JP2014216216A - Fuel cell power generation module - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a fuel cell power generation module including a structure which allows the fuel cell power generation module to be carried in a state where a case member is suctioned and held by a vacuum pad.SOLUTION: A fuel cell power generation module 2 includes: a power generation part 2a having multiple cells; and a case member 15 which houses the power generation part 2a. The case member 15 includes: a flat surface 17 that may be suctioned by a vacuum pad 16 for hanging carriage; and a reinforcement structure 18 for providing rigidity, which allows the flat surface 17 to be hanged by the vacuum pad 16 when the fuel cell power generation module 2 is carried in a hanging manner, to the flat surface 17. The flat surface 17 is provided so as to be positioned at a top plate part 15e of the case member 15 and enable a vertical line 19 passing through a centroid of the fuel cell power generation module 2 to penetrate therethrough.

Description

  The present invention relates to a fuel cell power generation module, and more particularly to a fuel cell power generation module having a structure that can be held and transported by being absorbed by a vacuum pad when the fuel cell power generation module is assembled.

  Conventionally, fuel cell power generators that generate electric power by supplying air and reformed fuel gas (hydrogen-containing gas) have been put to practical use. This fuel cell power generation device can constitute a fuel cell cogeneration system by combining with a hot water storage hot water supply device that recovers, as hot water, the heat generated secondaryly during power generation, for example.

  The fuel cell power generator described above includes a fuel cell stack that generates power with air and reformed fuel gas, and reformed fuel gas supplied to the fuel cell stack from pure water (water vapor) and a fuel gas such as natural gas. A fuel cell power generation module having a reformer and the like to generate, an exhaust heat recovery device for exchanging heat between exhaust gas from the fuel cell power generation module and hot water in a hot water storage tank, and fuel gas and air to the fuel cell power generation module It includes various supply devices to be supplied, a power conditioner unit that generates power from the fuel cell power generation module, converts DC power into AC power, and outputs the AC power to the outside.

  Further, the fuel cell power generator described above is configured such that various instruments are housed inside a box-shaped outer case. The interior of the exterior case is often divided into an upper region and a lower region by a frame member. Generally, the fuel cell power generation module is housed in the upper region of the frame member, and the lower region of the frame member. Auxiliary equipment such as an exhaust heat recovery device and various supply devices, a power conditioner unit, and the like are accommodated.

  By the way, since the fuel cell power generation module described above is heavy, in order to assemble the fuel cell power generation device, the fuel cell power generation module is suspended by a suspension means (for example, a ring sling, rope, wire, etc.) and transported. There is a need. For this reason, as in the structure shown in Patent Document 1 below, there are cases where a hanging bracket for transportation is attached to the fuel cell power generation module in advance.

  That is, in the fuel cell stack of Patent Document 1, a pair of hanging fittings (hangers) are attached to both ends of the stack body in the cell stacking direction or in the direction perpendicular to the cell stacking direction so as to protrude from the case member. The disclosed structure is disclosed. Each hanging metal fitting has a hook part on which a hanging means such as a wire can be hooked, and when carrying the fuel cell stack, the hanging means is hooked on a pair of hanging hangers and carried.

Japanese Patent No. 4888728

  However, in the structure of Patent Document 1, the number of parts is increased and the number of assembly steps is increased due to the structure in which a pair of hanging metal fittings are attached to the fuel cell stack only for transporting the module when the fuel cell power generator is assembled. Since the working time is increased, the assembly cost of the fuel cell power generator increases. In addition, the pair of hanging metal fittings interferes with the module after it is assembled due to the structure protruding from the case member housing the fuel cell power generation cell stack.

  Therefore, it is desirable to carry and hold the fuel cell power generation module by using a vacuum pad that is adsorbed to the case member of the fuel cell power generation module instead of the above-described suspension means and hanging metal fittings. When the case member is generally composed of a thin plate, if the case member is suspended and transported by a vacuum pad, the thin plate will not have sufficient rigidity, and the case member will be bent and plastically deformed, resulting in damage to the case member. There is a risk of doing.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a fuel cell power generation module having a structure that can be transported in a state in which a case member is adsorbed and held by a vacuum pad, a structure that can be transported easily and quickly, and the like. That is.

  The fuel cell power generation module according to claim 1 is a fuel cell power generation module including a power generation unit having a plurality of cells and a case member that accommodates the power generation unit. It has a flat surface that can be adsorbed, and a reinforcing structure that provides the flat surface with rigidity that can be suspended by the vacuum pad when the fuel cell power generation module is suspended and transported.

