JP2011009037A - Fuel cell stack device, fuel cell module and fuel cell device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a fuel cell stack improved in power generation efficiency using a collector member having a drift-forming member.SOLUTION: The fuel cell stack device includes a plurality of cell stacks provided with a plurality of fuel cells 3, having a first reaction gas passage inside and erected via collector members 4, and a manifold for supplying a first reaction gas to the fuel cell. The fuel cell 3 burns the first reaction gas and a second reaction gas which is not supplied for power generation above an upper end portion of the fuel cell. Since the collector member 4 includes a drift-forming member 19 for leading the second reaction gas upward to the upper-end portion of the fuel cell 3 in the upper end portion, the second reaction gas of sufficient amount can be supplied above the upper end portion of the fuel cell 3 so that the power generation efficiency of the fuel cell stack can be improved.

Description

  The present invention relates to a fuel cell stack device in which a plurality of fuel cells are arranged, a fuel cell module including the fuel cell stack device, and a fuel cell device.

  In recent years, as next-generation energy, a plurality of fuel cells that generate power at a high temperature of 600 ° C. to 1000 ° C. using a fuel gas (hydrogen-containing gas) and an oxygen-containing gas (air, etc.) are installed through current collecting members. A fuel cell stack device in which a cell stack formed and electrically connected in series is fixed to a manifold for supplying a reaction gas to the fuel cell, a fuel cell module containing the fuel cell stack device, and a fuel Various fuel cell devices that house battery modules have been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  FIG. 10 shows a conventional fuel cell stack device 61 constituting the fuel cell device, (a) is a side view schematically showing the fuel cell stack device 61, and (b) is a fuel cell of (a). 6 is a partially enlarged plan view of a portion surrounded by a dotted frame of the stack device 61. FIG. In the fuel cell stack device 61, the fuel cells 63 having the first reaction gas flow path 73 are arranged in a standing state via the current collector 64, and the lower end of the fuel cell 63 is the first. It is configured to be fixed to a manifold 67 for supplying one reaction gas (fuel gas or the like). The first reaction gas flows in the plurality of first reaction gas flow paths 73 from the lower side to the upper side, and the second reaction gas (air or the like) flows outside the fuel cell 63 so that the fuel cell. The cell 63 generates power.

  FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing an example of a conventional current collecting member constituting the fuel cell stack device. The current collecting member 80 includes a current collecting piece 81a in contact with one adjacent fuel cell 63, a current collecting piece 81b in contact with the other adjacent fuel cell 73, and a pair of these current collecting pieces 81a and 81b. A connecting portion 82 that connects both ends is provided as a conductive piece (not shown) of a basic configuration, and a plurality of the conductive pieces are arranged along the longitudinal direction of the fuel cell through the conductive connecting piece 83. It is formed and formed continuously. The second reaction gas (air or the like) flows through the space between the pair of current collecting pieces 81 a and 81 b, thereby supplying the second reaction gas to the fuel cell 63.

  12A and 12B show another example of a conventional current collecting member constituting the fuel cell stack device. FIG. 12A is a front view, and FIG. 12B is a perspective view showing a part of the current collecting member. The current collecting member 85 is spaced apart from a plurality of first current collecting pieces 86 that abut one adjacent fuel cell 63 and a second current collecting piece 87 that abuts the other adjacent fuel cell 63. A first conductor piece 88 that connects one end of the first current collecting piece 86 and the other end of the second current collecting piece 87, one end of the second current collecting piece 87 that is spaced apart, and another first current collection piece. The second conductor piece 89 that connects the other end of the electric piece 86 is a basic structure, and is formed continuously in the longitudinal direction of the fuel cell.

  Here, the fuel cell stack device 61 uses the surplus first reaction gas (fuel gas) that has not been used for the power generation reaction above the upper end of the fuel cell 63 to be used for power generation. By using the second reactive gas (air), the power generation reaction is efficiently performed.

JP 2003-308857 A

  However, since most of the second reaction gas (air or the like) that flows inside the current collecting member tends to flow above the current collecting member, a sufficient amount of the second reactive gas above the upper end portion of the fuel cell unit. The reaction gas may not be supplied. Along with this, combustion of excess fuel gas above the upper end of the fuel cell is not performed sufficiently, the temperature of the cell stack cannot be increased efficiently or maintained at a high temperature, and power generation efficiency may be poor. is there.

