JP3448567B2 - Polymer electrolyte fuel cell power generator - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a polymer electrolyte fuel cell power generator suitable as a small-sized power source for home use, for example.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Recently, a reformer for reforming a fuel gas such as natural gas, city gas, methanol, LPG, butane into hydrogen, a CO shifter for transforming carbon monoxide, and a carbon monoxide remover. A CO remover, a process gas burner that burns hydrogen until each reactor stabilizes at startup, a fuel cell that chemically reacts the hydrogen thus obtained with oxygen in the air, and a fuel cell A water tank containing water (pure water) treated with a water treatment device such as an ion exchange resin for cooling the electrode part and humidifying the reaction air,
A polymer electrolyte fuel cell power generator as a small power source equipped with a heat exchanger that recovers the heat of exhaust gas from the reformer, fuel cell, process gas burner and the like into hot water, and a hot water storage tank that stores the hot water. Proposed.

A solid polymer electrolyte membrane used in a solid polymer fuel cell power generator functions as a proton conductive electrolyte by containing water. In the solid polymer fuel cell, reaction air, fuel gas, etc. A method is employed in which the reaction gas is saturated with water vapor and supplied to the electrode portion to operate.

When a fuel gas containing hydrogen is supplied to the fuel electrode and air is supplied to the air electrode, a fuel electrode reaction is carried out to decompose hydrogen molecules into hydrogen ions and electrons in the fuel electrode, and water is generated from oxygen, hydrogen ions and electrons in the air electrode. Each of the following electrochemical reactions that generate the electric current is performed, electric power is supplied to the load by the electrons moving in the external circuit from the fuel electrode toward the air electrode, and water is generated on the air electrode side.

FIG. 4 is a system diagram of a conventional polymer electrolyte fuel cell power generator (PEFC device GS). Fuel cell 6
The PEFC device GS that uses is, for example, includes a heat recovery device RD in addition to the fuel cell 6. This heat recovery device RD
Are connected by a hot water circulation path including a hot water storage tank 50, heat exchangers 32, 46, 71, and pumps 33, 47, 72.

The fuel cell 6 comprises a desulfurizer 2, a reformer 3 and a CO
Fuel gas supply device including a transformer 4, CO remover 5 and the like, air pump 11, reaction air supply device including a water tank 21, electrodes such as fuel electrode 6a and air electrode 6k, and water tank 21, pump 48, cooling A cooling device for the fuel cell 6 including a portion 6c and the like is provided.

The electric power generated by the fuel cell 6 is boosted by a DC / DC converter (not shown) and connected to a commercial power source through an unillustrated power distribution system cooperation inverter.
From here, it is supplied as electric power for other electric devices such as lighting and air conditioners in homes and offices.

In the PEFC device GS using such a fuel cell 6, hot water is generated from city water by utilizing heat generated during power generation by the fuel cell 6 simultaneously with power generation, and the hot water is stored in the hot water storage tank 50. The energy stored in the fuel used in the fuel cell 6 is effectively used by storing it and supplying it to a bath or kitchen.

In the fuel gas supply device of the PEFC device GS described above, the raw fuel 1 such as natural gas, city gas, methanol, LPG, butane is supplied to the desulfurizer 2, where the sulfur component is removed from the raw fuel. . When the raw fuel that has passed through the desulfurizer 2 is pressurized by the booster pump 10 and supplied to the reformer 3, hot water is sent from the water tank 21 through the water pump 22 and heated by the heat exchanger 17. It is supplied together with the generated steam. In the reformer 3, hydrogen, carbon dioxide,
A reformed gas containing carbon monoxide and carbon monoxide is produced. The gas that has passed through the reformer 3 is supplied to the CO shift converter 4, where carbon monoxide contained in the reformed gas is transformed into carbon dioxide. The gas that has passed through the CO shift converter 4 is supplied to the CO remover 5, in which the untransformed carbon monoxide in the gas that has passed through the CO shift converter 4 is reduced to, for example, 10 ppm or less, and a bulk water gas having a hydrogen concentration is obtained. (Reformed gas) is supplied to the fuel electrode 6a of the fuel cell 6 through the pipe 64.

