JP2012160466A - Fuel cell device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce noises generated by a fuel cell device without affecting the installation space or power generation capacity of the fuel cell device.SOLUTION: A fuel cell device is configured to suck air by arranging a sound absorbing material 64, which serves as an air intake sound suppression part, in a cylindrical container 63 serving as an air intake part of an air supply device 1. With this configuration, an air intake sound generated by the container 63 serving as the air intake part of the air supply device 1 is absorbed by the sound absorbing material 64, thereby preventing noises from being generated outside the fuel cell device. Therefore, by using a simple structure only with the addition of the sound absorbing material, the air intake sound generated when the air supply device 1 sucks the air can be suppressed without reducing the output of a motor 21A of the air supply device 1. Consequently, noises generated by the air supply device 1, thus the fuel cell device, can be reduced without affecting the installation space or power generation capacity of the fuel cell device.

Description

  The present invention relates to a fuel cell device that generates power by, for example, an electrochemical reaction between a fuel gas and an oxidant gas.

  In recent years, as one of the new power generation systems, there has been a fuel cell device using an electrolyte membrane and a catalyst that has an advantage of low-noise power generation that does not generate harmful substances such as NOX and SOX and has low noise. It is considered.

  Such a fuel cell device includes, for example, a reformer that generates hydrogen gas from natural gas, which is a fuel gas, and the hydrogen gas and oxygen (gas) as an oxidant, as disclosed in Patent Document 1, for example. A fuel cell that generates electricity by the electrochemical reaction of the gas, a gas device (gas blower) that supplies oxygen (gas) to the fuel cell, and a power converter that converts electrical energy generated in the fuel cell into commercial voltage and frequency (Inverter), a heat recovery device that includes a heat exchanger, recovers heat generated in the fuel cell or reformer, and supplies heat to other external equipment using exhaust heat, and ventilates the body (package) It is basically composed of a blower (ventilation fan) and a heat radiating device (cooling module) used for cooling when exhaust heat is not used.

  In the above basic configuration, in order to smoothly operate each component, water (steam) is supplied to a blower for boosting natural gas, a desulfurizer for removing sulfur from the natural gas, or a reformer. In order to humidify the electrolyte membrane of the fuel cell and the fuel cell, a pump that sends water to the fuel cell, a purification device that removes impurities in the water, an ion exchange device that removes the water electrolyte, fuel gas, air , Various auxiliary devices such as a controller as a control unit for controlling the flow rate of water with a solenoid valve are arranged and physically and electrically connected by piping and wiring.

JP 2002-216828 A

  When such a fuel cell device is used as a generator for home use, the fuel cell device requires a large installation space. Therefore, the fuel cell device is generally installed outdoors, and one of the electric power used at home is used. It is normal to drive all day to cover the department or all. For this reason, if a large noise is generated during operation of the fuel cell device, not only the user but also neighboring residents will be uncomfortable. Accordingly, it is indispensable to reduce the noise of the fuel cell device not only during the daytime, but particularly at nighttime, in order to eliminate discomfort given to the user and neighboring residents.

  Most of the noise generated from the fuel cell device is caused by the gas device, which is a component of the fuel cell device, and the intake noise and vibrations generated during operation are propagated to the piping and the outer shell. A loud noise is generated. Therefore, it is necessary to suppress the noise of the gas device that is the noise source of the fuel cell device.

  As a method for solving the above problem, by increasing the diameter of a pipe connecting the gas apparatus and a gas supply destination device such as the fuel cell, the pressure loss is reduced, and the motor constituting the gas apparatus There is a way to lower the output. In this way, since the output of the motor decreases, the vibration of the gas device can be reduced. Therefore, it is possible to reduce vibrations propagating to the piping connected to the gas device and the outer shell of the fuel cell device, and at the same time, the pressure when the gas is sucked is reduced, so that the intake noise can be reduced. it can.

  However, in the above method, there is a problem that the unit is increased in size by thickening the pipe connecting the gas device and the gas supply destination device. For this reason, more installation space is required, and in the case of using it for home use, there is a problem that the installation space cannot be secured. Further, since the gas supply amount of the gas device is reduced by lowering the output of the motor, there is a problem in that the power generation output of the fuel cell device is lowered and the power generation efficiency is lowered.

  In view of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a fuel cell device capable of reducing generated noise without affecting installation space and power generation capacity.

  In the fuel cell device according to claim 1 of the present invention, the intake sound suppression unit is attached to the intake unit of the air supply device. Accordingly, since it is possible to suppress the intake noise generated when the air is inhaled without reducing the output of the motor of the air supply device with a simple configuration simply by adding a soundproof portion, the installation space of the fuel cell device and Noise generated from the fuel cell device can be reduced without affecting the power generation capacity.

