JP5448917B2 - Cell stack device, fuel cell module and fuel cell device - Google Patents

Description

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

  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. There have been proposed a fuel cell module in which cell stack devices electrically connected in series are accommodated in a storage container, and a fuel cell device having a fuel cell module (see Patent Document 1).

  The cell stack device includes a cell stack in which columnar fuel cells are arranged in a standing state via current collectors, and a conductive member via end current collectors at both ends in the arrangement direction of the fuel cells. The fuel cell and the lower end of the conductive member are fixed to a manifold for supplying a reaction gas (fuel gas or the like).

  Further, as the end current collecting member, a plurality of first current collecting pieces connected to the fuel cell located at the end in the arrangement direction of the fuel cell so as to sufficiently follow the deformation of the fuel cell and deform. And a plurality of second current collecting pieces connected to the conductive member, and a first conductive piece connecting one end of the first current collecting piece and the other end of the second current collecting piece arranged apart from each other. The second current collecting piece and the second conductive piece for connecting the other end of the other first current collecting piece are basically structured, and are continuously connected in the longitudinal direction of the fuel cell. An end current collecting member has been proposed (see Patent Document 2).

JP 2003-308857 A JP 2007-227203 A

  By the way, in the above-described cell stack device, the end current collecting member is connected to the fuel cell only by the first current collecting piece, and is connected to the conductive member only by the second current collecting piece. It is difficult to increase the connection area between the end current collecting member and the fuel cell or conductive member. Therefore, the current generated by the power generation of the cell stack device cannot be efficiently extracted (collected) to the outside, and it is difficult to improve the power generation efficiency of the cell stack device.

  Further, such an end current collecting member is not configured to constrain both ends in the width direction of the end current collecting member, so that the handling property is poor, and the end current collecting member (particularly, current collecting piece) May be easily deformed, and may cause separation from the fuel cell and the conductive member during manufacture of the cell stack device.

  Therefore, the present invention provides a cell stack device, a fuel cell module, and a fuel cell device that can efficiently collect current and have improved power generation efficiency by providing an end current collecting member with improved handling properties. The purpose is to do.

A cell stack device according to the present invention includes a cell stack in which a plurality of columnar fuel cells are arranged in a standing state via a current collecting member and electrically connected in series, and the cell stack is A conductive member disposed so as to be sandwiched from both ends in the arrangement direction of the fuel cells via an end current collecting member, and a lower end portion of the fuel cells are fixed, and a reaction gas is supplied to the fuel cells. In the cell stack device comprising the manifold for the above, the end current collecting member is disposed at a distance from the frame-shaped portion connected to the conductive member, and the fuel cell. A strip-shaped current collecting piece connected to the cell and extending along the width direction of the fuel cell, and one side of the frame-shaped portion in the width direction of the fuel cell and the other side of the current collection piece are connected A first connection part that Charge and a second connecting portion for connecting the one side of the current collector piece and the other side of the frame-like portion in the width direction of the battery cells as a unit, in the longitudinal direction of the fuel cells, the plurality of units Are arranged, and the frame-shaped portions of the unit are connected by a conductive connecting piece, and the current collecting pieces have the same length in the longitudinal direction of the fuel cell, and are arranged at the uppermost end. The number of the current collecting pieces of the unit is smaller than the number of the current collecting pieces of the unit arranged at the lowermost end of the end current collecting member .

In such a cell stack device, the end current collecting member has a frame-like portion connected to the conductive member, and a fuel cell in which the frame-like portion is spaced from the frame-like portion and connected to the fuel cell. A strip-shaped current collecting piece extending along the width direction of the fuel cell, a first connecting portion connecting one side of the frame-like portion in the width direction of the fuel cell and the other side of the current collecting piece, and the width direction of the fuel cell Since the second connection portion that connects the other side of the frame-shaped portion and one side of the current collecting piece is provided, the connection area between the fuel cell or the conductive member and the end current collecting member can be increased. it can. Thereby, the current generated by the cell stack device can be efficiently collected, and the cell stack device with improved power generation efficiency can be obtained. Further, since the current collecting piece is connected to the frame-like portion by the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion, the handling property of the end current collecting member can be improved, and at the time of manufacturing the cell stack device Further, peeling between the end current collecting member and the fuel battery cell or the conductive member can be suppressed. Further, in the cell stack device of the present invention, when viewed from the arrangement direction of the plurality of fuel cells, the first connection portion, the current collecting piece, and the second connection portion are arranged in a frame of the frame-shaped portion. It is preferable that In such a cell stack device, when viewed from the arrangement direction of the plurality of fuel cells, the first connection part, the current collector piece and the second connection part are arranged in the frame of the frame-shaped part, The end current collecting member can be produced by a simple process such as press molding, and the end current collecting member can be easily produced. Furthermore, since the first connection part, the current collecting piece and the second connection part are arranged in the frame of the frame-like part, it is possible to suppress the deformation of the first connection part, the current collection piece and the second connection part. In addition, an end current collecting member with improved handling can be obtained.

