JP6100574B2 - Fuel cell module and fuel cell device - Google Patents

Description

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

  In recent years, as a next-generation energy, a fuel cell module in which a fuel cell capable of obtaining electric power using a hydrogen-containing gas and air (oxygen-containing gas) is fixed to a manifold, and is stored in a storage container. Various proposals have been made.

  As such a fuel cell module, for example, a cell stack in which a plurality of fuel cells are arranged in parallel in a power generation chamber provided in a rectangular parallelepiped storage container and electrically connected in series and fixed to a manifold. Is known (for example, see Patent Document 1).

  By the way, although heat is generated in the cell stack with power generation, since the heat generated by the power generation is radiated from the cell stack, a heat insulating member is disposed so as to sandwich the cell stack in order to suppress the heat dissipation.

JP 2007-59377 A

  However, particularly in a cell stack in which a plurality of fuel cells are arranged in parallel and electrically connected in series, the fuel cells located at both ends in the arrangement direction of the fuel cells constituting the cell stack easily dissipate heat. However, since the fuel cell located in the center of the fuel cell array direction is difficult to dissipate, the temperature of the center of the cell stack as a whole is high and the temperature at both ends is low, resulting in an uneven temperature distribution. .

  In addition, since the heat moves from below to above and tends to stay in the upper part, the upper end of the fuel cell tends to be hotter than the lower end, resulting in uneven temperature distribution above and below the fuel cell. It was.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a fuel cell module capable of making the temperature distribution of a cell stack close to uniform and a fuel cell device including the same.

  The fuel cell module of the present invention comprises a cell stack in which a plurality of columnar fuel cells are erected, and a heat insulating member arranged in parallel on the side surface side of the cell stack along the arrangement direction of the fuel cells. The heat insulating member is housed in a storage container, and the heat insulating member is opposed to a central heat insulating portion facing the central portion of the cell stack in the arrangement direction of the fuel cells, and both ends of the cell stack in the arrangement direction. The both-ends side heat insulation part which has a heat conductivity lower than the said center part side heat insulation part is characterized by the above-mentioned.

  The fuel cell device of the present invention is characterized in that the above-described fuel cell module is housed in an outer case.

  In the fuel cell module of the present invention, the heat insulating member includes a center-side heat insulating portion facing the center portion of the cell stack in the arrangement direction of the fuel cells, and a center-side heat insulating portion facing both ends of the cell stack in the arrangement direction. Since both end side heat insulating parts having lower thermal conductivity than the part are provided, the temperature distribution of the entire cell stack in the arrangement direction of the fuel cells can be made closer to the uniform.

  In the fuel cell module of the present invention, the heat insulating member includes an upper end side heat insulating portion facing the upper end portion of the cell stack, and a lower end portion facing the lower end portion of the cell stack and having lower thermal conductivity than the upper end side heat insulating portion. Since the side heat insulating portion is provided, the temperature distribution in the length direction of the fuel cell can be made close to uniform.

  In the fuel cell module of the present invention, the heat insulating member is provided on the cell stack side of the metal plate, the outer heat insulating portion facing the side surface of the cell stack, the metal plate provided on the cell stack side of the outer heat insulating portion, and the metal plate. And the upper end and the lower end of the metal plate are exposed so as to face the upper and lower ends of the cell stack. The distribution can be made uniform.

  Therefore, since the fuel cell device of the present invention includes the fuel cell module that can make the temperature distribution of the cell stack close to uniform, a highly reliable fuel cell device can be provided.

It is an external appearance perspective view which shows one form of a fuel cell module. It is sectional drawing which shows a fuel cell module. (A) is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a cell stack device, (b) is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a heat insulating member using heat insulating portions having different thermal conductivities at the center and both sides in the arrangement direction of the fuel cells, and (c) is It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the state which has arrange | positioned the heat insulation member of (b) to the side of a cell stack. (A) is a vertical cross-sectional view of the cell stack device, (b) is a vertical cross-sectional view of a heat insulating member using heat insulating portions having different thermal conductivity in the upper and lower sides, and (c) is a heat insulating of (b) on the side of the cell stack. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the state which has arrange | positioned the member. (A) is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the cell stack device, (b) is a heat insulating part having a different thermal conductivity at the center and both sides in the arrangement direction of the fuel cells, and a heat insulating part having a low thermal conductivity at the lower end. The longitudinal cross-sectional view of the used heat insulation member, (c) is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing a state in which the heat insulation member (b) is arranged on the side of the cell stack. It is sectional drawing which shows the fuel cell module using the heat insulation member comprised by accumulating an outer side heat insulation part, a metal plate, and an inner side heat insulation part. (A) is a longitudinal sectional view of the cell stack device, (b) is a longitudinal sectional view showing a state in which the heat insulating member of FIG. 6 is arranged on the side of the cell stack, and (c) is an inner heat insulating portion of the heat insulating member of FIG. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the state which has arrange | positioned the heat insulation member using the heat insulation part with low heat conductivity on the both sides of the side of a cell stack. (A) is a longitudinal sectional view of the cell stack device, (b) is a longitudinal sectional view showing a state in which a heat insulating member having a trapezoidal shape with a narrow upper end side is arranged on the side of the cell stack in FIG. 7 (c). FIG. It is a perspective view which shows a fuel cell apparatus.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is an external perspective view showing one embodiment of a fuel cell module (hereinafter sometimes referred to as a module) of the present invention. In addition, the same code | symbol shall be provided about the same component in a different figure.