At this time, the amount of water added to the reformed gas is adjusted by adjusting the amount of hot water supplied from the water tank 21 to the reformer 3. In the reaction air supply device, humidification is performed by supplying air from the air pump 11 to the water tank 21 and bubbling the reaction air into the hot water in the water tank 21 and sending the reaction air to the gas phase portion 53. In this way, the reaction air that has been moistened so that the reaction in the fuel cell 6 is appropriately maintained is supplied from the water tank 21 through the pipe 25 to the air electrode 6k of the fuel cell 6.

In the fuel cell 6, the hydrogen in the reformed gas supplied to the fuel electrode 6a and the oxygen in the air supplied to the air electrode 6k via the air pump 11 and the gas phase portion 53 of the water tank 21 are used. Power is generated by an electrochemical reaction. Fuel cell 6
In order to prevent the fuel cell 6 from overheating due to the reaction heat of this electrochemical reaction, the cooling device of FIG.
a, 6k are juxtaposed with each other. Hot water in the water tank 21 is circulated as cooling water by the pump 48 in the cooling unit 6c, and the temperature in the fuel cell 6 is suitable for power generation (for example, 70 The temperature is controlled to be maintained at about 80 ° C.

Since the chemical reaction in the reformer 3 is an endothermic reaction, it has a burner 12 for continuing the chemical reaction while heating, to which raw fuel is supplied via a pipe 13 and a fan 14 is connected. Air is supplied through the pipe 1
Unreacted hydrogen that has passed through the fuel electrode 6 a is supplied via 5. At the time of starting the PEFC apparatus GS, the raw fuel is supplied to the burner 12 via the pipe 13 to perform combustion. When the temperature of the fuel cell 6 becomes stable after the start, the supply of the raw fuel from the pipe 13 is cut off. Sauce, pipe 15 instead
The unreacted hydrogen (off gas) discharged from the fuel electrode 6a is supplied through the fuel cell and combustion is continued.

On the other hand, the chemical reaction carried out in the CO shift converter 4 and the CO remover 5 is an exothermic reaction. During operation, cooling control is performed so that the heat of the exothermic reaction does not raise the temperature above the reaction temperature. In this way, the reformer 3, the CO converter 4, the CO
A predetermined chemical reaction and power generation are continued in the remover 5 and the fuel cell 6.

Heat exchangers 18 and 19 are provided between the reformer 3 and the CO shift converter 4 and between the CO shift converter 4 and the CO remover 5, respectively.
Are connected. The hot water in the water tank 21 circulates through the heat exchangers 18 and 19 via the pumps 23 and 24, and the hot water cools the gas passing through the reformer 3 and the CO shift converter 4, respectively. Although not shown, a heat exchanger may be connected between the CO remover 5 and the fuel cell 6 to cool the gas passing through the CO remover 5. The heat exchanger 17 is connected to the exhaust system 31 of the reformer 3, and when the hot water in the water tank 21 is supplied via the pump 22, the heat exchanger 1
It is vaporized at 7, and this vapor is mixed with the raw fuel and supplied to the reformer 3.

The PEFC device GS is provided with a process gas burner (PG burner) 34. At the time of starting the PEFC device GS, the composition of the reformed gas that has passed through the reformer 3, the CO shifter 4, and the CO remover 5 has not reached a stable specified value suitable for the operation of the fuel cell 6, so that it is stable. Until then, this gas cannot be supplied to the fuel cell 6. Therefore, until the respective reactors become stable, the gas whose gas composition has not reached the specified value is introduced into the PG burner 34 and burned. Reference numeral 37 is a fan that sends combustion air to the PG burner 34.