In the cell stack device of the present invention, the end current collecting member includes the frame-shaped portion, the plurality of current collecting pieces, the first connecting portion, and the second connecting portion as one unit. A plurality of the units are arranged along the longitudinal direction of the fuel cell, and the frame-like portions of the units are connected by a conductive connecting piece. Here, during operation of the cell stack device, each fuel cell may be deformed. Such deformation of the fuel cells includes warpage that is warped along the arrangement direction of the fuel cells (hereinafter sometimes referred to as warpage), and deformation that extends in the vertical direction (hereinafter referred to as elongation). Is exemplified). Even in the case where such deformation of the fuel cell occurs, the end current collecting member has a frame-shaped part, a plurality of current collecting pieces, a first connecting part, and a second connecting part as one unit. Since a plurality of units are arranged along the longitudinal direction of the fuel cell, and the frame-like portion of each unit is connected by a conductive connecting piece, the fuel cell can be flexibly deformed (elongated or warped). It is possible to follow, and the separation between the fuel cell and the end current collecting member can be suppressed.

In the cell stack device of the present invention, the end current collecting member has the same length in the longitudinal direction of the fuel cell as the current collecting piece, and the current collecting piece of the unit disposed at the uppermost end. Is less than the number of the current collecting pieces of the unit disposed at the lowermost end of the end current collecting member. In such a cell stack device, the end current collecting member has the same length in the longitudinal direction of the fuel cell as the current collecting piece, and the number of current collecting pieces of the unit disposed at the uppermost end is the same. Since there are fewer than the number of current collection pieces of the unit arrange | positioned at the lowest end of the partial current collection member, it can follow flexibly the deformation | transformation (elongation and curvature) of a fuel cell. In particular, since the lower end portion of the fuel cell is fixed to the manifold, the extension of the fuel cell is larger on the upper end side than on the lower end side of the fuel cell, and the present invention is preferably used. it can.

A cell stack device according to the present invention includes a cell stack in which a plurality of columnar fuel cells are arranged in a standing state via a current collecting member and electrically connected in series, and the cell stack is A conductive member disposed so as to be sandwiched from both ends in the arrangement direction of the fuel cells via an end current collecting member, and a lower end portion of the fuel cells are fixed, and a reaction gas is supplied to the fuel cells. In the cell stack device comprising the manifold for the above, the end current collecting member is disposed at a distance from the frame-shaped portion connected to the conductive member, and the fuel cell. A strip-shaped current collecting piece connected to the cell and extending along the width direction of the fuel cell, and one side of the frame-shaped portion in the width direction of the fuel cell and the other side of the current collection piece are connected A first connection part that The plurality of units in the longitudinal direction of the fuel battery cell, with the second connection part connecting the other side of the frame-like part in the width direction of the fuel cell and the one side of the current collecting piece as one unit Are arranged, the frame-shaped portion of the unit is connected by a conductive connecting piece, and the end current collecting member has a length of the current collecting piece in the longitudinal direction of the fuel cell, The number of the current collecting pieces and the interval between the adjacent current collecting pieces are the same, and the length in the longitudinal direction of the fuel cell of the frame-like portion of the unit arranged at the uppermost end is the lowermost end. The frame-shaped portion of the unit arranged in the section is longer than the length in the longitudinal direction of the fuel cell. In such a cell stack apparatus, the end current collecting member has the same length in the longitudinal direction of the fuel cell as the current collecting piece, the number of current collecting pieces in each unit, and the interval between adjacent current collecting pieces. In addition, the length of the frame-shaped portion of the unit arranged at the uppermost end in the longitudinal direction of the fuel cell is longer than the length of the frame-shaped portion of the unit arranged at the lowermost end in the longitudinal direction of the fuel cell. Therefore, it is possible to flexibly follow the deformation (elongation or warpage) of the fuel cell.

A cell stack device according to the present invention includes a cell stack in which a plurality of columnar fuel cells are arranged in a standing state via a current collecting member and electrically connected in series, and the cell stack is A conductive member disposed so as to be sandwiched from both ends in the arrangement direction of the fuel cells via an end current collecting member, and a lower end portion of the fuel cells are fixed, and a reaction gas is supplied to the fuel cells. In the cell stack device comprising the manifold for the above, the end current collecting member is disposed at a distance from the frame-shaped portion connected to the conductive member, and the fuel cell. A strip-shaped current collecting piece connected to the cell and extending along the width direction of the fuel cell, and one side of the frame-shaped portion in the width direction of the fuel cell and the other side of the current collection piece are connected A first connection part that The plurality of units in the longitudinal direction of the fuel battery cell, with the second connection part connecting the other side of the frame-like part in the width direction of the fuel cell and the one side of the current collecting piece as one unit Are arranged, the frame-shaped portion of the unit is connected by a conductive connecting piece, and the end current collecting member has a length of the current collecting piece in the longitudinal direction of the fuel cell, The number of the current collecting pieces and the interval between the adjacent current collecting pieces are the same, and the length of the electrically conductive connecting piece connected to the unit arranged at the uppermost end in the longitudinal direction of the fuel cell. Is longer than the length in the longitudinal direction of the fuel cell of the conductive connecting piece connected to the unit disposed at the lowermost end. In such a cell stack device, the end current collecting member has the same length in the width direction of the fuel cell of the conductive connecting piece and is connected to the unit arranged at the uppermost end. Since the length of the connecting piece in the longitudinal direction of the fuel cell is longer than the length of the conductive connecting piece connected to the unit arranged at the lowermost end in the longitudinal direction of the fuel cell, the end current collecting member The rigidity of the upper end portion side of the fuel cell can be reduced, and separation between the end current collecting member and the upper end portion side of the fuel cell having a large amount of deformation (particularly elongation) can be suppressed.

