JP4196819B2 - Humidifier for polymer electrolyte fuel cell - Google Patents

Humidifier for polymer electrolyte fuel cell Download PDF

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JP4196819B2
JP4196819B2 JP2003418954A JP2003418954A JP4196819B2 JP 4196819 B2 JP4196819 B2 JP 4196819B2 JP 2003418954 A JP2003418954 A JP 2003418954A JP 2003418954 A JP2003418954 A JP 2003418954A JP 4196819 B2 JP4196819 B2 JP 4196819B2
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humidifier
gas
humidified
fuel cell
chamber
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JP2005183057A (en
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茂実 加藤
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Fuji Electric Co Ltd
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    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
    • Y02E60/00—Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
    • Y02E60/30—Hydrogen technology
    • Y02E60/50—Fuel cells

Description

本発明は、固体高分子形燃料電池へ供給する反応ガスを加湿するために用いられる加湿装置に関する。   The present invention relates to a humidifier used for humidifying a reaction gas supplied to a polymer electrolyte fuel cell.

固体高分子膜を電解質として用いる固体高分子形燃料電池において所望の電池特性を得るには固体高分子膜を湿潤に保持することが必要である。このため、固体高分子形燃料電池では、反応ガスを加湿して供給する方法が一般に用いられている。
反応ガスの加湿には種々の方法が採られている。例えば、特許文献１には、加湿器を、水蒸気透過膜と、この水蒸気透過膜によって隔てられた加湿剤室と被加湿ガス室とから構成し、加湿剤室に燃料電池より排出された電池オフガスを供給して被加湿ガス室に導入された反応ガスを加湿する方法が開示されている。この方法においては、反応生成水を受けて高度に湿度の上昇した電池オフガスが加湿剤室に流れ、水蒸気分圧の差により水蒸気が水蒸気透過膜を透過して被加湿ガス室へと移動し、反応ガスが加湿される。
また、特許文献２には、加湿剤室に温水を通流して反応ガスを加湿する方式の加湿器が示されている。この他、特許文献３、特許文献４には、加湿器の被加湿ガス室のガス導入口とガス排出口との間に被加湿ガス室を迂回するバイパス管を設け、バイパス管に流れる流量を調節して被加湿ガス室に流れる流量を制御し、反応ガスの加湿量を調整するものが示されている。
特開平６−１３２０３８号公報 特開２００３−６８３３７号公報 特開平５−４７３９４号公報 特開２００１−２１６９８４号公報 In a polymer electrolyte fuel cell using a polymer electrolyte membrane as an electrolyte, it is necessary to keep the polymer electrolyte membrane wet in order to obtain desired battery characteristics. For this reason, in the polymer electrolyte fuel cell, a method of supplying the reaction gas by humidification is generally used.
Various methods are used for humidifying the reaction gas. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses that a humidifier is composed of a water vapor permeable membrane, a humidifier chamber and a humidified gas chamber separated by the water vapor permeable membrane, and a battery off gas discharged from the fuel cell into the humidifier chamber. Has been disclosed to humidify the reaction gas introduced into the humidified gas chamber. In this method, the battery off-gas whose humidity has been increased due to the reaction product water flows to the humidifier chamber, and due to the difference in water vapor partial pressure, the water vapor passes through the water vapor permeable membrane and moves to the humidified gas chamber, The reaction gas is humidified.
Patent Document 2 discloses a humidifier of a type in which warm water is passed through a humidifier chamber to humidify a reaction gas. In addition, in Patent Document 3 and Patent Document 4, a bypass pipe that bypasses the humidified gas chamber is provided between the gas inlet and the gas outlet of the humidified gas chamber of the humidifier, and the flow rate flowing through the bypass pipe is determined. It is shown that the flow amount flowing into the humidified gas chamber is adjusted to adjust the humidification amount of the reaction gas.
JP-A-6-132038 JP 2003-68337 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-47394 JP 2001-216984 A

