JP5101057B2 - Fuel cell power generation system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a fuel cell power generation system having a fuel cell operating unit and a fuel cell support device.

  The fuel cell includes a cell (power generation element) having a pair of electrodes and an electrolyte separating the electrodes. The fuel cell supplies a fuel gas (for example, hydrogen) to one electrode of this cell and supplies an oxidant gas (for example, oxygen) to the other electrode, thereby causing these hydrogen and oxygen to chemically react with each other. Electric power is generated between the electrodes. Since the electric power generated by each cell is not so large, in an actual fuel cell, necessary electric power is generated by electrically connecting a plurality of cells (this assembly of cells is called a “fuel cell stack”) ).

Since the fuel cell is a clean power source that does not cause a combustion reaction as described above, it is suitably used as a power source for a device used in a closed space such as a submersible craft.
In an apparatus used in such a closed space, since the space inside is limited, it is required to make the occupied space as small as possible for the fuel cell.
As a fuel cell with a small occupied space, for example, a fuel cell system described in Patent Document 1 described below is known. The fuel cell system described in Patent Document 1 separates a fuel cell unit (fuel cell operating unit) and a fuel cell support unit that supports start-up and stop operations of the fuel cell unit, and only the fuel cell unit is included in the moving body. It is designed to be installed.

JP 2002-216822 A

In such a fuel cell system, fuel gas (for example, hydrogen gas or oxygen gas), purge gas, or electrolyte is humidified between the fuel cell unit and the fuel cell support unit during start-up operation or stop operation of the fuel cell unit. Various fluids such as pure water are exchanged.
For this reason, the fuel cell support unit is provided with a fluid supply path that is detachably connected to the fuel cell unit.

However, in a state where the fuel cell unit and the fuel cell support unit are separated, the connection end of the fluid supply path with the fuel cell is exposed to the outside air. For this reason, when connecting a fuel cell part and a fuel cell support part, external air will penetrate | invade in a fluid supply path.
If fluid is supplied to the fuel cell part through the fluid supply path in this state, outside air that has entered the fluid supply path is sent into the fuel cell stack of the fuel cell part, and an undesirable chemical reaction occurs inside the fuel cell stack. As a result, the fuel cell operation may be hindered.

  Therefore, conventionally, when the fuel cell unit and the fuel cell support unit are connected, a purge fluid is sent from the fuel cell support unit into the fluid supply path, and the outside air in the fluid supply path is removed from the fuel cell. It was sent to the exhaust system of the fuel cell part through the flow path in the part and discharged to the outside.

However, in this method, it is necessary to purge the fuel cell part in addition to the fluid supply path. For this reason, the purge work takes time, and the amount of purge gas used for the purge work is large, which increases the operation cost.
In particular, when the fluid supply path is a supply path for a flammable fluid such as hydrogen gas, the fluid is firstly fluidized with an inert fluid such as nitrogen gas so that the oxygen concentration in the flammable fluid does not reach the combustion range or the explosion range. After purging the supply path and the fuel cell part and reliably discharging oxygen from the inside, it is necessary to supply a combustible fluid into the fluid supply path and the fuel cell part again. It took time and purge gas.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and provides a fuel cell power generation system that can perform a purging operation at a low cost in a short time when the fuel cell operating unit and the fuel cell support device are connected. The purpose is to provide.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides the following means.
That is, the present invention includes a fuel cell operating unit that generates power, and a fuel cell support device that is detachably connected to the fuel cell operating unit and supplies fluid to the fuel cell operating unit. The fuel cell support device includes a fuel cell support device side supply flow channel that is detachably connected to the fuel cell operating unit, and a purge fluid supply source connected to the fuel cell support device side supply flow channel A purge bypass channel connected to the fuel cell support device side supply channel, a purge valve for opening and closing the purge bypass channel, and the purge bypass to the fuel cell support device side supply channel A fuel cell support apparatus-side recovery flow path connected via a flow path, and the purge valve is opened and purged in a state where the fuel cell operating unit and the fuel cell support apparatus are connected. fuel characterized by To provide a pond power generation system.

In this fuel cell power generation system, when connecting the fuel cell support device and the fuel cell operating unit, first, the fuel cell support device side supply flow path is connected to the fuel cell operating unit, and in this state, the fuel cell support device The side supply valve and the purge valve are opened, and the purge fluid is supplied from the purge fluid supply source to the fuel cell support apparatus side supply flow path.
As a result, the fluid in the fuel cell support apparatus side supply flow path is pushed out by the purge fluid into the purge bypass flow path and the fuel cell support apparatus side recovery flow path, and is discharged from the fuel cell support apparatus side supply flow path. (Purge process).

That is, in this fuel cell power generation system, the fluid that has entered the fuel cell support device side supply channel while the fuel cell operation unit and the fuel cell support device are separated is not sent to the fuel cell operation unit. Since the fuel cell support apparatus side supply flow path is immediately discharged through the purge bypass flow path and the fuel cell support apparatus side recovery flow path, the time required for the purge process and the purge fluid can be greatly saved.
Here, an inert gas such as nitrogen gas may be used as the purge fluid, and the fluid supplied from the fuel cell support device to the fuel cell operation unit when the fuel cell operation unit and the fuel cell support device are connected. May be used.
Further, when purging the fuel cell support apparatus side supply flow path, purging while changing the internal pressure of the fuel cell support apparatus side supply flow path (that is, by using the pressure swing method), the fuel cell support Purge of the fluid in the apparatus side supply flow path can be performed more reliably.

