JP2019079680A - Fuel cell system and control method of fuel cell system - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a technique for realizing compaction and cost reduction of the housing, by reducing pressure difference between the inside and outside of the housing.SOLUTION: A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell generating electricity with fuel gas and oxidant gas, an adiabator provided to surround the fuel cell, and an enclosure for receiving the fuel cell and the adiabator. Furthermore, the fuel cell system includes an oxidant gas supply passage for introducing the oxidant gas from the outside of the enclosure into the adiabator and supplying to the fuel cell, an oxidant gas supply device placed in the oxidant gas supply passage, an oxidant gas introduction part placed in the enclosure and in the oxidant gas supply passage in the region on the outside of the adiabator, and introducing the oxidant gas to that region, an exhaust passage for discharging the exhaust air from the fuel cell to the outside of the enclosure, and an oxidant gas suction device placed on the exhaust passage in the above-mentioned region, and sucking the oxidant gas introduced into that region.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a fuel cell system and a control method of the fuel cell system.

  In order to suppress heat dissipation to the outside inside a fuel cell system housing including a fuel cell operating at a relatively high temperature such as a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) or a molten carbonate fuel cell There are a high temperature area in which the fuel cell is surrounded by a heat insulating material, and an area in which electrical components and the like required for the operation of the fuel cell are disposed.

  In a fuel cell system in which a high temperature area including a fuel cell is disposed inside a housing, it is necessary to cool the inside of the housing from the viewpoint of operation of the fuel cell system. In addition, in such a fuel cell system, it may be required to ensure the airtightness of the housing due to the circumstances of the installation place and the like.

  Therefore, WO 2012-091031 has a power generation unit with high temperature inside the housing and a blower, and the blower sucks and sucks the external air from the air introduction path communicating with the outside of the housing by the blower. Air is supplied to the power generation unit via a cooling air flow path formed around the power generation unit. As a result, while the outside air is introduced into the housing, the heat dissipation from the power generation unit is suppressed while the airtightness of the housing is secured, and the inside of the housing is cooled.

International Publication 2012-091031

  However, in the structure disclosed in Patent Document 1, the pressure inside the housing decreases due to pressure loss in the air introduction path, and the negative pressure increases, so a large pressure difference occurs between the inside and the outside of the housing. As a result, the pressure-resistant design requirements of the housing are increased, and there is a problem that the housing is increased in size and weight, which leads to an increase in manufacturing cost.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a technology for reducing the pressure difference between the inside and the outside of the housing and realizing downsizing and cost reduction of the housing while introducing the outside air into the housing.

  According to the fuel cell system according to the present invention, there are provided a fuel cell that generates electric power with fuel gas and oxidant gas, a heat insulating material provided so as to surround the fuel cell, and a housing for containing the fuel cell and the heat insulating material. Prepare. Then, the fuel cell system further introduces an oxidant gas from the outside of the casing into the interior of the heat insulating material and supplies the oxidant gas supply passage to the fuel cell and the oxidant gas supply disposed in the oxidant gas supply passage. The device, an oxidant gas introduction unit disposed in an oxidant gas supply path in an area inside the casing and outside the heat insulating material, for introducing the oxidant gas into the area, and an exhaust from the fuel cell outside the casing And an oxidant gas suction device which is disposed on the exhaust passage in the above-mentioned region and sucks the oxidant gas introduced into the region.

  According to the present invention, the amount of air introduced into the region inside the casing and the region outside the heat insulating material and the amount of air discharged from the region are controlled to reduce the pressure difference between the inside and the outside of the casing. As a result, it is possible to suppress the increase in the manufacturing cost with respect to the pressure resistance design requirement of the housing.

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration view of a fuel cell system according to a first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of a fuel cell system according to a second embodiment. FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration view of a fuel cell system according to a third embodiment. FIG. 4 is a schematic configuration diagram of a fuel cell system according to a fourth embodiment. FIG. 5 is a schematic configuration diagram of a fuel cell system according to a fifth embodiment. FIG. 6 is a schematic configuration view of a modification of the fuel cell system according to one embodiment. FIG. 7 is a schematic configuration diagram of a modification of the fuel cell system according to one embodiment.

