JP5756915B2 - Exhaust system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an exhaust device attached to a fuel cell device that generates power by an electrochemical reaction between a fuel gas and an oxidant gas.

  In recent years, solid polymer fuel cell systems have been actively developed as systems suitable for household fuel cell cogeneration systems (hereinafter referred to as “fuel cell systems”). The polymer electrolyte fuel cell system generates power by an electrochemical reaction between a fuel gas containing hydrogen and an oxidant gas containing oxygen. On the other hand, hydrogen is necessary for electrochemical reactions, but the hydrogen infrastructure is not yet fully prepared. Accordingly, the polymer electrolyte fuel cell system includes a hydrogen generator that generates a hydrogen-rich fuel gas by reforming raw materials such as city gas, LP gas, and kerosene, and hydrogen generated from the hydrogen generator, Electric power is generated by reacting oxygen in the air with a polymer electrolyte fuel cell (hereinafter referred to as “fuel cell”). In addition, a fuel cell system for utilizing heat generated by an electrochemical reaction or heat of exhaust gas discharged from a hydrogen generator has been developed. Such a fuel cell system recovers heat as hot water and stores it in a hot water storage tank, and effectively uses the stored hot water as a heat supply medium to the outside.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a fuel cell power generation system that generates power using city gas or the like in a package (housing) containing a hydrogen generator and a fuel cell as described above is known (for example, Patent Document 1). reference).

  Further, when the casing of the fuel cell device is configured by a rectangular parallelepiped whose height direction is longer than the width direction and the depth direction (see, for example, Patent Document 2), exhaust gas that exhausts exhaust gas generated from the fuel cell device to the outside Mouth and house windows and house ventilation openings are about the same height, and exhaust gas can flow directly into the home. Therefore, it is conceivable to install an exhaust device (see, for example, Patent Document 3) that can change the exhaust direction (particularly upward) used also in a water heater or the like.

  FIG. 7 is a configuration diagram of the fuel cell device 102 to which the conventional exhaust device 101 described in Patent Documents 1 to 3 is attached. As shown in FIG. 7, inside the housing 103, a hydrogen generator 104 that generates hydrogen-rich fuel gas from a raw material such as city gas and water, an air pump 105 that supplies air, and a hydrogen generator 104 The fuel cell 106 that generates power using the fuel gas generated in step S1 and the air supplied from the air pump 105, the exhaust gas heat exchanger 107 that recovers the heat of the exhaust gas discharged from the hydrogen generator 104, and the exhaust gas heat exchange The exhaust duct 108 that exhausts the exhaust gas that has passed through the vessel 107 to the outside of the housing 103 and the housing exhaust port 109 that allows the exhaust duct 108 and the exhaust device 101 to communicate with each other are provided.

  FIG. 8 is a configuration diagram of a conventional exhaust device 101. As shown in FIG. 8, the exhaust device 101 includes a cylindrical main body 112 whose both ends are closed. An air supply port 114 is formed in a side surface portion of the main body 112, and an exhaust port 118 is formed in an upper surface portion 116 that becomes an upper surface of the main body 112 when the exhaust device 101 is mounted on the fuel cell device 102. Yes.

  In general, the temperature of the exhaust gas of the fuel cell device 102 is lower than that of a boiler and the amount of discharge is lower than that of a boiler. Therefore, when the exhaust device 101 and the exhaust gas exchange heat, the exhaust gas easily reaches the dew point, and water vapor in the exhaust gas is condensed to generate condensed water in many cases. According to the configuration of the conventional exhaust device 101, condensed condensed water is guided from the air supply port 114 to the housing exhaust port 109 and discharged from the fuel cell device 102 to the outside.

JP 2005-276757 A JP2005-032461 Hei 10-213352

  In the configuration of the conventional exhaust device 101, since the exhaust port 118 is provided on the upper surface of the exhaust device 101, rainwater enters the housing exhaust port 109 through the exhaust port 118. When the amount of rainwater reaches a large amount, the flow of exhaust gas to the exhaust device 101 is hindered, thereby causing a problem that the exhaust of the combustion gas becomes insufficient and the operation of the fuel cell device is stopped. In order to solve this problem, a configuration in which a drain hole is provided on the lower surface of the main body 112 to discharge rainwater is conceivable.

