JP5662769B2 - FUEL CELL CELL DEVICE, FUEL CELL MODULE, AND FUEL CELL DEVICE - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a fuel cell device, a fuel cell module, and a fuel cell device.

  As the next-generation energy, a cell stack comprising a plurality of fuel cells that generate power using fuel gas (hydrogen-containing gas) and oxygen-containing gas (air), and the other end of the fuel cell are fixed. In addition, a gas tank for supplying fuel gas to the fuel cell and a fuel cell device configured to burn fuel gas not used for power generation at the upper end of the fuel cell are housed in a storage container. There are known fuel cell modules and fuel cell devices.

  Such a fuel cell module is provided with an oxygen-containing gas introduction member for introducing an oxygen-containing gas into the fuel cell, and oxygen for introducing the oxygen-containing gas into the lower end side of the oxygen-containing gas introduction member. A contained gas inlet is provided to supply oxygen-containing gas to the lower end of the fuel cell. And the fuel gas which was not used for electric power generation is burned in the upper end part side of a fuel cell, and a fuel cell module is warmed with combustion heat, and efficient operation is performed. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1).

JP 2007-59377 A

  However, in the fuel cell module described above, if the amount of fuel gas and oxygen-containing gas supplied to the fuel cell module is small, the amount of oxygen-containing gas that flows outside the fuel cell and is not used for power generation is insufficient. In the combustion part, the fuel gas and the oxygen-containing gas are not sufficiently mixed, and there is a possibility that it cannot be burned. As a result, the temperature of the fuel cell device decreases, and the power generation efficiency of the fuel cell device may decrease.

The fuel cell device of the present invention includes a fuel cell that generates power by flowing a first reaction gas and a second reaction gas from one end to the other end, and the second reaction gas to the fuel cell. A gas supply member for supplying the fuel cell and combusting the first reaction gas and the second reaction gas that are not used for power generation in the combustion section above the other end of the fuel cell. a is, the gas supply member includes a first air outlet toward the one end portion of the fuel cell blows the second reaction gas, the fuel cell of the other end the second reactive gas toward the And a second outlet for blowing out. Here, for example, when the first reaction gas is a fuel gas, the second reaction gas is an oxygen-containing gas, and when the first reaction gas is an oxygen-containing gas, the second reaction gas is used. The gas is a fuel gas.

  Moreover, the fuel cell module of the present invention is configured by housing the fuel cell device described above in a storage container.

  The fuel cell device of the present invention comprises the above-described fuel cell module and an auxiliary device for operating the fuel cell module housed in an outer case.

  According to the present invention, the second reaction gas can be directly supplied to the combustion section from the gas supply member, and the shortage of the second reaction gas used for combustion can be reduced. The first reaction gas and the second reaction gas can be efficiently mixed in the section. Therefore, it can be burned efficiently in the combustion section, and the power generation efficiency of the fuel cell device can be improved.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an external perspective view showing a fuel cell module that houses a fuel cell device that is an embodiment of the present invention. It is a cross-sectional view of the fuel cell module shown in FIG. It is a perspective view which shows the gas supply member which comprises the fuel cell module shown in FIG. It is a perspective view which shows other embodiment of the gas supply member which comprises a fuel cell module. (A) is a perspective view which shows other embodiment of the gas supply member which comprises a fuel cell module, (b) is a perspective view of an extending | stretching member. It is a perspective view which shows other embodiment of the gas supply member which comprises a fuel cell module. It is sectional drawing of the fuel cell module which is other embodiment of this invention. (A) is a cross-sectional perspective view which shows the modification of a gas supply member, (b) is a perspective view which shows the modification of a gas supply member. It is a disassembled perspective view which shows one Embodiment of a fuel cell apparatus.

<First Embodiment>
A fuel cell module 1 containing a fuel cell device 2 according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. The fuel cell device 2 is shown attached to the storage container 8. Also, the arrangement direction of the fuel cells 3 (hereinafter sometimes abbreviated as the cell arrangement direction) is indicated by x, and the width direction of the fuel cells 3 (hereinafter abbreviated as the cell width direction) is indicated by y. The same applies to the following drawings.

  The fuel cell module 1 (hereinafter sometimes abbreviated as “module 1”) houses a fuel cell device 2 (hereinafter sometimes referred to as a cell stack device 2) inside a rectangular parallelepiped storage container 8. A gas supply member 9 that hangs down from the upper wall of the storage container 8 is provided at the central portion inside the storage container 8.

  FIG. 1 shows a state in which a part (front and rear surfaces) of the storage container 8 is removed, and the cell stack 4 and the reformer 6 housed inside are taken out rearward. Here, in the fuel cell module 1 shown in FIG. 1, the cell stack device 2 can be slid and stored in the storage container 8.

