JP2018174092A - Power supply equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide power supply equipment capable of suppressing degradation of reliability of a battery due to excessive battery temperature rise.SOLUTION: Power supply equipment 1 including a fuel cell system 10 having at least a fuel cell 11 and a battery 30, is further provided with a heat pipe 40 for thermally connecting the interior of the fuel cell system 10 with the battery 30. When the temperature of the battery 30 goes below a prescribed first temperature, heat transfer is performed by the heat pipe 40 from the interior of the fuel cell system 10 to the battery 30, and when the temperature of the battery 30 goes above the first temperature, suppression of heat transfer by the heat pipe 40 from the interior of the fuel cell system 10 to the battery 30 is started.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

  The present invention relates to a power supply device including a fuel cell and a battery.

  2. Description of the Related Art As a power generation device, a device including a fuel cell and an alkali metal thermoelectric conversion device that generates power using exhaust heat of the fuel cell is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1). A heat pipe extending outside from the alkali metal thermoelectric converter is attached to the power generator. This power generation device generates power by supplying exhaust heat of the fuel cell to the heat medium evaporation part of the heat pipe and supplying surplus heat of the fuel cell heat-transferred by the heat pipe to the alkali metal thermoelectric conversion device. .

JP 2012-16101 A

  When using the heat generated in the fuel cell to adjust the temperature of the battery, simply supplying the exhaust heat of the fuel cell to the battery and heating the battery will cause the battery temperature to rise too much, and the material that constitutes the battery Will deteriorate due to heat. Thereby, there exists a possibility that the reliability of a battery may fall.

  The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a power supply apparatus capable of suppressing a decrease in battery reliability due to excessive rise in battery temperature.

[1] A power supply apparatus according to the present invention includes a fuel cell system including at least a fuel cell and a battery, and includes a heat pipe that thermally connects the inside of the fuel cell system and the battery, When the temperature is equal to or lower than a predetermined first temperature, heat is transferred from the inside of the fuel cell system to the battery by the heat pipe, and the temperature of the battery is higher than the first temperature. The power supply device starts suppression of heat transfer from the inside of the fuel cell system to the battery by the heat pipe.

[2] In the above invention, the first temperature may be a temperature within an operating temperature range of the battery.

[3] In the above invention, the fuel cell may be a polymer electrolyte fuel cell.

[4] In the above invention, the fuel cell system includes a cooling unit including at least a heat exchanger that receives heat generated from the fuel cell, and the heat pipe includes at least a part of the cooling unit and the battery. You may connect thermally.

[5] In the above invention, the cooling unit includes a cooling water pipe through which cooling water passes, and a cooling water tank that is provided in the cooling water pipe and stores the cooling water. The cooling water pipe may be provided on the upstream side of the cooling water tank, and one end of the heat pipe may be disposed at a position lower than the liquid level of the cooling water stored in the cooling water tank.

[6] In the above invention, the heat pipe may be a variable conductance heat pipe.

[7] In the above invention, a heat diffusion body attached to the battery may be provided, and the heat pipe may be thermally connected to the battery via the heat diffusion body.

