JP5334731B2 - Fuel cell stack device, fuel cell module and fuel cell device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a cell stack device of a fuel cell enhancing current collecting efficiency and power generating efficiency. <P>SOLUTION: In the cell stack device 1 of the fuel cell, a conducting member 5 has a flat plate part 19 in which the lower end part is fixed to a manifold 7, and a current collecting part positioning at the end part of a cell stack 2 of the fuel cell and coming in contact with a cell 3 of the fuel cell, and the current collecting part has a plurality of belt-shaped current collecting pieces 16 installed at the prescribed intervals in the up and down direction of the flat plate part 19 and extending in the width direction of the cell 3 of the fuel cell, a first connecting part 17 connecting one end part of the current collecting piece 16 and the flat plate part 19, and a second connecting part 18 connecting the other end part of the current collecting piece 16 and the flat plate part 19, and thereby, the contact area of the cell 3 of the fuel cell and the current collecting part of the conducting member 5 are increased and the power generating efficiency of the cell stack device 1 of the fuel cell is enhanced. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&amp;INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a fuel cell stack device including a fuel cell stack in which a plurality of columnar fuel cells are arranged upright and electrically connected, and a fuel cell module including the same, and The present invention relates to a fuel cell device.

  In recent years, as next-generation energy, a plurality of columnar fuel cells that can obtain electric power using a fuel gas (hydrogen-containing gas) and an oxygen-containing gas (usually air) are arranged in a standing manner. A fuel cell module in which a fuel cell stack device electrically connected in series is housed in a storage container, and a fuel cell device having a fuel cell module have been proposed (for example, Patent Document 1). reference.).

  FIG. 10 shows a conventional fuel cell stack device 61, (a) is a side view schematically showing the fuel cell stack device 61, and (b) is a dotted frame of the fuel cell stack device 61 of (a). It is a partially expanded plan view of a portion surrounded by. In this fuel cell stack device 61, columnar fuel cells 63 having a plurality of gas flow paths 73 are arranged in a standing state via current collecting members 64a and 64b, and the fuel cell 63 The fuel cell stack 62 is formed by disposing the conductive member 65 through the end current collecting member 64b at both ends in the arrangement direction, and the lower end portions of the fuel cell 63 and the conductive member 65 are connected to the reaction gas ( It is configured by being fixed to a manifold 67 for supplying fuel gas or the like.

  11 shows conventional current collecting members 64a and 64b constituting the conventional fuel cell stack device 61 shown in FIG. 10, wherein (a) is a front view and (b) is a perspective view showing a part of the current collecting members. FIG. The current collecting members 64 a and 64 b are a plurality of first current collecting pieces 81 that are in contact with one adjacent fuel cell 63 and a plurality of second current collectors that are in contact with the other adjacent fuel cell 63 or conductive member 65. A first conductor piece 83 connecting the one end 82, one end of the first current collecting piece 81 and the other end of the second current collecting piece 82, and a second current collecting piece 82 arranged apart. And a second conductor piece 84 that connects the other end of the first current collecting piece 81 to the other end of the first current collecting piece 81, and is continuously connected in the longitudinal direction of the fuel cell 63.

  FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing an extracted conductive member 65 constituting the conventional fuel cell stack device 62 shown in FIG. The conductive member 65 includes a flat plate portion 75 and a pair of side plate portions 76 bent from both side edges. The conductive member 65 includes a current extraction unit 66 for extracting the current generated by the power generation of the fuel battery cell 63 to the outside.

JP 2003-308857 A

  Incidentally, the end current collecting member 64b in the fuel cell stack device 61 as described above brings the first current collecting piece 81 into contact with the fuel cell 63 in order to draw the current to the outside, and the second current collecting piece. 82 is brought into contact with the conductive member 65 to be electrically connected.

  In such a fuel cell stack device 61, the end current collecting member 64 b is connected to the fuel cell 63 only by the first current collecting piece 81 and is connected to the conductive member 65 by the second current collecting piece 82. Therefore, it is difficult to further increase the contact area between the end current collecting member 64b and the fuel cell 63 or the conductive member 65. Therefore, the current generated by the power generation of the fuel cell stack device 61 cannot be efficiently extracted (collected) to the outside, and it is difficult to further improve the power generation efficiency of the fuel cell stack device 61.

  Therefore, the present invention provides a fuel cell stack device with improved power generation efficiency by providing a conductive member that can efficiently collect current, and a fuel cell module and a fuel cell device including the fuel cell stack device. For the purpose.

A fuel cell stack device according to the present invention includes a fuel cell stack in which a plurality of columnar fuel cells are arranged in an upright state via a current collecting member and electrically connected in series, and a fuel A conductive member arranged to sandwich the battery cell stack from both ends in the arrangement direction of the fuel cells, and a manifold for fixing the lower end portion of the fuel cells and supplying a reaction gas to the fuel cells In the fuel cell stack device, the conductive member is a flat plate portion whose lower end portion is fixed to the manifold, a current extraction portion for drawing current to the outside, and a fuel cell located at an end portion of the fuel cell stack. and a collector portion in contact, collector portions were kicked set at predetermined intervals in the vertical direction of the flat plate portion, a plurality of current collecting plate of band shape extending along the width direction of the fuel cell It possesses a plurality of first connecting portion for connecting the one end portion and the flat portion of the current collecting plates, and a plurality of second connecting portions for connecting the other end of the current collecting plates and said plate The flat plate portion is disposed on one end side and the other end side in the width direction of the flat plate portion and includes a lead portion extending along the vertical direction of the fuel cell, and the lead portion is at the uppermost position. A second connection portion that is provided from the first connection portion positioned to the lowermost first connection portion, connects the plurality of first connection portions, and is positioned lowest from the uppermost second connection portion; It is provided over the connection portion, and a plurality of second connection portions are connected .

