JP2012252877A - Rechargeable fuel cell system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a rechargeable fuel cell system capable of inhibiting reduction in power generation efficiency and charge efficiency.SOLUTION: The rechargeable fuel cell system comprises: a hydrogen generator 1 generating hydrogen by oxidation reaction with water and capable of being renewed by reduction reaction with hydrogen; a fuel cell device 2 having the function of generating electricity by using hydrogen supplied by the hydrogen generator 1 for fuel, and the function of electrolyzing water to generate hydrogen to be supplied to the hydrogen generator 1; gas channels 5A and 5B for circulating a gas containing hydrogen and water vapor between the hydrogen generator 1 and the fuel cell device 2; and first to fourth heaters H1-H4 providing the gas channels 5A and 5B with a temperature gradient.

Description

  The present invention relates to a secondary battery type fuel cell system capable of performing not only a power generation operation but also a charging operation.

  In recent years, as multi-functional and high-performance portable electronic devices such as mobile phones, portable information terminals, notebook personal computers, portable audio devices, and portable visual devices have advanced, the capacity of the drive batteries has increased. There is an increasing demand for conversion. Conventionally, lithium batteries and nickel-cadmium batteries have been used as driving batteries for such portable electronic devices, but their capacities are approaching their limits and cannot be expected to increase dramatically. Therefore, fuel cells having high energy density and high capacity are being actively developed in place of lithium batteries and nickel-cadmium batteries.

  Fuel cells take out electric power when water is generated from hydrogen and oxygen, and in principle, the efficiency of electric power energy that can be taken out is high, which not only saves energy, but also produces only water during power generation. Therefore, it is an environmentally friendly power generation method and is expected as a trump card for solving global energy and environmental problems.

  Such fuel cells include, for example, a solid polymer electrolyte membrane using a solid polymer ion exchange membrane, a solid oxide electrolyte membrane using yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ), and the like as a fuel electrode (anode) and an oxidizer electrode ( One cell structure is sandwiched between both sides of the cathode). In the cell having such a configuration, a fuel gas flow path for supplying a fuel gas (for example, hydrogen gas) to the fuel electrode, and an oxidant gas flow for supplying an oxidant gas (for example, oxygen or air) to the oxidant electrode. The fuel gas and the oxidant gas are supplied to the fuel electrode and the oxidant electrode through these flow paths, respectively, and electricity is generated.

  However, in a fuel cell device to which fuel is supplied from the outside, infrastructure for supplying fuel (for example, hydrogen) is required. Even when methanol, which is relatively easy to obtain, is used as a fuel, there is a problem that it takes years to circulate.

JP 2004-327060 A (summary)

  As a system for dealing with such problems, a hydrogen generation unit that generates hydrogen by an oxidation reaction with water and can be regenerated by a reduction reaction with hydrogen, and power generation using hydrogen supplied from the hydrogen generation unit as fuel A gas containing hydrogen and water vapor is circulated between the power generation function for performing the electrolysis and the power generation / electrolysis section having the electrolysis function for electrolyzing water for generating hydrogen to be supplied to the hydrogen generation unit. A secondary battery type fuel cell system is conceivable.

  In the secondary battery type fuel cell system configured as described above, the hydrogen generating unit consumes water vapor to generate hydrogen during power generation, the power generation / electrolysis unit consumes hydrogen to generate water vapor, and The hydrogen generation unit consumes hydrogen to generate water vapor, and the power generation / electrolysis unit consumes water vapor to generate hydrogen. Therefore, if the flow rate of the gas containing hydrogen and water vapor circulating between the hydrogen generation unit and the power generation / electrolysis unit is small, the amount of hydrogen supplied to the power generation / electrolysis unit during power generation decreases and the power generation / electrolysis unit decreases. The diffusion loss at the electrolysis unit increases and the power generation efficiency decreases.At the time of charging, less water vapor is supplied to the power generation / electrolysis unit, and the diffusion loss at the power generation / electrolysis unit increases and the charging efficiency increases. descend.

  Patent Document 1 discloses a fuel cell system in which the flow rate of fuel gas (hydrogen gas) supplied from a high-pressure hydrogen cylinder to a fuel cell stack is controlled by a pressure reducing valve, that is, the pressure of the fuel gas using the pressure of the high-pressure hydrogen cylinder. A fuel cell system that secures a flow rate is disclosed. Since the secondary battery type fuel cell system having the above-described configuration is not in the form of using a high-pressure hydrogen cylinder for the hydrogen generation unit, the fuel using the pressure of the high-pressure hydrogen cylinder as in the fuel cell system disclosed in Patent Document 1 is used. The gas flow rate cannot be secured.

