JP3186133U - Fuel cell device - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a fuel cell device having a heat insulating structure capable of obtaining desired heat resistance and reducing labor and cost required for processing.
A fuel cell device includes a fuel cell main body, a container that accommodates the fuel cell main body, and a heat insulating material provided at least at a part between the fuel cell main body and the container. The heat insulating material and the fuel cell main body are disposed between the heat insulating material and the holding member 71 to 75 for holding the heat insulating material, and the heat insulating material and the holding member are made of different materials.
[Selection] Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a fuel cell device.

  Several types of power generation systems for fuel cells are known, but in recent years, solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC) capable of achieving high power generation efficiency have attracted attention.

The solid oxide fuel cell includes an anode electrode, an electrolyte, and a cathode electrode. The electrolyte conducts oxide ions at high temperatures. The anode electrode generates electrons and water by reacting oxide ions with hydrogen in the fuel. The electrode reaction of the following formula (1) occurs at the cathode electrode, and the electrode reaction of the following (2) occurs at the anode electrode to generate power.
Cathode electrode: 1 / 2O ₂ + 2e ⁻ → O ²⁻ (electrolyte) (1)
Anode electrode: O ²⁻ (electrolyte) + H ₂ → H ₂ O + 2e ⁻ (2)
The fuel cell apparatus includes a large number of fuel cells as described above, and these are electrically connected in series (and in parallel) to form a cell stack (fuel cell stack) that is an assembly of fuel cells. doing.

  It is known that the power generation performed in the fuel cell increases in voltage as the temperature of the fuel cell increases. The temperature rise of the fuel cell is mainly caused by Joule heat generated by power generation and heat generated by burning a hydrogen rich gas and an oxidant that are not used in an electrochemical reaction in the fuel cell.

The hydrogen-enriched gas (hydrogen-rich gas) supplied to the anode is generally obtained by supplying a hydrocarbon-based fuel to a reforming section filled with a reforming catalyst and performing a hydrocarbon-based fuel reforming reaction. The configuration is known. The hydrocarbon fuel supplied to the reforming section reacts according to the following reaction formula to generate a hydrogen-enriched gas.
CmHn + mH ₂ O → mCO + ((n / 2) + m) H ₂
Since this reaction is an endothermic reaction, the reaction efficiency is improved at high temperatures.

  In order to increase the power generation efficiency in the fuel cell device, it is desirable to maintain the fuel cell or the reformer at an appropriate temperature by the heat thus generated. Therefore, for example, a structure in which a heat insulating material is provided so as to surround a cell stack in a fuel cell device is known (Patent Documents 1 and 2).

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2011-129489 International Publication No. 2009/016857

  However, in order to properly arrange the heat insulating material in the fuel cell device, it is necessary to process the heat insulating material into a desired shape and size and hold it in a predetermined position in the fuel cell device. However, select a heat insulating material that has both heat insulating properties, workability, and cost performance, such as heat insulating materials with excellent heat insulating properties, which are inferior in workability, or heat insulating materials that have both high heat insulating properties and workability are expensive. Is not easy.

  Therefore, the present invention aims to solve the above-described problems, and provides a fuel cell device having a heat insulating structure that can obtain desired heat resistance and can reduce labor and cost required for processing. The purpose is to do.

According to an aspect of the present invention,
A fuel cell body;
A container for housing the fuel cell body;
A fuel cell device having a heat insulator provided at least in part between the fuel cell main body and the container,
A holding member that is disposed between the heat insulator and the fuel cell main body and holds the heat insulator;
A fuel cell device is provided in which the heat insulator and the holding member are formed of different materials.

  In the fuel cell device according to the present invention, the heat insulator is arranged and held at a predetermined position in the container, particularly with respect to the fuel cell main body, by providing a holding member at least at a part between the fuel cell main body and the container. Yes. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the labor and cost of processing the heat insulator and obtain an optimum heat insulating structure having desired heat insulating performance.

  In the fuel cell device of the present invention, a surface of the holding member facing the heat insulator may be flat, and the heat insulator may be flat. By setting it as such a shape, the contact of the said holding member and the said heat insulating body can be close | tightened, and while preventing unnecessary convection, heat insulation performance can be improved. Moreover, by making the said heat insulating body into flat form, the acquisition from the market of a heat insulating body becomes easy, and the effort and cost which are required for the process of a heat insulating body can be reduced.

  In the fuel cell device of the present invention, the heat insulator may be powdery or granular. By using a powdery or granular heat insulator, it is possible to further reduce labor and cost required for molding the heat insulator.

  In the fuel cell device of the present invention, the flat plate-like heat insulator, powdery or granular heat insulator may be covered with a heat resistant cloth. By covering with a heat resistant cloth, scattering of the heat insulating material into the container can be suppressed.

  In the fuel cell device of the present invention, the fuel cell main body has a fuel cell stack, and the holding member has a convex portion on a surface facing the fuel cell stack, and the fuel cell stack is formed by the convex portion. The flow of the oxidant inside may be adjusted. By providing the holding member with the convex portion, it is possible to reduce labor and cost required for processing as compared with the case where the heat insulating member is provided with the convex portion.

  In the fuel cell device of the present invention, the holding member may be made of an insulating material. By using the holding member as an insulating material, the holding member can be brought into contact with the fuel cell stack, and the flow of the oxidizing agent can be adjusted.

