JP2018147649A - Assembly method of fuel battery stack and fuel battery stack, and power generation module - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a stack which allows easy assembly, ensures excellent gas sealing performance, and has high reliability.SOLUTION: A glass sealing material 50 is arranged between a cap 48 under each of a plurality of fuel battery cells 40 and a support plate 36 of a fuel gas manifold 34. A coil spring 68 is arranged between a cap 48 over each of the plurality of fuel battery cells 40 and a top plate 66 of a support jig 60. Then, the glass sealing material 50 is baked while each of the fuel battery cells 40 is biased downward by biasing force of the coil spring 68. As a result, the glass sealing material 50 can be baked with a compression load applied to the glass sealing material 50, thereby making it possible for the glass sealing material 50 to wet-spread. This increases a sealing area of the glass sealing material 50, thus ensuring excellent gas sealing performance.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

  The present invention relates to a method for assembling a fuel cell stack, a fuel cell stack, and a power generation module.

  Conventionally, in this type of fuel cell stack, a cylindrical electrolyte layer and an inner electrode layer that is stacked on the inner surface side of the electrolyte layer and a fuel gas are supplied and an oxidant gas that is stacked on the outer surface side of the electrolyte layer are supplied. A fuel cell having an outer electrode layer, a manifold having an insulating support for supporting a plurality of fuel cells in a standing state on the upper surface, and distributing fuel gas to the inner electrode layer of each fuel cell; and A device including a crystallized glass sealing material (glass sealing material) that seals between a supported portion of a fuel cell and an insulating support portion of a manifold has been proposed (for example, see Patent Document 1). An inner electrode terminal (supported portion) that is electrically connected to the inner electrode layer is provided at the lower end of the fuel cell, and between the bottom surface (pressing portion) of the inner electrode terminal and the upper surface of the insulating support portion. A glass seal is placed. As a result, since the load from the pressing part is applied to the glass seal material, even in the case of crystallized glass with poor wettability, it is possible to widen the adhesion area and reliably shut off the gas inside and outside the manifold. Yes.

JP 2011-216282 A

  However, since the fuel cell stack described above has a structure in which a load is applied to the glass sealing material only by its own weight, there may be a case where sufficient sealing performance cannot be ensured if the pressing portion comes into contact with one piece during assembly. In addition, since the load applied to the glass sealing material changes due to the variation in the dimensions of the component parts, the quality tends to vary.

  The main object of the fuel cell stack assembly method, fuel cell stack, and power generation module of the present invention is to provide a highly reliable stack that is easy to assemble, ensures good gas sealability.

  The fuel cell stack assembling method, the fuel cell stack, and the power generation module of the present invention employ the following means in order to achieve the above-mentioned main object.

The method for assembling the fuel cell stack according to the present invention includes:
A cylindrical electrolyte layer; an inner electrode layer that is laminated on the inner surface side of the electrolyte layer and supplied with one of the fuel gas and the oxidant gas; and the fuel gas and the outer layer laminated on the outer surface side of the electrolyte layer A plurality of fuel cells having an outer electrode layer to which the other gas of the oxidant gas is supplied;
A manifold that has a support portion on which the plurality of fuel cells are erected, and distributes the one gas to the inner electrode layer of the plurality of fuel cells;
A fuel cell stack assembly method comprising:
A glass sealing material is disposed between the support portion of the manifold and the supported portions of the plurality of fuel cells supported by the support portion, respectively.
A spring member is arranged so that the plurality of fuel cells are biased in a direction in which the glass sealing material is compressed,
Firing the glass sealing material in a state where the plurality of fuel cells are energized,
This is the gist.

  In the method of assembling the fuel cell stack according to the present invention, the glass sealing material is disposed between the supporting portion of the manifold and the supported portions of the plurality of fuel cells supported by the manifold, and the glass sealing material is compressed. The spring member is disposed so that the plurality of fuel cells are biased in the direction, and the glass sealing material is fired in a state where the plurality of fuel cells are biased. Thereby, since the glass sealing material can be baked in a state where a compression load is applied to the glass sealing material using the spring member, the glass sealing material can be wetted and spread, the adhesion area can be increased, and a good gas sealing property can be obtained. Can be secured. As a result, it is easy to assemble, secure a good gas sealing property, and provide a highly reliable stack.

