JP2013206572A - Fuel cell unit - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a fuel cell unit which can supply fuel gas evenly to fuel battery cells arranged on either the upstream or the downstream side of the direction of fuel gas flow in a manifold.SOLUTION: A fuel cell unit 2 has fuel battery cells arranged therein, in which gas on one side of oxidant gas and fuel gas is supplied to the inner electrode and gas on the other side is supplied to the outer electrode of the fuel battery cells via a manifold 68 to cause power generation reaction to occur, and includes an aggregate section 21a consisting of openings through which reacted and unreacted gases are collected and guided to the outside of a power generation chamber. The manifold 68 includes an introduction port which introduces gas on one side and a lead-out port, introduced gas being supplied from the lead-out port to the fuel battery cells, and a gas passage is provided through which the introduced gas is discharged toward the face of the power generation chamber having the aggregate section arranged therein. The aggregate section 21a is provided in such a way that an opening amount at the other end side in the manifold 68 becomes large.

Description

  The present invention relates to a fuel cell unit that generates power using a fuel gas and an oxidant gas.

  In recent years, a fuel cell assembly in which a plurality of fuel cells that can obtain electric power by reacting a fuel gas (hydrogen-containing gas) and an oxidant gas (oxygen-containing gas) are arranged in a casing is provided. A fuel cell unit that generates power by supplying a fuel cell and an oxidant gas to a fuel cell has been proposed. As this kind of fuel cell unit, a fuel gas is introduced from one end side to the other end side in the arrangement direction of the fuel cell assembly, and the fuel gas is supplied to the whole installed fuel cell assembly (For example, refer patent document 1).

JP 2011-119185 A

  In the fuel cell unit as in Patent Document 1 described above, fuel gas is introduced from one end side to the other end side in the arrangement direction of the fuel cell assembly in the manifold. At that time, as it approaches the other end, that is, the downstream side from the upstream side in the flow direction of the fuel gas, the direction of the flow of the fuel gas due to energy loss due to the viscosity of the fuel gas itself, friction in the manifold, or the like. A pressure drop occurs. That is, the supply amount of the fuel gas is smaller in the fuel battery cell arranged on the downstream side than the fuel battery cell arranged on the upstream side in the fuel gas flow direction in the manifold. For this reason, when the same amount of power is generated in the fuel cells arranged on the downstream side of the manifold as in the upstream fuel cells, the situation is that power is forcibly generated with insufficient fuel gas, and the downstream fuel cells There is a risk of deterioration or damage. When deterioration or breakage in the fuel cell due to uneven supply of fuel gas occurs, the power generation reaction of the fuel cell unit may not be stable and the life may be shortened.

  Therefore, the present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and evenly for the fuel cells arranged on either the upstream side or the downstream side in the flow direction of the fuel gas in the manifold, the fuel gas is evenly distributed. It aims at providing the fuel cell unit which can supply.

  The present invention supplies one gas of oxidant gas or fuel gas to the inner electrode of the fuel cell via the manifold, and supplies the other gas of oxidant gas or fuel gas to the outer electrode of the fuel cell. In addition, fuel cells that generate a power generation reaction using an inner electrode, an outer electrode, and an electrolyte layer disposed between the inner electrode and the outer electrode are disposed in a power generation chamber, and reacted gas and power generated by the power generation reaction are generated. The fuel cell unit having an assembly portion including an opening that collects the one gas that has not been used for the reaction and the other gas and guides the other gas out of the power generation, and the manifold introduces the one gas. And an outlet for supplying the introduced one gas to the fuel battery cell, the inlet being disposed on one end side of the manifold, and the introduced one gas is The fuel cell unit is configured to be supplied to the fuel cell unit from the plurality of outlets arranged in sequence from the one end side to the other end side while flowing from the side toward the opposite end side. A fuel cell comprising a gas flow path for discharging the one gas introduced from the manifold into the power generation chamber through the inner electrode toward the surface of the power generation chamber where the collecting portion is disposed. In the unit, the collecting portion is a fuel cell unit characterized in that an opening amount on the other end side of the manifold is increased.