In such a fuel cell stack device, the conductive member has a flat plate portion whose lower end is fixed to the manifold, and a current collector that contacts the fuel cell located at the end of the fuel cell stack. , current collecting part was kicked set at predetermined intervals in the vertical direction of the flat plate portion, and a strip of a plurality of current collecting plates extending along the width direction of the fuel cell, and one end of the current collecting plates since it has a plurality of first connecting portion connecting the flat portion, and a plurality of second connecting portions for connecting the other end portion and the flat portion of the current collecting plates, it has been provided to the end collector member Compared to the case, the current collecting piece for connecting the end current collecting member and the conductive member becomes unnecessary, and the area (current collecting area) where the fuel cell contacts the current collecting portion of the conductive member can be increased. . Therefore, it is possible to improve the current collection efficiency of the fuel cell stack device, thereby providing a fuel cell stack device with improved power generation efficiency. Furthermore, the fuel cell located at one end of the fuel cell stack and the conductive member can be electrically connected without passing through the end current collecting member. This eliminates the need for the conventional end current collecting member and simplifies the manufacturing process of the fuel cell stack device.

Further, in the fuel cell stack device of the present invention, the flat plate portion is disposed on one end side and the other end side in the width direction of the flat plate portion, and the lead portion extending along the vertical direction of the fuel cell is provided. The lead portion is provided from the uppermost first connection portion to the lowermost first connection portion, connects the plurality of first connection portions, and the uppermost first connection portion is provided. By providing a plurality of second connection portions provided from the second connection portion to the lowermost second connection portion, the current collected by the current collecting piece is efficiently drawn out to the outside along the lead portion. Therefore, the power generation efficiency of the fuel cell stack device can be improved.

  Further, in such a fuel cell stack device, the first connecting portion is provided so as to connect one end portion of the current collecting piece and one end portion side in the width direction of the flat plate portion, It is preferable that the 2nd connection part is provided so that the other edge part of the current collection piece and the other edge part side in the width direction of a flat plate part may be connected.

  In such a fuel cell stack device, the first connection portion is provided so as to connect one end portion of the current collecting piece and one end portion side in the width direction of the flat plate portion, and the second connection Since the part is provided so as to connect the other end of the current collecting piece and the other end in the width direction of the flat plate part, a plurality of current collecting pieces provided in the vertical direction of the plate-like part The distance between each other can be reduced, and more current collecting pieces can be provided. Therefore, the area of the current collecting piece (current collection area) in contact with the fuel cell can be increased, and a fuel cell stack device with improved power generation efficiency can be obtained.

  Further, in the fuel cell stack device of the present invention, the first connecting portion is provided so as to connect one end portion of the current collecting piece and the other end portion side in the width direction of the flat plate portion, The second connection portion is preferably provided so as to connect the other end portion of the current collector piece and one end portion side in the width direction of the flat plate portion.

  In such a fuel cell stack device, the first connection portion is provided so as to connect one end portion of the current collecting piece and the other end portion side in the width direction of the flat plate portion, Since the connection part is provided so as to connect the other end part of the current collecting piece and one end part side in the width direction of the flat plate part, the current collection area can be increased.

  In the fuel cell stack device of the present invention, it is preferable that the current collecting piece, the first connection portion, and the second connection portion are integrally formed with the flat plate portion.

  In such a fuel cell stack device, since the current collecting piece, the first connection portion, and the second connection portion are formed integrally with the flat plate portion, the conductive member can be easily manufactured.

  Moreover, since there is no junction between the current collector piece and the first connection and the second connection, an increase in electrical resistance due to oxidation of the junction can be suppressed, and the fuel cell stack device The current collection efficiency can be improved.

  In the fuel cell stack device of the present invention, it is preferable that the conductive member has a side plate portion extending at the opposite side of the fuel cell stack at at least one end in the width direction of the flat plate portion.

  In such a fuel cell stack device, since the conductive member has a side plate portion extending on the opposite side to the fuel cell stack at at least one end in the width direction of the flat plate portion, the rigidity of the flat plate portion is increased. The stress applied to the fuel cell can be relieved by shaking during operation and transportation, and the fuel cell (especially, the lower end of the fuel cell placed at the end) can be damaged. Can be suppressed.

  Furthermore, since the rigidity of the conductive member (flat plate portion) can be increased, deformation of the conductive member can be suppressed, and handling properties of the conductive member can be improved.

  In the fuel cell stack device of the present invention, the conductive member is disposed at a predetermined interval, the lower end portion is fixed to the manifold, and the fuel from both ends in the width direction of the plate portion. It is preferable that a conductive member holding member having a pair of side portions extending toward the battery cell stack side is provided, and the conductive member is disposed between the pair of side portions of the conductive member holding member when viewed in plan. .

  In such a fuel cell stack device, the fuel cell is disposed from the conductive member at a predetermined interval, a plate-like portion whose lower end is fixed to the manifold, and both ends of the plate-like portion in the width direction. Since the conductive member holding member having a pair of side portions extending to the stack side is provided and the conductive member is disposed between the pair of side portions of the conductive member holding member when viewed in plan, Further, the stress applied to the fuel cell can be relieved by shaking during transportation, and damage to the fuel cell can be suppressed.

  The fuel cell module of the present invention is characterized in that the fuel cell stack device described above is housed in a housing container, so that it can be a fuel cell module with improved power generation efficiency.

  A fuel cell device according to the present invention is characterized in that the fuel cell module and an auxiliary machine for operating the fuel cell module are housed in an outer case, so that a fuel cell device with improved power generation efficiency is provided. can do.