  The fuel cell device 2 includes two cell stacks 4 in which a plurality of fuel cells 3 are electrically connected via a current collecting member (not shown) arranged in parallel in the cell width direction y. The gas tank 5 is joined. Above the fuel cell 3, a reformer 6 is provided for generating a fuel gas from a liquid fuel such as petroleum, a hydrocarbon-based gas, or the like in a state of being spaced apart at a predetermined interval. The reformer 6 has a shape that is folded back along the cell arrangement direction x, and has a U-shape when viewed in plan. A fuel gas supply pipe 7 is joined to the downstream end of the fuel gas of the reformer 6, and the fuel gas is supplied to the gas tank 5 through the fuel gas supply pipe 7.

  The fuel cell 3 is composed of a fuel electrode layer as an inner electrode layer, a solid electrolyte layer, and an air electrode layer as an outer electrode layer. A fuel cell 3 is used to flow a fuel gas as a first reaction gas therein. The battery cell 3 has a flow path penetrating from one end to the other end.

  Various types of fuel cells are known as the fuel cells 3. For example, a solid oxide that operates at high temperatures in order to reduce the size and increase the efficiency of a fuel cell device that houses the fuel cells 3. It can be set as a physical fuel cell. Thereby, the fuel cell device can be reduced in size and increased in efficiency, and a load following operation can be performed to follow a fluctuating load required for a household fuel cell. Furthermore, an efficient solid oxide fuel cell system can be configured by combining heat generated by power generation with a hot water supply system.

  The fuel cell module 1 houses the cell stack device 2 so that the gas supply member 9 is positioned between the cell stacks 4 constituting the cell stack device 2, and is provided from the gas tank 5 to the inside of the fuel cell 3. A fuel gas as a first reaction gas is supplied into a fuel gas flow path (not shown), and oxygen as a second reaction gas is supplied from the lower end portion (the other end portion) of the fuel cell 3 by the gas supply member 9. The contained gas is supplied. The fuel battery cell 3 generates power by using a fuel gas flowing inside from one end of the fuel battery cell 3 toward the other end and an oxygen-containing gas flowing outside from the one end of the fuel battery cell 3 toward the other end. ing.

  The module 1 shown in FIG. 1 will be described in detail with reference to FIG. The solid arrows in FIG. 2 indicate the flow of the oxygen-containing gas, and so on.

  The storage container 8 is provided with a first wall 10 at a predetermined interval from the side wall of the storage container 8, and is provided with a second wall 11 at a predetermined interval from the first wall 10. . A third wall 12 is provided at a predetermined interval from the upper wall of the storage container 8, and a fourth wall 13 is provided at a predetermined interval from the lower wall of the storage container 8. A fifth wall 14 is provided at a predetermined interval from the wall 13.

  The upper end of the first wall 10 is joined to the third wall 12, and the lower end of the first wall 10 is joined to the fourth wall 13. The gas supply member 9 and the third wall 12 are joined at the center side of the storage container 8, and the gas supply member 9 hangs downward from the third wall 12 and is disposed between the cell stacks 4. . The fourth wall 13 is connected to an exhaust gas discharge port (not shown), and the lower end of the second wall is joined to the fifth wall 14. A heat insulating material 22 is disposed on the cell stack device 2 side of the second wall 11 and below the cell stack device 2. What is marketed can be used as the heat insulating material 22, and a plate-shaped thing and a blanket can be used.

  A space between the storage container 8 and the first wall 10 is a first flow path 15 for flowing an oxygen-containing gas supplied from the outside of the storage container 8 upward from below. Between the three walls 12 is a second flow path 16 that flows toward the central portion of the storage container 8. The inside of the gas supply member 9 provided on the central side of the storage container 8 serves as a third flow path 17, and oxygen-containing gas is supplied to the cell stack 4 (fuel cell 3).

  The oxygen-containing gas supplied to the fuel battery cell 3 is used for power generation of the fuel battery cell 3. Oxygen-containing gas that flows laterally of the fuel cell 3 and is not used for power generation (hereinafter sometimes referred to as oxygen-containing off-gas) is generated at one end (upper end) of the fuel cell 3. 3 is mixed with fuel gas that has not been used for power generation (hereinafter sometimes referred to as fuel off-gas) and burns the fuel gas. Therefore, the combustion part 57 is located above the other end (upper end) of the fuel cell 3. The high-temperature exhaust gas generated by the combustion flows from the upper side to the lower side through the fourth flow path 18 between the first wall 10 and the second wall 11. The exhaust gas flowing downward from the storage container 8 flows through the fifth flow path 19 between the fourth wall 13 and the fifth wall 14 and is discharged to the outside of the storage container 8.

