JP2020098743A - Fuel cell module - Google Patents

Abstract

To allow for uniform air supply to fuel battery cells, when the fuel battery cells are received in separated independent housings.SOLUTION: A first housing for receiving a fuel battery cell stack is placed on the outside of a second housing receiving a reformer and a combustor, separately and independently from the second housing. The first housing has an air supply port for supplying air to the fuel battery cell stack, received in the internal space, from the lateral in the longitudinal direction.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

The present invention relates to a fuel cell module, and more particularly to a fuel cell module that generates electricity by reacting a supplied fuel gas with an oxidant gas.

BACKGROUND ART Conventionally, a fuel cell module that generates power by reacting a fuel gas with an oxidant gas is widely known. As such a fuel cell module, in Patent Document 1, a fuel cell stack, a combustor to which the fuel gas discharged from the fuel cell stack is supplied, and a raw fuel due to heat from the combustor are reformed. And a reformer for generating fuel gas, which is housed in a housing.

Further, in Patent Document 2, a fuel cell stack, a burner to which the fuel gas discharged from the fuel cell stack is supplied, a reformer for reforming the fuel by the heat of the burner, and a fuel cell stack , A heat insulating container for housing the burner and the reformer, and a flame barrier partitioning the space inside the heat insulating container into a space housing the burner and the reformer and a space housing the fuel cell stack. A provided fuel cell module is disclosed.

JP, 2017-50192, A JP, 2009-76275, A

As described above, Patent Documents 1 and 2 disclose a fuel cell module in which a combustor, a reformer, and a fuel cell stack are housed in the same housing. On the other hand, in recent years, in order to make the temperature distribution in the fuel cells uniform, the fuel cell stack is housed in the first housing, and the combustor and the reformer are separated and independent of the first housing. A fuel cell module has been developed that is housed in a second housing provided. Then, when the fuel cells are housed in separate housings as described above, there is a demand for a configuration capable of uniformly supplying air to the fuel cells.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to allow air to be uniformly supplied to fuel cells when the fuel cells are housed in separate housings. is there.

The fuel cell module of the present invention is a fuel cell module that generates electric power by reacting a supplied fuel gas with an oxidant gas, and includes a plurality of fuel cell cells arranged so that their longitudinal directions are parallel to each other. A fuel cell stack, a first housing that accommodates the fuel cell stack in an internal space, and a reformer that reforms raw fuel gas to generate fuel gas containing hydrogen and supplies the fuel gas to the fuel cell stack. A combustor that burns a residual fuel gas that is not used for power generation in the fuel cell stack and heats the reformer; and a second housing that houses the reformer and the combustor in an internal space, And a first housing containing the fuel cell stack, the first housing being separated from the second housing containing the reformer and the combustor and being independent of the second housing. The first housing is characterized by having an air supply port for supplying air to the fuel cell stack housed in the internal space from the side in the longitudinal direction.
According to the present invention having the above-described configuration, in the first housing in which the fuel cell stack is housed, the air supply port for supplying air from the lateral side in the longitudinal direction of the fuel cell is provided. The air can be evenly supplied in the longitudinal direction.

In the present invention, preferably, the first housing is provided with an exhaust port for exhausting the residual oxidant gas remaining without being used for power generation of the fuel cell unit from the internal space, and the air supply port is , Provided on a surface other than the surface on which the discharge port is provided.
According to the present invention having the above-described configuration, since the fuel cell unit is located between the air supply port and the exhaust port, the air supplied from the air supply port to the internal space is reliably supplied to the fuel cell unit. As a result, it is possible to reduce uneven heat distribution in the first housing.

In the present invention, preferably, the first housing is provided with an air introducing member between the fuel cells, and the air supply port is provided in the air introducing member.
According to the present invention having the above-described configuration, air is supplied from the air introducing member arranged between the fuel cells, so that the air can be distributed to each fuel cell.

In the present invention, preferably, the air supply port is provided on the surface of the first housing that faces the surface on which the discharge port is provided.
According to the present invention having the above-described configuration, since air flows between the opposing surfaces, it is possible to widely spread the air in the internal space of the first housing.

In the present invention, preferably, the plurality of fuel battery cells are arranged such that the longitudinal direction is horizontal.
According to the present invention having the above configuration, since air is uniformly supplied to each fuel battery cell, it is possible to reduce uneven heat distribution in the fuel battery cell.

In the present invention, preferably, the air supply port is provided on the bottom surface forming the internal space of the first housing.
According to the present invention having the above-described configuration, since the air rises from the bottom surface, it is possible to supply the air to the entire internal space in the first housing in which the fuel cell unit is housed.

In the present invention, preferably, the air supply port is provided on the outer surface of the fuel cell stack.
According to the present invention having the above-described configuration, since the air supply port is provided outside the fuel cell stack, air can be uniformly supplied to each fuel cell.

According to the present invention, when the fuel cells are housed in separate housings, it is possible to uniformly supply air to the fuel cells.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the entire fuel cell module according to the first embodiment of the present invention. It is a front view of the fuel cell module shown in FIG. It is a side view of the fuel cell module shown in FIG. FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line IV-IV in FIG. 3. FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line VV in FIG. 2. FIG. 6 is a VI-VI sectional view in FIG. 2. FIG. 2 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing a fuel cell unit used in the fuel cell module shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 8 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing a fuel cell module according to a second embodiment of the present invention at the center in the width direction. FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along line IX-IX in FIG. 8. FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along line XX in FIG. 8. FIG. 11 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing a fuel cell module according to a third embodiment of the present invention at the center in the width direction. FIG. 12 is a sectional view taken along line XII-XII in FIG. 11. It is a XIII-XIII sectional view in FIG. FIG. 11 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing a fuel cell module according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention at the center in the width direction. FIG. 15 is a sectional view taken along line XV-XV in FIG. 14. FIG. 15 is a sectional view taken along line XVI-XVI in FIG. 14. FIG. 15 is a sectional view taken along line XVII-XVII in FIG. 14. It is a perspective view which shows the fuel cell unit used for the fuel cell module shown in FIG. It is a front view which shows the fuel cell unit used for the fuel cell module shown in FIG. FIG. 15 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a fuel cell unit used in the fuel cell module shown in FIG. 14.

Next, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In addition, in each embodiment, common or corresponding configurations are denoted by the same reference numerals, and repeated description is omitted.
<First Embodiment>
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the entire fuel cell module according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a front view of the fuel cell module shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a side view of the fuel cell module shown in FIG. FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line IV-IV in FIG. FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line VV in FIG. FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line VI-VI in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 1, a fuel cell module 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention includes a fuel battery cell device 2 in which a fuel battery cell stack that performs a power generation reaction is housed, and a raw fuel gas in the fuel battery cell device 2. And the fluid supply device 4 for supplying the reformed fuel gas and the air that is the heated oxidant gas. Further, the fluid supply device 4 is composed of an evaporator 4a and a reforming/heating device 4b. The evaporator 4a is configured to evaporate the supplied water to generate steam and mix the steam with the raw fuel gas. The reforming/heating device 4b is mixed with the mixture supplied from the evaporator 4a. The gas is steam-reformed to generate a fuel gas containing hydrogen, and the fuel gas is supplied to the fuel cell device 2.

Further, the reforming/heating device 4b is covered with a substantially rectangular parallelepiped-shaped metal housing 6 (second housing), and the housing of the fuel cell device 2 and the reforming/heating device 4b arranged above it. 6 and the evaporator 4a are arranged side by side in the vertical direction. The fuel cell device 2, the housing 6, and the evaporator 4a are surrounded by a heat insulating material (not shown), and the fuel cell device 2 is thermally isolated from the housing 6 and the evaporator 4a. There is.

As shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, the fuel cell device 2 includes a housing 50 (first housing) and a fuel cell stack 60 housed in the housing.

In the fuel cell stack 60, fuel cell units 70 in which caps are attached to a plurality of fuel cells are arranged in a plurality of rows in the width direction and a plurality of steps in the height direction so that the longitudinal directions extend horizontally and in parallel. Is configured. The fuel cell unit 70 constituting the fuel cell stack 60 includes an upstream fuel cell stack 60A located on the fuel supply passage 12 side with respect to the widthwise center and a downstream fuel cell cell located on the fuel discharge passage 14 side. It is divided into a stack 60B.