A fuel cell stack device according to the present invention includes a fuel cell stack in which a plurality of columnar fuel cells are arranged and electrically connected in a state of being erected via a current collecting member, and a fuel cell A fuel comprising a conductive member disposed so as to sandwich the stack from both ends in the arrangement direction of the fuel cells, and a manifold for fixing a lower end portion of the fuel cells and supplying a reaction gas to the fuel cells. In the battery cell stack device, the conductive member contacts a flat plate portion whose lower end portion is fixed to the manifold, a current drawing portion for drawing current to the outside, and a fuel cell located at an end portion of the fuel cell stack. and a collector portion, the collector portion is hung only set at predetermined intervals in the vertical direction of the flat plate portion, and a strip of a plurality of current collecting plates extending along the width direction of the fuel cell, the current collector One and a plurality of first connecting portion for connecting the end portion and the flat plate portion of the side, because it has a second connecting portion a plurality of connecting the ends on the other side and the flat plate portion of the current collecting plates, fuel The area (current collection area) where the battery cell and the current collecting part of the conductive member come into contact with each other can be increased. Therefore, it is possible to improve the current collection efficiency of the fuel cell stack device, thereby providing a fuel cell stack device with improved power generation efficiency. The flat plate portion includes a lead portion that is disposed on one end side and the other end portion side in the width direction of the flat plate portion and extends along the vertical direction of the fuel cell, and the lead portion is the uppermost portion. The first connection portion located on the lowermost side is provided from the first connection portion located on the lowermost side to connect the plurality of first connection portions, and the second connection portion located on the uppermost side is located on the lowermost side. By providing a plurality of second connection portions provided over two connection portions, the current collected by the respective current collecting pieces can be efficiently drawn to the outside along the lead portions, and the fuel cell stack Device launch
Electric efficiency can be improved. Further, by storing this fuel cell stack device in a storage container, a fuel cell module with improved power generation efficiency can be obtained, and further, this fuel cell module and an auxiliary machine for operating the fuel cell module are provided. By storing in the outer case, a fuel cell device with improved power generation efficiency can be obtained.

1 shows an example of a fuel cell stack device of the present invention, (a) is a side view schematically showing the fuel cell stack device, and (b) is a portion surrounded by a dotted frame of the fuel cell stack device of (a). It is a top view which expands and shows a part of. The conductive member in FIG. 1 is shown, (a) is a perspective view, (b) is a front view. An example of the electrically-conductive member which comprises the fuel cell stack apparatus of this invention is shown, (a) is a perspective view, (b) is a front view. It is a perspective view which shows another example of the electrically-conductive member which comprises the fuel cell stack apparatus of this invention. The further another example of the electrically-conductive member which comprises the fuel cell stack apparatus of this invention is shown, (a) is a perspective view, (b) It is a front view. It is a top view of the electrically-conductive member shown in FIG. The conductive member and conductive member holding member which comprise the fuel cell stack apparatus of this invention are shown, (a) is a perspective view, (b) is a top view. It is an external appearance perspective view which shows an example of the fuel cell module of this invention. It is a disassembled perspective view which shows an example of the fuel cell apparatus of this invention. An example of a conventional fuel cell stack device is shown, (a) is a side view schematically showing the fuel cell stack device, (b) is a portion surrounded by a dotted frame of the fuel cell stack device of (a). It is the top view which expanded a part. FIG. 11 shows a current collecting member constituting the conventional fuel cell stack device shown in FIG. 10, (a) is a front view, and (b) is a perspective view showing a part of the current collecting member. It is a perspective view which shows an example of the conventional electrically-conductive member.

  1A and 1B show an example of a fuel cell stack device 1 according to the present invention. FIG. 1A is a side view schematically showing the fuel cell stack device 1, and FIG. 1B is a fuel cell of FIG. It is the top view which expanded a part of cell stack apparatus 1, and has extracted and shown the part enclosed with the dotted-line frame shown by (a). The same members are assigned the same numbers, and so on. In addition, in (b), in order to clarify, the part corresponding to the part enclosed with the dotted-line frame shown by (a) is shown with the arrow.

  Here, the fuel cell stack device 1 includes an inner electrode layer on a flat surface on one side of a columnar conductive support 12 having a pair of opposed flat surfaces (hereinafter may be abbreviated as a support 12 in some cases). A plurality of columnar (hollow flat plate) fuel cells 3 formed by sequentially laminating a fuel-side electrode layer 8, a solid electrolyte layer 9, and an oxygen-side electrode layer 10 as an outer electrode layer, The fuel cells 3 are arranged in a standing state between the fuel cells 3 via the current collecting members 4 and are electrically connected in series to form the fuel cell stack 2. The lower end of the fuel cells 3 is connected to the fuel cell 3. The battery cell 3 is configured to be fixed to a manifold 7 that supplies fuel gas. Note that the fuel cell 3 generates power in a portion where the fuel-side electrode layer 8, the solid electrolyte layer 9, and the oxygen-side electrode layer 10 are laminated in this order (hereinafter sometimes referred to as a power generation unit). In the following description, the inner electrode layer will be referred to as the fuel side electrode layer 8 and the outer electrode layer will be referred to as the oxygen side electrode layer 10 unless otherwise specified.

  Further, the fuel cell stack device 1 includes a conductive member 5 having a lower end fixed to the manifold 7 so as to sandwich the fuel cell stack 2 from both ends in the arrangement direction of the fuel cells 3.

  In the conductive member 5 shown in FIG. 1, a current for drawing out a current generated by power generation of the fuel cell stack 2 (fuel cell 3) in a shape extending outward along the arrangement direction of the fuel cells 3. A drawer 6 is provided.