In this fuel cell power generation system, the purge bypass flow path may be connected in the vicinity of a connection end of the fuel cell support apparatus side supply flow path with the fuel cell operating part.
In this case, by supplying the purge fluid from the purge fluid supply source to the fuel cell support apparatus side supply flow path, the portion near the connection end with the fuel cell operating unit in the fuel cell support apparatus side supply flow path The fluid in the fuel cell support apparatus side supply flow path can be pushed out directly to the purge bypass flow path by the purge fluid in the range up to (that is, almost in the range in the fuel cell support apparatus side supply flow path) So purge efficiency is high.

Further, the fuel cell supporting apparatus side recovery passage may be possible to connect detachable from the fuel cell operating unit.
In this case, when the purge process is performed, the fluid in the fuel cell support apparatus side supply flow path and the purge fluid used for the purge process are sent to the fuel cell support apparatus side recovery flow path through the purge bypass flow path. Therefore, the fluid in the fuel cell support device side supply flow path and the purge fluid used for the purge process can be recovered.
For this reason, the fluid in the fuel cell support apparatus side supply flow path and the purge fluid used in the purge process can be appropriately processed (this process includes a regeneration process for reuse).

Here, the fuel cell support device side supply flow path is a supply path of fuel gas or oxidant gas to the fuel cell operating section, and the purge fluid supply source is an inert gas supply source. Good.
In this case, the purge operation is performed according to the above-described procedure, so that the fuel cell support device side supply is performed without introducing oxygen-containing outside air into the flow path through which the fuel gas or the oxidant gas in the fuel cell operating unit flows. Since the atmosphere in the flow path can be replaced with an inert gas, the fuel cell support apparatus side supply flow path can be purged safely and quickly without degrading the performance of the fuel cell stack.

The fuel cell support apparatus side supply flow path may be a water supply path to the fuel cell operating unit, and the purge fluid supply source may be an inert gas supply source.
In this case, since the atmosphere in the water supply flow path on the fuel cell support apparatus side can be replaced with an inert gas by performing the purging process in the above-described procedure, the water supply to the fuel cell operating unit is performed. It is possible to prevent outside air from being mixed into the fuel cell operating part.

Further, the fuel cell operating part may have a fuel cell operating part side supply valve for opening and closing a connection part with the fuel cell support device side supply flow path.
In this case, the fuel cell operating unit is operated in an independent state by separating the fuel cell operating unit and the fuel cell support device while the fuel cell side supply valve of the fuel cell operating unit is closed.
In this fuel cell power generation system, when the fuel cell operating unit and the fuel cell support device are connected, first, the fuel cell support device side supply flow path is connected to the fuel cell operating unit, and in this state, the fuel cell support device The side supply valve and the purge valve are opened, and the purge fluid is supplied from the purge fluid supply source to the fuel cell support apparatus side supply flow path.
As a result, the fluid in the fuel cell support apparatus side supply flow path is pushed out by the purge fluid to the purge bypass flow path, and is discharged from the fuel cell support apparatus side supply flow path (purging process).

  That is, in this fuel cell power generation system, the fluid that has entered the fuel cell support device side supply channel while the fuel cell operation unit and the fuel cell support device are separated is not sent to the fuel cell operation unit. Since the fuel cell support device is immediately discharged from the supply flow path, the time required for the purge process and the purge fluid can be greatly saved.

  In addition, after purging the inside of the fuel cell support apparatus side supply flow path with an inert gas, the inside of the fuel cell support apparatus side supply flow path can be replaced with fuel gas and oxidant gas. Thus, if the fuel cell operating part side valve in the fuel cell operating part is opened after the fuel cell support device side flow path is replaced with fuel gas and oxidant gas, not only the outside air but also the inert gas used for purging Even the fuel gas and oxidant gas required for power generation can be supplied to the fuel cell operating unit without sending them to the fuel cell operating unit. That is, since the fuel cell support device and the fuel cell operating unit can be connected without stopping the power generation of the fuel cell stack in the fuel cell operating unit, the operability of the fuel cell power generating system becomes very good.

  According to the fuel cell power generation system configured as described above, the purge operation at the time of connection between the fuel cell operating unit and the fuel cell support device can be performed in a short time and at a low cost, and the operability can be improved. Become.

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
The fuel cell power generation system according to the present invention is used as a power source for a moving body such as a submersible craft. As shown in FIG. 1, the fuel cell power generation system 1 shown in the present embodiment is provided separately from the fuel cell operating unit 2 mounted on a mobile body and the fuel cell operating unit 2 at a base of the mobile body. The fuel cell support device 3 is provided.
The fuel cell support device 3 supplies fluid to the fuel cell operating unit 2, and is connected to the fuel cell operating unit 2 so as to be detachable and connected to the fuel cell support device side supply flow path 11, A purge fluid supply source 12 connected to the fuel cell support apparatus side supply flow path 11 and a fuel cell support apparatus side recovery flow path 13 detachably connected to the fuel cell operating unit 2 are provided. Yes.

