JP6462290B2 - Fuel cell module and fuel cell device - Google Patents

Description

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

  In recent years, as a next-generation energy, a fuel cell module in which a fuel cell capable of obtaining electric power using a fuel gas (hydrogen-containing gas) and an oxygen-containing gas (air) is stored in a storage container, or a fuel cell Various fuel cell devices in which a module is housed in an outer case have been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  In such a fuel cell module, a cell stack formed by arranging a plurality of fuel cells is fixed to a manifold that supplies fuel gas to the fuel cells, and the fuel gas to be supplied to the fuel cells is reduced. A cell stack device in which a reformer for generating by steam reforming is disposed is accommodated in a storage container.

Such a reformer is, for example, disposed above the cell stack (for example, see Patent Document 1), or disposed between a plurality of cell stacks (for example, see Patent Document 2). Is known).

JP 2007-59377 A JP 2010-212038 A

  By the way, when the reformer is disposed only above the cell stack as in Patent Document 1, if the fuel cell device is operated at a high fuel utilization rate, the amount of excess fuel gas is increased. There is a problem that the reforming reaction cannot be performed sufficiently.

  Therefore, in the above-mentioned Patent Document 2, it is proposed to dispose a reformer between the cell stacks in addition to the reformer disposed above the cell stack. In the reformer placed between the cell stacks, the fuel gas flows in the standing direction (vertical direction) of the fuel cell, so there is room for improvement in terms of reforming efficiency. There was room for improvement.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a fuel cell module and a fuel cell device that have improved reforming efficiency and thus improved power generation efficiency.

A fuel cell module according to the present invention includes a plurality of fuel cells and a manifold for fixing a lower end of the fuel cells and supplying a fuel gas to the fuel cells in a storage container. And a reformer for reforming the raw fuel to generate fuel gas to be supplied to the fuel cell, the reformer being disposed above the cell stack device, and the fuel cell A first reformer that generates fuel gas to be supplied to the fuel cell, and the fuel cell connected to the first reformer and disposed on a side surface of the cell stack device along the arrangement direction of the fuel cells. e Bei a second reformer for generating a fuel gas supplied to the first reformer and the second reformer channel through the fuel gas along the arrangement direction of the fuel cell with and wherein the first Reformer, characterized in that it is arranged at a position lower than the upper end of the fuel cell.

  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 in an outer case.

  In addition to the first reformer, the fuel cell module of the present invention includes a second reformer having a flow path in which the fuel gas flows along the arrangement direction of the fuel cells, so that the reformer efficiency is improved. As a result, a fuel cell module with improved power generation efficiency can be obtained.

  The fuel cell device of the present invention can be a fuel cell device with improved power generation efficiency.

It is an external appearance perspective view which shows the fuel cell module of this embodiment. It is sectional drawing of the fuel cell module shown in FIG. (A) is a side view which shows an example of the cell stack apparatus of this embodiment, (b) is a top view of the part enclosed with the broken-line frame of (a). (A), (b) is a side view which shows an example of this embodiment schematically and extracts and shows a cell stack apparatus and a reformer. (A), (b) is a side view which shows schematically another example of this embodiment, and extracts and shows a cell stack apparatus and a reformer. It is a disassembled perspective view which shows roughly an example of the fuel cell apparatus of this embodiment.

  1 is an external perspective view showing an example of a fuel cell module (hereinafter sometimes referred to as a module) in which the cell stack device and the reformer of the present embodiment are housed in a housing container. FIG. 2 is a sectional view of FIG. 1. In the following drawings, the same numbers are assigned to the same members.

  In the module 1 shown in FIG. 1, the fuel cell 3 having a gas flow path (not shown) through which the fuel gas flows is erected inside the storage container 2 in the longitudinal direction. The fuel cells 3 arranged in a row are electrically connected in series between the adjacent fuel cells 3 via current collecting members (not shown in FIG. 1), and the lower end of the fuel cells 3 is connected to a glass sealant or the like. A cell stack device 12 having two cell stacks 5 fixed to the manifold 4 with an insulating bonding material (not shown) is housed.

  Further, a first reformer 6 for generating fuel gas to be supplied to the fuel cell 3 is disposed above the cell stack 5 above the cell stack device 12. A second reformer 14 is disposed.