-1st Embodiment-
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a fuel cell system 100 according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

  The fuel cell system 100 according to the present embodiment is mounted on, for example, a vehicle. As illustrated, the fuel cell system 100 includes a fuel cell stack 1, a heat insulating material 2, an air supply passage 3, an air introduction passage 4, a blower 5, a fuel supply passage 6, an exhaust passage 7, and suction. The apparatus 8 is configured to include the suction port 9 and the housing 10. In addition, each structure to show in figure is a schematic figure to the last, Comprising: It is not the meaning which prescribes | regulates the shape of each structure, and the direction of the upper and lower, right and left.

  A fuel cell stack 1 (hereinafter simply referred to as "fuel cell 1") is configured by stacking a plurality of fuel cells or unit cells of fuel cells. In the present embodiment, a unit cell constituting the fuel cell 1 which is a power source is a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC). That is, the fuel cell 1 receives the supply of the fuel gas and the oxidant gas (air) at a suitable operating temperature of, for example, 800 ° C. to 1000 ° C. to generate power.

  The heat insulating material 2 is configured by, for example, an amount of heat insulating material such as silica based ceramic. By providing the heat insulating material 2 inside the housing 10 so as to surround the fuel cell 1, it is possible to suppress the heat of the fuel cell 1 from being dissipated to the outside. The area surrounded by the heat insulating material 2 is hereinafter referred to as "high temperature area H".

  On the other hand, the area | region of the outer side of the heat insulating material 2 in the inside of the housing | casing 10 is called "low temperature area | region L" below. That is, the housing 10 provided in the fuel cell system 100 of the present embodiment has a high temperature region H and a low temperature region L partitioned by the heat insulating material 2. The housing 10 is a housing of the fuel cell system 100, and is formed of, for example, stainless steel or a desired metal material having a heat conductivity and water tightness similar to that of the stainless steel. Moreover, it is preferable that the housing | casing 10 is comprised with the material which has thermal conductivity higher than the material which comprises the heat insulating material 2. As shown in FIG. Thereby, the low temperature region can be maintained at a low temperature.

  Further, although not shown, the fuel cell system 100 of the present embodiment includes devices (auxiliary devices) required for the fuel cell 1 to generate power. Among the accessories required for the fuel cell 1 to generate power, the accessories heated at the time of power generation or to be heated are disposed in the high temperature region H in the heat insulating material 2. More specifically, accessories such as, for example, an evaporator, a heat exchanger, a reformer, and a combustor (exhaust combustor) are disposed in the high temperature region H. By disposing the fuel cell 1 and the high temperature auxiliary devices in the high temperature region H partitioned by the heat insulating material 2, it is possible to suppress the heat radiation to the outside.

  On the other hand, among the accessories required for the fuel cell 1 to generate power, low temperature to normal temperature is desirable, and devices which are not required to be heated are disposed in the low temperature region L. More specifically, for example, a controller that controls the fuel cell system, an electric component such as an inverter for converting electric power, an injector for supplying fuel to the combustor, and the like are disposed in the low temperature region L.

  The air supply passage 3 introduces air (oxidant gas, cathode gas) from the outside of the housing 10 to the inside (low temperature region L) of the housing 10, and to the fuel cell 1 disposed inside the heat insulating material 2. It is a flow path (for example, piping) for supplying air via auxiliary equipment (a heat exchanger etc.) not shown. The air supply passage 3 includes an air introduction passage 4 for introducing a part of air from the outside of the housing 10 into the low temperature region L.