  Further, an interconnector 11 is provided on the flat surface on the other side of the fuel battery cell 3, and a plurality of gas flow paths 13 for flowing fuel gas (reactive gas) are provided inside the support 12. ing.

  Further, the P-type semiconductor layer 14 can be provided on the outer surface (upper surface) of the interconnector 11, and FIG. 1 shows an example in which the P-type semiconductor layer 14 is provided. By connecting the current collecting member 4 to the interconnector 11 via the P-type semiconductor layer 14, the contact between the two becomes an ohmic contact, the potential drop can be reduced, and the deterioration of the current collecting performance can be effectively avoided. It becomes.

  Alternatively, the fuel cell 3 can be configured by using the support 12 also as the fuel-side electrode layer 8 and sequentially laminating the solid electrolyte layer 9 and the oxygen-side electrode layer 10 on the surface of one side thereof.

  In the present invention, various types of fuel cells are known as the fuel cells 3. However, in order to obtain a fuel cell 3 with good power generation efficiency, the fuel cell 3 can be a solid oxide fuel cell 3. Accordingly, the fuel cell device can be reduced in size with respect to unit power, and a load following operation that follows a fluctuating load required for a household fuel cell can be performed.

  Below, each member which comprises the fuel cell stack apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 1 is demonstrated.

As the fuel-side electrode layer 8, generally known ones can be used. Porous conductive ceramics, for example, ZrO ₂ in which a rare earth element is dissolved (referred to as stabilized zirconia, partially stabilized zirconia is also used) And Ni and / or NiO.

The solid electrolyte layer 9 has a function as an electrolyte that bridges electrons between the electrodes, and at the same time, has to have a gas barrier property in order to prevent leakage between the fuel gas and the oxygen-containing gas. , 3 to 15 mol% of rare earth elements are formed from ZrO ₂ as a solid solution. In addition, as long as it has the said characteristic, you may form using another material etc.

The oxygen-side electrode layer 10 is not particularly limited as long as it is generally used. For example, the oxygen-side electrode layer 10 can be formed from a conductive ceramic made of a so-called ABO ₃ type perovskite oxide. The oxygen-side electrode layer 10 needs to have gas permeability, and the open porosity is preferably 20% or more, particularly preferably in the range of 30 to 50%.

Although the interconnector 11 can be formed from conductive ceramics, it is required to have reduction resistance and oxidation resistance because it is in contact with a fuel gas (hydrogen-containing gas) and an oxygen-containing gas (air, etc.). Therefore, a lanthanum chromite-based perovskite oxide (LaCrO ₃ -based oxide) is preferably used. The interconnector 11 must be dense in order to prevent leakage of fuel gas flowing through the gas flow path 13 formed in the support 12 and oxygen-containing gas flowing outside the fuel cell 3, and 93 It is preferable to have a relative density of 95% or more, particularly 95% or more.

  The support 12 is required to be gas permeable in order to allow the fuel gas to pass through to the fuel side electrode layer 8 and to be conductive in order to collect current via the interconnector 11. Therefore, as the support 12, it is necessary to adopt a material satisfying such a requirement as a material, and for example, conductive ceramics, cermet, or the like can be used.

  Further, in the fuel battery cell 3 shown in FIG. 1, the columnar support 12 is a plate-like piece that is elongated in the standing direction of the fuel battery cell 3, and has a pair of opposing flat surfaces and semicircular side surfaces. It has a hollow flat plate shape. A lower end portion of the fuel cell 3 and a lower end portion of a conductive member 5 (plate-like portion 22), which will be described later, are connected to a manifold 7 that supplies fuel gas to the fuel cell 3 with, for example, a bonding material (glass A gas flow path 13 that is fixed by a sealing material and provided in the support 12 communicates with a fuel gas chamber (not shown) in the manifold 7. In the following description, a description will be given using a hollow flat fuel cell 3.

Incidentally, when producing the fuel cell 3, when producing the support 12 by co-firing with the fuel side electrode layer 8 or the solid electrolyte layer 9, an iron group metal component such as Ni and Y ₂ O ₃ etc. It is preferable to form the support 12 from the specific rare earth oxide. The support 12 preferably has an open porosity of 30% or more, particularly 35 to 50% in order to have fuel gas permeability, and its conductivity is 300 S / cm or more, particularly It is preferable that it is 440 S / cm or more.

Further, as the P-type semiconductor layer 14, a layer made of a perovskite oxide of a transition metal can be exemplified. Specifically, those having higher electron conductivity than the lanthanum chromite perovskite oxide (LaCrO ₃ ) constituting the interconnector 11, for example, LaSrCoFeO ₃ system in which Sr (strontium) and La (lanthanum) coexist at the A site. It is preferably composed of at least one of oxide (for example, LaSrCoFeO ₃ ), LaMnO ₃ -based oxide (for example, LaSrMnO ₃ ), LaFeO ₃ -based oxide (for example, LaSrFeO ₃ ), and LaCoO ₃ -based oxide (for example, LaSrCoO ₃ ). In particular, it is particularly preferable to use LaSrCoFeO ₃ -based oxide from the viewpoint of high electrical conductivity at an operating temperature of about 600 to 1000 ° C. In addition, it is preferable that the thickness of such a P-type semiconductor layer 14 in which Fe and Mn may exist together with Co at the B site is generally in the range of 30 to 100 μm.

  Each fuel cell 3 is electrically connected in series via a current collecting member 4. The current collecting member 4 can be composed of a member made of an elastic metal or alloy or a member obtained by adding a required surface treatment to a felt made of metal fiber or alloy fiber.