  Further, at the time of low output of the fuel cell device, the supply amount of the second reaction gas (air, etc.) supplied is small, and there is a risk of misfire. Along with this, the temperature of the cell stack is lowered, and the power generation efficiency may be deteriorated.

  An object of the present invention is to supply a sufficient amount of the second reaction gas above the upper end portion of the fuel cell so that sufficient combustion can be performed, and the fuel cell stack device, fuel, and fuel that have improved power generation efficiency A battery module and a fuel cell device are provided.

The fuel cell stack device of the present invention has a plurality of fuel cells each having a first reaction gas flow path for flowing a first reaction gas therein and arranged in a standing state via a current collecting member. And a manifold for supplying a first reaction gas to the fuel cell, and fixing a lower end portion of the fuel cell, and being supplied between the adjacent fuel cells. The first reactive gas and the first reactive gas are used to generate power in the fuel cell, and the first fuel cell that has not been used for power generation above the upper end of the fuel cell. In the fuel cell stack device for burning the reaction gas and the second reaction gas,
The current collecting member is disposed between the adjacent fuel cells, and has a drift member for guiding the second reaction gas above the upper end of the fuel cell at the upper end.

  In such a fuel cell stack device, a current collecting member is disposed between adjacent fuel cells, and a drift member for guiding the second reaction gas to the upper end of the fuel cell above the upper end of the fuel cell. Therefore, a sufficient amount of the second reaction gas necessary for combustion can be supplied above the upper end of the fuel cell.

  Thereby, combustion is sufficiently performed above the upper end portion of the fuel battery cell, so that the temperature of the cell stack can be maintained at a high temperature, and the power generation efficiency of the cell stack can be improved.

  In addition, since combustion is sufficiently performed even when the fuel cell device is started, the temperature of the cell stack can be improved efficiently, and the power generation efficiency of the cell stack can be improved.

  Furthermore, even when the fuel cell device is operated at a low output, a sufficient amount of the second reaction gas can be supplied above the upper end of the fuel cell, so that misfire can be suppressed.

  Thereby, it can suppress that the temperature of a cell stack falls by misfire, the temperature of a cell stack can be maintained at high temperature, and the power generation efficiency of a cell stack can be improved. Therefore, the power generation efficiency of the fuel cell stack device can be improved.

  The fuel cell module of the present invention is characterized in that the fuel cell stack device described above is accommodated in a storage container. In such a fuel cell module, since the fuel cell stack device with improved power generation efficiency is housed in the storage container, the fuel cell module with improved power generation efficiency can be obtained.

  The fuel cell device of the present invention is characterized in that the fuel module and an auxiliary machine for operating the fuel cell module are 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.

  The fuel cell stack device of the present invention has a plurality of fuel cells each having a first reaction gas flow path for flowing a first reaction gas therein and arranged in a standing state via a current collecting member. And a manifold for supplying a first reaction gas to the fuel cell, and fixing a lower end portion of the fuel cell, and being supplied between the adjacent fuel cells. The first reactive gas and the first reactive gas are used to generate power in the fuel cell, and the first fuel cell that has not been used for power generation above the upper end of the fuel cell. In the fuel cell stack device for burning the reaction gas and the second reaction gas, the current collecting member is disposed between the adjacent fuel cells, and the second reaction gas is disposed at an upper end of the fuel cell. cell Since the drift member for leading the upper end portion is provided, a sufficient amount of the second reaction gas necessary for combustion can be supplied above the upper end portion of the fuel cell, and the temperature of the cell stack can be efficiently increased. Can be raised well or maintained at high temperature. Therefore, the power generation efficiency of the fuel cell stack device can be improved. Further, even when the fuel cell device is operated at a low output, misfire can be suppressed, and the temperature of the cell stack can be maintained at a high temperature, so that the power generation efficiency of the fuel cell device can be improved. Can do. In addition, by storing the fuel cell stack device in a storage container, a fuel cell module with improved power generation efficiency can be obtained. Further, the fuel cell module and an auxiliary device for operating the fuel cell module are provided. Is housed in the outer case, thereby providing a fuel cell device with improved power generation efficiency.

