JP5388818B2 - Fuel cell module and fuel cell device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a fuel cell module in which a plurality of fuel cells are stored in a storage container, and a fuel cell device including the fuel cell module.

  In recent years, as a next-generation energy, a cell stack formed by arranging a plurality of fuel cells that can obtain electric power using fuel gas (hydrogen-containing gas) and air (oxygen-containing gas) is stored in a storage container. Various fuel cell modules and fuel cell devices in which the fuel cell module is housed in an outer case have been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  In such a fuel cell module, for example, in a rectangular parallelepiped storage container, a cell stack in which a plurality of fuel cells are arranged in a row, a cell stack is fixed, and fuel gas is supplied to the fuel cells. And a reformer having a vaporization section for performing steam reforming for generating fuel gas to be supplied to the fuel cell and a reforming section are housed above the cell stack.

JP 2007-59377 A

  In the fuel cell module described above, the temperature of the fuel battery cell disposed in the vicinity of the vaporization section is lowered due to the endothermic reaction in the vaporization section, and a non-uniform temperature distribution is generated in the cell stack, which may reduce the power generation efficiency. There is.

  In addition, with the operation of the fuel cell module, local thermal stresses and temperature differences occur in the storage containers and manifolds that make up the fuel cell module, resulting in faster deterioration of the storage containers, and between the cell stack and the manifold. There was a risk that durability would be lowered, such as damage to the joint.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a fuel cell module with improved power generation efficiency and durability and a fuel cell device including the same.

  The fuel cell module of the present invention is arranged and electrically connected in a state where a plurality of columnar fuel cells that generate power with fuel gas and oxygen-containing gas are erected in a power generation chamber provided in a storage container. A cell stack, a manifold for fixing a lower end portion of the fuel cell and supplying the fuel gas to the fuel cell, and the manifold disposed above the cell stack and supplied to the manifold A fuel cell module including a reformer for generating fuel gas, wherein the fuel cells are arranged in a circular shape along a wall surface of the power generation chamber.

  In such a fuel cell module, since the fuel cells are arranged in a circular shape along the wall surface of the power generation chamber, it is possible to suppress uneven temperature distribution in the cell stack, as well as a storage container and a manifold. For example, local thermal stress and temperature difference can be suppressed. As a result, a fuel cell module with improved power generation efficiency and durability can be obtained.

  In the fuel cell module of the present invention, it is preferable that the planar shape of the power generation chamber is circular, and the fuel cell is arranged in an annular shape along the wall surface of the power generation chamber.

  In such a fuel cell module, since the fuel cells are arranged in a ring shape, the temperature distribution in the power generation chamber having a circular planar shape can be made to be uniform, and the power generation efficiency can be improved.

  In the fuel cell module of the present invention, the reformer and the manifold are cylindrical, and are inserted from the outside of the storage container and connected to the center of the upper surface of the reformer. Connecting a raw fuel supply pipe for supplying raw fuel to the lower surface central portion of the reformer and an upper surface central portion of the manifold, and supplying fuel gas generated by the reformer to the manifold It is preferable that a fuel gas supply pipe is provided.

  In such a fuel cell module, since the reformer and the manifold are cylindrical, local thermal stress and temperature difference can occur in the reformer and the manifold, and durability can be improved. . In addition, since the raw fuel supply pipe is connected to the center of the upper surface of the reformer, the raw fuel can be efficiently supplied to the reformer, and the fuel gas generated by the reformer is supplied to the manifold. Since the fuel gas supply pipe for supplying to the fuel cell connects the lower center of the reformer and the center of the upper surface of the manifold, the fuel gas supplied to the manifold is efficiently supplied to each fuel cell. Power generation efficiency can be improved.

The fuel cell module of the present invention is a reformer in which the reformer performs steam reforming with the raw fuel and water, and the reformer vaporizes the water disposed above. And a reforming unit that is disposed below the vaporizing unit and that performs steam reforming with the raw fuel and the steam vaporized in the vaporizing unit, and the vaporizing unit includes: A spiral vaporization channel for flowing the raw fuel supplied from the raw fuel supply pipe to the central portion toward the peripheral side is provided, and the reforming unit is supplied from the vaporization channel to the peripheral side. it is preferable to comprise a spiral of the reforming portion flow path for flowing the raw fuel toward the central portion.

  In such a fuel cell module, a reformer that performs steam reforming includes a vaporization section that is disposed above and a reforming section that is disposed below the vaporization section, and therefore, by an endothermic reaction in the vaporization section. A temperature drop of the cell stack can be suppressed, and a decrease in power generation efficiency can be suppressed.