  Further, at both ends of the cell stack 5, conductive members having electric lead portions for collecting and drawing the electricity generated by the power generation of the cell stack 5 (fuel cell 3) to the outside are arranged ( Not shown). Although FIG. 1 shows the case where the cell stack device 12 includes two cell stacks 5, the number can be changed as appropriate. For example, even if only one cell stack 5 is provided. Good.

In FIG. 1, the fuel cell 3 is a hollow plate type having a plurality of gas passages penetrating the inside in the longitudinal direction and through which the fuel gas flows, and a fuel electrode is formed on the surface of the support having the gas passages. 1 illustrates a solid oxide fuel cell 3 in which a layer, a solid electrolyte layer, and an oxygen electrode layer are sequentially laminated. An oxygen-containing gas flows between the fuel cells 3. The configuration of the fuel cell 3 will be described later.

  Moreover, in the module 1 (cell stack apparatus 12) of this embodiment, although the hollow flat plate type fuel cell 3 is illustrated, for example, it can also be made into a flat plate type or a cylindrical type, The shape can also be changed as appropriate.

  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 12 stored inside is taken out rearward. Here, in the module 1 shown in FIG. 1, the cell stack device 12 can be slid and stored in the storage container 2.

  Further, in the first reformer 6 shown in FIG. 1, raw gas such as natural gas, methane gas, and kerosene is supplied to the inside of the first reformer 6 through the raw fuel supply pipe 10 to supply water. Water is supplied through the pipe 13, and steam reforming is performed with the raw fuel and water to generate fuel gas. Therefore, the first reformer 6 has a structure capable of performing steam reforming, which is an efficient reforming reaction, and reforms the vaporizer 7 for vaporizing water and the raw fuel into fuel gas. And a reforming unit 8 in which a reforming catalyst (not shown) is disposed.

  The first reformer 6 is connected to the second reformer 14 via the fuel gas flow pipe 9, and the gas flowing through the first reformer 6 is subsequently supplied to the second reformer 14. Is done. Although not shown in FIG. 1, the second reformer 14 is connected to the manifold 4 through a fuel gas flow pipe, and the fuel gas that has flowed through the second reformer 14 is supplied to the manifold 4. The gas is supplied from the manifold 4 to the gas flow path provided inside the fuel cell 3. Although not shown in the drawings, the reformers of the first reformer 6 and the second reformer are in the form of granules or powder in which a metal such as Ru or Pt is supported on a support made of ceramic balls or pellets. In the form of a reforming catalyst.

  Further, in FIG. 1, an oxygen-containing gas is disposed inside the storage container 2 on the side surface side of the cell stack 5 so that the oxygen-containing gas flows from the lower end portion toward the upper end portion on the side of the fuel cell 3. A gas introduction member 11 is disposed.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the storage container 2 constituting the module 1 has a double structure having an inner wall 15 and an outer wall 16, and an outer frame of the storage container 2 is formed by the outer wall 16, and a cell stack is formed by the inner wall 15. A power generation chamber 17 that houses the device 12 is formed. Further, in the storage container 2, an oxygen-containing gas flow path 22 through which the oxygen-containing gas introduced into the fuel cell 3 flows is provided between the inner wall 15 and the outer wall 16.

  Here, the storage container 2 is provided with an oxygen-containing gas inlet for oxygen-containing gas to flow into the upper end side from the upper part of the storage container 2, and the oxygen-containing gas at the lower end part of the fuel cell 3 at the lower end part. An oxygen-containing gas introduction member 11 provided with an oxygen-containing gas outlet 24 for introducing gas is inserted through the inner wall 15 and fixed.

  In FIG. 2, two oxygen-containing gas introduction members 11 are provided, and each oxygen-containing gas introduction member 11 is positioned on both side surfaces of two cell stacks 5 juxtaposed inside the storage container 2. Although it is arranged, it can be arranged appropriately depending on the number of cell stacks 5.

  Also, in the power generation chamber 17, the temperature in the module 1 is maintained at a high temperature 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. A heat insulating member 18 is provided as appropriate.