  Since the fuel cell module of the present invention is characterized in that the cell stack device is housed in a housing container, the fuel cell module can be improved in 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.

In the cell stack device of the present invention, the end current collecting member has the same length in the longitudinal direction of the fuel cell as the current collecting piece, and the number of current collecting pieces of the unit arranged at the uppermost end is the end portion. Since there are fewer than the number of current collection pieces of the unit arrange | positioned at the lowest end of a current collection member, it can follow a deformation | transformation (elongation and curvature) of a fuel cell flexibly. In addition, the end current collecting member has the same length in the longitudinal direction of the fuel cell as the current collecting piece, the number of current collecting pieces in each unit, and the interval between adjacent current collecting pieces, and is arranged at the uppermost end. Since the length in the longitudinal direction of the fuel cell of the unit-shaped frame is longer than the length of the frame in the longitudinal direction of the fuel cell of the unit arranged at the lowermost end, the deformation of the fuel cell (Elongation and warpage) can be flexibly followed. Further, the end current collecting member has the same length in the width direction of the fuel cell of the conductive connecting piece, and the fuel cell of the conductive connecting piece connected to the unit disposed at the uppermost end. Since the length in the longitudinal direction is longer than the length in the longitudinal direction of the fuel cell of the conductive connecting piece connected to the unit arranged at the lowermost end, the rigidity on the upper end side of the end current collecting member is increased. It is possible to reduce the separation, and the separation between the end current collecting member and the upper end side of the fuel cell having a large deformation amount (particularly elongation) can be suppressed. Thereby, the current generated by the cell stack device can be efficiently collected, and the cell stack device with improved power generation efficiency can be obtained. Further, by storing the cell stack device in the storage container, a fuel cell module with improved power generation efficiency can be obtained, and the fuel cell module and an auxiliary device for operating the fuel cell module are provided in an outer case. The fuel cell device with improved power generation efficiency can be obtained by being housed inside.

1 shows an example of a cell stack device of the present invention, (a) is a side view schematically showing the cell stack device, and (b) is an enlarged view of a part surrounded by a dotted frame of the cell stack device of (a). FIG. The edge part current collection member in FIG. 1 is shown, (a) is a perspective view, (b) is a front view. (A) is a principal part perspective view which expands and shows a part of edge part current collection member in FIG. 2, (b) is another part of the edge part current collection member which comprises the cell stack apparatus of this invention. It is a principal part perspective view which shows an example and expands and shows a part. (A) is a perspective view which shows the electrically-conductive member which comprises the cell stack apparatus of this invention, (b) is the connection state of the electrically-conductive member and end part current collection member which comprise the cell stack apparatus of this invention. FIG. The other example of the edge part current collection member which comprises the cell stack apparatus of this invention is shown, (a) is a perspective view, (b) It is a front view. The other example of the edge part current collection member which comprises the cell stack apparatus of this invention is shown, (a) is a perspective view, (b) It is a front view. The other example of the edge part current collection member which comprises the cell stack apparatus of this invention is shown, (a) is a perspective view, (b) It is a front 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.

  1A and 1B show an example of a cell stack device 1 according to the present invention. FIG. 1A is a side view schematically showing the cell stack device 1, and FIG. 1B is a diagram of the cell stack device 1 of FIG. It is the top view which expanded the part, and has shown and extracted the part enclosed with the dotted-line frame shown to (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 cell stack device 1 is provided as 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 sometimes abbreviated as support 12). A plurality of columnar (hollow flat plate) fuel cells 3 formed by sequentially stacking a fuel electrode layer 8, a solid electrolyte layer 9, and an air electrode layer 10 as an outer electrode layer are connected to each fuel cell 3. They are arranged in a state of being erected through current collecting members 4a, and are electrically connected in series to form a cell stack 2, and the cell stack 2 is arranged in the direction in which the fuel cells 3 are arranged (hereinafter referred to as cell arrangement). The lower end of the fuel cell 3 is fixed to a manifold 7 that supplies fuel gas to the fuel cell 3. The lower end of the fuel cell 3 is fixed to the manifold 7. Configured. Note that the fuel cell 3 generates power in a portion where the fuel electrode layer 8, the solid electrolyte layer 9, and the air electrode layer 10 are stacked in this order (hereinafter, may be abbreviated as a power generation unit). In the following description, the inner electrode layer will be described as the fuel electrode layer 8 and the outer electrode layer will be described as the air electrode layer 10 unless otherwise specified.

  In the conductive member 5 shown in FIG. 1, there is provided a current extraction portion 6 for extracting current generated by power generation of the cell stack 2 (fuel cell 3) in a shape extending outward along the cell arrangement direction. ing.