  In addition, the vaporization unit includes a spiral vaporization unit flow path for flowing the raw fuel supplied from the raw fuel supply pipe to the central part toward the peripheral side, and the reforming unit is supplied to the peripheral side. Since the spiral reforming part flow path for flowing the raw fuel toward the center part side is provided, the length of the vaporization part flow path and the reforming part flow path can be increased, and the raw fuel can be efficiently used. It can be reformed to fuel gas.

  In the fuel cell module of the present invention, the storage container passes through the first flow path for flowing an oxygen-containing gas supplied from the lower side of the storage container upward, and the first flow path. A second flow path for flowing the oxygen-containing gas flowing upward toward the power generation chamber, and a flow for supplying the oxygen-containing gas flowing through the second flow path downward into the power generation chamber A third flow path, and a fourth flow path provided between the first flow path and the third flow path for flowing the exhaust gas in the power generation chamber from above to below. Is preferred.

  In such a fuel cell module, the oxygen-containing gas supplied from the lower side of the storage container flows of the exhaust gas flowing in the adjacent fourth flow path while flowing upward in the first flow path. Heat exchange is performed with heat, and heat exchange is performed with heat in the power generation chamber while flowing through the second flow path and the third flow path. Therefore, the oxygen-containing gas heated by heat exchange by the heat of exhaust gas and the heat of the power generation chamber can be supplied into the power generation chamber, and the power generation efficiency can be improved.

  In the fuel cell module of the present invention, in the storage container, the first flow path and the second flow path are disposed on the inner wall of the storage container with a predetermined interval between the outer wall and the outer wall. The fourth flow path is formed by the inner wall and an exhaust gas inner wall arranged at a predetermined interval inside the inner wall, and the third flow path is formed by the exhaust gas inner wall. An oxygen-containing gas that is disposed on the inner side and that hangs down into the power generation chamber through the second flow path and that has a blow-out port for supplying oxygen-containing gas to the power generation chamber on the lower end side. It is preferably formed by a supply member.

  In such a fuel cell module, the oxygen-containing gas supplied from below the storage container flows upward in the first flow path formed by the outer wall and the inner wall of the storage container, and then flows between the outer wall and the inner wall. An oxygen-containing gas supply member arranged to flow through the formed second flow path, to hang inside the power generation chamber through the second flow path, inside the exhaust gas inner wall disposed inside the inner wall Then, it flows through the third flow path formed by the above and is supplied into the power generation chamber. Further, the exhaust gas in the power generation chamber flows through the fourth flow path formed by the inner wall and the exhaust gas inner wall disposed inside the inner wall, and is exhausted to the outside of the storage container. Thereby, the oxygen-containing gas warmed efficiently can be supplied into the power generation chamber, and the power generation efficiency can be improved.

The fuel cell module of the present invention, on the inner side of the connecting portion of the oxygen-containing gas supply member in the second flow path, the oxygen-containing gas supply by folding an oxygen-containing gas flowing through the second flow path It is preferable to provide a folding member for flowing through the member.

  In such a fuel cell module, the oxygen-containing gas flowing through the second flow path can be efficiently flowed to the oxygen-containing gas supply member, and the power generation efficiency can be improved.

  The fuel cell device according to the present invention has one of the above fuel cell modules and an auxiliary machine for operating the fuel cell module housed in an outer case, thereby improving power generation efficiency and durability. The fuel cell device can be obtained.

  The fuel cell module of the present invention can be a fuel cell module with improved power generation efficiency and durability since the fuel cells are arranged in a circular shape along the wall surface of the power generation chamber. Further, since the fuel cell device of the present invention houses the fuel cell module with improved power generation efficiency and durability, it can be a fuel cell device with improved power generation efficiency and durability.

It is an external appearance perspective view which shows an example of the fuel cell module of this invention. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing the fuel cell module shown in FIG. 1. (A) is an external perspective view showing the reformer, cell stack, and manifold that constitute the fuel cell module shown in FIG. 2, and (b) is the reformer that constitutes the fuel cell module shown in FIG. FIG. 2 is an external perspective view showing an extracted fuel gas supply pipe and a manifold. It is sectional drawing which extracts and shows the cell stack and fuel gas supply pipe in the AA line cross section shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is an extracted perspective view of a part of the reformer and the raw fuel supply pipe shown in FIG. 2, (a) is a part of the vaporization part and the raw fuel supply pipe, and (b) is an exploded perspective view showing the reforming part. . It is sectional drawing which shows schematically another example of the fuel cell module of this invention. It is a perspective view showing roughly an example of the fuel cell device of the present invention.

