinal side walls, a rear side wall, and a ceiling. Formed. A flange portion is formed at the lower end portion of each side wall, and a space sealed by the cover member and the base member 2 is formed by bringing the flange portion into contact with the base member 2.
The cover member and the base member 2 are fixed by a bolt (not shown), and the bolt penetrates through an attachment hole provided in the cover member and is fixed by passing through an attachment hole 2a provided in the base member 2. Yes. In the present embodiment, the pair of side walls in the longitudinal direction corresponds to the container wall surface of the fuel cell module.

The internal space formed by the cover member and the base member 2 is separated into two spaces by the partition plate 15. Among the spaces separated by the partition plate 15, the space where the fuel cell stack 400 is disposed is the power generation chamber 16. Of the spaces separated by the partition plate 15, the other space is an exhaust gas chamber 17. The inner wall surface of the cover member and the partition plate 15 are in close contact with each other directly or indirectly through some kind of contact member (for example, a flexible thin plate member).

The partition plate 15 is placed on a support member 15 a provided on the base member 2, and the base member 2
And is held at a predetermined distance. A pair of support members 15a are provided so as to support the partition plate 15 at both ends in the longitudinal direction. Accordingly, a gap 15b is formed between the pair of support members 15a and 15a. Exhaust gas that has passed through an exhaust gas passage (not shown) provided on the wall surface of the cover member is introduced into the exhaust gas chamber 17 through the gap 15b.

The gas tank 3 is placed on the partition plate 15. Ten fuel cell stacks 400 are arranged side by side in the gas tank 3, and fuel gas is supplied from the gas tank 3 to the fuel cell 4 constituting each fuel cell stack 400.

More specifically, the lower support plate 4 of the fuel cell stack 400 is formed on the upper surface of the gas tank 3.
An opening (not shown) having substantially the same shape as 00b is provided, and the gas tank 3 and each fuel cell stack 400 are connected with the lower support plate 400b in close contact with the opening. Therefore, the fuel cells 4 constituting the fuel cell stack 400 are erected on the gas tank 3 with their tip portions facing upward.

Each fuel battery cell 4 has a tubular shape, and a gas flowing from one end of the fuel battery cell 4 to the other end inside the pipe of the fuel battery cell 4 and outside the pipe from the one end to the other end. It operates by the action of the gas flowing to the part. In the present embodiment, the gas flowing in the pipe of the fuel battery cell 4 is a fuel gas such as reformed gas obtained by reforming hydrogen or hydrocarbon fuel, and the gas flowing outside the pipe of the fuel battery cell 4 contains oxygen. Contains oxidant gas such as air.

Here, the fuel cell unit 30 including the fuel cells 4 will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 4, the fuel cell unit 30 is a tubular structure formed by the fuel cells 4 and extending in the vertical direction, and includes a cylindrical fuel cell 4 and one end of the fuel cell 4. It has an inner electrode terminal 40 attached to 4a and an outer electrode terminal 42 attached to the other end 4b.

The fuel cell 4 includes a cylindrical inner electrode layer 44, a cylindrical outer electrode layer 48, a cylindrical electrolyte layer 46 disposed between the electrode layers 44, 48, and an inner electrode. And a through flow channel 50 configured inside the layer 44. Further, an inner electrode exposed peripheral surface 44a in which the inner electrode layer 44 is exposed to the electrolyte layer 46 and the outer electrode layer 48 at one end 4a of the fuel cell 4, and the electrolyte layer 46 is an outer electrode layer. Electrolyte exposed peripheral surface 46a exposed to 48
And are provided. The other end 4b of the fuel cell 4 is configured by an outer electrode exposed peripheral surface 48a from which the outer electrode layer 48 is exposed. The through channel 50 functions as a fuel gas channel. The inner electrode exposed peripheral surface 44 a is also an inner electrode outer peripheral surface that is in electrical communication with the inner electrode layer 44. The outer electrode exposed peripheral surface 48 a is also an outer electrode outer peripheral surface that is in electrical communication with the outer electrode layer 48.