  In such a method of assembling the fuel cell stack of the present invention, a spring support member is provided so as to face the support portion of the manifold across the plurality of fuel cells, and the supported portions of the plurality of fuel cells are The spring member may be disposed between the opposite end and the spring support member. If it carries out like this, a compressive load can be applied to the end surface of a glass sealing material substantially uniformly. In this case, a spacer may be disposed between the end of the fuel cell and the spring support member according to the cell length of the fuel cell. In this way, an appropriate compressive load can be applied to the glass sealing material regardless of variations in the cell length of the fuel cells.

  In the fuel cell stack assembling method of the present invention, a ceramic spring may be used as the spring member. If it carries out like this, even if a spring member is exposed to high temperature at the time of baking, an appropriate compressive load can be applied to a glass sealing material.

The fuel cell stack of the present invention comprises:
A cylindrical electrolyte layer; an inner electrode layer that is laminated on the inner surface side of the electrolyte layer and supplied with one of the fuel gas and the oxidant gas; and the fuel gas and the outer layer laminated on the outer surface side of the electrolyte layer A plurality of fuel cells having an outer electrode layer to which the other gas of the oxidant gas is supplied;
A manifold that supports the plurality of fuel cells in an upright state, and distributes the one gas to the inner electrode layers of the plurality of fuel cells;
A glass sealing material disposed between the support part of the manifold and the supported parts of the plurality of fuel cells supported by the support part,
A spring member for urging the plurality of fuel cells in a direction in which the glass sealing material is compressed;
It is a summary to provide.

  In the fuel cell stack of the present invention, glass seal materials are respectively disposed between the support portion of the manifold and the supported portions of the plurality of fuel cells supported by the manifold, and a plurality of glass seal materials are compressed in the direction in which the glass seal material is compressed. A spring member is provided so as to bias the fuel cell. The glass sealing material is constantly subjected to a compressive load by urging the fuel cell by the spring member. Thereby, even if a large thermal stress acts on the glass sealing material due to a change in the operating state of the fuel cell stack, it is possible to suppress peeling of the glass sealing material and provide a highly reliable stack.

The power generation module of the present invention is
A reformer that reforms the raw fuel gas by steam reforming to generate a reformed gas;
A cylindrical electrolyte layer, an inner electrode layer that is laminated on the inner surface side of the electrolyte layer and supplied with one of the reformed gas and oxidant gas, and a reformer that is laminated on the outer surface side of the electrolyte layer A plurality of fuel cells that generate electricity by reaction of the reformed gas and the oxidant gas, and an outer electrode layer to which the other gas of the gas and the oxidant gas is supplied.
A combustion section for burning surplus reformed gas and oxidant gas that have not been used for reaction of the plurality of fuel cells;
A manifold that supports the plurality of fuel cells in an upright state, and distributes the one gas to the inner electrode layers of the plurality of fuel cells;
A glass sealing material disposed between the support part of the manifold and the supported parts of the plurality of fuel cells supported by the support part,
A spring support member provided to face the support portion of the manifold across the plurality of fuel cells;
It arrange | positions between the edge part on the opposite side to the said to-be-supported part of this some fuel cell, and the said spring support member so that these fuel cell may be urged | biased in the direction in which the said glass sealing material is compressed. A spring member,
A power generation module comprising:
The spring support member is a metal member,
The reformer is installed on a surface of the spring support member opposite to a surface that supports the spring member.
This is the gist.

  The power generation module of the present invention includes a reformer, a combustion section, and a spring support member in addition to the fuel cell stack described above, and the reformer is a spring support member configured as a metal member. It is installed on the surface opposite to the surface that supports the spring member. Thereby, since a support member for supporting the reformer is not required separately, in addition to the effect produced by the fuel cell stack described above, the effect that the power generation module can be made compact can be produced.