  The oxygen-containing gas supplied to the fuel cell module 1 is warmed by the high-temperature exhaust gas flowing through the fourth flow path 18 while flowing through the first flow path 15 from the lower side toward the upper side. The oxygen-containing gas flowing through the second flow path 16 flows toward the center of the storage container 8 while being heated by the combustion heat in the combustion section 57. Since the gas supply member 9 is warmed by the combustion heat in the combustion part 57, the oxygen-containing gas flows while flowing from the upper side to the lower side of the third flow path 17 provided inside the gas supply member 9. It will be warmed. Then, the oxygen-containing gas whose temperature has risen from the first outlet 20 can be supplied to the side of the fuel cell 3.

  Further, the combustion heat in the combustion section 57 warms the reformer 6 disposed above the cell stack device 2, and an efficient reforming reaction can be generated. In particular, when the reforming reaction is performed by the steam reforming method to generate the fuel gas, the reforming reaction can be caused more effectively because the steam reforming method is an endothermic reaction. Furthermore, the fuel gas itself can be warmed, and the fuel gas whose temperature has been raised can be supplied to the fuel cell 3.

  The gas supply member 9 is formed of a plate-like member having a space inside, and has a first outlet 20 for supplying an oxygen-containing gas to one end (lower end) of the fuel cell 3. doing. The first air outlet 20 is provided to face the side surface of the fuel cell 3 and supplies an oxygen-containing gas to the outside of the fuel cell 3. A second air outlet 21 for supplying an oxygen-containing gas toward the combustion unit 57 is provided at the upper end of the fuel cell 3 of the gas supply member 9, and the oxygen-containing gas is supplied to the combustion unit 57. doing. The 2nd blower outlet 21 can be provided in the position facing the combustion part 57, for example.

  When the oxygen-containing gas supplied from the outside of the storage container 8 flows downward through the gas supply member 9 (third flow path 17), a part is directed from the second outlet 21 toward the combustion unit 57. Is supplied. The remaining oxygen-containing gas is discharged from the first air outlet 20 toward the lower end of the fuel cell 3, and the oxygen-containing gas is supplied to the fuel cell 3. The oxygen-containing gas supplied to the fuel battery cell 3 is used for power generation while flowing from one end to the other end along the side surface of the fuel battery cell 3, and the oxygen-containing off-gas not used for power generation is used in the combustion section. It is burned at 57.

  Since the gas supply member 9 has the second outlet 21 at the upper end portion of the fuel cell, even when the amount of the oxygen-containing gas supplied to the storage container 8 is small, the combustion portion 57 has a sufficient amount for combustion. The oxygen-containing gas can be supplied. Therefore, the fuel gas and the oxygen-containing gas can be mixed efficiently, and combustion can be caused in the combustion unit 57.

  In particular, when the fuel cell device is operating at a low output and the fuel gas and oxygen-containing gas supplied to the fuel cell device are small, the fuel utilization rate and the air utilization rate are set to a high value and Even when the discharged fuel off gas or the side of the fuel battery cell 3 flows and there is little oxygen-containing off gas, the fuel off gas and the oxygen-containing gas can be mixed efficiently in the combustion unit 57, Can cause combustion. Thereby, the fuel cell module 1 can be warmed, and the fuel cell module 1 with improved power generation efficiency can be obtained.

  The gas supply member 9 will be described with reference to FIG. The gas supply member 9 is formed of a box-shaped member having an upper surface that is long in the cell arrangement direction x and thin in the cell width direction y. The first air outlet 20 and the second air outlet 21 are greatly open along the cell arrangement direction x, and the first air outlet 20 is provided at a position facing the side surface of the fuel cell 3. The second outlet 21 is provided so as to face the combustion part 57 above the upper end part of the fuel cell 3. Although the first air outlet 20 and the second air outlet are not shown in FIG. 3, the first air outlets are provided on both sides of the gas supply member 9, and are provided on the left and right sides of the gas supply member 9. It is preferable that 20 and the 2nd blower outlet 21 are each provided in the right and left equivalent height. Thereby, a uniform amount of oxygen-containing gas can be supplied to the cell stack 4 disposed on both sides of the gas supply member 9.

  Since the first outlet 20 is provided on the side surface of the fuel cell 3 and the second outlet 21 is provided on the side facing the combustion unit 57, the first outlet 20 faces the side surface of the fuel cell 3 and the combustion unit 57. An oxygen-containing gas can be supplied efficiently. Since the first air outlet 20 is provided with a large opening along the cell arrangement direction x, it can be supplied uniformly to each fuel cell 3 constituting the cell stack 4.