  According to the present invention, the temperature of the battery is controlled by setting the operating temperature of the heat pipe so that the heat transfer from the inside of the fuel cell system to the battery by the heat pipe is switched on / off based on the temperature of the battery. It can be autonomously held near a predetermined first temperature. Thereby, it is possible to suppress a decrease in battery reliability due to an excessive rise in battery temperature.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a forklift mounted with a power supply device according to an embodiment of the present invention, as viewed from obliquely above. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the power supply device according to the embodiment of the present invention as viewed obliquely from above. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a power supply apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a front view showing a heat pipe according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a transparent front view of the power supply apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VI-VI in FIG. FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a power supply device according to another embodiment of the present invention viewed obliquely from above. FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a power supply apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a forklift mounted with a power supply device according to an embodiment of the present invention as viewed from diagonally above, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the power supply device according to an embodiment of the present invention as viewed from diagonally above. 3 is a block diagram showing a power supply device according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 4 is a front view showing a heat pipe according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 5 is an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VI-VI in FIG. 5.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 1, the power supply device 1 of this embodiment is mounted on a vehicle such as a forklift 100 and is used as a power source for driving the vehicle. Such a forklift 100 can be used as a working vehicle in a low-temperature environment such as a refrigerator or freezer. The power supply device 1 is not limited to the forklift 100, and may be used for a vehicle such as a hybrid vehicle or an electric vehicle that drives a motor using battery power and travels using this driving force. In addition, the power supply device 1 is not limited to the above-described power source for driving the vehicle, and may be used as a power source for air conditioning equipment or an emergency power source.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the power supply device 1 includes a fuel cell system 10, a battery 30, a heat pipe 40, and a heat diffuser 50.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the fuel cell system 10 includes a fuel cell 11, a system housing 12, a fuel tank 13, a fuel pump 14, a blower 15, a gas-liquid separator 16, and an external fuel tank 17. The external fuel pump 18 and the cooling unit 20 are provided. A fuel cell 11, a fuel tank 13, a fuel pump 14, a blower 15, a gas-liquid separator 16, an external fuel tank 17, an external fuel pump 18, and a cooling unit 20 that constitute the fuel cell system 10 Are arranged inside the system housing 12.

  The fuel cell 11 is a direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) that generates power by consuming liquid fuel. The fuel cell 11 includes a power generation device in which power generation cells 111 are stacked, and supplies power to an external load. The fuel cell 11 is not limited to a direct methanol fuel cell, and various fuel cells can be adopted. However, the fuel cell 11 is preferably a solid polymer fuel cell. In addition, the operating temperature of the fuel cell 11 is preferably set to, for example, normal temperature or higher and approximately 80 ° C. or lower. In the present embodiment, the fuel cell 11 is used as a power source for the drive source 101 such as a motor of the forklift 100. The fuel cell 11 may be used as a power source for charging the battery 30, or may be used in combination as a power source for the drive source 101 such as a motor of the forklift 100 and a power source for charging the battery 30. Good. Such a fuel cell 11 includes a plurality of stacked power generation cells 111, a pair of current collectors 112 sandwiching the plurality of power generation cells 111 in the stacking direction, and the power generation cells 111 and the pair of current collectors 112 as power generation cells. 111 and a pair of end plates 113 sandwiched in the stacking direction.

  The fuel cell 11 includes a fuel supply port 11A, an air supply port 11B, a fuel discharge port 11C, and an air discharge port 11D. The fuel supply port 11 </ b> A communicates with the fuel tank 13 via the fuel pump 14. The air supply port 11 </ b> B communicates with the outside of the system via the blower 15. Further, the fuel discharge port 11 </ b> C communicates with the fuel tank 13. Further, the air discharge port 11 </ b> D communicates with the fuel tank 13 via the gas-liquid separator 16.

  The fuel tank 13 stores liquid fuel (methanol aqueous solution (MeOH)) diluted to several weight%. When the system is activated, liquid fuel is supplied from the fuel tank 13 to the anode (fuel electrode) through the fuel supply port 11A by the fuel pump 14, and external air is supplied to the cathode (air electrode through the air supply port 11B by the blower 15. ).

At the anode, as shown by the following formula (1), carbon dioxide, hydrogen ions, and electrons are generated by an oxidation reaction with a catalyst. Electricity is supplied to the external load by the electrons generated at the anode passing through an external circuit. On the other hand, hydrogen ions generated at the anode pass through the polymer electrolyte membrane and move to the cathode. At the cathode, as shown in the following formula (2), water is generated by a reduction reaction of oxygen by the catalyst.
CH ₃ OH + H ₂ O → CO ₂ + 6H ⁺ + 6e ⁻ (1)
3 / 2O ₂ + 6H ⁺ + 6e ⁻ → 3H ₂ O (2)

  Exhausts (such as carbon dioxide and unreacted methanol) from the anode of the fuel cell 11 are discharged from the fuel discharge port 11C and returned to the fuel tank 13. The unreacted methanol returned to the fuel tank 13 remains in the fuel tank 13, while the carbon dioxide returned to the fuel tank 13 is released to the outside of the system. The water vapor contained in the discharge from the cathode of the fuel cell 11 is discharged from the air discharge port 11D, passes through a condenser 23 (described later), and is generally liquefied. The water discharged from the condenser 23 is returned to the fuel tank 13, while gas components (such as water vapor) that have not been liquefied by the condenser 23 are discharged from the gas-liquid separator 16 to the outside of the system.