  The heat insulating member 18 is preferably disposed in the vicinity of the cell stack 5. In particular, the heat insulating member 18 is disposed on the side surface side of the cell stack 5 along the arrangement direction of the fuel cell 3, and the fuel cell unit on the side surface of the cell stack 5. It is preferable to arrange the heat insulating member 18 having a width equal to or greater than the width along the three arrangement directions. In addition, it is preferable to arrange the heat insulating members 18 on both side surfaces of the cell stack 5. Thereby, it can suppress effectively that the temperature of the cell stack 5 falls. Furthermore, the oxygen-containing gas introduced from the oxygen-containing gas introduction member 11 can be suppressed from being discharged from the side surface side of the cell stack 5, and the flow of the oxygen-containing gas between the fuel cells 3 constituting the cell stack 5. Can be promoted. In the heat insulating members 18 arranged on both side surfaces of the cell stack 5, the flow of the oxygen-containing gas supplied to the fuel cell 3 is adjusted, and the longitudinal direction of the cell stack 5 and the stacking direction of the fuel cell 3 are adjusted. An opening 19 is provided to reduce the temperature distribution at.

  Further, an exhaust gas inner wall 20 is provided inside the inner wall 15 along the arrangement direction of the fuel cells 3, and the exhaust gas in the power generation chamber 17 is located between the inner wall 15 and the exhaust gas inner wall 20 from above. The exhaust gas flow path 23 flows downward. The exhaust gas passage 23 communicates with an exhaust hole 21 provided at the bottom of the storage container 2. A heat insulating member 18 is also provided on the cell stack 5 side of the exhaust gas inner wall 20.

  As a result, the exhaust gas generated during operation of the module 1 (during start-up processing, power generation, and stop processing) flows through the exhaust gas passage 23 and is then exhausted from the exhaust hole 21. The exhaust hole 21 may be formed by cutting out a part of the bottom of the storage container 2, or may be formed by providing a tubular member.

  Although not shown, a thermocouple for measuring the temperature in the vicinity of the cell stack 5 is provided inside the oxygen-containing gas introduction member 11, and the temperature measuring unit is at the center in the longitudinal direction of the fuel cell 3. And it is preferable to arrange | position so that it may be located in the center part in the sequence direction of the fuel cell 3. FIG.

  In the module 1 having the above-described configuration, the fuel gas and the oxygen-containing gas that have not been used for power generation in the fuel battery cell 3 are supplied to the upper end side of the fuel battery cell 3, that is, the fuel battery cell 3 and the first reformer. 6 can be combusted. Thereby, the temperature of the fuel cell 3 can be raised and maintained. In addition, the first reformer 6 disposed above the fuel cell 3 (cell stack 5) can be warmed, and the first reformer 6 can efficiently perform the reforming reaction. During normal power generation, the temperature in the module 1 is about 500 to 800 ° C. with the combustion and power generation of the fuel cell 3.

  3A and 3B show an example of the cell stack device according to the present embodiment, in which FIG. 3A is a side view, and FIG. 3B is a plan view of a portion surrounded by a broken line frame in FIG.

The cell stack device 12 shown in FIG. 3 has a gas flow path 28 inside, and a cross section having a pair of opposed flat surfaces is flat and on one flat surface of a columnar conductive support 27 as a whole. The fuel electrode layer 29 as the inner electrode layer, the solid electrolyte layer 30, and the air electrode layer 31 as the outer electrode layer are sequentially laminated, and the air electrode layer 31 is not formed on the other flat surface. It has a cell stack 5 including a plurality of columnar fuel cells 3 formed by stacking interconnectors 32 at the site. And it arrange | positions through the electrically-conductive member 24 between the adjacent fuel cells 3, and the fuel cells 3 are electrically connected in series. A conductive bonding material 33 is provided on the outer surface of the interconnector 32 and the outer surface of the air electrode layer 31, and the conductive member 24 is connected to the air electrode layer 31 and the interconnector 32 via the bonding material 33. By doing so, the contact between them becomes an ohmic contact, the potential drop is reduced, and the deterioration of the conductive performance can be effectively suppressed.

  The lower end of each fuel cell 3 constituting the cell stack 5 is fixed to the manifold 4 for supplying the reaction gas to the fuel cell 3 through the gas flow path 28 by a sealing material 34 such as glass. .

  Further, the elastically deformable conductive member 25 whose lower end is fixed to the manifold 4 so as to sandwich the cell stack 5 from both ends in the arrangement direction of the fuel cells 3 (X direction shown in FIG. 1) via the conductive member 24. It has. Here, the conductive member 25 shown in FIG. 1 has a shape that extends outward along the arrangement direction of the fuel cells 3 and draws out current generated by the power generation of the cell stack 5 (fuel cells 3). A current drawing unit 26 is provided.