An example of the fuel cell stack device of the present invention is shown, (a) is a side view schematically showing the fuel cell stack device, (b) is an enlarged plan view showing a part of (a). The current collection member shown in FIG. 1 is shown, (a) is a front view, (b) is the perspective view which extracts and shows a part. It is a side view which extracts and shows a part of fuel cell stack apparatus shown in FIG. The other example of the current collection member which comprises the fuel cell stack apparatus of this invention is shown, (a) is a perspective view, (b) is a top view. (A) is the side view which extracts and shows a part of other example of the fuel cell stack apparatus of this invention, (b) is a top view of the current collection member which comprises the fuel cell stack apparatus of (a). is there. It is a side view which extracts and shows a part of other example of the fuel cell stack apparatus of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the current collection member which comprises the fuel cell stack apparatus shown in FIG. It is an external appearance perspective view which shows an example of the fuel cell module of this invention. It is a disassembled perspective view which shows an example of the fuel cell apparatus of this invention. An example of a conventional fuel cell stack device is shown, (a) is a side view schematically showing the fuel cell stack device, (b) is a portion surrounded by a dotted frame of the fuel cell stack device of (a). It is the top view which expanded a part. It is a perspective view which shows an example of the current collection member which comprises the conventional fuel cell stack apparatus. The other example of the current collection member which comprises the conventional fuel cell stack apparatus is shown, (a) is a front view, (b) is a perspective view which extracts and shows a part.

  1A and 1B show an example of a fuel cell stack device of the present invention. FIG. 1A is a side view schematically showing the fuel cell stack device, and FIG. 1B is a fuel cell stack device 1 of FIG. FIG. 5 is a plan view showing a part of the cell stack apparatus 1 in an enlarged manner, and shows a part surrounded by a dotted line frame shown in FIG. In the following drawings, the same numbers are assigned to the same members.

  Here, the cell stack device 1 has a first reaction gas flow path 13 inside, and a cross section having a pair of opposed flat surfaces is inside on one flat surface of the conductive support 12 having a flat shape. The electrode layer, the solid electrolyte layer 9, and the outer electrode layer are stacked in this order, and the interconnector 11 is stacked on the other flat surface where the outer electrode layer is not formed. A cell stack formed by arranging a plurality of (planar) fuel cells 3 between adjacent fuel cells 3 via a current collecting member 4 to electrically connect the fuel cells 3 in series. 2 is provided.

  A P-type semiconductor layer 14 can also be provided on the outer surface of the interconnector 11. By connecting the current collecting member 4 to the interconnector 11 via the P-type semiconductor layer 14, the contact between the two becomes an ohmic contact, thereby reducing the potential drop and effectively suppressing the decrease in the current collecting performance. it can. The P-type semiconductor layer 14 can also be provided on the outer surface of the air electrode layer 10.

  Then, the lower end of each fuel cell 3 constituting the cell stack 2 has a glass sealing material (manufactured on the manifold 7 for supplying the first reaction gas to the fuel cell 3 via the first reaction gas channel 13). It is fixed by a bonding material such as (not shown).

  In the cell stack device 1 shown in FIG. 1, as the fuel cell 3, a hydrogen-containing gas (fuel gas) flows through the first reaction gas flow path 13, and the fuel electrode layer 8 is provided as the inner electrode layer. A fuel battery cell 3 provided with an air electrode layer 10 is used as an electrode layer, a hydrogen-containing gas (fuel gas) is supplied as a first reaction gas from a manifold 7, and an oxygen-containing gas (a second reaction gas) ( The fuel battery cell 3 generates power by supplying air or the like to the outside of the fuel battery cell 3.

  In the following description, a case where a fuel gas is used as the first reaction gas and an oxygen-containing gas is used as the second reaction gas will be described as an example.

  In such a cell stack device 1, the fuel gas discharged from the first reaction gas flow path 13 (excess fuel gas) is burned above the upper end portion of the fuel cell 3, thereby providing fuel. The temperature of the battery cell 3 can be efficiently raised or maintained at a high temperature, and the power generation efficiency of the cell stack device 1 is improved.

  The cell stack device 1 includes an elastically deformable conductive member 5 having a lower end fixed to a manifold 7 so as to sandwich the cell stack 2 from both ends in the arrangement direction of the fuel cells 3 via current collecting members 4. ing. Here, the conductive member 5 shown in FIG. 1 has a shape that extends outward along the arrangement direction of the fuel cells 3 and draws out current generated by the power generation of the cell stack 2 (fuel cells 3). A current drawing portion 6 is provided.