  An object of this invention is to provide the secondary battery type fuel cell system which can suppress the fall of electric power generation efficiency and charging efficiency in view of said situation.

  In order to achieve the above object, a secondary battery type fuel cell system according to the present invention can release fuel by a chemical reaction, and can be regenerated by a reverse reaction of the chemical reaction to generate the fuel. A power generation function for generating power using the fuel supplied from the fuel generation unit, and an electrolysis function for electrolyzing the product of the reverse reaction supplied from the fuel generation unit during regeneration of the fuel generation unit A gas flow path for circulating a gas containing the fuel between the fuel generation section and the power generation / electrolysis section, and a heating device for creating a temperature gradient in the gas flow path It is set as the structure (1st structure) provided with these. Note that the power generation / electrolysis unit includes, for example, a power generation operation that generates power using the fuel supplied from the fuel generation unit, and the reverse reaction supplied from the fuel generation unit during regeneration of the fuel generation unit. The fuel cell may be configured to switch between an electrolysis operation for electrolyzing the product of the fuel, and, for example, a fuel cell that generates power using the fuel supplied from the fuel generator, and the fuel A configuration may be provided that separately includes an electrolyzer that electrolyzes the product of the reverse reaction supplied from the fuel generator during regeneration of the generator.

  According to such a configuration, it is possible to increase the flow rate of the gas including the fuel that circulates in the gas flow path by providing a temperature gradient in the gas flow path. As a result, the amount of fuel supplied to the power generation / electrolysis unit increases during power generation and diffusion loss in the power generation / electrolysis unit decreases, so that a decrease in power generation efficiency can be suppressed. Since the product of the reverse reaction supplied to the decomposition unit increases and the diffusion loss in the power generation / electrolysis unit decreases, it is possible to suppress a decrease in charging efficiency.

  Further, in the secondary battery type fuel cell system having the first configuration, a power monitoring unit that monitors power output from the power generation / electrolysis unit and power supplied to the power generation / electrolysis unit, and the power A temperature adjustment unit that determines the amount of the temperature gradient based on the monitoring result of the monitoring unit and controls the heating device according to the determined amount of the temperature gradient may be configured (second configuration). .

  According to such a configuration, when the current of the power generation / electrolysis unit increases, an increase in loss generated in the power generation / electrolysis unit can be suppressed by increasing the amount of the temperature gradient.

  Further, in the secondary battery type fuel cell system of the second configuration, the temperature adjustment unit is configured to minimize the total of the diffusion loss of the power generation / electrolysis unit and the energy input to the heating device. A configuration for determining the amount of the temperature gradient (third configuration) may be adopted.

  According to such a configuration, it is possible to improve the power generation efficiency and the charging efficiency in consideration of the energy input to the heating device.

  In the secondary battery type fuel cell system having any one of the first to third configurations, the power generation / electrolysis unit may be a solid oxide fuel cell.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the secondary battery type fuel cell system which can suppress the fall of electric power generation efficiency and charging efficiency is realizable.

It is a mimetic diagram showing a schematic structure of a fuel cell system concerning one embodiment of the present invention. It is a schematic diagram which shows the connection relationship of the solid oxide fuel cell and external load at the time of the electric power generation operation | movement of a system. It is a schematic diagram which shows the connection relationship of the solid oxide fuel cell and external power supply at the time of charge operation of a system. It is a figure which shows the current-voltage characteristic of the fuel cell apparatus at the time of electric power generation. It is a figure which shows the relationship between the diffusion loss of the fuel cell apparatus at the time of electric power generation, the energy thrown into a heater, and the temperature gradient characteristic of a gas flow path. It is a schematic diagram which shows schematic structure of the fuel cell system which concerns on other embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic diagram which shows schematic structure of the fuel cell system which concerns on further another embodiment of this invention.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described later.