  Below, each member which comprises the fuel cell 3 shown in FIG. 3 is demonstrated.

For example, as the fuel electrode layer 29, generally known ones can be used, and porous conductive ceramics, for example, ZrO ₂ in which a rare earth element is dissolved (referred to as stabilized zirconia, partially stabilized). And Ni and / or NiO.

The solid electrolyte layer 30 has a function as an electrolyte that bridges electrons between the electrodes, and at the same time, it needs to have a gas barrier property in order to prevent leakage between the fuel gas and the oxygen-containing gas. , 3 to 15 mol% of rare earth elements are formed from ZrO ₂ as a solid solution. In addition, as long as it has the said characteristic, you may form using another material etc.

The air electrode layer 31 is not particularly limited as long as it is generally used. For example, the air electrode layer 31 can be formed of a conductive ceramic made of a so-called ABO ₃ type perovskite oxide. The air electrode layer 31 needs to have gas permeability, and the open porosity is preferably 20% or more, particularly preferably in the range of 30 to 50%.

The interconnector 32 can be formed from conductive ceramics, but is required to have reduction resistance and oxidation resistance because it is in contact with a fuel gas (hydrogen-containing gas) and an oxygen-containing gas (air, etc.). Therefore, a lanthanum chromite-based perovskite oxide (LaCrO ₃ -based oxide) is preferably used. The interconnector 32 must be dense to prevent leakage of fuel gas flowing through the plurality of gas flow paths 28 formed in the conductive support 27 and oxygen-containing gas flowing outside the conductive support 27. Preferably, it has a relative density of 93% or more, particularly 95% or more.

The conductive support 27 is required to be gas permeable in order to allow the fuel gas to permeate to the fuel electrode layer 29 and to be conductive in order to collect current through the interconnector 32. . Therefore, as the conductive support 27, it is necessary to adopt a material that satisfies such a requirement as a material, and for example, conductive ceramics, cermet, or the like can be used. In producing the fuel cell 3, when producing the conductive support 27 by simultaneous firing with the fuel electrode layer 29 or the solid electrolyte layer 30, an iron group metal component and a specific rare earth oxide (Y ₂ O ₃ , It is preferable to form the conductive support 27 from Yb ₂ O ₃ or the like. The conductive support 27 preferably has an open porosity of 30% or more, particularly 35 to 50% in order to provide the required gas permeability, and the conductivity is 300 S / cm or more. In particular, it is preferably 440 S / cm or more.

Although not shown, the solid electrolyte layer 30 and the air electrode layer 31 are firmly joined between the solid electrolyte layer 30 and the air electrode layer 31, and the components of the solid electrolyte layer 30 and the air electrode are An intermediate layer may be provided for the purpose of suppressing the reaction of the components of the layer 31 to form a reaction layer having a high electrical resistance.

Here, the intermediate layer can be formed with a composition containing Ce (cerium) and other rare earth elements, for example,
(1): (CeO ₂ ) _1-x (REO _1.5 ) _x
In the formula, RE is at least one of Sm, Y, Yb, and Gd, and x is a number that satisfies 0 <x ≦ 0.3.
It is preferable to have the composition represented by these. Furthermore, from the viewpoint of reducing electrical resistance, it is preferable to use Sm or Gd as RE, for example, it is preferably made of CeO ₂ in which 10 to 20 mol% of SmO _1.5 or GdO _1.5 is dissolved. .

  In addition, the solid electrolyte layer 30 and the air electrode layer 31 are firmly bonded, and the components of the solid electrolyte layer 30 and the components of the air electrode layer 31 react to form a reaction layer having high electrical resistance. For the purpose of suppression, the intermediate layer may be formed of two layers.

  Although not shown, an adhesion layer is provided between the interconnector 32 and the conductive support 27 in order to reduce the difference in thermal expansion coefficient between the interconnector 32 and the conductive support 27. It can also be provided.