  In the present invention configured as described above, by arranging the collecting portion closer to the downstream side than the central portion in the flow direction of the fuel gas in the manifold, the combustion gas has a distance to the collecting portion as compared with the upstream side of the manifold. More smoothly discharged from the casing on the downstream side. For this reason, the pressure above the fuel cells arranged on the downstream side of the manifold where combustion gas is more easily consumed is lower than the pressure above the upstream fuel cells, and the fuel gas is more downstream on the manifold. The fuel cell is smoothly supplied from below. Since the flow rate of the fuel gas supplied to each fuel cell in the fuel cell assembly is made uniform, the deterioration or breakage of the fuel cell caused by the supply of the fuel gas having a non-uniform flow rate can be prevented. Therefore, it is possible to obtain a fuel cell unit with a stable power generation reaction and a long life.

  In the present invention, preferably, the collecting portion is disposed closer to the downstream side in the fuel gas flow direction in the manifold as viewed from the center of the fuel cell assembly.

  In the present invention configured as described above, the collecting portion is disposed closer to the downstream side in the flow direction of the fuel gas in the manifold as viewed from the central portion of the fuel cell assembly. In between, the center part of the fuel cell assembly which is the highest temperature in the fuel cell unit is located. Since there is a characteristic that the viscosity of the gas increases in a high temperature environment, there is a region where the viscosity increases at a high temperature between the collecting part and the upstream of the manifold, making it difficult for the upstream fuel gas to reach the collecting part. The upstream fuel gas flow rate can be suppressed and the downstream fuel gas flow rate can be relatively increased. As a result, the fuel gas can be supplied more on the downstream side of the manifold where it is difficult to supply the fuel gas to the fuel cell unit, so that the fuel gas can be supplied to the fuel cell more smoothly on the downstream side of the manifold. Thus, it is possible to more reliably prevent the deterioration or breakage of the fuel battery cell generated by the supply of the fuel gas having a non-uniform flow rate. Therefore, it is possible to obtain a fuel cell unit with a more stable power generation reaction and a longer life.

  The present invention preferably includes an evaporator that converts water into water vapor, and a reformer that reforms the gas to be reformed into fuel gas using water vapor, between the fuel cell assembly and the assembly portion. The evaporator is disposed closer to the downstream side than the central portion in the fuel gas flow direction in the manifold, and the reformer is disposed closer to the upstream side than the central portion in the fuel gas flow direction in the manifold.

  In the present invention configured as described above, the evaporator is disposed between the fuel cell assembly and the assembly and downstream of the central portion in the flow direction of the fuel gas in the manifold. Compared to the surroundings of a high reformer, the viscosity of the gas can be suppressed around the evaporator, which becomes relatively low temperature by vaporizing water. Therefore, the viscosity around the evaporator, that is, above the downstream side of the manifold is lower than that on the upstream side, and the flow of combustion gas becomes smoother. Since the fuel gas is supplied to the fuel cells more smoothly on the downstream side of the manifold, it is possible to more reliably prevent the deterioration and breakage of the fuel cells caused by the supply of the fuel gas having a non-uniform flow rate. Therefore, it is possible to obtain a fuel cell unit with a more stable power generation reaction and a longer life.

  According to the fuel cell unit of the present invention, the flow rate of the fuel gas supplied to each fuel cell in the battery cell assembly is made uniform. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the deterioration or breakage of the fuel cell generated by the supply of fuel gas at a non-uniform flow rate, and it is possible to obtain a fuel cell unit with a stable power generation reaction and a long life.