  The air introduction passage 4 is disposed in the air supply passage 3 in the low temperature region L, and functions as an air introduction portion for introducing air from the outside of the housing 10 into the low temperature region L. The air introduction passage 4 of the present embodiment is a pipe branched from the air supply passage 3 in the low temperature region L. More specifically, the air introduction path 4 is a branched flow path communicating with the flow path in the air supply path 3, and is a pipe configured such that the opening thereof is located in the low temperature region L. However, the air introducing portion for introducing air into the low temperature region L does not have to be tubular, and may be a hole provided in the air supply path 3 in the low temperature region L.

  Moreover, the air supply path 3 is provided with the blower 5 as an air supply apparatus, and the blower 5 of this embodiment is arrange | positioned to the exterior of the housing | casing 10. As shown in FIG. In the air supply passage 3, the blower 5 is disposed upstream of the branch position with the air introduction passage 4 so that the outside air of the housing 10 can be actively supplied to the fuel cell 1 through the air supply passage 3. The air can be positively introduced into the housing 10 through the air introduction path 4. The air introduction device is not limited to the blower but may be a fan or a compressor.

  Thus, the fuel cell system 100 is configured to be able to actively introduce part of the air supplied from the blower 5 into the region inside the housing 10 and the outside of the heat insulating material 2 (low temperature region L). . Thus, the fuel cell system 100 is controlled by adjusting the balance between the amount of air introduced into the low temperature region L and the amount of air drawn by the suction device 8 described later and discharged to the outside of the housing 10. It is possible to adjust the pressure in the body 10. Details will be described later.

  In addition, since the housing | casing 10 is normally installed in the normal temperature area | region, the external air of the vicinity of the housing | casing 10 becomes lower than the temperature of the inside (high temperature area | region H) of the heat insulating material 2 normally. For this reason, the temperature of the area | region of the outer side of the heat insulating material 2 in the inside of the housing | casing 10 can be made lower than the high temperature area | region H by introduce | transducing the external air of the housing | casing 10 into the inside of the housing | casing 10. FIG.

  The fuel supply passage 6 introduces the fuel stored in a fuel tank (not shown) provided outside the housing 10 into the heat insulating material 2 through the low temperature region L in the housing 10, and the auxiliary equipment (not shown) It is a passage for supplying the fuel cell 1 via (evaporator, reformer, etc.).

  The exhaust passage 7 is an exhaust pipe for discharging the exhaust gas (off gas) from the fuel cell 1 to the outside of the housing 10. The exhaust passage 7 is provided with a suction device 8 for sucking the air in the low temperature region L and discharging the sucked air to the outside of the housing 10 through the exhaust passage 7.

  The suction device 8 is disposed in the exhaust passage 7 in the low temperature region L, and functions as an air suction unit for sucking the air in the housing 10 into the flow passage of the exhaust passage 7. The suction device 8 of the present embodiment is, for example, a jet pump. When a jet pump is used as the air suction means, when the exhaust gas from the fuel cell 1 flows to the outside of the housing 10 through the jet pump, the air in the low temperature region is sucked from the suction port 9 by the so-called venturi effect. . Thus, the air in the low temperature region L can be actively discharged to the outside of the housing 10 through the exhaust passage 7. The air suction unit is not limited to the jet pump, and may be a pump, a blower, or a compressor configured to be able to discharge the air in the low temperature region L through the exhaust passage 7.

  As described above, in the fuel cell system 100 of the present embodiment, the air introduction path 4 configured to be able to actively introduce a part of the air supplied from the blower 5 into the low temperature region L; The suction device 8 is configured to be able to actively suck air and discharge it to the outside of the housing 10. Thus, the fuel cell system 100 can control the balance between the amount of air introduced into the housing 10 and the amount of air discharged out of the housing 10. As a result, the pressure difference between the inside and the outside of the housing 10 can be reduced, so the pressure-resistant structure of the housing 10 can be simplified, and the housing 10 can be made smaller and lighter. Become. As a result, the manufacturing cost of the fuel cell system can be reduced.