In the present embodiment, the fuel cell support device 3 includes a hydrogen supply source 16, an oxygen supply source 17, and a pure water supply source 18. Here, the hydrogen supply source 16 and the oxygen supply source 17 are configured by, for example, a gas container filled with hydrogen gas or oxygen gas in a high-pressure gas state or a liquefied state. The hydrogen supply source 16 may be configured to include a hydrogen compound supply source that supplies a hydrogen compound such as hydrocarbon and a reformer that extracts hydrogen from the hydrogen compound supplied from the hydrogen compound supply source. Good.
The pure water supply source 18 includes a pure water production device 18a, a water storage tank 18b that stores pure water produced by the pure water production device 18a, and a pure water supply pump 18c that pumps pure water in the water storage tank 18b. is doing. The water storage tank 18b is provided with a relief valve (not shown) for venting gas.

The hydrogen supply source 16, the oxygen supply source 17, and the pure water supply source 18 are connected to the fuel cell operating unit 2 via the corresponding fuel cell support device side supply flow paths 11.
Specifically, the hydrogen supply source 16 is connected to the fuel cell operating unit 2 via the fuel cell support apparatus side hydrogen supply path 21, and the oxygen supply source 17 is connected to the fuel cell support apparatus side oxygen supply path 22. The pure water supply source 18 is connected to the fuel cell operating unit 2 via the fuel cell support device-side pure water supply path 23.
Here, the fuel cell support device-side pure water supply path 23 includes a hydrogen-side pure water supply path 23a connected to a fuel cell-side hydrogen supply path 61 described later of the fuel cell operating section 2 and a fuel cell operating section 2 described later. An oxygen-side pure water supply path 23 b connected to the fuel cell-side oxygen supply path 62, and a cooling water supply path 23 c connected to a later-described cooling water supply path 63 of the fuel cell operating unit 2.

A supply-side connector 24 is provided at a connection end of the fuel cell support device side supply flow path 11 with the fuel cell operating unit 2 so that the connection end is detachably connected to the fuel cell operating unit 2. .
The vicinity of the connection end of the fuel cell support device side supply flow path 11 to the fuel cell operating part 2 is constituted by a flexible pipe such as a flexible tube, thereby connecting the fuel cell operating part 2 to the fuel cell operating part 2. It can be done easily.
A fuel cell support apparatus side supply valve 25 for opening and closing the fuel cell support apparatus side supply flow path 11 is provided in the vicinity of the connection end of the fuel cell support apparatus side supply flow path 11 with the fuel cell operating unit 2. The fuel cell support apparatus side supply valve 25 may be incorporated in the supply side connector 24.

Among these fuel cell support device side supply flow paths 11, the fuel cell support device side hydrogen supply path 21 and the fuel cell support apparatus side oxygen supply path 22 are respectively downstream of the fluid supplied from the corresponding fluid supply sources. A flow rate adjusting device 26 for adjusting the flow rate of each fluid is provided so that the supply amount of each fluid to the fuel cell operating unit 2 can be controlled.
The hydrogen-side pure water supply path 23a, the oxygen-side pure water supply path 23b, and the cooling water supply path 23c are each provided with a shutoff valve 27, and the supply of pure water is independent of each of these supply paths. And can be controlled.

The purge fluid supply source 12 is configured by, for example, a gas container filled with an inert gas such as nitrogen in a high-pressure gas state or a liquefied state.
The purge fluid supply source 12 is connected to each fuel cell support apparatus side supply channel 11 through a purge fluid supply channel 28. In the present embodiment, a flow rate adjusting device 29 that adjusts the flow rate of the purge fluid supplied from the purge fluid supply source 12 to the downstream side is provided on the purge fluid supply path 28. The supply amount of the purge fluid to the support device side supply flow path 11 can be controlled.

Further, in the present embodiment, as the fuel cell support apparatus side recovery flow path 13, the fuel cell support apparatus side hydrogen recovery path 31 that recovers a fluid containing hydrogen from the fuel cell operation section 2 and oxygen from the fuel cell operation section 2. A fuel cell support device side oxygen recovery path 32 for recovering the fluid contained therein and a fuel cell support device side moisture recovery path 33 for recovering excess water from the fuel cell operating unit 2 are provided.
These fuel cell support device side recovery passages 13 may be configured to release the recovered fluid to the atmosphere, or may be configured to supply the corresponding fluid recovery device or abatement device.
In the present embodiment, the fuel cell support apparatus side hydrogen recovery path 31 and the fuel cell support apparatus side oxygen recovery path 32 are configured to open the recovered fluid to the atmosphere. However, additional measures such as diluting flammable gases such as hydrogen to a concentration below the lower explosion limit are required. In addition, the fuel cell support apparatus side moisture recovery path 33 is connected to the water storage tank 18b, and the water recovered through the fuel cell support apparatus side moisture recovery path 33 is recovered in the storage tank 18b and reused. It has become. Further, the gas recovered through the fuel cell support device side moisture recovery passage 33 is opened to the atmosphere through a relief valve (not shown) provided in the water storage tank 18b.