The inner electrode layer 44 includes, for example, a mixture of Ni and zirconia doped with at least one selected from rare earth elements such as Ca, Y, and Sc, ceria doped with at least one selected from Ni and rare earth elements, And a mixture of Ni and lanthanum gallate doped with at least one selected from Sr, Mg, Co, Fe, and Cu. The electrolyte layer 46 includes, for example, zirconia doped with at least one selected from rare earth elements such as Y and Sc, ceria doped with at least one selected from rare earth elements, lanthanum gallate doped with at least one selected from Sr and Mg, Formed from at least one of the following. The outer electrode layer 48 is made of, for example, lanthanum manganite doped with at least one selected from Sr and Ca, lanthanum ferrite doped with at least one selected from Sr, Co, Ni, and Cu, Sr, Fe, Ni, and Cu. It is formed from at least one selected from samarium cobalt and silver doped with at least one selected. In this case, the inner electrode layer 44 becomes a fuel electrode, and the outer electrode layer 48 becomes an air electrode. The thickness of the inner electrode layer 44 is, for example, 1 mm, and the thickness of the electrolyte layer 46 is, for example, 30 μm.
m, and the thickness of the outer electrode layer 48 is, for example, 30 μm, and the outer diameter thereof is, for example,
1-10 mm.

The inner electrode terminal 40 is arranged so as to cover the inner electrode exposed peripheral surface 44a from the outside over the entire circumference and is electrically connected to the inner electrode terminal 40a, and a tubular shape extending from the main body portion 40a in the longitudinal direction of the fuel cell 4. Part 40b. Main body portion 40a and tubular portion 4
0b is cylindrical and concentrically arranged, and the tube diameter of the tubular portion 40b is smaller than the tube diameter of the main body portion 40a. The tubular portion 40b has a connection channel 40c that communicates with the through channel 50 and communicates with the outside. A step 40d between the body portion 40a and the tubular portion 40b is
It is in contact with the end face 44 b of the inner electrode layer 44.

The outer electrode terminal 42 is disposed so as to cover the outer electrode exposed peripheral surface 48a from the outside over the entire circumference and is electrically connected thereto, and a tubular shape extending from the main body portion 42a in the longitudinal direction of the fuel cell 4. Part 42b. Main body portion 42a and tubular portion 4
2b is cylindrical and concentric, and the tube diameter of the tubular portion 42b is smaller than the tube diameter of the main body portion 42a. The tubular portion 42b has a connection channel 42c that communicates with the through channel 50 and communicates with the outside. The step portion 42d between the main body portion 42a and the tubular portion 42b has an end face 4 of the outer electrode layer 48, the electrolyte layer 46, and the inner electrode layer 44 through an annular insulating member 52.
It is in contact with 4c.

The overall shape of the inner electrode terminal 40 and the overall shape of the outer electrode terminal 42 are the same. Further, the inner electrode terminal 40 and the fuel battery cell 4, and the outer electrode terminal 42 and the fuel battery cell 4 are sealed and fixed by a conductive sealing material 54 over the entire circumference. The sealing material 54 is various brazing materials including, for example, silver, a mixture of silver and glass, gold, nickel, copper, and titanium.

The connection flow path 40 c of the inner electrode terminal 40, the through flow path 50 of the fuel cell 4, and the connection flow path 42 c of the outer electrode terminal 42 constitute an in-pipe flow path 30 c of the fuel cell unit 30.

Subsequently, for the fuel cell stack 400 including the fuel cell unit 30, FIG.
Will be described with reference to FIG. The fuel cell stack 400 includes 16 fuel cell units 30, an upper support plate 400a, a lower support plate 400b, a connection member 400c, and an external terminal 4
00d.

The upper support plate 400a and the lower support plate 400b are rectangular, and the tubular portions 40b, 42 of the fuel cell unit 30 are respectively supported so as to support the fuel cell unit 30 in 2 columns × 8 rows.
It has a through-hole (not shown in the figure) that fits into b. Upper support plate 400a and lower support plate 4
00b is made of an electrically insulating material, for example, heat-resistant ceramic. Specifically, it is preferable to use alumina, zirconia, spinel, forsterite, magnesia, titania or the like.