  In the fuel cell device of the present invention, the thermal conductivity of the heat insulator may be lower than the thermal conductivity of the holding member.

  In the fuel cell device of the present invention, the heat insulator may have a thermal conductivity lower than that of still air. Thereby, higher heat insulation performance can be obtained.

  In the fuel cell device of the present invention, the holding member may be a heat insulating material having a thermal conductivity higher than that of still air. By using a member having heat insulation performance as the support member, higher heat insulation performance can be obtained.

  According to the fuel cell device of the present invention, it is possible to obtain a desired heat insulating effect while reducing labor and cost required for processing.

FIGS. 1A to 1C are cross-sectional views showing the arrangement of heat insulation structures inside a fuel cell device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIGS. 2A to 2C are cross-sectional views showing the arrangement of the heat insulation structure inside the fuel cell device according to the modification of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing an arrangement of a heat insulating structure inside a fuel cell device according to another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing a state of assembly of the fuel cell device according to the first assembly form of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing a state of assembly of the fuel cell device according to the second assembly form of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a schematic view showing a state of assembly of the fuel cell device according to the third assembly form of the present invention.

[First assembly form]
FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the fuel cell device 100 according to the first assembly form of the present invention. The fuel cell apparatus 100 includes a power generation unit 1, a reforming unit 4, an exhaust gas partition wall 30 including at least the power generation unit 1, an exhaust gas partition wall 30 including the power generation unit 1, and an inner shell 40 and an inner shell 40 including the reforming unit 4. The outer shell 50 is included. Definitions of directions of the fuel cell device 100, the exhaust gas partition wall 30, the inner shell 40, and the outer shell 50 are as shown in the lower right part of FIG.

  The power generation unit 1 includes a cell stack 2 in which a plurality of fuel cells (not shown) are assembled and electrically connected in series (and in parallel), and a pedestal 3 on which the cell stack 2 is erected. The The power generation unit 1 includes a large number of fuel cells, and these are electrically connected in series (and in parallel) to form a cell stack 2 that is an assembly of fuel cells. Since the shape and arrangement of the fuel cells can be arbitrarily selected, the cell stack 2 in FIG. 4 schematically shows only the cell stack 2 while omitting the illustration of the individual fuel cells. . Note that the supply of the hydrogen-enriched fuel to the cell stack 2 is performed from the pedestal 3 having a fuel distribution function. The hydrogen-enriched fuel is supplied from the reforming unit 4. Further, the oxidant is supplied to the cell stack 2 via the oxidant supply member 12 (FIGS. 1B and 1C).

  The reforming unit 4 is filled with a reforming catalyst, and hydrogen-containing fuel (raw fuel) is supplied from the raw fuel introduction unit 5 to the reforming unit 4. The reforming unit 4 reforms the hydrogen-containing fuel by a reforming reaction using the reforming catalyst to generate a hydrogen-enriched fuel (reformed gas). As the hydrogen-containing fuel (raw fuel), a hydrocarbon-based fuel is generally used. The term “hydrocarbon fuel” as used herein refers to a compound containing carbon and hydrogen in a molecule (may contain other elements such as oxygen) or a mixture thereof. Examples include hydrocarbons, alcohols, ethers, and biofuels. Specifically, examples of the hydrocarbon fuel include methane, ethane, propane, butane, natural gas, LPG (liquefied petroleum gas), city gas, gasoline, naphtha, kerosene, and light oil. Examples of alcohols include methanol and ethanol. Examples of ethers include dimethyl ether. Examples of biofuels include biogas, bioethanol, biodiesel, and biojet.

  The reforming method in the reforming unit 4 is not particularly limited, and for example, steam reforming, partial oxidation reforming, autothermal reforming, and other known reforming methods can be employed. As the reforming unit 4 of this embodiment, the reforming unit 4 using a steam reforming reaction is illustrated. When steam reforming is used, a water vaporization unit (not shown) is provided on the inlet side of the reforming unit 4, and water supplied from the outside of the outer shell 50 is vaporized to generate steam. Alternatively, steam vaporized outside the reforming unit 4 may be supplied to the reforming unit 4. A reformed gas supply unit 6 for supplying the generated reformed gas to the power generation unit 1 is connected to the outlet side (lower front side) of the reforming unit 4, and the reformed gas supply unit 6 is connected to the power generation unit. 1 pedestal 3 is connected. The reforming unit 4 is disposed above the power generation unit 1. In the off-gas combustion area 9 defined between the power generation unit 1 and the reforming unit 4, anode off-gas and cathode off-gas that have not been used for power generation burn, and the reforming unit 4 is heated. Yes.

  The exhaust gas partition 30 is formed in a channel shape with an open top or a U groove shape with an open top. The power generation unit 1 is included in a space surrounded by the left side surface 31, the right side surface 32, and the bottom surface 35 of the exhaust gas partition wall 30.

