JP5605757B2 - Fuel cell device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a fuel cell device that generates power using a fuel gas and an oxidant gas.

  A solid oxide fuel cell (hereinafter also referred to as “SOFC”) uses an oxide ion conductive solid electrolyte as an electrolyte, attaches electrodes on both sides thereof, and supplies fuel gas on one side, This is a fuel cell device that generates power by supplying an oxidant gas (air, oxygen, etc.) to the other side and generating a power generation reaction at a relatively high temperature.

  Specifically, the fuel cell device includes a fuel cell assembly including a plurality of fuel cells that operate when fuel gas and oxidant gas flow from one end side to the other end side. The reformed gas (city gas, etc.), which is the raw material gas, is supplied from the fuel gas, introduced into the reformer containing the reforming catalyst, reformed to hydrogen-rich fuel gas, and then the fuel cell Supply to the cell assembly.

  Patent Document 1 proposes a fuel cell device in which the remaining fuel gas that has not been used for the power generation reaction in the fuel gas is used for heating the reformer. That is, it is disclosed that the fuel gas discharged from the upper end of the fuel cell is burned and the reformer disposed above the fuel cell is heated by the combustion heat. Thereby, the reforming reaction in the reformer is activated, and the fuel gas can be obtained from the reformed gas more efficiently.

JP 2009-158121 A

  However, in the fuel cell device proposed in Patent Document 1, soot generated during combustion of the fuel gas, dust contained in the oxidant gas supplied to the fuel cell, and the like are formed on the upper surface of the reformer. Easy to collect. Therefore, when an impact is applied to the fuel cell device, foreign matter such as soot and dust (hereinafter simply referred to as “foreign matter”) falls from the upper surface of the reformer.

  When foreign matter that has fallen from the upper surface of the reformer adheres to the fuel cells arranged below the reformer, various problems may occur. For example, if foreign matter adheres so as to come into contact with both adjacent fuel cells, a path through which current flows through the foreign matter is formed, which may reduce power generation performance or cause a failure.

  The present invention has been made based on the recognition of such a problem, and an object thereof is to suppress the fall of foreign matter from the upper surface of the reformer.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention provides a fuel cell device that generates power by receiving supply of a fuel gas and an oxidant gas, a fuel cell that generates and reacts a fuel gas and an oxidant gas, and a power generation reaction. A combustion section that burns the remaining combustion gas discharged from the upper end of the fuel cell without being used, and a reformer that is disposed above the combustion section and that reforms the raw material gas to generate fuel gas A reformer casing having a box-shaped reformer casing for accommodating a reforming catalyst therein, wherein the reformer casing includes a plurality of outer shell members, and the reformer casing A reformer extension portion is formed in the vicinity of the upper surface of the reformer, wherein the outer shell member extends toward the outside of the reformer casing.

  According to the present invention configured as described above, a foreign substance is dropped from the upper surface of the reformer casing by the reformer extension formed near the upper surface of the reformer casing and extending outward. Is suppressed. Therefore, although it is a simple structure, the performance fall and failure by a foreign material adhering to the fuel cell below a reformer can be suppressed.

  In the present invention, preferably, the outer shell member includes a reformer top plate that forms an upper surface of the reformer casing, and a reformer side plate that forms a side surface of the reformer casing. The mass extending portion is formed by polymerizing and welding the end portion of the reformer top plate and the end portion of the reformer side plate.

  According to the present invention configured as above, the reformer extension can contribute not only to the suppression of the fall of foreign matter but also to the assemblability of the reformer casing by using it for welding. That is, since the reformer extension is extended toward the outside of the reformer casing, welding work is easy to perform, so the reformer top plate and the reformer side plate are welded. The position is suitable, and the assembly of the reformer becomes easy.

  In the present invention, preferably, the reformer extension extends upward.

  According to the present invention configured as described above, the direction in which the reformer extension extends is set upward so that the fall of foreign matter from the upper surface of the reformer casing can be more effectively suppressed. Furthermore, since it extends toward the direction away from the combustion part below the reformer casing, it is possible to reduce the influence of heat received from the combustion part and to suppress a decrease in welding strength in the overlapping part.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to suppress the fall of foreign matter from the upper surface of the reformer.