  A fuel cell power generation module according to a second aspect is the invention according to the first aspect, wherein the flat surface is located at a top plate portion of the case member and a vertical line passing through the center of gravity of the fuel cell power generation module passes therethrough. It is characterized by being provided.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, the case member has a flat surface on which the vacuum pad for holding and transporting can be adsorbed, and a flat surface having rigidity that can be suspended by the vacuum pad when the fuel cell power generation module is suspended and transported. Therefore, the flat surface of the case member is sucked and held by the vacuum pad by transporting the fuel cell power generation module in this state. Moreover, it can prevent that a case member bends.

  Accordingly, since the vacuum pad can be used when the fuel cell power generation module is transported, it is not necessary to additionally attach a hanging bracket to the fuel cell power generation module, and the number of steps for assembling the fuel cell power generation module can be reduced. Since the battery power generation module can be easily and quickly transported and assembled, the cost can be reduced.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, the flat surface is located at the top plate portion of the case member and is provided so that a vertical line passing through the center of gravity of the fuel cell power generation module penetrates. The module can be suspended stably.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a fuel cell power generator according to Embodiment 1. FIG. It is a perspective view of a frame member and a suspended fuel cell power generation module. It is a figure which shows the top-plate part of a case member, (a) is a top view, (b) is sectional drawing. It is a top view of the top plate part of the case member concerning the 1st modification. It is a figure which shows the top-plate part of the case member which concerns on a 2nd modification, (a) is a top view, (b) is sectional drawing. It is a top view of the top plate part of the case member concerning the 3rd modification. It is a top view of the top plate part of the case member concerning the 4th modification. It is a top view of the top plate part of the case member concerning the 5th modification. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a frame member and a suspended fuel cell power generation module according to a second embodiment.

  Hereinafter, modes for carrying out the present invention will be described based on examples.

Initially, the whole structure of the fuel cell power generation apparatus 1 provided with the fuel cell power generation module 2 according to the present invention will be described.
As shown in FIG. 1, the fuel cell power generation device 1 includes a fuel cell power generation module 2, a fuel reforming air supply device 3, a cathode air supply device 4, a fuel gas supply device 5, a pure water supply device 6, and exhaust heat recovery. The apparatus 7, the power conditioner unit 8, the control unit 9, and the like are provided, and the DC power generated by the fuel cell power generation module 2 is converted into AC power via the power conditioner unit 8 and output to the outside. .

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the fuel cell power generator 1 is configured by housing various instruments, various pipes, and the like in an outer case 11. The outer case 11 is configured in a rectangular parallelepiped box shape made of a thin steel plate. A frame member 12 is housed in the exterior case 11, and the interior of the exterior case 11 is partitioned into an upper power generation chamber 11 </ b> A and a lower auxiliary machine chamber 11 </ b> B by the frame member 12.

  Inside the outer case 11, the fuel cell power generation module 2 is housed in the upper power generation chamber 11 </ b> A, and the auxiliary equipment such as various supply devices 3 to 6 and the exhaust heat recovery device 7 are stored in the lower auxiliary machine chamber 11 </ b> B. A power conditioner unit 8, a control unit 9 and the like are accommodated.

  The fuel cell power generation device 1 includes, for example, a hot water storage hot water supply device having a hot water storage tank for storing hot water after heat exchange by the heat exchanger of the exhaust heat recovery device 7, the hot water storage hot water supply device, the fuel cell power generation device 1, and the like. However, a fuel cell cogeneration system can be configured by combining with a circulating heating circuit for circulating hot water and the like, but a detailed description of the configuration other than the fuel cell power generation module 2 of the fuel cell power generation device 1 is as follows. Omitted.

Next, the fuel cell power generation module 2 will be described.
The fuel cell power generation module 2 includes a fuel cell stack 2a (corresponding to a power generation unit) composed of a plurality of fuel cells, an evaporator 2b that generates water vapor for mixing with fuel gas, fuel gas, air, and water vapor. And the like (so-called steam reforming) to produce a reformed fuel gas, an off-gas combustion chamber 2d for combusting residual fuel gas generated by power generation by the fuel cell stack 2a, etc. The reformed fuel gas reformed by the fuel reformer 2c and the air as the oxidant are subjected to a chemical reaction in a high temperature environment in the fuel cell stack 2a to generate electric power.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the fuel cell power generation module 2 includes a fuel cell stack 2a, an evaporator 2b, a fuel reformer 2c, an off-gas combustion chamber 2d, a heat insulating material, and the like housed in a case member 15 in an integrated manner. It is configured.