FIG. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a fuel cell unit used in the fuel cell module shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 7, the fuel cell unit 70 includes a fuel cell 84, and inner electrode terminals 86, which are caps connected to both ends of the fuel cell 84, respectively. The fuel cell 84 is a tubular structure extending in the vertical direction, and has a cylindrical inner electrode layer 90 that forms a fuel gas flow passage 88 therein, a cylindrical outer electrode layer 92, an inner electrode layer 90 and the outside. And an electrolyte layer 94 between the electrode layer 92 and the electrode layer 92. The inner electrode layer 90 is a fuel electrode through which the fuel gas passes and serves as a (−) pole, while the outer electrode layer 92 is an air electrode in contact with air and serves as a (+) pole.

Since the inner electrode terminals 86 attached to the upper end side and the lower end side of the fuel cell 84 have the same structure, the inner electrode terminal 86 attached to the upper end side will be specifically described here. The upper portion 90a of the inner electrode layer 90 includes an outer peripheral surface 90b exposed to the electrolyte layer 94 and the outer electrode layer 92, and an upper end surface 90c. The inner electrode terminal 86 is connected to the outer peripheral surface 90b of the inner electrode layer 90 via the conductive sealing material 96, and further, is in direct contact with the upper end surface 90c of the inner electrode layer 90, so that the inner electrode layer 90 is connected to the inner electrode layer 90. It is electrically connected. At the center of the inner electrode terminal 86, a fuel gas passage thin tube 98 communicating with the fuel gas passage 88 of the inner electrode layer 90 is formed.

The inner electrode layer 90 includes, for example, a mixture of Ni and zirconia doped with at least one selected from rare earth elements such as Ca, Y, and Sc, Ni, and ceria doped with at least one selected from rare earth elements. It is formed of at least one of a mixture, Ni, and a mixture of lanthanum gallate doped with at least one selected from Sr, Mg, Co, Fe, and Cu.

The electrolyte layer 94 includes, for example, zirconia doped with at least one selected from rare earth elements such as Y and Sc, ceria doped with at least one selected from rare earth elements, and lanthanum gallate doped with at least one selected from Sr and Mg, Of at least one of

The outer electrode layer 92 includes, for example, lanthanum manganite doped with at least one selected from Sr and Ca, lanthanum ferrite doped with at least one selected from Sr, Co, Ni, and Cu, Sr, Fe, Ni, and Cu. It is formed of at least one of lanthanum cobaltite, silver, etc. doped with at least one selected from

In the fuel cell stack 60, the inner electrode terminal 86 attached to the inner electrode layer 90, which is the fuel electrode of each fuel cell unit 70, has the outer periphery of the outer electrode layer 92, which is the air electrode of another fuel cell unit 70. All of the plurality of fuel cell units 70 are connected in series by being electrically connected to the surface. Although the fuel cell unit 70 is connected in series in the present embodiment, it may be connected in parallel, or may be used in parallel and in series.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 6, the housing 50 includes a housing main body 52, an air passage cover 54 provided so as to cover the housing main body 52, and two opposing side plates at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the housing main body 52. And a pair of fuel passage covers 56A and 56B that cover the.

As shown in FIG. 6, the housing main body 52 includes a cylindrical body including a substantially rectangular top plate 52a, a bottom plate 52c, and a pair of opposing side plates 52b connecting sides extending in the longitudinal direction, and the cylindrical body. Of the top plate 52a and the bottom plate 52c, which are closed side plates 52d and 52e that connect the sides extending in the width direction of the top plate 52a and the bottom plate 52c. An internal space 53 as a power generation chamber is formed in the housing body 52, and the fuel cell stack 60 is accommodated in the internal space 53. A discharge port is formed in the top plate 52a, and the oxidant gas discharge passage 18 is connected to this discharge port.

Further, in the housing 50, a top plate 52a, side plates 52b, and a bottom plate 52c are covered by an air passage cover 54. The air passage cover 54 has a top plate 54a, a pair of opposing side plates 54b extending downward from both sides of the top plate 54a, and a bottom plate 54c connecting between lower edges of the pair of side plates 54b. A discharge port 54a1 for penetrating the oxidant gas discharge passage 18 is provided at the center of the top plate 54a in the width direction. Further, the top plate 54a is provided with an opening 54a2 to which the oxidant gas supply passage 16 is connected.

The top plate 52a and the top plate 54a, the side plates 52b and 54b, and the bottom plate 52c and the bottom plate 54c are separated from each other by a predetermined distance. Thus, the top plate 52a, the side plate 52b, and the bottom plate 52c of the housing main body 52 and the top plate 54a, the side plate 54b, and the bottom plate 54c of the air passage cover 54 are provided between the top plate 52a and the side plate 52b of the housing main body 52. , And air passages 57a, 57b, 57c as oxidant gas supply passages are formed along the outer surface of the bottom plate 52c (see FIG. 6).

The bottom plate 52c of the housing body 52 is provided with an air supply port 58 which is a plurality of through holes (see FIG. 6). The air supply ports 58 are preferably arranged between the fuel cell units 70 in the width direction (left and right direction in FIG. 5), and are arranged at equal intervals in the longitudinal direction (left and right direction in FIG. 4). preferable.
The power generation air is supplied into the air passage 57a from the oxidant gas supply passage 16 connected to the opening 54a2 of the top plate 54a of the air passage cover, and flows in the air passage 57a while expanding in the longitudinal direction. Then, the power generation air is injected into the internal space 53 from the air supply port 58 of the bottom plate 52c toward the fuel cell stack 60 through the air passages 57a, 57b, 57c.

In the present embodiment, the air supply port 58 is provided only on the bottom plate 52c of the housing main body 52, but the present invention is not limited to this, and may be provided on the side plate 52b or the top plate 52a. It suffices that the air is supplied from the side of the battery cell unit 70 (fuel cell) in the longitudinal direction. However, it is preferable to provide it on a surface other than the top plate 52a provided with the discharge port to which the oxidant gas discharge passage 18 is connected. Further, as in the present embodiment, it is more preferable to provide it on the bottom plate 52c facing the surface provided with the discharge port to which the oxidant gas discharge passage 18 is connected.

Openings are formed in the closing side plates 52d and 52e of the housing main body 52, and the ends of the inner electrode terminals 86 of the fuel cell unit 70 forming the fuel cell unit 70 are fitted into the openings. .. Both ends of the fuel cell unit 70 are retained by being fitted into the openings of the closed side plates 52d and 52e.

Each of the fuel passage covers 56A and 56B has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape with one opening. The open side of the fuel passage cover 56A is connected to the closing side plate 52d of the housing body 52. Further, a partition plate 51 is provided in the center of the one fuel passage cover 56A so as to divide the internal space of the fuel passage cover 56A, whereby a partition plate 51 is provided between the fuel passage cover 56A and the closing side plate 52d. An upstream fuel gas passage 62A and a downstream fuel gas passage 62B are formed. The fuel supply passage 12 is connected to a portion of the top plate of one of the fuel passage covers 56A which corresponds to an upper portion of the upstream fuel gas flow passage 62A, and the fuel discharge passage 12 connects to an upper portion of the downstream fuel gas flow passage 62B. The passage 14 is connected.

The open side of the fuel passage cover 56B is connected to the closing side plate 52e of the housing body 52. No partition plate is provided in the other fuel passage cover 56B.
As a result, a middle-flow side fuel gas passage 64 is formed between the fuel passage cover 56B and the closing side plate 52e of the housing body 52.

As shown in FIG. 5, the upstream fuel gas flow passage 62A communicates with the fuel supply passage 12, and one end of the fuel gas flow passage 88 of the fuel cell unit 70 that constitutes the upstream fuel cell stack 60A. It communicates with (upstream end). Further, the downstream side fuel gas flow path 62B communicates with the fuel discharge passage 14, and further, one end (downstream side end portion) of the fuel gas flow path 88 of the fuel cell unit 70 constituting the downstream side fuel cell stack 60B. ) Is in communication with.

Further, the middle-stream side fuel gas flow channel 64 communicates with the other end (downstream side end) of the fuel gas flow channel 88 of the fuel cell unit 70 constituting the upstream fuel cell stack 60A, and further the downstream fuel It communicates with the other end (upstream end) of the fuel gas flow path 88 of the fuel cell unit 70 constituting the battery cell stack 60B.

With such a configuration, the fuel gas supplied to the fuel cell device 2 from the fuel supply passage 12 is supplied to the fuel cell unit 70 that constitutes the upstream fuel cell stack 60A via the upstream fuel gas passage 62A. Supplied. Then, the fuel gas discharged from the fuel cell unit 70 constituting the upstream side fuel cell stack 60A is recovered in the middle stream side fuel gas channel 64, and the fuel cell unit constituting the downstream side fuel cell stack 60B. 70. Then, the fuel gas discharged from the fuel cell unit 70 constituting the downstream side fuel cell stack 60B is recovered in the downstream side fuel gas passage 62B and sent to the fuel discharge passage 14.