  In the fuel cell device according to claim 2 of the present invention, the intake portion is a cylindrical container, and a sound absorbing material as the intake sound suppression portion is provided in the cylindrical container. Therefore, by sucking air through the cylindrical container provided with the sound absorbing material, the intake sound is absorbed by the sound absorbing material, and noise can be prevented from being generated outside the air supply device and thus the fuel cell device.

  Since the present invention is as described above, the following effects can be obtained.

  According to the fuel cell device of claim 1 of the present invention, it is possible to reduce the intake noise of the gas device without affecting the installation space and the power generation capacity with a simple configuration simply by adding a soundproof portion. Become.

  According to the fuel cell device of claim 2 of the present invention, by sucking air through the cylindrical container provided with the sound absorbing material, the intake sound is absorbed by the sound absorbing material, and the outside of the air supply device and hence the fuel cell device. It is possible to prevent noise from being generated.

It is a block block diagram of the fuel cell apparatus in 1st Example of this invention. It is a schematic explanatory drawing which shows the structure of a fuel cell apparatus same as the above. It is a principal part sectional drawing of a fuel cell apparatus same as the above. FIG. 4 is an enlarged view around the air supply device in FIG. 3. FIG. 5 is a partially cutaway sectional view of the air blower in FIG. 4 as viewed from the front direction of the package outline.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of a fuel cell device according to the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the entire apparatus of this embodiment. In the figure, 1 is an air supply device as a gas device that supplies air (oxygen) as an oxidant gas, and 2 is a reformer that generates hydrogen gas from fuel gas (raw fuel) such as natural gas. Reference numeral 3 denotes a fuel cell that generates power by causing an electrochemical reaction between oxygen supplied from the air supply device 1 and hydrogen gas supplied from the reforming device 2. Reference numeral 4 denotes an inverter as a power conversion device that converts electric energy (DC power) generated in the fuel cell 3 into AC power having a commercial voltage and frequency. By the way, heat is generated in the reformer 2 and the fuel cell 3 as will be described later. These heats are recovered by a recovery device that is an exhaust heat utilization heat exchanger, that is, a heat recovery device 5, and are then supplied to the heat exchanger 6. It is supplied to an external heat utilization device that can be connected to the heat utilization external device such as a floor heating device or a water heater. In addition, in order to operate each of these components smoothly, for example, an auxiliary device 8 such as a pump, a solenoid valve, and a controller as a control device for controlling the pump and the solenoid valve is provided.

  Next, a more detailed configuration of the main part of the fuel cell device according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In the figure, the reformer 2 is connected to a booster blower 11 for boosting fuel gas, a desulfurizer 12 made of activated carbon connected to a discharge port of the booster blower 11, and an outlet of the desulfurizer 12. A reformer 13 composed of a reforming section (not shown) made of a catalyst and a burner section for heating the reforming section, and a CO shift reactor 14 made of a catalyst connected to the outlet of the reformer 13 And a CO selective oxidation reactor 15 made of a catalyst connected to the outlet of the CO shift reactor 14 are connected in order. The outlet of the CO selective oxidation reactor 15 is connected to the anode 17 of the fuel cell 3, and the outlet of the anode 17 is connected to the burner section of the reformer 13.

  In the fuel cell 3, an electrolyte membrane 19 made of a solid polymer is sandwiched between an anode 17 and a cathode 18 as electrodes carrying a catalyst, and fuel gas and air are fed into the anode 17 and the cathode 18, respectively. For example, a separator (not shown) in which a flow path is formed is provided. Reference numeral 21 denotes an air blower constituting the air supply device 1, and the discharge port of the air blower 21 is connected to the cathode 18 of the fuel cell 3, the burner section of the reformer 13, and the CO selective oxidation reactor 15, respectively. The

  Further, the exhaust gas outlet of the burner part constituting the reformer 13 is connected to the inlet of the heat exchanger 22 for generating steam. Then, the exhaust gas from the burner portion of the reformer 13 passes through the burner exhaust gas pipe 24 from the burner exhaust gas outlet 23 which is the gas port of the reformer 2 through the heat exchanger 22 for generating steam to generate heat. It is sent out to a burner exhaust gas inlet 25 which is a gas port of the recovery device 5. Separately from this, a cathode exhaust gas outlet 26 which is an outlet of the cathode 18 constituting the fuel cell 3 is connected to a cathode exhaust gas inlet 28 which is a gas port of the heat recovery device 5 by a cathode exhaust gas pipe 27. A water pump 30 is connected to the liquid phase part of the heat recovery device 5, and its discharge port is branched in two directions, one discharge port is connected to the fuel cell 3, and the other discharge port is connected to the reformer 2. It is connected to the inlet of the reformer 13 via the steam generating heat exchanger 22 that constitutes.