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

  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 4a and the end current collecting member 4 to the interconnector 11 via the P-type semiconductor layer 14, the connection between them becomes an ohmic connection, the potential drop is reduced, and the current collecting performance is reduced. It can be effectively avoided.

  Alternatively, the fuel cell 3 may be configured by using the support 12 also as the fuel electrode layer 8 and sequentially laminating the solid electrolyte layer 9 and the air electrode layer 10 on one surface 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 cell stack apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 1 is demonstrated.

As the fuel electrode layer (inner electrode layer) 8, generally known ones can be used, and porous conductive ceramics, for example, ZrO ₂ (stabilized) in which rare earth elements such as Y and Yb are dissolved. Zirconia) and Ni and / or NiO.

In the fuel electrode layer 8, at least one of Ni and NiO and the content of ZrO ₂ in which the rare earth element is in solid solution are such that the volume ratio after calcination-reduction is ZrO in which NiO: rare earth element is in solid solution. ₂ (for example, NiO: YSZ) is preferably in the range of 35:65 to 65:35. Further, the porosity of the fuel electrode layer 8 is preferably 15% or more, particularly preferably in the range of 20 to 40%, and the thickness thereof is preferably 1 to 30 μm.

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

  Further, the solid electrolyte layer 9 is desirably a dense material having a relative density (according to Archimedes method) of 93% or more, particularly 95% or more in terms of preventing gas permeation, and a thickness of 5 to 50 μm. Preferably there is.

The air electrode layer (outer electrode layer) 10 can be formed from conductive ceramics (for example, ABO ₃ type perovskite oxide) and needs to have gas permeability, so the porosity is 20% or more. In particular, it is preferably in the range of 30 to 50%. Furthermore, the air electrode layer 1
The thickness of 0 is preferably 30 to 100 μm from the viewpoint of current collection.

Although the interconnector 11 can be formed from conductive ceramics, it needs to have reduction resistance and oxidation resistance because it comes 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 is dense in order to prevent leakage of the fuel gas flowing through the plurality of fuel gas passages 13 formed in the conductive support 12 and the oxygen-containing gas flowing outside the conductive support 12. It has to have a relative density of 93% or more, in particular 95% or more.

  Further, the thickness of the interconnector 11 is preferably 10 to 50 μm for the purpose of preventing gas leakage and suppressing an increase in electrical resistance. If the thickness is smaller than this range, gas leakage is liable to occur. If the thickness is larger than this range, the electric resistance is large, and the current collecting function may be lowered due to a potential drop.

  The support 12 is required to be gas permeable in order to allow the fuel gas to permeate to the fuel 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.

  In preparing the fuel cell 3, when the support 12 is prepared by simultaneous firing with the fuel electrode layer 8 or the solid electrolyte layer 9, the support 12 is made of an iron group metal component and a specific rare earth oxide. It is preferable to form. In addition, the support 12 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 It is preferably 300 S / cm or more, particularly preferably 440 S / cm or more.

  Further, the length of the flat surface of the support 12 (height in the width direction of the support 12) is usually 15 to 35 mm, and the length of the arc-shaped surface (arc length) is 2 to 8 mm. The thickness of the body 12 (thickness between flat surfaces) is preferably 1.5 to 5 mm.

An example of the P-type semiconductor layer 14 is a layer made of a transition metal perovskite oxide. Specifically, a material having higher electron conductivity than a lanthanum chromite-based perovskite oxide (LaCrO ₃ -based oxide) constituting the interconnector 11, for example, LaMnO in which Mn, Fe, Co, etc. are present 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 15 is preferably in the range of 30 to 100 μm.

  Although not shown, the solid electrolyte layer 9 and the air electrode layer 10 are firmly joined between the solid electrolyte layer 9 and the air electrode layer 10, and the components of the solid electrolyte layer 9 and 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 air electrode layer 10. An intermediate layer may also be provided.

  Further, although not shown, it is similar to the fuel electrode layer 8 between the interconnector 11 and the support 12 in order to reduce a difference in thermal expansion coefficient between the interconnector 11 and the support 12. An adhesive layer having a composition can also be provided.

Each fuel cell 3 is electrically connected in series via a current collecting member 4a.
The cell stack 2 is configured. The current collecting member 4a can be constituted by 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. Further, it is preferable that a part of the surface of the current collecting member 4a, preferably the whole, is coated with Cr diffusion-suppressing coating using a perovskite oxide containing rare earth elements.

  Note that the length in the longitudinal direction and the length in the width direction of the current collecting member 4a 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.

  Here, the edge part current collection member 4b which comprises the cell stack apparatus 1 of this invention is demonstrated.

  FIG. 2 shows an end current collecting member 4b constituting the cell stack device 1 of the present invention, where (a) is a perspective view and (b) is a front view. 3A is an enlarged perspective view of a main part of a part of the end current collecting member 4b in FIG. 2, and FIG. 3B is an end part collector constituting the cell stack device of the present invention. It is a principal part perspective view which shows another example of an electric member and expands and shows a part.