The adhesion layer can have a composition similar to that of the fuel electrode layer 29, and is formed of, for example, ZrO ₂ (referred to as stabilized zirconia) in which a rare earth element such as YSZ is dissolved and Ni and / or NiO. can do. Note that the volume ratio of ZrO ₂ in which the rare earth element is dissolved and Ni and / or NiO is preferably in the range of 40:60 to 60:40.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the module 1 of the present embodiment is configured by storing a cell stack device 12, a first reformer 6, and a second reformer 14 inside a storage container 2. Hereinafter, description will be made with reference to FIG.

  4A and 4B are side views schematically showing an example of the cell stack device and the reformer, showing an example of the present embodiment. FIG. 4A shows an example in which the second reformer 14 is arranged at the upper end in the standing direction of the fuel cell 3, and FIG. 4B shows the second reformer 14 in the fuel cell. The example arrange | positioned in the center part in the standing direction of 3 is shown.

  As described above, when the reformer (first reformer 6) is disposed only above the cell stack 5, if the fuel cell apparatus is operated with a high fuel utilization rate, the surplus is caused. There is a problem that the amount of the fuel gas is small and a sufficient reforming reaction cannot be performed.

  Therefore, in the present embodiment, the fuel gas to be supplied to the fuel cell 3 is generated by being connected to the first reformer 6 on the side surface along the arrangement direction of the fuel cell 3 of the cell stack device 12. A second reformer 14 is arranged. In particular, in FIG. 4A, the second reformer 14 is on the upper end side in the standing direction of the fuel cell 3, and in FIG. 4B, the second reformer 14 is on the fuel cell 3. It is arranged on the center side in the standing direction. The second reformer 14 and the manifold 4 are connected by a fuel gas flow pipe 35.

For example, when the combustion heat at the upper end side of the fuel cell 3 is large, in addition to the Joule heat associated with the power generation of the fuel cell 3, the combustion heat is also large. Since the temperature is particularly high, the second reformer 14 is preferably arranged on the upper end side in the standing direction of the fuel cell 3 as shown in FIG. Thereby, the reforming efficiency in the second reformer 14 can be further improved.

  On the other hand, when an operation with a particularly high fuel utilization rate is performed, the combustion heat above the fuel cells 3 is small, and the temperature on the center side in the standing direction of the fuel cells 3 tends to be particularly high. Therefore, in the fuel cell apparatus that performs such an operation, it is preferable that the second reformer 14 be disposed on the center side in the standing direction of the fuel cell 3 as shown in FIG. . Thereby, the reforming efficiency in the second reformer 14 can be further improved.

  In the present invention, the upper end side and the central portion side are obtained by dividing the distance between the upper end of the fuel cell 3 and the upper surface of the manifold 4 (the surface of the sealing material 34) into three equal parts, and the upper １ ／ is the upper end side. The lower 1/3 is taken as the lower end side, and 1/3 located between the upper end side and the lower end side is taken as the center side. The second reformer 14 may be arranged such that at least half of the second reformer 14 is located on the upper end side or the center side, and a part thereof is on the lower end side.

  In the present embodiment, the second reformer 14 includes a flow path in which the fuel gas flows along the arrangement direction of the fuel cells 3, and as shown in FIG. The gas supplied from one end side in the arrangement direction is configured to flow to the other end side.

  In this way, the second reformer 14 is configured such that the fuel gas supplied from one end side in the arrangement direction of the fuel cells 3 flows to the other end side, whereby the heat of the fuel cells 3 is reduced. Therefore, the reforming efficiency in the second reformer 14 can be improved.

  Furthermore, since the 2nd reformer 14 is provided with the flow path which flows along the arrangement direction of the fuel cell 3, the temperature distribution in the arrangement direction of the fuel cell 3 can also be eliminated. Therefore, not only the reforming efficiency but also the power generation efficiency of the fuel cell 3 (cell stack 5) can be improved.

  Note that the length of the second reformer 14 along the arrangement direction of the fuel cells 3 is preferably 70% or more of the length of the cell stack 5.

  Incidentally, when the first reformer 6 and the second reformer 14 perform steam reforming, if the first reformer 6 has a vaporization part for vaporizing water, The reformer 14 does not need to be provided with a vaporization section, and FIG. 4 shows a configuration in which the second reformer 14 does not have a vaporization section.

  FIGS. 5A and 5B show another example of the present embodiment, and are side views schematically showing the cell stack device and the reformer. In this embodiment, as the second reformer 14, a third reformer 36 disposed on the upper end side in the standing direction of the fuel cell 3 and a central part side in the standing direction of the fuel cell 3. The example provided with the 4th reformer 37 arrange | positioned is shown.