  According to the structure provided with the drain hole as described above, rain water can be discharged from the drain hole. However, when it does not rain, the condensed condensed water described above is discharged from the drain hole. In particular, when the mounting position of the exhaust device 101 is at the same height as the window of the house or the house ventilation opening, the condensed water discharged from the drain hole has an influence of wind or the like before it falls down to the ground. It is easy to adhere to the outer surface of the housing 103 of the fuel cell device 102. In addition, the dew condensation water often becomes acidic because hydrogen in the off-anode gas of the fuel cell device 102 is dissolved. Therefore, the subject that the dew condensation water adhering to the housing | casing 103 deteriorates the outer surface of the housing | casing 103 also arises.

  The present invention solves the conventional problem. When an exhaust device capable of changing the exhaust direction is attached to the fuel cell device, even if a large amount of rainwater flows into the exhaust device, the combustion gas is discharged from the housing exhaust port. To ensure that the fuel cell device can continue to operate, prevent condensation from being generated in the exhaust device from adhering to the housing of the fuel cell device, and prevent deterioration of the outer surface of the fuel cell device housing An object is to provide an exhaust device.

  In order to solve the above-described conventional problems, an exhaust apparatus according to the present invention includes a fuel cell that generates power by an electrochemical reaction between a fuel gas containing hydrogen and an oxidant gas, and a hydrogen generator that generates fuel gas containing hydrogen. And an exhaust device for a fuel cell device that is attached to a fuel cell device including a housing that contains the fuel cell and the hydrogen generator, and that exhausts exhaust gas generated from the hydrogen generator to the outside of the housing, It has a hollow main body with both ends closed, having an upper surface portion, a lower surface portion, and a side surface portion, and an exhaust port is formed on the upper surface portion of the main body to allow communication between the main body and the outside. An air supply port is formed to allow communication between the housing and the main body. A drain hole with a burring projecting toward the inside of the main body is formed in the lower surface portion inside the main body. The bottom of the mouth Also it is intended to be upward.

  As a result, the condensed water condensed in the exhaust system is blocked by the burring provided in the drain hole on the lower surface of the main body, and is led from the air supply port to the housing exhaust port to be discharged. In the case where a large amount of rainwater flows into the exhaust system, the infiltrated rainwater can be removed from the drain hole provided on the lower surface of the main body. By discharging, it is possible to ensure exhaust gas exhaust from the casing exhaust port and to continue the operation of the fuel cell device.

  Even when an exhaust device capable of changing the exhaust direction is attached to the fuel cell device of the present invention, the condensed water generated in the exhaust device is prevented from adhering to the housing of the fuel cell device. While preventing the deterioration of the outer surface, even if a large amount of rainwater flows into the exhaust device, it is possible to ensure exhaust gas exhaust from the housing exhaust port and to continue the operation of the fuel cell device.

1 is an external view of an exhaust device according to a first embodiment of the present invention attached to a fuel cell device. 1 is a configuration diagram in which an exhaust device according to a first embodiment of the present invention is attached to a fuel cell device. 1 is a configuration diagram of an exhaust device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. Sectional drawing of the exhaust apparatus concerning Embodiment 1 of this invention Sectional drawing of the exhaust apparatus concerning Embodiment 2 of this invention The block diagram which attached the exhaust apparatus concerning Embodiment 3 of this invention to the fuel cell apparatus. Configuration diagram of conventional exhaust system attached to fuel cell system Configuration diagram of conventional exhaust system

  1st invention accommodates the fuel cell which produces electric power by the electrochemical reaction of the fuel gas containing hydrogen, and oxidant gas, the hydrogen generator which produces | generates the fuel gas containing hydrogen, the fuel cell, and the hydrogen generator An exhaust device for a fuel cell device that is attached to a fuel cell device including a housing and exhausts exhaust gas generated from the hydrogen generator to the outside of the housing, and has an upper surface portion, a lower surface portion, and a side surface portion The body has a hollow main body closed at both ends, an exhaust port is formed on the upper surface of the main body to allow communication between the main body and the outside, and an air supply port for communication between the housing and the main body is provided on a side surface of the main body. A drain hole with a burring projecting toward the inside of the body is formed in the lower surface portion inside the body, and the upper end of the burring is above the lower end of the air supply port. Features.