The end current collecting member 4b is connected to the frame-like portion 15 connected to the conductive member 5, and the width direction of the fuel battery cell 3 connected to the fuel battery cell 3 (hereinafter sometimes abbreviated as the cell width direction). 1st connection part which connects the strip | belt-shaped current collection piece 17 extended and the one side (one side of a side frame) of the frame-shaped part 15 in a cell width direction, and the other side edge part of the current collection piece 16 in the cell width direction 17 and the second connection portion 18 that connects the other side of the frame-shaped portion 15 in the cell width direction (the other side of the side frame) and one end side end portion of the current collecting piece 17 in the cell width direction as one unit. A plurality of units are arranged in the longitudinal direction of the end current collecting member 4 b, and the upper and lower ends of the frame-like portions 15 of each unit are connected to each other in the cell width direction by a conductive connecting piece 19.

  As shown in FIG. 2 (b), one unit is a cell array in which a first connecting portion 17, a current collecting piece 16 and a second connecting portion 18 are combined as a set with a predetermined interval in one frame-like portion 15. When viewed from the direction (when viewed from the front in FIG. 2), a plurality of sets are arranged in the frame-shaped portion 15.

  Moreover, as shown to Fig.1 (a), the fuel cell 3 located in the edge part in a cell arrangement direction and the electrically-conductive member 5 have a predetermined space | interval. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 3A, the end current collecting member 4b is bent at the first connecting portion 17 and the second connecting portion 18 a plurality of times (three times in the figure) and protrudes toward the fuel cell 3 side. It has a shape. Thereby, the frame-shaped portion 15 is connected to the conductive member 5, and the current collecting piece 16 is connected to the fuel cell 3.

  The end current collecting member 4b of the present invention includes the first connecting portion 17, the current collecting piece 16 and the second connecting portion 18 as one set, and when these plural sets are viewed from the cell arrangement direction, Since a plurality of units are connected to the conductive connecting piece 18, the connection area between the fuel cell 3 and the conductive member 5 can be increased, and the cell stack with improved power generation efficiency can be obtained. The device 1 can be obtained.

  Since the end part of the 1st connection part 17 and the 2nd connection part 18 in the side which is not connected with the current collection piece 16 are connected to the frame-shaped part 15, the edge part current collection member 4b of this invention is an end. The handling property of the partial current collecting member 4b can be greatly improved, and the deformation of the end current collecting member 4b during the production of the cell stack device 1 or during the processing of the end current collecting member 4b can be suppressed. .

  Further, since the frame-like portion 15 is connected to the conductive member 5, the conductive member 5 and the end current collecting member 4b are compared with the conventional end current collecting member connected to the conductive member and the current collecting piece. Connection can be made strong.

  In the end current collecting member 4b, four current collecting pieces 17 are provided in one unit, and an example of the end current collecting member 4b including five units is shown. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Absent.

  The end current collecting member 20 shown in FIG. 3B shows an example in which one current collecting piece 17 is provided in one unit. Also in such an end current collecting member 20, the connection area with the fuel cell 3 and the conductive member 5 can be increased, and the handling property can be improved. In addition, when it is set as the edge part current collection member 20 with which one current collection piece 17 is provided in one unit, in order to follow the deformation | transformation of the fuel cell 3 mentioned later, several units are arrange | positioned along a cell longitudinal direction. Is preferred.

  Further, the end current collecting member 4b can be made of an alloy containing Cr similarly to the above-described current collecting member 4a, and is preferably provided with a coating that suppresses the diffusion of Cr.

  Here, the end current collecting member 4 b is formed by punching a plate member into a predetermined shape, for example, by pressing, and the first connecting portion 17 and the second connecting portion 18 so that the current collecting piece 16 protrudes from the frame-like portion 15. Can be drawn out. If this method is used, the end current collecting member 4b can be easily manufactured. In addition, you may produce each member separately, and may produce the edge part current collection member 4b by joining and welding each.

  Although not shown, the end current collecting member may be constituted by one unit, and a plurality of sets of current collecting pieces 16, first connecting portions 17 and second connecting portions 18 may be provided. Even in such a case, it is possible to improve the connection area between the stepped portion current collecting member and the fuel cell 3 or the conductive member 5, and to obtain an end current collecting member with improved handling properties.

  4A is a perspective view showing the conductive member 5 constituting the cell stack device of the present invention, and FIG. 4B is a perspective view showing the conductive member 5 and the end current collector constituting the cell stack device of the present invention. It is a top view which shows a connection state with the member 4b.

  The conductive member 5 includes a flat plate portion 21 and a pair of side plate portions 22 bent from both side edges. The conductive member 5 includes a current extraction unit 6 for extracting the current generated by the power generation of the fuel battery cell 3 to the outside.

  Since the conductive member 5 is provided with the side plate portion 22, the rigidity of the flat plate portion 21 of the conductive member 5 can be increased, and the conductive member 5 becomes a cell due to vibration or the like during transportation or installation of the cell stack device 1. It is possible to prevent the stack 2 from being damaged. In addition, the side plate part 22 can also be produced by bending the flat plate part 21, and may receive or receive another member. Further, the conductive member 5 can be made of the above-described alloy containing Cr. Furthermore, it is preferable to apply a coating that suppresses the diffusion of Cr.