  FIG. 1 is an external perspective view showing an example of a fuel cell module 1 (hereinafter sometimes referred to as a module) of the present invention. In the following drawings, the same numbers are assigned to the same members.

  A module 1 shown in FIG. 1 includes a cylindrical storage container 2. A raw fuel gas supply pipe 3 for supplying raw fuel from the outside, which will be described later, is inserted into the storage container 2 from the upper surface side, and an oxygen-containing gas (air) is introduced into the storage container 2 on the lower surface side. An oxygen-containing gas introduction pipe 4 for supply is provided. Hereinafter, the module 1 will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing the module 1 shown in FIG. In the storage container 2, an outer frame of the storage container 2 is formed by the outer wall 5, and a power generation chamber 8 that stores the fuel cell 9 (cell stack device) is formed therein.

  In such a storage container 2, the inner wall 6 is disposed inside the outer wall 5 at a predetermined interval, and the exhaust gas inner wall 7 is disposed inside the inner wall 6 (inside the side wall of the inner wall 6). A space surrounded by the wall and the inner wall 7 for exhaust gas is a power generation chamber 8.

  Here, in the storage container 2, the space formed by the side wall of the outer wall 5 and the side wall of the inner wall 6 becomes the first flow path 16, and the space formed by the upper wall of the outer wall 5 and the upper wall of the inner wall 6 is the first. 2, and the space formed by the inner wall 6 and the exhaust gas inner wall 7 is a fourth flow path (exhaust gas flow path) 19. Here, the upper wall of the inner wall 6 is provided with an oxygen-containing gas supply member 13 that is disposed on the inner side of the inner wall 7 for exhaust gas and is suspended in the power generation chamber 8 through the second flow path. The inside of the oxygen-containing gas supply member 13 becomes the third flow path 18. A blow-out port 23 for supplying oxygen-containing gas into the power generation chamber 8 is provided on the lower end side of the oxygen-containing gas supply member 13. In addition, the blower outlet 23 may have a shape in which a plurality of holes are provided, or may have a slit shape.

  Moreover, the outer wall 5, the inner wall 6, and the exhaust gas inner wall 7 are each provided in a cylindrical shape, whereby the planar shape of the power generation chamber 8 is formed in a circular shape.

  Further, an oxygen-containing gas introduction pipe 4 for supplying oxygen-containing gas (air) into the storage container 2 is connected to the bottom of the storage container 2, and the oxygen-containing gas supplied from the oxygen-containing gas introduction pipe 4 is connected. The gas flows to the oxygen-containing gas introduction part 14. A space formed by the bottom wall of the inner wall 6 and the bottom wall of the outer wall 5 serves as the oxygen-containing gas introduction part 14. Since the oxygen-containing gas introduction part 14 is connected to the first flow path 16 by the oxygen-containing gas introduction port 15, the oxygen-containing gas that has flowed through the oxygen-containing gas introduction part 14 passes through the oxygen-containing gas introduction port 15 to 1 flow path 16. The oxygen-containing gas that has flowed upward in the first flow path 16 passes through the second flow path 17 on the power generation chamber 8 side (the central portion along the upper wall of the outer wall 5 in the storage container 2 shown in FIG. 2). And then flows downward through the third flow path 18 provided inside the oxygen-containing gas supply member 13 and is supplied into the power generation chamber 8 through the outlet 23. The oxygen-containing gas supplied from the outlet 23 into the power generation chamber 8 flows from the lower end side to the upper end side of the fuel cell 9, so that the fuel cell 9 can efficiently generate power.

  On the other hand, exhaust gas discharged from the fuel cell 9 or exhaust gas generated by burning excess fuel gas on the upper end side of the fuel cell 9 is a fourth flow path (hereinafter referred to as exhaust gas) from above the power generation chamber 8. May be referred to as a flow path). The exhaust gas that has flowed downward through the exhaust gas flow path 19 flows to the exhaust gas collection chamber 21 through the exhaust gas collection port 20, and is then exhausted to the outside of the storage container 2 through the exhaust gas exhaust pipe 22 connected to the exhaust gas collection chamber 21. . Note that a space formed by the bottom wall of the exhaust gas inner wall 7 and the bottom wall of the inner wall 6 is an exhaust gas collection chamber 21. Moreover, in the storage container 2 shown in FIG. 2, although the exhaust gas exhaust pipe 22 is made into the shape (double pipe) provided in the inside of the oxygen containing gas introduction pipe 4, each can also be arrange | positioned shifting.