A recovery-side connector 34 is provided at the connection end of the fuel cell support device side fluid recovery path 13 with the fuel cell operating unit 2 so that the connection end is detachably connected to the fuel cell operating unit 2. .
The vicinity of the connection end of the fuel cell support device side recovery flow path 13 with the fuel cell operating part 2 is constituted by a flexible pipe such as a flexible tube, thereby connecting the fuel cell operating part 2 to the fuel cell operating part 2. It can be done easily.
A fuel cell support device side recovery valve 35 for opening and closing the fuel cell support device side recovery channel 13 is provided in the vicinity of the connection end of the fuel cell support device side recovery channel 13 with the fuel cell operating unit 2. The fuel cell support device side collection valve 35 may be incorporated in the collection side connector 34.

Of these fuel cell support device side recovery passages 13, the fuel cell support device side hydrogen recovery passage 31 and the fuel cell support device side oxygen recovery passage 32 are respectively downstream of the fluid supplied from the fuel cell operating unit 2. A flow rate adjusting device 36 for adjusting the flow rate of the fuel cell is provided, whereby the amount of fluid recovered from the fuel cell operating unit 2 can be controlled.
Further, the end of the fuel cell support apparatus side hydrogen recovery path 31 and the end of the fuel cell support apparatus side oxygen recovery path 32 are respectively inserted into the exhaust pot 37. The exhaust pot 37 is opened to the atmosphere and water is stored therein, and the end of the corresponding fuel cell support device side collection flow path 13 is inserted into the water. As a result, the fluid in the fuel cell support apparatus-side hydrogen recovery path 31 and the fluid in the fuel cell support apparatus-side oxygen recovery path 32 are isolated from the outside by the water in the exhaust pot 37. Etc. are prevented.

The fuel cell support device side moisture recovery path 33 includes a hydrogen side moisture recovery path 33a connected to a fuel cell side hydrogen recovery path described later of the fuel cell operating unit 2 and a fuel cell side oxygen recovery of the fuel cell operating unit 2 described later. It has an oxygen side moisture recovery path 33b connected to the path, and a fuel cell support apparatus side cooling water recovery path 33c connected to a cooling water recovery path (to be described later) of the fuel cell operating unit 2.
The hydrogen side moisture recovery path 33a, the oxygen side moisture recovery path 33b, and the fuel cell support apparatus side cooling water recovery path 33c are each provided with a shut-off valve 38, and the water recovery is performed for each of these recovery paths. The amount can be controlled independently.
The hydrogen side moisture recovery path 33a, the oxygen side moisture recovery path 33b, and the fuel cell support apparatus side cooling water recovery path 33c are connected to the water storage tank 18b via the cooling water recovery pump 39, and the cooling water recovery pump By operating No. 39, moisture is recovered from the fuel cell operating unit 2.

Further, the fuel cell support device 3 includes a purge bypass flow channel 41 having one end connected to the fuel cell support device supply channel 11 for each of the fuel cell support device supply channels 11; A purge valve 42 for opening and closing the purge bypass flow path 41 is provided.
In the present embodiment, the purge bypass flow path 41 is connected in the vicinity of the connection end of the fuel cell support apparatus side supply flow path 11 with the fuel cell operating unit 2.

The purge bypass flow path 41 may be configured to be open to the atmosphere without connecting the corresponding fuel cell support apparatus side supply flow path 11 to the corresponding fuel cell support apparatus side recovery flow path 13. The apparatus side supply flow path 11 may be configured to be connected to the corresponding fuel cell support apparatus side collection flow path 13.
In the present embodiment, the purge bypass flow path 41 connects each fuel cell support apparatus side supply flow path 11 and the fuel cell support apparatus side recovery flow path 13 corresponding to the fuel cell support apparatus side supply flow path 11. It is configured.
Specifically, the fuel cell support apparatus side hydrogen supply path 21 is connected to the fuel cell support apparatus side hydrogen recovery path 31 via the purge bypass flow path 41, and the fuel cell support apparatus side oxygen supply path 22 is purged. The fuel cell support device side oxygen recovery path 32 is connected via a bypass flow path 41 for the fuel cell.
Similarly, the hydrogen-side pure water supply path 23 a is connected to the hydrogen-side moisture recovery path 33 a via the purge bypass flow path 41, and the oxygen-side pure water supply path 23 b is oxygenated via the purge bypass flow path 41. The cooling water supply path 23c is connected to the fuel cell support apparatus side cooling water recovery path 33c via the purge bypass flow path 41. The cooling water supply path 23c is connected to the side water recovery path 33b.

Further, the purge valve 42 is provided in the vicinity of the connection portion between the purge bypass flow channel 41 and the fuel cell support device side supply flow channel 11 and in the vicinity of the connection portion with the fuel cell support device side recovery flow channel 13. ing.
Thus, in the state where the purge valve 42 is closed, the purge bypass flow path 41 is isolated from the fuel cell support apparatus side supply flow path 11 and the fuel cell support apparatus side recovery flow path 13 so that the fuel cell support apparatus side Since the fluid flowing in the supply flow path 11 and the fluid flowing in the fuel cell support apparatus side recovery flow path 13 do not flow into the purge bypass flow path 41, flow in the fuel cell support apparatus side supply flow path 11. And the retention of the fluid flowing in the fuel cell support device side collection passage 13 are prevented.

