JPH0475263A - Package type fuel cell power generating unit - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To retain differential pressure from package room on the upstream side to a package chamber on the downstream side to fresh air by ventilating and cooling a fuel cell portion using air exhausted from the package on the upstream side. CONSTITUTION:A power changing portion 8 is ventilated and cooled by room temperature air fed into a package room 20A on the upstream side by a ventilating fan 3 and then a fuel cell portion 6 is cooled and ventilated by air fed into a package room 20B on the downstream side via a connecting duct 20C and the temperature-raised cooling air is exhausted from an exhaust port 9 to the outside. The inside of the package room 20A on the upstream side is maintained at an atmospheric pressure higher than the outside atmospheric pressure by the pressure of the bloom air by the ventilating fan 3 and also the inside of the package room 20B on the downstream side is maintained at pressure between the atmospheric pressure inside the package room on the upstream and the outside atmospheric pressure.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Minute Hand] This invention relates to a packaged fuel cell power generation device used as a mobile power supply device or an on-site power supply device, and especially to ventilation of a device housed in a package. Regarding cooling structure.

[Conventional technology]

In general, a fuel cell power generation device uses a fuel reformer to reform raw fuel such as methanol or natural gas into hydrogen-rich fuel gas and supplies it to the fuel electrode of the fuel cell, and then converts the reaction air to the air electrode of the fuel cell. The electrolyte is supplied as an ion conductive medium, and the generated power is transferred to a power conversion device consisting of a chopper, an inverter, etc., and its output current is generated.

It controls voltage, etc. and supplies it to the load circuit.

A packaged fuel cell power generation device in which the power generation device is housed in a single metal package to facilitate transportation and installation when the fuel cell power generation device is used as a mobile power source, on-site power source, etc. It has been known.

Fuel cell power generation devices generally generate heat from various places.For example, the reaction temperature of a phosphoric acid fuel cell, which uses phosphoric acid liquid as an electrolyte and generates electricity by reacting hydrogen and oxygen, is approximately 2.
00℃], and the outer surface is 50-10℃ depending on the thickness of the insulation layer.
The temperature of the fIIB reformer, which produces hydrogen-rich reformed gas (by combustion heating), can reach a temperature of over 300°C on its outer surface due to the heat of combustion. On the other hand, although the force transducer also generates heat, the amount of heat generated is less than that of the fuel cell section described in the previous section. Driving such as 111
Ventilation cooling will be required to keep the temperature at its permissible temperature (generally below 10 Dtl).

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing the ventilation and cooling structure of a conventional packaged fuel cell power generation device. Equipped with 3 tons of ventilation fans.

A power conversion section 8 consisting of a tip cover 8A, an inverter 8B, a control section 80, etc. is housed on the windward side, and a fuel cell 1. A fuel cell section 6 comprising a fuel reformer 2 and auxiliary equipment such as a reaction air blower 4 and a combustion air blower 5 of a reformer burner is housed.

In the conventional ventilation cooling system configured in this way, ventilation 7
The power converter s8 is ventilated and cooled by the room temperature air pumped into the package by the antenna 3, and the fuel cell section 6 in the upper part is ventilated and cooled by the air whose temperature has risen somewhat.
Since the power conversion unit 8 is affected by air circulation and radiant heat from the fuel contacting portion 6 side, a heat insulating space is provided between the two to reduce the thermal influence on the power conversion unit 8 side.

FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a different conventional ventilation cooling structure, in which a partition wall 10A is provided in the package 10 to partition the fuel cell section 6 and the power conversion section 8, and ventilation fans 3A, 3B are provided on this partition wall. The structure of Toragyo is different from the conventional structure described above, in that it blocks radiant heat by using partition wall 1 [) AK insulation material, and also provides cooling air to the high-temperature fuel cell section 6 through ventilation 7 Annes 3A, 3B, etc. It is configured to provide even higher cooling performance by using forced air cooling. In addition, if the partition wall 10A is provided, the insulation space can be reduced, so the package 10t
-The advantage of miniaturization can be obtained.