  Below, each member which comprises the fuel cell 3 shown in FIG. 1 is demonstrated.

As the fuel electrode layer 8, generally known ones can be used. Porous conductive ceramics such as ZrO ₂ (referred to as stabilized zirconia) in which a rare earth element is dissolved and Ni and / or NiO are used. And can be formed from

The solid electrolyte layer 9 has a function as an electrolyte that bridges electrons between the electrodes, and at the same time, has to have a gas barrier property in order to prevent leakage between the fuel gas and the oxygen-containing gas. , 3 to 15 mol% of rare earth elements are formed from ZrO ₂ as a solid solution. In addition, as long as it has the said characteristic, you may form using another material etc.

The air electrode layer 10 is not particularly limited as long as it is generally used. For example, the air electrode layer 10 can be formed of a conductive ceramic made of a so-called ABO ₃ type perovskite oxide. The air electrode layer 10 needs to have gas permeability, and the open porosity is preferably 20% or more, particularly preferably in the range of 30 to 50%.

Although the interconnector 11 can be formed from conductive ceramics, it is required to have reduction resistance and oxidation resistance because it is in contact with a fuel gas (hydrogen-containing gas) and an oxygen-containing gas (air, etc.). Therefore, a lanthanum chromite-based perovskite oxide (LaCrO ₃ -based oxide) is preferably used. The interconnector 11 is for preventing leakage of fuel gas flowing through the plurality of first reaction gas flow paths 13 formed on the conductive support 12 and oxygen-containing gas flowing outside the conductive support 12. It must be dense and preferably has a relative density of 93% or more, particularly 95% or more.

  The conductive support 12 is required to be gas permeable in order to permeate the fuel gas to the fuel electrode layer 8 and to be conductive in order to collect current via the interconnector 11. . Therefore, as the conductive support 12, it is necessary to adopt a material satisfying such a requirement as a material, and for example, conductive ceramics, cermet, or the like can be used.

  When the fuel cell 3 is manufactured, when the conductive support 12 is manufactured by co-firing with the fuel electrode layer 8 or the solid electrolyte layer 9, the conductivity is made from the iron group metal component and the specific rare earth oxide. It is preferable to form the support 12. Further, the conductive support 12 preferably has an open porosity of 30% or more, particularly 35 to 50% in order to have the required gas permeability, and the conductivity is 300 S / cm or more. In particular, it is preferably 440 S / cm or more.

Furthermore, as the P-type semiconductor layer 14, a layer made of a transition metal perovskite oxide can be exemplified. Specifically, a material having higher electron conductivity than a lanthanum chromite-based perovskite oxide (LaCrO ₃ -based oxide) constituting the interconnector 11, for example, LaMnO in which Mn, Fe, Co, etc. are present at the B site. P-type semiconductor ceramics made of at least one of _three- based oxides, LaFeO ₃ -based oxides, LaCoO ₃ -based oxides and the like can be used. In general, the thickness of the P-type semiconductor layer 14 is preferably in the range of 30 to 100 μm.

  Although not shown, the solid electrolyte layer 9 and the air electrode layer 10 are firmly joined between the solid electrolyte layer 9 and the air electrode layer 10, and the components of the solid electrolyte layer 9 and the air electrode are It is formed with a composition containing Ce (cerium) and other rare earth elements (Sm, Gd, etc.) for the purpose of suppressing the formation of a reaction layer having a high electrical resistance by reacting with the components of the layer 10. An intermediate layer can also be provided.

  Although not shown, a fuel electrode is provided between the interconnector 11 and the conductive support 12 to reduce a difference in thermal expansion coefficient between the interconnector 11 and the conductive support 12. An adhesion layer having a composition similar to that of the layer 8 may be provided.

  2 shows the current collecting member shown in FIG. 1, (a) is a front view, (b) is a perspective view showing a part of the current collecting member, and FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the fuel cell stack device shown in FIG. It is a side view which extracts and shows a part.

  A current collecting member 4 shown in FIG. 2 includes a plurality of first current collecting pieces 15 that abut one adjacent fuel cell 3, a second current collecting piece 17 that abuts the other adjacent fuel cell 3, A first conductor piece 16 that connects one end of the first current collecting piece 15 and the other end of the second current collecting piece 17 that are arranged apart from each other, one end of the second current collecting piece 17 that is arranged apart, and the other The second electric conductor piece 18 connecting the other end of the first current collecting piece 15 is basically formed, and is formed continuously in the longitudinal direction of the fuel cell 3, and a flat plate is formed at the upper end portion thereof. The shape-shaped drift member 19 is provided.