Then, after each reactor is stabilized and the CO concentration in the gas reaches a specified value (for example, 10 to 20 ppm or less), it is introduced into the fuel cell 6 to generate electricity. The unreacted gas that could not be used for power generation in the fuel cell 6 was initially guided to the PG burner 34 and burned, and after the temperature of the fuel cell 6 became stable, the off gas from the fuel cell 6 was reformed through the pipe 15 and reformed. It is introduced into the burner 12 of the vessel 3 and burned.

That is, after the PEFC unit GS is started, the on-off valve 91 is closed and the reformed gas is supplied to the PG burner 34 via the pipe line 35 and the on-off valve 36 until the temperature of each reactor becomes stable. It

When the temperature of each reactor is stable, the on-off valve 91 is opened and the on-off valve 92 is opened until the temperature of the fuel cell 6 stabilizes in the temperature range near the operating temperature (for example, 70 to 80 ° C.). Is closed, and the reformed gas is supplied to the PG burner 34 via the pipe 38 and the opening / closing valve 39, and is burned there.

When the temperature of the fuel cell 6 is stabilized at the operating temperature and power is continuously generated, the on-off valve 91,
The on-off valve 92 is opened, the on-off valve 36 and the on-off valve 39 are closed, and the unreacted gas (off gas) that has passed through the fuel cell 6 is supplied to the burner 12 via the pipe 15.

City water is supplied to the hot water storage tank 50 through a water pipe 61. The city water supplied to the hot water storage tank 50 is heated by the exhaust heat generated from the PEFC device GS, and the heated hot water is supplied to the outside through the hot water supply pipe 62. For example, the exhaust system 31 includes a heat exchanger 17
In addition to the above, a further heat exchanger 32 is connected, and the water in the hot water storage tank 50 circulates in the heat exchanger 32 via the pump 33 to recover waste heat.

A heat exchanger 46 is connected to the exhaust system 45 of the PG burner 34, and water in the hot water storage tank 50 is circulated through the heat exchanger 46 via a pump 47 to recover heat in the hot water storage tank 50. Done. The water tank 21 has a pump 2
The water returning through the heat exchangers 18 and 19 by the cooling devices 3, 24 and 48 and the cooling water circulating in the cooling portion 6c of the fuel cell 6 are the water pipes 7.
A water supply device 68 is connected to supply water to the water tank 21 while flowing in through The water replenishing device 68 is composed of an electric valve 56, a supply tank 67, a pump 74, and the like. The supply tank 67 is a tank capable of temporarily storing water generated from the city water supply device 69 and the fuel cell 6 via the pipe 70 and supplying the water to the water tank 21.

For the water generated from the fuel cell 6, for example, the gas discharged from the air electrode 6k of the fuel cell 6 is used as the heat exchanger 7.
1 and the drain water obtained by cooling the inside of the heat exchanger 71 with the water circulating between the heat exchanger 71 and the hot water storage tank 50 and the water contained in the gas discharged from the fuel electrode 6a. is there.

The city water supply device 69 is connected to the water source 78 through the water pipe 52 having the motor-operated valve 76, and indicates that the water level in the supply tank 67 has decreased and the water level has decreased.
When 9 detects, the liquid level control device 77 opens the motor-operated valve 76 and utilizes the water pressure of the water source 78 to supply water to the supply tank 67 via the water pipe 52 and the water treatment device (ion exchange resin) 51. It is a device that holds the amount of water that does not hinder the supply of water to the water tank 21. In the water tank 21, a liquid level control device LC that keeps the water level of water so that an air portion (vapor phase portion) 53 is always formed in the upper part of the tank, and temperature control that keeps the water temperature in the water tank 21 within a set range. And a device TC.

The liquid level control device LC is provided with a control device for the water level gauge 54 and the motor-operated valve 56 to constantly monitor the amount of water in the water tank 21, and when the reaction air passes through the water tank 21. Water is stored in the tank so as to be appropriately humidified and supplied to the fuel cell 6, and the amount of water is controlled so that the gas phase portion 53 is formed in the upper part. When the water level drops, the pump 74
Of the supply tank 67 by adjusting the opening degree of the motor-operated valve 56.
The treated water is introduced from the above through the pipe 84 to keep the water level in the water tank 21 within the set range. Reference numeral 55 is a wave-eliminating plate that prevents the detection of the water level by the water level gauge 54 from becoming unstable due to foaming or the like.