  The external fuel tank 17 contains a high-concentration aqueous methanol solution and communicates with the fuel tank 13 via an external fuel pump 18. A high-concentration aqueous methanol solution stored in the external fuel tank 17 is supplied to the fuel tank 13 by the external fuel pump 18 and water is supplied from the gas-liquid separator 16 to the fuel tank 13. A methanol aqueous solution diluted to a concentration of 1 is stored in the fuel tank 13 as a liquid fuel.

  The cooling unit 20 is a cooling unit for releasing heat generated from the fuel cell 11 to the outside of the system, and includes a cooling water pipe 21 through which cooling water passes, a cooling water pump 22, a condenser 23, and a cooling water tank 24. And a radiator 25 and a radiator cooling fan 26. A cooling water pipe 21, a cooling water pump 22, a condenser 23, a cooling water tank 24, a radiator 25, and a radiator cooling fan 26 that constitute the cooling unit 20 are arranged inside the system housing 12. ing.

  The cooling water pump 22 is provided in the cooling water pipe 21 and circulates the cooling water flowing through the cooling water pipe 21. The condenser 23 is a heat exchanger. The condenser 23 is provided in the cooling water pipe 21 and is arranged along a pipe connected to the air discharge port 11 </ b> D of the fuel cell 11. The condenser 23 receives heat generated in the fuel cell 11 through the cathode discharge. Heat received from the cathode discharge in the condenser 23 is transferred to the cooling water tank 24 by the cooling water flowing through the cooling water pipe 21.

  The cooling water tank 24 is a tank that stores cooling water. The cooling water tank 24 is provided in the cooling water pipe 21 and is arranged on the downstream side of the condenser 23 with reference to the flow direction of the cooling water. The cooling water tank 24 is supplied with cooling water that has passed through the condenser 23 and has risen to a relatively high temperature.

  The radiator 25 is provided to cool the cooling water that has risen to a relatively high temperature. The radiator 25 is provided in the cooling water pipe 21 and is arranged on the upstream side of the condenser 23 and on the downstream side of the cooling water tank 24 with reference to the flow direction of the cooling water. The radiator cooling fan 26 is disposed between the radiator 25 and the exhaust hole 121 of the system housing 12 so as to face the core surface of the radiator 25 and the exhaust hole 121. The radiator cooling fan 26 cools the radiator 25 by sending air from the inside to the outside of the system housing 12 through the exhaust hole 121.

  The battery 30 is a DC power source in which a power generation element (not shown) is accommodated in a battery housing 31. As shown in FIG. 2, the battery 30 is disposed on the system housing 12 of the fuel cell system 10. As the battery 30, for example, a secondary battery such as a lead battery, a nickel-cadmium battery, a nickel metal hydride battery, or a lithium ion battery can be used. In the present embodiment, the battery 30 is used as a drive power source when the fuel cell 11 is started. The battery 30 may be used as a power source for the drive source 101 such as the motor of the forklift 100, or the drive power source 101 when starting the fuel cell 11 and the drive source 101 such as the motor of the forklift 100. You may use together as a power supply with respect to.

  An operating temperature range is set in advance for such a battery 30. For example, in the case of a lead battery, the lower limit temperature of the operating temperature range is, for example, 0 ° C., and the upper limit temperature is, for example, 50 ° C. In the case of a nickel-cadmium battery, a nickel metal hydride battery, and a lithium ion battery, the lower limit value of the operating temperature range is, for example, 0 ° C., and the upper limit temperature is, for example, 45 ° C. When operating the battery 30, it is preferable that the temperature of the battery 30 is maintained within this operating temperature range. Here, it is preferable that the temperature of the battery 30 is higher than the lower limit value of the operating temperature range because a decrease in the capacity of the battery 30 can be more reliably suppressed. Moreover, when the temperature of the battery 30 is lower than the upper limit value of the operating temperature range, it is preferable because the material constituting the battery 30 can be more reliably suppressed from being deteriorated by heat.

