JP5238221B2 - Fuel cell management system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a fuel cell capable of confirming device specifications even at the time of shipment or collection after assembly, and a management system thereof.

  A fuel cell generates electricity, heat, and water by electrochemically reacting hydrogen, which is a fuel, and oxygen, which is an oxidant. Air is generally supplied to the oxidant electrode as a gas containing oxygen. The fuel electrode is supplied with fuel gas containing hydrogen or hydrogen produced by reforming reaction of raw fuel.

  In this case, city gas or propane gas is generally used as the raw fuel, but liquid fuel such as kerosene may be used.

  By the way, in order to produce | generate the fuel gas containing hydrogen from raw fuel, a fuel processing apparatus is required. This fuel processing apparatus generally comprises a reformer for steam reforming or partial oxidation reforming, and a CO removal apparatus. The CO removal apparatus generally uses a CO converter and a CO partial oxidizer in combination, and is a two-stage. The CO concentration is lowered.

  In this case, noble metal is used as a catalyst in each device, but the type is selected according to each reaction. Moreover, when using liquid fuels, such as kerosene, as a raw fuel, the vaporizer for vaporizing a fuel is required and also the desulfurizer for removing the sulfur component contained in kerosene is required.

  The fuel gas containing hydrogen generated by such a fuel processing apparatus is introduced into a fuel cell stack in which a plurality of cells each having a fuel electrode and an oxidant electrode are arranged with an electrolyte such as a polymer electrolyte membrane interposed therebetween. The

  For the fuel electrode and oxidant electrode of the unit cell, a catalyst supporting a noble metal is used. In general, Pt is used for the oxidizer electrode, and an alloy catalyst such as Pt—Ru or Pt—Pd is used for the fuel electrode.

  This noble metal catalyst is expensive and has a limited supply amount because its mining resources are limited. For this reason, in order to secure the supply amount and reduce the price, it is necessary to collect and recycle the noble metal catalyst in the fuel cell stack and the fuel processing apparatus after the fuel cell system has finished operating and is disassembled.

  By the way, as a technique for recovering the noble metal catalyst, a method of depositing and recovering the noble metal catalyst from a solution in which the noble metal is dissolved is common (for example, Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2). In this case, since the noble metal differs depending on the raw fuel, the kind of chemicals required for deposition also differs. Therefore, it is necessary to know the components contained in the noble metal at the time of recovery.

  Moreover, since the device specifications of the fuel cell differ depending on the raw fuel, it is necessary to know the specifications of each device at the time of manufacture. Furthermore, it is necessary to confirm that the fuel cell components assembled at the time of shipment conform to the required specifications.

For this reason, conventionally, for example, by attaching a barcode to the fuel cell stack or attaching an IC chip, the unique information of the fuel cell stack is recorded, and the device specifications can be confirmed by reading the information. (For example, Patent Document 3).
Japanese Patent No. 3611658 JP 2005008922 A JP 2003-115319 A

  In the fuel cell described above, it is necessary to read the unique information from the outside by bringing the reading device into contact with the unique information recording part of the fuel cell stack. However, in the manufacturing process, reading the unique information using the reading device is a work man-hour. Increase the working hours. In addition, since it is difficult to bring the reading device into contact with the unique information recording unit of the fuel cell stack in a state where the assembly is completed as in the shipping inspection, the unique information cannot be obtained. .

The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-described problems, and is a fuel that can easily obtain unique information from outside so that device specifications can be confirmed at the time of manufacture, shipping after assembly, and at the time of collection. and an object thereof is to provide a battery management system.

The present invention for achieving the above object, constitutes a management system of a fuel cell by the following means.

The invention corresponding to claim 1 includes a fuel cell stack, a device for supplying fuel gas and an oxidant gas to the fuel cell stack, and a control device having a control program necessary for operation as a component in a package. In a fuel cell that is housed , an IC tag , which is a wireless communication means having a function of transmitting unique information stored in advance in a memory, is attached to the component device and a package that houses the component device, and is stored in the memory. In the fuel cell management system that is the type of raw fuel, the unique information is a receiving device that receives the unique information transmitted from the IC tag, a display unit that displays the unique information received by the receiving device, A fuel cell inspection device to which the unique information received by the reception device is input. A determining means for determining whether the kind of raw fuel specific information coincides received from the IC tag attached to the spare the package, it means you notifying a determination result of the determination means.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the fuel cell management system of the first aspect of the present invention, the unique information stored in the memory includes a type of a noble metal element contained in the fuel cell.