The perspective view which shows the external appearance of the fuel cell module in one Embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing in the center vicinity of FIG. 1, Comprising: Sectional drawing which shows the cross section seen from the A direction of FIG. It is sectional drawing in the center vicinity of FIG. 1, Comprising: Sectional drawing which shows the cross section seen from the B direction of FIG. The perspective view which shows the state which removed some outer plates from the casing of FIG. A sectional view showing the inside of a manifold used for one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing the flow of power generation air and combustion gas corresponding to FIG. 2. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing the flow of power generation air and combustion gas corresponding to FIG. 3. The perspective view which shows the structure of the fuel cell stack in one Embodiment of this invention. The fragmentary sectional view which shows the fuel cell unit in one Embodiment of this invention.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an appearance of a fuel cell module (fuel cell unit) according to an embodiment of the present invention. A fuel cell module 2 shown in FIG. 1 constitutes a part of a solid oxide fuel cell system. The solid oxide fuel cell system includes a fuel cell module 2 and an auxiliary unit (not shown).

  In FIG. 1, the height direction of the fuel cell module 2 is the y-axis direction. The x axis and the z axis are defined along a plane perpendicular to the y axis, the direction along the short direction of the fuel cell module 2 is defined as the x axis direction, and the direction along the longitudinal direction of the fuel cell module 2 is defined as z. Axial direction. The x-axis, y-axis, and z-axis described in FIG. 2 and thereafter are based on the x-axis, y-axis, and z-axis in FIG. Further, the direction along the negative direction of the z axis is the A direction, and the direction along the positive direction of the x axis is the B direction.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the fuel cell module 2 includes a casing 56 provided with a fuel cell assembly (details will be described later), and heating air (oxidant gas) provided on the upper portion of the casing 56. The heat exchanger 22 is provided. The inside of the casing 56 is a sealed space, and the reformed gas supply pipe 60 and the water supply pipe 62 are connected to each other. On the other hand, a power generation air introduction pipe 74 and a combustion gas discharge pipe 82 are connected to the heat exchanger 22.

  The to-be-reformed gas supply pipe 60 is a conduit for supplying a to-be-reformed gas such as city gas into the casing 56. The water supply pipe 62 is a pipe that supplies water used when steam reforming the gas to be reformed into fuel gas. The power generation air introduction pipe 74 is a conduit for supplying power generation air for causing a power generation reaction with the reformed fuel gas. The combustion gas discharge pipe 82 is a pipe line that discharges the combustion gas generated as a result of burning the fuel gas after the power generation reaction to the outside of the casing 56.

  2 is a cross-sectional view of the fuel cell module 2 as viewed from the direction A in FIG. 1 in the vicinity of the center thereof. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the fuel cell module 2 as viewed from the direction B of FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a state in which a part of the casing 56 covering the fuel cell assembly is removed from the fuel cell module 2 shown in FIG. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing the inside of the manifold used in one embodiment of the present invention. The inside of the fuel cell module 2 will be described with reference to FIGS.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the fuel cell module 2 includes a fuel cell assembly 12, a power generation chamber 10 in which the fuel cell assembly 12 generates power, and an upper portion of the fuel cell assembly 12. A combustion chamber 18 formed in the above, a reforming unit 20 disposed above the combustion chamber 18, and a rectifying plate 21 formed above the reforming unit 20. A manifold 68 is provided directly below the fuel cell assembly 12.

  The fuel cell assembly 12 provided in the power generation chamber 10 has a fuel cell stack 14 composed of a plurality of fuel cells (hereinafter referred to as fuel cell units 16) oriented in the longitudinal direction (A direction). A plurality are arranged, and the whole is covered with the casing 56. As shown in FIG. 4, the fuel cell assembly 12 has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape that is longer in the A direction than in the B direction as a whole. The upper surface on the reforming unit 20 side, the lower surface on the manifold 68 side, A long side surface extending along the A direction and a short side surface extending along the B direction in FIG. 4 are provided.

  In the reforming unit 20, a to-be-reformed gas supply pipe 60 and a water supply pipe 62 led to the inside of the casing 56 are connected. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 3, the reforming unit 20 is connected to the upstream end of the reforming unit 20 on the right side in the figure. The water supplied from the water supply pipe 62 is evaporated by the evaporation mixer 20a (evaporator) provided at the upstream end in the reforming unit 20. Further, the evaporative mixer 20a appropriately mixes the water vapor, the gas to be reformed, and air according to the type of reforming reaction.