  Therefore, the oxygen-containing gas introduced from the oxygen-containing gas introduction pipe 4 is heat-exchanged with the exhaust gas flowing through the exhaust gas collection unit 21 while flowing through the oxygen-containing gas introduction unit 14 and flows through the first flow path 16. In addition, heat exchange is performed with the exhaust gas flowing through the exhaust gas flow channel 19, and heat exchange is performed with the heat in the power generation chamber 8 while flowing through the second flow channel 17 and the third flow channel 18.

  Thereby, since the temperature of oxygen-containing gas can be raised efficiently, the electric power generation efficiency of the fuel cell 9 can be improved.

  In addition, a heat insulating material 24 is appropriately disposed inside the storage container 2 for maintaining the inside of the power generation chamber 8 at a high temperature and suppressing the temperature of the fuel cell 9 from being lowered to reduce the amount of power generation. 2, between the exhaust gas inner wall 7 and the oxygen-containing gas supply member 13, between the bottom wall of the exhaust gas inner wall 7 and the manifold 10, and between the reformer 11 and the inner wall 6. Respectively.

  By the way, depending on the structure of the reformer 11 and the manifold 10 arranged in the power generation chamber 8 and the arrangement structure of the cell stack (fuel cell 9), a non-uniform temperature distribution occurs in the cell stack and the power generation efficiency is lowered. There is a possibility that local thermal stress or temperature is generated in the storage container 2 or the manifold 10 and the storage container is deteriorated accordingly, and the durability of the cell stack and the manifold 10 is damaged. was there.

  Therefore, in the module 1 of the present invention, the fuel cells 9 are arranged in a circular shape along the wall surface of the power generation chamber 8.

  FIG. 3A is an external perspective view showing the reformer 11, the cell stack (fuel cell 9), and the manifold 10 extracted from the module 1 shown in FIG. 2, and FIG. 2 is an external perspective view showing the reformer 11, the fuel gas supply pipe 12, and the manifold 10 extracted from the module 1 shown in FIG. 2, and FIG. 4 is a cell stack (fuel) taken along line AA shown in FIG. It is sectional drawing which extracts and shows the battery cell 9) and the fuel gas supply pipe | tube 12. FIG. The cell stack device 25 is configured by the reformer 11, the cell stack (fuel cell 9), the manifold 10, and the fuel gas supply pipe 12 shown in FIG.

  In the cell stack apparatus 25 shown in FIG. 3, the reformer 11 and the manifold 10 are formed in a cylindrical shape in accordance with the power generation chamber 8 in which the planar shape of the module 1 shown in FIG. A plurality of columnar fuel cells 9 are arranged in a circular shape along the wall surface of the power generation chamber 8 having a circular planar shape via a current collecting member (not shown in FIG. 3, see FIG. 4). The lower end is fixed to the manifold 10 with a glass sealant or the like.

  That is, the storage container 2, the reformer 11, and the manifold 10 are each formed in a cylindrical shape, the power generation chamber 8 is formed in a circular shape in plan view, and the fuel cells 9 are arranged in an annular shape (see FIG. 4). Therefore, the temperature distribution in the cell stack can be made uniform. Thereby, the power generation efficiency of the cell stack (cell stack device 25) can be improved.

  Further, by configuring the module 1 as described above, not only the temperature distribution in the cell stack but also the temperature distribution in the power generation chamber 8 can be made closer to uniform. Thereby, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of local thermal stress and temperature difference in the storage container 2 and the manifold 10. Thereby, it can suppress that the junction part of a cell stack and the manifold 10 is damaged, and while being able to improve the durability of the cell stack apparatus 25, the durability of the storage container 2 can be improved.

  Here, the fuel gas supply pipe 12 for supplying the fuel gas generated in the reformer 11 to the manifold 10 connects the lower surface center portion of the reformer 11 and the upper surface center portion of the manifold 10. Is provided. As a result, the fuel gas supplied to the manifold 10 is efficiently supplied to each fuel battery cell 9 constituting the cell stack, so that the distribution of the fuel gas supplied to each fuel battery cell 9 is made uniform. Therefore, the power generation efficiency of the cell stack (cell stack device 25) can be improved.