  The module 1 is arranged in a state where a fuel cell 3 having a gas flow path through which gas flows is erected in a rectangular parallelepiped storage container 2, and a current collecting member between adjacent fuel cells 3 A cell stack 5 which is electrically connected in series via (not shown) and the lower end portion of the fuel cell 3 is fixed to the manifold 4 with an insulating bonding material (not shown) such as a glass sealing material. It is configured to store. In FIG. 1, the fuel cell 3 is a hollow plate type in which fuel gas flows through a gas flow path provided in the longitudinal direction inside the fuel cell 3, and a fuel-side electrode, a solid is formed on the surface of the support substrate. A solid oxide fuel cell 3 in which an electrolyte and an oxygen side electrode are sequentially provided is illustrated.

  Further, in order to obtain a hydrogen-containing gas used in the fuel cell 3, a U-shaped reformer 6 for reforming a fuel such as natural gas or kerosene to generate a fuel gas (hydrogen-containing gas). Is arranged above the cell stack 5. The fuel gas generated by the reformer 6 is supplied to the manifold 4 through the gas flow pipe 7 and supplied to the gas flow path provided inside the fuel battery cell 3 via the manifold 4. Thereby, the cell stack apparatus 8 is configured. Excess fuel gas that is supplied to the gas flow path of the fuel cell 3 and is not used for power generation is released above the fuel cell 3. Excess fuel gas can react with the oxygen-containing gas (air) supplied to the outside of the fuel cell 3 and burn.

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

  FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the module 1. The storage container 2 constituting the module 1 has a double structure having an inner wall 9 and an outer wall 10, and an outer frame of the storage container 2 is formed by the outer wall 10, and the cell stack 5 (cell stack device 8) is formed by the inner wall 9. A power generation chamber 11 for storage is formed.

  Further, in the module 1, a reaction gas flow path introduced into the fuel cell 3 is formed between the inner wall 9 and the outer wall 10, and for example, a reaction gas such as an oxygen-containing gas introduced into the fuel cell 3 flows. Between the inner wall 9 and the outer wall 10 located on the side surface of the module 1, a plurality of partition members (not shown) for partitioning a part of the reaction gas flow path are disposed, and the reaction gas flows in a zigzag manner, It is comprised so that the heat exchange efficiency with may be improved.

  Here, the inner wall 9 extends from the upper surface of the inner wall 9 to the side of the side surface of the cell stack 5, and corresponds to the length in the arrangement direction x of the fuel cells 3 constituting the cell stack 5. And a reaction gas introduction member 12 for introducing a reaction gas (oxygen-containing gas) into the cell stack 5. Further, on the lower end side of the reaction gas introduction member 12 (lower end portion side of the fuel cell 3), an outlet 13 for introducing the reaction gas into the fuel cell 3 is provided.

  In FIG. 2, the reaction gas introduction member 12 is formed by forming a reaction gas introduction flow path by a pair of plate members arranged in parallel at a predetermined interval and joining a bottom member to the lower end portion. In FIG. 2, the reactive gas introduction member 12 is disposed so as to be positioned between two cell stacks 5 (cell stack device 8) juxtaposed inside the storage container 2. Note that the reaction gas introduction member 12 may be arranged so that, for example, the cell stack 5 is sandwiched between two reaction gas introduction members 12 depending on the number of cell stacks 5 accommodated.

  And the temperature sensor 14 is inserted from the upper surface side of the storage container 2 so that the temperature measuring part 15 of the temperature sensor 14 is located inside the reaction gas introduction member 12. As the temperature sensor 14, for example, a thermocouple can be used.