  In the present embodiment, the second reformer 14 is disposed on the upper side in the standing direction of the fuel cell 3 and on the central side in the standing direction of the fuel cell 3. By providing two with the 4th reformer 37 arrange | positioned, reforming efficiency can be improved more and by extension power generation efficiency can be improved.

In this case, for example, when the combustion heat at the upper end side of the fuel battery cell 3 is large, as shown in FIG. 5A, each reformer has the fuel that has flowed through the first reformer 6. Each reformer can be connected to each of the fuel gas flow pipes 9, 35, and 38 so that the gas flows through the fourth reformer 37 after flowing through the third reformer 36. . In this configuration, the first
Since the fuel gas that has flowed through the reformer 6 flows first to the third reformer 36 disposed on the upper end side of the fuel cell 3 having a particularly high temperature in the second reformer 14, the efficiency is increased. The reforming reaction can be performed well and the reforming efficiency can be improved.

  On the other hand, when an operation with a particularly high fuel utilization rate is performed, the combustion heat above the fuel cells 3 is small, and the temperature on the center side in the standing direction of the fuel cells 3 tends to be particularly high. Therefore, in the fuel cell device that performs such an operation, as shown in FIG. 5B, each reformer has the fuel gas that has flowed through the first reformer 6, and the fourth reformer. Each reformer can be connected to each of the fuel gas flow pipes 9, 35, and 38 so as to flow through the third reformer 36 after flowing through 37. In this configuration, the fuel gas that has flowed through the first reformer 6 is transferred to the fourth reformer 37 disposed on the center side of the fuel cell 3 having a particularly high temperature in the second reformer 14. Since it flows first, the reforming reaction can be performed efficiently, and the reforming efficiency can be improved.

  By the way, when performing steam reforming, which is a reforming reaction, in each reformer, it can be configured such that the reforming reaction becomes highest at the part where the temperature becomes highest in improving the reforming efficiency.

  Therefore, for example, in each of the reformers described above, the reforming reaction possible amount may be different depending on the configuration of the fuel cell device.

  For example, when the combustion heat on the upper end side of the fuel cell 3 is large, the first reformer 6 receives the most heat from the combustion heat, so the amount of reforming reaction possible in the first reformer 6 is It can be made larger than the second reformer 14.

  On the other hand, when an operation with a particularly high fuel utilization rate is performed, the heat of combustion above the fuel cell 3 is small, and the temperature on the central side in the standing direction of the fuel cell 3 tends to be particularly high. Therefore, the reforming reaction possible amount in the second reformer 14 (fourth reformer 37) arranged on the center side in the standing direction of the fuel cell 3 is made larger than that of the other reformers. Can do.

  Accordingly, by increasing the reforming amount in the reformer in which the reforming reaction is performed most, the reforming efficiency can be further improved, and the power generation efficiency can be improved.

  As described above, when the amount of the reforming reaction is different, for example, when the same reforming catalyst is filled in the first reformer 6 and the second reformer 14, the filling amount of the reforming catalyst to be filled is changed. By making it different, the amount of reforming reaction can be made different.

  Further, for example, the reforming catalyst charged in the first reformer 6 and the second reformer 14 may be different. Specifically, in the above example, the amount of metal carried by the carrier, the type of metal, and the metal particle diameter are varied, and the spherical diameter and porosity of the ceramic ball as the carrier, The shape may be different.

  In the case of the configuration in which the temperature is highest in the second reformer 14 (third reformer 36) disposed on the upper end side in the standing direction of the fuel cell 3, adjustment is performed in the same manner as described above. do it. As an example of this, for example, in a fuel cell device operated with a particularly high fuel utilization rate, a fuel cell having a configuration in which the current extraction unit 26 is provided on the upper end side of the fuel cell 3 in the cell stack device 12. Apparatus.

Incidentally, whether or not the reforming reaction amount in each reformer is different can be determined by confirming the type and size of the catalyst contained in the reformer and further their amount. Also,
It can also be determined by measuring the outlet temperature of each reformer.

  FIG. 6 shows an example of the fuel cell device of the present embodiment in which the fuel cell module 1 shown in FIG. 1 and an auxiliary machine (not shown) for operating the fuel cell module 1 are housed in an outer case. FIG. In FIG. 6, a part of the configuration is omitted.