  The heat pipe 40 is a heat transfer element that moves heat by the working fluid sealed therein, and thermally connects the fuel cell system 10 and the battery 30 as shown in FIG. The heat pipe 40 of the present embodiment is a variable conductance heat pipe, and has a sealed metal container having a circular cross section, in which a non-condensable gas and a working fluid are enclosed. Yes.

  In such a heat pipe 40, in the operating state, the non-condensable gas and the working fluid are balanced with an interface between them, and the heat pipe 40 is in accordance with the heat input to the heat pipe 40 and the temperature of the non-condensable gas. This interface moves, and ON / OFF of heat transfer from the fuel cell system 10 to the battery 30 is switched.

  The temperature at which the heat transfer is switched ON / OFF (hereinafter also referred to as the operating temperature of the heat pipe 40) is the type and amount of non-condensable gas sealed in the heat pipe 40, the capacity of the condensing unit 42 (described later), and the like. Can be set to any temperature. In the present embodiment, the operating temperature of the heat pipe 40 is set based on the temperature of the battery 30. Specifically, when the temperature of the battery 30 is equal to or lower than a predetermined first temperature, heat is transferred from the fuel cell system 10 to the battery 30 by the heat pipe 40, and the temperature of the battery 30 is the first temperature. When the temperature is higher than the temperature, the operating temperature of the heat pipe 40 is set so that suppression of heat transfer from the fuel cell system 10 to the battery 30 by the heat pipe 40 starts. The predetermined first temperature is preferably a predetermined temperature within the operating temperature range of the battery 30, and can be set to 30 ° C., for example.

  Note that argon or the like can be used as the non-condensable gas. Although it does not specifically limit as a working fluid, The material which has a freezing point which does not freeze at the lowest temperature which can be used is used, For example, water, alcohol, etc. can be used.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the heat pipe 40 includes an evaporating unit 41, a condensing unit 42, a heat insulating unit 43, and a storage unit 44. The evaporation part 41 is a predetermined length portion located on one end side of the heat pipe 40. The condensing part 42 is a predetermined length portion located on the other end side of the heat pipe 40. The heat insulation part 43 communicates the evaporation part 41 and the condensation part 42, and thermally connects the evaporation part 41 and the condensation part 42. The storage unit 44 is a part that stores non-condensable gas, and is provided at the end of the heat pipe 40 on the side where the condensing unit 42 is located. The storage unit 44 releases noncondensable gas toward the condensing unit 42 or receives noncondensable gas from the condensing unit 42 according to the operation of the heat pipe 40.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the power supply device 1 of the present embodiment is provided with three heat pipes 40. Here, among the three heat pipes 40, the middle heat pipe extends substantially linearly with respect to the Z direction, and the storage unit 44 is disposed at the upper end of the aggregation unit 42. Yes. In addition, the two heat pipes 40 at both ends are each along a direction (substantially oblique direction in FIG. 5) that forms an acute angle with respect to the above-described middle heat pipe 40 in a part of the region of the heat diffusion body 50. Two substantially linear aggregate portions 42 extending in the Z direction are connected to both ends of the bent aggregate portion 42 so as to communicate with each other. The left and right heat pipes 40 are arranged such that the storage portions 44 are positioned at the upper ends of the substantially linear aggregation portions 42 extending in the Z direction. Further, the three heat pipes 40 are arranged in parallel along the X direction in the above-described configuration. Note that the number and arrangement of the heat pipes 40 are not particularly limited to those described above.