  The exhaust gas partition wall 30 containing the power generation unit 1 and the reforming unit 4 are housed in a rectangular parallelepiped inner shell 40. In the present embodiment, the front side surface 43 and the rear side surface 44 of the inner shell 40 are configured to be removable. With the front side 43 and the rear side 44 of the inner shell 40 removed, the exhaust gas partition wall 30 containing the power generation unit 1 is stored, and the front side 43 and the rear side 44 of the inner shell 40 are attached. Between the left side surface 31 of the exhaust gas partition wall 30 and the left side surface 41 of the inner shell 40, between the right side surface 32 of the exhaust gas partition wall 30 and the right side surface 42 of the inner shell 40, and between the bottom surface 35 and the inner shell 40 of the exhaust gas partition wall 30. A space is defined between the bottom surface 45 and the exhaust gas passage 21 (FIGS. 1A and 1C) through which the exhaust gas flows. Space generated between the left side surface 31 of the exhaust gas partition 30 and the left side surface 41 of the inner shell 40 and the space between the right side surface 32 of the exhaust gas partition 30 and the right side surface 42 of the inner shell 40 that is generated in the off-gas combustion area 9. The exhaust gas that has passed through and reaches the space between the bottom surface 35 of the exhaust gas partition wall 30 and the bottom surface 45 of the inner shell 40 is led out of the fuel cell device 100 from the exhaust gas outlet 22 (FIGS. 1B and 1C). Is done.

  The inner shell 40 that houses the exhaust gas partition wall 30 and the reforming unit 4 is housed in a rectangular parallelepiped outer shell 50. In the present embodiment, the front side surface 53 and the rear side surface 54 of the outer shell 50 are configured to be removable. With the front side 53 and the rear side 54 removed, the inner shell 40 containing the power generation unit 1 and the exhaust gas partition wall 30 is stored, and the front side 53 and the rear side 54 are attached. Between the left side surface 41 of the inner shell 40 and the left side surface 51 of the outer shell 50, between the right side surface 42 of the inner shell 40 and the right side surface 52 of the outer shell 50, the bottom surface 45 of the inner shell 40 and the bottom surface of the outer shell 50. A space is defined between the upper surface 46 of the inner shell 40 and the upper surface 56 of the outer shell 50. An oxidant inlet (not shown) is formed on the bottom surface 55 of the outer shell 50, and the oxidant is introduced between the inner shell 40 and the outer shell 50. The space between the bottom surface 45 of the inner shell 40 and the bottom surface 55 of the outer shell 50, the space between the left side surface 41 of the inner shell 40 and the left side surface 51 of the outer shell 50, the right side surface 42 of the inner shell 40 and the outer shell The oxidant flows toward the space between the right side surface 52 of 50 and the space between the upper surface 46 of the inner shell 40 and the upper surface 56 of the outer shell 50. The air that has reached the space between the upper surface 46 of the inner shell 40 and the upper surface 56 of the outer shell 50 is supplied to the cell stack 2 via the oxidant supply member 12 (FIG. 1C).

[Second assembly form]
FIG. 5 shows an exploded perspective view of the fuel cell device 100 according to the second assembly form of the present invention. In FIG. 5, the power generation unit 1 is not shown, but the power generation unit 1 is included in the exhaust gas partition wall 30 as in FIG. 4. In the present embodiment, the upper surface 56 of the outer shell 50 is configured to be removable. With the upper surface 56 of the outer shell 50 removed, the inner shell 40 containing the power generation unit 1 and the exhaust gas partition wall 30 is accommodated, and the upper surface 56 of the outer shell 50 is attached.

[Third assembly form]
FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the fuel cell device 100 according to the third assembly embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 6, the power generation unit 1 is not shown, but the power generation unit 1 is included in the exhaust gas partition wall 30 as in FIG. 4. In the present embodiment, the inner shell 40 includes an inner shell base 47 having a hollow box shape corresponding to the bottom surface 45 (FIG. 4) of the first assembly form, and in the vicinity of the left and right end portions on the upper surface of the inner shell base 47. Provided with a pair of slits 48 through which exhaust gas flows. The outer shell 50 includes an outer shell base 57 having a hollow box shape corresponding to the bottom surface 55 (FIG. 4) of the first assembly form, and is provided in the vicinity of the left and right end portions on the upper surface of the outer shell base 57. A pair of slits 58 are provided to allow the oxidant to flow.

  The exhaust gas partition wall 30 is disposed between the pair of slits 48 formed on the upper surface side of the inner shell base 47 in the left-right direction. The inner shell 40 includes a left side surface 41, a right side surface 42, a front side surface 43, and a rear side surface 44 of the inner shell 40 so as to include a pair of slits 48 on the upper surface of the exhaust gas partition wall 30, the reforming unit 4, and the inner shell base 47. The upper surface 46 of the inner shell 40 and the inner shell base 47 are assembled in a rectangular parallelepiped shape.

  The inner shell 40 is disposed between the pair of slits 58 formed on the upper surface of the outer shell base 57 in the left-right direction. The outer shell 50 includes a left side surface 51, a right side surface 52, a front side surface 53, a rear side surface 54, and an outer shell 50 so as to include a pair of slits 58 on the upper surface of the inner shell 40 and the outer shell base 57. The upper surface 56 and the outer shell base 57 are assembled in a rectangular parallelepiped shape.

  Next, the structure and operation of the fuel cell device 100 of the present invention will be described.

[First Embodiment]
FIGS. 1A, 1B, and 1C show partial schematic cross-sectional views of the fuel cell device 100 of the first embodiment obtained based on the first to third assembly modes described above. FIG. 1A is a schematic cross-sectional view of the fuel cell device 100 cut horizontally above the reforming unit 4 and viewed from above. FIG. 1B is a schematic cross-sectional view of the fuel cell device 100 cut from the center in the left-right direction and viewed from the left side. FIG. 1C is a schematic cross-sectional view of the fuel cell device 100 cut from the center in the front-rear direction and viewed from the front side. The fuel cell devices 100 assembled by the methods exemplified in the first to third assembly modes have different assembly procedures, but the main structures for applying the present invention are commonly defined. ing.