  Various types of fuel cells are known as the fuel cell 9, but a solid oxide fuel cell can be used to reduce the size of the fuel cell device that houses the module 1. As a result, the fuel cell device can be reduced in size, and a load following operation that follows a fluctuating load required for a household fuel cell can be performed.

  Hereinafter, the columnar fuel cell 9 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 4, a columnar shape having a pair of opposed flat surfaces and including fuel gas passages 27 (six in the fuel cell 9 shown in FIG. 4) penetrating the inside for flowing the fuel gas therein. A fuel-side electrode layer 28, a solid electrolyte layer 29, and an oxygen-side electrode layer 30 are sequentially laminated on one flat surface of a conductive support 26 (hereinafter sometimes abbreviated as support 26), and the other flat surface. A hollow plate type fuel cell 9 is shown having an interconnector 31 provided on the surface.

  A plurality of such fuel cells 9 are electrically connected in series via the current collecting member 33 between adjacent fuel cells 9 to form a cell stack. In a cell stack formed by arranging a plurality of fuel cells 9 in a circular shape (annular shape), one of the current collecting members 33 constituting the cell stack is connected to an end current collecting member that is not joined to each other. By setting it to 34, the electric current produced by the power generation of the cell stack can be drawn efficiently. The cylindrical storage container 2 has a configuration in which a current extraction portion (not shown) that is joined to the end current collecting member 34 and draws a current to the outside is inserted from the upper surface side of the storage container 2. By doing so, the manufacture (assembly work) of the module 1 can be facilitated.

  A P-type semiconductor 32 can also be provided on the outer surface (upper surface) of the interconnector 31. By connecting the current collecting member 33 or the end current collecting member 34 to the interconnector 31 via the P-type semiconductor 32, the contact between the two becomes an ohmic contact, reducing the potential drop and effectively reducing the current collecting performance. It is possible to avoid it.

  In such a fuel battery cell 9, the fuel gas discharged from the fuel gas flow path 27 on the upper end side of the fuel battery cell 9 and not used in power generation of the fuel battery cell 9 is burned. Can do. Accordingly, the temperature of the fuel cell 9 can be raised or maintained at a high temperature, the temperature of the reformer 11 can be raised, and the reforming reaction in the reformer 11 can be performed efficiently. it can.

  Below, each member which comprises the fuel cell 9 shown in FIG. 4 is demonstrated.

  The support 26 is required to be gas permeable in order to allow the fuel gas to permeate to the fuel side electrode layer 28, and to be conductive in order to collect current via the interconnector 31. Therefore, as the support 26, 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.

As the fuel side electrode layer 28, generally known ones can be used. Porous conductive ceramics, for example, ZrO ₂ (referred to as stabilized zirconia) in which a rare earth element is dissolved, Ni and / or It can be formed from NiO.

The solid electrolyte layer 29 has a function as an electrolyte for bridging electrons between the electrodes, and at the same time, needs 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 30 is not particularly limited as long as it is generally used. For example, the oxygen side electrode layer 30 can be formed of a conductive ceramic made of a so-called ABO ₃ type perovskite oxide. The air electrode layer 13 is required 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 31 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 31 must be dense in order to prevent leakage of the fuel gas flowing through the fuel gas passage 27 formed in the support 26 and the oxygen-containing gas flowing outside the support 26, and 93 It is preferable to have a relative density of 95% or more, particularly 95% or more.

  When the fuel cell 9 is produced, when the support 26 is produced by co-firing with the fuel-side electrode layer 28 or the solid electrolyte layer 29, the iron group metal component (or its oxide) and the specific rare earth oxidation are used. It is preferable to form the support 26 from the object. Further, the support 26 preferably has an open porosity of 30% or more, particularly 35 to 50% in order to have the required gas permeability, and its conductivity is 50 S / cm or more, more Preferably it is 300 S / cm or more, and particularly preferably 440 S / cm or more.

Furthermore, as the P-type semiconductor layer 32, a layer made of a transition metal perovskite oxide can be exemplified. Specifically, one having a higher electron conductivity than the lanthanum chromite-based perovskite oxide (LaCrO ₃ -based oxide) constituting the interconnector 31, for example, LaMnO in which Mn, Fe, Co, etc. exist at the B site. P-type semiconductor ceramics made of at least one of _three- based oxides, LaFeO ₃ -based oxides, LaCoO ₃ -based oxides and the like can be used. In general, the thickness of the P-type semiconductor layer 32 is preferably in the range of 30 to 100 μm.