A fuel supply passage 12, a fuel discharge passage 14, an oxidant gas supply passage 16 and an oxidant gas discharge passage 18 are connected to the housing 50 of the fuel cell device 2. These four passages extend into the space sandwiched between the fuel cell device 2 and the housing 6 of the reformer/heater 4b. That is, these passages extend upward from the upper surface of the housing 50 of the fuel cell device 2, and are connected to the bottom surface, which is a single surface of the housing 6 arranged above the fuel cell device 2. Therefore, the fuel supply passage 12, the fuel discharge passage 14, the oxidant gas supply passage 16, and the oxidant gas discharge passage 18 extend through the heat insulating material disposed between the fuel cell device 2 and the housing 6. I'm out. The housing 6 of the reformer/heater 4b has four passages (a fuel supply passage 12, a fuel discharge passage 14, an oxidant gas supply passage 16 and an oxidant gas discharge passage) for the fuel cell device 2. 18) only connected and supported.

The fuel supply passage 12 is attached to the fuel passage cover 56</b>A of the housing 50, extends vertically upward in a straight line, penetrates the bottom surface of the housing 6, and is connected to the reformer 36. The fuel gas reformed in the reformer/heater 4b is supplied to the fuel cell unit 2 through the fuel supply passage 12 and used for power generation in the fuel cell unit 70.

Further, the fuel discharge passage 14 is attached to the fuel passage cover 56A of the housing 50 and extends linearly upward in the vertical direction. Residual fuel gas remaining without being used for power generation in the fuel cell unit 70 is discharged to the reformer/heater 4b through the fuel discharge passage 14 attached to the fuel passage cover 56A of the housing 50. The fuel discharge passage 14 penetrates the bottom surface of the housing 6 and is connected to the residual fuel gas dispersion space formed by the residual fuel gas dispersion member 38a.

As shown in FIG. 4, one end of the oxidant gas supply passage 16 is connected to the opening portion 54a2 of the top plate 54a of the air passage cover 54 of the housing 50, and the other end of the oxidant gas supply passage 16 extends linearly in the vertical direction and the other end of the housing. 6 is connected to the outer wall plate 6b at the bottom. The air heated in the reformer/heater 4b is supplied to the fuel cell unit 2 through the oxidant gas supply passage 16 and is supplied to each fuel cell unit 70 in the fuel cell unit 2.

One end of the oxidant gas discharge passage 18 is connected to the top plate 52a of the housing main body 52 of the housing 50, extends linearly upward in the vertical direction, and penetrates the outer wall plate 6b at the bottom of the housing 6 to form an inner wall. It is connected to the plate 6a. The remaining air not used for power generation in each fuel cell unit 70 is discharged to the reforming/heating unit 4b through the oxidant gas discharge passage 18 attached to the top plate 52a of the housing body 52. ..

The fuel supply passage 12, the fuel discharge passage 14, the oxidant gas supply passage 16, and the oxidant gas discharge passage 18 each have a connecting structure using a pipe screw, and a connecting nut is loosened. It is configured so that it can be separated. As described above, the fuel supply passage 12, the fuel discharge passage 14, the oxidant gas supply passage 16, and the oxidant gas discharge passage 18 are detachably connected to the housing 6 of the reformer/heater 4b. Alternatively, some or all of these four passages may be configured to extend from the bottom surface of the housing 6, and these passages may be detachably connected to the fuel cell device 2.

Next, the structure of the evaporator 4a will be described. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, the evaporator 4a has a water supply pipe 20 for supplying water, a raw fuel gas supply pipe 22 for supplying raw fuel gas, and exhaust gas for exhaust. The exhaust gas discharge pipe 24 of is connected. Further, the housing 6 of the reforming/heating device 4b and the evaporator 4a outside thereof are connected by a pipe, and this pipe is an exhaust gas pipe for supplying exhaust gas from the reforming/heating device 4b to the evaporator 4a. 26 and a mixed gas conduit 28 arranged inside this are in a double tube structure (FIG. 4). The mixed gas conduit 28 is configured to introduce, into the reforming/heating device 4b, a mixed gas obtained by mixing the steam generated in the evaporator 4a and the raw fuel gas supplied to the evaporator 4a. An electric heater 29 for auxiliary heating of the evaporator 4a is wound around three sides of the evaporator 4a.

As shown in FIG. 4, the evaporator 4a is formed of a metal plate into a rectangular parallelepiped box shape, and inside thereof, an evaporation chamber 30a, a mixing chamber 30b, and an exhaust gas chamber 30c are formed. The evaporation chamber 30a is a thin space formed immediately below the ceiling surface of the evaporator 4a, and is supplied from a water supply pipe 20 and a raw fuel gas supply pipe 22 connected to the ceiling surface of the evaporator 4a. Water and raw fuel gas are configured to flow into the evaporation chamber 30a.

The mixing chamber 30b is formed as a space communicating with the downstream side of the evaporation chamber 30a via a narrow passage 30d. The water vapor generated in the evaporation chamber 30a and the raw fuel gas supplied into the evaporation chamber 30a are mixed by flowing into the mixing chamber 30b through the narrow passage 30d.
A mixed gas conduit 28 is connected to the bottom surface of the mixing chamber 30b, and the steam and raw fuel gas mixed in the mixing chamber 30b are introduced into the reformer/heater 4b through the mixed gas conduit 28. ..

The exhaust gas chamber 30c is a space provided in the lower portion of the evaporator 4a, and is configured so that exhaust gas flows in via an exhaust gas pipe 26 connected to the bottom surface of the evaporator 4a. The exhaust gas that has flowed into the exhaust gas chamber 30c heats the floor surface of the evaporation chamber 30a provided on the upper side of the exhaust gas chamber 30c, and is discharged from the exhaust gas discharge pipe 24 connected to the side end of the evaporator 4a. To be done. The water supplied to the evaporation chamber 30a is evaporated by heating the floor surface of the evaporation chamber 30a by the exhaust gas flowing in the exhaust gas chamber 30c.

The downstream side of the exhaust gas chamber 30c is made thin so that the inflowing exhaust gas flows along the floor surface of the evaporation chamber 30a (the ceiling surface of the exhaust gas chamber 30c). In this thin space, heat transfer fins 30e are arranged so that the heat of the exhaust gas flowing through the exhaust gas chamber 30c can be efficiently transferred to the floor surface of the evaporation chamber 30a. In this way, the exhaust gas flowing from the exhaust gas pipe 26 connected to one end of the exhaust gas chamber 30c flows toward the exhaust gas discharge pipe 24 connected to the other end (from left to right in FIG. 4). On the other hand, the water supplied from the water supply pipe 20 connected to the end portion of the evaporation chamber 30a on the exhaust gas discharge pipe 24 side is evaporated in the evaporation chamber 30a and is directed toward the other end portion (see FIG. 4). From right to left). As described above, since the water vapor and the exhaust gas flowing in the evaporator 4a flow in the opposite directions, counterflow type heat exchange is performed between them, and the heat exchange is efficiently performed.

Next, the structure of the reforming/heating unit 4b will be described with reference to FIGS.
The reforming/heating device 4b is formed in a rectangular parallelepiped box shape surrounded by a metal housing 6, and an air supply pipe 32 for supplying air, which is an oxidant gas for power generation, to the upper surface thereof. Are connected. Further, as described above, the exhaust gas pipe 26 and the double pipe of the mixed gas conduit 28 (FIG. 4) are provided on the upper surface of the housing 6, and the fuel supply passage 12, the fuel discharge passage 14, the oxidant gas supply passage are provided on the bottom surface. 16 and the oxidant gas discharge passage 18 are connected. A ceramic heater 34 for ignition is attached to one side surface of the housing 6.

The reforming/heating device 4b steam-reforms the mixed gas introduced from the mixed gas conduit 28 to generate the fuel gas, which is supplied to the fuel cell device 2 through the fuel supply passage 12 and the air supply pipe. The air introduced via 32 is heated and supplied to the fuel cell device 2 via the oxidant gas supply passage 16. Further, the residual fuel gas and the residual air (residual oxidant gas) remaining without being used for power generation in the fuel cell device 2 are reformed/heated via the fuel discharge passage 14 and the oxidant gas discharge passage 18, respectively. It is discharged to the container 4b. The residual fuel gas and residual air discharged through the fuel discharge passage 14 and the oxidant gas discharge passage 18 are burned in the reformer/heater 4b, and the air introduced from the air supply pipe 32 by this combustion heat. To heat. The combustion gas generated by the combustion is introduced into the evaporator 4a as exhaust gas through the exhaust gas pipe 26.