  When the fuel cell device 100 generates power, a hydrogen-containing fuel such as city gas, kerosene, LPG, and water vapor are supplied from the raw fuel introduction unit 5 to the reforming unit 4. The hydrogen-containing fuel and water vapor supplied to the reforming unit 4 are reacted by the action of the catalyst provided in the reforming unit 4 and the combustion heat of the offgas, and hydrogen-enriched gas is generated. The hydrogen-enriched gas generated in the reforming unit 4 is supplied to the anode electrode (not shown) of the cell stack 2 through the reformed gas supply unit 6 and the pedestal 3.

  The oxidant is taken into the outer shell 50 from the oxidant inlet (not shown), flows through the space between the outer shell 50 and the inner shell 40, and extends from the upper surface 46 of the inner shell 40 to the power generation unit 1. It diffuses into the exhaust gas partition wall 30 through the oxidant supply member 12 arranged toward the front. The oxidant supply member 12 has a flat rectangular parallelepiped shape with a hollow inside, and extends downward through the reforming section 4 or avoiding the reforming section 4. An oxidant flowing through an oxidant flow path (not shown) between the inner shell 40 and the outer shell 50 is introduced into the oxidant supply inlet 13 provided at the upper end of the oxidant supply member 12 and oxidized. It is discharged into the exhaust gas partition 30 from an oxidant supply outlet 14 provided at the lower end of the agent supply member 12. The oxidant released into the exhaust gas partition wall 30 is supplied to the cathode electrode (not shown) of the fuel cell (not shown).

  The power generation unit 1 utilizes the reformed gas supplied from the reformed gas supply unit 6 to the anode electrode of the fuel cell and the oxidant supplied from the oxidant supply member 12 to the cathode electrode of the fuel cell. Generate electricity. Excess fuel (anode offgas) and excess oxidant (cathode offgas) that have not been used for power generation are combusted in an offgas combustion area 9 between the power generation unit 1 and the reforming unit 4. The combustion heat at this time is used for heating the reforming section 4.

  The exhaust gas generated inside the exhaust gas partition wall 30 for power generation of the power generation unit 1 flows through the exhaust gas channel 21 which is a space formed between the exhaust gas partition wall 30 and the inner shell 40, and is supplied from the exhaust gas outlet 22 to the fuel. It is discharged outside the battery device 100.

  In the above operation, Joule heat is generated in the cell stack 2, and heat due to combustion of the hydrogen-enriched gas and the oxidant is generated in the off-gas combustion area 9. In order for the fuel cell device 100 to achieve high power generation efficiency, it is preferable to appropriately maintain the required amount of heat in the fuel cell device 100. However, a part of the generated heat is generated by the fuel cell device 100. Conducted outward. In order to suppress the heat dissipation amount, heat insulating materials are arranged in various places inside the fuel cell device 100.

  As shown in FIGS. 1A to 1C, the power generation unit 1 is disposed at the center of the inner shell 40, and heat insulating structures 61 to 65 are disposed around the power generation unit 1. A heat insulating structure 61 is disposed between the power generation unit 1 and the left side surface 31 of the exhaust gas partition wall 30 so as to be in contact with the left side surface 31 of the exhaust gas partition wall 30. Similarly, a heat insulating structure 62 is disposed between the power generation unit 1 and the right side surface 32 of the exhaust gas partition wall 30 so as to be in contact with the right side surface 32 of the exhaust gas partition wall 30. Further, a heat insulating material structure 63 is disposed between the power generation unit 1 and the front side surface 43 of the inner shell 40 so as to be in contact with the front side surface 43 of the inner shell 40. Similarly, a heat insulating structure 64 is disposed between the power generation unit 1 and the rear side surface 44 of the inner shell 40 so as to be in contact with the rear side surface 44 of the inner shell 40. Furthermore, a heat insulating structure 65 is disposed below the power generation unit 1 and between the power generation unit 1 and the bottom surface 35 of the exhaust gas partition wall 30.

  The heat insulating structures 61 to 65 have a multi-layer structure including holding members 71 to 75 and heat insulating materials 81 to 85, respectively. The holding members 71 to 75 and the heat insulating materials 81 to 85 are made of different materials. The holding members 71 to 75 arrange and hold the heat insulating materials 81 to 85 at desired positions inside the exhaust gas partition wall 30.

  The holding members 73 and 74 are in contact with the bottom surface 35 of the exhaust gas partition wall 30 at the lower end portions 73e and 74e (FIG. 1B). The holding member 73 extends in the left-right direction at a predetermined interval from the power generation unit 1 and at a predetermined interval from the front side surface 43 of the inner shell 40. A heat insulating material 83 is interposed between the front side surface 43 of the inner shell 40 and the holding member 73. The holding member 74 extends in the left-right direction at a predetermined interval from the power generation unit 1 and at a predetermined interval from the rear side surface 44 of the inner shell 40. A heat insulating material 84 is interposed between the rear side surface 44 of the inner shell 40 and the holding member 74.