  Each heat pipe 40 penetrates the upper surface of the system casing 12, the evaporation section 41 of the heat pipe 40 is arranged inside the system casing 12, and the condensation section of the heat pipe 40 is outside the system casing 12. 42 is arranged. The evaporation part 41 of each heat pipe 40 is thermally connected to the inside of the fuel cell system 10 (specifically, the cooling water tank 24 of the cooling unit 20), and the condensing part 42 of each heat pipe 40 is heated. It is thermally connected to the battery 30 via the diffuser 50.

  Further, each heat pipe 40 extends through the upper surface of the cooling water tank 24 to the inside of the cooling water tank 24. The evaporation part 41 of each heat pipe 40 is disposed at a position lower than the level of the cooling water stored in the cooling water tank 24. In the evaporation part 41 of each heat pipe 40, the temperature of the working fluid rises due to the heat generated in the fuel cell 11 and accumulated in the cooling water tank 24, and the phase transition from liquid to gas occurs. The fluid is changing from liquid to gas.

  The condensing part 42 of each heat pipe 40 is arranged along the side surface of the battery housing 31 via the thermal diffuser 50. In the condensing sections 42 of the respective heat pipes 40, the evaporated working fluid supplied from the evaporation section 41 through the heat insulating section 43 dissipates heat, thereby lowering the temperature of the working fluid and causing a phase transition from gas to liquid. As a result, the working fluid changes from gas to liquid.

In order to accommodate the plurality of evaporation units 41 in the cooling water tank 24, the plurality of evaporation units 41 are gathered together. On the other hand, among the entire surfaces of the battery 30 or each surface of the battery housing 31, heat is more evenly discharged to the side surface of the battery housing 31 facing the heat pipe 40, and thus the plurality of condensing units 42 are The battery 30 is disposed on the side surface of the battery 30 with a large space therebetween. In this case, the interval P ₁ between the adjacent evaporation units 41 is narrower than the interval P ₂ between the adjacent storage units 44. Here, for confirmation, in other words, the configuration of the three heat pipes 40 described above, two of the plurality of heat pipes 40 arranged in parallel are arranged in parallel as they approach the evaporation unit 41. It has a part bent so that it may approach one located in the center among a plurality of heat pipes 40.

  The thermal diffusion body 50 is a heat spreader and is a rectangular flat plate member formed of a metal material such as copper or aluminum. The heat diffusing body 50 is attached to the side surface of the battery casing 31 as shown in FIG. Each heat pipe 40 is inserted into a through hole 51 provided in the thermal diffusion body 50. In addition, about the through-hole 51 which can penetrate the heat pipe 40 of the both ends mentioned above, the whole external shape is provided along the external shape of the above-mentioned aggregation part 42 provided in the area | region of the thermal-diffusion body 50. FIG. Further, the condensing part 42 of the heat pipe 40 is in contact with the inner surface of the through hole 51.

  Below, the effect | action of the electric power supply apparatus 1 of this embodiment is demonstrated.

  In the power supply device 1, when the fuel cell system 10 is activated, liquid fuel is supplied to the anode of the fuel cell 11, air is supplied to the cathode of the fuel cell 11, and the oxidation shown in the above equations (1) and (2). The fuel cell 11 generates power by the reduction reaction.

  Here, the chemical reactions shown in the above formulas (1) and (2) are also exothermic reactions. The heat generated in the fuel cell 11 is transferred to the cooling water by the condenser 23 via the cathode discharge, and the cooling water is heated to the vicinity of the operating temperature of the fuel cell 11 (for example, above normal temperature and below 80 ° C.). . Then, this cooling water is sent to the cooling water tank 24 and heat is accumulated in the cooling water tank 24. The heat accumulated in the cooling water tank 24 is transmitted to the evaporator 41 of the heat pipe 40 disposed in the cooling water stored in the cooling water tank 24. The working fluid in the heat pipe 40 is heated and evaporated by the movement of the fuel cell 11 → the condenser 23 → the cooling water tank 24 → the evaporation portion 41 of the heat pipe 40, and latent heat (heat of vaporization) is generated along with this evaporation. ) Is absorbed by the heat pipe 40. Then, the working fluid evaporated in the evaporation unit 41 diffuses and moves in the heat pipe 40, and a flow of the working fluid toward the condensing unit 42 is generated.