The temperature control device TC controls the temperature of the water in a temperature range of, for example, 60 to 80 ° C. so that the water can be appropriately humidified when the reaction air is supplied to the air electrode 6k of the fuel cell 6. It is a device that keeps the temperature at the set temperature. This water temperature control is performed by controlling a heating device 63 such as a heater provided in the water tank 21 as necessary.

[0026]

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention]
Since the EFC device GS takes the form of a cogeneration system for power generation and heat utilization, not only the power generation efficiency of the fuel cell is achieved, but also the effective reuse of the water used in this system is achieved. However, if the hot water storage tank 50 is filled with hot water of a specified temperature during operation of the fuel cell 6 and the hot water is not supplied to the outside through the hot water supply pipe 62, the exhaust heat of the PEFC device GS cannot be recovered and the fuel cell In order to maintain the temperature of the cooling water of No. 6 within the specified temperature range, it was necessary to newly install a cooling means such as a radiator or stop the operation. If a cooling means such as a radiator is newly installed, there is a problem that it is costly and hinders miniaturization.

The object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art and to fill the hot water storage tank 50 with warm water of a specified temperature during operation without newly installing a cooling means such as a radiator. Even if hot water is not supplied to the outside through the hot water supply pipe 62, the temperature of the cooling water of the fuel cell 6 can be maintained within a prescribed temperature range without stopping the fuel cell power generator, for example, for household use. Another object of the present invention is to provide a polymer electrolyte fuel cell power generator suitable for use as a small power source.

[0028]

That is, the polymer electrolyte fuel cell power generator according to claim 1 of the present invention is a reformer for reforming fuel gas such as natural gas, city gas, methanol, LPG, butane into hydrogen. A gas purifier, a CO shifter that transforms carbon monoxide, a CO remover that removes carbon monoxide, a process gas burner that burns hydrogen until each reactor stabilizes at startup, and a fuel cell that generates electricity by hydrogen A water tank containing water for cooling the fuel cell, the reformer,
A first heat exchanger that recovers the heat of exhaust gas from a fuel cell, a process gas burner, etc. into hot water;
A second heat exchanger for transferring, and a hot water storage tank for storing hot water, prior to the first heat exchanger and the hot water storage tank
Serial and a second heat exchanger a polymer electrolyte fuel cell power generation system was connected in a loop, if the water temperature before Symbol water tank exceeds a predetermined temperature, for combustion in the process gas burner A fan for sending air is operated to use the first heat exchanger as a cooler to lower the temperature of the hot water A, and the hot water A having the lowered temperature is sent to the second heat exchanger to supply a water tank. The inside water is cooled and the temperature of the hot water in the water tank is kept within a predetermined temperature range.

The polymer electrolyte fuel cell power generator according to claim 2 of the present invention is the polymer electrolyte fuel cell power generator according to claim 1, wherein the process gas burner is burned when the fuel cell is started, and the water tank. When the water temperature of is less than a predetermined temperature , the hot water A is sent to the second heat exchanger to heat the water in the water tank, and when the water temperature of the water tank is equal to or higher than the predetermined temperature , The hot water A is used for the second heat exchange.
It is characterized by not sending to a container .