  The holding members 71 and 72 are in contact with the bottom surface 35 (FIG. 1C) of the exhaust gas partition wall 30 at the lower end portions 71e and 72e (FIG. 1C). The holding member 71 extends in the front-rear direction at a predetermined interval from the power generation unit 1 and at a predetermined interval from the left side surface 31 of the exhaust gas partition wall 30. A heat insulating material 81 is interposed between the left side surface 31 of the exhaust gas partition wall 30 and the holding member 71. The holding member 72 extends in the front-rear direction at a predetermined interval from the power generation unit 1 and at a predetermined interval from the right side surface 32 of the exhaust gas partition wall 30. A heat insulating material 82 is interposed between the right side surface 32 of the exhaust gas partition wall 30 and the holding member 72.

  The front end 71c of the holding member 71 contacts the holding member 73 of the heat insulating structure 63 disposed on the front side 43 side of the inner shell 40, and the rear end 71d is on the rear side 44 side of the inner shell 40. It contacts the holding member 74 of the heat insulating structure 64 to be arranged. Similarly, the front end 72c of the holding member 72 is in contact with the holding member 73 of the heat insulating structure 63 disposed on the front side 43 side of the inner shell 40, and the rear end 72d is the rear side of the inner shell 40. It contacts the holding member 74 of the heat insulating structure 64 disposed on the 44 side.

  The holding members 71 and 72 are each provided with convex portions 71g and 72g extending in a strip shape in the front-rear direction on the inward surface (the surface facing the power generation unit 1). Between the convex parts 71g and 72g and the cell stack 2, a gap of about 3 mm to 7 mm exists. In the process in which the oxidant taken into the exhaust gas partition wall 30 through the oxidant supply member 12 for power generation flows from the lower side to the upper side of the cell stack 2, the fuel cell device 100 effectively uses the oxidant. It is required to contact the cathode electrode. In order to cope with this, by providing these convex portions 71g and 72g, the oxidant can be concentrated in the vicinity of the cathode electrode. The convex shapes of the convex portions 71g and 72g can be determined according to the diffusion characteristics of the oxidizing agent in the exhaust gas partition wall 30. Although it is possible to process the heat insulating materials 81 and 82 to provide a convex portion for concentrating the oxidant in the vicinity of the cathode electrode, in this case, the material of the heat insulating materials 81 and 82 can be molded or cut. At the same time, since it is necessary to select a material that satisfies the desired heat insulation performance, the types of heat insulating materials that can be selected are limited. In other words, by forming the convex portions 71g and 72g on the holding members 71 and 72, as compared with the case where the heat insulating materials 81 and 82 are processed to provide the convex portions for concentrating the oxidant in the vicinity of the cathode pole, Processing time and cost can be reduced. Note that the holding members 71 and 72 may not include the convex portions 71g and 72g.

  The left end portion 73 a of the holding member 73 is in contact with the left side surface 31 of the exhaust gas partition wall 30, and the right end portion 73 b of the holding member 73 is in contact with the right side surface 32 of the exhaust gas partition wall 30. Similarly, the left end 74 a of the holding member 74 is in contact with the left side 31 of the exhaust gas partition 30, and the right end 74 b of the holding member 74 is in contact with the right side 32 of the exhaust gas partition 30.

  The holding member 75 extends in the horizontal direction at a predetermined interval from the bottom surface 35 of the exhaust gas partition wall 30. A heat insulating material 85 is interposed between the bottom surface 35 of the exhaust gas partition wall 30 and the holding member 75.

  The left end 75a (FIG. 1C) of the holding member 75 contacts the holding member 71 of the heat insulating structure 61 disposed on the left side 31 side of the exhaust gas partition wall 30, and the right end 75b of the holding member 75 is The heat insulating structure 62 holding member 72 disposed on the right side surface 32 side of the exhaust gas partition wall 30 is in contact with the exhaust gas partition wall 30. Further, the front end 75 c of the holding member 75 contacts the holding member 73 of the heat insulating structure 63 disposed on the front side 43 side of the inner shell 40, and the rear end 75 d is the rear side 44 of the inner shell 40. It contacts the holding member 74 of the heat insulating structure 64 disposed on the side.

  The outward surfaces of the holding members 71 to 75 (surfaces opposite to the surfaces facing the power generation unit 1) are formed as flat surfaces. By making the surface flat in this manner, the contact between the holding members 71 to 75 and the heat insulating materials 81 to 85 becomes closer, and unnecessary gas convection is suppressed, so that the heat insulating performance can be improved. Further, the heat insulating material that is relatively easily available in the market is often in the form of a board having both sides flat. When the surfaces of the holding members 71 to 75 facing the heat insulating materials 81 to 85 are not flat, if the heat insulating materials having flat surfaces are interposed, the holding members 71 to 75 and the heat insulating materials 81 to 85 are interposed. A gap is created. In order to improve heat insulation, it is desirable to reduce these gaps as much as possible. Therefore, by flattening the surfaces of the holding members 71 to 75 that face the heat insulating materials 81 to 85, labor for processing the heat insulating materials 81 to 85 can be reduced and the heat insulating materials can be interposed closely. The heat insulating material can be interposed at an appropriate stage during assembly according to the assembly structure of the fuel cell device 100 exemplified as the first to third assembly modes.