  The drift member 19 is provided from the first current collecting piece 16 on the one side at the top to the upper side of the second current collecting piece 17 on the other side. In FIG. 3, one end of the drift member 19 is provided integrally with the first current collecting piece 15 at the uppermost portion, and the other end is inclined so as to be disposed above the second current collecting piece. The upper end of the drift member 19 is located at the same height as the upper end of the fuel cell 3.

  Here, the current collecting member 4 shown in FIG. 2 is in contact with the fuel cell 3 where the first current collecting piece 15 and the second current collecting piece 17 face each other, and the first current collecting piece 15 and the second current collecting piece. 17 are connected by the first conductor piece 16 and the second conductor piece 18 respectively, and the plurality of fuel cells 3 are electrically connected. Further, the first current collecting piece 15 and the second current collecting piece 17 are arranged at intervals along the arrangement direction of the fuel cells 3, and are arranged between the fuel cells 3 (that is, the first current collecting pieces). 15 and the second current collecting piece 17) becomes a second reaction gas flow path (not shown), and an oxygen-containing gas (air or the like) supplied to the fuel cell 3 (air electrode layer 10) is provided. It flows from the lower side of the second reaction gas channel to the upper side.

  Then, surplus fuel gas that has not been used for power generation (hereinafter may be abbreviated as fuel off gas) is surplus oxygen-containing gas that has not been used for power generation (hereinafter may be abbreviated as oxygen-containing off gas). Is used above the upper end portion of the fuel cell 3 (more specifically, the vicinity of the outlet of the first reaction gas channel 13 on the upper end side of the fuel cell 3. Hereinafter, it may be abbreviated as a combustion portion. ) And the fuel cell 3 is warmed by the combustion heat generated by this combustion, so that power can be generated efficiently.

  Here, since most of the oxygen-containing offgas that has flowed through the second gas flow path is likely to flow upward of the current collecting member 4, there is a possibility that a sufficient amount of oxygen-containing offgas cannot be supplied to the combustion section. . Accordingly, there is a possibility that the fuel off-gas is not sufficiently burned above the upper end portion of the fuel cell 3 and the temperature of the cell stack 2 cannot be efficiently increased or maintained at a high temperature.

  However, at the upper end of the current collecting member 4 of the present invention, an oxygen-containing off-gas is located above the upper end (combustion portion) of one fuel cell 3 (the fuel cell 3 located on the left side of the paper in FIG. 3). The drift member 19 for guiding is joined. Thereby, the oxygen-containing off-gas that has flowed through the second reaction gas flow path can be efficiently supplied to the combustion section by the drift member 19.

  Further, even when the fuel cell device 60 (see FIG. 9) is started, a sufficient amount of oxygen-containing off-gas can be supplied to the combustion section, and the cell stack 2 can be efficiently warmed by sufficient combustion. Therefore, the power generation efficiency of the fuel cell stack device 1 can be improved.

  Furthermore, when the fuel cell device is operated at a low output, the amount of fuel gas and the amount of oxygen-containing gas supplied to the fuel cell 3 is small, so that misfire may occur. Since the oxygen-containing off-gas can be sufficiently supplied to the combustion part by having, misfire can be suppressed. Thereby, the temperature of the cell stack 2 can be effectively increased or maintained at a high temperature. Therefore, the power generation efficiency of the cell stack 2 can be improved, and the power generation efficiency of the cell stack device 1 can be improved.

  When the drift member 19 is provided above the upper end portion of one fuel cell 3, it is preferable to provide the drift member 19 in the same direction along the arrangement direction of the cell stacks 2. Thereby, the oxygen-containing offgas can be uniformly supplied to the fuel cells 3 constituting the cell stack 2. Therefore, the power generation efficiency of the cell stack 2 can be improved, and the power generation efficiency of the cell stack device 1 can be improved.