  In addition, the fuel cell system 100 of the present embodiment controls the pressure in the low temperature region L in the housing 10 so as to fall within a predetermined pressure range based on the pressure outside the housing 10 (atmospheric pressure). May be Within the predetermined pressure range, there is no design issue required due to the pressure difference between the inside and the outside of the housing 10 from the viewpoint of pressure resistance performance, or even if it occurs, the inside of the housing 10 and It means within the pressure range which does not cause increase of manufacturing cost compared with the case where there is no pressure difference with the outside. In other words, “within the predetermined pressure range” is a pressure range in which the pressure difference between the inside and the outside of the housing 10 can be substantially ignored from the viewpoint of the pressure resistant structure or the manufacturing cost. The “required design items” include, for example, design items regarding structures and members that are further required to increase the rigidity and strength of the housing 10, and further to improve airtightness and water tightness. It is a design matter about the pressure-resistant structure whole, such as a design matter required.

  By controlling the pressure difference between the inside and the outside of the case 10 in the fuel cell system 100 to fall within a predetermined range in this manner, the pressure-resistant structure of the case 10 is made between the inside and the outside of the case 10. It can be simplified as in the case of no pressure difference. Therefore, it becomes possible to reduce the size and weight of the housing 10 more than ever before, and the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

  In addition, the pressure inside the housing | casing 10 of this embodiment may be controlled by the positive pressure higher than atmospheric pressure. Specifically, by controlling the amount of air drawn from the suction device 8 to be smaller than the amount of air introduced from the air introduction path 4, the pressure inside the housing 10 can be made positive. it can. This makes it difficult for water, dust, etc. to intrude from the outside of the case 10 into the inside, and the water tightness of the case 10 can be further improved. In addition, as for the positive pressure here, it is desirable that it is a positive pressure which fits in the upper limit in the above-mentioned predetermined pressure range.

  On the other hand, the pressure inside the housing 10 of the present embodiment may be controlled to a negative pressure lower than the atmospheric pressure. Specifically, the amount of air introduced into the low temperature region L from the air introduction passage 4 may be limited. For example, the amount of air (flow rate) supplied to the fuel cell 1 through the air supply passage 3 may be set larger than the amount of air introduced into the low temperature region L through the air introduction passage 4. As a specific means, the cross-sectional area (flow passage diameter) of the air introduction passage 4 is set smaller than the cross-sectional area (flow passage diameter) of the air supply passage 3 at the position where the air introduction passage branches.

  As a result, the amount of air introduced into the low temperature region L is restricted to be smaller than the amount of air supplied to the fuel cell 1, so the pressure inside the housing 10 can be easily controlled to a negative pressure. By controlling the pressure in the low temperature region L to a negative pressure in this manner, the power consumption of the blower 5 can be reduced compared to boosting the pressure in the housing 10. Here, the negative pressure is desirably a negative pressure that falls within the lower limit value within the above-described predetermined pressure range.

  As described above, according to the fuel cell system 100 of the first embodiment, the fuel cell 1 that generates electric power with the fuel gas and the oxidant gas (air), the heat insulator 2 provided so as to surround the fuel cell 1, and the fuel cell 1 and an enclosure 10 for accommodating the heat insulating material 2, and further, an oxidant gas supply passage (air which introduces oxidant gas from the outside of the enclosure 10 into the inside of the insulation 2 and supplies it to the fuel cell 1 (air The supply passage 3), the oxidant gas supply device (blower 5) disposed in the air supply passage 3, and the air supply passage 3 in a region (low temperature region L) inside the casing 10 and outside the heat insulating material 2 And an oxidant gas introduction unit (air introduction passage 4) for introducing air into the low temperature region L, an exhaust passage 7 for discharging the exhaust gas (exhaust gas) from the fuel cell 1 to the outside of the housing 10; L is disposed on the exhaust passage 7 in L and introduced into the low temperature region L. Comprising air oxidant gas suction device that sucks the (suction device 8), a.