FIG 4 (b) as shown in, the end collector member 4 b is connected to the conductive member 5 and the frame-shaped portion 15, although not shown fuel cell 3 located at the edge of the cell arrangement direction Are connected to the current collecting piece 16. The end current collecting member 4b, the conductive member 5, and the fuel cell 3 are connected by a conductive adhesive (not shown) such as conductive ceramics. Note that a conductive adhesive is also used in the connection between the current collecting member 4 a and the fuel battery cell 3.

  Incidentally, in the cell stack device 1 configured using the fuel cell 3 as described above, the deformation (warpage) of the fuel cell 3 being bent toward the air electrode layer 10 side as the cell stack device 1 is operated. ) May occur. Furthermore, when the fuel cell 3 is manufactured, it is necessary to perform a reduction treatment for reducing NiO that can be contained in the support 12 and the fuel electrode layer 8 to conductive Ni. In this case, the air electrode layer Due to the difference in coefficient of thermal expansion between the connector 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 longitudinal direction of the fuel cell 3 (especially upward because the lower end is fixed to the manifold 7) during power generation of the cell stack device 1 or during the reduction process. ) May occur.

  Then, if warpage or elongation occurs in the fuel cell 3, the end current collecting member 4 b and the fuel cell 3 are peeled off, which may reduce power generation efficiency. Further, since the conductive member 5 does not deform flexibly following the warpage or elongation of the fuel cell 3, a strong stress is generated at the lower end (manifold 7 side) of the fuel cell 3, and the lower end of the fuel cell 3 is There is a risk of damage such as cracking at the part (manifold 7 side). As a result, the power generation efficiency of the cell stack device may be reduced.

  FIG. 5 shows still another example of the end current collecting member constituting the cell stack device of the present invention, wherein (a) is a perspective view and (b) a front view.

  The end current collecting member 23 shown in FIG. 5 has the number of current collecting pieces 16 of the unit disposed at the uppermost end (in FIG. 5, the unit disposed at the uppermost end and the unit adjacent to the unit) The number is less than the number of current collecting pieces 16 of the unit disposed at the lowermost end of the electric member 23 (in FIG. 5, the unit disposed at the lowermost end and the unit adjacent to the unit). Other configurations are the same as those of the end current collecting member 4b, and the lengths of the current collecting pieces 16 of the plurality of units in the cell longitudinal direction (hereinafter sometimes abbreviated as the height of the current collecting pieces) are the same.

  Thereby, the connection area between the upper end side of the end current collecting member 23 and the upper end side of the fuel cell 3 between the end current collecting member 23 and the fuel cell 3 is reduced, and the change amount of the fuel cell 3 ( Even when the elongation and warpage are large, the deformation of the fuel cell 3 can be flexibly followed.

  Further, since the current collecting piece 16 has a band shape along the cell width direction, even if the fuel cell 3 is elongated, the deformation of the fuel cell 3 is not restrained, and the fuel cell 3 and It can suppress that an excessive stress arises in the current collection piece 16. FIG. Thereby, it can suppress that the fuel cell 3 is damaged, and can suppress that the current collection piece 16 peels from the fuel cell 3. FIG.

  Further, since the first connecting portion 17 and the second connecting portion 18 that connect the current collecting piece 16 and the frame-like portion 15 have a shape protruding toward the fuel cell 3 side, the end current collecting member 23 is the fuel. It is possible to flexibly follow deformation (particularly warpage) of the battery cell 3.

  In addition, although each unit is connected by the electroconductive connection piece 19, it is preferable that each unit is connected in the center part in a cell width direction. Thereby, the rigidity in the longitudinal direction of the end current collecting member 23 can be reduced, and deformation (particularly elongation) of the fuel cell 3 can be flexibly followed.

Further, as shown in FIG. 5B, a conductive member connection portion 24 may be provided between the adjacent current collecting pieces 16. By providing the conductive member connecting portion 24, the connection area between the end current collecting member 23 and the conductive member 5 can be increased, and the cell stack device 1 with improved power generation efficiency can be obtained.

  Here, the current collecting piece 16 refers to a portion of the end current collecting member 4b that is connected (contacted) with the fuel cell 3 and corresponds to a portion painted with a point in the drawing.

  FIG. 6 shows still another example of the end current collecting member constituting the cell stack device of the present invention, wherein (a) is a perspective view and (b) a front view.

  The end current collecting member 25 shown in FIG. 6 is the length in the cell longitudinal direction of the frame-like portion 15 in the unit disposed at the uppermost end (the unit disposed at the uppermost end and the unit adjacent to the unit in FIG. 6). (Hereinafter sometimes abbreviated as unit height) is longer than the unit height of the unit arranged at the lowermost end (the unit arranged at the lowermost end and the unit adjacent to the unit in FIG. 6). It has become. Other configurations are the same as those of the end current collecting member 4b, and the height of the current collecting pieces 16 of the plurality of units, the number of current collecting pieces 16 and the interval between the current collecting pieces 17 of each unit are the same.