  As a result, the condensed water condensed in the exhaust system is blocked by the burring provided in the drain hole on the lower surface of the main body, and is guided to the casing exhaust port to be discharged. It is possible to prevent water from adhering to the outer surface of the casing of the fuel cell device and deteriorating the outer surface. In addition, even when a large amount of rainwater flows into the exhaust system, the infiltrated rainwater can be discharged from the drain hole provided in the lower surface of the main body, so a combustion gas discharge route from the housing exhaust port is secured and the fuel is discharged. The operation of the battery device can be continued.

  The second invention is characterized in that a plurality of drain holes are formed in the first invention. According to such a configuration, the condensed water condensed in the exhaust device can pass through the gap formed between the drain holes, so that it can be quickly discharged from the air supply port to the housing exhaust port. It is possible to prevent overflowing from the drain hole beyond the burring. Furthermore, by forming a plurality of drain holes even if they have the same total opening area, the length of the drain holes can be increased, so that the rainwater that penetrates into the exhaust system and exceeds the burring of the drain holes can be removed. It can be discharged quickly.

  A third invention is a fuel cell device comprising the exhaust device of the first or second invention, a fuel cell, a hydrogen generator, and a housing that houses the fuel cell and the hydrogen generator, The generator heats the hydrogen generator by mixing and combusting a gas for combustion containing at least one of a raw material gas containing fuel gas and an oxidant gas and an off-fuel gas discharged from the fuel cell. And an air supply for supplying air to the combustor, and the exhaust device is attached to the casing so as to communicate with the casing exhaust port, and the exhaust gas burned in the combustor When the exhaust port is discharged to the outside through the exhaust device, the exhaust port is closed, and the air supply device is controlled at the maximum operation amount, the combustor contains a mixed gas containing combustion gas and air. To complete combustion The exhaust gas generated Ri to discharge to the outside, drain hole serves as a second exhaust opening in the exhaust system, characterized in that. According to such a configuration, even when foreign matter such as fallen leaves falls to cover the exhaust port provided on the upper surface of the main body of the exhaust device and closes the exhaust port, the drain hole provided on the lower surface of the main body By exhausting the exhaust gas from the fuel cell, it is possible to ensure the amount of combustion air required for the combustion of the hydrogen generator and to continue the operation of the fuel cell device.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments.

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is an external view of an exhaust device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention attached to a fuel cell device, and FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of the exhaust device according to Embodiment 1 attached to the fuel cell device.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the fuel cell device 2 to which the exhaust device 1 according to the first embodiment is attached includes a fuel cell 3 that generates power by an electrochemical reaction between a fuel gas containing hydrogen and an oxidant gas, A hydrogen generation device 4 that generates a fuel gas containing hydrogen, and a housing 5 that houses the fuel cell 3 and the hydrogen generation device 4. The hydrogen generator 4 includes a combustor 6 that heats the hydrogen generator 4 and an air supplier 8 that supplies air to the combustor 6. Further, the fuel cell device 2 includes an air pump 7 that supplies air to the fuel cell 3, an exhaust gas heat exchanger 9 that recovers heat of exhaust gas discharged from the hydrogen generator 4, and exhaust gas heat inside the housing 5. An exhaust duct 10 that guides the exhaust gas that has come out of the exchanger 9 to the outside of the housing 3, and a drain hose 11 that releases condensed water and rainwater accumulated in the exhaust duct 10 to the outside. The members inside the casing 5 described above are connected in order of the air pump 7, the fuel cell 3, the hydrogen generator 4 and the combustor 6, the exhaust gas heat exchanger 9, the exhaust duct 10, and the drain hose 11, and are connected through piping. Exchanges such as gas.