  Thereby, the amount of air introduced into the region inside the casing and the region outside the heat insulating material and the amount of air discharged from the region are controlled to reduce the pressure difference between the inside and the outside of the casing. it can. As a result, it is possible to reduce the size and weight of the housing 10 as compared with the conventional case, and to suppress the increase in the manufacturing cost with respect to the pressure resistance design requirement of the housing 10.

  Further, according to the fuel cell system 100 of the first embodiment, the pressure in the housing 10 is adjusted to fall within a predetermined pressure range based on the atmospheric pressure. As a result, the pressure-resistant structure of the housing 10 can be simplified as in the case where there is no pressure difference between the inside and the outside of the housing 10, so the housing 10 can be made smaller and lighter than in the prior art. It is possible to avoid an increase in the manufacturing cost with respect to the pressure resistance design requirement of the housing 10.

  Further, according to the fuel cell system 100 of the first embodiment, the pressure in the housing 10 may be a positive pressure. This makes it difficult for water, dust, etc. to intrude from the outside of the case 10 into the inside, and the water tightness of the case 10 can be further improved.

  Further, according to the fuel cell system 100 of the first embodiment, the flow rate of air supplied to the fuel cell 1 is larger than the flow rate of air introduced from the air introduction passage 4 into the low temperature region L. As a result, the amount of air introduced into the low temperature region L is restricted to be smaller than the amount of air supplied to the fuel cell 1, so the pressure inside the housing 10 can be controlled to a negative pressure. As a result, the power consumption of the blower 5 can be reduced compared to boosting the pressure in the housing 10.

  Further, according to the fuel cell system 100 of the first embodiment, the air introduction passage 4 is a pipe branched from the air supply path 3 in the low temperature region L, and the cross-sectional area of the pipe is the air at the pipe branched position. The cross sectional area of the supply passage 3 is smaller. Thereby, the pressure in the housing 10 can be made negative without further needing other parts such as a valve.

-Second embodiment-
The second embodiment will be described below. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the element similar to 1st Embodiment, and the description is abbreviate | omitted.

  FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration view for explaining a fuel cell system 200 of the second embodiment. The fuel cell system 200 differs from the fuel cell system 100 in that the suction device 8 includes an on-off valve 11.

  The on-off valve 11 is a valve that opens and closes a flow path when the suction device 8 sucks the air in the low temperature region L from the suction port 9. The suction device 8 disposed in the exhaust passage 7 includes the on-off valve 11, so that the flow passage communicating from the suction port 9 to the exhaust passage 7 can be opened and closed. As a result, by closing the on-off valve 11, it is possible to cut off the flow path continuing from the outside of the housing 10 to the low temperature region L via the exhaust passage 7, the downstream side of the suction device 8 in the exhaust passage 7 Backflow of water vapor, water and the like to the low temperature region L can be prevented.

  Further, by controlling the opening and closing of the on-off valve 11, the amount of air in the housing 10 discharged to the outside of the housing 10 can be adjusted through the exhaust passage 7. By adjusting the opening and closing of the on-off valve 11 according to the amount of air, the pressure in the housing 10 can be controlled.

  A known valve may be employed as the on-off valve 11. Specifically, it is a mechanical pressure valve (differential pressure control valve) driven by a pressure difference, a bimetal valve driven by a temperature difference, or a solenoid (electromagnetic valve) or a stepping motor (motorized valve) as an electrically driven valve. There is no limitation in particular in the present embodiment.

  For example, when a differential pressure control valve is employed as the on-off valve 11, the pressure difference between the inlet pressure and the outlet pressure, that is, the internal pressure of the housing 10 and the external pressure can be automatically adjusted to a constant value. . In addition, since the opening and closing of the bimetal valve is controlled by heat, the valve can be closed when the temperature is lower than a predetermined temperature and can be opened when the temperature is higher than the predetermined temperature. Therefore, when the bimetal valve is employed as the on-off valve 11, the temperature of the exhaust passage 7 rises due to the exhaust gas during operation of the fuel cell 1, so the on-off valve automatically opens and the fuel cell 1 is exhausted. Since it stops and the temperature of the exhaust passage 7 falls, it can be comprised so that the on-off valve 11 may be closed automatically. In addition, an electrically driven valve may be employed as the on-off valve 11. In that case, the electric power as a drive source of the electric drive valve is supplied, for example, from a power supply (not shown) disposed outside the housing 10 via an electric component line (electric wiring) (not shown).