Invention provides a system for managing the fuel cell of the invention corresponding to claim 2, wherein the fuel cell test apparatus includes a means for determining the type of precious metal indicated specific information, determining means this corresponding to claim 3 A means for notifying the result;
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the fuel cell management system according to any one of the first to third aspects, the constituent device of the fuel cell reforms the fuel gas supplied to the fuel cell stack. An apparatus for supplying the fuel gas and the oxidant gas to the fuel cell stack, the fuel gas reformed by the fuel processor and the oxidant gas being the fuel. It is an apparatus which supplies to a battery laminated body.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to easily obtain from the outside unique information with which the device specifications can be confirmed at the time of manufacture, at the time of shipment after assembly, and at the time of collection.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a fuel cell stack in a first embodiment of a fuel cell according to the present invention.

  In FIG. 1, a fuel cell stack in which a plurality of single cells (not shown) are stacked has clamping plates 1 disposed on both sides in the stacking direction, and screw grooves at both ends between the four corners of the clamping plates 1. Each of the rods 2 formed with, is inserted, and a nut 3 is screwed into a thread groove of each rod 2 to be integrally tightened.

  Gas manifolds 4 made of a resin material are attached to both sides and the upper side perpendicular to the stacking direction of the fuel cell stack.

  For the fuel cell stack having such a configuration, the IC tag 5 is connected to the IC tag 5 as a wireless communication device including a memory for storing unique information and a transmitter for wirelessly transmitting the unique information stored in the memory. It is attached to the outer surface of an appropriate portion of the gas manifold 4 made of a resin material with an adhesive or a tape, avoiding a high current collecting plate and a metal part having a high temperature.

  Here, the IC tag 5 is an application of a technology for reading and writing information to and from an IC chip wirelessly. An IC chip with a built-in memory is used, and information stored in the memory is read by wireless communication with a reader. Is possible. This IC tag is also called a wireless tag, a wireless IC tag, an RFID tag, or an electronic tag.

  The memory of the IC tag 5 stores information on the fuel cell stack, that is, the type of noble metal used as a catalyst for the fuel electrode of the unit cell as unique information.

  The catalyst for the fuel electrode is platinum in the case of hydrogen operation, but in the reformed gas operation in which the raw fuel is reformed by a reformer and used as a hydrogen-rich gas, an alloy such as Pt—Ru or Pt—Pd is used. A catalyst is used.

  Therefore, in the memory of the IC tag 5, platinum in the case of hydrogen operation and alloy catalyst such as Pt—Ru, Pt—Pd in the case of reformed gas operation are stored as unique information of the noble metal.

  In this case, information recorded in the memory of the IC tag 5 may be stored before the IC tag 5 is attached, or may be written by the communication means after the IC tag 5 is attached.

  In the above description, the IC tag 5 is attached to the gas manifold 4 made of a resin material. However, when the fastening plate 1 is a resin material, the IC tag 5 may be attached to the fastening plate 1.

  FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing another configuration example of the fuel cell stack.

  In FIG. 2, a fuel cell stack in which a plurality of single cells 6 are stacked has a fastening plate 1 made of a resin material on both sides in the stacking direction, and these fastening plates 1 are integrated by a fastener (not shown). A gas pipe 9 for allowing fuel gas and oxidant gas to flow through the stacked body of the unit cells 6 is connected to one of the clamping plates 1. Current extraction terminals 7 are led out, and current lines 8 are connected to these current extraction terminals 7.

  An IC tag 5 similar to that described above is attached to an appropriate position of one fastening plate 1 with an adhesive or tape with respect to the fuel cell stack having such a configuration.

  In the above, an IC tag 5 having a memory and a transmission unit for transmitting unique information stored in the memory is attached to a fuel cell stack, which is one of the constituent devices of the fuel cell. In the case of hydrogen operation, in addition to the above-described components, a control device incorporating a control program necessary for operating a device for supplying fuel gas and oxidant gas to the fuel cell stack is packaged as a component. It is stored in.

  In addition, in the case of the reformed gas operation, in addition to the above-described components, a fuel processing apparatus including a reformer for reforming the fuel gas supplied to the fuel cell stack, the fuel processing apparatus has been reformed. A control device in which a control program necessary for operation of the device for supplying the fuel gas and the oxidant gas to the fuel cell stack is built in a package as a component device.

  In the present embodiment, the IC tags 5 are attached to these components and packages as described above.

  Here, the details will be described as follows.

  The operation sequence or operating conditions differ depending on the raw fuel.

  In the case of hydrogen operation, the fuel processor is not necessary, so the control sequence of the fuel processor is omitted. In addition, the control signals are different in order to feed the raw fuel to the fuel processing device by a liquid feed pump if the raw fuel is liquid, and by a blower if the raw fuel is gas.

  Therefore, an IC tag having information about raw fuel that can be handled by the control device stored in memory as unique information is attached to the control device.

  The control device functions by installing a program for operating the fuel cell. Therefore, it is also possible to change the control by changing a program to be installed with a common control device.