  FIG. 1 shows an overall configuration of a secondary battery type fuel cell system according to an embodiment of the present invention. The secondary battery type fuel cell system according to one embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 1 includes a hydrogen generator 1 that generates hydrogen by an oxidation reaction with water and can be regenerated by a reduction reaction with hydrogen, and oxygen. A fuel cell device 2 that generates power by a reaction between an oxidant and hydrogen supplied from the hydrogen generator 1, a container 3 that houses the hydrogen generator 1, a container 4 that houses the fuel cell device 2, and a hydrogen generator Gas flow paths 5A and 5B for circulating a gas containing hydrogen and water vapor between 1 and the fuel cell device 2 are provided. The internal space of the container 3 functions as a gas flow path that communicates the hydrogen generator side end of the gas flow path 5A and the hydrogen generator side end of the gas flow path 5B, and the inner wall of the container 4 and the fuel The internal space surrounded by the pole 8 functions as a gas flow path that connects the end of the gas flow path 5A on the fuel cell device side and the end of the gas flow path 5B on the fuel cell apparatus side.

As the hydrogen generator 1, for example, a hydrogen generator made of a compressed fine particle whose base material (main component) is iron can be used. In FIG. 1, as an example of the fuel cell device 2, an MEA (Membrane Electrode Assembly) in which a solid electrolyte 6 that transmits O ²⁻ is sandwiched and an oxidant electrode 7 and a fuel electrode 8 are formed on both sides, respectively. 1 illustrates a solid oxide fuel cell having an (electrode assembly) structure. Although FIG. 1 illustrates a structure in which only one MEA is provided, a plurality of MEAs may be provided, or a plurality of MEAs may be stacked.

At the time of power generation of the system, the solid oxide fuel cell is connected to the external load 100 via the power monitoring unit 9 as shown in FIG. Details of the power monitoring unit 9 will be described later. In the solid oxide fuel cell, the following reaction (1) occurs at the fuel electrode 8 during power generation of the system.
H ₂ + O ²⁻ → H ₂ O + 2e ⁻ (1)

Electrons generated by the reaction of the above formula (1) pass through the power monitoring unit 9 and the external load 100 and reach the oxidant electrode 7, and the following reaction of the formula (2) occurs at the oxidant electrode 7. .
1 / 2O ₂ + 2e ⁻ → O ²⁻ (2)

Then, oxygen ions generated by the reaction of the above formula (2) pass through the solid electrolyte 6 and reach the fuel electrode 8. By repeating the above series of reactions, the solid oxide fuel cell performs a power generation operation. Further, as can be seen from the above equation (1), during the power generation operation, H ₂ is consumed and H ₂ O is generated on the fuel electrode 8 side.

From the above formulas (1) and (2), the reaction in the solid oxide fuel cell during the power generation operation is as shown in the following formula (3).
H ₂ + 1 / 2O ₂ → H ₂ O (3)

On the other hand, the hydrogen generator 1 whose base material (main component) is iron is H ₂ O generated on the fuel electrode 8 side of the fuel cell device 2 during power generation of the system by an oxidation reaction represented by the following equation (4). To generate H ₂ .
3Fe + 4H ₂ O → Fe ₃ O ₄ + 4H ₂ (4)

  When the oxidation reaction of iron shown in the above formula (4) proceeds, the change from iron to iron oxide proceeds and the remaining amount of iron decreases, but by the reverse reaction (reduction reaction) of the above formula (4), The hydrogen generator 1 can be regenerated and the system can be charged.

When the system is charged, the solid oxide fuel cell is connected to the external power source 200 via the power monitoring unit 9 as shown in FIG. In the solid oxide fuel cell device, when the system is charged, an electrolysis reaction shown in the following formula (5), which is a reverse reaction of the above formula (3), occurs, and H ₂ O is consumed on the fuel electrode 8 side. _In the hydrogen generator 1 in which ₂ is generated and the base material (main component) is iron, the reduction reaction shown in the following formula (6), which is the reverse reaction of the oxidation reaction shown in the above formula (4), occurs, and the fuel cell H ₂ generated on the fuel electrode 8 side of the device 2 is consumed and H ₂ O is generated.
H ₂ O → H ₂ + 1 / 2O ₂ (5)
Fe ₃ O ₄ + 4H ₂ → 3Fe + 4H ₂ O (6)

  For example, in the case of 500 ° C., the water vapor partial pressure ratio is 10% and the hydrogen partial pressure ratio is 90% in an equilibrium state in the container 3 in which the hydrogen generator 1 is accommodated. A gas mixture of hydrogen and hydrogen is supplied from the hydrogen generator 1 to the fuel cell device 2.

  The secondary battery type fuel cell system according to one embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 1 further includes a power monitoring unit 9, a temperature adjusting unit 10, a first heater H1, a second heater H2, and a third heater. H3, 4th heater H4, 1st temperature sensor T1, 2nd temperature sensor T2, 3rd temperature sensor T3, and 4th temperature sensor T4 are provided.