Next, the internal structure of the reforming/heating unit 4b will be described with reference to FIGS.
As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, a sealed space that houses the reformer 36 and the combustor 38 is formed inside the housing 6 that forms the reformer/heater 4b.

The reformer 36 is a metal annular container having a rectangular cross section in a top view and having a rectangular opening in the center, and a mixed gas conduit 28 for introducing a mixed gas is provided at one end thereof. A fuel supply passage 12 is connected (FIG. 5), which is connected to the other end and causes the reformed fuel gas to flow out. The mixed gas conduit 28 extending from the evaporator 4a into the housing 6 is bent 90 degrees in the housing 6, extends horizontally, and then bends 90 degrees vertically downward to reach the ceiling surface of the reformer 36. It is connected. The fuel supply passage 12 is connected to the bottom surface of the reformer 36 at the end opposite to the mixed gas conduit 28 (FIG. 5 ), bent 90 degrees in the housing 6, and extends horizontally and then vertically. It is bent 90 degrees downward, penetrates the bottom surface of the housing 6 and extends vertically downward, and is connected to the fuel cell device 2. The inside of the reformer 36 is filled with a reforming catalyst. The mixed gas of the raw fuel gas and steam flowing from the mixed gas conduit 28 is steam-reformed by coming into contact with the reforming catalyst to generate a fuel gas rich in hydrogen gas. The fuel gas steam-reformed in the reformer 36 flows into the fuel supply passage 12 and is supplied to the fuel cell device 2.

The combustor 38 is provided inside the bottom wall surface of the housing 6 adjacent to the fuel cell device 2, and removes the residual fuel gas discharged through the fuel discharge passage 14 through the oxidant gas discharge passage 18. It is configured to be burned by the residual air discharged through.

As shown in FIG. 6, the combustor 38 includes a residual fuel gas dispersion member 38 a that ejects residual fuel gas, and a residual air dispersion member 38 b that disperses residual air in the housing 6.

The residual air dispersion member 38b is a member that is provided along the bottom wall surface of the housing 6 and forms a flat residual air dispersion space inside along the bottom wall surface of the housing 6. The residual air dispersion member 38b extends substantially over the entire width of the bottom wall surface of the housing 6 (horizontal direction in FIG. 5) and in the longitudinal direction of the bottom wall surface of the housing 6 (horizontal direction in FIG. 4). It is provided from the end on the 34 side to the vicinity of the fuel supply passage 12 and the fuel discharge passage 14. As shown in FIG. 4, the residual air dispersion space constituted by the residual air dispersion member 38 b communicates with the oxidant gas discharge passage 18 and is discharged from the fuel cell device 2 via the oxidant gas discharge passage 18. The remaining residual air gas is supplied. A large number of pores are formed in the portion of the residual air dispersion member 38b exposed to the internal space of the housing 6, and the residual air gas supplied into the residual air dispersion space through these pores is the internal space of the housing 6. Erupted into.

The residual fuel gas dispersion member 38a is provided along the upper surface of the residual air dispersion member 38b, and forms an annular residual fuel gas dispersion space in plan view along the upper surface of the residual air dispersion member 38b. It is a member. As shown in FIG. 5, the width of the residual fuel gas dispersion member 38 a is narrower than the width of the residual air dispersion member 38 b, and both sides and the central portion of the residual air distribution member 38 b are exposed in the internal space of the housing 6. .. The residual fuel gas dispersion space formed by the residual fuel gas dispersion member 38 a communicates with the fuel discharge passage 14, and the residual fuel gas discharged from the fuel cell device 2 is supplied through the fuel discharge passage 14. .. A large number of pores are formed on the upper surface of the residual fuel gas dispersion member 38a, and the residual fuel gas supplied into the residual fuel gas dispersion space through these pores is ejected into the internal space of the housing 6.

As shown in FIG. 4, a ceramic heater 34 is attached to the side wall surface of the housing 6, and the tip end portion thereof extends above the residual fuel gas dispersion member 38a.
When the fuel cell module 1 is started, the residual fuel gas is ejected from each pore of the residual fuel gas dispersion member 38a and the residual air is ejected from each pore of the residual air dispersion member 38b to the ceramic heater 34. By energizing, the jetting residual fuel gas can be ignited. Accordingly, the reformer 36 arranged above the combustor 38 in the housing 6 can be heated. (Note that when the fuel cell module 1 is started, the temperature of the reformer 36 has not been raised, so the reforming reaction does not occur in the reformer 36, and the fuel cell unit 2 is also generating electricity. Absent.)

As shown in FIG. 5, a part of the wall surface of the housing 6 has a double wall structure, and the combustion gas generated by the combustor 38 is generated by flowing the air for power generation inside the double wall. The air flowing inside is heated. That is, part of the upper surface, part of the side wall surface in the longitudinal direction, and part of the bottom wall surface of the housing 6 are formed of two metal plates, an inner wall plate 6a and an outer wall plate 6b. Fins (not shown) for heat transfer are arranged between the inner wall plate 6a and the outer wall plate 6b, and the heat of the inner wall plate 6a is efficiently transmitted to the space between the inner wall plate 6a and the outer wall plate 6b. It is like this. Therefore, the inner wall plate 6a, the outer wall plate 6b, and the heat transfer fins (not shown) heat the supplied oxidant gas, air, by the combustion gas generated by the combustor 38. It functions as an oxidant gas heat exchanger supplied to the device 2.

The air supplied from the air supply pipe 32 flows into the space between the inner wall plate 6a and the outer wall plate 6b forming the upper wall surface of the housing 6, and then spreads in the lateral direction of the housing 6 from the side of the housing 6. It flows into the space between the inner wall plate 6a and the outer wall plate 6b forming the wall surface. The air that has flowed into the side wall surface of the housing 6 descends downward and flows into the space between the inner wall plate 6a and the outer wall plate 6b that form the bottom wall surface of the housing 6. The air flowing into the bottom wall surface of the housing 6 is supplied to the fuel cell device 2 through the oxidant gas supply passage 16 (FIG. 3) connected to the center of the bottom wall surface of the housing 6 in the lateral direction. Therefore, the upper wall surface, the side wall surface, and a part of the bottom wall surface of the housing 6 function as an oxidant gas heat exchanger, and the oxidant gas heat exchanger is provided on these wall surfaces.

Next, the operation of the fuel cell module 1 according to this embodiment will be described.
First, when the fuel cell module 1 is started, the raw fuel gas is supplied to the evaporator 4 a of the fluid supply device 4 via the raw fuel gas supply pipe 22, and the power generation air is supplied via the air supply pipe 32. Is supplied to the reforming/heating device 4b of the fluid supply device 4. As shown in FIG. 4, the supplied raw fuel gas (shown by a solid line) flows into the mixed gas conduit 28 through the evaporation chamber 30a and the mixing chamber 30b of the evaporator 4a, and further, the reforming/heating device 4b. Of the reformer 36. In the initial stage of starting the fuel cell module 1, since the temperature of the reformer 36 is low, the reaction for reforming the raw fuel gas does not occur. The raw fuel gas that has flowed into the reformer 36 flows through the fuel supply passage 12 (FIG. 5) into the upstream fuel gas passage 62A of the fuel cell device 2. The fuel gas discharged from the fuel cell unit 70 constituting the upstream side fuel cell stack 60A is recovered in the middle stream side fuel gas flow channel 64, and is collected in the fuel cell unit 70 constituting the downstream side fuel cell cell stack 60B. Supplied. Then, the fuel gas discharged from the fuel cell unit 70 constituting the downstream side fuel cell stack 60B is recovered in the downstream side fuel gas passage 62B and sent to the fuel discharge passage 14.

On the other hand, the air (shown by the broken line) supplied to the reforming/heating unit 4b through the air supply pipe 32 passes through the space between the inner wall plate 6a and the outer wall plate 6b of the housing 6 and the oxidant gas supply passage 16 (FIG. 5) and flows into the fuel cell device 2. The raw fuel gas and air that have flowed into the fuel cell device 2 device pass through the air passages 57a, 57b, 57c, and from the air supply port 58 of the bottom plate 52c of the housing body 52 toward the fuel cell stack 60, the internal space 53. Is injected into. The air injected into the internal space 53 rises and is discharged to the reforming/heating unit 4b through the oxidizing gas discharge passage 18, respectively. In the initial stage of starting the fuel cell module 1, since the temperature of the fuel cell device 2 is low, the power generation reaction does not occur in the fuel cell device 2.