  The housing 5 is a rectangular parallelepiped whose height direction is longer than the width direction and the depth direction. A hole-shaped housing exhaust port 12 is formed at a position higher than half the height in the side surface of the housing 5. The exhaust device 1 communicates with the housing 5 through the housing exhaust port 12.

  FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of the exhaust device 1 of the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the exhaust device 1 of the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the exhaust device 1 includes a main body 13 that is a hollow rectangular parallelepiped with both ends closed. The main body 13 includes an upper surface portion 14 that is on the upper surface side when the exhaust device 1 is attached to the fuel cell device 2, a lower surface portion 15 that is on the lower surface side, and a side surface portion 16 that connects the upper surface portion 14 and the lower surface portion 15. Have.

  An exhaust port 17 that allows the main body 13 to communicate with the outside is formed in the upper surface portion 14. An air supply port 18 that allows the housing 5 and the main body 13 to communicate with each other is formed in the side surface portion 16. A drain hole 19 that communicates with the outside is formed in the lower surface portion 15 inside the main body 13, and a burring 20 that protrudes toward the inside of the main body is provided around the drain hole 19. The burring 20 has an annular protrusion shape.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the exhaust device 1 according to the first embodiment is configured such that the upper end of the burring 20 exists above the lower end of the air supply port 18.

  The operation and action of the exhaust device configured as described above will be described below.

  When city gas and pure water are supplied to the hydrogen generator 4, hydrogen-rich fuel gas is generated. The fuel cell 3 uses the hydrogen-rich fuel gas as the anode gas, and generates power using the oxidant gas containing air supplied from the air pump 7 as the cathode gas. The combustor 6 mixes at least one combustion gas among the raw gas such as the fuel gas and the oxidant gas and the off-fuel gas discharged from the fuel cell 3 and the air supplied from the air supplier 8. Burn. By utilizing the heat of the combustion reaction, the hydrogen generator 4 is heated and controlled to a constant temperature so that the reforming reaction is performed.

  The exhaust gas discharged from the hydrogen generator 4 is guided to the exhaust gas heat exchanger 9 to recover heat. Thereafter, the air is discharged to the outside of the housing 5, that is, to the exhaust device 1 through the exhaust duct 10, the housing exhaust port 12, and the air supply port 18.

  Since the exhaust gas generated in the fuel cell device 2 is recovered by the exhaust gas heat exchanger 9 before being discharged to the outside of the housing 5, the temperature is low, and the amount thereof is smaller than that of a general boiler. And few. Therefore, when the exhaust device 1 and the exhaust gas exchange heat, the exhaust gas easily reaches the dew point, and water vapor in the exhaust gas is condensed to generate dew condensation water.

  Condensed water generated in the exhaust device 1 is blocked by a burring 20 provided around a drain hole 19 in the lower surface portion 15 of the main body 13. The condensed water blocked by the burring 20 is guided from the air supply port 18 to the exhaust duct 10 in the fuel cell device 2 through the housing exhaust port 12 and discharged through the drain hose 11 of the exhaust duct 10. . By discharging from the drain hose 11 in the fuel cell device 2 in this way, it is possible to prevent the condensed water generated in the exhaust device 1 from adhering to the housing 5 of the fuel cell device 2, and the fuel cell device. Deterioration of the outer surface of the second housing 5 can be prevented.

  Next, the principle of draining rainwater in the exhaust device 1 during rain will be described. When the amount of rain is small and the amount of rainwater entering the exhaust device 1 from the exhaust port 17 is small, the rainwater is blocked by the burring 20 and discharged through the drain hose 11 as in the case of the dew condensation water. On the other hand, when there is a lot of rain and the amount of rainwater entering the exhaust device 1 from the exhaust port 17 is large, the rainwater level in the exhaust device 1 exceeds the upper end of the burring 20, so the rainwater is discharged from the drain hole 19. Is done. By draining rainwater from the drain hole 19, it is possible to continue the operation of the fuel cell device without hindering the exhaust gas discharged from the housing exhaust port 12. When rainwater is discharged from the drain hole 19 in this way, condensed water is also discharged mixed with rainwater. Condensed water, which is less in volume than rainwater, is discharged in a state diluted with rainwater, so that it is less likely to adhere to the outer surface of the housing 5 and deteriorate.