1 is an overall configuration diagram showing a fuel cell device according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a perspective view showing a fuel cell module in a state where a housing of a fuel cell device according to an embodiment of the present invention is removed. It is sectional drawing which looked at the fuel cell module of the fuel cell apparatus by one Embodiment of this invention from the A direction of FIG. It is sectional drawing which looked at the fuel cell module of the fuel cell apparatus by one Embodiment of this invention from the B direction of FIG. It is a front view which shows the fuel cell unit of the fuel cell apparatus by one Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the fuel cell module showing a state where a main body casing covering the fuel cell assembly is removed from the fuel cell module shown in FIG. 2. It is the schematic which looked at the fuel cell module of the fuel cell apparatus by one Embodiment of this invention from the B direction of FIG. It is the schematic which looked at the fuel cell module of the fuel cell apparatus by one Embodiment of this invention from the A direction of FIG. It is the disassembled perspective view and sectional drawing of the reformer of the fuel cell apparatus by one Embodiment of this invention. It is the disassembled perspective view and sectional drawing of the fuel gas tank of the fuel cell apparatus by one Embodiment of this invention. It is the disassembled perspective view and sectional drawing of the reformer of the fuel cell apparatus by other embodiment of this invention.

Next, a solid oxide fuel cell (hereinafter referred to as “fuel cell device” or “SOFC”) that is a fuel cell device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram showing an SOFC according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the SOFC 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a fuel cell module 2 and an auxiliary unit 4.

The fuel cell module 2 includes a housing 6, and a sealed space 8 is formed in the housing 6 via a heat insulating material (not shown). A fuel cell assembly 12 that performs a power generation reaction with fuel gas and oxidant gas (air) is disposed in a power generation chamber 10 that is a lower portion of the sealed space 8.
As shown in FIG. 6, the fuel cell assembly 12 includes ten fuel cell stacks 14, and the fuel cell stack 14 includes 16 fuel cell units 16 (see FIG. 5). Has been. Thus, the fuel cell assembly 12 has 160 fuel cell units 16, and all of these fuel cell units 16 are connected in series.

A combustion chamber 18 is formed above the above-described power generation chamber 10 in the sealed space 8 of the fuel cell module 2. In this combustion chamber 18, residual fuel gas and residual oxidant gas (not used for power generation reaction) ( Air) is combusted to generate combustion gas (exhaust gas).
A reformer 20 for reforming the fuel gas (raw material gas) is disposed above the combustion chamber 18 and has a temperature at which the reformer 20 can perform a reforming reaction by the combustion heat of the combustion gas. It is heated to become. Further, a heat exchanger 22 for heating an oxidant gas (power generation air) introduced from the outside by heat of the combustion gas is disposed above the reformer 20.

  Next, the auxiliary unit 4 stores a pure water tank 26 that stores water from a water supply source 24 such as tap water and uses the filter to obtain pure water, and a water flow rate that adjusts the flow rate of the water supplied from the water storage tank. An adjustment unit 28 (such as a “water pump” driven by a motor) is provided. The auxiliary unit 4 also includes a gas shut-off valve 32 that shuts off the fuel gas supplied from a fuel supply source 30 such as city gas, a desulfurizer 36 for removing sulfur from the fuel gas, and a flow rate of the fuel gas. A fuel flow rate adjusting unit 38 (such as a “fuel pump” driven by a motor) is provided. Further, the auxiliary unit 4 includes an electromagnetic valve 42 that shuts off air that is an oxidant gas supplied from an air supply source 40, and a reforming air flow rate adjustment unit 44 that adjusts the flow rate of air (driven by a motor). “Air blower” and the like, a power generation air flow rate adjustment unit 45 (such as an “air blower” driven by a motor), a first heater 46 for heating the reforming air supplied to the reformer 20, and power generation And a second heater 48 for heating the power generation air supplied to the chamber. The first heater 46 and the second heater 48 are provided in order to efficiently raise the temperature at startup, but may be omitted.