  The power monitoring unit 9 monitors the generated power output from the fuel cell device 2 during power generation of the system, monitors the charging power supplied to the fuel cell device 2 during charging of the system, and sends the monitoring result to the temperature adjustment unit 10. send.

First heater H1 is heated hydrogen generator side end portion of the gas flow path 5B, the first temperature sensor T1 detects the temperature T ₁ of the hydrogen generating apparatus around the edge of the gas passage 5B. The second heater H2 to heat the hydrogen generator side end portion of the gas flow path 5A, the second temperature sensor T2 for detecting the temperature T ₂ of the hydrogen generating apparatus around the edge of the gas passage 5A. The third heater H3 heats the fuel cell device side end portion of the gas flow path 5A, the third temperature sensor T3 detects the temperature T ₃ of the fuel cell device side end portion of the gas passage 5A. The fourth heater H4 heats the fuel cell device side end portion of the gas flow path 5B, the fourth temperature sensor T4 detects the temperature T ₄ of the fuel cell device side end portion of the gas passage 5B.

The temperature adjustment unit 10 refers to the detected temperatures T _{1 to} T ₄ of the _first to fourth temperature sensors T _{1 to} T ₄ , so that T ₁ > T ₂ > T ₃ > T _4. H1 to H4 are controlled.

Since T ₁ > T ₂ , the mixed gas of water vapor and hydrogen existing in the vicinity of the hydrogen flow generator side end of the gas flow path 5B moves to the vicinity of the hydrogen flow generator side end of the gas flow path 5A by thermal diffusion. To do. At the time of this movement, the ratio of hydrogen in the mixed gas increases due to the oxidation reaction in the hydrogen generator 1 if the system is generating power, and in the mixed gas due to the reduction reaction in the hydrogen generator 1 if the system is charged. The proportion of water vapor increases.

Further, since T ₂ > T ₃ , the mixed gas of water vapor and hydrogen existing in the vicinity of the end of the gas flow channel 5A on the hydrogen generator side is near the end of the gas flow channel 5A on the side of the fuel cell device due to thermal diffusion. Move to.

Further, since T ₃ > T ₄ , the mixed gas of water vapor and hydrogen existing in the vicinity of the end of the gas flow path 5A on the fuel cell device side is near the end of the gas flow path 5B on the side of the fuel cell apparatus due to thermal diffusion Move to. During this movement, the proportion of hydrogen in the mixed gas decreases due to a power generation reaction in the fuel cell device 2 if the system is generating power, and the mixed gas is generated by an electrolysis reaction in the fuel cell device 2 if the system is charged. The proportion of water vapor in is reduced.

  As described above, since the mixed gas of water vapor and hydrogen existing in the vicinity of the end of the gas flow channel 5B near the hydrogen generator moves to the vicinity of the end of the gas flow channel 5A in the gas flow channel 5A due to thermal diffusion, The gas concentration is thin in the vicinity of the end of the flow path 5B on the fuel cell device side. For this reason, the mixed gas of water vapor and hydrogen existing in the vicinity of the end of the gas flow path 5B on the fuel cell device side moves to the vicinity of the end of the gas flow path 5B on the hydrogen generator side by concentration diffusion.

  As described above, by providing a temperature gradient in the gas flow path for circulating the gas containing hydrogen and water vapor between the hydrogen generator 1 and the fuel cell device 2, the hydrogen and water vapor circulated through the gas flow path. The flow rate of gas containing can be increased. This increases the amount of hydrogen supplied to the power generation / electrolysis unit during power generation and reduces the diffusion loss in the power generation / electrolysis unit, so that a decrease in power generation efficiency can be suppressed. Since the amount of water vapor supplied to the unit increases and the diffusion loss in the power generation / electrolysis unit decreases, the reduction in charging efficiency can be suppressed.