(Embodiment 2)
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the exhaust device 1 according to the second embodiment of the present invention. Components having the same configurations as those of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted. As shown in FIG. 5, the exhaust device 1 according to the second embodiment is configured to form a plurality of drain holes 19 a, 19 b, 19 c in the vicinity of the air supply port 18 of the lower surface portion 15. Burrings 20a, 20b, and 20c are provided around the drain holes 19a, 19b, and 19c, respectively.

  Operation and action of the exhaust device 1 configured as described above will be described below. The description of the same operations and effects as those of the first embodiment is omitted.

  In order to discharge a large amount of rainwater flowing from the exhaust port 17 of the exhaust device 1 through the drain hole 19, it is preferable to provide the drain hole 19 in the vicinity of the air supply port 18 of the lower surface portion 15 of the main body 13. Therefore, for example, when one drain hole 19 having a large opening area is provided, rainwater discharge performance is improved. However, in such a configuration, when there is no rain, the condensed water generated in the exhaust device 1 bypasses the burring 20 of the drain hole 19 and is discharged from the air supply port 18, so that the condensed water can be discharged. Deteriorate. If the amount of condensed water to be condensed is large, the water level of the condensed water may exceed the upper end of the burring 20 and be discharged from the drain hole 19.

  Therefore, in the exhaust device 1 according to the second embodiment, the water drain holes 19a, 19b, and 19c are arranged in the vicinity of the air supply port 18 of the lower surface portion 15, and the burrings 20a, 20b, and 20c are arranged around each of them. Was provided. According to such a configuration, a gap is generated between the drain holes 19a, 19b, and 19c, so that the condensed water condensed in the exhaust device 1 can flow to the air supply port 18 through the gap. It becomes. Therefore, the dew condensation water can be quickly discharged to the casing exhaust port 12, and overflowing beyond the burring 20a, 20b, 20c can be suppressed.

  Further, when a plurality of drain holes 19a, 19b, 19c are formed, the coasting length is increased while the entire opening area remains the same. Thereby, in the case of heavy rainfall, it is possible to improve the drainage of rainwater discharged from the drain holes 19a, 19b, 19c beyond the burrings 20a, 20b, 20c. As described above, even when a large amount of rainwater enters from the exhaust port 17, it is possible to secure a discharge route for the combustion gas from the housing exhaust port 12 and to continue the operation of the fuel cell device 2.

(Embodiment 3)
FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram in which the exhaust device 1 according to the third embodiment of the present invention is attached to the fuel cell device 2. Components having the same configurations as those of the first and second embodiments are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted.

  Since the upper surface portion 14 of the exhaust device 1 has the exhaust port 17, foreign matter such as dead leaves may cover the exhaust port 17. When the amount of exhaust gas is large as in a general boiler, the exhaust port 17 can be blocked by blowing off dead leaves and the like with the exhaust gas discharge force. However, since the amount of exhaust gas discharged from the fuel cell device 2 is smaller than that of a boiler or the like, in the configuration in which the exhaust port 17 is provided in the upper surface portion 14 of the exhaust device 1, foreign matter such as dead leaves cannot be blown away at the exhaust gas flow rate. Therefore, it is conceivable that the exhaust port 17 is blocked, the exhaust of the combustion gas becomes insufficient, and the operation of the fuel cell device 2 is stopped.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the exhaust device 1 according to the third embodiment is attached to the fuel cell device 2. In the fuel cell device 2, the exhaust gas combusted in the combustor 6 passes through the exhaust pipe 21 that guides the exhaust gas discharged from the hydrogen generator 4 to the exhaust duct 10, and then passes through the exhaust port 1 to the outside through the exhaust port 1. Discharged. In the fuel cell device 2 to which the exhaust device 1 according to the third embodiment is attached, the exhaust port 17 is closed, exhaust gas is discharged only from the drain hole 19, and the air supplier 8 is controlled with the maximum operation amount. In this case, the area of the drain hole 19 is set so that the amount of air in which the exhaust gas completely burns in the combustor 6 flows, and is set to ½ or more of the cross-sectional area of the exhaust pipe 21.