  In this invention, the heat insulating materials 81-85 can be formed from arbitrary heat insulating materials. In general, the lower the thermal conductivity, the better the heat insulation. In particular, since a material whose thermal conductivity is lower than that of still air exhibits high heat insulating performance, it is preferable to use a heat insulating material having a thermal conductivity lower than that of still air as the material of the heat insulating materials 81 to 85. The thermal conductivity of still air by the protective hot plate method is 0.04 kcal / (m · h · ° C.) = 0.0464 W (m · K) at 400 ° C., and 0.05 kcal / (m · h · ° C.) = 0.058 W / (m · K).

  As a heat insulating material having a lower thermal conductivity than still air, a microporous heat insulating material (a molded body of nano-sized fumed silica particles) is available. Specifically, a board-like (flat plate-like) microporous heat insulating material can be used.

  In addition, you may use what covered the board-shaped heat insulating material with the heat resistant cloth (heat resistant cloth). By doing in this way, when interposing the heat insulating materials 81-85, it can suppress the powdering of the heat insulating materials 81-85 by the friction between the exhaust gas partition 30 or the inner shell 40 and the heat insulating materials 81-85. This can improve assembly. In addition to the rubbing, the heat insulating materials 81 to 85 that are pulverized during transportation or operation of the fuel cell device 100 are scattered in the fuel cell device 100, and the powder adheres to the cell stack 2 or is oxidized. Suppressing clogging of the openings (oxidant supply inlet 13, oxidant supply outlet 14) due to the accumulation of the powder near the openings (oxidant supply inlet 13, oxidant supply outlet 14) of the oxidant supply member 12. Can do. As a result, the power generation performance can be maintained over a longer period. Moreover, although the method of knitting the heat resistant cloth is arbitrary, a method of knitting with as high a strength as possible is preferable. For example, a stainless steel cloth can be used as the heat resistant cloth. Further, an aluminum sheet may be attached to the heat resistant cloth or may be vapor-deposited. Thereby, water resistance can be improved in use in the fuel cell device 1 in which a gas containing moisture flows.

  Moreover, when using what covered the heat insulating material with the heat resistant cloth, a powdery or granular heat insulating material can also be selected as a kind of heat insulating material, for example. This is because the heat insulating materials 81 to 85 are sandwiched between the holding members 71 to 75 and the exhaust gas partition wall 30 or the inner shell 40, so that it is not necessary to hold the shape with the heat insulating materials 81 to 85 themselves. Thereby, the selectivity of the kind of heat insulating material improves. Moreover, the dimensional selectivity of the fuel cell device 100 can be improved by arbitrarily selecting the filling amount and thermal conductivity of the powdery or granular heat insulating material.

  Further, in the exhaust gas partition wall 30 and the inner shell 40, the holding members 71 to 75 completely block communication between the space in which the cell stack 2 is disposed and the space in which the heat insulating materials 81 to 85 are disposed. In this case, a powdery or granular heat insulating material can be used without being covered with a heat resistant cloth. Thereby, the effect equivalent to the case where the heat insulating material covered with the heat resistant cloth can be obtained.

  The inside of the exhaust gas partition 30 reaches a high temperature of about 750 ° C. during power generation by the power generation unit 1. Therefore, any material such as ceramics or metal can be used as the material of the holding members 71 to 75 as long as the material has heat resistance enough to withstand this high temperature. For example, a silica or alumina material can be used. In particular, an insulating material may be used for the holding members 71 to 74 of the heat insulating structures 61 to 64 disposed in the vicinity of the cell stack 2. By using an insulating material for the holding member, the holding member can be brought into contact with the fuel cell stack, and the flow of the oxidant can be adjusted more appropriately. The oxidant is more suitable in the vicinity of the cathode. It is possible to aggregate them.

  Alternatively, as the material of the holding members 71 to 75, a heat insulating material that requires less cost and labor for processing than the heat insulating material used as the heat insulating materials 81 to 85 or that is difficult to be pulverized may be used. When the combination of the holding members 71 to 75 and the heat insulating materials 81 to 85 made of a material not having heat insulating performance is compared with the combination of the holding members 71 to 75 made of a material having heat insulating performance and the heat insulating materials 81 to 85, the latter However, the conditions (thickness and thermal conductivity of the heat insulating material) of the heat insulating materials 81 to 85 can be relaxed. For example, a material having a low thermal conductivity can be used as the heat insulating materials 81 to 85, and a heat insulating material having a higher workability than the heat insulating materials 81 to 85 can be used as the holding members 71 to 75. As a specific example, Isowool (registered trademark) can be used as the holding member, and a board-shaped Roslim (registered trademark) board can be used as the heat insulating member. The thermal conductivity of Isowool is 0.09 W / (m · K) at 600 ° C., and the thermal conductivity of Roslim board is 0.035 W / (m · K) at 600 ° C. By performing such material selection, it is possible to reduce the amount of heat insulating material with low thermal conductivity, which is relatively expensive. Further, as the heat insulating materials 81 to 85, a material that is easily pulverized but has a low thermal conductivity is used, and the holding member has a low thermal conductivity but is difficult to pulverize, or has a low thermal conductivity and is difficult to pulverize, but is expensive. Materials can also be used. By performing such material selection, the cost of the entire heat insulating structure can be reduced, or the labor of processing can be reduced.