  Moreover, since the combustion part 57 is formed above the upper end part of each fuel cell 3 which comprises the cell stack 4, the combustion part 57 is formed over the whole region above the upper end part of the cell stack 4. Therefore, since the second outlet 21 is provided with a large opening along the cell arrangement direction x, the oxygen-containing gas can be efficiently supplied to the combustion unit 57. Here, the combustion part 57 shows the area | region where combustion has arisen, and since fuel gas has a specific gravity smaller than air, after discharging the fuel cell 3 and flowing upward, the combustion part 57 is a fuel cell. 3 is disposed above the upper end portion of 3. The same applies when the fuel cells 3 are arranged in the horizontal direction.

  A gas supply member 23 which is a modification of the gas supply member 9 will be described with reference to FIG. Also in FIG. 4, the flow of the oxygen-containing gas is indicated by solid arrows, and the same members are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted.

  The gas supply member 23 is provided with an opening through which oxygen-containing gas is supplied on the lower surface, and a plurality of circular openings 24 are provided as the first air outlets 20 along the cell arrangement direction x. As a blower outlet, a plurality of circular openings 25 are provided along the cell arrangement direction x. In FIG. 4, 16 openings 24 and 25 are provided. The openings 24 provided as the first air outlets 20 have the same diameter, and the openings 25 provided as the second air outlets 21 have the same diameter. Yes.

  The oxygen-containing gas flows through the third flow path 17 formed inside the gas supply member 23 from below to above. Therefore, after the oxygen-containing gas is supplied to the opening 24, the oxygen-containing gas is supplied to the opening 25, and a sufficient amount of oxygen-containing gas can be supplied to the lower end portion of the fuel cell 3.

  Although not shown, the opening 24 and the opening 25 are similarly provided on the opposite side surface of the gas supply member 23. Thereby, the oxygen-containing gas can be supplied to the cell stack 4 disposed on both sides of the gas supply member 23, and the oxygen-containing gas can also be supplied to the combustion portion 57 above the fuel cell 3. . The openings 24 and the openings 25 provided on the respective side surfaces may be provided so as to correspond to each other, or may be arranged so as to be staggered.

  The diameter of the opening 24 provided as the first air outlet is formed larger than the diameter of the opening 25 provided as the second air outlet. Thereby, the oxygen-containing gas can be supplied to the side surface of the fuel battery cell 3 without running out. Furthermore, since the diameter of the opening 25 is smaller than the diameter of the opening 24, the flow rate of the oxygen-containing gas discharged from the opening 25 can be increased, and the oxygen-containing gas can be efficiently supplied to the combustion unit 57. it can.

  The diameters of the openings 24 and 25 may be appropriately changed in the cell arrangement direction x. For example, the temperature of the fuel cells 3 in the central portion of the cell arrangement direction x is likely to rise because the fuel cells 3 are densely packed around, and a temperature distribution occurs in the cell arrangement direction x in the cell stack 4. In some cases, a larger amount of oxygen-containing gas can be supplied to the fuel cell 3 located in the central portion in the cell arrangement direction x by increasing the opening 24 in the central portion in the cell arrangement direction x. Thereby, the temperature of the fuel cell 3 located in the center of the cell arrangement direction x can be lowered, and the temperature distribution in the cell arrangement direction x can be improved.

  Further, since the temperature of the fuel cell 3 located in the center of the cell arrangement direction x is higher than that of the fuel cell 3 located in another region of the cell arrangement direction x, the fuel cell located in the other region. The power generation efficiency is higher than that of the cell 3, and a lot of oxygen-containing gas may be used. Thereby, there may be a case where oxygen-containing gas is insufficient in the combustion portion 57 and combustion does not occur. However, by increasing the diameter of the opening 25 in the central portion in the cell arrangement direction x, combustion in the central portion in the cell arrangement direction x is performed. Oxygen-containing gas can be supplied to the part 57, and a fuel cell device with improved power generation efficiency can be obtained by generating combustion efficiently.

  A gas supply member 26, which is a modification of the gas supply member 9, will be described with reference to FIG. The gas supply member 26 is different from the gas supply member 9 in that the first air outlet 20 ′ is provided on the bottom surface of the gas supply member 26 and the extending portion 27 is provided in the second air outlet 19. Since the other configuration is the same as that of the gas supply member 9, the description thereof is omitted.

  The gas supply member 26 is formed of a hollow box-like member similarly to the gas supply member 9 and has a first air outlet 20 ′ that has a large opening in the cell arrangement direction x on the bottom surface. The first air outlet 20 ′ opens downward and is provided to face the gas tank 5. Like the gas supply member 9, the second air outlet 21 has a large opening in the cell arrangement direction x, is provided facing the combustion part 57, and the extending part 27 is connected to the second air outlet 19. .