  32 is an electromagnetic valve for controlling the flow rate of city water, and its outlet is connected to the hot water inlet 34 of the water heater 33 which is the heat utilization device 7 via the heat exchanger 6 of the heat recovery device 5. Reference numeral 35 denotes a hot water outlet of the water heater 33. Reference numeral 36 denotes a cold water outlet of the water heater 33, and the cold water outlet 36 is connected to the heat exchanger 6 of the heat recovery device 5 via a circulation pump 37. The circulation pump 37 sends the cold water from the water heater 33 to the heat recovery device 5. In addition, although not disclosed in FIG. 2, the auxiliary device 8 such as a sensor, a controller, and a switch (for example, a solenoid valve) for controlling the flow and temperature of gas, air and water, and the fuel cell 3 can be used. An inverter 4 that converts the generated DC power into AC power, a control device that controls the operation of the device, and the like are also arranged and connected in the device.

  FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the main part of the fuel cell device body. Reference numeral 41 denotes an outer panel that constitutes the outer shell of the package of the fuel cell device. The air supply device 1, the reformer 2, the fuel cell device 3 and the like, which are composed of an air blower 21 and the like, are formed on the base 42 that forms the bottom of the outer panel. Are arranged respectively. At least one location of the discharge port 43 of the air blower 21 is connected to the cathode inlet 44 of the fuel cell 3 by piping to form a conduit 45 for supplying air from the air supply device 1 to the cathode 18 of the fuel cell 3. A part of the air supply pipe 45 is connected by a flexible rubber hose 47.

  FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of the periphery of the air supply device 1 of FIG. 3, and the air blower 21 is fixed to the base 42 via a vibration absorbing member 56 made of vibration preventing rubber, and the air blower 21 through which air is sent out. One end of a stainless steel pipe 55 is attached to the discharge port 43 via a joint 54. One end of a flexible rubber hose 47 is connected to the other end of the stainless steel pipe 55, and the other end of the rubber hose 47 is connected to the cathode of the fuel cell 3.

  FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the main part of the air supply device 1 as viewed from the front direction of the outer panel 41 in FIG. 4. The air supply device 61 has an air inlet 61 of the air blower 21 that takes air into the air supply device 1. As the intake portion, a cylindrical container 63 having a downward opening 63A is connected via a connecting pipe 62. A sound absorbing material 64 as a soundproofing material made of a polyurethane foam or a polyethylene resin is attached to the inner surface (air inflow side) of the container 63. When the motor 21A constituting the air blower 21 is energized and the fan 21C provided in the wind tunnel 21B of the air blower 21 rotates, the opening 63A of the container 63 (see FIG. 5) passes through the connection pipe 62. Thus, air is taken into the intake port 61 of the air blower 21, and air is supplied from the wind tunnel 21 </ b> B to the cathode 18 of the fuel cell 3 through the discharge port 43 of the air blower 21.

  Next, the effect | action is demonstrated about the said structure. When the operation as the fuel cell device is started, the fuel gas enters the booster blower 11 of the reformer 2 to be pressurized and sent to the desulfurizer 12. Here, sulfur contained in the fuel gas is removed by the adsorption action of the desulfurizing agent. In this embodiment, activated carbon is used as the desulfurizing agent. However, other catalysts may be used as long as the sulfur contained in the fuel gas can be removed. The purpose of removing the sulfur content by the desulfurizer 12 is to prevent the subsequent catalyst such as the reformer 13 from being deteriorated by the fuel sulfur content.

  The fuel gas that has passed through the desulfurizer 12 is mixed with the steam generated by the steam generating heat exchanger 22 and enters the reforming section of the reformer 13. This reforming section is heated to about 750 ° C. by the burner section, and the fuel gas is changed into hydrogen gas and carbon dioxide (carbon dioxide) by the action of the catalyst. However, although the gas produced here contains a little amount of carbon monoxide, the performance of the polymer electrolyte fuel cell 3 to be described later is significantly reduced by carbon monoxide. Must be below a certain value.