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided the polymer electrolyte fuel cell power generator according to the first aspect, wherein the process gas burner is stopped during power generation of the fuel cell, and the water tank. When the water temperature of is less than a predetermined temperature , the hot water A is not sent to the second heat exchanger, and when the water temperature of the water tank is equal to or higher than a predetermined temperature ,
The temperature of the hot water in the water tank is kept constant by sending the hot water A to the second heat exchanger to recover the heat.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the polymer electrolyte fuel cell power generator according to the first aspect, wherein the process gas burner does not operate during power generation of the fuel cell, and When the hot water tank is filled with hot water, if the water temperature of the water tank is lower than a predetermined temperature ,
When the hot water A is not sent to the second heat exchanger and the water temperature in the water tank is equal to or higher than a predetermined temperature, only the fan that sends the combustion air to the process gas burner is operated to operate the first heat. The exchanger is used as a cooler for cooling the hot water A, the temperature of the hot water A is lowered, and the temperature of the hot water A is lowered.
The cooled hot water of the second heat exchanger to send it the water tank, characterized by the Turkey to retain the hot water temperature of the water tank within a predetermined temperature range.

The polymer electrolyte fuel cell power generator of the present invention is a case where the hot water storage tank 50 is filled with hot water of a specified temperature during operation, and hot water is not supplied to the outside through the hot water supply pipe 62. Also, by operating only the fan that sends the combustion air to the process gas burner, the heat exchanger connected to the process gas burner is used as a cooler for cooling the hot water A, and the temperature of the hot water A is lowered to lower the temperature. Since the hot water A is sent to the line to be cooled, the temperature of the cooling water of the fuel cell 6 is regulated without newly installing a cooling means such as a radiator and without stopping the fuel cell power generator. Can be maintained in the temperature range of.

[0033]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. 1 to 3 are system diagrams for explaining an embodiment of a polymer electrolyte fuel cell power generator of the present invention. 1 to 3, the same components as those shown in FIG. 4 are designated by the same reference numerals, and the duplicated description will be omitted.

The polymer electrolyte fuel cell power generator GS1 of the present invention shown in FIG. 1 is discharged from the heat exchanger 32 of the exhaust system 31, the heat exchanger 46 of the exhaust system 45 and the air electrode k of the fuel cell 6. After the heat exchanger 71 for the gas, a heat exchanger HEX is further installed, and the water in the hot water storage tank 50 is pumped through the heat exchanger HEX by the pump P to the heat exchangers 71, 32, 4
A line L1 is provided to circulate and send the hot water A, which is sent to 6 to perform heat exchange and recovers waste heat, directly to the water tank 21 so as to be heat-exchanged. When the hot water A does not have to be sent to the water tank 21 via the line L1, the hot water A is stored in the hot water storage tank 5
A line L2 for sending to 0 is provided side by side, an opening / closing valve 82 is provided in the line L1, and an opening / closing valve 81 is provided in the line L2. The water pipe 73 is provided with a thermometer T indicating the temperature of the cooling water. The polymer electrolyte fuel cell power generator GS1 of the present invention is the same as the polymer electrolyte fuel cell generator GS shown in FIG. 4 except that the heat recovery device RD1 is provided.

(When activating the polymer electrolyte fuel cell power generator GS1 of the present invention) When the fuel cell 6 is activated, the fan 37 and the PG burner 34 are operated, and the water temperature of the water tank 21 (measured by the thermometer T). If the water temperature is less than a predetermined temperature (for example, less than 80 ° C.), the open / close valve 81 is closed, the open / close valve 82 is opened, and the hot water A whose waste heat is recovered is circulated and sent to the line L1. Heat the water in it (see Figure 2).
(Refer to the table in FIG. 2 for the open / closed states of the open / close valves 81, 82 and whether to operate or stop the fan 37 and the PG burner 34).

When the fuel cell 6 is activated, the fan 3
7. When the PG burner 34 is operated and the water temperature of the water tank 21 (water temperature measured by the thermometer T) is equal to or higher than a predetermined temperature (for example, 80 ° C. or higher), the opening / closing valve 81 is opened and the opening / closing valve 82 is opened.
And sends the hot water A from which exhaust heat has been recovered to the hot water storage tank 50 through the line L2 (see FIG. 3. Whether the open / close valves 81 and 82 are open / closed and whether the fan 37 and the PG burner 34 are operated or not is determined in FIG. See the table inside).