It is a block diagram which shows the outline of a structure of the electric power generation module 10 which has the fuel cell stack 30 as one Example of this invention. 2 is a configuration diagram showing an outline of the configuration of a fuel cell 40. FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows a cell assembly | attachment process. It is explanatory drawing which shows the mode of arrangement | positioning of the support jig | tool 60 and the coil spring 68. FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows the mode of arrangement | positioning of the spacer. It is a block diagram which shows the outline of a structure of the electric power generation module 110 which has the fuel cell stack 130 of a modification.

  The form for implementing this invention is demonstrated using an Example.

  FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing an outline of the configuration of a power generation module 10 having a fuel cell stack 30 as one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram showing an outline of the configuration of a fuel cell 40.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the power generation module 10 includes a vaporizer 22 that generates water vapor, and a fuel gas (reformed gas) containing hydrogen by reforming raw fuel gas such as natural gas or LP gas through a steam reforming reaction. ), A fuel cell stack 30 in which a plurality of fuel cells 40 that generate power by reacting a fuel gas containing hydrogen and an oxidant gas containing oxygen are stacked, and a fuel gas supply pipe 26 The fuel gas manifold 34 is connected to the reformer 24 through the fuel cell and distributes the fuel gas from the reformer 24 to each fuel cell 40, and the oxidant gas manifold 38 distributes the oxidant gas to each fuel cell 40. These are housed in the module case 11. The power generation module 10 constitutes a fuel cell system by being combined with a hot water supply unit (hot water storage tank) (not shown) that recovers and supplies hot water generated by the power generation.

  The module case 11 is formed in a box shape from a heat insulating material, and the raw fuel gas supply pipe 12, the reformed water supply pipe 14, and the air supply pipe 16 are connected. The raw fuel gas supply pipe 12 is a pipe for supplying the raw fuel gas from a supply source to the vaporizer 22, and the pipe is provided with an on-off valve, a pump, a flow meter, a pressure gauge, a desulfurizer, and the like. The reforming water supply pipe 14 is a pipe that supplies the reforming water to the vaporizer 22, and the pipe is provided with a reforming water tank, a pump, and the like. The air supply pipe 16 is a pipe that supplies air as an oxidant gas to the oxidant gas manifold 38, and an air blower, a flow meter, and the like are provided in the pipe.

  Further, the module case 11 is provided with a combustion section 28 for supplying heat necessary for the generation of water vapor by the vaporizer 22 and the steam reforming reaction by the reformer 24. The combustion unit 28 ignites and burns surplus fuel gas (anode offgas) and oxidant gas (cathode offgas) that have not been used for the power generation reaction of the fuel battery cell 40, thereby using the combustion heat to vaporize the carburetor 22. And the reformer 24 is heated. The combustion exhaust gas generated by the combustion of the combustion unit 28 is discharged out of the case through the combustion exhaust gas exhaust pipe 18 provided in the upper part of the module case 11. Note that a heat exchanger (not shown) is connected to the combustion exhaust gas discharge pipe 18, and the heat exchanger warms the hot water supplied from the hot water storage tank through the circulation pipe by heat exchange with the combustion exhaust gas. Further, the combustion exhaust gas that has passed through the heat exchanger is condensed by heat exchange with the hot water, and the water vapor component is recovered in the reformed water tank.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the fuel cell 40 includes a cylindrical electrolyte layer 42 having a dense structure made of an oxygen ion conductor, and a fuel electrode layer having a porous structure as an anode laminated inside the electrolyte layer 42 ( An inner electrode layer) 44, a porous oxidant electrode layer (outer electrode layer) 46 as a cathode laminated outside the electrolyte layer 42, and current collecting caps 48 attached to both ends in the longitudinal direction. And a cylindrical solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) cell. A fuel gas passage 44 a through which fuel gas flows is formed inside the fuel electrode layer 44, and the fuel cell 40 has a fuel gas passage 44 and a fuel gas manifold 34 that communicate with each other. The support plate 36 is erected.