The fuel cell operating unit 2 includes a fuel cell stack 50, a fuel cell side supply channel 11 that connects the fuel cell support device side supply channel 11 and the fuel cell stack 50, and various fluids discharged from the fuel cell stack 50. And a fuel cell side fluid recovery passage 53 for recovering the fuel.
In the present embodiment, as the fuel cell side supply channel 51, the fuel cell side hydrogen supply channel 61 connected to the fuel cell support device side hydrogen supply channel 21 and the fuel connected to the fuel cell support device side oxygen supply channel 22. The battery side oxygen supply path 62, the cooling water supply path 63 connected to the cooling water supply path 23c of the fuel cell support apparatus side pure water supply path 23, and the hydrogen side pure water of the fuel cell support apparatus side pure water supply path 23 A hydrogen-side pure water supply path 66 connected to the supply path 23a and an oxygen-side pure water supply path 67 connected to the oxygen-side pure water supply path 23b of the fuel cell support apparatus-side pure water supply path 23 are provided. Yes.
Here, the hydrogen-side pure water supply path 66 is connected to the fuel cell-side hydrogen supply path 61 via a humidifier 69 described later, and the oxygen-side pure water supply path 67 is connected via a humidifier 69 described later. The fuel cell side oxygen supply path 62 is connected.

These fuel cell side supply flow paths 51 are detachably connected to the fuel cell support apparatus side supply flow path 11 via a supply side connector 24.
Further, a fuel cell side supply valve 68 for opening and closing the fuel cell side supply channel 51 is provided in the vicinity of the connection end of the fuel cell side supply channel 51 with the fuel cell support apparatus side supply channel 11. The fuel cell side supply valve 68 may be incorporated in the supply side connector 24.

A humidifier 69 is provided on the fuel cell side hydrogen supply path 61 and the fuel cell side oxygen supply path 62 in the fuel cell side supply path 51. The humidifier 69 moderately humidifies the fluid supplied to the fuel cell stack 50. The humidifier 69 also serves as a drain trap that collects excess water in the fluid supplied to the fuel cell stack 50 as drain water.
The humidifier 69 provided in the fuel cell side hydrogen supply path 61 is supplied with pure water used for humidification from the support device 3 via the hydrogen side pure water supply path 66. Further, the humidifier 69 provided in the fuel cell side oxygen supply path 62 is supplied with pure water used for humidification from the support device 3 via the oxygen side pure water supply path 67.

  The fuel cell operating unit 2 includes an internal hydrogen supply source 71, an internal oxygen supply source 72, and a cooling water tank 73. Here, the internal hydrogen supply source 71 and the internal oxygen supply source 72 are configured by, for example, a gas container filled with hydrogen gas or oxygen gas in a high-pressure gas state or a liquefied state.

The internal hydrogen supply source 71, the internal oxygen supply source 72, and the cooling water tank 73 are connected to the fuel cell stack 50 via the corresponding fuel cell supply channels 51.
Specifically, the internal hydrogen supply source 71 is connected to the front stage portion of the humidifier 69 of the fuel cell side hydrogen supply path 61 via the internal hydrogen supply path 76. The fuel cell stack 50 is connected to the fuel cell stack 50 via the fuel cell side hydrogen supply path 61.
The internal oxygen supply source 72 is connected to the front stage portion of the humidifier 69 of the fuel cell side oxygen supply path 62 via an internal oxygen supply path 77. The internal oxygen supply path 77 and the fuel cell side oxygen supply The fuel cell stack 50 is connected via a path 62.
The cooling water tank 73 is provided on the fuel cell side cooling water supply path 63, and is connected to the fuel cell stack 50 via the fuel cell side cooling water supply path 63.

  Further, the internal hydrogen supply path 76 is provided with an internal hydrogen supply valve 76a for opening and closing the internal hydrogen supply path 76, and immediately before the connecting portion of the fuel cell side hydrogen supply path 61 with the internal hydrogen supply path 76. An external hydrogen supply valve 61a is provided. Thus, in a state where the internal hydrogen supply valve 76a is closed and the external hydrogen supply valve 61a is opened, hydrogen is supplied from the hydrogen supply source 16 of the fuel cell support apparatus 3 to the fuel cell stack 50, and the external hydrogen supply valve 61a is In a state where the internal hydrogen supply valve 76a is closed, hydrogen is supplied from the internal hydrogen supply source 71 to the fuel cell stack 50.

Similarly, the internal oxygen supply path 77 is provided with an internal oxygen supply valve 77a that opens and closes the internal oxygen supply path 77, just before the connection portion of the fuel cell side oxygen supply path 62 with the internal oxygen supply path 77. Is provided with an external oxygen supply valve 62a. Thus, in a state where the internal oxygen supply valve 77a is closed and the external oxygen supply valve 62a is opened, oxygen is supplied from the oxygen supply source 17 of the fuel cell support device 3 to the fuel cell stack 50, and the external oxygen supply valve 62a is In the state where the internal oxygen supply valve 77a is closed and the internal oxygen supply valve 77a is opened, oxygen is supplied from the internal oxygen supply source 72 to the fuel cell stack 50.
On the other hand, a pressure feed pump 78 is provided on the fuel cell side cooling water supply path 63 after the cooling water tank 73. By operating this pressure feeding pump 78, pure water in the cooling water tank 73 is supplied. The fuel cell stack 50 is supplied.