The 16 fuel cell units 30 are arranged so that they are electrically connected in series. In detail, the fuel cell unit 30 includes the adjacent fuel cell unit 3.
The zero inner electrode terminals 40 are alternately arranged on the upper side and the lower side. Furthermore,
A connection member 400c for electrically connecting the 16 fuel cell units 30 in series is provided. The connection member 400c electrically connects one adjacent inner electrode terminal 40 and one outer electrode terminal 42. Sixteen fuel cell units 30 connected in series
Each of the inner electrode terminal 40 and the outer electrode terminal 42 at both ends is provided with an external terminal 400d for electrical connection with the outside. The connection member 400c and the external terminal 400d are made of, for example, a heat-resistant metal such as stainless steel, a nickel base alloy, or a chromium base alloy, or a ceramic material such as lanthanum chromite. The external terminals 400d of each fuel cell stack 400 are electrically connected in series, and are connected to the electrode rods 13 and 14 at both ends thereof.

As described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5, in the fuel cell stack 400,
The end portion 4a provided with the inner electrode terminal 40 of the fuel cell unit 30 and the end portion 4b provided with the outer electrode terminal 42 are arranged so as to be alternately arranged in the vertical direction.

Here, returning to FIGS. 1 to 3, the description of the fuel cell module FC will be continued. In this embodiment,
The reformer 5 is disposed so as to be located above the fuel cell stack 400. A pipe 6C and a pipe 6D are connected to the reformer 5, and the reformer 5 is positioned above the fuel cell stack 400 at a predetermined interval by the pipe 6C and the pipe 6D. Is retained. The pipe 6 </ b> C is a pipe for supplying city gas, air, and water vapor as reformed gas to the reformer 5, and is erected with respect to the partition plate 15. The pipe 6 </ b> D is a pipe for supplying the fuel gas reformed in the reformer 5 to the gas tank 3, and is erected with respect to the gas tank 3.

The city gas and air supplied to the reformer 5 through the pipe 6C are introduced into the fuel cell module FC through the reformed gas supply pipe 6A. Further, the steam supplied to the reformer 5 through the pipe 6C is introduced into the fuel cell module FC through the steam supply pipe 6B. The to-be-reformed gas supply pipe 6A and the water vapor supply pipe 6B are connected to a mixing chamber 15c provided on the opposite side of the pipe 6C with the partition plate 15 in between. The city gas and air supplied from the reformed gas supply pipe 6A and the water vapor supplied from the steam supply pipe 6B are mixed in the mixing chamber 15c and supplied to the pipe 6C.

Although not shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, in this embodiment, the reformed gas supply pipe 6A and the steam supply pipe 6B
Are attached to each, and each solenoid valve is a CPU as a control unit.
The ratio of the gas to be reformed, air, and water vapor supplied to the reformer 5 can be changed by opening and closing in accordance with the instruction signal output from.

City gas (which may be mixed with steam) and air (which may be only reformed gas) as reformed gas introduced into the reformer 5 are contained in the reformer 5. The reforming catalyst is reformed. The reformed fuel gas is supplied to the gas tank 3 through the pipe 6D. The portion where the pipe 6C is connected to the reformer 5 and the portion where the pipe 6D is connected to the reformer 5 are separated from each other in the vicinity of one end and the other end in the longitudinal direction. As a result, the fuel gas and air supplied to the reformer 5 can sufficiently touch the reforming catalyst.

A reforming catalyst is enclosed in the reformer 5. As the reforming catalyst, a catalyst in which nickel is applied to the surface of the alumina sphere and a catalyst in which ruthenium is applied to the surface of the alumina sphere are appropriately used. These reforming catalysts are spheres.