  Thereby, the end current collecting member 25 can flexibly follow the deformation even on the upper end side of the fuel cell 3 having a large deformation amount, and the fuel cell 3 and the end current collecting member 25 can be separated. Can be suppressed.

  The interval between the current collecting pieces 16 indicates the interval between the current collecting pieces 16 in each unit. When the number of current collecting pieces 16 constituting each unit is the same, the current collecting pieces 16 are increased if the height of the unit is increased. The interval between the pieces 16 is also increased.

  FIG. 7 shows still another example of the end current collecting member constituting the cell stack device of the present invention, in which (a) is a perspective view and (b) a front view.

  The end current collecting member 26 shown in FIG. 7 is a cell in the conductive connecting piece 19 connected to the unit arranged at the uppermost end (the unit arranged at the uppermost end and the unit adjacent to the unit in FIG. 7). A unit in which the length in the longitudinal direction (hereinafter sometimes abbreviated as the height of the conductive connecting piece 19) is disposed at the lowermost end (in FIG. 7, the unit disposed at the lowermost end and the unit adjacent to the unit) ) And a length longer than the height of the conductive connecting piece 19 connected. Other configurations are the same as those of the end current collecting member 4b, and the length of the conductive connecting piece 19 in the cell width direction is the same.

  Thereby, the rigidity of the upper end side of the end current collecting member 26 can be lowered, and the deformation of the fuel cell 3 can be flexibly followed. Moreover, since it has the same unit shape, the edge part current collection member 26 can be produced easily.

  In the end current collecting members 23, 25, the height of the conductive connecting piece 19 at the upper ends of the end current collecting members 23, 25 is determined from the central side and the lower end side of the end current collecting members 23, 25. May be longer. Thereby, the end current collecting members 23 and 25 can be made to follow the deformation of the fuel cell 3 further.

  Further, the number of current collecting pieces 16 constituting the unit may be gradually reduced toward the upper end of the end current collecting member, and the height of the unit or the conductive connection portion may be reduced to the upper end of the end current collecting member. You may make it long gradually toward. Even in that case, the end current collecting members 23, 25, and 26 can flexibly follow the deformation of the fuel cell 3.

It should be noted that the upper end and the lower end of the stepped portion current collecting member are included up to the vicinity thereof, and may include a unit adjacent to the unit arranged at the upper end as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, and may be set as appropriate.

  FIG. 8 is an external perspective view showing an example of the fuel cell module 30 of the present invention, in which the cell stack device 1 of the present invention is housed in a rectangular parallelepiped storage container 31.

  In order to obtain fuel gas used in the fuel cell 3, a reformer 32 for reforming raw fuel such as natural gas or kerosene to generate fuel gas is disposed above the cell stack 2. ing. The fuel gas generated by the reformer 32 is supplied to the manifold 7 via the gas flow pipe 33, and a fuel gas flow path (not shown) provided inside the fuel battery cell 3 via the manifold 7. ).

  FIG. 8 shows a state in which a part (front and rear surfaces) of the storage container 31 is removed and the cell stack device 1 and the reformer 32 stored in the storage container 31 are taken out rearward. Here, in the fuel cell module 30 shown in FIG. 8, the cell stack device 1 can be slid and stored in the storage container 31.

  Further, in FIG. 8, the oxygen-containing gas introduction member 34 provided inside the storage container 31 is disposed between the cell stacks 2 juxtaposed to the manifold 7 and the oxygen-containing gas is adapted to the flow of the fuel gas. Thus, the oxygen-containing gas is supplied to the lower end side of the fuel cell 3 so that the fuel cell 3 flows from the lower end side toward the upper end side. Then, the excess fuel gas discharged from the fuel gas flow path of the fuel battery cell 3 is burned 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 cell stack device The activation of 1 can be accelerated. Further, the reformer 32 disposed above the cell stack 2 is warmed by burning the fuel gas discharged from the fuel gas flow path of the fuel cell 3 on the upper end side of the fuel cell 3. Can do. Thereby, the reforming reaction can be efficiently performed in the reformer 32.

  In such a fuel cell module 30, as described above, the cell stack device 1 with improved power generation efficiency is housed in the storage container 31, thereby forming the fuel cell module 30 with improved power generation efficiency. Can do.

  FIG. 9 shows an example of the fuel cell device of the present invention in which the fuel cell module 30 shown in FIG. 8 and an auxiliary machine (not shown) for operating the fuel cell module 30 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 40 shown in FIG. 9 has a module housing chamber 44 in which an interior case composed of a support column 41 and an exterior plate 42 is divided into upper and lower portions by a partition plate 43 and the upper side thereof houses the above-described fuel cell module 30. The lower side is configured as an auxiliary equipment storage chamber 45 for storing auxiliary equipment for operating the fuel cell module 30. In addition, the auxiliary machine stored in the auxiliary machine storage chamber 45 is not shown.

  In addition, the partition plate 43 is provided with an air circulation port 46 for allowing the air in the auxiliary machine storage chamber 45 to flow toward the module storage chamber 44, and a part of the exterior plate 42 that constitutes the module storage chamber 45, An exhaust port 47 for exhausting air in the module storage chamber 44 is provided.