Next, the case member 15 will be described.
As shown in FIG. 2, the case member 15 is formed in a rectangular parallelepiped box shape made of a thin steel plate, and includes a front plate portion 15a, a rear plate portion 15b, a pair of left and right side plate portions 15c and 15d, and the fuel cell power generation module 2. A rectangular top plate portion 15e that covers the top of the top plate portion 15f and a bottom plate portion 15f that is longer than the left and right widths of the top plate portion 15e are provided. Note that the front, rear, left, and right shown in FIG.

  When the fuel cell power generation module 2 is fixed to the frame member 12, the bottom plate portion 15f of the case member 15 is placed on the placement portion 12a of the frame member 12, and the case member 15 is attached to the frame member 12 via a plurality of screws. Fix it. The plate portions 15a to 15e except for the bottom plate portion 15f of the case member 15 have a plate thickness of about 0.3 to 0.5 mm, for example, and the bottom plate portion 15f has a plate thickness of about 1.0 mm, for example. However, it is not particularly limited to this size, and the plate thickness of the top plate portion 15e may be made thicker than the other plate portions 15a to 15d.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the case member 15 is a flat surface on which the vacuum pad 16 for holding and transporting can be adsorbed and formed at the center of the top plate portion 15 e, When the fuel cell power generation module 2 is suspended and transported, the fuel cell power generation module 2 has a reinforcing structure 18 that gives the flat surface 17 rigidity that can be suspended by the vacuum pad 16.

Next, the flat surface 17 will be described.
As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the flat surface 17 is formed in a circular shape in plan view, and is for being adsorbed by the vacuum pad 16 when the fuel cell power generation module 2 is suspended and transported. The flat surface 17 is provided so that the vertical line 19 passing through the center of gravity of the fuel cell power generation module 2 passes therethrough while being positioned at a substantially central portion of the top plate portion 15 e of the case member 15. As long as the flat surface 17 has an area that the vacuum pad 16 can absorb, the size of the flat surface 17 is not particularly limited. In FIG. 3, the vertical line 19 passing through the center of gravity of the fuel cell power generation module 2 is set so as to pass through the substantially central portion of the top plate portion 15e.

Next, the reinforcing structure 18 will be described.
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the reinforcing structure 18 is a structure for imparting rigidity to the flat surface 17, and a plurality of upwardly protruding ridges 21 to 23 ( A so-called beat portion). Specifically, the reinforcing structure 18 includes a circular protrusion 21 formed so as to surround the flat surface 17 in the central portion of the top plate 15e, and linearly from the circular protrusion 21 to the ridge lines at both front and rear ends. It has a pair of straight ridges 22 extending in the front-rear direction, and two pairs of straight ridges 23 left and right extending linearly from the circular ridges 21 to the ridges at both left and right ends.

  In each protrusion 21 to 23, the width is about 5 to 10 mm, for example, and the height is about 3 to 5 mm, for example. The top plate portion 15e is manufactured by press-molding a metal thin plate using a mold. The cross-sectional shape of the protrusions 21 to 23 may be a mountain shape or an arc shape. Each end of the linear protrusions 22 and 23 is formed in a convex curved surface that is convex upward. Since the ridge line portions (outer peripheral edge portions) at the front, rear, left and right ends of the top plate portion 15e are rigid as an angle material structure in which the plate portions intersect at right angles, each of the linear protrusions 22 and 23 Since the end portion extends to the ridge line portion, the flat surface 17 can be given rigidity.

  As described above, as the reinforcing structure 18, by providing the top plate portion 15 e with the plurality of protrusions 21 to 23, the flat surface has rigidity that can withstand the lifting and transporting by the vacuum pad 16 without extremely increasing the plate thickness. 17 to prevent the top plate portion 15e from being bent and plastically deformed when suspended by the vacuum pad 16. In addition, since the plurality of protrusions 21 to 23 are formed symmetrically in the front-rear and left-right directions of the top plate portion 15e, distortion hardly occurs when the top plate portion 15e is press-molded.