上記のように、従来の固体高分子形燃料電池においては、電解質として用いる固体高分子膜を湿潤に保持するために、例えば特許文献１、２に見られるごとく、加湿器により加湿した反応ガスを供給する方式が採られており、例えば特許文献３、４のごとく構成することによって加湿量が調整されている。しかしながら、特許文献１に示された加湿器のごとく、水蒸気透過膜によって加湿剤室と被加湿ガス室を隔てた構成の加湿器においては、得られる加湿量は反応ガスと水蒸気透過膜との接触面積に比例するので、十分な加湿量を得るにはこの接触面積を大きくする必要があり、加湿器のサイズが大型になってしまうという問題点がある。また、燃料電池が低負荷で運転される場合には使用する反応ガスの流量が低下するが、従来の加湿器においては加湿量の調整ができず、ガス流量が低下すると加湿量が増大するので、反応ガスが過度に加湿されるという難点があった。   As described above, in the conventional polymer electrolyte fuel cell, in order to keep the polymer electrolyte membrane used as the electrolyte wet, for example, as seen in Patent Documents 1 and 2, the reaction gas humidified by the humidifier is used. The supply method is adopted, and the humidification amount is adjusted by configuring as in Patent Documents 3 and 4, for example. However, as in the humidifier shown in Patent Document 1, in the humidifier having a configuration in which the humidifier chamber and the humidified gas chamber are separated by the water vapor permeable membrane, the amount of humidification obtained is the contact between the reaction gas and the water vapor permeable membrane. Since it is proportional to the area, it is necessary to increase this contact area in order to obtain a sufficient amount of humidification, and there is a problem that the size of the humidifier becomes large. In addition, when the fuel cell is operated at a low load, the flow rate of the reaction gas to be used is reduced. However, in the conventional humidifier, the humidification amount cannot be adjusted, and the humidification amount increases when the gas flow rate decreases. The reaction gas is excessively humidified.

本発明は上記の問題点を考慮してなされたもので、本発明の目的は、小型ながら十分な加湿性能を有し、かつ加湿量の調整が可能な固体高分子形燃料電池用の加湿装置を提供することにある。   The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a humidifier for a polymer electrolyte fuel cell that is compact but has sufficient humidification performance and is capable of adjusting the humidification amount. Is to provide.

上記の目的を達成するために、本発明においては、
固体高分子形燃料電池に供給する反応ガスの加湿に用いる加湿装置を、被加湿ガス室と水蒸気透過膜で隔てられた加湿剤室に加湿剤を供給して被加湿ガス室に導入した反応ガスを加湿する加湿器と、この加湿器の被加湿ガス室のガス導入口とガス排出口とを連結するバイパス配管と、このバイパス配管中の反応ガスを上記のガス排出口側からガス導入口側へと通流させる流量調整可能なブロワーとを備えて構成することとし、上記の加湿剤として、例えば温水や高湿度ガスを用いることとする。なお、上記の流量調整には、ブロワーの出力を調整することの他に、ブロワーのＯＮ−ＯＦＦ制御も含む。 In order to achieve the above object, in the present invention,
A humidifying device used for humidifying the reactant gas supplied to the polymer electrolyte fuel cell is a reactant gas introduced into the humidified gas chamber by supplying the humidifier to the humidified chamber separated from the humidified gas chamber and the water vapor permeable membrane. A humidifier that humidifies the gas, a bypass pipe that connects the gas inlet and gas outlet of the humidified gas chamber of the humidifier, and the reaction gas in the bypass pipe from the gas outlet side to the gas inlet side For example, warm water or high-humidity gas is used as the humidifier. The flow rate adjustment includes ON / OFF control of the blower in addition to adjusting the output of the blower.

上記のごとく、加湿装置を、加湿剤を供給する加湿剤室と反応ガスを供給する被加湿ガス室を水蒸気透過膜で隔てて配置した加湿器と、この加湿器の被加湿ガス室のガス導入口とガス排出口とを連結するバイパス配管と、このバイパス配管中の反応ガスを上記のガス排出口側からガス導入口側へと通流させる流量調整可能なブロワーとを備えて構成すれば、ガス導入口より被加湿ガス室に供給された反応ガスは、水蒸気透過膜を透過した加湿剤中の水分を受けて加湿される。さらに、加湿されてガス排出口より排出された反応ガスの一部は、上記のブロワーの作用によって上記バイパス配管中をガス導入口側へと通流し、再び加湿器の被加湿ガス室に送られて加湿処理が繰り返される。したがって本構成の加湿装置では、反応ガスと水蒸気透過膜との接触面積が実質的に増加することとなり、小型の加湿器でも反応ガスを高湿度に加湿することができる。   As described above, the humidifier includes a humidifier chamber in which a humidifier chamber for supplying a humidifier and a humidified gas chamber for supplying a reaction gas are separated by a water vapor permeable membrane, and gas introduction to the humidified gas chamber of the humidifier A bypass pipe that connects the gas outlet and the gas outlet, and a flow rate adjustable blower that allows the reaction gas in the bypass pipe to flow from the gas outlet side to the gas inlet side, The reaction gas supplied from the gas inlet to the humidified gas chamber is humidified by receiving moisture in the humidifying agent that has permeated the water vapor permeable membrane. Further, a part of the reaction gas that has been humidified and discharged from the gas discharge port flows through the bypass pipe to the gas introduction port side by the action of the blower, and is sent to the humidified gas chamber of the humidifier again. The humidification process is repeated. Therefore, in the humidifier of this configuration, the contact area between the reaction gas and the water vapor permeable membrane is substantially increased, and the reaction gas can be humidified to a high humidity even with a small humidifier.