  The fuel gas that has passed through the reformer 13 enters the next CO shift reactor 14, where carbon monoxide reacts with water vapor to change into hydrogen gas and carbon dioxide by the action of the catalyst, and the carbon monoxide The concentration drops to a fairly low level. The fuel gas that has passed through the CO shift reactor 14 further enters the CO selective oxidation reactor 15 and is mixed with the air (oxygen) sent by the air blower 21, and the carbon monoxide contained therein is converted by the action of the catalyst. Change to carbon dioxide. At this time, the concentration of carbon monoxide contained in the fuel gas can be lowered to a concentration that does not adversely affect the fuel cell 3 for the first time.

  The fuel gas that has passed through the CO selective oxidation reactor 15 is sent to the anode 17 that is one electrode of the fuel cell 3. Air (oxygen) is sent to the cathode 18 which is the other electrode by the air blower 21. The hydrogen of the anode 17 is ionized by the action of the catalyst, passes through the electrolyte membrane 19 and is combined with oxygen on the cathode 18 side. Thereby, reaction heat is generated simultaneously with the generation of water. Further, due to this electrochemical reaction, a negative electrode potential is generated at the anode 17 and a positive electrode potential is generated at the cathode 18, and electric power can be taken out from the fuel cell 3.

  The fuel gas that has passed through the anode 17 consumes most of the hydrogen gas, but still contains a considerable concentration of hydrogen gas, which is returned to the burner section of the reforming section 13 and is returned by the air blower 21. It is mixed with the air sent in and burned in the burner section. Thereby, the remaining hydrogen gas can be used for raising the temperature of the reforming section.

  The air that has passed through the cathode 18 has water (water vapor) and heat generated in the fuel cell 3, and this is passed from the cathode exhaust gas outlet 26 of the fuel cell 3 to the heat recovery device 5 through the cathode exhaust gas pipe 27. Thus, the water is returned to the anode 17 of the fuel cell 3 by the water pump 30, so that the solid polymer membrane (electrolyte membrane 19) is humidified and the fuel cell 3 is cooled. Similarly, the water fed to the steam-generating heat exchanger 22 by the water pump 30 is heated by the burner exhaust gas discharged from the burner portion of the reformer 13 and converted to steam together with the fuel gas from the booster blower 12. Enters the reforming section of the mass device 13.

  Next, the operation of the heat utilizing external device 7 will be described. First, before operating the fuel cell device, the solenoid valve 32 is opened, and the city water is filled in the water heater 33. Thereafter, when the operation of the fuel cell device is started, the circulation pump 37 is operated, and the cold water of the water heater 33 is sent to the heat exchanger 6 of the heat recovery device 5 from the cooling outlet 36 by this circulation pump 37, and the cathode of the fuel cell 3. 18 and the heat energy of the exhaust gas from the burner part of the reformer 13 is used to produce hot water. This hot water is sent out from the heat recovery device 5 to the hot water inlet 34 and returns to the water heater 33 again. The inside of the water heater 33 is in a two-layer state due to the difference in water temperature. The warm water is located in the upper layer of the water tank and the cold water is located in the lower layer of the water tank. Here, it is possible to use the hot water obtained by using the heat exchange device 5 by opening the hot water outlet 35 attached to the upper part of the water storage tank.

  By the way, since the air supply device 1, the water pump 30, and the like are provided with a motor as power, large vibrations and operation noises are generated during operation, that is, when the motor is driven, resulting in noise. In particular, since the air supply device 1 requires a large output for supplying air to the cathode 18 of the fuel cell 3, the burner section of the reformer 13, and the CO selective oxidation reactor 15, the noise increases with the output. It will be.

  Hereinafter, various measures in the present embodiment configured to reduce noise generated by the internal equipment of the fuel cell device will be described.

  The first measures for reducing the noise generated by the internal equipment of the fuel cell device are the vibration absorbing member 56 and the rubber hose 47. This focuses on the vibration noise of the fuel cell device, particularly the air supply device 1. When an internal device of the fuel cell device is equipped with a device such as an air supply device 1 that obtains power by a motor or the like, vibration generated from the air supply device 1 causes the base 42, an air supply conduit 45, or the like. Propagation to the pipe causes abnormal noise such as chatter noise due to collision between the constituent devices and the constituent members of the fuel cell device and the vibration itself. The vibration absorbing member 56 and the rubber hose 47 suppress the propagation of the vibration. The propagation to the base 42 is absorbed by the vibration absorbing member 56 provided between the base 42 and the pipe from the discharge port 43. Propagation to the path 45 is absorbed by the rubber hose 47, so that propagation of vibration caused by the air supply device 1 can be cut off. In this embodiment, a part of the pipe line 45 is constituted by a rubber hose 47 having flexibility, but the whole pipe line 45 may be constituted by a rubber hose 47. Of course, the rubber hose 47 is made of a flexible member other than rubber. May be used. Further, the vibration absorbing member 56 is not limited to a material having a characteristic of absorbing vibration, and may be configured by a member that absorbs vibration in terms of shape or mechanism, such as a spring or a shock absorber. Furthermore, a vibration damping member made of vinyl acetate or butyl rubber may be directly attached to a vibration source such as the air supply device 1. In this case, the vibration of the vibration source itself is suppressed by the vibration damping action of the vibration damping member. In addition, the noise of the air supply device 1 and thus the fuel cell device can be reduced.