Further, in the present embodiment, the fuel cell operating unit 2 is provided with a hydrogen circulation channel 81 that connects the hydrogen outlet of the fuel cell stack 50 and the humidifier 69 on the fuel cell side hydrogen supply channel 61. The hydrogen circulation flow path 81 is provided with a hydrogen blower 82 for pumping hydrogen, whereby hydrogen discharged from the fuel cell stack 50 is sent again to the fuel cell stack 50 and used for power generation. It is like that.
Similarly, the fuel cell operating unit 2 is provided with an oxygen circulation channel 83 that connects the oxygen outlet of the fuel cell stack 50 and the humidifier 69 on the fuel cell side oxygen supply channel 62. The oxygen circulation channel 83 is provided with an oxygen blower 84 that pumps oxygen, whereby oxygen discharged from the fuel cell stack 50 is sent again to the fuel cell stack 50 and used for power generation. It is like that.
That is, the fuel cell operating unit 2 according to the present embodiment is a circulation type fuel cell operating unit in which hydrogen and oxygen supplied to the fuel cell stack 50 are circulated and used.

In the present embodiment, as the fuel cell side recovery channel 53, a fuel cell side hydrogen recovery channel 91 that recovers a fluid containing hydrogen from the fuel cell stack 50 and a fuel cell side that recovers a fluid containing oxygen from the fuel cell stack 50. An oxygen recovery path 92; a fuel cell side moisture recovery path 93 that recovers excess water from the fuel cell stack 50; and a hydrogen side drain recovery path 94 that recovers drain water from the humidifier 69 on the fuel cell side hydrogen supply path 61. An oxygen side drain recovery path 95 for recovering drain water of the humidifier 69 on the fuel cell side oxygen supply path 62 is provided.
The fuel cell side moisture recovery path 93 includes a cooling conduit 93 a that connects the water outlet of the fuel cell stack 50 and the cooling water tank 73, and the fuel cell support device side cooling water of the cooling water tank 73 and the fuel cell support device 3. The fuel cell side cooling water recovery path 93b is connected to the recovery path 33c. In the cooling pipe 93a, heat exchange between the water flowing in the cooling pipe 93a and the atmosphere outside the fuel cell operating unit 2 is performed to cool the water flowing in the cooling pipe 93a. A heat exchanger 93c is provided.

At the connection end of the fuel cell support device 3 and the fuel cell operating unit 2 in the fuel cell side fluid recovery path 53, a recovery side connector 34 is connected to the fuel cell operating unit 2 so that the connection end is detachable. Is provided.
A fuel cell side recovery valve 96 for opening and closing the fuel cell side recovery channel 53 is provided in the vicinity of the connection end of the fuel cell side recovery channel 53 with the fuel cell support device 3. The fuel cell side recovery valve 96 may be incorporated in the recovery side connector 34.

In the fuel cell power generation system 1 configured as described above, when the fuel cell operating unit 2 is started, the startup operation is performed in a state where the fuel cell operating unit 2 and the fuel cell support device 3 are connected. In order to stop the fuel cell operating unit 2, a stop operation is performed in a state where the fuel cell operating unit 2 and the fuel cell support device 3 are connected.
When the fuel cell operating unit 2 is started, the fuel cell support device side supply channel 11 and the fuel cell side supply channel 51 are connected by the supply side connector 24, and the fuel cell side recovery channel 53 and the fuel cell support are connected. The fuel cell is connected to the apparatus side recovery flow path 13 by a recovery side connector 34, and after performing a predetermined purge process described later, various fluids are supplied from the fuel cell support apparatus 3 to the fuel cell operating unit 2, thereby The operating unit 2 is activated.
Specifically, when starting the fuel cell operating unit 2, first, from the purge gas supply source 12, the purge fluid supply path 28, each fuel cell support apparatus side supply path 11, and each fuel cell side supply path 51. Through which inert gas is supplied. The supplied inert gas is adjusted to an appropriate temperature and an appropriate humidity by a humidifier 69 controlled by the fuel cell operating unit 2 and sent to the fuel cell stack 50 of the fuel cell operating unit 2, thereby the fuel cell stack. 50 is humidified and heated. At this time, the inert gas used for humidification and heating in the fuel cell stack 50 is released to the atmosphere via the fuel cell side recovery channel 53 and the fuel cell support device side recovery channel 13.

  After the inside of the fuel cell stack 50 is sufficiently humidified and the temperature of the fuel cell stack 50 is heated to the operating temperature range, the supply of the inert gas by the purge gas supply source 12 is stopped, and the hydrogen supply source 16, oxygen By supplying various fluids from the supply source 17 and the pure water supply source 18 into the fuel cell operating unit 2 through the fuel cell support device side supply flow paths 11 and the fuel cell side supply flow paths 51, the fuel cell stack 50 The chemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen is started, and the fuel cell operating unit 2 is activated.