なお、バイパス配管中に備えたブロワーの出力を調整することによって反応ガスの循環流量が制御され、ガス排出口を出て燃料電池スタックへと送られる加湿反応ガスの加湿量が定まる。すなわち、循環流量の割合を増大させれば燃料電池スタックへと送られる加湿反応ガスの加湿量が増大し、循環流量の割合を下げれば加湿反応ガスの加湿量も低下することとなる。したがって、燃料電池発電装置を低出力で運転する場合には、ブロワーの出力を下げて循環流量の割合を下げればよい。   In addition, the circulation flow rate of the reaction gas is controlled by adjusting the output of the blower provided in the bypass pipe, and the humidification amount of the humidification reaction gas sent from the gas discharge port to the fuel cell stack is determined. That is, if the ratio of the circulation flow rate is increased, the humidification amount of the humidified reaction gas sent to the fuel cell stack is increased, and if the ratio of the circulation flow rate is decreased, the humidification amount of the humidification reaction gas is also decreased. Therefore, when the fuel cell power generator is operated at a low output, the blower output may be reduced to reduce the ratio of the circulation flow rate.

本発明の固体高分子形燃料電池用の加湿装置の最良の実施形態は、加湿剤を供給する加湿剤室と反応ガスを供給する被加湿ガス室を水蒸気透過膜で隔てて配置した加湿器に、この加湿器の被加湿ガス室のガス導入口とガス排出口とを連結するバイパス配管を備え、さらにこのバイパス配管中に反応ガスを上記のガス排出口側からガス導入口側へと通流させる流量調整可能なブロワーとを備えて構成した実施形態にある。   The best embodiment of the humidifier for a polymer electrolyte fuel cell of the present invention is a humidifier in which a humidifier chamber for supplying a humidifier and a humidified gas chamber for supplying a reaction gas are separated by a water vapor permeable membrane. A bypass pipe that connects the gas inlet and the gas outlet of the humidified gas chamber of the humidifier, and further the reaction gas flows from the gas outlet side to the gas inlet side in the bypass pipe. It is in embodiment comprised with the blower which can be made to adjust the flow volume.

図１は、本発明の固体高分子形燃料電池の加湿装置の実施例の基本構成を示すフロー図である。図において、１は、水蒸気透過膜１２により隔てられた加湿剤室１１と被加湿ガス室１３からなる加湿器であり、３１は、被加湿ガス室１３へ反応ガスを供給するガス供給配管、３２は、被加湿ガス室１３から加湿された反応ガスを排出するガス排出配管、３３は、被加湿ガス室１３のガス排出口より排出された反応ガスを再循環させてガス供給口へと導くためのバイパス配管であり、このバイパス配管３３には反応ガスを通流させるための流量調整可能なブロワー２が組み込まれている。また、４１は、加湿剤室１１へ加湿剤としての温水を供給する加湿剤供給管であり、４２は加湿剤室１１より加湿剤を排出する加湿剤排出管である。
本構成の加湿装置においては、加湿剤室１１へ温水を供給し、被加湿ガス室１３へ反応ガスを供給することによって、反応ガスの加湿が行われる。特に本装置では、ブロワー２を備えたバイパス配管３３が組込まれ、図示しない制御手段によってブロワー２の流量を調整するよう構成されているので、被加湿ガス室１３のガス排出口より排出された反応ガスのうち一定量はバイパス配管３３を再循環してガス供給口へと達し、再び被加湿ガス室１３中で加湿されることとなる。したがって、加湿器１での加湿が効果的に行われることとなり、加湿器１が小型でも高度に加湿された反応ガスを得ることができる。 FIG. 1 is a flow diagram showing the basic configuration of an embodiment of a humidifier for a polymer electrolyte fuel cell of the present invention. In the figure, 1 is a humidifier composed of a humidifying agent chamber 11 and a humidified gas chamber 13 separated by a water vapor permeable membrane 12, 31 is a gas supply pipe for supplying a reactive gas to the humidified gas chamber 13, 32 Is a gas discharge pipe for discharging the humidified reaction gas from the humidified gas chamber 13, and 33 is for recirculating the reaction gas discharged from the gas discharge port of the humidified gas chamber 13 to lead to the gas supply port The bypass pipe 33 incorporates a blower 2 capable of adjusting the flow rate for allowing the reaction gas to flow therethrough. Reference numeral 41 denotes a humidifying agent supply pipe for supplying warm water as a humidifying agent to the humidifying agent chamber 11, and reference numeral 42 denotes a humidifying agent discharge pipe for discharging the humidifying agent from the humidifying agent chamber 11.
In the humidifier of this configuration, the hot water is supplied to the humidifying agent chamber 11 and the reactive gas is supplied to the humidified gas chamber 13 to humidify the reactive gas. In particular, in this apparatus, a bypass pipe 33 provided with the blower 2 is incorporated, and the flow rate of the blower 2 is adjusted by control means (not shown), so that the reaction discharged from the gas discharge port of the humidified gas chamber 13 A certain amount of the gas is recirculated through the bypass pipe 33 to reach the gas supply port, and is humidified again in the humidified gas chamber 13. Therefore, humidification in the humidifier 1 is effectively performed, and a highly humidified reaction gas can be obtained even if the humidifier 1 is small.