  Although not shown, the solid electrolyte layer 29 and the air electrode layer 30 are firmly bonded between the solid electrolyte layer 29 and the oxygen-side electrode layer 30, and the components of the solid electrolyte layer 29 and oxygen In a composition containing Ce (cerium) and other rare earth elements (Sm, Gd, etc.) for the purpose of suppressing the formation of a reaction layer having a high electrical resistance by reacting with the components of the side electrode layer 30. An intermediate layer may also be provided.

  Further, although not shown in the figure, the fuel electrode layer 28 is similar to the fuel side electrode layer 28 in order to reduce a difference in thermal expansion between the interconnector 31 and the support 26 and between the interconnector 31 and the support 26. An adhesion layer having the composition described above can also be provided.

  In the cell stack device 25 described above, the fuel gas can be efficiently supplied to the fuel cell 9 by performing steam reforming with high reforming efficiency in the reformer 11. Here, by forming the reformer 11 in a cylindrical shape, it is possible to suppress the influence of the temperature change due to the heat absorption or heat generation accompanying the steam reforming only on the specific fuel cell 9 constituting the cell stack. This can affect each fuel cell 9 substantially equally. As a result, the temperature distribution of the cell stack can be made closer to uniform, and the power generation efficiency of the cell stack (cell stack device 25) can be improved.

  Here, it is preferable that the reformer 11 is configured to be able to suppress the influence of the temperature change of the endothermic reaction accompanying the steam reforming from reaching the cell stack (fuel cell 9).

  FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view showing the reformer 11, (a) shows a part of the vaporization section and the raw fuel supply pipe 3 constituting the reformer 11, and (b) shows the reformer 11. The reforming part which comprises is shown. In (a), the state which removed the upper lid which constitutes a vaporization part is shown.

  In the reformer 11 shown in FIG. 5, since the vaporizing section 35 for vaporizing water is disposed above the reforming section 39 that performs the reforming reaction, it accompanies the vaporization of water in the vaporizing section 35. The influence of the temperature drop due to the endotherm on the cell stack can be suppressed.

  In addition, when steam reforming is performed in the reformer 11, raw fuel such as natural gas and water are supplied from the raw fuel supply pipe 3. In this case, the raw fuel supply pipe 3 can be a double pipe, and the raw fuel and water can be supplied from separate pipes. FIG. 5A shows a case where raw fuel such as natural gas and water are supplied from the raw fuel supply pipe 3.

  The raw fuel and water supplied from the raw fuel supply pipe 3 are supplied to a raw fuel receiving portion 36 provided at the central portion of the vaporizing portion 35. Thus, the raw fuel and water supplied from the raw fuel supply pipe 3 are temporarily stored in the raw fuel receiving portion 36. The raw fuel and water stored in the raw fuel receiving part 36 are supplied from a raw fuel delivery port 40 provided in the raw fuel receiving part 36, one end of which is connected to the raw fuel receiving part 36 and supplied from the raw fuel supply pipe 3. The raw fuel flows to the spiral vaporizing section flow path 37 for flowing the raw fuel to the periphery. In this case, a part of the water stored in the raw fuel receiving part 36 can also flow into the vaporizing part flow path 37 as water vapor.

  The raw fuel receiving portion 36 is made lower in height than, for example, the height of the wall constituting the vaporizing portion flow path 37, and after the water stored in the raw fuel receiving portion 36 is vaporized into steam, the raw fuel is received. It can also be configured to flow from above the receiving part 36 to the vaporizing part flow path 37. The raw fuel supply pipe 3 is arranged so that one open end of the raw fuel supply pipe 3 is located at a distance from the bottom surface of the raw fuel receiving portion 36, and the raw fuel supply pipe 3 is disposed at one end of the raw fuel supply pipe 3. A configuration in which a fuel delivery port (hole or the like) is provided and one end of the fuel delivery port is joined to the bottom surface of the raw fuel receiving portion 36 may be employed. FIG. 5A shows a state in which the opened end of the raw fuel supply pipe 3 is disposed so as to be spaced from the bottom surface of the raw fuel receiving portion 36.