  A reformer 20 b is provided on the downstream side of the evaporative mixer 20 a in the reforming unit 20. The reformer 20 b reforms the gas to be reformed into fuel gas by steam reforming, and introduces the fuel gas into the upper end of the fuel supply pipe 66 connected to the downstream end of the reforming unit 20. The lower end side 66 a of the fuel supply pipe 66 is disposed so as to enter the manifold 68.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the lower end side 66 a of the fuel supply pipe 66 is inserted into the manifold 68 provided just below the fuel cell assembly 12. A plurality of small holes 66b are formed in the outer periphery of the lower end side 66a of the fuel supply pipe 66 along the longitudinal direction (A direction). The fuel gas reformed by the reforming unit 20 is introduced from one end side (left end in FIG. 5) in the longitudinal direction of the manifold 68 toward the other end side (right end in FIG. 5). 68 is sequentially supplied toward the other end side in 68. Therefore, the amount of fuel gas passing through the fuel supply pipe 66 decreases as the fuel gas passing through the fuel supply pipe 66 moves from one end side to the other end side. Further, the flow resistance of the inner wall of the fuel supply pipe 66 is added, and the pressure in the fuel supply pipe 66 drops from one end side toward the other end side. The fuel gas supplied to the manifold 68 is supplied into a fuel gas flow path (details will be described later) inside each fuel cell unit 16 constituting the fuel cell assembly 12 standing on the manifold 68. The fuel cell unit 16 is raised to reach the combustion chamber 18.

  In the combustion chamber 18 above the fuel cell assembly 12, combustion gas is generated by burning the fuel gas that has not been used for the power generation reaction and the power generation air. The combustion gas rises in the combustion chamber 18 and reaches the rectifying plate 21 through the periphery of the reforming unit 20. The reforming unit 20 is heated by the combustion gas, and performs evaporation of water by the evaporative mixer 20a and steam reforming by the reformer 20b. Although the details will be described later, the rectifying plate 21 is formed with an opening 21a (aggregating portion) for collecting the combustion gas, and guides the combustion gas to the outside of the casing 56.

  Next, a structure for supplying power generation air to the inside of the fuel cell module 2 will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 to 4, 6, and 7. 6 is a schematic diagram corresponding to FIG. 2 and shows the flow of power generation air and combustion gas. FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram corresponding to FIG. 3 and similarly shows the flow of power generation air and combustion gas. is there. As shown in these drawings, a heat exchanger 22 is provided above the reforming unit 20. The heat exchanger 22 is provided with a plurality of combustion gas pipes 70 and a power generation air flow path 72 formed around the combustion gas pipes 70.

  As shown in FIG. 7, a power generation air introduction pipe 74 is attached to the other end side (the right end in FIG. 7) on the upper surface of the heat exchanger 22. With this power generation air introduction pipe 74, power generation air is introduced into the heat exchanger 22 from a power generation air flow rate adjustment unit (not shown). On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 2, a pair of outlet ports 76a of the power generation air flow path 72 is formed on one end side (left end in FIG. 7) on the upper side of the heat exchanger 22. The outlet port 76a is connected to a pair of communication channels 76. Furthermore, power generation air supply passages 77 are formed on the outer sides of both sides in the width direction (B direction) of the casing 56 of the fuel cell module 2.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 6, the power generation air supply path 77 is supplied with power generation air from the outlet port 76 a of the power generation air flow path 72 via the communication flow path 76. . The power generation air supply path 77 is formed along the longitudinal direction of the fuel cell assembly 12. Furthermore, a plurality of outlets 78a for blowing out the power generation air toward each fuel cell unit 16 in the power generation chamber 10 at a position on the lower side and corresponding to the lower side of the fuel cell assembly 12; 78b is formed. The power generation air blown out from these air outlets 78 a and 78 b flows from the lower side to the upper side along the outer side of each fuel cell unit 16.