  In addition, since it is exposed to a high-temperature oxidizing atmosphere during power generation of the fuel cell device, it is preferably produced using an alloy containing Cr. Furthermore, it is preferable to coat a part of the surface of the current collecting member 4, preferably the whole, with a perovskite oxide containing a rare earth element.

  The length in the longitudinal direction and the length in the width direction of the current collecting member 4 are preferably equal to or longer than the length in the longitudinal direction and the length in the width direction of the power generation unit. Thereby, the current generated by the power generation can be collected efficiently.

  2A and 2B show the conductive member 5 extracted from FIG. 1, in which FIG. 2A is a perspective view and FIG. 2B is a front view.

  The conductive member 5 includes a flat plate portion 19 made of a plate member, a strip-shaped current collecting piece 16 along the width direction of the fuel cell 3, one end portion of the current collecting piece 16, and one end portion of the flat plate portion 19. The first connecting portion 17 that connects the two sides and the second connecting portion 18 that connects the other end portion of the current collecting piece 16 and the other end portion side of the flat plate portion 19 are used as a basic configuration. And a plurality of current collectors provided in the vertical direction. That is, in the fuel cell stack device 1 of the present invention, the end current collecting member 64b in the conventional fuel cell stack device 61 is not necessary. A current drawing portion 15 for taking out current to the outside is provided on the lower end portion side of the flat plate portion 19.

  Accordingly, it is not necessary to provide a joint portion between the end current collecting member 4b and the conductive member 5, and the current collecting area (the area of the current collecting portion in contact with the fuel cell 3) compared to the conventional end current collecting member 64b. ) Can be increased, and the power generation efficiency of the fuel cell stack device 1 can be improved.

  Further, since it is not necessary to provide the end current collecting member 4b, the number of members constituting the fuel cell stack device 1 can be reduced, and the manufacturing process of the fuel cell stack device 1 can be simplified.

In addition, although the edge part of the side which is not joined to the current collection piece 16 of the 1st connection part 17 and the 2nd connection part 18 is connected to the edge part side in the width direction of the flat plate part 18, respectively, it is provided below. In order to draw current from the current drawing part 15, it is preferable to connect the both ends of the flat plate part 19 to the inside. Thereby, since the portions of the outer connecting the first connecting portion 17 and the second connecting portion 18 of the flat plate portion 19 becomes the lead portion to flow a current downward, it is possible to efficiently collector.

  By the way, in the fuel cell stack device 1 configured using the fuel cells 3 as described above, the fuel cells 3 are directed toward the oxygen side electrode layer 10 as the fuel cell stack device 1 is operated. Bending deformation (warping) may occur. Furthermore, it is necessary to perform a reduction treatment for reducing NiO that can be contained in the support 12 and the fuel-side electrode layer 8 to conductive Ni when the fuel cell 3 is manufactured. Due to the difference in thermal expansion coefficient between the electrode layer 10 and the interconnector 11, there is a case where a difference occurs between these changes, and the fuel cell 3 may be warped.

  Further, the fuel cell 3 is deformed (elongated in the vertical direction of the fuel cell 3 (especially upward because the lower end is fixed to the manifold 7)) in the power generation of the fuel cell stack device 1 and the reduction process. ) May occur.

  In the conventional fuel cell stack device 61 (see FIG. 10), when the conductive member 65 has a high rigidity, if the fuel cell 63 is deformed such as warping or stretching, the end current collecting member 64b becomes the fuel cell. There is a risk of peeling from the cell 63 or the conductive member 65. At the same time, the conductive member 65 cannot be flexibly deformed following the warpage or elongation of the fuel cell 63, and a strong stress is generated at the lower end (manifold 67 side) of the fuel cell 63, causing the fuel cell 63. There is a possibility that breakage such as cracking may occur at the lower end portion (manifold 67 side). As a result, the power generation output of the fuel cell stack device 61 may be reduced.

  However, in the conductive member 5, since the current collecting portion corresponding to the conventional end current collecting member 64b is integrally provided in the conductive member 5, even when the fuel cell is warped or stretched, the end of the current collecting member 64b is integrated. The partial current collecting member 64b and the conductive member 65 can be prevented from peeling off. Thereby, the reliability of the fuel cell stack device can be improved.

  The conductive member 5 can be made of an alloy such as stainless steel, conductive ceramics, or the like, but is preferably made using an alloy containing chromium because it is exposed to conductivity and a high-temperature oxidizing atmosphere. . When the conductive member 5 is produced using an alloy containing chromium, it is preferable that a part of the surface of the conductive member 5, preferably the whole, is coated with a perovskite oxide containing a rare earth element. .

  Here, since the conductive member 5 manufactured using an alloy or the like is exposed to a high-temperature oxidizing atmosphere during the operation of the fuel cell stack device 1, a layer of an oxide film having a low conductivity is formed on the surface of the alloy or the like. As a result, the power generation efficiency of the fuel cell stack device 1 may be reduced. In particular, when an oxide film layer is formed on the joint surface between the end current collecting member 64b and the conductive member 65, the power generation efficiency of the fuel cell stack device 1 may be reduced.

  However, the conductive member 5 in the fuel cell stack device 1 of the present invention has a configuration in which the end current collecting member 64b and the conductive member 65 in the conventional fuel cell stack device 61 are integrally formed. As a result, an oxide film layer is not formed between the current collector and the flat plate portion 19, so that a decrease in power generation efficiency of the fuel cell stack device 1 can be suppressed, and current can be collected efficiently. Can do.