  As described above, according to the fuel cell system 200 of the second embodiment, the suction device 8 includes the on-off valve 11 for controlling the suction amount of air. Thus, by closing the on-off valve 11, the flow path from the outside of the housing 10 to the low temperature region L can be disconnected from the outside through the exhaust passage 7, so from the downstream side of the suction device 8 in the exhaust passage 7. Backflow of water vapor, water and the like to the low temperature region L can be prevented. Further, the pressure in the housing 10 can be controlled by adjusting the opening and closing of the on-off valve 11 according to the amount of air introduced from the air introduction path 4.

-Third embodiment-
The third embodiment will be described below. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the element similar to 1st Embodiment, and the description is abbreviate | omitted.

  FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration view for explaining a fuel cell system 300 of the third embodiment. The fuel cell system 300 differs from the fuel cell system 100 in that the air introduction path 4 is provided with an on-off valve 12.

  The on-off valve 12 is a valve capable of opening and closing a flow passage when the air introduction passage 4 introduces air from the outside of the housing 10 to the low temperature region L. By providing the on-off valve 12 in the air introduction passage 4, it is possible to control the opening and closing of the flow passage communicating with the inside of the casing 10 from the outside of the casing 10 through the air supply passage 3 and the air introduction passage 4. Thus, the amount of air introduced into the inside of the housing 10 through the air introduction path 4 can be adjusted, so the opening and closing of the on-off valve 12 is adjusted according to the amount of air drawn from the suction device 8. Thus, the pressure in the housing 10 can be controlled.

  The on-off valve 12 may be a well-known valve as described above in the description of the second embodiment. Specifically, for example, a mechanical pressure valve (differential pressure control valve) driven by a pressure difference, a solenoid (electromagnetic valve) as an electrically driven valve, a stepping motor (motorized valve) or the like may be used. Is not particularly limited.

  As mentioned above, according to the fuel cell system 300 of 3rd Embodiment, the air introduction path 4 is provided with the on-off valve 12 for controlling the introduction amount of air. Thus, the amount of air introduced into the inside of the housing 10 through the air introduction path 4 can be adjusted, so the opening and closing of the on-off valve 12 is adjusted according to the amount of air drawn from the suction device 8. Thus, the pressure in the housing 10 can be controlled.

-Fourth Embodiment-
The fourth embodiment will be described below. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the element similar to 1st Embodiment, and the description is abbreviate | omitted.

  FIG. 4 is a schematic configuration view for explaining a fuel cell system 400 of the fourth embodiment. The fuel cell system 400 differs from the fuel cell system 100 in that the arrangement of the suction port 9 is limited as follows.

  That is, the suction port 9 provided in the fuel cell system 400 is disposed so as to open at a higher position in the gravity direction than at least the discharge port 13 of the exhaust passage 7. Thereby, even when water intrudes from the discharge port 13, it is possible to prevent water from invading the housing 10 without requiring an additional member such as a valve.

  As described above, according to the fuel cell system 400 of the fourth embodiment, the suction device 8 has the suction port 9 for sucking air, and the suction port 9 opens at a position higher than the discharge port 13 of the exhaust passage 7. Configured as. Thereby, even when water intrudes from the discharge port 13, it is possible to prevent water from invading the housing 10 without requiring an additional member such as a valve.

-Fifth embodiment-
The fifth embodiment will be described below. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the element similar to 1st Embodiment, and the description is abbreviate | omitted.

  FIG. 5 is a schematic configuration view for explaining a fuel cell system 500 of the fifth embodiment. The difference between the fuel cell system 500 and the fuel cell system 100 is that the arrangement of the electrical components 14 in the low temperature region L is limited as follows.