  Here, the part that generates power in the fuel cell 3 is a part in which the fuel electrode layer 8, the solid electrolyte layer 9, and the air electrode layer 10 are stacked in this order (hereinafter may be referred to as a power generation unit). ). Therefore, the length along the longitudinal direction of the fuel battery cell 3 of the current collector that is a part other than the drift member 19 for efficiently collecting the current generated by the fuel battery cell 3 in the current collector 4 is The length of the air electrode layer 10 in the fuel cell 3 is preferably equal to the length in the longitudinal direction. Thus, the cost of the current collecting member 4 can be reduced without reducing the current collecting efficiency by providing the current collecting portion having the same length as the power generation portion. Moreover, the length along the width direction of the fuel cell 3 of the current collector described above is preferably equal to the length of the air electrode layer 10 in the width direction of the fuel cell 3.

  The length in the width direction of the drift member 19 is preferably equal to or longer than the length in the width direction of the air electrode layer 10 in the fuel cell 3. Thereby, the oxygen-containing off gas can be efficiently supplied to the combustion section.

  Note that the side of the drift member 19 that is not joined to the first current collecting piece 15 (the side arranged above the second current collecting piece 17) may be arranged at a position higher than the upper end of the fuel cell 3. . Thereby, oxygen-containing off gas can be further supplied to the combustion section.

  Here, in order to obtain heat resistance and conductivity, for example, conductive ceramics or cermet can be used for the current collector. In addition, the drift member 19 preferably has an insulating property in order to prevent the adjacent current collecting members 4 (the drift member 19) from coming into contact with each other via the fuel cell 3 and causing a short circuit. Alternatively, another member such as a member made of or the like may be bonded. Moreover, you may produce by processing the upper end part of the current collection member 4. FIG. In this case, the drift member 19 can be easily manufactured. In addition, when processing the upper end part of the current collection member 4 and producing the drift member 19, it is preferable to perform insulating coding on the surface of the drift member 19.

  Further, since the current collecting member 4 is exposed to a high-temperature oxidizing atmosphere, an oxidation-resistant coating may be applied. Thereby, deterioration of the current collection member 4 can be suppressed, and the fall of the power generation efficiency of the cell stack apparatus 1 can be suppressed.

  FIG. 4 shows another example of the current collecting member constituting the fuel cell stack device of the present invention, where (a) is a perspective view and (b) is a plan view.

  A current collecting member 20 shown in FIG. 4 forms a current collecting piece 22 that comes into contact with one adjacent fuel cell 3 and a current collecting piece 23 that comes into contact with the other adjacent fuel cell 3. A plurality of current collectors (not shown) provided with connecting portions 27 that connect the end portions of the electric pieces 22 and 23 are connected via the conductive connecting pieces 24 along the longitudinal direction of the fuel cell 3. A current collecting portion (not shown) is configured, and a drift member 21 made of a flat plate is disposed at the upper end portion with a gap from the current collecting pieces 22 and 23 located at the uppermost portion. Specifically, the plate-shaped drift member 21 is joined to the upper end of the connecting portion 27 protruding above the current collecting pieces 22 and 23 located at the uppermost portion so as to cover the second reaction gas flow path. .

  The current collecting member 20 causes one fuel collecting piece 22 and the other current collecting piece 23 to alternately protrude toward the fuel battery cell 3 side to contact the fuel battery cell 3, thereby electrically connecting the plurality of fuel battery cells 3. Connected. Further, the one current collecting piece 22 and the other current collecting piece 23 are arranged at intervals along the arrangement direction of the fuel cells 3, and are arranged between the fuel cells 3 (that is, the one current collecting piece 22. And the other current collecting piece 23) becomes a second reaction gas flow path (not shown).

  Here, the current collecting member 20 includes a drift member (sealing member) 21 at the upper end of the current collector member 20 so as to cover the second reaction gas flow path, and the upper end of the drift member 21 is the fuel cell. Since it is arranged at a position higher than the upper end of the cell 3, the oxygen-containing off-gas that has flowed through the second reaction gas flow path is prevented from flowing above the current collecting member 20, and the current collector located at the uppermost position A sufficient amount of oxygen-containing offgas can be supplied from between the electric pieces 22 and 23 and the drift member 21 toward the combustion section.

  Thereby, combustion can be performed sufficiently, and the temperature of the cell stack 2 can be efficiently increased or maintained at a high temperature. Therefore, the power generation efficiency of the cell stack 2 can be improved, and the power generation efficiency of the cell stack device 1 can be improved.

  The drift member (sealing member) 21 may be provided so as to cover the second reaction gas flow path, and the current collecting pieces 22 and 23 located at the uppermost part may be joined by a flat plate. Even in that case, a sufficient amount of oxygen-containing off-gas can be supplied to the combustion section from between the joined current collecting pieces 22 and 23 and the adjacent current collecting pieces 22 and 23.