  Here, since the fuel battery cell 3 is operated in a predetermined temperature range, it is necessary to measure the temperature in the power generation chamber 11 (preferably the cell stack 5 or the vicinity thereof) and perform temperature management thereof. In particular, when the fuel cell 3 is a solid oxide fuel cell 3, its operating temperature is very high, and if the temperature of the fuel cell 3 (cell stack 5) rises excessively, the amount of power generation decreases. Furthermore, since there is a possibility that the fuel cell 3 (cell stack 5) may be damaged due to deterioration or thermal stress, it is particularly necessary to effectively measure the temperature in the vicinity of the cell stack 5 and to manage the temperature. It becomes. Therefore, the temperature sensor 14 has the temperature measuring unit 15 at the central part side where the temperature of the cell stack 5 is the highest (the central part in the arrangement direction x of the fuel cells 3 constituting the cell stack 5 and the fuel cell 3 It is preferable to arrange so as to be able to measure a portion located in the central portion in the length (up and down) direction y of.

  Further, in the power generation chamber 11, the temperature in the module 1 is prevented so that the heat in the module 1 is extremely dissipated and the temperature of the fuel cell 3 (cell stack 5) is lowered and the power generation amount is not reduced. The heat insulating member 16 for maintaining the temperature at a high temperature is appropriately provided. In addition, as the heat insulation member 16, what is insulating and has a heat insulation effect can be used.

  Here, in order to maintain the temperature of the fuel cell 3 (cell stack 5) at a high temperature, it is preferable to dispose the heat insulating member 16 in the vicinity of the cell stack 5, particularly along the arrangement direction x of the fuel cells 3. It is preferable that the heat insulating members 16 having a size equal to or larger than the outer shape of the side surface of the cell stack 5 are provided side by side. A module may be configured by storing one cell stack 5 in the storage container 2. In this case, it is preferable to arrange the heat insulating members 16 in parallel on both side surfaces of the cell stack 5. Thereby, it can suppress effectively that the temperature of the cell stack 5 falls.

  Further, by providing a heat insulating member 16 having a size equal to or larger than the outer shape of the side surface of the cell stack 5 on the side surface side of the cell stack 5, the gas supplied from the reaction gas introduction member 12 is allowed to flow. It is possible to suppress the discharge from the side surface side of the fuel cell, and to promote the flow of the reaction gas on the outer periphery of the fuel cell 3 constituting the cell stack 5.

Further, the exhaust gas is exhausted by the exhaust gas inner wall 17 provided at a predetermined interval with respect to the bottom surface (internal bottom surface) formed by the inner wall 9 and the side surface (internal side surface) formed along the arrangement direction x of the fuel cells 3. A flow path is formed, and an exhaust hole 18 provided at the bottom of the storage container 2 communicates with an exhaust gas flow path. A plurality of partition members (not shown) are provided in the exhaust gas flow channel located on the side surface of the module 1 so as to partition a part of the exhaust gas flow channel, and the exhaust gas flows in a zigzag manner to generate heat with the oxygen-containing gas. It is configured to increase exchange efficiency.

  As a result, the exhaust gas generated with the operation of the module 1 (during start-up processing, power generation, and stop processing) flows through the exhaust gas passage and is then exhausted from the exhaust hole 18.

  The exhaust hole 18 may be formed by cutting out a part of the bottom (bottom surface) of the storage container 2 or may be formed by providing a tubular member. Reference numeral 25 denotes a heat insulating member disposed on the bottom surface of the cell stack 5.

  Here, in the cell stack 5, the fuel cells 3 arranged at both ends in the arrangement direction x of the fuel cells 3 constituting the cell stack 5 easily dissipate heat, and the arrangement of the fuel cells 3 constituting the cell stack 5. The fuel cell 3 arranged at the center in the direction x is difficult to dissipate heat. Therefore, the cell stack 5 as a whole may have a non-uniform temperature distribution in which the temperature at the center is high and the temperature at both ends is low.

  Then, if a non-uniform temperature distribution occurs in the cell stack 5, the flow of gas (fuel gas or the like) supplied to the fuel cell 3 may vary, and the power generation amount of the cell stack 5 may be reduced.

  Therefore, as a result of intensive studies by the present inventors, the heat insulating member 16 includes a center-side heat insulating portion 16a facing the center of the cell stack 5 in the arrangement direction x of the fuel cells 3 and a cell stack in the arrangement direction x. 5 and opposite end portions of the fuel cell 3 of the cell stack 5 in the arrangement direction x. It has been found that the temperature distribution can be made uniform.