  Next, a structure for discharging combustion gas generated by combustion of fuel gas and power generation air will be described with reference to FIGS. In the combustion chamber 18, combustion gas is generated by burning the fuel gas that has not been used for the power generation reaction and the power generation air. The combustion gas rises in the combustion chamber 18 and reaches the rectifying plate 21 through the periphery of the reforming unit 20. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the rectifying plate 21 is provided with an opening 21 a for collecting combustion gases. The combustion gas gathered through the opening 21a is guided to one end side (left end in FIG. 7) of the heat exchanger 22 outside the casing 56. In the heat exchanger 22, a plurality of combustion gas pipes 70 are provided for heating the power generation air in the power generation air flow path 72 by heat exchange. A combustion gas discharge pipe 82 is connected to the downstream end side of these combustion gas pipes 70 so that the combustion gas is discharged to the outside.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the opening 21 a is above the fuel cell assembly 12 and closer to the downstream side (right end side in FIG. 7) than the center of the fuel flow direction in the manifold 68, in other words, It is formed closer to the downstream side (right end side in FIG. 7) in the direction of fuel gas flowing into the manifold as viewed from the center of the fuel cell assembly 12.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 7, the evaporative mixer 20a in the reforming unit 20 is located between the fuel cell assembly 12 and the opening 21a and from the center of the manifold 68 in the fuel gas flow direction. Is also disposed closer to the downstream side (the right end side in FIG. 7). Further, the reformer 20b is disposed between the fuel cell assembly 12 and the opening 21a and closer to the upstream side (the left end side in FIG. 7) than the center of the manifold 68 in the fuel gas flow direction. Has been.

  Next, FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing the fuel cell stack 14 in the embodiment of the present invention. The fuel cell stack 14 will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 8, the fuel cell stack 14 is composed of 16 fuel cell units 16, and the lower end side and the upper end side of these fuel cell units 16 are ceramic manifold upper plates 68 a and 68, respectively. It is supported by the upper support plate 100. The manifold upper plate 68a and the upper support plate 100 are formed with through holes through which the inner electrode terminals 86 can pass.

  A current collector 102 and an external terminal 104 are attached to the fuel cell unit 16. The current collector 102 electrically connects the inner electrode terminal 86 attached to the inner electrode layer 90 that is a fuel electrode and the outer peripheral surface of the outer electrode layer 92 that is the air electrode of the adjacent fuel cell unit 16. To do.

  Further, the external terminals 104 are connected to the inner electrode terminals 86 at the upper and lower ends of the two fuel cell units 16 located at the ends of the fuel cell stack 14. These external terminals 104 are connected to the external terminals 104 of the fuel cell unit 16 at the end of the adjacent fuel cell stack 14, and all 160 fuel cell units 16 are connected in series. Yes.

  Next, FIG. 9 is a partial cross-sectional view showing the fuel cell unit 16 of the present embodiment. The fuel cell unit 16 will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 9, the fuel cell unit 16 includes a fuel cell 84 and inner electrode terminals 86 connected to the end portions in the vertical direction of the fuel cell 84.

  The fuel cell 84 is a tubular structure extending in the vertical direction, and includes a cylindrical inner electrode layer 90 that forms a fuel gas flow path 88 therein, a cylindrical outer electrode layer 92, an inner electrode layer 90, and an outer side. An electrolyte layer 94 is provided between the electrode layer 92 and the electrode layer 92. The inner electrode layer 90 is a fuel electrode through which fuel gas passes and becomes a (−) electrode, while the outer electrode layer 92 is an air electrode in contact with air and becomes a (+) electrode.

  Since the inner electrode terminals 86 attached to the upper end side and the lower end side of the fuel cell unit 16 have the same structure, the inner electrode terminal 86 attached to the upper end side will be specifically described here. The upper portion 90 a of the inner electrode layer 90 includes an outer peripheral surface 90 b and an upper end surface 90 c exposed to the electrolyte layer 94 and the outer electrode layer 92. The inner electrode terminal 86 is connected to the outer peripheral surface 90b of the inner electrode layer 90 through a conductive sealing material 96, and is further in direct contact with the upper end surface 90c of the inner electrode layer 90, thereby Electrically connected. A communication channel 98 that communicates with the fuel gas channel 88 of the inner electrode layer 90 is formed at the center of the inner electrode terminal 86.