  Non-condensable gas is also enclosed in the heat pipe 40. The non-condensable gas is blown toward the end of the heat pipe 40 on the condensing part 42 side by the flow of the working fluid toward the condensing part 42. Thereby, in the heat pipe 40, the working fluid that fills the evaporator 41 side and the non-condensable gas that fills the condenser 42 side coexist while keeping a balance with each other. When the temperature of the heat pipe 40 becomes the operating temperature and the heat transfer is switched from OFF to ON, the working fluid reaches the condensing unit 42, and the working fluid is cooled and condensed. With this condensation, latent heat (condensation heat) is released, and heat is radiated from the condensing unit 42 to the battery 30.

  Here, in this embodiment, the heat transfer from the cooling water tank 24 to the battery 30 by the heat pipe 40 is switched on / off with the temperature of the battery 30 as a reference. Specifically, the temperature of the battery 30 is When the heat pipe 40 transfers heat from the inside of the fuel cell system 10 to the battery 30 when the temperature is equal to or lower than the predetermined first temperature, and the temperature of the battery 30 is higher than the first temperature, the heat pipe 40 Is set to start suppression of heat transfer from the fuel cell system 10 to the battery 30.

  For this reason, the heat transfer by the heat pipe 40 is autonomously performed so that the temperature of the battery 30 converges in the vicinity of the predetermined first temperature. When such a predetermined first temperature is set to a predetermined temperature within the operating temperature range of the battery 30, the temperature of the battery 30 is maintained within the operating temperature range even in a low temperature environment (for example, 10 ° C. or less). Therefore, the battery 30 is not in a low temperature state, and the capacity reduction of the battery 30 can be suppressed. In addition, when the amount of heat transferred to the evaporation unit 41 is large and the temperature of the battery 30 may be excessively increased, the suppression of the heat transfer to the battery 30 is started, so that the temperature of the battery 30 is excessively increased. A decrease in the reliability of the battery 30 can be suppressed. Further, by using the heat generated in the fuel cell 11, the battery 30 is heated without consuming electric power from the battery 30 or the fuel cell 11, so that the continuous operation time of the power supply device 1 is shortened. Can be prevented.

  In the present embodiment, the fuel cell 11 is a fuel cell that operates at a relatively low temperature, for example, from room temperature to around 80 ° C. For this reason, the operating temperature of the fuel cell 11 is set lower than that of a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) that operates at a relatively high temperature, for example, 600 ° C. or higher. As a result, the power supply device 10 on which the fuel cell 11 is mounted does not easily reach a relatively high temperature. Therefore, the power supply device 10 is applied to an external power source such as a driving power source for a vehicle, a power source for air conditioning equipment, or an emergency power source. In such a case, problems due to high temperatures are less likely to occur in the external power supply. As a result, the external power supply to which the power supply device 10 is applied can be used relatively safely. In the present embodiment, the operating temperature of the battery 30 is also set to a relatively low temperature of 50 ° C. or less. For example, the operating temperature of the battery 30 is compared with a NAS battery operated at a relatively high temperature of 300 ° C. Is set low. As a result, the power supply device 10 including the battery 30 does not easily reach a relatively high temperature. Therefore, when the power supply device 10 is applied to an external power source such as a power source for driving a vehicle, a power source for air conditioning equipment, or an emergency power source. In the external power source, problems due to high temperatures are less likely to occur. As a result, the external power supply to which the power supply device 10 is applied can be used relatively safely.