  Further, the current drawing portion 15 can be appropriately set depending on the shape of the fuel cell 3 and the like, but it is preferable to provide the current drawing portion 15 on the lower end side of the plate-like portion 19 in order to draw current efficiently. It is preferable to fix the portion below the connecting portion with the current drawing portion 15 to the manifold 7 so as not to contact the manifold 7. In addition, when producing the current extraction part 15 by bending a part of plate-shaped part 19, a connection part means a bending part. Further, when the plate-like portion 19 is fixed to the manifold 7, a pair of side plate portions bent from both side portions of the plate-like portion 19 can be provided at a portion below the connection portion with the current drawing portion 15.

  In addition, the length in the longitudinal direction and the length in the width direction of the current collecting portion in the conductive member 5 are the same as or longer than the length in the longitudinal direction and the length in the width direction of the power generation portion as in the current collecting member 4. It is preferable. Thereby, current can be collected efficiently. Further, the conductive member 5 can be manufactured by pressing a single plate member to form the current collecting portion and the flat plate portion 19. Thereby, the conductive member 5 can be easily manufactured. At this time, the flat plate portion 19 indicates a portion obtained by removing the current collecting portion from one plate member. In addition, the flat plate part 19 is produced with one plate member, and the first connection part 17, the current collecting piece 16 and the second connection part 18 separately produced are welded to the flat plate part 19 to produce the current collection part. it can.

  In addition, a current collection part shows the site | part which contacts the fuel battery cell 3 located in the edge part of the fuel battery cell stack 2. FIG.

  3 shows another example of the conductive member constituting the fuel cell stack device of the present invention, (a) is a perspective view, (b) is a front view, and FIG. 4 is a fuel cell of the present invention. It is a perspective view which shows another example of the electrically-conductive member which comprises a stack apparatus.

  The conductive member 20 is different from the conductive member 20 shown in FIG. As for the current collection part of the conductive member 20, the 1st connection part 22 has a bending part, and it connects so that one edge part of the current collection piece 21 and the other edge part side in the width direction of the flat plate part 24 may be connected. The second connection portion 23 has a bent portion and is provided so as to connect the other end portion of the current collecting piece 21 and one end portion side in the width direction of the flat plate portion 24. At the same time, the current collecting unit includes a plurality of sets in the vertical direction of the flat plate part 24, with the first connecting part 22, the second connecting part 23, and the current collecting piece 21 as one set.

  Thereby, the area (current collection area) in contact with the fuel cell 3 can be increased, and a fuel cell stack device with improved current collection efficiency can be obtained.

  Further, even when the fuel cell 3 is warped (particularly stretched), the first connection portion 22 and the second connection portion 23 have bent portions, so that the fuel cell 3 is flexibly warped or stretched. And the separation from the fuel battery cell 3 can be suppressed.

  In addition, although the example which has a some bending part in the 1st connection part 22 and the 2nd connection part 23 was shown, it is not necessary to provide a bending part. Even in that case, the first connecting portion 22 connects one end portion of the current collecting piece 21 and the other end portion side in the width direction of the flat plate portion 24, so that the current collecting piece 21 and the flat plate portion 24 are connected to each other. The length of the 1st connection part 22 is long compared with the length between, and the length of the 2nd connection part 23 is also long compared with the length between the current collection piece 21 and the flat plate part 24 similarly. Thereby, the current collection part (current collection piece 21) can flexibly follow the warp or elongation of the fuel cell 3. In addition, you may provide a curved part etc. instead of a bending part.

  FIG. 4 shows a conductive member 25 produced by cutting out a current collector similar to FIG. 3 into a predetermined shape by pressing a flat plate into a predetermined shape and pressing it out to the side where the fuel cells 3 are arranged. The conductive member 25 can be manufactured from a single flat plate by a simple process, and the manufacturing process of the fuel cell stack device 1 can be simplified.

In addition, since the current collector and the conductive member 25 are made of a single flat plate, there is no joint between the current collector and the conductive member 25, so an oxide film layer is formed at the joint. It can be suppressed and power generation efficiency can be improved. In addition, a junction part is not what was provided integrally by welding, but shows the site | part joined via P type semiconductor layer 14 grade | etc.,.

  Furthermore, in FIG. 4, the portion surrounded by the alternate long and short dash line is a lead portion that allows current to flow downward, and the current collected by each current collecting piece 21 can be efficiently passed along the lead portion to the current extraction portion. The power generation efficiency of the fuel cell stack device 1 can be improved.

  In addition, a current collection part can also produce the current collection piece 21, the 1st connection part 22, and the 2nd connection part 23, respectively, and can also produce it by welding. For example, the connection part 26 is provided on the end part side of the first connection part 22 and the second connection part 23, and the first connection part 22 and the second connection part 23 are connected to both ends of the current collector piece 26 via the connection part 26. It can also be connected.

  Here, in the case where the rigidity of the conductive member is low, the fuel cell 3 constituting the fuel cell stack 2 resonates due to shaking or the like when the fuel cell stack 2 is transported, and stress concentrates on the lower end side. There is a risk of damage. Therefore, it is preferable to sandwich the fuel cell stack using a conductive member having high rigidity. On the other hand, if the rigidity of the conductive member is high, the end portion of the fuel cell 3 is deformed due to deformation such as warpage or elongation. There is a possibility that the current collecting member 64b and the conductive member 65 are peeled off or the fuel cell 3 is damaged.

  FIG. 5 shows still another example of the conductive member constituting the fuel cell stack device 1 of the present invention, (a) is a perspective view, (b) is a front view, and FIG. 6 is the conductive shown in FIG. The top view of a member is shown.