The raw fuel gas flowing into the reformer/heater 4b through the fuel discharge passage 14 flows into the residual fuel gas dispersion space formed by the residual fuel gas dispersion member 38a of the combustor 38 and is ejected from the pores thereof. .. On the other hand, the air discharged to the reforming/heating device 4b through the oxidant gas discharge passage 18 flows into the residual air dispersion space formed by the residual air dispersion member 38b and is ejected from the pores thereof. When the fuel cell module 1 is activated, the ceramic heater 34 is energized, and the raw fuel gas ejected from the pores of the residual fuel gas dispersion member 38a is ignited by the heat of the ceramic heater 34. This causes the combustor 38 to generate heat of combustion.

When the combustor 38 is ignited, the reformer 36 arranged above the combustor 38 is heated, and the temperature of the internal reforming catalyst rises. Further, the oxidant gas heat exchanger constituted by the inner wall plate 6a and the outer wall plate 6b of the housing 6 is heated by the combustion gas generated by the combustion, and the air flowing inside is heated. Since the heated air flows into the fuel cell device 2, the heat heats the fuel cell unit 70 of the fuel cell device 2. Here, since the housing 6 of the fluid supply device 4 is surrounded by the heat insulating material, there is almost no heating of the fuel battery cell device 2 due to radiant heat from the housing 6, and the fuel battery cell device 2 is substantially fluidized. It is heated only by the fluid (air and fuel gas) supplied from the supply device 4.

Further, the combustion gas generated in the housing 6 flows into the evaporator 4a as exhaust gas through the exhaust gas pipe 26. The exhaust gas flowing into the evaporator 4a is discharged from the exhaust gas discharge pipe 24 through the exhaust gas chamber 30c. At this time, the evaporation chamber 30a provided above the exhaust gas chamber 30c is heated. In this way, the water supplied to the evaporator 4 a is heated by the combustion gas generated by the combustor 38 and supplied by the exhaust gas pipe 26. After the temperature of the evaporation chamber 30a rises, the supply of water from the water supply pipe 20 is started, and steam is generated in the evaporation chamber 30a. When the fuel cell module 1 is activated, the electric heater 29 may be energized to assist in heating the evaporation chamber 30a.

When steam is generated in the evaporation chamber 30a, a mixed gas of the raw fuel gas and steam is supplied to the reformer 36. Further, when the temperature of the reformer 36 is sufficiently increased, the reforming catalyst induces a steam reforming reaction to generate a fuel gas rich in hydrogen gas from the raw fuel gas. The generated fuel gas is supplied to the fuel cell unit 70 that constitutes the upstream fuel cell stack 60A via the upstream fuel gas flow path 62A. Then, the fuel gas discharged from the fuel cell unit 70 constituting the upstream side fuel cell stack 60A is recovered in the middle stream side fuel gas channel 64, and the fuel cell unit constituting the downstream side fuel cell stack 60B. 70. Then, the fuel gas discharged from the fuel cell unit 70 constituting the downstream side fuel cell stack 60B is recovered in the downstream side fuel gas passage 62B and sent to the fuel discharge passage 14.

When the temperature of the fuel cell unit 2 rises sufficiently, the fuel gas passing through each fuel cell unit 70 and the reformer/heater 4b are heated, and the internal space is directed from the air supply port 58 toward the fuel cell stack 60. The air ejected to 53 causes a power generation reaction. In a state where the temperature of the fuel cell device 2 has risen to a temperature at which power can be generated, electric power is taken out from the fuel cell device 2 and power generation is started.

According to this embodiment, the following effects are exhibited.
In the present embodiment, the housing 50 in which the fuel cell stack 60 is housed is provided with the air supply port 58 for supplying air from the lateral side in the longitudinal direction of the fuel cell unit 70. Air can be evenly supplied in the longitudinal direction.

Further, in the present embodiment, the housing 50 is provided with an exhaust port for exhausting the residual oxidant gas remaining without being used for power generation of the fuel cell unit 70 from the internal space 53. 58 is provided on a surface other than the top plate 52a on which the discharge port is provided. According to this embodiment, since the fuel cell unit 70 is located between the air supply port 58 and the discharge port, the air supplied from the air supply port 58 to the internal space 53 can be reliably discharged. It is supplied to the unit 70. As a result, it is possible to reduce uneven heat distribution in the housing 50.

Further, in this embodiment, the air supply port 58 is provided in the bottom plate 52c that faces the top plate 52a provided with the discharge port of the housing 50. As a result, air flows between the opposing top plate 52a and bottom plate 52c, so that the air can be widely spread in the internal space 53 of the housing 50.

Further, in the present embodiment, the plurality of fuel battery cell units 70 are arranged such that the longitudinal direction is horizontal. As a result, the air is uniformly supplied to each fuel cell unit 70, so that the uneven heat distribution in the fuel cell unit 70 can be reduced.

Further, in the present embodiment, the air supply port 58 is provided in the bottom plate 52c that forms the internal space 53 of the housing 50. As a result, the air rises from the bottom plate 52c, so that the air can be supplied to the entire internal space 53 inside the housing 52 in which the fuel cell unit 70 is housed.

Further, in the present embodiment, since the air supply port 58 is provided on the outer bottom plate 52c of the fuel cell stack 60, air can be uniformly supplied to each fuel cell unit 70.

<Second Embodiment>
The second embodiment of the present invention will be described below. The same components as those in the first embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted.
FIG. 8 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing the fuel cell module according to the second embodiment of the present invention at the center in the width direction. 9 and 10 are an IX-IX sectional view and an XX sectional view in FIG. 8, respectively. As shown in FIGS. 8 to 10, the fuel cell module 101 of the second embodiment differs from that of the first embodiment only in the configuration of the housing 150 of the fuel cell device 102.

As shown in FIGS. 8 to 10, the housing 150 includes a housing main body 152, an air passage cover 154 provided so as to cover the housing main body 152, and one fuel that covers one side plate in the longitudinal direction of the housing main body 152. A passage cover 156A and another fuel passage cover 156B that covers the holding plate 159 provided in the housing body 152 are provided.

As in the first embodiment, the housing body 152 has a cylindrical body including a substantially rectangular top plate 152a, a bottom plate 152c, and a pair of facing side plates 152b that connect the sides extending in the longitudinal direction, and the cylindrical body. It comprises closing side plates 152d and 152e that close two opposing openings at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the body and connect the sides extending in the width direction of the top plate 52a and the bottom plate 52c. An internal space 153 as a power generation chamber is formed in the housing body 52, and the fuel cell stack 60 is accommodated in the internal space 153. A discharge port is formed in the top plate 152a, and the oxidant gas discharge passage 18 is connected to this discharge port.

Further, in the range of the housing 150 in the longitudinal direction corresponding to the fuel cell stack 60, the air passage cover 154 covers the top plate 152a, the side plates, and the bottom plate 152c. Similar to the first embodiment, the air passage cover 154 includes a top plate 154a, a pair of side plates 154b facing each other extending downward from both sides of the top plate 154a, and a bottom plate 154c connecting between lower edges of the pair of side plates 154b. And. A discharge port 154a1 for penetrating the oxidant gas discharge passage 18 is provided at the center of the top plate 154a in the width direction. Further, the top plate 154a is provided with an opening 154a2 to which the oxidant gas supply passage 16 is connected.

The top plate 152a and the top plate 154a are separated from each other, the side plates 152b and 154b are separated from each other, and the bottom plate 152c and the bottom plate 154c are separated from each other by a predetermined distance. As a result, the top plate 152a, the side plate 152b, and the bottom plate 152c of the housing body 152 and the top plate 154a, the side plate 154b, and the bottom plate 154c of the air passage cover 154 are provided between the top plate 152a and the side plate 152b of the housing body 152. , And air passages 157a and 157c as oxidant gas supply passages are formed along the outer surface of the bottom plate 152c.

The bottom plate 152c of the housing body 152 is provided with an air supply port 158 that is a plurality of through holes. The arrangement of the air supply port 158 is the same as in the first embodiment. Power generation air is supplied into the air passage from the oxidant gas supply passage 16 connected to the opening 154a2 of the top plate 154a of the air passage cover 154, and flows in the air passage 157a while expanding in the longitudinal direction. Then, the power generating air is injected into the internal space 153 toward the fuel cell stack 60 from the air supply port 158 of the bottom plate 152c through the air passages 157a, 157b, 157c. Then, the residual air remaining without being used for power generation in each fuel cell unit 70 is discharged to the reforming/heating unit 4b via the oxidant gas discharge passage 18 attached to the top plate 152a of the housing body 152. To be done.

As in the first embodiment, the air supply port 158 may be provided in the side plate 152b or the top plate 152a, but an exhaust port to which the oxidant gas exhaust passage 18 is connected is provided. It is preferably provided on a surface other than the top plate 52a, and more preferably provided on the bottom plate 152c facing the surface provided with the discharge port to which the oxidant gas discharge passage 18 is connected.