  Further, a detachable lid member (not shown) may be provided as the drift member (sealing member) 21. Even in that case, the oxygen-containing off-gas can be supplied to the combustion section, and when the lid member deteriorates, only the lid member can be replaced without replacing the current collecting member 20.

  5A is a side view showing a part of another example of the fuel cell stack device of the present invention, and FIG. 5B is a side view of a current collecting member constituting the fuel cell stack device of FIG. It is a top view.

  The current collecting member 25 has a drift member 26 formed of a Y-shaped flat plate when viewed from the side surface along the arrangement direction of the fuel cells 3. The drift member 26 is provided with its lower end joined to the upper end of the connecting portion 27 at the top of the current collector, and the upper end thereof is disposed at a position higher than the upper end of the fuel cell 3. As a result, the oxygen-containing off-gas that has flowed through the second reaction gas flow path flows more efficiently to the respective combustion sections in the adjacent fuel cells 3 along the drift member 26. Therefore, a sufficient amount of oxygen-containing off gas can be supplied to the combustion section, and sufficient combustion heat due to combustion can be obtained.

  Furthermore, since the upper end of the drift member 26 is disposed at a position higher than the upper end of the fuel cell 3, the oxygen-containing off-gas can be supplied more toward the combustion unit, and the fuel cell with improved power generation efficiency The stack apparatus 1 can be used.

  FIG. 6 is a side view showing a part of another example of the fuel cell stack device of the present invention. FIG. 7 shows a current collecting member constituting the fuel cell stack device shown in FIG. It is a perspective view.

  The current collecting member 30 is provided with a drift member 31 made of a flat plate at the upper end of the current collecting portion. The drift member 31 includes extending portions 31 a extending toward the adjacent fuel cells 3, and has a T shape when viewed from the side surface along the arrangement direction of the fuel cells 3. And the lower end part of the drift member 31 is joined to the upper end of the connection part 27 in the uppermost part of a current collection part. Furthermore, the drift member 31 is provided so that a part of the extending portion 31 a covers the upper end of the fuel cell 3. For this reason, the oxygen-containing off-gas is efficiently supplied above the upper end portion (combustion portion) of each fuel cell 3. Thereby, the temperature of the cell stack can be efficiently raised or maintained at a high temperature, and the power generation efficiency of the cell stack device 1 can be improved.

  The length of the extending portion 31a that covers the upper end of the fuel cell 3 may be set as appropriate. However, when the drift member 31 (the extending portion 31a) is provided using a conductive member, the fuel cell. It is preferable that the drift members 31 of the current collecting members 30 adjacent to each other through 3 are not in contact with each other. Thereby, it can suppress that the current collection member 31 contacts and short-circuits, and it can be set as the fuel cell stack apparatus 1 which improved the power generation efficiency.

  The extending portion 31a is a portion extending upward from the upper end portion of the fuel battery cell 3, and does not need to cover the upper end portion (combustion portion) of the fuel battery cell 3. Even in such a case, a sufficient amount of oxygen-containing off-gas can be supplied to the combustion section.

  FIG. 8 is an external perspective view showing an example of the fuel cell module of the present invention. The cell stack device 47 of the present invention is housed in a rectangular parallelepiped storage container 41.

  In order to obtain fuel gas used in the fuel cell 42, a reformer 45 for reforming raw fuel such as natural gas or kerosene to generate fuel gas is disposed above the cell stack 44. ing. The fuel gas generated by the reformer 45 is supplied to the manifold 43 via the gas flow pipe 46, and the first reaction gas flow path (inside the fuel cell 42 via the manifold 43 ( (Not shown).

  FIG. 8 shows a state in which a part (front and rear surfaces) of the storage container 41 is removed, and the cell stack device 47 and the reformer 45 housed inside are taken out rearward. Here, in the fuel cell module 40 shown in FIG. 8, the cell stack device 47 can be slid and stored in the storage container 41.