  About the exhaust apparatus 1 comprised as mentioned above, operation | movement and an effect | action are demonstrated below. The description of the same operation and effect as those of the first and second embodiments is omitted.

  Since the drain hole 19 is provided in the lower surface portion 15 of the main body 13, the exhaust gas is discharged from the drain hole 19 when the exhaust port 17 of the exhaust device 1 is closed. When the exhaust gas is discharged from the drain hole 19 and the air supply unit 8 is controlled with the maximum operation amount, the mixed gas (including combustion gas and air) is completely burned in the combustor 6. The opening area of the drain hole 19 is set so that the generated exhaust gas is discharged from the drain hole 19. That is, when the air supply device 8 is operated so as to supply the maximum amount of air to the combustor 6 and the exhaust gas cannot be discharged from the exhaust port 17, the drain hole 19 functions as the second exhaust port. Therefore, even when foreign matter such as fallen leaves falls so as to cover the exhaust port 17 of the exhaust device 1 and closes the exhaust port 17, exhaust gas is discharged from the drain hole 19, thereby causing incomplete combustion in the combustor 6. The operation of the fuel cell device 2 can be continued without waking up.

  Although the shape of the main body 13 is described as a rectangular parallelepiped, it is not limited to a rectangular parallelepiped, and any shape such as a cylindrical shape may be adopted.

  Although the burring 20 has been described as having an annular protrusion shape, any other shape suitable for blocking liquid such as condensed water may be adopted, and the forming method is not limited to burring, Any method may be adopted.

  As described above, the exhaust device according to the present invention can be applied to a solid polymer fuel cell and a solid oxide fuel cell because it can prevent deterioration of the outer surface of the casing of the equipment to be attached.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Exhaust device 2 Fuel cell device 3 Fuel cell 4 Hydrogen generator 5 Case 6 Combustor 7 Air pump 8 Air supply device 9 Exhaust gas heat exchanger 10 Exhaust duct 11 Drain hose 12 Case exhaust port 13 Main body 14 Upper surface part 15 Lower surface Part 16 side part 17 exhaust port 18 air supply port 19 drain hole 20 burring

Claims (3)

A fuel cell comprising: a fuel cell that generates electricity by an electrochemical reaction between a fuel gas containing hydrogen and an oxidant gas; a hydrogen generator that generates fuel gas containing hydrogen; and a housing that houses the fuel cell and the hydrogen generator An exhaust device for a fuel cell device that is attached to the battery device and exhausts exhaust gas generated from the hydrogen generator to the outside of the housing,
A hollow body having an upper surface portion, a lower surface portion, and a side surface portion, closed at both ends,
An exhaust port is formed on the upper surface of the main body to communicate the main body with the outside.
An air supply port is formed on the side surface of the main body to communicate the housing with the main body.
On the bottom surface inside the main body, a drain hole is formed with a burring projecting toward the inside of the main body.
An exhaust device for a fuel cell device, wherein the upper end of the burring is above the lower end of the air supply port.   The exhaust device according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of drain holes are formed. The exhaust device according to claim 1 or 2,
A fuel cell;
A hydrogen generator,
A fuel cell device comprising a housing that houses a fuel cell and a hydrogen generator,
The hydrogen generating device mixes a combustion gas containing at least one of a raw material gas containing a fuel gas and an oxidant gas and an off-fuel gas discharged from the fuel cell with air and burns the hydrogen generating device. A combustor for heating, and an air supply for supplying air to the combustor,
The exhaust device is attached to the housing so as to communicate with the housing exhaust port,
The exhaust gas combusted in the combustor is discharged to the outside through the exhaust device from the housing exhaust port,
When the exhaust port is closed and the air supply device is controlled at the maximum manipulated variable, exhaust gas generated by complete combustion of the mixed gas containing combustion gas and air in the combustor is discharged to the outside. Therefore, the fuel cell device in which the drain hole functions as a second exhaust port in the exhaust device.

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