  Further, as described above, the heat generated in the fuel cell 11 is transferred to the cooling water by the condenser 23 via the cathode discharge, and the cooling water is operated at the operating temperature of the fuel cell 11 (for example, not lower than normal temperature and not higher than 80 ° C.). Heated up to the vicinity. And since this cooling water is sent to the cooling water tank 24, the cooling water tank 24 can be in the state where heat is easy to accumulate. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the evaporator 41 of the heat pipe 40 is disposed at a position lower than the liquid level of the cooling water stored in the cooling water tank 24. Thereby, heat can be directly transferred from the cooling water tank 24 in which the heat generated in the fuel cell 11 is easily accumulated to the evaporation part 41 of the heat pipe 40, so that the heat is transferred from the cooling unit 20 toward the battery 30. Can be done efficiently. Moreover, in this embodiment, since the evaporation part 41 of the heat pipe 40 is arrange | positioned in the position lower than the liquid level of the cooling water stored in the cooling water tank 24, the evaporation part 41 of the heat pipe 40 becomes cooling water. It becomes soaked directly. For this reason, since it becomes possible to transfer heat directly to the evaporation part 41 of the heat pipe 40 through cooling water, the movement of the heat from the cooling unit 20 toward the battery 30 can be performed efficiently.

  In the present embodiment, the condensing part 42 of the heat pipe 40 is thermally connected to the battery 30 via the thermal diffuser 50. Thereby, since the heat transfer area between the condensation part 42 of the heat pipe 40 and the battery 30 increases, the amount of heat transferred from the condensation part 42 of the heat pipe 40 to the battery 30 can be increased. Thereby, since the condensation of the working fluid in the condensing part 42 of the heat pipe 40 is promoted, the movement of heat toward the battery 30 can be efficiently performed.

  The “power supply device 1” in the present embodiment corresponds to an example of the “power supply device” in the present invention, and the “fuel cell 11” in the present embodiment corresponds to an example of the “fuel cell” in the present invention. The “battery 30” in the embodiment corresponds to an example of the “battery” in the present invention, the “cooling unit 20” in the present embodiment corresponds to an example of the “cooling unit” in the present invention, and the “condenser 23” in the present embodiment. "Corresponds to an example of" heat exchanger "in the present invention," heat pipe 40 "in the present embodiment corresponds to an example of" heat pipe "in the present invention," cooling water pipe 21 "in the present embodiment. This embodiment corresponds to an example of “cooling water pipe” in the present invention, and “cooling water tank 24” in the present embodiment corresponds to an example of “cooling water tank” in the present invention. Definitive "thermal diffuser" is equivalent to an example of "the thermal diffusion member" in the present invention.

  FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a power supply apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention viewed obliquely from above, and FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing the power supply apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the structure similar to the above-mentioned embodiment, repeated description is abbreviate | omitted, and the description made in the above-mentioned embodiment is used.

  The power supply device 1 </ b> B illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8 includes a heat receiving body 60 attached to the side surface of the system housing 12. The heat receiving body 60 is a fin and is formed of a metal material such as copper or aluminum. The structure of the heat receiving body 60 is not specifically limited, The structure employ | adopted for a well-known fin can be used. Such a heat receiving body 60 faces the exhaust hole 121 of the system housing 12, and is disposed so as to face the radiator cooling fan 26 through the exhaust hole 121. The exhaust hole 121 and the heat receiving body 60 may be part of the configuration of the cooling unit 20 of the fuel cell system 10.

  The evaporation section 41B of each heat pipe 40B is located outside the system housing 12 and is thermally connected to the inside of the fuel cell 10 via the heat receiving body 60. Note that “the evaporation unit 41B is thermally connected to the inside of the fuel cell 10 via the heat receiving member 60” means that the heat generated in the fuel cell 11 reaches the evaporation unit 41B via the heat receiving member 60. More specifically, the heat generated in the fuel cell 11 is released from the inside of the fuel cell system 10 to the outside by the radiator cooling fan 26, and passes through the heat receiver 60. It reaches 41B and is taken into the evaporation section 41B. Each heat pipe 40B is inserted through a through hole provided in the heat receiving body 60, and the evaporation portion 41B of the heat pipe 40B is in contact with the inner surface of the through hole of the heat receiving body 60. In the present embodiment, since it is not always necessary to gather the evaporation parts 41 of the heat pipes 40B in the cooling water tank 24 as in the above-described embodiment, each heat pipe 40B is linear along the Z direction. It is made into the shape extended to.