Next, a hot water production apparatus 50 to which combustion gas is supplied is connected to the fuel cell module 2. The hot water production apparatus 50 is supplied with tap water from a water supply source 24, and the tap water is heated by the heat of the combustion gas and supplied to a hot water storage tank of an external hot water heater (not shown).
The fuel cell module 2 is provided with a control box 52 for controlling the amount of fuel gas supplied and the like.
Furthermore, the fuel cell module 2 is connected to an inverter 54 that is a power extraction unit (power conversion unit) for supplying the power generated by the fuel cell module to the outside.

  Next, the internal structure of the SOFC fuel cell module 2 according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the fuel cell module 2 with the housing 6 of the fuel cell device according to an embodiment of the present invention removed, and FIG. 3 is a fuel cell module of the fuel cell device according to an embodiment of the present invention. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the fuel cell device 2 of the fuel cell apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, as viewed from the B direction of FIG. 2, and FIG. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the fuel cell module showing a state where a main body casing 56 covering the fuel cell assembly is removed from the fuel cell module shown in FIG. 2.

  First, as shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the fuel cell assembly 12 and the fuel gas tank 68 of the fuel cell module 2 are accommodated in a main body casing 56 and are entirely covered. Here, as shown in FIG. 6, the fuel cell assembly 12 has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape that is longer in the A direction than in the B direction, and has an upper surface 12a, a lower surface 12b, and a long side extending along the A direction in FIG. A side surface 12c and a short side surface 12d extending along the direction B in FIG. 2 are provided.

  Next, an evaporative mixer 58 is provided along the long side surface 12 c of the fuel cell assembly 12 at the lowermost portion of the fuel cell module 2. As will be described later, the evaporative mixer 58 is heated by combustion gas to turn water into steam, and this steam, fuel gas (city gas) as reformed gas, and air as oxidant gas, For mixing. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, a reformed gas supply pipe 60 and a water supply pipe 62 are connected to one end side of the evaporative mixer 58, and the reformed gas supply pipe 60 is configured to adjust the fuel flow rate. A reformed gas (fuel gas) and reforming air are introduced from the unit 38 and the reforming air flow rate adjusting unit 44.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the lower end of the fuel supply pipe 64 is connected to the other end side of the evaporation mixer 58, and the upper end of the fuel supply pipe 64 is connected to the upstream end of the reformer 20. The fuel gas is supplied from the evaporative mixer 58 to the reformer 20 through the supply pipe 64. A large number of spherical reforming catalysts RF are accommodated in the reformer 20, and reform the supplied fuel gas. The upper end of the fuel supply pipe 66 is connected to the downstream end of the reformer 20, and the lower end side 66a of the fuel supply pipe 66 enters the fuel gas tank 68 and extends in the horizontal direction.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the fuel gas tank 68 supports the fuel cell assembly 12 from below. A plurality of small holes (not shown) are formed along the longitudinal direction (direction A) on the outer periphery of the lower end side 66a of the fuel supply pipe 66 inserted into the fuel gas tank 68. The reformed fuel gas is uniformly supplied into the fuel gas tank 68 in the longitudinal direction. As will be described later, the fuel gas supplied to the fuel gas tank 68 is supplied into a fuel gas flow path 88 (see FIG. 5) inside the fuel cell unit 16 and then rises in the fuel cell unit 16. The combustion chamber 18 is reached.

  Next, a structure for supplying power generation air to the fuel cell module 2 will be described. First, as shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, above the reformer 20, the upper surface 12a and the short side surface 12d of the fuel cell assembly 12 of the fuel cell module 2 (the right short side surface in FIGS. 2 and 4). The heat exchanger 22 described above is provided. The heat exchanger 22 is provided with a plurality of combustion gas pipes 70, which will be described in detail later, and a power generation air passage 72 formed around the combustion gas pipes 70.