When the operation of the fuel cell operating unit 2 is sufficiently stable, the internal hydrogen supply valve 76a and the internal oxygen supply valve 76b are opened, and hydrogen and oxygen are supplied from the internal hydrogen supply source 71 and the internal oxygen supply source 72 to the fuel cell stack 50. To start.
In parallel with this operation, the fuel cell support device side supply valve 25, the fuel cell support device side recovery valve 35, the fuel cell side supply valve 68, the fuel cell side recovery valve 96, the external hydrogen supply valve 61a, and the external oxygen supply valve 62a is closed to cut off the supply of various fluids from the fuel cell support device 3 to the fuel cell operating unit 2, and then the fuel cell support device side supply flow path 11 and the fuel cell side supply flow path 51 by the supply side connector 24 And the connection of the fuel cell side recovery channel 53 and the fuel cell support device side recovery channel 13 by the recovery side connector 34 is released, so that the operation of the fuel cell operating unit 2 is continued. The operating unit 2 is separated from the fuel cell support device 3.

When stopping the fuel cell operating unit 2, the fuel cell operating unit 2 and the fuel cell support device 3 are connected, and the fuel cell support unit 3 is not connected to the fuel cell operating unit 2 from the purge fluid supply source 12. By supplying the active gas and replacing the atmosphere in the fuel cell operating unit 2 with the inert gas, the chemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen by the fuel cell stack 50 is stopped, and the fuel cell operating unit 2 is stopped.
Specifically, when stopping the fuel cell operating unit 2, from the purge gas supply source 12, through the purge fluid supply path 28, each fuel cell support apparatus side supply flow path 11, and each fuel cell side supply flow path 51, An inert gas is sent into the fuel cell stack 50 of the fuel cell operating unit 2 to fill the fuel cell stack 50 with the inert gas. At this time, the hydrogen, oxygen, and inert gas pushed out from the fuel cell stack 50 are released into the atmosphere through the fuel cell side recovery channel 53 and the fuel cell support device side recovery channel 13.

Hereinafter, the purge process in the fuel cell power generation system 1 will be described.
In performing this purge process, first, the fuel cell support apparatus side supply flow path 11 and the fuel cell side supply flow path 51 are connected by the supply side connector 24, and the fuel cell side recovery flow path 53 and the fuel cell support apparatus side recovery path are recovered. The flow path 13 is connected to the recovery side connector 34.
In this state, all the fuel cell support apparatus side supply valves 25 are opened, and the inside of the supply side connector 24 is communicated with the fuel cell support apparatus side supply flow path 11.
Further, all the purge valves 42 are opened, and each fuel cell support apparatus side supply flow path 11 and each fuel cell support apparatus side recovery flow path 13 are connected via a purge bypass flow path 41.
In this state, an inert gas is supplied from the purge gas supply source 12 to each fuel cell support apparatus side recovery flow path 13.
Thereby, the fluid in the fuel cell support apparatus side supply flow path 11 and the supply side connector 24 is pushed out to the purge bypass flow path 41 by the purge fluid, and the fuel cell support apparatus side supply flow path 11 and the supply are supplied. It is discharged from the side connector 24.

Here, during the purge process, it is preferable to perform the purge while changing the internal pressure of the fuel cell support apparatus side supply flow path 11 (that is, to perform the purge process using the pressure swing method).
Specifically, by reducing the internal pressure of the fuel cell support apparatus side supply flow path 11, a part of the fluid in the supply side connector 24 is taken into the purge bypass flow path 41 from the fuel cell support apparatus side supply valve 25. It is. Then, by repeating the operation of once increasing the internal pressure of the fuel cell support device side supply flow path 11 and then reducing the pressure again, the fluid in the supply side connector 24 from the fuel cell support device side supply valve 25 is gradually replaced with an inert gas. Finally, the entire inside of the supply side connector 24 is replaced with the inert gas from the fuel cell support device side supply valve 25.
As a result, the fuel cell support device side supply channel 11 is located on the tip side of the connection portion with the purge bypass channel 41 in the spatial fuel cell support device side supply channel 11 and is difficult to be directly pushed out by the inert gas. The fluid in the supply-side connector 24 from the valve 25 can also be replaced with an inert gas, and a more reliable purge process is possible.

As described above, in this fuel cell power generation system 1, the fuel cell operating unit 2 and the fuel cell support device 3 are connected, and the fuel cell support device side supply channel 11 and the fuel cell side supply channel 51 are connected to the supply side connector 24. The fuel cell side recovery channel 53 and the fuel cell support device side recovery channel 13 are connected by the recovery side connector 34, and then the purge process is carried out, whereby the fuel cell operating unit 2 and the fuel cell support The fluid that has entered the supply side connector 24 and the fuel cell support device side supply flow path 11 while being separated from the device 3 is not sent to the fuel cell operating unit 2, and the fuel cell support device side supply flow Since the fuel is immediately discharged from the path 11, the time required for the purge process of the fuel cell power generation system 1 and the purge fluid can be saved significantly.
In particular, the hydrogen in the fuel cell support device side hydrogen supply path 21 can be replaced with an inert gas without introducing outside air containing oxygen into the flow path through which hydrogen flows in the fuel cell operating unit 2. Purge in the fuel cell support apparatus side supply flow path 11 can be performed safely and promptly.