In the present embodiment, the flow path member 7 is provided so as to surround each fuel cell stack 400 including the reformer 5 and a plurality of fuel cells. The flow path member 7 has air flow path outer walls 71 and 72, an air distribution chamber 73, air collecting chambers 74 and 75, air flow path pipes 76a, 76b, 77a and 77b, and outer walls 78 and 79. Yes. The flow path member 7 is formed such that the air flow path outer walls 71 and 72 are arranged in the longitudinal direction and the outer walls 78 and 79 are arranged in the short direction, respectively, and are formed into a box shape by these members. The flow path member 7 is erected on the partition plate 15 so as to cover the reformer 5 and each fuel cell stack 400. In the following description, the side of the flow path member 7 that is in contact with the partition plate 15 will be referred to as the lower side, and the side opposite to the lower side will be referred to as the upper side. Here, the air passage pipes 76a, 76b, 77a, 77b correspond to the oxygen-containing gas introduction pipe in the present application.
The air flow path outer walls 71 and 72 and the outer walls 78 and 79, which are walls of the present application, are provided on four sides of the plurality of fuel cells so as to surround the plurality of fuel cells.
The air flow path outer walls 71 and 72 and the outer walls 78 and 79 are arranged along an array of a plurality of fuel cells. Therefore, these walls not only prevent the escape of heat from the exhaust gas, but also follow the arrangement of the plurality of fuel cells, so that the heat balance is not lost.
That is, the wall portion is arranged at the same distance in each of the outermost cells of the plurality of fuel cells, so that the difficulty of escaping the heat of the exhaust gas can be made the same and the heat balance can be stabilized.
Further, in FIG. 2, R is smaller in the distance L between the air flow path outer wall 72 and the wall of the module container and the distance R between the air flow path outer wall 72 and the outermost cell R1 of the plurality of fuel cells.
That is, the wall portion in the present embodiment such as the air flow path outer wall 72 is arranged closer to the fuel cell side than the wall portion of the module container. Therefore, it has a structure in which it is difficult to transfer heat to the outside of the module container, and it is difficult to release heat.

The air distribution chamber 73 is attached to the upper outside of the outer wall 79. That is, the air distribution chamber 73 is attached to the outside of the box-shaped body formed by the air flow path outer walls 71 and 72 and the outer walls 78 and 79 and above the short side. An air supply pipe 7A is connected to the air distribution chamber 73, and air as an oxidant gas is supplied. In the air distribution chamber 73, air flow path pipes 76a,
76b, 77a, 77b are also connected.

The air flow path pipes 76a and 76b are arranged along the air flow path outer wall 71 on the inner side of the box-shaped body formed by the air flow path outer walls 71 and 72 and the outer walls 78 and 79 and above the longitudinal side. Yes. The air channel tube 76a is on the air channel outer wall 71 side, and the air channel tube 76b is on the air channel tube 76.
They are arranged inside a. One end of each of the air passage pipes 76a and 76b is an outer wall 79.
And the other end is connected to the air collecting chamber 74. Accordingly, the air flowing into the air distribution chamber 73 passes through the air flow path pipes 76a and 76b and passes through the air collecting chamber 7.
Flows into 4 and rejoins.

The air flow path pipes 77a and 77b are arranged along the air flow path outer wall 72 on the inner side and the upper side of the box-shaped body formed by the air flow path outer walls 71 and 72 and the outer walls 78 and 79. Yes. The air channel tube 77a is on the air channel outer wall 72 side, and the air channel tube 77b is on the air channel tube 77.
They are arranged inside a. One end of each of the air passage pipes 77a and 77b is an outer wall 79.
And the other end is connected to the air collecting chamber 75. Therefore, the air flowing into the air distribution chamber 73 passes through the air flow path pipes 77a and 77b and passes through the air collecting chamber 7.
Flows into 5 and rejoins.

The air collecting chambers 74 and 75 are attached to the upper inside of the outer wall 78. That is, the air collecting chambers 74 and 75 are attached to the inside of the box-like body formed by the air flow path outer walls 71 and 72 and the outer walls 78 and 79 and above the short side. The air collecting chamber 74 has an air flow path outer wall 71.
The air that has flowed into the air collecting chamber 74 is placed in close contact with the air flow passage outer wall 71.
It is configured to flow out. On the other hand, the air collecting chamber 75 is disposed so as to be in close contact with the air flow path outer wall 72, and the air flowing into the air collecting chamber 75 is configured to flow out to the air flow path outer wall 72.