An opening is formed in the closing side plate 152d of the housing body 152, and one end of the inner electrode terminal 86 of the fuel cell unit 70 constituting the fuel cell unit 70 is fitted into each opening. A holding plate 159 is provided in the housing body 152 at a position corresponding to the end of the fuel cell unit 70 in parallel with the closing side plate 152e. Openings are formed in the closed side plate 152e, and the other ends of the inner electrode terminals 86 of the fuel cell unit 70 forming the fuel cell unit 70 are fitted into the respective openings. The fuel cell unit 70 is held by fitting both ends into the openings of the closed side plate 52d and the holding plate 159.

Each of the fuel passage covers 156A and 156B has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape with one opening. The open side of the fuel passage cover 156A is connected to the closing side plate 152d of the housing body 152. In addition, a partition plate 151 is provided in the center of one fuel passage cover 156A so as to divide the internal space of the fuel passage cover 156A, so that the fuel passage cover 156A and the partition plate 151 are closed as in the first embodiment. An upstream fuel gas passage 62A and a downstream fuel gas passage 62B are formed between the side plate 152d. The fuel supply passage 12 is connected to a portion of the top plate of the one fuel passage cover 156A that corresponds to the upper portion of the upstream fuel gas passage 62A, and the fuel discharge passage 12 is connected to the portion that corresponds to the upper portion of the downstream fuel gas passage 62B. The passage 14 is connected.

Further, the opening side of the fuel passage cover 156B is connected to the holding plate 159 inside the housing body 152. No partition plate is provided in the other fuel passage cover 156B. As a result, the midstream fuel gas flow channel 164 is formed between the fuel passage cover 156B and the holding plate 159.

Similar to the first embodiment, the upstream fuel gas flow passage 62A communicates with the fuel supply passage 12, and further, the fuel gas flow passage 88 of the fuel cell unit 70 constituting the upstream fuel cell stack 60A. It communicates with one end (upstream end). Further, the downstream side fuel gas flow path 62B communicates with the fuel discharge passage 14, and further, one end (downstream side end portion) of the fuel gas flow path 88 of the fuel cell unit 70 constituting the downstream side fuel cell stack 60B. ) Is in communication with.

Further, the middle-stream side fuel gas flow channel 164 communicates with the other end (downstream side end) of the fuel gas flow channel 88 of the fuel cell unit 70 that constitutes the upstream side fuel cell stack 60A, and further the downstream fuel It communicates with the other end (upstream end) of the fuel gas flow path 88 of the fuel cell unit 70 constituting the battery cell stack 60B.

With such a configuration, the fuel gas supplied to the fuel cell device 102 from the fuel supply passage 12 is supplied to the fuel cell unit 70 constituting the upstream fuel cell stack 60A via the upstream fuel gas flow passage 62A. Supplied. Then, the fuel gas discharged from the fuel cell unit 70 forming the upstream side fuel cell stack 60A is recovered in the middle stream side fuel gas flow channel 164, and the fuel cell unit forming the downstream side fuel cell stack 60B. 70. Then, the fuel gas discharged from the fuel cell unit 70 constituting the downstream side fuel cell stack 60B is recovered in the downstream side fuel gas passage 62B and sent to the fuel discharge passage 14.

The operation of the fuel cell module 101 according to this embodiment is similar to that of the first embodiment.
According to this embodiment, the same effect as that of the first embodiment can be obtained.

<Third Embodiment>
The third embodiment of the present invention will be described below. The same components as those in the first embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted.
FIG. 11 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing the fuel cell module according to the third embodiment of the present invention at the center in the width direction. 12 and 13 are XII-XII sectional view and XIII-XIII sectional view in FIG. 11, respectively. As shown in FIGS. 11 to 13, the fuel cell module 201 of the second embodiment is different from that of the first embodiment only in the configuration of the housing 250 of the fuel cell device 202.

The housing 250 includes a housing main body 252, an air introduction member 254, and a pair of fuel passage covers 56A and 56B that cover two opposing side plates at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the housing.

The housing body 252 has a cylindrical body composed of a substantially rectangular top plate 252a, a bottom plate 252c, and a pair of opposing side plates 252b that connect the sides extending in the longitudinal direction, and a longitudinal body of both ends of the cylindrical body. It includes closing side plates 252d and 252e that close two facing openings and connect the sides extending in the width direction of the top plate 252a and the bottom plate 252c. An internal space 253 as a power generation chamber is formed in the housing body 252, and the fuel cell stack 60 is accommodated in the internal space 253. A long hole 252a1 is formed at the center of the top plate 252a of the housing body 252 in the width direction so as to extend a predetermined length in the longitudinal direction. An opening is formed in the top plate 252a at a position not covered by the air introduction member 254, and the oxidant gas discharge passage 18 is connected to this opening.

The air introducing member 254 has an inlet member 254a and an air flow path forming member 254b. The inlet member 254a is made of a flat rectangular member having a lower opening, and its lower edge is connected to the top plate 252a of the housing body 252 so as to cover the elongated hole 252a1. As a result, an inlet space that expands in the horizontal direction is formed between the inlet member 254a and the top plate 252a. An opening 254c is formed in the inlet member 254a, and the oxidant gas supply passage 16 is connected to the opening 254c.

The air flow path forming member 254b is made of a rectangular member having a flat internal flow path formed therein, and has an open top. The upper part of the air flow path forming member 254b is connected to the elongated hole 252a1 formed in the top plate 252a, and the internal flow path of the air flow path forming member 254b communicates with the inlet space formed by the inlet member 254a. ing. The air flow path forming member 254b is hung from the top plate 252a so as to extend in the longitudinal direction between the upstream side fuel cell stack 60A and the downstream fuel cell stack 60B.

As shown in FIG. 13, an air supply port 258, which is a plurality of through holes, is provided at the lower end of the air flow path forming member 254b. The air supply ports 258 are preferably arranged at equal intervals in the longitudinal direction (left and right direction in FIG. 11).
The power-generating air supplied from the oxidant gas supply passage 16 is supplied to the inlet space in the inlet member 254a and spreads in the longitudinal direction. Then, the power generating air flows from the inlet space into the air flow path forming member 254b through the elongated hole 252a1, and flows from the air supply port 258 at the lower end of the air flow path forming member 254b to the side of the fuel cell stack 60. Is sprayed into the internal space 253 toward. The residual air not used for power generation flows into the oxidant gas discharge passage 18.

In the present embodiment, the air supply port 258 is provided only on the lower end portion of the air flow path forming member 254b, but the present invention is not limited to this, and it may be provided on both side surfaces of the air flow path forming member 254b. In such a case, the air supply port may be arranged so as to be located between the fuel cell units 70 in the height direction.

Openings are formed in the closing side plates 252d and 252e of the housing body 252, and the ends of the inner electrode terminals 86 of the fuel cell unit 70 constituting the fuel cell unit 70 are fitted into the openings. .. Both ends of the fuel cell unit 70 are retained by being fitted into the openings of the closing side plates 252d and 252e.

Each of the fuel passage covers 256A and 256B has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape with one opening. The opening of the fuel passage cover 256A is connected to the closing side plate 252d of the housing body 252. Further, a partition plate 251 is provided at the center of the one fuel passage cover 256A so as to divide the internal space of the fuel passage cover 256A, whereby a partition plate 251 is provided between the fuel passage cover 256A and the closing side plate 252d. An upstream fuel gas passage 62A and a downstream fuel gas passage 62B are formed. The fuel supply passage 12 is connected to a portion of the top plate of one of the fuel passage covers 256A, which corresponds to an upper portion of the upstream fuel gas passage 62A, and the fuel discharge passage 12 is connected to an upper portion of the downstream fuel gas passage 62B. The passage 14 is connected.

The open side of the fuel passage cover 256B is connected to the closing side plate 252e of the housing body 252. No partition plate is provided in the other fuel passage cover 256B. As a result, the midstream fuel gas flow path 64 is formed between the fuel passage cover 256B and the closing side plate 252e of the housing body 252.

As shown in FIG. 12, the upstream fuel gas passage 62A communicates with the fuel supply passage 12, and one end of the fuel gas passage 88 of the fuel cell unit 70 that constitutes the upstream fuel cell stack 60A. It communicates with (upstream end). Further, the downstream side fuel gas flow path 62B communicates with the fuel discharge passage 14, and further, one end (downstream side end portion) of the fuel gas flow path 88 of the fuel cell unit 70 constituting the downstream side fuel cell stack 60B. ) Is in communication with.