  The fuel cell device 39 shown in FIG. 6 divides the inside of an outer case composed of a column 40 and an outer plate 41 into upper and lower portions by a partition plate 42, and a module storage chamber 43 for storing the above-described fuel cell module 1 on the upper side. The lower side is configured as an auxiliary equipment storage chamber 44 for storing auxiliary equipment for operating the fuel cell module 1. In addition, the auxiliary machine stored in the auxiliary machine storage chamber 44 is omitted.

  In addition, the partition plate 42 is provided with an air circulation port 45 for allowing the air in the auxiliary machine storage chamber 44 to flow to the module storage chamber 43 side, and a part of the exterior plate 41 constituting the module storage chamber 43 An exhaust port 46 for exhausting air in the module storage chamber 43 is provided.

  In such a fuel cell device 39, as described above, an auxiliary machine for operating the fuel cell module 1 by storing the fuel cell module 1 with improved reforming efficiency and consequently power generation efficiency in the module storage chamber 43. By being stored in the auxiliary machine storage chamber 44, the fuel cell device 39 with improved power generation efficiency can be obtained.

  Although the present invention has been described in detail above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications and improvements can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

  In the above-described example, the fuel cell 3 called a vertical stripe type has been described. However, a horizontal stripe type fuel cell in which a plurality of power generation element portions generally called a horizontal stripe type are provided on a support can also be used.

  In the above example, the cell stack device 12 in which two cell stacks 5 are arranged has been described. For example, a large-scale apparatus having a cell stack device in which three or more cell stacks 5 are arranged in the manifold 4 is provided. Even in a fuel cell device for power generation and a fuel cell device for large-scale power generation in which a plurality of cell stack devices 12 are arranged, a fuel with improved power generation efficiency can be obtained by appropriately arranging the reformer of this embodiment. A battery device can be obtained.

1: Fuel cell module 2: Storage container 3: Fuel cell 4: Manifold 5: Cell stack 6: First reformer 12: Cell stack device 14: Second reformer 36: Third reformer 37: First 4 reformer 39: fuel cell device

Claims (8)

A cell stack device including a plurality of fuel cells, a lower end of the fuel cells, and a manifold for supplying fuel gas to the fuel cells, and reforming the raw fuel. And a reformer for generating fuel gas to be supplied to the fuel cell, and the reformer is disposed above the cell stack device and generates fuel gas to be supplied to the fuel cell. A first reformer, connected to the first reformer, disposed on a side surface of the cell stack device along the arrangement direction of the fuel cells, and generates fuel gas to be supplied to the fuel cells. e Bei a second reformer, the first reformer and the second reformer, together with the fuel gas is provided with a flow passage flowing along the arrangement direction of the fuel cell, the first 2 reformer is the fuel cell Fuel cell module, characterized by being arranged lower than the end position.   2. The fuel cell according to claim 1, wherein the second reformer is disposed on at least one of an upper end side of the fuel battery cell and a central side in a standing direction of the fuel battery cell. module.   Each of the fuel gas distribution pipe connecting the first reformer and the second reformer and the fuel gas distribution pipe connecting the second reformer and the manifold are the fuel cells in the cell stack. The fuel cell module according to claim 1, wherein the fuel cell module is located outside the cell arrangement direction.   The second reformer includes a third reformer disposed on the upper end side of the fuel battery cell, and a fourth reformer disposed on the center side in the standing direction of the fuel battery cell. The third reformer and the fourth reformer are disposed so as to be spaced apart from each other in the standing direction of the fuel cell. A fuel cell module according to claim 1.   The first reformer and the fourth reformer are connected, the fourth reformer and the third reformer are connected, and the third reformer and the manifold are connected. The fuel cell module according to claim 4.   4. The reformer according to claim 1, wherein the reformer performs steam reforming, and the first reformer and the second reformer have different reforming reaction possible amounts. 5. The fuel cell module according to any one of the above.   The reformer performs steam reforming, and at least one of the first reformer, the third reformer, and the fourth reformer is compared with other reformers. 6. The fuel cell module according to claim 4, wherein the reforming reaction possible amounts are different.   A fuel cell device comprising: a fuel cell module according to any one of claims 1 to 7; and an auxiliary device for operating the fuel cell module.

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