  The electrolyte layer 42 is, for example, one or more selected from stabilized zirconia doped with one or more selected from rare earth elements such as Y, Sc and Ce, and rare earth elements such as Gd, Y and Sm. Can be used, such as ceria doped with lanthanum gallate doped with one or more selected from Ni, Sr, Mg, Co, Fe, Cu.

  The fuel electrode layer 44 is made of, for example, a mixture of a catalytic metal such as Ni or Fe and a stabilized zirconia doped with one or more selected from rare earth elements such as Y, Sc, and Ce, and Ni and Fe. A mixture of a catalyst metal and a ceria doped with one or more rare earth elements such as Gd, Y, Sm, etc., a catalyst metal such as Ni or Fe, and Sr, Mg, Co, Fe, Cu A mixture with lanthanum gallate doped with one or more kinds can be used.

  The oxidant electrode layer 46 includes, for example, lanthanum manganite doped with one or two selected from Sr and Ca, lanthanum ferrite doped with one or more selected from Sr, Co, Ni, and Cu, Sr , Lanthanum cobaltite doped with one or more selected from Fe, Ni, Cu, barium cobaltite doped with one or two selected from Sr, Fe, silver, silver-palladium alloy, platinum, etc. Can be used.

  Between the electrolyte layer 42 and the oxidant electrode layer 46, ceria doped with rare earth such as ceria doped with gadolinium (GDC), ceria doped with yttria (YDC), ceria doped with samarium (SDC), etc. A reaction preventing layer using a mixture can be provided.

  The cap 48 is a hollow cylindrical body formed of, for example, a metal material such as ferritic stainless steel or a ceramic material such as lanthanum chromite, and includes a large-diameter cylindrical portion 48a having a bottom and a large-diameter cylindrical portion 48a. A small-diameter cylindrical portion 48b is provided so as to protrude from the bottom wall to the opposite side of the opening of the large-diameter cylindrical portion 48a. Exposed portions 44b that are not covered with the electrolyte layer 42 and the oxidant electrode layer 46 are formed at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the fuel electrode layer 44, and the cap 48 has a large-diameter cylindrical portion 48a with the exposed portions 44b. It is provided to cover. The inner wall surface of the large-diameter cylindrical portion 48a and the exposed portion 44b are electrically connected by a conductive adhesive 49 and the fuel gas in the fuel gas passage 44a is outside (oxidant electrode layer). 46 side) to prevent leakage. The conductive adhesive 49 may be made of, for example, a conductive paste such as platinum, silver, copper, or a silver-palladium alloy, or a conductive ceramic such as lanthanum chromite.

  The connection plate 32 is formed of, for example, a metal material such as ferritic stainless steel. As shown in FIG. 1, the cap 48 (the fuel electrode layer 44) of one fuel cell 40 of the two fuel cells 40 adjacent to each other. ) And the oxidant electrode layer 46 of the other fuel cell 40 are electrically connected. The plurality of fuel cells 40 are electrically connected in series by connecting two fuel cells 40 adjacent to each other via the connection plate 32.

  The fuel gas manifold 34 is a box-shaped member having an upper opening, and a support plate 36 is joined so as to close the upper opening and form a sealed space. The support plate 36 has a plurality of through holes 36a formed at predetermined intervals, and the fuel cell 40 is inserted into each through hole 36a so that the small-diameter cylindrical portion 48b passes through the plurality of through holes 36a. The fuel cell 40 is supported in a standing state. As a result, the fuel gas manifold 34 communicates with the fuel gas flow path 44 a of each fuel cell 40 through the hollow cap 48, and the fuel gas supplied from the fuel gas supply pipe 26 is supplied to the fuel cell 40. Supply (distribution) to the gas flow path 44a. The fuel gas supplied to the fuel gas passage 44a passes through the fuel gas passage 44a and is discharged upward from the upper cap 48. The support plate 36 can be formed of, for example, a metal material such as ferritic stainless steel or austenitic stainless steel, or can be formed of an insulating material such as an insulating ceramic. When the support plate 36 is formed of a metal material, an insulating sealing member is provided in the through hole 36a in order to electrically insulate the lower cap 48 of the fuel cell 40 and the through hole 36a of the support plate 36. It may be provided.