  In this case, the unique information can be transmitted from the control device itself by attaching an IC tag in which information on raw fuel is recorded after the program is installed, or by providing the control device with a transmission function.

  Further, in the case of the reformed gas operation, a fuel processing device that processes the raw fuel to reform it into a hydrogen-rich fuel gas is required. The contents vary greatly depending on whether the fuel is used. However, in any case, since the reaction temperature is high, it is generally covered with a heat insulating material. Therefore, it is difficult to determine the difference in the contents of the fuel processing apparatus from the outside.

  Therefore, an IC tag is also attached to the fuel processing apparatus in which information relating to the contents is stored in the memory as unique information. In this case, since the fuel processing apparatus is a high-temperature device, it is desirable that the IC tag is mounted outside the heat insulating material.

  On the other hand, the constituent devices of the fuel cell differ depending on the raw fuel as described above, and in the case of hydrogen operation, the fuel processing device is unnecessary, but in the case of the reformed gas operation, the raw fuel is liquid in the fuel processing device. If there is a liquid feed pump, if it is gas, it is sent by a blower. Therefore, an IC tag storing information on raw fuel in memory as specific information is attached to a package for housing these components.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram for explaining production management until each component device is housed in a package and commercialized as an embodiment of a fuel cell management system to which an IC tag as described above is attached. Then, the case where the fuel processing apparatus which reforms raw fuel exists is described as an example.

First, communicates with IC tag attached by the reception device 11 provided in the manufacturing device to the package 12, display information about the raw fuel to the display unit 13 reads the information about the raw fuel stored in the IC tag To do.

  Next, the receiver 11 communicates with the IC tag attached to the fuel cell stack 14, reads the type of noble metal used as a catalyst for the fuel electrode transmitted from the IC tag, and the determination unit 15 reads the original type. The type of fuel is determined and the information is displayed on the display unit 13.

  Further, the receiving device 11 communicates with an IC tag attached to the fuel processing device 16, reads information on the contents transmitted from the IC tag, determines the type of raw fuel by the determination unit 15, and displays the information. Displayed on the unit 13.

  Further, the receiving device 11 communicates with the IC tag attached to the control device 17, reads information about the raw fuel that can be handled by the control device, which is transmitted from the IC tag, and the determination unit 15 determines the type of the raw fuel. And the information is displayed on the display unit 13.

  The operator collates the specific information displayed on the display unit 13, and reads the raw fuel read from the IC tag attached to the package 12, the fuel cell stack 14, the fuel processing device 16, and the control device 17. After confirming that all of the raw fuel read from the IC tag matches, each component device is incorporated into a package and commercialized.

  The above is a description of a fuel cell production management system that requires a fuel processing device for reforming raw fuel. However, for a fuel cell in which the raw fuel is hydrogen, an IC attached to the fuel cell stack and the control device. The unique information from the tag and the information from the IC tag attached to the package are collated, and after confirming that the information matches, the product is commercialized by incorporating the component device into the package.

According to such a fuel cell production management system, the receiver 11 provided in the manufacturing apparatus reads the unique information transmitted from the IC tag attached to the package 12 and displays the information on the raw fuel on the display unit 13. followed fuel cell stack 14, fuel processor 1 6, displayed on the display unit 13 the unique information transmitted from the IC tag attached to each of the control device 1 7, matching the information their respective In addition, after confirming that it matches the raw fuel read from the IC tag of the package, each component device is incorporated into the package, so the operator checks the information with a reading machine such as a barcode. There is no need, and manufacturing management can be performed in a simple and accurate operation by simply confirming the information displayed on the display unit 13 in a short time.

  In the fuel cell production management system described above, the work place is divided into raw fuels, and a sorting step is provided for sorting each constituent device in the upstream process of the work, and after confirming the raw fuel, each constituent device in the corresponding work place. Can also be transported. In this case, an inspection apparatus having a receiving function may be provided in the selection process, information transmitted from the IC tag of each component device may be received, and the component device may be selected based on such information.

  FIG. 4 is a simple image diagram for performing an inspection at the time of product shipment as an embodiment of a fuel cell management system to which an IC tag as described above is attached, and FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a process for explaining an inspection process. Here, a case where there is a fuel processing apparatus for reforming raw fuel will be described as an example.

  In FIG. 4, 21 is a belt conveyor for transporting the fuel cell 20 to the shipping section, 22 is an inspection machine installed in the shipping section, and this inspection machine 22 includes a gate 23 disposed across the belt conveyor 21 and this gate. 23 includes a determination display unit 24 provided at an upper portion on the front side of the front panel 23 and a receiving device 25 provided at an appropriate height position inside the gate 23 and receiving specific information transmitted from the IC tag.