  The conductive member 30 is provided with side plate portions 27 extending outward along the arrangement direction of the fuel cells 3 at both ends of the flat plate portion 24 of the conductive member 20, and the first connecting portion 22 and the second connecting portion. As shown in FIG. 6, 23 is connected to the end portion side of the flat plate portion 24. Thereby, the rigidity of the conductive member 20 (the flat plate portion 24) can be increased, and the fuel cell 3 can be prevented from being damaged due to shaking during transportation.

  Further, in the case where the current collector is manufactured by press working, the current collected by the current collecting pieces 21 by the side plate portions 27 is efficiently supplied to a current extraction portion (not shown) located on the lower end side. It becomes a part of the lead part that flows. Thereby, current can be collected more efficiently.

  In addition, the rigidity of the conductive member 30 can be increased without increasing the rigidity of the current collector, and the fuel cell 3 and the conductive member 30 (current collector) are peeled off due to warpage or elongation of the fuel cell 3. Can be suppressed.

  In addition, although the example in which the side plate portion 27 extends outward along the arrangement direction of the fuel cells 3 has been shown, the side plate portion 27 may be provided to extend inward as long as it is provided so as to increase the rigidity of the flat plate portion 24. In that case, there is a risk of short circuit if the fuel cell 3 and the side plate portion 27 come into contact with each other. Therefore, the length of the side plate portion 27 is preferably provided so as not to contact the fuel cell 3. It is preferable to provide the side plate portion 27 toward the outside of the width. Further, the side plate portion 27 may be provided with an insulating coating or the like.

  Here, the side plate portion 27 may be provided by bending both ends of the flat plate portion 24, or may be provided by bonding a plate member or the like or a highly rigid member to the flat plate portion 24. Furthermore, the first connection part 22 and the second connection part 23 may be connected to the side plate part 27.

  FIG. 7 shows an example in which a conductive member holding member 36 is provided outside the conductive member constituting the fuel cell stack device of the present invention in the arrangement direction of the fuel cell with a predetermined interval. A perspective view and (b) are top views.

  The conductive member holding member 36 has a plate-like portion 37 and a pair of side portions 38 that bend and extend from both ends of the plate-like portion to the fuel cell stack 2 side, and have a predetermined distance from the conductive member 20. And the conductive member 20 is fixed to the manifold 7 so as to be disposed between the pair of side portions of the conductive member holding member 36.

  As a result, even when the rigidity of the conductive member 20 is low or when the fuel cell 3 is shaken during transportation, the conductive member holding member 36 holds the conductive member 20 so that the fuel cell 3 Can be prevented from resonating, and damage to the fuel cell can be suppressed.

  Further, a heat insulating material or the like may be inserted between the conductive member holding member 36 and the conductive member 20. Thereby, a heat insulating material etc. work as a cushion, and the damage on the fuel cell 3 can be further suppressed by relieving the stress applied to the fuel cell 3.

  Note that the conductive member holding member 36 and the conductive member 20 can be integrated by joining the lower end portion of the side portion 37 to the lower end portion of the flat plate portion 24 of the conductive member 20. Even in this case, since the rigidity of the current collector does not increase, peeling between the current collector and the fuel cell 3 can be suppressed.

  In addition, when the conductive member holding member 36 and the conductive member 20 are not integrated and connected to the manifold 7 without an insulating material interposed therebetween, the conductive member holding member 36 is insulated to prevent short circuit. It is preferable to apply the coating. As a result, the current is short-circuited, and the reduction in power generation efficiency of the fuel cell stack device 1 can be suppressed.

  When the conductive member holding member 36 is manufactured integrally with the conductive member 20, it can be manufactured using an alloy containing chromium or conductive ceramics in the same manner as the conductive member 36. In the case of being manufactured integrally with the conductive member 36, it is preferable that the conductive member 36 is made of an insulating material such as ceramics because the conductive property is not required.

  In addition, although the example using the conductive member 20 was shown in FIG. 7, the conductive member support member 37 may be provided also in the conductive member 30 having the side plate portion 27. Even in that case, damage and peeling of the fuel battery cell 3 can be suppressed.

  FIG. 8 is an external perspective view showing an example of the fuel cell module of the present invention. The fuel cell stack device 1 of the present invention is housed in a rectangular parallelepiped storage container 41.

  A reformer 45 for reforming raw fuel such as natural gas or kerosene to generate fuel gas is provided above the fuel cell stack 2 in order to obtain fuel gas used in the fuel cell 3. It is arranged. The fuel gas generated by the reformer 45 is supplied to the manifold 7 via the gas flow pipe 46, and a gas flow path (not shown) provided inside the fuel battery cell 3 via the manifold 7. To be supplied.

  FIG. 8 shows a state in which a part (front and rear surfaces) of the storage container 41 is removed and the fuel cell stack device 1 and the reformer 45 housed inside are taken out rearward. Here, in the fuel cell module 40 shown in FIG. 8, the fuel cell stack device 1 can be slid and stored in the storage container 41.

  Further, in FIG. 8, the oxygen-containing gas introduction member 48 provided inside the storage container 41 is disposed between the fuel cell stacks 2 juxtaposed to the manifold 7, and the oxygen-containing gas flows into the fuel gas. Accordingly, the oxygen-containing gas is supplied to the lower end side of the fuel cell 3 so that the fuel cell 3 flows laterally from the lower end side toward the upper end side. The surplus fuel gas discharged from the gas flow path of the fuel battery cell 3 is combusted on the upper end side of the fuel battery cell 3, whereby the temperature of the fuel battery cell 3 can be raised, and the fuel battery cell stack The start-up of the device 1 can be accelerated. Further, the reformer 45 disposed above the fuel cell stack 2 is warmed by burning the fuel gas discharged from the gas flow path of the fuel cell 3 on the upper end side of the fuel cell 3. be able to. Thereby, the reforming reaction can be efficiently performed in the reformer 45.