  The electrical component 14 is an electrical component that constitutes the fuel cell system, and is an electrical component (electrical component) necessary to operate and control the fuel cell 1 and the above-mentioned auxiliary equipment (not shown). The electric component 14 is, for example, a controller that controls the fuel cell system, an inverter for converting electric power, or the like. Moreover, when the electric drive valve, the compressor, etc. mentioned above are arrange | positioned in low temperature area | region L, the electrical component required in order to drive them is also included.

  Then, the electric component 14 is disposed in the low temperature region L as follows. That is, the electric component 14 is in the vicinity of the opening (introduction port 15) of the air introduction path 4, or in the vicinity of the suction port 9, or on the extension of the air flow direction in the introduction port 15 and the suction port 9, respectively. Be placed.

  FIG. 5 shows an example in which the introduction port 15 and the suction port 9 are configured such that the opening surfaces thereof face each other, and the electric component 14 is disposed on a straight line connecting the introduction port 15 and the suction port 9. . By arranging the electric component 14 in this manner, the amount of air flowing on the surface of the electric component 14 increases (see the dashed dotted arrow in the figure), so heat exchange between the surface of the electric component 14 and the air is efficient. As a result, the electrical components 14 can be cooled effectively.

  The arrangement of the electrical component 14 is not limited to the illustrated position. The electric component 14 is in the vicinity of the inlet 15 or the suction port 9 or along the flow direction of the air blown out from the inlet 15 (blowing direction) or the flow direction of the air sucked from the suction port 9 (suction direction). It should just be arrange | positioned on the extension line extended. Further, the direction of the opening surface of the inlet 15 and the suction port 9 when arranged as such is not limited to the direction illustrated in FIG. 5 or FIGS. 1 to 4 described above, and is not particularly limited. Moreover, although the electrical component 14 in FIG. 5 is solidified and arrange | positioned in one place, when the electrical component 14 contains several electrical components, it may be disperse | distributed and arrange | positioned within the above-mentioned predetermined | prescribed range.

  As described above, according to the fuel cell system 500 of the fifth embodiment, the electric component 14 constituting the fuel cell system is disposed, and the electric component 14 is an opening (introduction port 15) of the air introduction passage 4 or a suction device. It is arranged in the vicinity of the suction port 9 of 8. As a result, the amount of air flowing on the surface of the electrical component 14 is increased, so that the heat exchange between the surface of the electrical component 14 and the air is efficiently performed, and the electrical component 14 can be cooled more effectively.

  Further, according to the fuel cell system 500 of the fifth embodiment, the electrical component 14 is disposed on the extension of the blowout direction of the inlet 15 or the extension of the suction direction of the suction port 9. As a result, the amount of air flowing on the surface of the electrical component 14 is increased, so that the heat exchange between the surface of the electrical component 14 and the air is performed more efficiently, and the electrical component 14 can be cooled more effectively.

  The above is the details of each embodiment to which the present invention is applied. However, the said embodiment showed only a part of application example of this invention, and it is not the meaning which limits the technical scope of this invention to the specific structure of the said embodiment. Various changes and modifications can be made to the above embodiment within the scope of the claims.

  For example, in the above embodiment, an example in which the fuel cell 1 is configured by a solid oxide fuel cell has been described. However, the fuel cell 1 may be composed of other types of fuel cells that generate heat during operation of a polymer electrolyte fuel cell, a molten carbonate fuel cell, or a phosphoric acid fuel cell.

  In addition, the air introducing device (blower 5) according to the above embodiment does not have to be disposed outside the housing 10, and as in the modification shown in FIG. It may be located at Thereby, the waterproofness of the blower 5 can be improved as compared with the case where the blower 5 is exposed to the external environment by being disposed outside the housing 10. As a result, since it is not necessary to separately provide a waterproof structure or the like for preventing the blower 5 from getting wet due to rain, etc., the waterproofness of the entire fuel cell system is improved without complicating the structure of the fuel cell system 100. It can be done.