(In the case of power generation of the polymer electrolyte fuel cell power generator GS1 of the present invention) During power generation of the fuel cell 6, the operation of the fan 37 and the PG burner 34 is stopped, and the hot water tank 50 is still filled with hot water. If the water temperature of the water tank 21 (water temperature measured by the thermometer T) is lower than a predetermined temperature (for example, lower than 80 ° C.), the open / close valve 8
1 is opened, the on-off valve 82 is closed, and the hot water A is not sent to the line L1 but the hot water A whose waste heat is recovered is sent to the hot water storage tank 50 through the line L2 (see FIG. 3. Open / close states of the on-off valves 81 and 82, fans). (See table in FIG. 3 to activate or deactivate 37 and PG burner 34).

During power generation of the fuel cell 6, the fan 3
7. When the operation of the PG burner 34 is stopped and the hot water storage tank 50 is not yet filled with hot water, when the water temperature of the water tank 21 (water temperature measured by the thermometer T) is equal to or higher than a predetermined temperature ( For example, the open / close valve 81 is closed and the open / close valve 82 is opened to circulate the hot water A in the line L1 to cool the water in the water tank 21 (see FIG. 2). Refer to the table in FIG. 2 for the open / closed state and whether to operate or stop the fan 37 and the PG burner 34).

(When the hot water tank 50 is filled with warm water when the polymer electrolyte fuel cell power generator GS1 of the present invention is generating power) During hot water generation of the fuel cell 6, the hot water tank 50 is filled with hot water of a specified temperature. It becomes a tan state, and the hot water supply pipe 62
If the hot water is not supplied to the outside through the PEFC unit GS
When the water temperature of the water tank 21 (water temperature measured by the thermometer T) is equal to or higher than a predetermined temperature (for example, 80 ° C. or higher), combustion air is sent to the PG burner 34 because exhaust heat recovery of No. 1 cannot be performed. Only the fan 37 is operated to use the heat exchanger 46 connected to the PG burner 34 as a cooler for the hot water A to lower the temperature of the hot water A, and the hot water A whose temperature has been lowered is
The on-off valve 81 is closed, the on-off valve 82 is opened, and the water in the water tank 21 is cooled by circulating it to the line L1 (see FIG. 2. Open / closed states of the on-off valves 81 and 82, the fan 37 and P).
Refer to the table in FIG. 2 to activate or deactivate the G burner 34).

When the water temperature of the water tank 21 (water temperature measured by the thermometer T) is lower than a predetermined temperature (for example, 80
(Less than 0 ° C.), the open / close valve 81 is opened, the open / close valve 82 is closed, and the hot water A is not sent to the line L1 but the hot water A whose waste heat is recovered is sent to the hot water storage tank 50 via the line L2 (see FIG. 3). (See the table in FIG. 3 for the open / closed state of 81 and 82 and whether to operate or stop the fan 37 and the PG burner 34).

The opening / closing of the opening / closing valves 81, 82 and the operation or stop of the fan 37 and the PG burner 34 can be manually performed, but it is preferable to be automatically performed by a control device (not shown).

The above description of the embodiments is for explaining the present invention, and does not limit the invention described in the claims or reduce the scope thereof. Further, the configuration of each part of the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications can be made within the technical scope described in the claims.

[0043]

Since the polymer electrolyte fuel cell power generator of the present invention takes the form of a cogeneration system for power generation and heat utilization, not only the power generation efficiency of the fuel cell is achieved but also it is used in this system. In addition to the effect that water can be effectively reused, even if the hot water storage tank is filled with hot water during operation and hot water is not supplied to the outside through the hot water supply pipe, It is possible to maintain the temperature of the cooling water of the fuel cell within the specified temperature range without stopping and without newly installing a cooling means such as a radiator in the water tank. Play.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a system diagram showing one embodiment of a polymer electrolyte fuel cell power generator according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing an embodiment of a flow of hot water in the heat recovery device of the polymer electrolyte fuel cell power generator according to the present invention shown in FIG.