Problems to be solved by invention C] Packaged fuel cell power generation devices use raw fuel such as natural gas or methanol and hydrogen-rich reformed gas, so if flammable gas leaks into the package, In addition, sufficient ventilation must be provided to prevent explosions from occurring inside the package. 4) In order to prevent flammable gas from entering the power converter 8, which includes the controller 6 that generates electrical sparks, such as an electromagnetic connector, Consideration must be given to the flow of cooling air within the package. Furthermore, when the packaged fuel cell power generation device is used outdoors, the package 1o is required to have a drip-proof structure to prevent rainwater from entering.

In the conventional structure shown in FIG. 3, since there is no partition wall inside the package that partitions the fuel cell section 6 and the power conversion section 8, a circulating flow of cooling air tends to occur inside the package, and even if the ventilation rate is increased, There is a similar problem in that it is not possible to sufficiently prevent flammable leak gas from flowing back into the power converter. It was,
In the conventional structure shown in FIG. 4, the section ml that houses the t-force converter 8 is located on the suction side of the ventilation fans 3A and 3B, and is connected to both the outside air and the section tmi* on the fuel cell section 6 side. It becomes a state of reduced pressure. For this reason, it is necessary to strengthen the drip-proof structure of the package 1o, and to prevent flammable gas from flowing back into the power converter through the gap in the partition wall 1°A, the package and partition wall must be Must improve airtightness! A problem arises in that the structure of the barrier 111' of the back cage and the gas structure of the partition become complicated.

The purpose of this invention is to reduce the power of complicating the structure of the package.
The objective is to obtain sufficient and safe ventilation/cooling performance and drip-proof performance without increasing the size.

[Means to solve the problem]

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention includes a fuel reformer and an inverter disposed at the output 11 of a fuel cell containing an auxiliary device, an inverter, and a control W5 thereof. The power converter is housed in a package with a ventilation fan, and the power converter is accommodated, and the outside air intake side has a ventilation fan! 5! The package chamber includes a side package chamber and a downstream package chamber that accommodates the fuel cell section and is cooled by cooling air discharged from the upstream package chamber.

[Effect]

In the configuration of this invention, the package consists of an upstream package chamber having a ventilation fan on the ventilation intake side, and a downstream package chamber that communicates with the ventilation outlet side, and the upstream package chamber Ktfi electric power converter. By configuring the lower R @ package chamber to house the fuel cell section, the air pressure inside the para cage becomes higher than the outside air, simplifying the drip-proof structure.In addition, the air pressure inside the upstream package chamber is lower than 15. !The air containing flammable gas will not enter the upstream package chamber even if flammable gas leaks in the downstream package.
At the same time, the airtight structure of the partition walls of both package chambers can be simplified.

〔Example〕

The present invention will be explained below based on examples.

FIG. 1 is a sectional view schematically showing a packaged fuel cell power generation device according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. The upstream package room 2OA has a ventilation fan 3 on the outside air intake hole Z side, and the downstream package room 20B is connected to the ventilation outlet # of the upstream package room 2OA via a duct 2DC. configured,
The upstream package chamber 2OA houses the Fi power converter 8, and the downstream package chamber 20BK houses the fuel cell unit 6 including a fuel pond 1, fuel reformer 21, auxiliary equipment 5, 6, etc., and a ventilation fan. 3 to upstream package chamber 2O
The power converting section 8 is ventilated and cooled by the room temperature air sent into A, and then the air is sent to the downstream package chamber via the connecting duct 200 to cool and ventilate the fuel cell section 6. The heated cooling air is discharged to the outside from the exhaust port 9. In addition, the two package chambers are integrated by a common pedestal, and a connecting duct)
Natural air convection occurs between the package chambers surrounding the package chamber 20C, and the package chamber is cooled by the outside air, thereby eliminating heat influence between the two package chambers.