  A sealing layer is formed between the fuel battery cell 40 and the support plate 36, that is, between the end surface (annular end surface) of the large-diameter cylindrical portion 48 a of the cap 48 and the upper surface of the support plate 36 by the glass sealing material 50. ing. As the glass sealing material 50, for example, it is desirable to use crystallized glass excellent in heat resistance and sealing properties, such as alumina-silica crystallized glass, but amorphous glass or amorphous and crystalline are mixed. Glass can also be used. Formation of the sealing layer using the glass sealing material 50 is performed by heating and softening the glass sealing material 50 at a temperature lower than the operating temperature of the fuel cell 40 and then heating and solidifying the glass sealing material 50 at a higher temperature. It is done by letting. However, since crystallized glass has poor wettability compared to amorphous glass, there is a problem that wettability at the time of softening becomes insufficient and seal failure is likely to occur.

  The oxidant gas manifold 38 is connected to the air supply pipe 16, and a plurality of supply ports 38 a for distributing the oxidant gas (air) to the oxidant electrode layer 46 of each fuel cell 40 are formed. .

  Next, the assembly process of the fuel cell 40 will be described. FIG. 3 is an explanatory view showing a cell assembling step. The cell assembly process is the first step. A fuel cell 40 having an electrolyte layer 42, a fuel electrode layer 44, an oxidant electrode layer 46, and a cap 48 is prepared (S100), and a fuel gas manifold 34 having a support plate 36 on the top is prepared (S110). Then, the glass sealing material 50 is arrange | positioned around the through-hole 36a of the support plate 36 (S120). This step can be performed by, for example, applying paste-like glass in a ring shape using a dispenser or placing a solid glass plate previously formed in a ring shape. At this time, it is desirable to arrange the glass sealing material so as to slightly protrude from the outer shape of the large-diameter cylindrical portion 48a of the cap 48. As the glass sealing material, as described above, crystallized glass, amorphous glass, or glass in which crystalline and amorphous are mixed can be used. Then, the fuel cell 40 is inserted so that the small diameter cylindrical portion 48b of the cap 48 passes through the through hole 36a of the support plate 36 (S130), and a connection plate for electrically connecting the adjacent fuel cells 40 32 is attached (S140). As a result, a cell assembly in which a plurality of fuel cells 40 are erected on the support plate 36 of the fuel gas manifold 34 and the adjacent fuel cells 40 are connected via the connection plate 32 is obtained.

  Next, the support jig 60 is installed so as to surround the cell assembly (S150), and the coil spring 68 is disposed between the cap 48 on the upper side of the fuel cell 40 and the top plate 66 of the support jig 60 ( S160). FIG. 4 is an explanatory view showing the arrangement of the support jig 60 and the coil spring 68. In FIG. 4, the connection plate 32 is not shown. As shown in the figure, the support jig 60 includes a base 62 to which the fuel gas manifold 34 is fixed, side walls 64 that are erected on the left and right sides of the base 62, and a top plate 66 that is supported by the plurality of side walls 64. . A coil spring 68 is disposed between the lower surface of the top plate 66 and the upper cap 48 of each fuel cell 40, and each fuel cell 40 is urged downward by the urging force of the coil spring 68. Thereby, a compressive load can be applied to the glass sealing material 50 arranged between the cap 48 on the lower side of each fuel cell 40 and the support plate 36. As the coil spring 68, for example, a ceramic spring can be used, and a spring constant is appropriately selected according to the glass type (wetting property) of the glass sealing material 50. And in order to equalize the compressive load concerning each glass sealing material 50, as shown in FIG. 5, the dimension (cell length) of the longitudinal direction of the fuel cell 40 is measured, and cell length is needed as needed. The spacer 69 having a thickness corresponding to the above is inserted between the coil spring 68 and the top plate 66 (S170). In this step, for example, a plurality of types of spacers having different thicknesses are prepared, and when the cell length of the fuel cell 40 is short with respect to the reference length, the thicker spacer is selected as the cell length is shorter. It can be inserted.