  3A is a longitudinal sectional view showing the cell stack device 8 shown in FIG. 2, FIG. 3B is a longitudinal sectional view showing the heat insulating member 16, and FIG. 3C is a cell of FIG. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the state which has arrange | positioned the heat insulation member 16 of (b) to the side of the stack apparatus 8. FIG.

  In FIG. 3B, the heat insulating member 16 arranged in parallel on the side surface side of the cell stack 5 along the arrangement direction x of the fuel cells 3 faces the central portion of the cell stack 5 in the arrangement direction x of the fuel cells 3. Center-side heat insulating portion 16a, and both end-side heat insulating portions 16b facing both end portions of the cell stack 5 in the arrangement direction x and having lower thermal conductivity than the central-side heat insulating portion 16a. Yes. In other words, the heat insulating member 16 is configured by connecting the both end side heat insulating portions 16b to both sides of the central portion side heat insulating portion 16a.

  The center side heat insulating portion 16a is made of a heat insulating material that is generally used, and is made of, for example, an alumina-based material, a silica-based material, or an alumina silica-based material. The both end side heat insulating part 16b can use a heat insulating material having a low thermal conductivity made of, for example, ultrafine powder such as silica or alumina, and the both end side heat insulating part 16b is heated more than the central part side heat insulating part 16a. Any material having low conductivity may be used. Whether the thermal conductivity is high or low can be confirmed by measuring the thermal conductivity, but it can also be confirmed by comparing the sizes of the particles constituting the heat insulating portion.

  The central portion side heat insulating portion 16a is made of, for example, a heat insulating material of a commonly used alumina silica-based material, and the both end portion side heat insulating portions 16b are the same alumina silica-based material as the powder constituting the central portion side heat insulating portion 16a. However, it may be finer than the powder constituting the central heat insulating part 16a.

  The heat insulating member 16 is formed in a plate shape by disposing two plate-like both end side heat insulating portions 16b at both ends of one plate-like central portion side heat insulating portion 16a in the arrangement direction x of the fuel cells 3. It is desirable to be configured. It is not always necessary to connect one central heat insulating part 16a and two heat insulating parts 16b on both ends. Moreover, between the center part side heat insulation part 16a and the both-ends side heat insulation part 16b, the intermediate heat insulation part which has both thermal conductivity in the middle can also be provided. Furthermore, heat insulation can be improved by making the thickness of the both end side heat insulation part 16b thicker than the thickness of the center part side heat insulation part 16a.

  In the fuel cell module 1 configured as described above, the heat insulating member 16 includes the center-side heat insulating portion 16a facing the central portion of the cell stack 5 in the arrangement direction x of the fuel cells 3 and the cell stack in the arrangement direction x. 5, both end portions in the arrangement direction x of the fuel cells 3 of the cell stack 5, since both end side heat insulating portions 16b having lower thermal conductivity than the center side heat insulating portion 16a are provided. Heat from the both ends is prevented by the both end side heat insulating portions 16b, and the temperature at both ends in the arrangement direction x of the fuel cells 3 of the cell stack 5 can be increased to approach the temperature at the center portion, so that the entire cell stack 5 As a result, the temperature distribution in the arrangement direction x can be made uniform. Thereby, the fall of the electric power generation amount of the cell stack 5 can be suppressed.

  FIG. 4 shows another embodiment. In the cell stack 5, the heat moves upward from the lower side and tends to stay in the upper part, and surplus fuel gas burns above the cell stack 5, and further contains oxygen at a relatively lower temperature than the reaction gas introduction member 12. Since gas is supplied to the lower end portion of the cell stack 5, the upper end portion in the length direction y of the fuel cell 3 tends to be high temperature and the lower end portion tends to be low temperature.

  Therefore, in FIG. 4, the heat insulating member 20 is opposed to the upper end side heat insulating portion 20a facing the upper end portion of the cell stack 5 and the lower end portion of the cell stack 5, and has a thermal conductivity higher than that of the upper end side heat insulating portion 20a. The lower lower end side heat insulating portion 20b is provided.

  In other words, the heat insulating member 20 is configured as a single piece by connecting the lower end side heat insulating portion 20b to the lower side of the upper end side heat insulating portion 20a. Note that it is not always necessary to use one sheet. Moreover, the intermediate heat insulation part which has thermal conductivity between both can also be provided between the upper end part heat insulation part 20a and the lower end part heat insulation part 20b. Furthermore, heat insulation can be improved by making the thickness of the lower end part heat insulation part 20b thicker than the thickness of the upper end part heat insulation part 20a.