[Modification of First Embodiment]
FIGS. 2A to 2C are partial schematic cross-sectional views of modifications of the fuel cell device 100 of the first embodiment obtained based on the first to third assembly modes described above. In the present modification, the arrangement of the heat insulating structures 61 to 65 is different from that of the first embodiment. In the following description, the description of the same configuration as that of the first embodiment is omitted. FIG. 2A is a schematic cross-sectional view of the fuel cell device 100 cut horizontally above the reforming unit 4 and viewed from above. FIG. 2B is a schematic cross-sectional view of the fuel cell device 100 cut from the center in the left-right direction and viewed from the left side. FIG. 2C is a schematic cross-sectional view of the fuel cell device 100 cut from the center in the front-rear direction and viewed from the front side. The fuel cell power generation devices 100 assembled by the methods exemplified in the first to third assembly modes have different assembly procedures, but the arrangement of components is common.

  The holding member 75 extends in the horizontal direction at a predetermined interval from the bottom surface 35 of the exhaust gas partition wall 30. The left end portion 75 a of the holding member 75 is in contact with the left side surface 31 of the exhaust gas partition wall 30, and the right end portion 75 b of the holding member 75 is in contact with the right side surface 32 of the exhaust gas partition wall 30. The front end 75 c of the holding member 75 is in contact with the front side 43 of the inner shell 40, and the rear end 75 d is in contact with the rear side 44 of the inner shell 40. A heat insulating material 85 is interposed between the bottom surface 35 of the exhaust gas partition wall 30 and the holding member 75.

  The holding members 71 and 72 are in contact with the holding member 75 at the lower end portions 71e and 72e. The holding members 71 and 72 extend in the front-rear direction at a predetermined interval from the power generation unit 1 and from the left and right side surfaces 31 and 32 of the exhaust gas partition wall 30 at a predetermined interval, respectively. A heat insulating material 81 is interposed between the left side surface 31 of the exhaust gas partition wall 30 and the holding member 71, and a heat insulating material 82 is interposed between the right side surface 32 of the exhaust gas partition wall 30 and the holding member 72.

  The holding members 73 and 74 are in contact with the holding member 75 at the lower end portions 73e and 74e. The holding members 73 and 74 extend in the left-right direction at a predetermined interval from the power generation unit 1 and at a predetermined interval from the front and rear side surfaces 43 and 44 of the inner shell 40. A heat insulating material 83 is interposed between the front side surface 43 of the inner shell 40 and the holding member 73, and a heat insulating material 84 is interposed between the rear side surface 44 of the inner shell 40 and the holding member 74.

  The left end 73 a of the holding member 73 is in contact with the holding member 71 of the heat insulating structure 61, and the right end 73 b of the holding member 73 is in contact with the holding member 72 of the heat insulating structure 62. Similarly, the left end 74 a of the holding member 74 is in contact with the holding member 71 of the heat insulating structure 61, and the right end 74 b of the holding member 74 is in contact with the holding member 72 of the heat insulating structure 62.

  Thus, even if it arrange | positions a heat insulation structure, the effect similar to 1st Embodiment can be acquired.

[Second Embodiment]
FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the fuel cell device 200 according to the second embodiment cut from the center in the front-rear direction and viewed from the front side. In the following description, the description of the same configuration as that of the first embodiment is omitted. Unlike the fuel cell device 100 of the first embodiment, the fuel cell device 200 of the second embodiment does not include the exhaust gas partition wall 30. The heat insulation structure 61 is in contact with the left side surface 41 of the inner shell 40, the heat insulation structure 62 is in contact with the right side surface 42 of the inner shell 40, and the heat insulation structure 65 is in contact with the bottom surface 45 of the inner shell 40. The exhaust gas generated for power generation is discharged from the exhaust gas outlet 22 formed on the upper surface 46 of the inner shell 40 to the outside of the fuel cell device 200.

  In the description of the first embodiment, all of the heat insulating structures 61 to 65 are disposed inside the fuel cell device 100. However, the fuel cell device 200 of the second embodiment shown in FIG. In addition, the heat insulating member 85 is merely disposed without the holding member 75 of the heat insulating structure 65 in the lower part of the power generation unit 1. In this case, for example, recesses 71h and 72h are provided on the surfaces of the holding members 71 and 72 facing the cell stack 2. And the electric power generation part 1 can be supported by pinching the base 3 by the said recessed parts 71h and 72h. Here, the heat insulating material 85 may be omitted, or the holding member 75 may be sandwiched by the recesses 71h and 72h, and the heat insulating material 85 may be omitted.

  Further, instead of or in addition to the omission of the heat insulating structure 65, any of the heat insulating structures 61 to 64 positioned on the front, rear, left and right side surfaces of the power generation unit 1 may be omitted. In consideration of the required heat insulation performance and workability of the heat insulating material, the present invention can be applied to any location.

  As mentioned above, although fuel cell device 100, 200 which has the heat insulation structure of FIGS. 1-3 of this invention was demonstrated as embodiment, this invention is not limited to these specific examples, It modifies within the scope of this invention. be able to. For example, the holding members 71 to 75 may appropriately include engaging portions such as fitting portions and hooks, leg portions, and the like for positioning or self-supporting thereof. Moreover, in order to suppress that the heat insulating materials 81-85 shift | deviate from the position which should be arrange | positioned, the holding members 71-75 or the heat insulating materials 81-85 may be provided with the latching | locking part suitably. 1 to 3, the heat insulating structures 61 to 65, the heat insulating structures 61 to 65 and the exhaust gas partition wall 30, or the heat insulating structures 61 to 65 and the inner shell 40 are in contact with each other, When the positioning structure or the locking portion as described above is provided, it may not be in contact.