  Thus, when a compression load is applied to the glass sealing material 50 using the support jig 60, the coil spring 68, and the spacer 69, the cell assembly is put together with the support jig 60 in a firing furnace, and the inside of the furnace is heated to a predetermined temperature (for example, 800 ° C.). ) And the glass sealing material 50 is fired (S180). The firing process is performed in a state where a compressive load is applied to the glass sealing material 50 by the urging force of the coil spring 68. Therefore, when the glass sealing material 50 is softened by heating, the glass sealing material 50 can be sufficiently wet and spread to increase the sealing area. . When the firing step is completed, the support jig 60 and the coil spring 68 are removed from the cell assembly (S190), and the assembly of the fuel cell 40 is completed.

  In the method of assembling the fuel cell stack according to the present embodiment described above, the glass sealing material 50 is disposed between the lower cap 48 of the plurality of fuel cells 40 and the support plate 36 of the fuel gas manifold 34. Coil springs 68 are arranged between the upper cap 48 of each of the fuel cells 40 and the top plate 66 of the support jig 60, and the fuel cells 40 are placed in a direction in which the glass sealing material 50 is compressed by the biasing force of the coil springs 68. The glass sealing material 50 is fired in the energized state. Thereby, since the glass sealing material 50 can be baked in a state where a compressive load is applied to the glass sealing material 50, the glass sealing material 50 can be sufficiently wetted and spread, and the sealing area of the glass sealing material 50 is increased, which is good. A good sealing property.

  Further, in the method of assembling the fuel cell stack according to the present embodiment, the spacer 69 having a thickness corresponding to the dimension (cell length) in the longitudinal direction of the fuel cell 40 is interposed between the coil spring 68 and the top plate 66 of the support jig 60. Insert into. Thereby, regardless of the variation in the cell length of each fuel battery cell 40, it is possible to apply a compressive load evenly to the glass sealing material 50. As a result, it is possible to provide a highly reliable fuel cell stack 30 by suppressing the sealing performance from varying for each fuel cell 40.

  Furthermore, since the method of assembling the fuel cell stack according to the present embodiment uses a ceramic spring as the coil spring 68 that urges the fuel cell 40, the glass sealing material 50 can be used even if the coil spring 68 is exposed to a high temperature during firing. It is possible to apply an appropriate compressive load.

  In the embodiment, the spacer 69 for equalizing the compressive load applied to the glass sealing material 50 is inserted between the coil spring 68 and the top plate 66 of the support jig 60. It may be inserted between the cap 48 and the coil spring 68. Further, such a spacer 69 may be omitted in the fuel battery cell 40 with a small dimensional error.