Next, the operation and effect of the fuel cell power generation module 2 of the present invention will be described.
In order to assemble the fuel cell power generation device 1, when the fuel cell power generation module 2 is transported and mounted on the mounting portion 12 a of the frame member 12, the fuel cell power generation device 1 is first provided in a transfer device (for example, a robot arm). The vacuum pad 16 is brought into contact with the flat surface 17 of the top plate portion 15e of the case member 15, and negative pressure is generated in the vacuum pad 16 as the negative pressure generator (not shown) is driven. To hold the flat surface 17 by suction.

  Next, the fuel cell power generation module 2 is lifted by the transport device and transported onto the frame member 12, the bottom plate portion 15f of the case member 15 is placed on the placement portion 12a of the frame member 12, and the negative pressure generator is used. The negative pressure is released, and the suction holding state with respect to the flat surface 17 of the vacuum pad 16 is released. Then, the fuel cell power generation module 2 is fixed to the frame member 12 via a plurality of screws.

  As described above, the case member 15 has the flat surface 17 on which the vacuum pad 16 for suspension transportation can be adsorbed and the rigidity that can be suspended by the vacuum pad 16 when the fuel cell power generation module 2 is suspended and transported. Since the reinforcing structure 18 to be applied to the flat surface 17 is provided, the flat surface 17 of the case member 15 is sucked and held by the vacuum pad 16 by giving rigidity to the flat surface 17 by the reinforcing structure 18. Even when the fuel cell power generation module 2 is transported, it is possible to prevent the top plate portion 15e from being bent.

  Accordingly, since the vacuum pad 16 can be used when the fuel cell power generation module 2 is transported, it is not necessary to additionally attach a hanging metal fitting to the fuel cell power generation module 2, and the number of steps for assembling the fuel cell power generation module 2 can be reduced. Since the fuel cell power generation module 2 can be easily and quickly transported and assembled, the assembly cost of the fuel cell power generation device 1 can be reduced.

  Further, the flat surface 17 is located on the top plate portion 15e of the case member 15 and is provided so that the vertical line 19 passing through the center of gravity of the fuel cell power generation module 2 passes therethrough. 2 can be stably suspended.

Next, an example in which the first embodiment is partially changed will be described.
(1) First Modification As shown in FIG. 4, in this reinforcing structure 18 </ b> A, instead of the two pairs of left and right linear protrusions 23 in the first embodiment, the circular protrusion 21 to the top plate By providing the four radial protrusions 24 that linearly extend to the four corners of 15e, the flat surface 17 may be provided with rigidity that can withstand transport by the vacuum pad 16.

(2) Second Modification As shown in FIG. 5, in this reinforcing structure 18 </ b> B, instead of the plurality of protrusions 21 to 23 of the above-described embodiment, so as to cover the flat surface 17 of the top plate portion 15 e, The reinforcing thin plates 25 having a rectangular shape in plan view extending to the ridge lines at the front and rear ends of the top plate portion 15e may be overlapped. By providing the reinforcing thin plate 25 on the top plate portion 15e, the flat surface 17 can be provided with a rigidity that can withstand transport by the vacuum pad 16.

(3) Third Modified Example As shown in FIG. 6, in this reinforcing structure 18C, instead of the reinforcing thin plate 25 having a rectangular shape in plan view of the second modified example, up to the ridge line portions at the front, rear, left and right ends of the top plate portion 15e. A reinforcing thin plate 26 having a cross shape in plan view may be provided on the top plate portion 15e. By providing the reinforcing thin plate 26 on the top plate portion 15e, the flat surface 17 can be provided with a rigidity that can withstand transport by the vacuum pad 16.
Various fixing methods such as spot welding, an adhesive, and screw fastening can be applied to the method of fixing the reinforcing thin plates 25 and 26 to the top plate portion 15e.

(4) Fourth Modified Example As shown in FIG. 7, in this reinforcing structure 18 </ b> D, a pair of angle members 27 may be employed in place of the plurality of protruding portions 21 to 23 of the above-described embodiment. The pair of angle members 27 are provided on the left and right side portions of the flat surface 17 so as to sandwich the flat surface 17. Since the pair of angle members 27 are provided on the top plate portion 15e so as to extend to the ridge line portions at both the front and rear ends, the flat surface 17 can be provided with rigidity that can withstand transport by the vacuum pad 16. Since the existing angle member 27 can be used without requiring a special mold for forming the plurality of protrusions 21 to 23 on the top plate portion 15e, the cost can be reduced.