  In the present embodiment, the exhaust (warm air) of the radiator cooling fan 26 is blown to the heat receiving body 60 through the exhaust holes 121. In this case, the working fluid in the heat pipe 40B is heated and evaporated by the movement of heat composed of the fuel cell 11 → the condenser 23 → the radiator 25 → the radiator cooling fan 26 → the heat receiving body 60 → the evaporation portion 41B of the heat pipe 40B. Thereby, the heat generated in the fuel cell 11 is absorbed in the heat pipe 40B.

  In this case, in the present embodiment, heat is transferred from the radiator cooling fan 26 to the evaporation unit 41B of the heat pipe 40B via the heat receiving body 60 having a larger heat transfer area than the evaporation unit 41B. As a result, the amount of heat transferred from the radiator cooling fan 26 to the evaporator 41B of the heat pipe 40B can be increased. As a result, evaporation of the working fluid in the evaporation section 41B of the heat pipe 40B is promoted, so that heat can be efficiently transferred to the battery 30.

  Then, when the evaporated working fluid reaches the condensing unit 42, heat is radiated from the condensing unit 42 to the battery 30 as in the above-described embodiment.

  The embodiment described above is described for facilitating the understanding of the present invention, and is not described for limiting the present invention. Therefore, each element disclosed in the above embodiment is intended to include all design changes and equivalents belonging to the technical scope of the present invention.

  For example, the fuel cell system 10 of the above embodiment includes a direct methanol type fuel cell as the fuel cell 11, and other direct alcohol type fuel cells such as a direct ethanol type and other fuels are used as the fuel cell. Directly supplied fuel cells can also be used.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Electric power supply apparatus 10 ... Fuel cell system 11 ... Fuel cell 111 ... Power generation cell 112 ... Current collector 113 ... End plate 11A ... Fuel supply port 11B ... Air supply port 11C ... Fuel discharge port 11D ... Air discharge port 12 ... System Housing 121 ... Exhaust hole 13 ... Fuel tank 14 ... Fuel pump 15 ... Blower 16 ... Gas-liquid separator 17 ... External fuel tank 18 ... External fuel pump 20 ... Cooling unit 21 ... Cooling water piping 22 ... Cooling water pump 23 ... Condensation 24 ... Cooling water tank 25 ... Radiator 26 ... Radiator cooling fan 30 ... Battery 31 ... Battery housing 40 ... Heat pipe 41 ... Evaporating part 42 ... Condensing part 43 ... Heat insulating part 44 ... Storage part 50 ... Thermal diffuser 51 ... Through Hole 60 ... Heat receiving body 100 ... Forklift 101 ... Drive source

Claims (7)

A power supply apparatus comprising a fuel cell system including at least a fuel cell and a battery,
A heat pipe that thermally connects the inside of the fuel cell system and the battery;
When the temperature of the battery is equal to or lower than a predetermined first temperature, heat is transferred from the inside of the fuel cell system to the battery by the heat pipe,
An electric power supply device in which, when the temperature of the battery is higher than the first temperature, suppression of heat transfer from the inside of the fuel cell system to the battery by the heat pipe is started. The power supply device according to claim 1,
The power supply device, wherein the first temperature is a temperature within an operating temperature range of the battery. The power supply device according to claim 1 or 2,
The fuel cell is a power supply device which is a polymer electrolyte fuel cell. The power supply device according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The fuel cell system includes a cooling unit including at least a heat exchanger that receives heat generated from the fuel cell. The heat pipe electrically connects at least a part of the cooling unit and the battery. Feeding device. The power supply device according to claim 4,
The cooling unit is
Cooling water piping for passing cooling water;
A cooling water tank provided in the cooling water pipe and storing the cooling water;
The heat exchanger is provided upstream of the cooling water tank in the cooling water pipe,
One end of the heat pipe is a power supply device disposed at a position lower than the liquid level of the cooling water stored in the cooling water tank. The power supply device according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
The power supply device is a variable conductance heat pipe. The power supply device according to any one of claims 1 to 6,
Comprising a heat spreader attached to the battery;
The heat pipe is a power supply apparatus that is thermally connected to the battery via the thermal diffuser.

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