  In the embodiment, after the firing step is performed, the support jig 60 and the coil spring 68 are removed from the cell assembly. However, the fuel cell is operated while the support jig and the coil spring are assembled. The inside may be always energized. FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram illustrating an outline of the configuration of the power generation module 110 including the fuel cell stack 130 according to a modification. As shown in the drawing, the fuel cell stack 130 of the modified example is for applying a compressive load to the glass sealing member 50 in addition to the cell assembly including the fuel cell 40 and the fuel gas manifold 34 of the above-described embodiment. A support 160 and a coil spring 168 are provided. The support 160 includes a flat plate-like fixing portion 162 fixed to the support plate 36 together with the fuel gas manifold 34, a side wall 164 erected on the fixing portion 162, and a top plate 166 supported by the side wall 164. . The side wall 164 is provided with an exhaust port 164a for combustion exhaust gas. In the modification, the combustion unit 128 is provided inside the support 160, and the fuel exhaust gas generated by the fuel unit 128 is guided to the combustion exhaust gas exhaust pipe 18 through the exhaust port 164a. The top plate 166 is made of a metal material and is located above each fuel cell 40. A ceramic coil spring 168 is disposed between the top plate 166 and the upper cap 48 of each fuel cell 40, and the vaporizer 22 and the reformer 24 are fixed to the top surface of the top plate 166. Yes. Thereby, each fuel cell 40 is always urged downward by the urging force of the coil spring 168, and the glass sealing material 50 disposed between the cap 48 on the lower side of each fuel cell 40 and the support plate 36 is In this state, a compression load is always applied. As described above, even after the glass sealing material 50 is fired by the firing step, the power generation module 110 is accommodated in the module case 111 as a part of the fuel cell stack 30 without removing the support 160 and the coil spring 168. Even during the operation, a compressive load can be constantly applied to the glass sealing material 50. Therefore, for example, even if the power generation module 110 is forcibly shut down due to some abnormality and a rapid temperature distribution is generated in the glass sealing material 50 and a thermal stress is applied, the sealing surface of the glass sealing material 50 Can be prevented, and the reliability of the stack can be further improved. In addition, since the vaporizer 22 and the reformer 24 are fixed to the top surface of the top plate 166, a support member for supporting the vaporizer 22 and the reformer 24 is not required, and the power generation module 110 is made compact. can do. Moreover, since the top plate 166 is formed of a metal material, the combustion heat of the combustion unit 128 can be transmitted to the vaporizer 22 and the reformer 24 satisfactorily. In the fuel cell stack 130 of the modified example, the longitudinal dimension of the fuel cell 40 is measured in order to make the compressive load applied to each glass sealing material 50 uniform, as in the fuel cell stack 30 of the example. A spacer having a thickness corresponding to the measured dimension may be inserted between the coil spring 168 and the top plate 166 or between the upper cap 48 of the fuel cell 40 and the top plate 166.

  In the embodiment, the fuel electrode layer 44 is laminated on the inner surface side of the electrolyte layer 42 and the oxidant electrode layer 46 is laminated on the outer surface side of the electrolyte layer 42. However, the oxidant electrode layer is formed on the inner surface side of the electrolyte layer. The fuel electrode layer may be laminated on the outer surface side of the electrolyte layer.

  In the embodiment, the fuel cell 40 is formed in a cylindrical shape, but may be formed in any shape such as a rectangular tube as long as it is cylindrical.

  The correspondence between the main elements of the embodiment and the main elements of the invention described in the column of means for solving the problems will be described. In the embodiment, the electrolyte layer 42 corresponds to an “electrolyte layer”, the fuel electrode layer 44 corresponds to an “inner electrode layer”, the oxidant electrode layer 46 corresponds to an “outer electrode layer”, and the fuel cell 40 It corresponds to “fuel cell”, the support plate 36 corresponds to “support part”, the fuel gas manifold 34 corresponds to “manifold”, the glass seal material 50 corresponds to “glass seal material”, and the coil spring 68 Corresponds to “spring member”. Further, the top plate 66 of the support jig 60 corresponds to a “spring support member”. The spacer 69 corresponds to a “spacer”. The reformer 24 corresponds to a “reformer”, and the combustion unit 28 corresponds to a “combustion unit”.

  The correspondence between the main elements of the embodiment and the main elements of the invention described in the column of means for solving the problem is the same as that of the embodiment described in the column of means for solving the problem. Therefore, the elements of the invention described in the column of means for solving the problems are not limited. That is, the interpretation of the invention described in the column of means for solving the problems should be made based on the description of the column, and the examples are those of the invention described in the column of means for solving the problems. It is only a specific example.

  As mentioned above, although the form for implementing this invention was demonstrated using the Example, this invention is not limited at all to such an Example, In the range which does not deviate from the summary of this invention, it is with various forms. Of course, it can be implemented.