  In the present embodiment, the heat exchanger 22 is provided along the upper surface 12a and the right short side surface 12d of the fuel cell assembly 12, but not limited thereto, the heat exchanger 22 is provided. Further, it may be provided along only the right short side surface 12d, may be provided only along both the right and left short side surfaces 12d, and further along the upper surface 12a and the short side surfaces 12d on both sides. It may be provided.

  As shown in FIG. 2, an inlet 74a of a power generation air introduction pipe 74 is attached to one end of the lower end of the portion provided along the short side surface 12d of the heat exchanger 22, and this power generation Power generation air is introduced into the heat exchanger 22 from the power generation air flow rate adjustment unit 45 by the air introduction pipe 74.

  As shown in FIG. 4, an outlet port 72a of the power generation air flow path 72 is formed at the other end on the upper side of the heat exchanger 22. Further, as shown in FIG. A power generation air supply path 76 is formed on both outer sides in the width direction (B direction: short side surface direction) of the main casing 56, and power generation air is supplied from the outlet port 72 a of the power generation air flow path 72 described above. It comes to be supplied. The power generation air supply path 76 is formed along the longitudinal direction of the fuel cell assembly 12 (the direction of the long side surface 12c) and further corresponds to the lower side of the fuel cell assembly 12. In the longitudinal direction of the inner wall surface 56w of the main body casing 56, a plurality of outlets 78 for blowing out the power generation air toward the fuel cell units 16 of the fuel cell assembly 12 in the power generation chamber 10 It is formed at equal intervals along. The power generation air blown out from these air outlets 78 flows from below to above along the outside of each fuel cell unit 16.

  Next, a structure for discharging combustion gas generated by combustion of fuel gas and power generation air (oxidant gas) will be described. As described above, a plurality of combustion gas pipes 70 are provided in the heat exchanger 22 for discharging the combustion gas generated by burning the fuel gas and the power generation air (oxidant gas) in the combustion chamber 18. It has been. As shown in FIG. 4, a combustion gas discharge chamber 80 located below the fuel cell assembly 12 and extending in the longitudinal direction is formed on the downstream end side of these combustion gas pipes 70. The side and the combustion gas discharge chamber 80 are connected by two connecting pipes 71. The above-described evaporative mixer 58 is disposed in the combustion gas discharge chamber 80, and the fuel gas in the evaporative mixer 58 is heated along the longitudinal direction by the high-temperature combustion gas. ing. Further, a combustion gas discharge pipe 82 is connected to the lower surface of the combustion gas discharge chamber 80 so that the combustion gas is discharged to the outside.

Next, the fuel cell unit 16 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a SOFC fuel cell unit according to an embodiment of the present invention.
As shown in FIG. 5, the fuel cell unit 16 includes a fuel cell 84 and inner electrode terminals 86 respectively connected to the vertical ends of the fuel cell 84.
The fuel cell 84 is a tubular structure extending in the vertical direction, and includes a cylindrical inner electrode layer 90 that forms a fuel gas flow path 88 inside (inside), a cylindrical outer electrode layer 92, and an inner electrode layer. 90 and an electrolyte layer 94 between the outer electrode layer 92 and the outer electrode layer 92. The inner electrode layer 90 is a fuel electrode through which fuel gas passes and becomes a (−) electrode, while the outer electrode layer 92 is an air electrode in contact with air and becomes a (+) electrode.

  Since the inner electrode terminal 86 attached to the upper end side and the lower end side of the fuel cell 16 has the same structure, the inner electrode terminal 86 attached to the upper end side will be specifically described here. The upper portion 90 a of the inner electrode layer 90 includes an outer peripheral surface 90 b and an upper end surface 90 c exposed to the electrolyte layer 94 and the outer electrode layer 92. The inner electrode terminal 86 is connected to the outer peripheral surface 90b of the inner electrode layer 90 through a conductive sealing material 96, and is further in direct contact with the upper end surface 90c of the inner electrode layer 90, thereby Electrically connected. A fuel gas passage 98 communicating with the fuel gas passage 88 of the inner electrode layer 90 is formed at the center of the inner electrode terminal 86.