Further, the middle-stream side fuel gas flow channel 64 communicates with the other end (downstream side end) of the fuel gas flow channel 88 of the fuel cell unit 70 constituting the upstream fuel cell stack 60A, and further the downstream fuel It communicates with the other end (upstream end) of the fuel gas flow path 88 of the fuel cell unit 70 constituting the battery cell stack 60B.

With such a configuration, the fuel gas supplied to the fuel cell device 2 from the fuel supply passage 12 is supplied to the fuel cell unit 70 that constitutes the upstream fuel cell stack 60A via the upstream fuel gas passage 62A. Supplied. Then, the fuel gas discharged from the fuel cell unit 70 constituting the upstream side fuel cell stack 60A is recovered in the middle stream side fuel gas channel 64, and the fuel cell unit constituting the downstream side fuel cell stack 60B. 70. Then, the fuel gas discharged from the fuel cell unit 70 constituting the downstream side fuel cell stack 60B is recovered in the downstream side fuel gas passage 62B and sent to the fuel discharge passage 14.
The operation of the fuel cell module 201 according to the present embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment, except that the position of the air supply port in the housing 250 is different.

According to this embodiment, the following effects are exhibited.
In the present embodiment, since the housing 250 in which the fuel cell stack 60 is housed is provided with the air supply port 258 for supplying air from the lateral side in the longitudinal direction of the fuel cell unit 70, Air can be evenly supplied in the longitudinal direction.

Further, in the present embodiment, the housing 250 is provided with an exhaust port for exhausting the residual oxidant gas remaining without being used for power generation of the fuel cell unit 70 from the internal space 253, and the air supply port. 258 is provided on a surface other than the top plate 252a on which the discharge port is provided. According to this embodiment, since the fuel cell unit 70 is located between the air supply port 258 and the discharge port, the air supplied from the air supply port 258 to the internal space 253 is surely discharged. It is supplied to the unit 70. This can reduce uneven heat distribution in the housing 250.

Further, in the present embodiment, the housing 250 is provided with the air introducing member 254 between the fuel cell units 70, and the air supply port 258 is provided in the air introducing member 254. As a result, air is supplied from the air introducing member 254 arranged between the fuel cell units 70, so that the air can be spread to each fuel cell unit 70.

Further, in the present embodiment, the plurality of fuel battery cell units 70 are arranged such that the longitudinal direction is horizontal. As a result, the air is uniformly supplied to each fuel cell unit 70, so that the uneven heat distribution in the fuel cell unit 70 can be reduced.

<Fourth Embodiment>
The fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described below. The same components as those in the first embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted. FIG. 14 is a vertical cross-sectional view at the center in the width direction showing the fuel cell module according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. 15 to 17 are an XV-XV sectional view, an XVI-XVI sectional view, and an XVII-XVII sectional view in FIG. 14, respectively. As shown in FIGS. 14 to 17, the fuel cell module 301 of the fourth embodiment is different from the first embodiment only in the configuration of the fuel cell unit 370 of the fuel cell device 302 and the configuration of the housing 350. There is.

First, the fuel cell unit 370 used in the fourth embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 18 to 20 show a fuel cell unit used in the fuel cell module shown in FIG. 14, FIG. 18 is a perspective view, FIG. 19 is a front view, and FIG. 20 is a longitudinal sectional view.

As shown in FIGS. 18 to 20, the fuel cell unit 370 has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape. The fuel cell unit 370 includes a fuel electrode support 372, a partition portion 374, an electrolyte portion 376, and a fuel electrode 378.

The fuel electrode support 372 is made of the same material as the inner electrode layer 90 which is the fuel electrode in the first embodiment. A rectangular internal space 372A is formed in the fuel electrode support 372 from one end side. The internal space 372A is open at one end side (front side in FIG. 18) and is closed at the other end side.

The partition portion 374 is an air electrode material made of a perovskite type oxide (for example, LaCoO3, LaMnO3, LaFeO3, etc., with La sites doped with Sr, Ca, etc., or not doped, or a composite material thereof). Or an alloy containing at least one or more of silver, gold, tungsten, rhodium, and iridium, or a composite material thereof having a lower transmittance than that of the air electrode support, and having a thermal expansion coefficient of the fuel electrode support. It is formed as a plate-like body that is substantially the same as the body 372. As shown in FIG. 19, the partition portion 374 extends over the entire width of the internal space 372A so as to divide the internal space 372A of the fuel electrode support 372 into upper and lower parts. Further, as shown in FIG. 20, the partition portion 374 extends from one end (the left end portion in FIG. 20) of the internal space 372A and terminates before the other end of the internal space 372A. Thereby, the internal space 372A is divided into the upstream space 372A1 above the partition part 374 and the downstream space 372A2 below the partition part 374, and the upstream space 372A1 and the downstream space 372A2 are the internal space 372A. It is configured to communicate at the back of the.

The electrolyte portion 376 is formed in layers so as to cover the surface of the fuel electrode support 372 other than the surface where the internal space 372A is open. The electrolyte portion 376 is made of the same material as the electrolyte layer 94 of the first embodiment.

The fuel electrode 378 is formed in a layer shape so as to annularly cover the outer peripheral surface of the electrolyte portion 376. Specifically, the fuel electrode 378 is formed over a length range shorter than the length of the electrolyte portion 376 in the longitudinal direction. The fuel electrode 378 is made of the same material as the inner electrode layer 90 which is the fuel electrode of the first embodiment.

With such a configuration, the fuel gas flowing into the upstream space 372A1 from one end side of the fuel cell unit 370 is folded back at the other end side of the internal space 372A and is discharged from the one end side of the downstream space 372A2. ..

The fuel cell stack 360 is configured by arranging a plurality of fuel cell units 370 in a plurality of rows in the width direction and two stages in the height direction. In each fuel cell unit 370, the partition 374 is vertical and the upstream space 372A1 and the downstream space 372A2 are arranged side by side in the width direction. Further, each fuel cell unit 370 is arranged so that the internal space 372 faces a predetermined direction (left side in FIG. 14).

As shown in FIGS. 14 to 18, the housing 350 includes a housing main body 352, an air passage cover 354 provided so as to cover the housing main body 352, and a fuel passage covering a side plate at one longitudinal end of the housing main body 352. And a cover 356A.

The housing main body 352 has a cylindrical body composed of a substantially rectangular top plate 352a, a bottom plate 352c, and a pair of opposing side plates 352b that connect the sides extending in the longitudinal direction, and a longitudinal body of both ends of the cylindrical body. It includes closing side plates 352d and 352e that close two opposing openings and connect the sides extending in the width direction of the top plate 352a and the bottom plate 352c. An internal space 353 as a power generation chamber is formed in the housing body 352, and the fuel cell stack 360 is accommodated in the internal space 353. A discharge port is formed in the top plate 352a, and the oxidant gas discharge passage 18 is connected to the discharge port.

Further, in the housing 350, the top plate 352a, the side plates 352b, and the bottom plate 352c are covered by the air passage cover 354. The air passage cover 354 has a top plate 354a, a pair of opposing side plates 354b extending downward from both sides of the top plate 354a, and a bottom plate 354c connecting between lower edges of the pair of side plates 354b. A discharge port 354a1 for penetrating the oxidant gas discharge passage 18 is provided at the center of the top plate 354a in the width direction. Further, the top plate 54a is provided with an opening 354a2 to which the oxidant gas supply passage 16 is connected.

The top plate 352a and the top plate 354a, the side plates 352b and 354b, and the bottom plate 352c and the bottom plate 354c are separated from each other by a predetermined distance. Accordingly, the top plate 352a, the side plate 352b, and the bottom plate 352c of the housing main body 352 and the top plate 354a, the side plate 354b, and the bottom plate 354b of the air passage cover 354 are disposed between the top plate 352a and the side plate 352b of the housing body 352. , And air passages 357a, 357b, 357c as oxidant gas supply passages are formed along the outer surface of the bottom plate 352c (see FIG. 6).

The bottom plate 352c of the housing body 352 is provided with an air supply port 358 that is a plurality of through holes (see FIG. 17). The air supply ports 358 are preferably arranged between the fuel cell units 370 in the width direction (left and right direction in FIG. 17), and are arranged at equal intervals in the longitudinal direction (left and right direction in FIG. 14). preferable.
The power generating air is supplied into the air passage 357a from the oxidant gas supply passage 16 connected to the opening 354a2 of the top plate 354a of the air passage cover, and flows in the air passage 357a while expanding in the longitudinal direction. Then, the power generation air is injected into the internal space 353 from the air supply port 358 of the bottom plate 352c toward the fuel cell stack 360 through the air passages 357a, 357b, 357c. Residual air remaining without being used for power generation in each fuel cell unit 70 is exhausted to the reforming/heating unit 4b via the oxidant gas exhaust passage 18 attached to the top plate 352a of the housing body 352. ..