In addition, the temperature adjusting unit 10 is configured so that each temperature applied to a gas flow path for circulating a gas containing hydrogen and water vapor between the hydrogen generator 1 and the fuel cell device 2 based on the monitoring result of the power monitoring unit 9. The amount of gradient (T ₁ -T ₂ , T ₂ -T ₃ , T ₃ -T ₄ ) is determined, and the first to fourth heaters H1 to H4 are controlled according to the determined amount of temperature gradient.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram showing current-voltage characteristics of the fuel cell device 2 during power generation. In FIG. 4, a special line IV1 indicates that the total amount of each temperature gradient applied to the gas flow path for circulating a gas containing hydrogen and water vapor between the hydrogen generator 1 and the fuel cell device 2 is ΔT1, and the fuel cell. The current-voltage characteristic of the fuel cell device 2 when the device 2 is at a predetermined temperature, the special line IV2 is for circulating a gas containing hydrogen and water vapor between the hydrogen generator 1 and the fuel cell device 2. The current-voltage characteristics of the fuel cell device 2 when the total amount of each temperature gradient applied to the gas flow path is larger than ΔT1 and the fuel cell device 2 is at a predetermined temperature, and the special line IV0 is the fuel cell device 2. 2 shows current-voltage characteristics of the fuel cell device 2 at theoretical values when is a predetermined temperature. Further, the total amount of each temperature gradient applied to the gas flow path for circulating the gas containing hydrogen and water vapor between the hydrogen generator 1 and the fuel cell device 2 is ΔT1, and the fuel cell device 2 is at a predetermined temperature. The loss generated in the fuel cell device 2 when the current value of the fuel cell device 2 is I0 is ΔV1 × I0, and a gas containing hydrogen and water vapor is interposed between the hydrogen generator 1 and the fuel cell device 2. Generated in the fuel cell device 2 when the total amount of each temperature gradient applied to the gas flow path for circulation is ΔT2, the fuel cell device 2 is at a predetermined temperature, and the current value of the fuel cell device 2 is I0 Loss to be ΔV2 × I0.

As is clear from FIG. 4, as the current value I 0 of the battery cell device 2 increases, the loss generated in the fuel cell device 2 increases. However, hydrogen and water vapor are generated between the hydrogen generator 1 and the fuel cell device 2. If the total amount of each temperature gradient attached to the gas flow path for circulating the gas containing is increased, an increase in loss generated in the fuel cell device 2 can be suppressed. The same applies when the system is charged. Therefore, the temperature adjusting unit 10 circulates a gas containing hydrogen and water vapor between the hydrogen generator 1 and the fuel cell device 2 as the power (generated power or charged power) monitored by the power monitoring unit 9 increases. Temperature gradients attached to the gas flow paths for circulating a gas containing hydrogen and water vapor between the hydrogen generator 1 and the fuel cell device 2 so that the total amount of the temperature gradients attached to the gas flow paths for the gas flow increases. to determine the amount _{(T 1 -T 2, T 2} -T 3, T 3 -T 4) of.

However, when the current of the fuel cell device 2 is a predetermined value, a gas containing hydrogen and water vapor is circulated between the hydrogen generator 1 and the fuel cell device 2 in order to suppress loss generated in the fuel cell device 2. When the total amount of each temperature gradient attached to the gas flow path for increasing the temperature is increased, the diffusion loss of the fuel cell device 2 is reduced as shown in FIG. 5, but the temperature adjustment unit 10 is connected to the first to fourth heaters H1 to H4. The energy to input becomes large. Therefore, the temperature adjustment unit 10 is configured so that the sum of the diffusion loss of the fuel cell device 2 and the energy input to the first to fourth heaters H1 to H4 is minimized. It is desirable to determine the amount of each temperature gradient (T ₁ -T ₂ , T ₂ -T ₃ , T ₃ -T ₄ ) attached to the gas flow path for circulating the gas containing hydrogen and water vapor between them.

  In addition, you may provide circulators, such as a blower and a pump, in the gas flow path for circulating the gas containing hydrogen and water vapor | steam between the hydrogen generator 1 and the fuel cell apparatus 2, as needed. Moreover, you may provide the heater etc. which adjust temperature in the fuel generator 1 and the fuel cell apparatus 2 as needed.

In the embodiment described above, a temperature sensor and a heater are provided in each of the gas flow paths 5A and 5B. For example, as shown in FIG. 6, a temperature sensor and a heater are provided only in the gas flow path 5A. It doesn't matter. In this case, the temperature adjustment unit 10 refers to the detected temperatures T ₂ and T ₃ of the second and third temperature sensors T ₂ and T ₃ , and the second and third heaters H 2 and H 3 so that T ₂ > T _3. To control. Since T ₂ > T ₃ , the mixed gas of water vapor and hydrogen existing in the vicinity of the hydrogen generating device side end of the gas flow path 5A moves to the vicinity of the end of the gas flow path 5A on the fuel cell device side by thermal diffusion. To do. Due to the movement of the mixed gas by this thermal diffusion, the gas concentration is reduced in the vicinity of the end of the gas flow channel 5A on the hydrogen generator side. Thereby, the mixed gas of water vapor and hydrogen existing in the vicinity of the end of the gas flow channel 5A on the fuel cell device side causes the gas flow in the vessel 4, the gas flow channel 5B, and the gas in the vessel 3 by concentration diffusion. It moves to the vicinity of the hydrogen generator side end of the gas flow path 5A via the flow path.