  According to the fuel cell module 2 of the present embodiment described above, the opening 21a is located above the fuel cell assembly 12 and from the center of the manifold 68 in the fuel gas flow direction, as shown in FIG. From the opening 21a to the fuel cell unit 16 (the leftmost cell unit in FIG. 7) which is formed on the downstream side (right end side in FIG. 7) and is arranged on the most end (upstream end) side in the manifold 68. And the shortest distance from the opening 21a to the fuel cell unit 16 (the rightmost cell unit in FIG. 7) disposed on the most other end (downstream end) side in the manifold 68, Since the distance to the fuel cell unit 16 disposed on the other end side is closer, the manifold 68 in the top surface of the power generation chamber 10 is arranged. The opening amount provided on the other end side (downstream side) is larger than the opening amount provided on the one end side (upstream side), and when the combustion gas is discharged, the opening amount is higher than that on the upstream side of the manifold 68. The combustion gas is more smoothly discharged from the casing 56 in the upper part on the downstream side, which is close to the distance 21a. Therefore, the combustion gas is more easily consumed above the fuel cell unit 16 disposed on the downstream side of the manifold 68 than on the upstream fuel cell unit 16. That is, compared with the upper part of the fuel cell unit 16 arranged on the upstream side, the amount of combustion gas tends to be smaller in the upper part of the fuel cell unit 16 arranged on the downstream side, and the pressure is more likely to decrease accordingly. Become. Thereby, the pressure above the fuel cell unit 16 disposed on the downstream side of the manifold 68 is lower than the pressure above the upstream fuel cell unit 16, and the fuel gas is located downstream of the low pressure manifold 68. Is more smoothly supplied from below the fuel cell unit 16. In this way, the fuel gas can be supplied further downstream of the manifold 68 where it is difficult to supply the fuel gas to the fuel cell unit 16, so that the fuel gas is supplied to each fuel cell unit 16 in the fuel cell assembly 12. The flow rate of the fuel gas is made uniform. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the fuel cell unit 16 from being deteriorated or damaged due to the supply of the fuel gas having a non-uniform flow rate, and it is possible to obtain a fuel cell unit with a stable power generation reaction and a long life.

  Further, according to the fuel cell module 2 of the present embodiment described above, it is formed closer to the downstream side (right end side in FIG. 7) in the fuel gas flow direction flowing into the manifold as viewed from the center of the fuel cell assembly 12. Therefore, the central portion of the fuel cell assembly that is the highest temperature in the module is located between the opening 21a and the upstream side of the manifold. Since there is a characteristic that the viscosity of the gas increases in a high temperature environment, a region where the viscosity is increased at a high temperature is formed between the upstream side of the manifold 68 and the opening 21a, and the upstream fuel gas hardly reaches the opening 21a. Thus, the upstream fuel gas flow rate can be suppressed and the downstream fuel gas flow rate can be relatively increased. As a result, the fuel gas can be supplied more downstream from the manifold 68 where it is difficult to supply the fuel gas to the fuel cell unit 16, so that the fuel gas can be supplied to the fuel cells more smoothly downstream from the manifold 68. As a result, it is possible to more reliably prevent the deterioration or breakage of the fuel battery cell caused by the supply of the fuel gas having a non-uniform flow rate. Therefore, it is possible to obtain a fuel cell unit with a more stable power generation reaction and a longer life.