Although the air supply port 358 is provided only on the bottom plate 352c of the housing body 352 in the present embodiment, the present invention is not limited to this, and may be provided on the side plate 352b or the top plate 352a. It suffices that the air is supplied from the lateral side of the battery cell unit 370 (fuel cell) in the longitudinal direction. However, it is preferable to provide it on a surface other than the top plate 352a provided with the discharge port to which the oxidizing gas discharge passage 18 is connected. Further, as in the present embodiment, it is more preferable to provide it on the bottom plate 352c facing the surface provided with the discharge port to which the oxidant gas discharge passage 18 is connected.

The fuel passage cover 356A has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape with one opening. The opening side of the fuel passage cover 356A is connected to the closing side plate 352d of the housing body 352. A partition plate 359 is provided in the middle of the fuel passage cover 356A in the longitudinal direction (left-right direction in FIG. 14). As a result, the space between the fuel passage cover 356A and the closing side plate 352d is divided in the longitudinal direction into an upstream space 375A on the closing side plate 352d side with respect to the partition plate 359, and a downstream side space 375B on the opposite side. There is.

The closing side plate 352d is formed with openings 373A and 373B having a shape corresponding to the upstream space 372A1 and the downstream space 372A2 of each fuel cell unit 370. Further, the partition plate 359 is formed with an opening 359B having a shape corresponding to the downstream space 372A2. A tubular member 361 that connects the opening 373B of the closing side plate 352d and the opening 359B of the partition plate 359 is provided between the closing side plate 352d and the partition plate 359.

Each fuel cell unit 370 is arranged such that the upstream space 372A1 and the downstream space 372A2 are connected to the openings 373A and 373B of the closing side plate 352d, respectively. As a result, the upstream space 372A1 communicates with the upstream space 375A formed by the fuel passage cover 356A and the partition plate 359, and the downstream space 372A2 is formed between the closing side plate 352d and the partition plate 359. It communicates with the side space 375B.

As shown in FIG. 15, an opening 356A1 is formed in an upper portion of a portion of the fuel passage cover 356A that is in contact with the upstream space 375A, and the fuel supply passage 12 is connected to the opening 356A1. Further, as shown in FIG. 14, an opening 356A2 is formed in an upper portion of a portion of the fuel passage cover 356A that abuts on the downstream side space 375B, and the fuel discharge passage 14 is connected to the opening 356A2.

With such a configuration, the fuel gas supplied from the fuel supply passage 12 to the fuel cell unit 302 flows into the upstream space 372A1 of the fuel cell unit 370 via the upstream space 375A. The fuel gas flowing into the upstream space 372A1 of the fuel cell unit 370 is folded back at the end of the internal space 372A, passes through the downstream space 372A2, and is discharged to the downstream space 375B. The residual fuel gas discharged to the downstream space 375B is sent to the fuel discharge passage 14.
The operation of the fuel cell module 301 according to the present embodiment is that the fuel gas (mixed gas) flowing into the fuel cell device 302 is an upstream space 375A, an upstream space 372A1 of the fuel cell unit 370, a fuel cell unit. The downstream side space 372A2 of the 370, the downstream side space 375B, and the fuel discharge passage 14 are different in that order, but the others are the same as in the first embodiment.

According to this embodiment, the same effect as that of the first embodiment can be obtained.

1 Fuel Cell Module 2 Fuel Cell Device 4 Fluid Supply Device 4a Evaporator 4b Heater 6 Housing 6a Inner Wall Plate 6b Outer Wall Plate 12 Fuel Supply Passage 14 Fuel Discharge Passage 16 Oxidizing Gas Supply Passage 18 Oxidizing Gas Discharge Passage 20 Water Supply Pipe 22 for raw fuel gas supply pipe 24 Exhaust gas discharge pipe 26 Exhaust gas pipe 28 Mixed gas conduit 29 Electric heater 30a Evaporation chamber 30b Mixing chamber 30c Exhaust gas chamber 30d Passage 30e Fin 32 Air supply pipe 34 Ceramic heater 36 Reformer 38 Combustor 38a Residual fuel gas dispersion member 38b Residual air dispersion member 50 Housing 51 Partition plate 52 Housing body 52a Top plate 52b Side plate 52c Bottom plate 52d Closure side plate 52e Closure side plate 53 Internal space 54 Air passage cover 54a Top plate 54a1 Discharge port 54a2 Opening 54b Side plate 54c Bottom plate 56A Fuel passage cover 56B Fuel passage cover 57a Air passage 57b Air passage 57c Air passage 58 Air supply port 60 Fuel cell stack 60A Upstream fuel cell stack 60B Downstream fuel cell stack 62A Upstream fuel gas flow Channel 62B Downstream fuel gas channel 64 Middle-stream fuel gas channel 70 Fuel cell unit 84 Fuel cell 86 Inner electrode terminal 88 Fuel gas channel 90 Inner electrode layer 90a Upper part 90b Outer peripheral surface 90c Upper end surface 92 Outer electrode layer 94 Electrolyte layer 96 Sealing material 98 Fuel gas channel thin tube 101 Fuel cell module 102 Fuel cell device 150 Housing 151 Partition plate 152 Housing body 152a Top plate 152b Side plate 152c Bottom plate 152d Closing side plate 152e Closing side plate 153 Internal space 154 Air passage cover 154a Top Plate 154a1 Discharge port 154a2 Opening 154b Side plate 154c Bottom plate 156A Fuel passage cover 156B Fuel passage cover 157a Air passage 157b Air passage 157c Air passage 158 Air supply port 159 Holding plate 164 Middle flow side fuel gas passage 201 Fuel cell module 202 Fuel cell cell Device 250 Housing 251 Partition plate 252 Housing main body 252a Top plate 252b Side plate 252c Bottom plate 252d Closing side plate 252a1 Long hole 252e Closing side plate 253 Internal space 254 Air introducing member 254a Inlet member 254b Air passage forming member 254c Opening 256A Fuel passage cover 256B Fuel passage cover Mosquito Bar 258 Air supply port 301 Fuel cell module 302 Fuel cell device 350 Housing 352 Housing body 352a Top plate 352b Side plate 352c Bottom plate 352d Closing side plate 352e Closing side plate 353 Internal space 354 Air passage cover 354a Top plate 354a1 Discharge port 354a2 Opening portion 354b Side plate 354c Bottom plate 356A Fuel passage cover 356A1 Opening 356A2 Opening 357a Air passage 357b Air passage 357c Air passage 358 Air supply port 359 Partition plate 359B Opening 360 Fuel cell stack 361 Cylindrical member 370 Fuel cell unit 372 Fuel electrode support 372A Internal space 372A1 upstream space 372A2 downstream space 373A opening 373B opening 374 partition part 375A upstream space 375B downstream space 376 electrolyte part 378 fuel electrode

Claims (7)

A fuel cell module for generating power by reacting a supplied fuel gas with an oxidant gas,
A fuel cell stack comprising a plurality of fuel cells arranged so that their longitudinal directions are parallel,
A first housing that houses the fuel cell stack in an internal space;
A reformer that reforms the raw fuel gas to generate a fuel gas containing hydrogen and supplies the fuel gas to the fuel cell stack,
A combustor that burns the residual fuel gas that is not used for power generation in the fuel cell stack and that heats the reformer,
A second housing that houses the reformer and the combustor in an internal space,
The first housing that accommodates the fuel cell stack is arranged outside the second housing separately from and independent of the second housing that accommodates the reformer and the combustor. ,
The fuel cell module, wherein the first housing has an air supply port for supplying air to the fuel cell stack housed in the internal space from the lateral side in the longitudinal direction. The first housing is provided with an exhaust port for exhausting the residual oxidant gas remaining without being used for power generation of the fuel cell from the internal space,
The fuel cell module according to claim 1, wherein the air supply port is provided on a surface other than a surface on which the exhaust port is provided. An air introducing member is provided between the fuel cells in the first housing,
The fuel cell module according to claim 1, wherein the air supply port is provided in the air introduction member. The fuel cell module according to claim 2, wherein the air supply port is provided on a surface of the first housing that faces a surface on which the exhaust port is provided. The fuel cell module according to claim 4, wherein the plurality of fuel battery cells are arranged so that the longitudinal direction is lateral. The fuel cell module according to claim 5, wherein the air supply port is provided in a bottom surface that forms the internal space of the first housing. The fuel cell module according to any one of claims 4 to 6, wherein the air supply port is provided on an outer surface of the fuel cell stack.

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