  Similarly, the raw fuel such as natural gas also flows into the vaporizing section flow path 37. By making the vaporization section flow path 37 spiral, the length of the vaporization section flow path 37 can be increased, water can be efficiently vaporized into water vapor, and water vapor and raw fuel can be mixed efficiently. can do. Hereinafter, raw fuel mixed with water vapor may be referred to as raw fuel gas. The raw fuel (raw fuel gas) that has flowed to the peripheral side of the vaporization section flow path 37 is passed through the raw fuel gas outlet 38 provided on the peripheral side (the other end side) of the vaporization section flow path 37 and the reforming section. It flows to 39. In addition, a ceramic ball or the like for efficiently vaporizing water can be disposed in the vaporizing portion flow path 37. In addition, the vaporization part flow path 37 can also be set as the structure inclined so that it may go down toward a peripheral part, in order to flow raw fuel and water vapor | steam to a peripheral side efficiently.

  The raw fuel gas that has flowed through the raw fuel gas outlet 38 flows to the peripheral side of the reforming section 39. The reforming unit 39 includes a spiral reforming unit flow path 41 for flowing the raw fuel gas flowing into the peripheral side of the reforming unit 39 through the raw fuel gas outlet 38 toward the center side. Yes. Note that the upper surface of the reforming unit 39 is closed by the bottom surface of the vaporizing unit 35.

  A reforming catalyst for reforming the raw fuel gas into the fuel gas is provided in the reforming section channel 41 (not shown). As the reforming catalyst, a reforming catalyst excellent in reforming efficiency and durability is preferably used. For example, a porous support such as γ-alumina, α-alumina, cordierite, etc., a noble metal such as Ru or Pt, Ni A reforming catalyst carrying a base metal such as Fe can be used.

  One end of the reforming section channel 41 is provided at the center of the reforming section 39, and a fuel gas outlet for flowing the fuel gas generated in the reforming section channel 41 to the fuel gas supply pipe 12. 42 is provided in the vicinity of 42. As a result, the fuel gas generated in the reforming section flow channel 41 flows to the fuel gas supply pipe 12 via the fuel gas outlet 42 and is then supplied to the fuel battery cell 9. In addition, the reforming part flow path 41 can also be configured to be inclined so as to be lowered toward the central part in order to efficiently flow the raw fuel gas to the fuel gas delivery port 42.

  As described above, the reformer 11 is disposed above and includes the vaporization unit 35 including the spiral vaporization unit flow path 37, and disposed below the vaporization unit 35 and includes the spiral reforming unit flow path 41. By comprising the reforming part 39, the reforming reaction can be performed efficiently, and the influence of the temperature decrease due to the endotherm accompanying the vaporization of water in the vaporization part 35 reaches the cell stack (fuel cell 9). This can be suppressed. By providing such a reformer 11, the module 1 with improved power generation efficiency and durability can be obtained.

  FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing another example of the fuel cell module of the present invention. The module 43 shown in FIG. 6 contains oxygen that flows through the second flow path 17 on the inner side of the connection portion of the oxygen-containing gas supply member 13 in the second flow path 17 as compared with the module 1 shown in FIG. The difference is that a folding member 44 for folding the gas and flowing it to the oxygen-containing gas supply member 13 is provided.

  The oxygen-containing gas that has flowed upward in the first flow path 16 then flows through the second flow path 17 to the oxygen-containing gas supply member 13, but the oxygen-containing gas that has flowed through the second flow path 17. A part of the gas may stay in the second flow path 17 without flowing to the oxygen-containing gas supply member 13.

  Therefore, in the module 43 shown in FIG. 6, the second flow path 17 is provided with the oxygen-containing gas supply member 13 in the second flow path 17 by providing the folded member 44 on the inner side. The oxygen-containing gas that has flowed beyond the gas supply member 13 is folded back toward the first flow path 16 by the folding member 44. Thereby, the oxygen-containing gas heat-exchanged with the heat in the power generation chamber 8 can be flowed to the oxygen-containing gas supply member 13, and the power generation efficiency of the cell stack (cell stack device 25) can be improved.

  FIG. 7 schematically shows an example of the fuel cell device of the present invention in which the module 1 shown in FIG. 2 and an auxiliary machine (not shown) for operating the module 1 are housed in an outer case. It is a perspective view. In FIG. 7, a part of the configuration is omitted.

  A fuel cell device 45 shown in FIG. 7 divides the inside of a cylindrical outer case made up of an outer plate 46 and a lid member 47 by a partition plate 48 and houses the above-described module 1 on the upper side thereof. A module storage chamber 49 is provided, and the lower side is configured as an auxiliary machine storage chamber 50 for storing auxiliary machines for operating the module 1. In addition, the auxiliary machine accommodated in the auxiliary machine storage chamber 50 is not shown.