  As shown in FIG. 5B, the extending portion 27 is formed by a box-shaped member having both side surfaces (the front surface and the back surface in FIG. 5B) opened. The extending portion 27 is disposed so as to surround the entire periphery of the second air outlet 21, and is connected to the entire periphery of the second air outlet 21. Although not shown, the extending portion 27 is disposed so as to extend toward the combustion portion 57, and the opening not connected to the second outlet 21 of the extending portion 27 faces the combustion portion 57. Provided in the vicinity of the combustion part 57. The vicinity of the combustion unit 57 indicates the vicinity above the upper end of the fuel cell 3 and is a concept including the upper part of the fuel cell 3.

  The extending portion 27 can be formed by a member similar to the gas supply member 26, and is provided by connecting the second blowing port 21 of the gas supply member 26 by welding or the like after the extending portion 27 is produced. it can.

  The first air outlet 20 'is provided on the lower surface of the gas supply member 26 and is provided so as to face the gas tank 5. In this case as well, oxygen is present at the lower end of the fuel cell 3 (cell stack 4). The contained gas can be supplied.

  Since the gas supply member 26 includes the extending portion 27, the oxygen-containing gas discharged from the second blower outlet 21 can be efficiently supplied to the combustion portion 57 without escaping upward. Therefore, combustion can be performed in the combustion unit 57, and the power generation efficiency of the fuel cell device can be improved.

  In FIG. 5, an example in which the second blower outlet 21 is largely opened in the cell arrangement direction x is shown, but a plurality of openings 25 may be provided like the gas supply member 23. Even in that case, the oxygen-containing gas can be efficiently supplied to the combustion section 57.

  A gas supply member 28 which is a modification of the gas supply member 23 will be described with reference to FIG. The gas supply member 28 is different from the gas supply member 23 in that it includes a cylindrical extending portion 29 at the second outlet 21, and the other configuration is the same as that of the gas supply member 23, and thus the description thereof is omitted.

  The extending portion 29 provided in the gas supply member 28 will be described. The extending portion 29 is formed by a cylindrical member having both ends opened. The cylindrical member is a conical cylindrical member having a different opening size. is there. An opening having a large diameter of the extending portion 29 and the third flow path 17 communicate with each other, and the opening having a small diameter is provided so as to face the combustion portion 57 and is disposed in the vicinity of the combustion portion 57.

  A plurality of openings 25 are provided as the second outlets 21, and one opening (opening having a large diameter) of the extending portion 29 communicates with each opening 25. As shown in FIG. 6, the opening 25 and the extending portion 29 may be joined to each other, or the plurality of openings 25 may be joined so that one opening of the extending portion 29 covers.

  Since the gas supply member 28 includes the extending portion 29, the oxygen-containing gas can be efficiently supplied to the combustion portion 57. Thereby, even when the oxygen-containing gas supplied to the combustion unit 57 is small, the combustion unit 57 can cause combustion.

  In addition, the extending portion 29 has a configuration in which the diameter of one opening is different from the diameter of the other opening, and the opening at the tip in the flow direction of the oxygen-containing gas (the opening on the downstream side in the flow direction of the oxygen-containing gas) ) Is smaller than the opening on the upstream side in the flow direction of the oxygen-containing gas. Thereby, even when the flow rate of the oxygen-containing gas supplied to the second opening 21 is slow, that is, when the flow rate of the supplied oxygen-containing gas is small, the flow rate of the oxygen-containing gas can be increased by the extending portion 29. In addition, the oxygen-containing gas can be efficiently supplied to the combustion unit 57.

  In addition, in the gas supply members 26 and 28, although the example which provided the extending | stretching parts 27 and 29 only in the 2nd blower outlets 21 and 25 was shown, you may provide in the 1st blower outlet 20. FIG. Further, when the first air outlet 20 ′ is provided on the lower surface of the gas supply member 26, for example, the extending portion may be provided that bends toward the side surface of the lower end portion of the fuel cell 3.

<Second Embodiment>
The fuel cell module 30 which is the 2nd Embodiment of this invention is demonstrated using FIG. The same symbols are attached to the same members.

  The fuel cell module 30 is configured by storing a cell stack device 47 in which only one row of cell stacks 4 is joined in a storage container 31. A reformer 6 is disposed above the cell stack 4 with a predetermined distance, and the fuel gas reformed by the reformer 6 is supplied to the gas tank 5, and the fuel gas is supplied to each fuel cell 3. Have been supplied. Similar to the first embodiment, the cell stack device 47 is also configured such that the combustion unit 57 is disposed above the upper end of the fuel cell 3 and the reformer is warmed.