(5) Fifth Modified Example As shown in FIG. 8, in this reinforcing structure 18E, the pair of angle members 27 extending in the front-rear direction of the fourth modified example are disposed at the left and right ends from the pair of angle members 27. By additionally providing a pair of angle members 28 each extending to the ridgeline portion, the flat surface 17 may be further provided with rigidity.

  A fuel cell power generation module 2F according to Example 2 in which the fuel cell power generation module 2 of Example 1 is partially changed will be described. Note that the reinforcing structure 18F of the second embodiment includes a reinforcing frame member 31 formed of a plurality of angle members.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the case member 15F has a flat surface 17F on which the vacuum pad 16 for suspension and transportation can be adsorbed, and a rigidity that can be suspended by the vacuum pad 16 when the fuel cell power generation module 2F is suspended and transported. Is provided on the flat surface 17F. The bottom plate portion 15f of the case member 15F has a thicker plate thickness than the other plate portions 15a to 15e, and has rigidity that can withstand the transportation of the fuel cell power generation module 2F.

  The reinforcing structure 18F includes a reinforcing frame member 31 made of a plurality of thin steel or aluminum angle members. The reinforcing frame members 31 are arranged at the left and right ends of the bottom plate portion 15f of the case member 15F and extend in the vertical direction. The angle members 32 are fixed to the upper end portions of the four angle members 32 and have a lattice shape. It comprises a plurality of angle members 33 assembled together.

  On the upper surface of the reinforcing frame member 31, a flat plate member 34 having a circular shape in plan view and provided with a flat surface 17F is provided. Specifically, the flat plate member 34 is provided so that the vertical line 19 passing through the center of gravity of the fuel cell power generation module 2F penetrates while being positioned at a substantially central portion of the top plate portion 15e of the case member 15F.

  As described above, the reinforcing frame member 31 is provided on the bottom plate portion 15 f, and the flat plate member 34 having the flat surface 17 F on which the vacuum pad 16 can be adsorbed is provided on the reinforcing frame member 31. It is no longer necessary to adsorb and hold directly. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the case member 15F from being bent and plastically deformed when suspended by the vacuum pad 16. Other configurations, operations, and effects are the same as those of the first embodiment, and thus description thereof is omitted.

  It should be noted that a reinforcing frame member obtained by reducing the size of the reinforcing frame member 31 described above may be incorporated in the case member 15F to give the top plate portion 15e rigidity capable of being suspended by the vacuum pad 16.

Next, a mode in which the first and second embodiments are partially changed will be described.
[1] The reinforcing structures 18 and 18A to 18F of the first and second embodiments are merely examples, and are provided with rigidity that can be suspended by the vacuum pad 16 to the flat surfaces 17 and 17F. Various structures can be employed. In the first and second embodiments, the outer peripheral edge portion of the top plate portion 15e has rigidity as described above, so that the plate of the top plate portion 15e is not provided without the protrusions 21 to 23 and the reinforcing frame member 31. The reinforcing structure may be thick enough to withstand the carrying by the vacuum pad 16.

[2] In the first and second embodiments, the vertical line 19 passing through the center of gravity of the fuel cell power generation module 2 is set so as to pass through the substantially central portion of the fuel cell power generation module 2, but it is particularly necessary to limit to this. The vertical line 19 may be shifted from the center of the fuel cell power generation module 2. In this case, it is desirable that the flat surfaces 17 and 17F be provided on the top plate portion 15e or the reinforcing frame member 31 so that the vertical line 19 passes through the substantially central portion.

[3] In addition, those skilled in the art can implement the present invention in various forms with various modifications without departing from the spirit of the present invention, and the present invention includes such modifications. It is.

2,2F Fuel cell power generation module 2a Power generation unit 15, 15F Case member 15e Top plate unit 16 Vacuum pad 17, 17F Flat surface 18, 18A-18F Reinforcement structure 19 Vertical line

Claims (2)

In a fuel cell power generation module comprising a power generation unit having a plurality of cells and a case member that houses the power generation unit,
The case member has a flat surface on which a vacuum pad for holding and transporting can be adsorbed, and a reinforcing structure for imparting rigidity to the flat surface so that the fuel cell power generation module can be suspended and transported by the vacuum pad. And a fuel cell power generation module. 2. The fuel cell power generation according to claim 1, wherein the flat surface is located at a top plate portion of the case member and is provided so that a vertical line passing through the center of gravity of the fuel cell power generation module passes therethrough. module.