  The upper end side heat insulating portion 20a is made of a generally used heat insulating material, and is made of, for example, an alumina-based material, a silica-based material, or an alumina silica-based material. For the lower end side heat insulating part 20b, for example, a heat insulating material having a low thermal conductivity made of ultrafine powder such as silica or alumina can be used, and the lower end side heat insulating part 20b is more heated than the upper end side heat insulating part 20a. Any material having low conductivity may be used. Further, the upper end side heat insulating part 20a is made of, for example, a heat insulating material of a commonly used alumina silica-based material, and the lower end side heat insulating part 20b is the same alumina silica as the powder constituting the upper end side heat insulating part 20a. The material may be finer than the powder constituting the upper end side heat insulating portion 20a.

  In the fuel cell module configured as described above, the heat insulating member 20 includes the upper end side heat insulating portion 20a facing the upper end portion of the cell stack 5 and the lower end portion of the cell stack 5, and the upper end side heat insulating portion 20a. The lower end side heat insulating part 20b having a lower thermal conductivity than the lower end part of the cell stack 5 is prevented from radiating heat from the lower end side heat insulating part 20b, and the temperature of the lower end part of the cell stack 5 is reduced. By increasing the temperature, it is possible to approach the temperature at the upper end portion, and the temperature distribution in the vertical direction of the cell stack 5 as a whole can be made closer to the uniform. Thereby, the fall of the electric power generation amount of the cell stack 5 can be suppressed.

  FIG. 5 shows still another embodiment. In this embodiment, the heat insulating member 20 is opposed to the upper end portion of the cell stack 5 and the central portion side heat insulating portion 22a facing the central portion of the cell stack 5 in the arrangement direction x of the fuel cells 3; A lower end side heat insulating part 22b facing the lower end part and having a lower thermal conductivity than the central part side heat insulating part 22a, and located at both ends in the arrangement direction x of the central part side heat insulating part 22a, and the central part side heat insulating part It is comprised by the both-ends side heat insulation part 22c whose heat conductivity is lower than 22a.

  The center side heat insulating part 22a, the lower end side heat insulating part 22b, and the both end side heat insulating parts 22c constitute one heat insulating member.

  In such a fuel cell module, heat radiation from the lower end portion of the cell stack 5 is hindered by the lower end side heat insulating portion 220b, and the temperature at the lower end portion of the cell stack 5 can be increased to approach the temperature at the upper end portion. At the same time, heat dissipation from both ends of the cell stack 5 in the arrangement direction x of the fuel cells 3 is hindered by the both end side heat insulating portions 22c, and the temperature at both ends of the cell stack 5 in the arrangement direction x of the fuel cells 3 is increased. Thus, the temperature in the central portion can be brought close to, and the temperature distribution of the entire cell stack 5 can be made close to uniform.

  FIG. 6 shows still another embodiment. In this embodiment, the heat insulating member 23 is provided on the outer side heat insulating portion 23a facing the side surface of the cell stack 5 and on the cell stack 5 side of the outer heat insulating portion 23a. The metal plate 23b and an inner heat insulating portion 23c provided on the cell stack 5 side of the metal plate 23b are provided, and the upper end portion and the lower end portion of the metal plate 23b are the upper end portion and the lower end portion of the cell stack 5. Are exposed to face each other.

  That is, as shown in FIG. 7B, a metal plate 23b having a length in the length direction y shorter than that of the outer heat insulating portion 23a is arranged on the cell stack 5 side of the outer heat insulating portion 23a. On the cell stack 5 side, an inner heat insulating portion 23c having a length in the length direction y shorter than that of the metal plate 23b is disposed, and the upper end portion and the lower end portion of the metal plate 23b are arranged on the upper end portion and the lower end portion of the cell stack 5, respectively. The heat insulating members 23 are configured to be exposed to face each other.

  In such a fuel cell module 1, heat dissipation from the upper end of the cell stack 5 is conducted to the lower end through the exposed upper end of the metal plate 23b, and from the exposed lower end of the metal plate 23b, Heat is dissipated to the lower end portion, and the temperature of the lower end portion of the cell stack 5 can be increased to approach the temperature at the upper end portion, so that the temperature distribution in the vertical direction of the entire cell stack 5 can be made closer to the uniform.