3 is an explanatory view showing another embodiment of the flow of hot water in the heat recovery device of the polymer electrolyte fuel cell power generator according to the present invention shown in FIG. 1. FIG.

FIG. 4 is a system diagram of a conventional polymer electrolyte fuel cell power generator.

[Explanation of symbols]

3 reformer 4 CO shifter 5 CO remover 6 fuel cell 10, 23 to 25, 28, 43, 47 pump 21 water tank 34 process gas burner 17, 18, 19, 32, 71 heat exchanger 37 combustion to process gas burner Fan 46 for supplying air for use Heat exchanger 50 connected to process gas burner 50 Hot water storage tank L1 Line L2 for circulating hot water A in a heat exchangeable manner to the water tank L2 Line for sending hot water A to the hot water storage tank GS, GS1 Solid polymer type Fuel cell power generator RD, RD1 Heat recovery device HEX heat exchanger T Thermometer

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued Front Page (72) Inventor Ryuji Yukawa 2-5-5 Keihan Hondori, Moriguchi City, Osaka Prefecture Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Taketoshi Koki 2-5 Keihan Hondori, Moriguchi City, Osaka Prefecture No. 5 within Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd. (56) Reference JP-A-6-176784 (JP, A) JP-A-2001-185197 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) H01M 8/00-8/24

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] 1. Natural gas, city gas, methanol, LP
A reformer for reforming a fuel gas such as G or butane into hydrogen,
A CO shifter that transforms carbon monoxide, a CO remover that removes carbon monoxide, a process gas burner that burns hydrogen until each reactor stabilizes at startup, a fuel cell that generates electricity using hydrogen, and a fuel cell. A water tank that stores water for cooling, a first heat exchanger that recovers heat of exhaust gas from the reformer, fuel cell, process gas burner, and the like into hot water, and exchanges heat with the water tank. Second heat exchanger to do
And, and a hot water storage tank for storing hot water, the hot water storage tank
And the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger.
It is a polymer electrolyte fuel cell power generator connected in a
Te, when the water temperature of the previous SL water tank exceeds a predetermined temperature, the hot water A to the first heat exchanger by operating the fan to provide combustion air to the process gas burner is used as a cooler lowering the temperature of, before the hot water a lowering the temperature
The polymer electrolyte fuel cell power generator, wherein the water in the water tank is cooled by being sent to the second heat exchanger, and the temperature of the hot water in the water tank is maintained within a predetermined temperature range. 2. The process gas burner is burned at the time of starting the fuel cell, and when the water temperature in the water tank is lower than a predetermined temperature ,
The hot water A is sent to the second heat exchanger to heat the water in the water tank, and when the water temperature in the water tank is equal to or higher than a predetermined temperature ,
The polymer electrolyte fuel cell power generator according to claim 1 , wherein the hot water A is not sent to the second heat exchanger . 3. The process gas burner is stopped during power generation of a fuel cell, and when the water temperature in the water tank is lower than a predetermined temperature ,
When the hot water A is not sent to the second heat exchanger and the water temperature in the water tank is equal to or higher than a predetermined temperature ,
The solid polymer fuel cell power generator according to claim 1, wherein the temperature of the hot water in the water tank is kept constant by sending the hot water A to the second heat exchanger to recover the heat. 4. When the process gas burner does not operate during power generation of a fuel cell, and the hot water storage tank is filled with hot water, when the water temperature of the water tank is lower than a predetermined temperature ,
When the hot water A is not sent to the second heat exchanger and the water temperature of the water tank is equal to or higher than a predetermined temperature, only the fan that sends the combustion air to the process gas burner is operated to operate the first heat exchange. The water is used as a cooler for cooling the hot water A, the temperature of the hot water A is lowered, and the hot water A having the lowered temperature is sent to the second heat exchanger to cool the hot water in the water tank. hot water temperature polymer electrolyte fuel cell power generation system according to claim 1, wherein the benzalkonium be kept within a predetermined temperature range of the tank.