  In the inspection machine 22 configured as described above, when the fuel cell 20 conveyed by the belt conveyor 21 passes through the gate 23, the receiving device 25 causes the package 12 of the fuel cell 20, the fuel cell stack, as shown in FIG. 14, receiving the unique information transmitted from the IC tag attached to each of the fuel processing device 16 and the control device 17, and determining whether or not these applied raw fuels match by judging these information The result is confirmed and the result is displayed on the determination display unit 24.

  The display means in the determination display unit 24 may be any of a method of displaying as characters on the display board, a method of displaying by lighting a color lamp, a method of informing with sound, and a method of informing with sound.

  When the raw fuels of the respective components match, the products are shipped as acceptable products, and when they do not match, they are reassembled as rejected products.

According to such a fuel cell management system, the signal is transmitted from the IC tag attached to each of the package 12 of the fuel cell 20, the fuel cell stack 14, the fuel processing device 16, and the control device 17 by the receiving device 25. Since the unique information is received and the information is judged to check whether the applied raw fuels match each other, it is installed in comparison with visual confirmation or barcode confirmation. The information can be confirmed in a state in which the information is received, and information from a plurality of component devices can be confirmed simultaneously.

  Therefore, it is possible to carry out accurate and simple shipment management in a shorter time than in the past.

  The above has described manufacturing management and inspection management at the time of product shipment as a fuel cell management system. Next, recovery management of precious metals at the time of dismantling after the end of operation will be described.

  The fuel cell that has finished the operation is transported to a dismantling work place where dismantling work is performed. Since the purpose of this dismantling operation is to collect noble metals, the target components are the fuel cell stack and the fuel processor, and the necessary information here is the precious metal used as a catalyst in each device. It is a kind.

  Therefore, the receiver receives the unique information transmitted from the IC tag attached to each of the fuel cell stack and the fuel processing device taken out by disassembling the fuel cell, that is, the information about the type of the noble metal used as the catalyst. The materials containing the same metal are disassembled on the same line, and finally all the portions containing the catalyst are dissolved in a solution such as an acid.

  And since the kind of the metal used as a catalyst is known, a noble metal can be easily collect | recovered by adding the additive for depositing the metal from a solution.

The perspective view which shows the fuel cell laminated body in 1st Embodiment of the fuel cell by this invention. The perspective view which shows the other structural example of the fuel cell laminated body in the same embodiment. The block diagram for demonstrating the production management until it commercializes as embodiment of the management system of the fuel cell by this invention. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram for performing an inspection at the time of product shipment as an embodiment of a fuel cell management system according to the present invention. The figure which shows the process for demonstrating the test | inspection process of the embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Fastening plate, 2 ... Rod, 3 ... Nut, 4 ... Manifold, 5 ... IC tag, 6 ... Single cell, 7 ... Current extraction terminal, 8 ... Current wire, 11, 25 ... Receiver, 12 ... Package, DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 13 ... Display part, 14 ... Fuel cell laminated body, 15 ... Determination part, 16 ... Fuel processing apparatus, 17 ... Control apparatus, 20 ... Fuel cell, 21 ... Conveyor, 22 ... Inspection machine, 23 ... Gate, 24 ... Determination display Part,

Claims (4)

In a fuel cell in which a fuel cell stack, a device for supplying a fuel gas and an oxidant gas to the fuel cell stack, and a control device in which a control program necessary for operation is housed are housed in a package as a component device,
An IC tag that is a wireless communication device having a function of transmitting unique information stored in advance in a memory to the component device and a package containing the component device is attached ,
The unique information stored in the memory is a fuel cell management system that is a type of raw fuel.
A receiving device for receiving the unique information transmitted from the IC tag; display means for displaying the unique information received by the receiving device; and a fuel cell inspection device for receiving the unique information received by the receiving device; With
The fuel cell inspection apparatus includes: a determination unit that determines whether or not the types of raw fuel in the unique information received from each of the component devices and the IC tag attached to the package match; and the determination of the determination unit A fuel cell management system comprising means for notifying a result . The fuel cell management system according to claim 1 ,
The fuel cell management system , wherein the unique information stored in the memory includes a type of a noble metal element contained in the fuel cell. The fuel cell management system according to claim 2 ,
The fuel cell test apparatus, a fuel cell control system, characterized in that it comprises means for determining the type of precious metal indicated specific information, a means for notifying the determination result of the means of this. In the fuel cell management system according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The constituent device of the fuel cell includes a fuel processing device including a reformer that reforms the fuel gas supplied to the fuel cell stack, and supplies the fuel gas and the oxidant gas to the fuel cell stack. The apparatus is an apparatus for supplying the fuel cell stack with the fuel gas and the oxidant gas reformed by the fuel processing apparatus.
A fuel cell management system.

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