  Explaining both side portions of the storage container 31, the first wall 33 is installed on the cell stack device 47 side with a predetermined distance from the side wall of the storage container 31, and the predetermined distance from the first wall 33 is set. A second wall 34 is installed on the cell stack device 47 side. A gas supply member 32 is arranged on the cell stack device 47 side so as to be adjacent to the second wall 34. A space between the side wall of the storage container 31 and the first wall 33 is a first flow path 39, and a space between the first wall 33 and the second wall 34 is a fifth flow path 43. It has become. The interior of the gas supply member 32 is hollow and serves as a fourth flow path 42 for flowing an oxygen-containing gas.

  Next, the upper part of the storage container 31 will be described. A third wall 35 is installed on the cell stack device 47 side with a predetermined distance from the upper wall of the storage container 31, and a predetermined distance from the third wall 35. A fourth wall 36 is installed on the cell stack device 47 side at a distance. The space between the upper wall of the storage container 31 and the third wall 35 is the second flow path 40, and the space between the third wall 35 and the fourth wall 36 is the third flow path 41. It has become.

  Next, the upper part of the storage container 31 will be described. A third wall 35 is installed on the cell stack device 47 side with a predetermined distance from the upper wall of the storage container 31, and a predetermined distance from the third wall 35. A fourth wall 36 is installed on the cell stack device 47 side at a distance. The space between the upper wall of the storage container 31 and the third wall 35 is the second flow path 40, and the space between the third wall 35 and the fourth wall 36 is the third flow path 41. It has become.

  The lower part of the storage container 31 will be described. A fifth wall 37 is installed on the cell stack device 47 side with a predetermined distance from the lower wall of the storage container 31, and a predetermined distance is provided from the fifth wall 37. A sixth wall 38 is installed on the cell stack device 47 side. An oxygen-containing gas collection chamber 48 is formed between the lower wall of the storage container 31 and the fifth wall 37, and a sixth channel 44 is formed between the fifth wall 37 and the sixth wall 38. It has become.

  The first wall 33 has an upper end connected to the third wall 35 and a lower end connected to the fifth wall 37. As a result, an oxygen-containing gas collection chamber 48 through which the oxygen-containing gas supplied from the outside flows, the first flow path 39 and the second flow path 40 are formed.

  The second wall 34 has an upper end connected to the third wall 35 and a lower end connected to the sixth wall 38. Although not shown, an opening (not shown) leading to the fifth flow path is provided in a portion orthogonal to the third flow path 41 on the upper end side of the second wall 34, and the third flow path 41 and the fifth 43 communicate with each other. The gas supply member 32 is disposed in contact with the cell stack 47 side of the second wall 34, and the heat insulating material 22 is disposed between the gas supply member 32 and the sixth wall.

  The gas supply members 32 are arranged on both sides of the cell stack device 47, and a first air outlet 45 and a second air outlet 46 are provided on the cell stack device 47 side. As the gas supply member 32, the gas supply members 9, 23, 26, and 28 described above can be used, but the first air outlet 45 and the second air outlet 46 are provided only on the cell stack device 47 side. It is necessary to use it.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the first air outlet 45 and the second opening 46 of the gas supply member 32 disposed on both sides are provided so as to face each other, and the cell stack device 47 of the gas supply member 32. A heat insulating material 22 is provided in a region between the first air outlet 45 and the second air outlet 46 on the side. Also in the gas supply member 32, an opening is provided in the same manner as the second wall 34, and the exhaust gas generated by combustion flows through the fifth flow path 43. Moreover, as shown in the drawing, a part of the wall constituting the opening of the second air outlet 46 protrudes toward the inside of the fourth flow path 42 (inside the gas supply member 32), and the gas The oxygen-containing gas flowing through the supply member 32 can be efficiently supplied to the combustion unit 57.

  The third wall 35 is provided with a large opening in the cell arrangement direction x at the center of the storage container 31, and allows the oxygen-containing gas flowing through the second flow path 40 to flow to the third flow path 41. it can. The fourth wall 36 joins the cell stack device 47 side of the gas supply member 32 located on both sides of the cell stack device 47, and can be formed integrally with the gas supply member 32.

  The fifth wall 37 has an exhaust gas delivery pipe 48 at the center of the storage container 31, and exhausts the exhaust gas flowing through the sixth flow path 44 to the outside of the storage container 31. The cell stack device 47 is arranged on the sixth wall 38 via the heat insulating material 22. By disposing the heat insulating material 22 therebetween, the cell stack device 47 can be prevented from being cooled by the exhaust gas flowing through the sixth flow path 44. Although not shown, the storage container 31 is provided with an oxygen-containing gas supply pipe (not shown) for connecting the oxygen-containing gas collection chamber 48 and the outside. The gas supply pipe is provided by a double pipe.