本実施例の構成とすれば、このように加湿が効果的に行われ、高度に加湿された反応ガスが得られるが、ブロワー２の出力を低下させ、あるいは停止させれば、循環流量が低下して得られる反応ガスの加湿量が下がるので、反応ガスの消費量の少ない低出力運転時等に反応ガスが過度に加湿されるのを防止することができる。
なお、本構成においては加湿剤室１１へ供給する加湿剤として温水を用いることとしているが、この温水として燃料電池本体を運転温度に保持するために用いる電池冷却水を用いれば、システムの構成がより簡素化される。また、温水に替わって高湿度ガスを加湿剤として用いてもよい。この場合、燃料電池本体から排出される電池オフガスをこの高湿度ガスとして用いればシステムがより簡素に構成される。 With the configuration of the present embodiment, humidification is effectively performed in this way, and a highly humidified reaction gas can be obtained. However, if the output of the blower 2 is reduced or stopped, the circulation flow rate is reduced. Since the humidification amount of the reaction gas obtained in this manner is reduced, it is possible to prevent the reaction gas from being excessively humidified during low power operation where the consumption amount of the reaction gas is low.
In this configuration, hot water is used as the humidifier supplied to the humidifier chamber 11, but if battery cooling water used to maintain the fuel cell main body at the operating temperature is used as this hot water, the configuration of the system can be increased. More simplified. Moreover, you may use high humidity gas as a humidifier instead of warm water. In this case, if the battery off gas discharged from the fuel cell main body is used as the high humidity gas, the system is configured more simply.

固体高分子形燃料電池の加湿装置を本発明のごとく構成すれば、上記のごとく、小型ながら十分な加湿性能を有し、かつ加湿量の調整が可能となるので、据付形の固体高分子形燃料電池をはじめ、各種の固体高分子形燃料電池の加湿装置として利用することが可能となる。   If the humidification device of the polymer electrolyte fuel cell is configured as in the present invention, as described above, it is small but has sufficient humidification performance, and the amount of humidification can be adjusted. It can be used as a humidifier for various polymer electrolyte fuel cells including fuel cells.

本発明の固体高分子形燃料電池の加湿装置の実施例の基本構成を示すフロー図The flowchart which shows the basic composition of the Example of the humidification apparatus of the polymer electrolyte fuel cell of this invention

符号の説明Explanation of symbols

１ 加湿器
２ ブロワー
１１ 加湿剤室
１２ 水蒸気透過膜
１３ 被加湿ガス室
３３ バイパス配管
1 Humidifier
2 Blower 11 Humidifier chamber 12 Water vapor permeable membrane 13 Humidified gas chamber 33 Bypass piping

Claims (3)

固体高分子形燃料電池に供給する反応ガスを加湿する加湿装置で、被加湿ガス室と水蒸気透過膜で隔てられた加湿剤室に加湿剤を供給して被加湿ガス室に導入した反応ガスを加湿する加湿器と、この加湿器の被加湿ガス室のガス導入口とガス排出口とを連結するバイパス配管と、このバイパス配管中の反応ガスを前記のガス排出口側からガス導入口側へと通流させる流量調整可能なブロワーとを備えて構成された固体高分子形燃料電池の加湿装置。 A humidifier that humidifies the reaction gas supplied to the polymer electrolyte fuel cell, supplying the humidifier to the humidifier chamber separated from the humidified gas chamber and the water vapor permeable membrane and introducing the reactant gas into the humidified gas chamber. A humidifier for humidification, a bypass pipe connecting the gas inlet and the gas outlet of the humidified gas chamber of the humidifier, and the reaction gas in the bypass pipe from the gas outlet side to the gas inlet side And a humidifier for a polymer electrolyte fuel cell comprising a blower with adjustable flow rate. 前記の加湿剤が温水であることを特徴とする請求項１に記載の固体高分子形燃料電池の加湿装置。 2. The humidifier for a polymer electrolyte fuel cell according to claim 1, wherein the humidifier is warm water. 前記の加湿剤が高湿度ガスであることを特徴とする請求項１に記載の固体高分子形燃料電池の加湿装置。
2. The humidifier for a polymer electrolyte fuel cell according to claim 1, wherein the humidifier is a high humidity gas.
JP2003418954A 2003-12-17 2003-12-17 Humidifier for polymer electrolyte fuel cell Expired - Fee Related JP4196819B2 (en)

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