Each of the air flow path outer walls 71 and 72 has a double wall structure, and is configured so that air can flow through each of them. More specifically, the air flow path outer wall 71 is:
The structure is divided into three chambers from above, and in order from the top, the first chamber 711 and the second chamber 71.
2, formed as a third chamber 713. The air that flows from the air collecting chamber 74 flows into the first chamber 711, then flows into the second chamber 712, and then flows into the third chamber 713. Similarly, the air flow path outer wall 72 has a structure that is divided into three chambers from above.
The first chamber 721, the second chamber 722, and the third chamber 723 are formed. The air flowing from the air collecting chamber 75 flows into the first chamber 721, then flows into the second chamber 722, and then flows into the third chamber 723.

Each of the third chambers 713 and 723 has a plurality of air inflow holes 713a and 713 at predetermined intervals.
23a is formed. The air inflow holes 713a and 723a are formed in the fuel cell stack 40.
A plurality are formed so that the positions in the vertical direction with respect to the fuel cells 4 are substantially the same in the direction in which 0 is continuously provided and toward the gaps between the fuel cells 4.

The air flowing into the air flow path outer walls 71 and 72 is configured to flow into the vicinity of the fuel cell 4 in the power generation chamber 16 through the air inflow holes 713a and 723a. Air inflow hole 71
The air flowing in through 3a and 723a flows from the lower side to the upper side of each fuel cell 4 through the outside of the fuel cell 4. The air that reaches the upper side of each fuel battery cell 4 is burned together with the fuel gas that has passed through the pipe flow path of each fuel battery cell 4.

Above each fuel cell stack 400 is a combustion section 18 in which air and fuel gas are mixed and burned. The fuel gas rises from the gas tank 3 through the in-pipe flow path 30 c of the fuel cell unit 30 toward the combustion unit 18. Further, the air flowing outside the fuel cell 4 also rises toward the combustion unit 18. An ignition device insertion hole 724 is provided in a portion of the air flow path outer wall 72 corresponding to the combustion portion 18, and an ignition device (not shown) for starting combustion of combustion gas and air is burned from the ignition device insertion hole 724. Projected to the portion 18. The ignition device mixes and burns fuel gas and air. The fuel cells 4 constituting the fuel cell stack 400 are heated from above by the combustion unit 18. In addition, air inflow holes 713a,
As described above, the air flowing in through the air flow channel 723a is also air flow pipes 76a, 76b, 77a,
77b, while passing through the air flow path outer walls 71 and 72, is heated by the combustion in the combustion section 18.

Here, the flow of the exhaust gas in the flow path member 7 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 6 is a diagram schematically showing the inside of the flow path member 7 as viewed from the same direction as FIG. 2 in order to explain the flow of exhaust gas in the flow path member 7. As shown in FIG. 6, in each fuel cell 4, a power generation reaction is performed by the action of the fuel gas flowing inside and the air flowing outside. The remaining fuel gas and the remaining air that have not contributed to the power generation reaction are combusted at the upper end of each fuel cell 4, and the exhaust gas rises upward. Fuel cell 4
Since the reformer 5 is arranged above the group, the exhaust gas rises further so as to avoid the reformer 5. Here, if there is no shielding object above the reformer 5, the amount of exhaust gas that rises so as to avoid the reformer 5 rises as it is, and wraps around the upper surface of the reformer 5. Very little.

However, in the case of the present embodiment, air flow path pipes 76a, 76b, 77a, 77b are provided above the reformer 5 and between the reformer 5 and the upper end of the flow path member 7. . Accordingly, the flow path of the exhaust gas from both sides of the reformer 5 to the upper side is substantially narrowed, and the flow of the exhaust gas is inhibited in this portion. for that reason,
The exhaust gas rising upward from both sides of the reformer 5 is air flow pipes 76a, 76b, 77a,
77b impinges on the lower surface 76aa, 76ba, 77aa, 77ba of each of the air flow, and the flow is hindered. It flows between the channel tube 77a and the air channel tube 77b, and between the air channel tube 77a and the air channel outer wall 72. Further, the remaining exhaust gas is separated from the air passage tube 76b and the air passage tube 7.
7b, that is, flows into the upper surface side of the reformer 5. By configuring the exhaust gas to flow into the upper surface side of the reformer 5 in this way, the exhaust gas is brought into contact with the upper surface of the reformer 5 to effectively exchange heat with the reformer 5. Can be done.