  Furthermore, according to the fuel cell module 2 of the present embodiment described above, the evaporative mixer 20a in the reforming unit 20 is disposed between the fuel cell assembly 12 and the opening 21a and the fuel gas in the manifold 68. By arranging it closer to the downstream side (right end side in FIG. 7) than the central portion in the flow direction, water is supplied compared with the surroundings of the reformer 20b that becomes high temperature when the combustion gas goes to the opening 21a, By vaporizing the supplied water, the viscosity of the gas is suppressed around the evaporative mixer 20a, which has a relatively low temperature. As a result, the viscosity around the evaporator mixer 20a, that is, above the downstream side of the manifold 68 is lower than that above the upstream side, and the flow of combustion gas becomes smoother. Since the fuel gas can be supplied more downstream from the manifold 68 where the fuel gas is difficult to be supplied to the fuel cell unit 16, the fuel gas can be supplied to the fuel cells more smoothly downstream from the manifold 68. Thus, it is possible to more reliably prevent the deterioration or breakage of the fuel cell generated by the supply of the fuel gas having a non-uniform flow rate. Therefore, it is possible to obtain a fuel cell unit with a more stable power generation reaction and a longer life.

2 ... Fuel cell module (fuel cell unit)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Power generation chamber 12 ... Fuel cell assembly 14 ... Fuel cell stack 16 ... Fuel cell unit 18 ... Combustion chamber 20 ... Reforming unit 20a ... Evaporation mixer (evaporator)
20b ... reformer 21 ... current plate 21a ... opening (aggregation part)
22 ... Heat exchanger 56 ... Casing 60 ... Reformed gas supply pipe 62 ... Water supply pipe 66 ... Fuel supply pipe 66a ... Lower end side 66b ... Small hole 68 ... Manifold 68a ... Manifold upper plate 70 ... Combustion gas pipe 72 ... For power generation Air flow path 74 ... Power generation air introduction pipe 76 ... Communication flow path 76a ... Outlet port 77 ... Power generation air supply path 78a, 78b ... Blow-out port 82 ... Combustion gas discharge pipe 84 ... Fuel cell 86 ... Inner electrode terminal 88 ... Fuel gas flow path
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 90 ... Inner electrode layer 90a ... Upper part 90b ... Outer peripheral surface 90c ... Upper end surface 92 ... Outer electrode layer 94 ... Electrolyte layer 96 ... Sealing material 98 ... Communication channel 100 ... Upper support plate 102 ... Current collector 104 ... External end

Claims (3)

One gas of oxidant gas or fuel gas is supplied to the inner electrode of the fuel cell through the manifold, and the other gas of oxidant gas or fuel gas is supplied to the outer electrode of the fuel cell, and the inner electrode, Fuel cells that generate a power generation reaction using the outer electrode and an electrolyte layer disposed between the inner electrode and the outer electrode are disposed in the power generation chamber and used for the reacted gas and power generation reaction generated by the power generation reaction. The fuel cell unit having a collecting portion including an opening that collects the one gas that was not present and the other gas and guides the gas to the outside of the power generation,
The manifold is
An inlet for introducing the one gas;
An outlet for supplying the one introduced gas to the fuel cell, and
The introduction port is disposed on one end side of the manifold, and a plurality of the introduced gases sequentially flow from the one end side to the other end side while flowing from the one end side toward the opposite other end side. The fuel cell is configured to be supplied from the arranged outlets,
The fuel battery cell is
In the fuel cell unit comprising a gas flow path for discharging the one gas introduced from the manifold into the power generation chamber toward the surface of the power generation chamber where the collecting portion is disposed via the inner electrode. ,
The fuel cell unit, wherein the assembly portion is provided so that an opening amount on the other end side of the manifold is increased.   2. The fuel cell unit according to claim 1, wherein the collecting portion is disposed closer to a downstream side in a fuel gas flow direction in the manifold as viewed from a central portion of the fuel cell assembly. An evaporator that converts water into water vapor, a reformer that reforms the gas to be reformed into fuel gas using water vapor, and
Between the fuel cell assembly and the assembly part,
The evaporator is disposed closer to the downstream side than the central portion of the manifold in the flow direction of fuel gas, and the reformer is disposed closer to the upstream side than the central portion of the manifold in the flow direction of fuel gas. 2. The fuel cell unit according to 2.

Images