  Next, the flow of various gases flowing inside the fuel cell module 30 will be described.

  The oxygen-containing gas supplied from the outside flows in from the oxygen-containing gas supply pipe, is supplied to the oxygen-containing gas collection chamber 48, and flows toward both sides of the storage container 31. Then, the first flow path 39 flows from the lower side toward the upper side, and the second flow path 40 flows from the both sides of the storage container 31 toward the center. The oxygen-containing gas that has flowed through the second flow path 40 passes through the opening provided in the third wall 35 and flows through the third flow path 41 from the central portion of the storage container 31 toward both sides. The oxygen-containing gas that has flowed through the third flow path 41 flows through the fourth flow path 42 provided inside the gas supply member 32 from above to below. While flowing from the upper side to the lower side of the fourth flow path 42, a part of the oxygen-containing gas is blown out from the second outlet 46 and supplied to the combustion unit 57, and the remaining oxygen-containing gas is The air is blown out from the first air outlet 45 toward the lower end of the fuel cell 3 and supplied to the fuel cell 3.

  Exhaust gas generated by the combustion unit 57 flows through the opening provided in the gas supply member 32 and the second wall 34 while warming the reformer 6 and flows through the fifth flow path 43 downward from above. It becomes. At that time, the oxygen-containing gas flowing through the first flow path 39, the oxygen-containing gas flowing through the fourth flow path 42 and the exhaust gas flowing through the fifth flow path 43 exchange heat, and the first flow path 39 The temperature of the oxygen-containing gas flowing through the fourth flow path 42 and the oxygen-containing gas flowing through the fourth flow path 42 can be increased. Therefore, the warmed oxygen-containing gas can be supplied to the fuel cell 3, and the fuel cell module 30 with improved power generation efficiency can be obtained.

  In addition, since the second flow path 40 and the third flow path 41 located above the combustion section 57 are directly heated by the combustion heat in the combustion section 57, the second flow path 40 and the third flow path 41 are The temperature of the flowing oxygen-containing gas can be increased.

  The gas supply members 32 are respectively arranged on both sides of the cell stack device 47, are provided with a first outlet 45 so as to face the lower end of the fuel cell 3, and face the combustion part 57. A second outlet 46 is provided. Thereby, the oxygen-containing gas blown out from the first blower outlet 45 and the second blower outlet 46 collides in the vicinity of the fuel cell 3 and the combustion unit 57, and the flow is disturbed. Therefore, in particular, the fuel gas discharged from the fuel cell 3 and the oxygen-containing gas can be efficiently mixed in the combustion unit 57, and even when the combustion gas supplied to the combustion unit 57 is small, the combustion unit Combustion can be performed at 57.

  In addition, in the fuel cell module 30, the example which provided the box-shaped member as the gas supply member 32 was shown, However, The gas supply member 32 is partitioned off with the heat insulating material 22 or the 2nd wall 34, and a 4th flow path is shown. 43 may be formed. In that case, the space partitioned by the heat insulating material 22 and the second wall 34 can be called a gas supply member 32.

  Gas supply members 49a and 49b, which are modifications of the gas supply member 32, will be described with reference to FIG.

  The gas supply member 49a shown in FIG. 8A has a fourth flow path 42b communicating with the first air outlet 45 and a fourth air flow communicating with the second air outlet 46 inside the gas supply member 49a. Therefore, the fourth channel 42 is divided into the fourth channels 42a and 42b inside the gas supply member 49a.

  Therefore, the oxygen-containing gas can be reliably supplied to the first air outlet 45 and the second air outlet 46, the oxygen-containing gas used for power generation of the fuel cell 3 can be secured, and combustion A sufficient amount of oxygen-containing gas can be supplied to the portion 57.

  The arrangement of the partition members may be set as appropriate in accordance with the configuration of the fuel cell module 30, but the portion of the gas supply member 49 a that is joined to the cell stack device 47 side is preferably below the second air outlet 46. . Thereby, the oxygen-containing gas can be efficiently supplied to the second outlet 46.

  The gas supply member 49b shown in FIG. 8B has a fourth flow path 42b that communicates with the first air outlet 45 and a fourth flow path 42a that communicates with the second air outlet 46, respectively. The first air outlet 45 and the second air outlet 46 are respectively provided in the fourth flow paths 42a and 42b made of a pipe-like member.

  In this way, by configuring the gas supply member 49b with separate members, the degree of freedom in disposing the gas supply member 49b in the fuel cell module 30 can be increased. Moreover, the gas supply member 49b can be easily produced by forming the 1st blower outlet 45 and the 2nd blower outlet 46, for example by bending the end of a pipe.