  In addition, as shown in FIG.7 (c), the both-ends side heat insulation part 23d whose heat conductivity is lower than the inner heat insulation part 23c is provided in the both ends in the arrangement direction x of the fuel cell 3 of the inner heat insulation part 23c. Accordingly, heat dissipation from both end portions in the arrangement direction x of the fuel cells 3 of the cell stack 5 is hindered by the both end side heat insulating portions 23d, and as described above, the temperature distribution in the vertical direction of the entire cell stack 5 is made uniform. While being able to approach, the temperature of the both ends in the arrangement direction x of the fuel cell 3 of the cell stack 5 can be made high, and it can approach the temperature in a center part.

FIG. 8 shows still another embodiment. In this embodiment, the metal plate 23b in FIG. 7C has a trapezoidal shape with a narrow upper end side. In such a heat insulating member 23, the heat of the upper end portion of the cell stack 5 and the central portion (the portion having the highest temperature) in the arrangement direction x is transferred to the lower end portion of the cell stack 5 via the metal plate 23b, and As described above, the temperature distribution in the vertical direction of the cell stack 5 as a whole can be made uniform and the arrangement of the fuel cells 3 of the cell stack 5 can be made uniform. The temperature at both ends in the direction x can be increased to approach the temperature at the center.

  The shape of the fuel cell 3 may be any of a flat plate type, a cylindrical type, a hollow flat plate type, and the like. In order to efficiently generate power in the fuel cell 3 (cell stack 5), it is preferable to use a hollow plate type fuel cell.

  Then, by storing the module as described above in the outer case, the temperature distribution of the entire cell stack can be made close to uniform, and a fuel cell device with improved power generation efficiency can be obtained.

  In addition, by making the fuel cell 3 a solid oxide fuel cell, in addition to the module, auxiliary equipment necessary for the operation of the fuel cell can be reduced, and the fuel cell device can be reduced in size. Can do. Further, it is possible to perform a load following operation that follows a fluctuating load required for a household fuel cell.

  FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view showing an example of a fuel cell device in which the fuel cell module 1 shown in FIG. 2 and an auxiliary machine for operating the fuel cell stack device 8 are housed in an outer case. . In FIG. 9, a part of the configuration is omitted.

  The fuel cell apparatus shown in FIG. 9 has a module housing chamber 27 in which an interior case composed of a support column 24 and an exterior plate 25 is vertically divided by a partition plate 26 and the upper side thereof accommodates the above-described fuel cell module 1. The lower side is configured as an auxiliary equipment storage chamber 28 for storing auxiliary equipment for operating the fuel cell module 1. In addition, auxiliary machines stored in the auxiliary machine storage chamber 28 are not shown.

  In addition, the partition plate 26 is provided with an air circulation port 29 for flowing the air in the auxiliary machine storage chamber 28 to the module storage chamber 27 side, and a part of the exterior plate 25 constituting the module storage chamber 27 An exhaust port 30 for exhausting the air in the module storage chamber 27 is provided.

  In such a fuel cell device, as described above, it is possible to reduce the size of the fuel cell device and improve long-term reliability.

Although the present invention has been described in detail above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various changes, improvements, and the like can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. When the fuel cell is provided with an oxygen-side electrode, a solid electrolyte, and a fuel-side electrode in this order on the surface of the support substrate, an oxygen-containing gas is circulated through the gas flow path provided inside the fuel cell, and the reaction gas Fuel gas can also be introduced from the introduction member. Further, the shape of the fuel cell is not limited to the hollow plate type.

1: fuel cell module 2: storage container 3: fuel cell 5: cell stack 16, 20, 22, 23: heat insulating member 16a: heat insulating member body 16b: columnar heat insulator 20a: upper end side heat insulating portion 20b: lower end side Heat insulation part 22a: Central part side heat insulation part 22b: Lower end part side heat insulation part 22c: Both end part side heat insulation part 23a: Outer heat insulation part 23b: Metal plate 23c: Inner heat insulation part 23d: Both end side heat insulation part

Claims (2)

  A cell stack in which a plurality of columnar fuel cells are erected and a heat insulating member arranged in parallel on the side surface of the cell stack along the arrangement direction of the fuel cells are housed in a storage container. The heat insulating member is opposed to a central portion side heat insulating portion facing the central portion of the cell stack in the arrangement direction of the fuel cells, and opposed to both end portions of the cell stack in the arranging direction, from the central portion side heat insulating portion. A fuel cell module comprising a both-side heat insulating portion having a low thermal conductivity. A fuel cell device comprising the fuel cell module according to claim 1 housed in an outer case.

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