  In such a fuel cell module 40, as described above, the fuel cell stack device 1 with improved power generation efficiency is housed in the storage container 41, so that the fuel cell module 40 with improved power generation efficiency is can do.

  FIG. 9 shows an example of the fuel cell device of the present invention in which the fuel cell module 40 shown in FIG. 8 and an auxiliary machine (not shown) for operating the fuel cell module 40 are housed in an outer case. It is a disassembled perspective view shown. In FIG. 9, a part of the configuration is omitted.

  The fuel cell device 50 shown in FIG. 9 has a module housing chamber 54 that divides the interior of the outer case made up of columns 56 and an outer plate 57 by a partition plate 68 and stores the fuel cell module 40 described above on the upper side. The lower side is configured as an auxiliary equipment storage chamber 53 for storing auxiliary equipment for operating the fuel cell module 40. In addition, the auxiliary machine stored in the auxiliary machine storage chamber 53 is omitted.

  Further, the partition plate 58 is provided with an air circulation port 51 for flowing the air in the auxiliary machine storage chamber 53 toward the module storage chamber 54, and a part of the exterior plate 58 constituting the module storage chamber 54 An exhaust port 52 for exhausting the air in the module storage chamber 54 is provided.

  In such a fuel cell device 50, as described above, the fuel cell module 40 with improved power generation efficiency is stored in the module storage chamber 54, and an auxiliary machine for operating the fuel cell module 40 is an auxiliary device storage chamber 53. By being housed in the configuration, the fuel cell device 50 with improved power generation efficiency can be obtained.

  Although the present invention has been described in detail above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications and improvements can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

  For example, in the fuel cell stack device 1 described above, an example in which the fuel gas is supplied to the gas flow path 13 in the fuel cell 3 and the oxygen-containing gas is supplied to the outside of the fuel cell 3 is shown. A configuration may be adopted in which an oxygen-containing gas is supplied to the gas flow path 13 and fuel gas is supplied to the outside of the fuel cell 3. In that case, what is necessary is just to set it as the fuel cell 3 of the structure which makes an inner side electrode layer the oxygen side electrode layer 10, and makes an outer side electrode layer the fuel side electrode layer 8. FIG.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1,61: Fuel cell stack apparatus 2, 62: Fuel cell stack 3, 63: Fuel cell 4, 64a, 64b: Current collecting member 5, 20, 25, 30, 65: Conductive member 6, 15, 66 : Current drawing part 7, 67: manifold 16, 21: current collecting piece 17, 22: first connection part 18, 23: second connection part 19, 24: flat plate part 27: side plate part 36: conductive member holding member 50 : Fuel cell module 60: Fuel cell device

Claims (8)

A fuel cell stack in which a plurality of columnar fuel cells are arranged upright via a current collecting member and electrically connected in series, and the fuel cell stack is connected to the fuel cell A fuel cell stack device, comprising: a conductive member disposed so as to be sandwiched from both ends in the arrangement direction; and a manifold for fixing a lower end portion of the fuel cell and supplying a reaction gas to the fuel cell. In
The conductive member has a flat plate portion having a lower end fixed to the manifold;
A current drawing part for drawing current to the outside;
A current collector that contacts the fuel cell located at an end of the fuel cell stack;
Current collecting part was kicked set at predetermined intervals in the vertical direction of said plate, and a strip of a plurality of current collecting plates extending along the width direction of the fuel cells,
A plurality of first connecting portions connecting one end portion of the current collecting piece and the flat plate portion;
Have a plurality of second connecting portions for connecting the other end with said plate of said current collecting plates,
The flat plate portion is disposed on one end side and the other end side in the width direction of the flat plate portion, and includes a lead portion extending along the vertical direction of the fuel cell,
The lead portion is provided from the first connection portion located at the uppermost position to the first connection portion located at the lowermost position, connects the plurality of first connection portions, and is located at the uppermost position. A fuel cell stack device, wherein the fuel cell stack device is provided across the second connection portion located at the lowest position from the second connection portion, and connects the plurality of second connection portions . The first connection part is provided so as to connect one end part of the current collecting piece and one end part side in the width direction of the flat plate part,
The said 2nd connection part is provided so that the other edge part of the said current collection piece and the other edge part side in the width direction of the said flat plate part may be connected. Fuel cell stack device. The first connection portion is provided to connect one end portion of the current collecting piece and the other end portion side in the width direction of the flat plate portion,
The said 2nd connection part is provided so that the other edge part of the said current collection piece and the one edge part side in the width direction of the said flat plate part may be connected. Fuel cell stack device. The said current collection piece, the said 1st connection part, and the said 2nd connection part are integrally formed with a part of said flat plate part, The Claim 1 thru | or 3 characterized by the above-mentioned. Fuel cell stack device.   5. The conductive member according to claim 1, wherein the conductive member has a side plate portion extending at a side opposite to the fuel cell stack at at least one end in the width direction of the flat plate portion. The fuel cell stack device according to the description. A plate-like portion disposed at a predetermined interval from the conductive member and having a lower end portion fixed to the manifold, and a pair of sides extending from both ends in the width direction of the plate-like portion to the fuel cell stack side And a conductive member holding member having a portion,
6. The fuel cell stack device according to claim 1, wherein the conductive member is disposed between a pair of side portions of the conductive member holding member when viewed in a plan view. 7. A fuel cell module comprising the fuel cell stack device according to claim 1 stored in a storage container.   A fuel cell device comprising: the fuel cell module according to claim 7; and an auxiliary machine for operating the fuel cell module, housed in an outer case.