  A second measure for reducing the noise generated by the internal equipment of the fuel cell device is a sound absorbing material 64 attached to the cylindrical container 63. This focuses on the intake sound of the air supply device 1. The air supply device 1 sucks air into the wind tunnel 21B by rotating a fan 21C using a motor 21A built in the air blower 21 as power. At that time, in the air intake portion (air inlet), intake air is generated by vigorously flowing air from the opening 63A of the container 63 into the connection pipe 62. The sound absorbing material 64 suppresses such intake sound, and when the air is sucked through the container 63 provided with the sound absorbing material 64, the intake sound is absorbed by the sound absorbing material 64, and the air supply device 1 and thus the fuel. Noise is not generated outside the battery device. In this embodiment, the sound absorbing material 64 is attached to the inner surface (air inflow side) of the cylindrical container 63. Of course, the same effect can be obtained even if it is attached to the outer surface of the cylindrical container 63. The container 63 may be made of a soundproof material.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the air supply device 1 is fixed to the base 42 that is the outer shell via the vibration absorbing member 56, and the pipe connecting the discharge port 43 of the air supply device 1 and the air supply destination device. Part or all of the path 45 is constituted by a rubber hose 47 which is a flexible member.

  If it does in this way, the vibration which generate | occur | produced in the air supply apparatus 1 will be absorbed by the vibration absorption member 56, and since vibration (abnormal sounds, such as chatter noise) of the air supply apparatus 1 does not propagate to an outer shell, an air supply apparatus The vibration noise of the main body of the fuel cell device can be suppressed without lowering the output of the motor 21A constituting 1. Even if the vibration of the air supply device 1 propagates to the pipe 45, the vibration is absorbed by the rubber hose 47, so that the vibration noise of the pipe 45 can also be suppressed. In this way, the vibration absorbing member 56 is added and the pipe line 45 is simply constituted by the rubber hose 47, so that the noise generated from the air supply device 1 and thus the fuel cell device can be reduced without affecting the installation space and the power generation capacity. Is possible.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the cylindrical container 63 that is an intake portion of the air supply device 1 is provided with a sound absorbing material 64 that is an intake sound suppression portion, and is configured to intake air.

  In this way, the intake sound generated in the container 63, which is the intake portion of the air supply device 1, is absorbed by the sound absorbing material 64, and no noise is generated outside the fuel cell device. That is, since the air supply device 1 can suppress the intake sound generated when the air supply device 1 sucks air without reducing the output of the motor 21A of the air supply device 1 with a simple configuration in which only the soundproofing material is added. Without affecting the installation space and power generation capacity of the fuel cell device, it is possible to reduce the noise generated from the air supply device 1 and the fuel cell device.

  Further, in this embodiment, the intake portion is a cylindrical container 63, and the container 63 is provided with a sound absorbing material 64 as an intake sound suppressing portion. Therefore, by sucking air through the container 63 provided with the sound absorbing material 64, the intake sound is absorbed by the sound absorbing material 64 so that no noise is generated outside the air supply device 1 and hence the fuel cell device. it can.

  The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the gist of the present invention. For example, the polymer electrolyte fuel cell device has been described in the embodiment, but other power generation methods such as a molten carbon type and a solid oxide type may be used. Needless to say, various soundproofing materials such as a sound insulating material and a vibration damping material can be used instead of the sound absorbing material. Furthermore, if a soundproofing material such as a sound absorbing material is attached to the air passage passing through the air blower 21, a higher soundproofing effect can be obtained.

1 Air supply device
63 Container (intake section)
64 Sound absorbing material (intake sound suppression part)

Claims (2)

  In a fuel cell device that generates electricity by an electrochemical reaction, a fuel cell device comprising an intake sound suppression portion attached to an intake portion of an air supply device.   2. The fuel cell device according to claim 1, wherein the intake part is a cylindrical container, and a sound absorbing material as the intake sound suppression part is provided in the cylindrical container.

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