  Further, in FIG. 8, the oxygen-containing gas introduction member 48 provided inside the storage container 41 is disposed between the cell stacks 44 juxtaposed with the manifold 42, and the oxygen-containing gas is adjusted in accordance with the flow of the fuel gas. Thus, the oxygen-containing gas is supplied to the lower end side of the fuel cell 42 so that the fuel cell 42 flows laterally from the lower end side toward the upper end side. Then, the fuel off-gas discharged from the first reaction gas flow path (not shown) of the fuel battery cell 42 is burned above the upper end of the fuel battery cell 42, so that the temperature of the cell stack 44 is effectively increased. The fuel cell stack device 47 can be started quickly. Further, the reformer disposed above the cell stack 44 by burning the fuel off-gas discharged from the first reaction gas flow path of the fuel battery cell 42 above the upper end portion of the fuel battery cell 42. 45 can be warmed. Thereby, the reforming reaction can be efficiently performed in the reformer 45.

  In such a fuel cell module 40, as described above, the fuel cell module 40 with improved power generation efficiency is configured by storing the cell stack device 1 with improved power generation efficiency in the storage container 41. Can do.

  FIG. 9 shows an example of the fuel cell device of the present invention in which the fuel cell module 40 shown in FIG. 8 and an auxiliary machine (not shown) for operating the fuel cell module 40 are housed in an outer case. It is a disassembled perspective view shown. In FIG. 9, a part of the configuration is omitted.

  The fuel cell device 50 shown in FIG. 9 has a module housing chamber 54 that divides the inside of an exterior case composed of a column 56 and an exterior plate 57 by a partition plate 58 and houses the above-described fuel cell module 40 on the upper side. The lower side is configured as an auxiliary equipment storage chamber 53 for storing auxiliary equipment for operating the fuel cell module 40. In addition, the auxiliary machine stored in the auxiliary machine storage chamber 53 is omitted.

  Further, the partition plate 58 is provided with an air circulation port 51 for flowing the air in the auxiliary machine storage chamber 73 toward the module storage chamber 74, and a part of the exterior plate 57 constituting the module storage chamber 54 is An exhaust port 52 for exhausting the air in the module storage chamber 54 is provided.

  In such a fuel cell device 50, as described above, the fuel cell module 40 with improved power generation efficiency is stored in the module storage chamber 54, and an auxiliary machine for operating the fuel cell module 40 is an auxiliary device storage chamber 53. By being housed in the fuel cell device 50, the fuel cell device 50 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 the cell stack apparatus 1 described above, an example is shown in which the fuel gas is supplied to the first reaction gas channel 13 of the fuel cell 3 and the oxygen-containing gas is supplied to the second reaction gas channel. The oxygen-containing gas may be supplied to the reaction gas channel 13 and the fuel gas may be supplied to the outside of the fuel cell 3. In that case, what is necessary is just to set it as the fuel cell 3 of the structure which makes an inner side electrode layer the air electrode layer 10, and makes an outer side electrode layer the fuel electrode layer 8. FIG.

  Further, the shape of the current collecting part in the current collecting member is not limited as long as the current collecting member has the second reaction gas flow channel in the current collecting member. Similarly, the drift member may be provided on the current collecting member so that the second reaction gas flows toward the combustion part, and the shape thereof is not limited. For example, a tube facing the combustion part may be joined to the upper end part of the current collecting member, and a detachable lid member may be provided on the upper end part of the current collecting member.

1, 47, 61: Fuel cell stack device 2, 44, 62: Fuel cell stack 3, 42, 63: Fuel cell 4, 20, 25, 30, 64, 80, 85: Current collecting members 7, 43 67: Manifold 19, 21, 26, 31: Diffusion member 31a: Extending part 40: Fuel cell module 50: Fuel cell device

Claims (3)

A cell stack in which a plurality of fuel cells each having a first reaction gas flow path for allowing a first reaction gas to flow therein are arranged in a standing state via a current collecting member; and the fuel cell And a manifold for supplying the first reaction gas to the fuel cell, the second reaction gas supplied between the adjacent fuel cells and the first reaction And the first reaction gas and the second reaction gas that have not been used for power generation of the fuel battery cell above the upper end of the fuel battery cell. In the fuel cell stack device that burns
The current collecting member is disposed between the adjacent fuel cells, and has a drift member for guiding the second reaction gas above the upper end of the fuel cell at the upper end. Battery cell stack device.   2. A fuel cell module comprising the fuel cell stack device according to claim 1 housed in a housing container. A fuel cell device comprising: the fuel cell module according to claim 2; and an auxiliary machine for operating the fuel cell module, housed in an outer case.

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