  Further, the partition plate 48 is provided with an air circulation port 51 for allowing the air in the auxiliary machine storage chamber 50 to flow toward the module storage chamber 49, and the lid member 47 (upper cover) 33 constituting the module storage chamber 49 is provided. In part, an exhaust port 52 for exhausting air in the module storage chamber 49 is provided.

  In such a fuel cell device 45, since the module 1 with improved power generation efficiency and durability is housed, the fuel cell device 45 with improved power generation efficiency and durability 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 above description, the module 1 has been described using the module 1 having a cylindrical shape. However, if the fuel cell 9 has a circular shape along the wall surface of the power generation chamber 8, the module 1 has a cylindrical shape. The shape is not limited, and a rectangular column shape that is long in the vertical direction can also be used. In this case, the exterior case can also be formed in a rectangular column shape that is long in the vertical direction together with the shape of the module 1.

1, 43: Fuel cell module 2: Storage container 3: Raw fuel supply pipe 5: Outer wall 6: Inner wall 7: Inner wall for exhaust gas 8: Power generation chamber 9: Fuel cell 10: Manifold 11: Reformer 12: Fuel gas supply Pipe 13: Oxygen-containing gas introduction member 16: first flow path 17: second flow path 18: third flow path 19: fourth flow path 25: cell stack device 35: vaporization section 39: reforming section 45: Fuel cell device

Claims (8)

  A cell stack formed by arranging and electrically connecting a plurality of columnar fuel cells that generate power with fuel gas and oxygen-containing gas in a power generation chamber provided in a storage container, A manifold for fixing the lower end portion of the fuel cell and supplying the fuel gas to the fuel cell, and a modification for generating the fuel gas to be supplied to the manifold, which is disposed above the cell stack. A fuel cell module in which a fuel cell module is housed, wherein the fuel cells are arranged in a circular shape along a wall surface of the power generation chamber.   2. The fuel cell module according to claim 1, wherein the planar shape of the power generation chamber is circular, and the fuel cells are arranged in an annular shape along a wall surface of the power generation chamber.   The raw fuel for supplying the raw fuel to the reformer, the reformer and the manifold being cylindrical and inserted from the outside of the storage container and connected to the center of the upper surface of the reformer A supply pipe, and a fuel gas supply pipe for connecting the lower surface central portion of the reformer and the upper surface central portion of the manifold, and for supplying fuel gas generated by the reformer to the manifold. The fuel cell module according to claim 2, wherein: The reformer is a reformer that performs steam reforming with the raw fuel and water, and the reformer includes a vaporization unit for vaporizing the water disposed above, and the vaporization unit And a reforming unit that performs steam reforming with the raw fuel and the steam vaporized by the vaporizing unit, and the vaporizing unit is supplied from the raw fuel supply pipe to the central part. A volatilization-type vaporization channel for flowing the raw fuel toward the peripheral side, and the reforming unit directs the raw fuel supplied to the peripheral side from the vaporization unit channel toward the central side. fuel cell module according to claim 3, characterized in that it comprises a spiral of reformer flow field for supplying Te.   The storage container includes a first flow path for flowing an oxygen-containing gas supplied from a lower side of the storage container upward, and an oxygen-containing gas flowing upward through the first flow path. A second flow path for flowing toward the chamber side, a third flow path for flowing the oxygen-containing gas flowing through the second flow path downward and supplying the gas to the power generation chamber, and the first flow path A fourth flow path provided between the first flow path and the third flow path for flowing the exhaust gas in the power generation chamber from above to below is provided. 4. The fuel cell module according to claim 4. In the storage container, the first flow path and the second flow path are formed by an outer wall of the storage container and an inner wall disposed at a predetermined interval inside the outer wall, and the fourth flow path is formed. A passage is formed by the inner wall and an exhaust gas inner wall arranged at a predetermined interval inside the inner wall, and the third flow path is inside the exhaust gas inner wall and the second flow path. And is formed by an oxygen-containing gas supply member provided with a blow-out port for supplying oxygen-containing gas into the power generation chamber on the lower end side. The fuel cell module according to claim 5. Inside the connecting portion of the oxygen-containing gas supply member in the second flow path, folded an oxygen-containing gas flowing through the second flow path further comprising a folding member for passing said oxygen-containing gas supply member fuel cell module according to 請 Motomeko 6 characterized.   8. A fuel cell device comprising: the fuel cell module according to claim 1; and an auxiliary device for operating the fuel cell module housed in an outer case.

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