  The present invention can be used in the manufacturing industry of fuel cell stacks and power generation modules.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Power generation module, 11 Module case, 12 Raw fuel gas supply pipe, 14 Reformed water supply pipe, 16 Air supply pipe, 18 Combustion exhaust gas discharge pipe, 22 Vaporizer, 24 Reformer, 26 Fuel gas supply pipe, 28, 128 Combustion part, 30, 130 Fuel cell stack, 32 Connection plate, 34 Fuel gas manifold, 36 Support plate, 36a Through hole, 38 Oxidant gas manifold, 40 Fuel cell, 42 Electrolyte layer, 44 Fuel electrode layer, 44a Fuel Gas channel, 44b Exposed portion, 46 Oxidant electrode layer, 48 Cap, 48a Large diameter cylindrical portion, 48b Small diameter cylindrical portion, 50 Glass seal material, 60 Support jig, 62 Base, 64 Side wall, 66 Top plate , 68 coil spring, 69 spacer, 160 support, 162 fixing part, 164 side wall, 164a discharge port, 166 top plate, 68 coil spring.

Claims (6)

A cylindrical electrolyte layer; an inner electrode layer that is laminated on the inner surface side of the electrolyte layer and supplied with one of the fuel gas and the oxidant gas; and the fuel gas and the outer layer laminated on the outer surface side of the electrolyte layer A plurality of fuel cells having an outer electrode layer to which the other gas of the oxidant gas is supplied;
A manifold that has a support portion on which the plurality of fuel cells are erected, and distributes the one gas to the inner electrode layer of the plurality of fuel cells;
A fuel cell stack assembly method comprising:
A glass sealing material is disposed between the support portion of the manifold and the supported portions of the plurality of fuel cells supported by the support portion, respectively.
A spring member is arranged so that the plurality of fuel cells are biased in a direction in which the glass sealing material is compressed,
Firing the glass sealing material in a state where the plurality of fuel cells are energized,
How to assemble the fuel cell stack. A method for assembling a fuel cell stack according to claim 1,
A spring support member is provided to face the support portion of the manifold across the plurality of fuel cells,
Disposing the spring member between an end of the plurality of fuel cells opposite to the supported portion and the spring support member;
How to assemble the fuel cell stack. A method for assembling a fuel cell stack according to claim 2,
A spacer is disposed between the end of the fuel cell and the spring support member according to the cell length of the fuel cell.
How to assemble the fuel cell stack. A method for assembling the fuel cell stack according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
A ceramic spring is used as the spring member.
How to assemble the fuel cell stack. A cylindrical electrolyte layer; an inner electrode layer that is laminated on the inner surface side of the electrolyte layer and supplied with one of the fuel gas and the oxidant gas; and the fuel gas and the outer layer laminated on the outer surface side of the electrolyte layer A plurality of fuel cells having an outer electrode layer to which the other gas of the oxidant gas is supplied;
A manifold that supports the plurality of fuel cells in an upright state, and distributes the one gas to the inner electrode layers of the plurality of fuel cells;
A glass sealing material disposed between the support part of the manifold and the supported parts of the plurality of fuel cells supported by the support part,
A spring member for urging the plurality of fuel cells in a direction in which the glass sealing material is compressed;
A fuel cell stack comprising: A reformer that reforms the raw fuel gas by steam reforming to generate a reformed gas;
A cylindrical electrolyte layer, an inner electrode layer that is laminated on the inner surface side of the electrolyte layer and supplied with one of the reformed gas and oxidant gas, and a reformer that is laminated on the outer surface side of the electrolyte layer A plurality of fuel cells that generate electricity by reaction of the reformed gas and the oxidant gas, and an outer electrode layer to which the other gas of the gas and the oxidant gas is supplied.
A combustion section for burning surplus reformed gas and oxidant gas that have not been used for reaction of the plurality of fuel cells;
A manifold that supports the plurality of fuel cells in an upright state, and distributes the one gas to the inner electrode layers of the plurality of fuel cells;
A glass sealing material disposed between the support part of the manifold and the supported parts of the plurality of fuel cells supported by the support part,
A spring support member provided to face the support portion of the manifold across the plurality of fuel cells;
It arrange | positions between the edge part on the opposite side to the said to-be-supported part of this some fuel cell, and the said spring support member so that these fuel cell may be urged | biased in the direction in which the said glass sealing material is compressed. A spring member,
A power generation module comprising:
The spring support member is a metal member,
The reformer is installed on a surface of the spring support member opposite to a surface that supports the spring member.
Power generation module.

Images