In other words, by having the air flow path outer walls 71 and 72 which are arranged on the inner side of the container wall surface of the fuel cell module and are arranged on the outer side of the air flow path pipes 76a, 76b, 77a and 77b, It is possible to prevent the heat in the combustion section 18 from diffusing and lowering the temperature, and to effectively apply heat to the air channel tube. Here, the air flow path outer walls 71 and 72 are wall portions in the present application.
The wall portion is disposed above the other end side of the plurality of fuel cells.
Further, as in the present embodiment, the air flow path pipes 76a, 76b, 77a, 77b are arranged above the space between the reformer and the air flow path outer walls 71, 72 without any obstacles. Therefore, heat can be applied more effectively.
Further, in the present embodiment, the air flow path outer walls 71, 72 are arranged to the upper side than the air flow path pipes 76a, 76b, 77a, 77b are located. Therefore, the diffusion of heat can be prevented even at the height where the air channel tube is disposed, and this effectively acts to impart heat to the air channel tube.
Needless to say, if the wall portion is disposed up to a position higher than the flame from the other end side of the fuel battery cell, the heat of combustion cannot be released more effectively.

It is a perspective view of the fuel cell module which removes and shows a cover member. It is sectional drawing of the fuel cell module shown in FIG. It is sectional drawing of the fuel cell module shown in FIG. It is a figure for demonstrating a fuel cell unit. It is a figure for demonstrating a fuel cell stack. It is a figure which shows the structure of the transfer part of the fuel cell module which concerns on this embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

2: Base member 2a: Hole 3: Gas tank 4: Fuel cell 4a: End 4b: End 5: Reformer 6A: Reformed gas supply pipe 6B: Steam supply pipe 6C: Pipe 6D: Pipe 7: Flow Road member 7A: Air supply pipe 13, 14: Electrode rod 15: Plate 15a: Support member 15b: Gap 15c: Mixing chamber 16: Power generation chamber 17: Exhaust gas chamber 18: Combustion section 30: Fuel cell unit 30c: In-pipe flow Path 40: Inner electrode terminal 40a: Main body portion 40b: Tubular portion 40c: Connection flow path 40d: Step portion 42: Outer electrode terminal 42a: Main body portion 42b: Tubular portion 42c: Connection flow passage 42d: Step portion 44: Electrode layer 44a : Inner electrode exposed peripheral surface 44b: End surface 44c: End surface 46: Electrolyte layer 46a: Electrolyte exposed peripheral surface 48: Electrode layer 48a: Outer electrode exposed peripheral surface 50: Through channel 52: Insulating member 5 4: Sealing material 71: Air flow path outer wall 72: Air flow path outer wall 73: Air distribution chamber 74: Air collection chamber 75: Air collection chamber 76a, 76b, 77a, 77b: Air flow passage pipes 76aa, 76ba, 77aa, 77ba : Bottom surface 78: outer wall 79: outer wall 80, 81: transition plate 82, 83: transition block 84: transition plate 400: fuel cell stack 400a: upper support plate 400b: lower support plate 400c: connecting member 400d: external terminal 711: First chamber 712: Second chamber 713: Third chamber 713a, 723a: Air inflow hole 721: First chamber 722: Second chamber 723: Third chamber 724: Ignition device insertion hole FC: Fuel cell module

Claims (3)

A plurality of fuel cells that operate when fuel gas and oxidant gas flow from one end side to the other end side;
A fuel cell module comprising a combustion section in which the remaining fuel gas and the remaining oxidant gas that did not contribute to the power generation reaction on the other end side burn,
A wall portion disposed on the inner side of the wall surface of the container of the fuel cell module, and disposed on the outer side of the plurality of fuel cells,
The fuel cell module, wherein the wall portion is disposed from the lower end side to the upper side of the other end side of the plurality of fuel cells.   2. The fuel cell module according to claim 1, wherein the wall portion is disposed on both sides of the plurality of fuel cells so as to sandwich the plurality of fuel cells.   3. The fuel cell module according to claim 1, wherein the wall portion is provided on four sides of the plurality of fuel battery cells so as to surround the plurality of fuel battery cells. 4.

Images