  The inner electrode layer 90 includes, for example, a mixture of Ni and zirconia doped with at least one selected from rare earth elements such as Ca, Y, and Sc, and Ni and ceria doped with at least one selected from rare earth elements. The mixture is formed of at least one of Ni and a mixture of lanthanum garade doped with at least one selected from Sr, Mg, Co, Fe, and Cu.

  The electrolyte layer 94 includes, for example, zirconia doped with at least one selected from rare earth elements such as Y and Sc, ceria doped with at least one selected from rare earth elements, lanthanum gallate doped with at least one selected from Sr and Mg, Formed from at least one of the following.

  The outer electrode layer 92 includes, for example, lanthanum manganite doped with at least one selected from Sr and Ca, lanthanum ferrite doped with at least one selected from Sr, Co, Ni and Cu, Sr, Fe, Ni and Cu. It is formed from at least one of lanthanum cobaltite doped with at least one selected from the group consisting of silver and silver.

  Next, the detailed structure of the heat exchanger 22 will be described with reference to FIGS. 2, 7, and 8. 7 is a schematic view of the fuel cell module 2 of the fuel cell device according to the embodiment of the present invention as viewed from the direction B in FIG. 2, and FIG. 8 is the fuel cell module 2 of the fuel cell device according to the embodiment of the present invention. It is the schematic which looked at from the A direction of FIG.

  In the heat exchanger 22, the plurality of combustion gas pipes 70 are arranged so as to extend substantially linearly in order to reduce the flow path resistance. Further, a plurality of (specifically, seven) guide plates 100 extending in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the combustion gas pipes 70 extend linearly are attached. These guide plates 100 are arranged in a staggered pattern at substantially equal intervals along the longitudinal direction of the combustion gas pipe 70. These guide plates 100 also function as a support member that supports the combustion gas pipe 70. By providing these guide plates 100, the power generation air flow path 72 becomes a meandering flow path, and the power generation air flows so as to cross the combustion gas pipe 70 a plurality of times.

  As shown in FIG. 7, a combustion gas inlet port 102 is formed on the upstream side of the combustion gas pipe 70 of the heat exchanger 22, and the combustion gas generated in the combustion chamber 18 is lower in pressure than the combustion chamber 18. It flows toward the inlet port 102. In the present embodiment, a perforated plate 104 as a flow path resistance imparting member is provided between the combustion gas inlet port 102 and the combustion chamber 18.

  A plurality of through holes 106 are formed in the perforated plate 104. As shown in FIG. 8, the formation position of the through hole 106 is a position above the reformer 20 and facing the reformer 20.

  Next, the detailed structure of the reformer 20 will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view and a sectional view of the reformer 20 of the fuel cell device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in the exploded perspective view of FIG. 9A, the reformer 20 has a reformer casing 20C that houses a reforming catalyst RF (see FIGS. 3 and 4) for reforming the raw material gas. The box-shaped reformer casing 20C includes outer shell members such as a reformer top plate 21 that forms an upper surface, a reformer bottom plate 23 that forms a bottom surface, and a reformer side plate 25 that forms a side surface. In the embodiment, the reformer bottom plate 23 and the reformer side plate 25 are integrally formed.
As shown in FIGS. 6 and 8, two reformer extension portions 20 </ b> E that extend upward (that is, in a direction away from the combustion chamber 18) are provided at both ends of the upper surface of the reformer casing 20 </ b> C. Is provided. The reformer extension 20E superposes the bent end 21e of the reformer top plate 21 and the end 25e of the reformer side plate 25 as shown in the sectional view of FIG. The overlapped portion is formed by welding.

  Here, the upper surface of the reformer casing 20 </ b> C, that is, the reformer top plate 21, is included in the soot generated when the fuel gas is burned and the power generation air blown out to the fuel cell assembly 12. Foreign matter D such as dust is easily collected. Various problems may occur when the foreign matter D adheres to the fuel cell assembly 12 disposed below the reformer casing 20C. In the reformer casing 20C, the reformer extension 20E causes this problem. The fall of the foreign material D is suppressed. Thereby, the performance fall and failure by the foreign material D adhering to the fuel cell assembly 12 can be suppressed.