  In the present embodiment, the purge bypass flow path 41 is connected in the vicinity of the connection end of the fuel cell support apparatus side supply flow path 11 with the fuel cell operating unit 2. Therefore, when the purge fluid is supplied from the purge fluid supply source 12 to the fuel cell support apparatus side supply flow path 11, the connection end of the fuel cell support apparatus side supply flow path 11 with the fuel cell operating unit 2 is connected. In the range up to the vicinity (that is, in most of the range in the fuel cell support apparatus side supply flow path 11), the fluid in the fuel cell support apparatus side supply flow path 11 is transferred to the purge bypass flow path 41 by the purge fluid. Since it can be directly extruded, the purge efficiency is high.

  In the present embodiment, the purge bypass flow path 41 is connected to the fuel cell support apparatus side recovery flow path 13, so the fluid in the fuel cell support apparatus side supply flow path 11 and the purge used for the purging process are used. The working fluid can be appropriately processed (this process includes a regeneration process for reuse).

Here, in the above embodiment, an example in which the purge bypass flow paths 41 are connected to all the fuel cell support apparatus side supply flow paths 11 and the purge process is performed on all the fuel cell support apparatus side supply flow paths 11 is performed. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the fuel cell support device side supply flow path 11 in which mixing of outside air is particularly problematic, specifically, the fuel cell support device side hydrogen through which hydrogen, which is a combustible fluid, is circulated. Only the supply passage 21 may be provided with the purge bypass passage 41 to perform the purge process.
Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the example which performs the purge process by an inert gas about all the fuel cell assistance apparatus side supply flow paths 11 was shown, it is not restricted to this, The fuel cell assistance apparatus side oxygen supply path 22 is shown. The fuel cell support device-side pure water supply path 23 may be purged with oxygen supplied by the oxygen supply source 16 or pure water supplied by the pure water supply source 18, respectively.

Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the example using the circulation type was shown as the fuel cell operating part 2, you may use the thing of a dead end system as a fuel cell operating part. In this case, for example, the hydrogen circulation channel 81, the hydrogen blower 82, the oxygen circulation channel 83, and the oxygen blower 84 are eliminated in the fuel cell operating unit 2, and the fuel cell side hydrogen recovery channel 91 is used as the fuel cell stack 50. A fuel cell operating unit having a configuration in which the fuel cell side oxygen recovery path 92 is directly connected to the oxygen outlet of the fuel cell stack 50 is used.
In the above embodiment, the example in which the internal hydrogen supply source 71 is configured by a gas container filled with hydrogen gas has been described. However, the internal hydrogen supply source 56 is not limited to this, and the internal hydrogen supply source 56 may be a hydrocarbon or the like. A hydrogen compound supply source for supplying a hydrogen compound and a reformer for extracting hydrogen from the hydrogen compound supplied from the hydrogen compound supply source, a gas supply device using a hydrogen storage alloy, or the like. Also good.

1 is a block diagram showing a fuel cell power generation system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Fuel cell power generation system 2 Fuel cell operating part 3 Fuel cell support apparatus 11 Fuel cell support apparatus side supply flow path 12 Purge fluid supply source 13 Fuel cell support apparatus side recovery flow path 41 Purge bypass flow path 42 Purge valve 68 Fuel cell side supply valve

Claims (6)

A fuel cell operating unit for generating electricity;
A fuel cell support device that is detachably connected to the fuel cell operating unit and supplies fluid to the fuel cell operating unit;
The fuel cell support device comprises :
A fuel cell support device side supply flow path that is detachably connected to the fuel cell operating unit;
A purge fluid supply source connected to the fuel cell support device side supply flow path;
A purge bypass passage connected to the fuel cell support device side supply passage;
A purge valve for opening and closing the purge bypass flow path ;
A fuel cell support apparatus side recovery flow path connected to the fuel cell support apparatus side supply flow path via the purge bypass flow path;
The fuel cell power generation system , wherein the purge valve is opened and purge processing is performed in a state where the fuel cell operating unit and the fuel cell support device are connected .   2. The fuel cell power generation system according to claim 1, wherein the purge bypass flow path is connected in the vicinity of a connection end of the fuel cell support apparatus side supply flow path with the fuel cell operating portion. The fuel cell support device side recovery passage, the fuel cell power generation system according to the fuel cell operating unit according to claim 1 or 2 is connected by detachable from the. The fuel cell support device side supply flow path is a supply path of fuel gas or oxidant gas to the fuel cell operating section,
The fuel cell power generation system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the purge fluid supply source is an inert gas supply source. The fuel cell support apparatus side supply flow path is a water supply path to the fuel cell operating unit,
The fuel cell power generation system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the purge fluid supply source is an inert gas supply source.   6. The fuel cell power generation system according to claim 1, wherein the fuel cell operating unit includes a fuel cell operating unit side supply valve that opens and closes a connection part with the fuel cell support device side supply flow path. .