  Further, the air introduction passage 4 and the suction device 8 according to the above embodiment do not necessarily have to be disposed so that the whole thereof is contained in the low temperature region L, and may be disposed as in the modification shown in FIG. That is, as long as the inlet 15 of the air introduction passage 4 is located in the low temperature region L, the branch point from the air supply passage 3 may be located outside the housing 10. The suction device 8 may be disposed outside the housing 10 as long as the suction port 9 is located in the low temperature region L.

  In addition, said each embodiment and modification are combinable suitably in the range which a contradiction does not produce.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Fuel cell 2 ... Heat insulation material 3 ... Oxidant gas supply path (air supply path)
4 ... Oxidant gas inlet (air inlet)
5 ... Oxidizer gas supply device (blower 5)
7 ... Exhaust passage 8 ... Oxidant gas suction device (suction device)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 9 ... Suction port 10 ... Housing | casing 11 ... On-off valve 12 ... On-off valve 13 ... Discharge port 14 ... Electric component 15 ... Opening part (introduction port) of an air introduction path

Claims (11)

A fuel cell that generates electricity with fuel gas and oxidant gas;
A heat insulating material provided to surround the fuel cell;
A housing for containing the fuel cell and the heat insulating material;
An oxidant gas supply passage for introducing the oxidant gas from the outside of the housing into the inside of the heat insulating material and supplying the fuel cell to the fuel cell;
An oxidant gas supply device disposed in the oxidant gas supply path;
An oxidant gas introduction unit which is disposed in the oxidant gas supply passage in an area inside the casing and outside the heat insulating material and introduces the oxidant gas into the area;
An exhaust passage for exhausting the exhaust gas from the fuel cell to the outside of the housing;
An oxidant gas suction device which is disposed on the exhaust passage in the region and sucks the oxidant gas introduced into the region;
A fuel cell system comprising: The pressure in the housing is adjusted to fall within a predetermined pressure range based on atmospheric pressure.
The fuel cell system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The pressure in the housing is a positive pressure,
The fuel cell system according to claim 2, characterized in that: The flow rate of the oxidant gas supplied to the fuel cell is larger than the flow rate of the oxidant gas introduced into the region from the oxidant gas inlet.
The fuel cell system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that. The oxidant gas introduction unit is a pipe that branches from the oxidant gas supply path in the region, and
The cross-sectional area of the pipe is smaller than the cross-sectional area of the oxidant gas supply passage at the position where the pipe branches.
The fuel cell system according to claim 4, The oxidant gas suction device includes an on-off valve for controlling the suction amount of the oxidant gas.
A fuel cell system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that. The oxidant gas introduction unit includes an on-off valve for controlling the introduction amount of the oxidant gas.
The fuel cell system according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that: The oxidizing gas suction device has a suction port for sucking the oxidizing gas.
The suction port is configured to open at a position higher than a discharge port of the exhaust passage.
The fuel cell system according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that: In the area, electrical components constituting the fuel cell system are disposed;
The electrical component is disposed in the vicinity of an opening of the oxidant gas inlet or a suction port of the oxidant gas suction device.
The fuel cell system according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that. In the area, electrical components constituting the fuel cell system are disposed;
The electrical component is disposed on an extension of a blow-off direction of the oxidant gas inlet or an extension of a suction direction at a suction port of the oxidant suction device.
The fuel cell system according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein A fuel cell that generates electricity with fuel gas and oxidant gas;
A heat insulating material provided to surround the fuel cell;
A control method of a fuel cell system, comprising: a housing for containing the fuel cell and the heat insulating material;
The oxidant gas is introduced from the outside of the casing into the inside of the heat insulating material using the oxidant gas supply device and supplied to the fuel cell, and in the region inside the casing and outside the heat insulating material Introduced
Exhausting the oxidant gas inserted into the sucked area to the outside of the housing together with the exhaust from the fuel cell;
And controlling a fuel cell system.

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