  Further, by setting the direction in which the reformer extension 20E extends upward (that is, the direction away from the combustion chamber 18), it is possible to more effectively suppress the fall of foreign matter from the upper surface of the reformer casing 20C. In addition, the influence of the heat received from the combustion chamber 18 can be reduced, and a decrease in the welding strength in the overlapped portion can be suppressed.

  Next, the detailed structure of the fuel gas tank 68 will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view and a sectional view of the fuel gas tank of the fuel cell device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in the exploded perspective view of FIG. 10A, the fuel gas tank 68 has a gas tank casing 68C that extends in the horizontal direction when the lower end side 66a of the fuel supply pipe 66 enters. The box-shaped gas tank casing 68C includes outer shell members such as a gas tank top plate 61 that forms an upper surface and supports the fuel cell assembly 12 from below, a gas tank bottom plate 63 that forms a bottom surface, and a gas tank side plate 65 that forms a side surface. In this embodiment, the gas tank bottom plate 63 and the gas tank side plate 65 are integrally formed. These outer shell members are all formed of a metal material having high heat resistance such as stainless steel.
As shown in FIGS. 6 and 8, two gas tank extending portions 68 </ b> E extending in a substantially horizontal direction toward the inner wall surface 56 w of the main body casing 56 are provided on the upper surface of the fuel gas tank 68. As shown in the sectional view of FIG. 10B, the gas tank extending portion 68E extends in a substantially horizontal direction at the lower surface of the extended end portion 61e of the gas tank top plate 61 and the end portion of the gas tank side plate 65. The upper surface of the flange portion 65e is superposed and welded.

Here, when the distance L1 (see FIG. 8) between the fuel cell assembly 12 and the inner wall surface 56w of the main body casing 56 is reduced, there is a possibility that electricity is supplied through the power generation air during that time, resulting in electric leakage. Therefore, it is necessary to set the size of the main body casing 56 so that the distance L1 is ensured to the extent that this electric leakage does not occur.
On the other hand, the fuel gas tank 68 in which the fuel cell assembly 12 is erected is preferably configured to be compact in order to efficiently supply fuel gas into the fuel cell assembly 12. However, when the fuel gas tank 68 is covered with the main body casing 56 in which the distance L1 between the fuel cell assembly 12 and the inner wall surface 56w of the main body casing 56 is ensured as described above, a space 69 with a distance L2 is generated between them. This may cause a decrease in power generation efficiency. That is, even if power generation air is blown out from the air outlet 78 formed in the inner wall surface 56 w of the main body casing 56, the power generation air flows into the space 69 below and does not reach the fuel cell assembly 12. There was a problem.

  Therefore, according to the fuel gas tank 68 of the present embodiment, the space 69 is covered from above by the two gas tank extending portions 68E extending toward the inner wall surface 56w of the main body casing 56, thereby suppressing the inflow of power generation air. Yes. Furthermore, since the gas tank extension 68E extends from the end of the gas tank top plate that supports the lower side of the fuel cell assembly 12, the power generation air blown out from the outlet 78 is supplied to the gas tank ceiling. It flows along the plate 61 and is led to the fuel cell assembly 12. Accordingly, it is possible to reliably supply the power generation air to the fuel cell assembly 12 while configuring the fuel gas tank 68 in a compact manner.

  Further, by using the gas tank extending portion 68E for welding, it is possible to contribute not only to the reliable supply of power generation air but also to the assembly of the fuel gas tank 68. That is, since the gas tank extending portion 68E extends from the gas tank side plate 65 toward the inner wall surface 56w side of the main body casing 56, the welding operation can be easily performed. Therefore, the gas tank top plate 61, the gas tank side plate 65, Is suitable as a position for welding, and the gas tank can be easily assembled.