  In the above embodiment, as the first to third assembly forms, the oxidant is a space between the bottom surface 45 of the inner shell 40 and the bottom surface 55 of the outer shell 50, the left and right side surfaces 41, 42 of the inner shell 40 and the outer surface. Although it has been described that the space flows between the left and right side surfaces 51 and 52 of the shell 50 and the space between the upper surface 46 of the inner shell 40 and the upper surface 56 of the outer shell 50, the oxidizing agent and the exhaust gas are used in carrying out the present invention. The flow path structure is not limited to these. For example, instead of or in addition to the left and right side surfaces 41 and 42 of the inner shell 40 and the left and right side surfaces 51 and 52 of the outer shell 50, the front and rear side surfaces 43 and 44 of the inner shell 40 and the front and rear side surfaces 53 and 54 of the outer shell 50 An oxidizing agent may be circulated in the space between the two. Alternatively, the oxidant inlet may be formed on the upper surface 56 of the outer shell 50, and the oxidant may be circulated only in the space between the upper surface 46 of the inner shell 40 and the upper surface 56 of the outer shell 50. Alternatively, the outer shell 50 may be omitted, and the oxidizing agent may be supplied to the oxidizing agent supply member 12 by piping or the like.

  Further, in the above embodiment, the power generation unit 1 in which the hydrogen-enriched gas is supplied to the anode electrode through the pedestal 3 and the oxidant is discharged into the exhaust gas partition wall 30 by the oxidant supply member 12 and reaches the cathode electrode is illustrated. However, it is not limited to this. For example, when the cell stack 2 is used in which the anode electrode is formed on the surface side of the fuel cell and the cathode electrode is formed on the inside of the fuel cell, an oxidant is supplied to the pedestal 3 to Hydrogen enriched gas can be supplied to In addition, when using the cell stack 2 having a plate stack shape that supplies the hydrogen-enriched gas and the oxidant gas to the anode electrode and the cathode electrode, respectively, using a separator, either the hydrogen-enriched gas or the oxidant is the exhaust gas partition 30. The structure does not need to be filled inside.

  In the above embodiment, the hydrogen-containing fuel and water vapor are supplied from the raw material introduction unit 5. However, an introduction unit for supplying water vapor is provided separately from the raw material introduction unit 5, and the hydrogen-containing fuel and water vapor are supplied. It is good also as a structure introduced into the modification | reformation part 4 from a different introduction part.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the rectangular parallelepiped shape was illustrated as the modification part 4, the thing of various shapes can be used. For example, a cylindrical shape can be used. Further, instead of the reforming unit 4, a dehydrogenation reaction unit may be provided. In this case, organic hydride is introduced into the dehydrogenation reaction section as a hydrogen-containing fuel. A dehydrogenation reaction is performed using off-gas combustion heat, and the separated hydrogen is supplied to the cell stack 2. Further, when hydrogen-enriched gas or pure hydrogen is used as the hydrogen-containing fuel, the hydrogen enriched gas or pure hydrogen can be directly supplied to the cell stack 2 without the reforming unit 4 itself.

  The fuel cell device of the present invention includes a heat insulating structure that can reduce the labor and cost of processing the heat insulating material and improve the selectivity of the type of heat insulating material by using a holding member that holds the heat insulating material. ing. Therefore, by using the present invention, it is possible to realize a reduction in manufacturing cost or an improvement in design freedom of a fuel cell device having a desired heat insulation performance.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Power generation part 2 Cell stack 3 Base 4 Reforming part 5 Raw fuel introduction part 6 Reformed gas supply part 9 Off gas combustion area 12 Oxidant supply member 13 Oxidant supply inlet 14 Oxidant supply outlet 21 Exhaust gas flow path 22 Exhaust gas outlet 30 Exhaust gas partition wall 40 Inner shell 50 Outer shell 61-65 Thermal insulation structure 71-75 Holding member 81-85 Thermal insulation material 100, 200 Fuel cell device

Claims (10)

A fuel cell body;
A container for housing the fuel cell body;
A fuel cell device having a heat insulator provided at least in part between the fuel cell main body and the container,
A holding member that is disposed between the heat insulator and the fuel cell main body and holds the heat insulator;
A fuel cell device in which the heat insulator and the holding member are formed of different materials.   The fuel cell device according to claim 1, wherein a surface of the holding member facing the heat insulator is a flat surface.   The fuel cell device according to claim 1, wherein the heat insulator has a flat plate shape.   The fuel cell device according to claim 1, wherein the heat insulator is a powdery or granular heat insulator.   The fuel cell device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the heat insulator is covered with a heat resistant cloth. The fuel cell body has a fuel cell stack,
The said holding member has a convex part in the surface facing the said fuel cell stack, and adjusts the flow of the oxidizing agent in the said fuel cell stack by the said convex part. Fuel cell device.   The fuel cell device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the holding member is made of an insulating material.   The fuel cell device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein a thermal conductivity of the heat insulator is lower than a thermal conductivity of the holding member.   The fuel cell device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the heat insulator has a thermal conductivity lower than that of still air. The fuel cell device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the holding member is a heat insulating material having a thermal conductivity higher than that of still air.

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