In the above-described embodiment, the gas flow paths 5A and 5B are provided. However, for example, only the gas flow path 5A may be provided as shown in FIG. In this case, the temperature adjustment unit 10 refers to the detected temperatures T ₂ and T ₃ of the second and third temperature sensors T ₂ and T ₃ , and the second and third heaters H 2 and H 3 so that T ₂ > T _3. To control. Since T ₂ > T ₃ , the mixed gas of water vapor and hydrogen existing in the vicinity of the hydrogen generating device side end of the gas flow path 5A moves to the vicinity of the end of the gas flow path 5A on the fuel cell device side by thermal diffusion. To do. Due to the movement of the mixed gas by this thermal diffusion, the gas concentration is reduced in the vicinity of the end of the gas flow channel 5A on the hydrogen generator side. Thereby, the mixed gas of water vapor and hydrogen existing in the vicinity of the end of the gas channel 5A on the fuel cell device side moves to the vicinity of the end of the gas channel 5A on the side of the hydrogen generator due to concentration diffusion. Therefore, convection as shown by the arrow shown in the gas flow path 5A in FIG. 7 occurs.

  In the above-described embodiment, one fuel cell device 2 performs both power generation and electrolysis of water. However, the hydrogen generator performs electrolysis of a fuel cell (for example, a solid oxide fuel cell dedicated to power generation) and water. It is also possible to adopt a configuration in which each of the vessels (for example, a solid oxide fuel cell dedicated for water electrolysis) is connected in parallel on the gas flow path.

  In the above-described embodiment, the solid oxide electrolyte 6 is used as the electrolyte membrane of the fuel cell device 2 to generate water on the fuel electrode 8 side during power generation. According to this configuration, water is generated on the electrode side (fuel electrode 8 side) connected to the hydrogen generator 1 by the gas flow path for supplying fuel from the hydrogen generator 1 to the fuel cell device 2. This is advantageous for simplification and downsizing. On the other hand, as a fuel cell disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2009-99491, a solid polymer electrolyte that allows hydrogen ions to pass through can be used as the electrolyte membrane of the fuel generator 2. However, in this case, since water is generated on the oxidant electrode 7 side during power generation, a flow path for propagating this water to the hydrogen generator 1 may be provided.

  In the above-described embodiment, the hydrogen generator 1 is used and the fuel of the fuel cell device 2 is hydrogen. However, a reducing gas other than hydrogen, such as carbon monoxide or hydrocarbon, is used as the fuel of the fuel cell device 2. It doesn't matter.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Hydrogen generator 2 Fuel cell apparatus 3, 4 Container 5A, 5B Gas flow path 6 Solid electrolyte 7 Oxidant electrode 8 Fuel electrode 9 Electric power monitoring part 10 Temperature adjustment part 100 External load 200 External power supply H1 1st heater H2 2nd heater H3 3rd heater H4 4th heater T1 1st temperature sensor T2 2nd temperature sensor T3 3rd temperature sensor T4 4th temperature sensor

Claims (4)

A fuel generating part capable of releasing the fuel by a chemical reaction and regenerating by a reverse reaction of the chemical reaction in which the fuel is generated;
Power generation function that generates power using the fuel supplied from the fuel generation unit and power generation function that electrolyzes the product of the reverse reaction supplied from the fuel generation unit during regeneration of the fuel generation unit・ Equipped with an electrolysis unit,
A gas flow path for circulating a gas containing the fuel between the fuel generation unit and the power generation / electrolysis unit;
A secondary battery type fuel cell system comprising: a heating device that applies a temperature gradient to the gas flow path. A power monitoring unit that monitors power output from the power generation / electrolysis unit and power supplied to the power generation / electrolysis unit;
The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a temperature adjustment unit that determines an amount of the temperature gradient based on a monitoring result of the power monitoring unit, and controls the heating device according to the determined amount of the temperature gradient. The secondary battery type fuel cell system described.   The temperature adjustment unit determines the amount of the temperature gradient so that the sum of the diffusion loss of the power generation / electrolysis unit and the energy input to the heating device is minimized. Secondary battery type fuel cell system.   The secondary battery type fuel cell system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the power generation / electrolysis unit is a solid oxide fuel cell.