  In such a fuel cell device 40, as described above, the fuel cell module 30 with improved power generation efficiency is stored in the module storage chamber 44, and an auxiliary machine for operating the fuel cell module 30 is an auxiliary device storage chamber 45. By being housed in the configuration, the fuel cell device 40 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 cell stack device 1 described above, an example in which fuel gas is supplied to the fuel gas flow path 13 in the fuel cell 3 and 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 air electrode layer 10, and makes an outer side electrode layer the fuel electrode layer 8. FIG.

1: Cell stack device 2: Cell stack 3: Fuel cell 4a: Current collecting members 4b, 20, 23, 25, 26: End current collecting member 5: Conductive member 6: Current extraction portion 7: Manifold 15: Frame shape Part 16: Current collecting piece 17: First connecting part 18: Second connecting part 19: Conductive connecting part 30: Fuel cell module 40: Fuel cell device

Claims (5)

A cell stack in which a plurality of columnar fuel cells are arranged in a standing state via a current collecting member and electrically connected in series;
A conductive member disposed so as to sandwich the cell stack from both ends in the arrangement direction of the fuel cells via an end current collecting member;
In the cell stack device comprising a manifold for fixing a lower end portion of the fuel cell and supplying a reaction gas to the fuel cell,
The end current collecting member is
A frame-like portion connected to the conductive member;
A strip-shaped current collecting piece, which is disposed with a gap with respect to the frame-shaped portion and connected to the fuel cell, and extends along the width direction of the fuel cell;
A first connecting portion for connecting one side of the frame-shaped portion in the width direction of the fuel cell and the other side of the current collecting piece;
The second connection portion that connects the other side of the frame-shaped portion in the width direction of the fuel cell and the one side of the current collector piece as one unit, and in the longitudinal direction of the fuel cell, the plurality of A plurality of units are arranged, and the frame-like portions of the units are connected by conductive connecting pieces,
The lengths of the current collecting pieces in the longitudinal direction of the fuel cells are the same, and the number of the current collecting pieces of the unit arranged at the uppermost end is arranged at the lowermost end of the end current collecting member. A cell stack device characterized in that the number is less than the number of current collecting pieces of the unit. A cell stack in which a plurality of columnar fuel cells are arranged in a standing state via a current collecting member and electrically connected in series;
A conductive member disposed so as to sandwich the cell stack from both ends in the arrangement direction of the fuel cells via an end current collecting member;
In the cell stack device comprising a manifold for fixing a lower end portion of the fuel cell and supplying a reaction gas to the fuel cell,
The end current collecting member is
A frame-like portion connected to the conductive member;
A strip-shaped current collecting piece, which is disposed with a gap with respect to the frame-shaped portion and connected to the fuel cell, and extends along the width direction of the fuel cell;
A first connecting portion for connecting one side of the frame-shaped portion in the width direction of the fuel cell and the other side of the current collecting piece;
The second connection portion that connects the other side of the frame-shaped portion in the width direction of the fuel cell and the one side of the current collector piece as one unit, and in the longitudinal direction of the fuel cell, the plurality of
A plurality of units are arranged, and the frame-like portions of the units are connected by conductive connecting pieces,
The end current collecting member has the same length of the current collecting piece in the longitudinal direction of the fuel cell, the number of the current collecting pieces of the unit and the interval between the adjacent current collecting pieces,
The length of the frame-shaped portion of the unit disposed at the uppermost end in the longitudinal direction of the fuel cell is greater than the length of the frame-shaped portion of the unit disposed at the lowermost end in the longitudinal direction of the fuel cell. A cell stack device characterized by its long length. A cell stack in which a plurality of columnar fuel cells are arranged in a standing state via a current collecting member and electrically connected in series;
A conductive member disposed so as to sandwich the cell stack from both ends in the arrangement direction of the fuel cells via an end current collecting member;
In the cell stack device comprising a manifold for fixing a lower end portion of the fuel cell and supplying a reaction gas to the fuel cell,
The end current collecting member is
A frame-like portion connected to the conductive member;
A strip-shaped current collecting piece, which is disposed with a gap with respect to the frame-shaped portion and connected to the fuel cell, and extends along the width direction of the fuel cell;
A first connecting portion for connecting one side of the frame-shaped portion in the width direction of the fuel cell and the other side of the current collecting piece;
The second connection portion that connects the other side of the frame-shaped portion in the width direction of the fuel cell and the one side of the current collector piece as one unit, and in the longitudinal direction of the fuel cell, the plurality of A plurality of units are arranged, and the frame-like portions of the units are connected by conductive connecting pieces,
The end current collecting member has the same length in the width direction of the fuel cell of the conductive connecting piece,
The length of the electrically conductive connecting piece connected to the unit arranged at the uppermost end in the longitudinal direction of the fuel cell is that of the electrically conductive connecting piece connected to the unit arranged at the lowermost end. A cell stack device characterized by being longer than the length of the fuel cell in the longitudinal direction. Fuel cell module characterized by comprising accommodating the cell stack device according to storage container to any one of claims 1 to 3. 5. A fuel cell device comprising: the fuel cell module according to claim 4; and an auxiliary machine for operating the fuel cell module.

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