  Further, the upper surface of the flange portion 65 e of the gas tank side plate 65 is overlapped with the lower surface of the end portion 61 e of the tank top plate 61, and the gas tank side plate 65 supports the gas tank top plate 61 to receive the weight of the fuel cell assembly 12. The gas tank top plate 61 can be firmly supported by the flange portion 65 e of the gas tank side plate 65. That is, the gas tank extending portion 68e can contribute not only to reliably supply power generation air to the fuel cell assembly 12 but also to support the gas tank top plate 61.

  Next, another embodiment of the reformer will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view and a sectional view of a reformer 20C ′ of a fuel cell device according to another embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in the exploded perspective view of FIG. 11A, the reformer 20 ′ has a reformer casing 20C ′ that houses a reforming catalyst RF (see FIGS. 3 and 4) for reforming the raw material gas. . The box-shaped reformer casing 20C ′ includes outer shell members such as a reformer top plate 31 that forms an upper surface, a reformer bottom plate 33 that forms a bottom surface, and a reformer side plate 35 that forms a side surface. In the present embodiment, the reformer bottom plate 33 and the reformer side plate 35 are integrally formed.
As shown in the sectional view of FIG. 11 (b), two reformer extension portions 20E ′ extending substantially horizontally toward the inner wall surface 56w of the main body casing 56 are formed on the upper surface of the reformer 20 ′. Is provided. The reformer extension 20E ′ is formed by polymerizing and welding the bent end 21e of the reformer top plate 21 and the end 25e of the reformer side plate 25.

  The extending reformer extension 20E 'can suppress the fall of the foreign matter D on the upper surface of the reformer casing 20C', that is, the reformer top plate 31. Further, the combustion gas generated in the combustion chamber 18 below the reformer 20 'flows so as to bypass the reformer extension 20E' as indicated by an arrow G in FIG. Therefore, the influence of the airflow of the combustion gas on the foreign matter D on the upper surface of the reformer top plate 31 is reduced, and the fall of the foreign matter D can be reliably suppressed.

1 Fuel cell equipment (SOFC)
2 Fuel cell module 6 Housing 10 Power generation chamber 12 Fuel cell assembly 14 Fuel cell stack 16 Fuel cell unit 18 Combustion chamber (combustion part)
20, 20 'reformer 20C, 20C' reformer casing 20E, 20E 'reformer extension part (polymerization part)
21, 31 Reformer top plate 22 Heat exchanger 25, 35 Reformer side plate 56 Main body casing 56w Inner wall surface of main body casing 58 Evaporative mixer 60 Reformed gas supply pipe 61 Gas tank top plate 64, 66 Fuel supply pipe 65 Gas tank side plate 65e Flange portion 68 Fuel gas tank 68C Gas tank casing 68E Gas tank extension portion 70 Fuel gas pipe 72 Power generation air flow path 74 Power generation air introduction pipe 74a Inlet port 76 Power generation air supply path 78 Air outlet 80 Combustion gas discharge chamber 82 Combustion gas discharge pipe 84 Fuel cell

Claims (3)

In a fuel cell device that generates power by receiving supply of fuel gas and oxidant gas,
A fuel cell assembly comprising a plurality of fuel cells that generate and react fuel gas and oxidant gas ; and
A combustion section for burning the remaining combustion gas discharged from the upper end of the fuel cell without being used in a power generation reaction;
Is disposed above the combustion section has a function of generating a source gas by reforming the fuel gas by accommodating a reforming catalyst therein, a reformer having a box-like reformer casing, With
The reformer casing is composed of a plurality of outer shell members,
In the vicinity of the upper surface of the reformer casing, a reformer extension portion is formed by extending the outer shell member toward the outside of the reformer casing ,
A fuel cell device characterized in that a part of the space connecting the upper surface of the reformer casing and the side surface of the fuel cell assembly is blocked by the reformer extension . The outer shell member has a reformer top plate that forms the upper surface of the reformer casing, and a reformer side plate that forms the side surface of the reformer casing,
2. The reformer extension portion is formed by polymerizing and welding the end portion of the reformer top plate and the end portion of the reformer side plate. Fuel cell device.   The fuel cell device according to claim 2, wherein the reformer extending portion extends upward.

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