  As a modification of the gas supply member 9, when the gas supply member is manufactured by a pipe-shaped member as shown in FIG. 8B, the first air outlet 45 and the second air outlet 46 are respectively provided. What is necessary is just to set it as the structure provided in the both sides. In addition, the first air outlet 45 and the second air outlet 46 are not produced by bending, but the lower end side of the fuel cell 3 of the pipe is sealed, and the first air outlet 45 is provided by providing an opening on the side surface. And the 2nd blower outlet 46 can also be produced.

  9 shows the present invention in which the fuel cell module 1 according to the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1 and an auxiliary machine (not shown) for operating the fuel cell module 1 are housed in an outer case. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing an example of the fuel cell device 50 of FIG. In FIG. 9, a part of the configuration is omitted.

  A fuel cell device 50 shown in FIG. 9 divides the inside of an outer case made up of a column 51 and an outer plate 52 by a partition plate 53, and a module storage chamber 54 for storing the above-described fuel cell module 1 on the upper side. The lower side is configured as an auxiliary equipment storage chamber 55 for storing auxiliary equipment for operating the fuel cell module 1. Auxiliary machinery stored in the auxiliary machinery storage chamber 55 is omitted.

  In addition, the partition plate 53 is provided with an air circulation port 56 for flowing the air in the auxiliary machine storage chamber 55 to the module storage chamber 54 side, and a part of the exterior plate 52 constituting the module storage chamber 54 An exhaust port 57 for exhausting air in the module storage chamber 54 is provided.

  In such a fuel cell device 50, as described above, the power generation efficiency can be improved, and the fuel cell module 1 with improved durability is stored in the module storage chamber 54 and the fuel cell module 1 is operated. By storing this auxiliary machine in the auxiliary machine storage chamber 55, the fuel cell device 50 with improved long-term reliability can be obtained.

  Although the embodiments of the present invention have 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. It is.

  For example, in the cell stack 4 described above, an example in which the fuel gas is supplied to the flow path in the fuel cell 3 and the oxygen-containing gas is supplied to the outside of the fuel cell 3 is shown. A configuration may be adopted in which gas is supplied 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 a structure which uses an inner electrode layer as an air electrode layer, and uses an outer electrode layer as a fuel electrode layer. At the same time, the configurations of the fuel cell module 1 and the fuel cell device 50 may be changed as appropriate.

  Further, one cell stack device 2 or a plurality of cell stack devices 2 may be stored in the fuel cell module 1. By storing the plurality of cell stack devices 2, the power generation efficiency of the fuel cell module can be improved. Furthermore, although the example which accommodates one fuel cell module 1 in the exterior case was shown, you may accommodate several fuel cell modules 1. FIG.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1, 30: Fuel cell module 2: Fuel cell apparatus 3: Fuel cell 4: Cell stack 6: Reformer 8: Storage container 9, 23, 26, 28, 32, 49a, 49b: Gas supply member 20, 20 ', 45: 1st blower outlet 21, 46: 2nd blower outlet 27, 29: Extending part 50: Fuel cell apparatus 57: Combustion part

Claims (8)

A fuel cell that generates electricity by flowing the first reaction gas and the second reaction gas from one end to the other end;
A gas supply member for supplying the second reaction gas to the fuel cell,
A fuel cell device configured to burn the first reaction gas and the second reaction gas that have not been used for power generation in a combustion section above the other end of the fuel cell,
The gas supply member blows the second reaction gas toward the first air outlet for blowing the second reactive gas toward the one end portion of the fuel cell, the other end of the fuel cell A fuel cell device having a second air outlet.   2. The fuel cell device according to claim 1, wherein the second reaction gas flows in the gas supply member from the other end toward the one end of the fuel cell. 3.   The gas supply member is disposed on each side of the fuel battery cell, and the second air outlets of the gas supply members are provided to face each other. Fuel cell device.   The gas supply member is provided with an extending portion that extends toward the combustion portion at the second air outlet and has an air outlet at a tip in a flow direction of the second reaction gas. Item 4. The fuel cell device according to Item 2 or 3.   A plurality of the fuel cells are arranged, the gas supply member includes a plurality of the second air outlets, and the extending portion is provided in each of the second air outlets. The fuel cell device according to claim 4.   6. The fuel cell device according to claim 4, wherein the extending portion has an opening at a front end of the second reactant gas in a flow direction smaller than an opening of the second outlet. .   A fuel cell module comprising the fuel cell device according to claim 1 housed in a housing container.   A fuel cell device comprising: the fuel cell module according to claim 7; and an auxiliary machine for operating the fuel cell module, housed in an outer case.

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