In the Kumei Example configured as described above, the pressure inside the upstream package chamber 2OA is maintained at a higher pressure (than the outside pressure) by the air blowing pressure of the ventilation fan 3, and the pressure inside the downstream package chamber 2OA is maintained at a higher pressure than the outside pressure.
Since the inside of 0B is maintained at an intermediate pressure between the upstream package indoor pressure and the outside air pressure, outside air will not be sucked in even if there is a gap in the package 20, and therefore the required drip-proof performance can be easily achieved. As well as being obtained, lower I5! Even if flammable gas leaks into the package chamber, it will not enter the high-pressure upstream package chamber as a circulating flow, and will be diluted by indoor air ventilation and exhausted to the outside from the exhaust port 9. The risk of the formation of explosive atmosphere in the room and the formation of ignition sources by electrical sparks at the power converter can be almost completely avoided.

FIG. 2 is a schematic sectional view showing a different embodiment of the present invention, in which the upstream package chamber 30A is enclosed in the downstream package chamber 3QB to form a package 3D. E), the ventilation 7 An 3 is placed in the air intake lower # of the upstream package chamber 30A to increase the air pressure in the upstream package chamber, and its exhaust port 39 is provided at key points in the downstream package chamber 30B. It is configured to ventilate the package chamber and cool the fuel cell section 6 with air.

In this embodiment, the upstream package chamber 30A may have a box shape with a simple structure that can maintain a pressure difference between it and the downstream package chamber 30B, and the pressure difference causes backflow of downstream package room air containing flammable gas. can be prevented. Although the drip-proof performance is maintained by the downstream package chamber 30B, the high atmospheric pressure of the upstream package chamber 30A increases the drip-proof performance of the upstream package chamber that houses the electrical system R such as the power converter. It gives you the advantage of being able to retain it.

Furthermore, by configuring the upstream package chamber 30A to be coated with a heat insulating material, it is possible to prevent the influence of heat from the parts that touch the fuel iE pond, so the space for heat insulation can be reduced, and the package 30 can be made smaller. You can get the benefits that you can.

Effects of CR1 Man] As described above, this invention stores the power converter in the upstream package chamber, provides a ventilation fan on the outside air intake side, and supplies high-temperature fuel to the downstream package chamber that communicates with the exhaust port. The structure is such that the battery section is housed and the fuel cell section is ventilated and cooled by the exhaust air from the upstream package. As a result, it is possible to maintain the differential pressure between the upstream package room, the downstream package room, and the outside air using the air blowing pressure of the ventilation fan, and the inside of the package that houses all the power converters, which was a problem with conventional technology, can be maintained. FJ1, which occurs due to reduced pressure
11 This eliminates the risk of complicating the structure and the formation of detonation air due to leaked flammable gas circulating back to the power converter side and its combustion, thereby improving cooling performance and improving cooling performance without complicating the package structure. It is possible to provide a packaged fuel cell power generation device that has excellent drip-proof performance and excellent safety against leakage of combustible gas. Further, the upstream package chamber may be configured to be provided within the downstream package, and in this case, the upstream package chamber may be provided within the downstream package. 1. Even if the chamber is significantly simplified, high cooling performance, FJ droplet performance, and safety can be obtained.In addition, the insulation space of the downstream package chamber can be saved and the package can be made smaller. .

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view schematically showing a packaged fuel cell power generation device according to an embodiment of the invention, FIG. 2 is a sectional view schematically showing a different embodiment of the invention, and FIGS. 3 and 4 1A and 1B are cross-sectional views schematically showing different conventional packaged fuel cell power generation systems. 1...Fuel cell, 2...Fuel reformer, 3.3A. 3B...Ventilation fan, 4.5...Blower (auxiliary equipment),
6...Fuel cell section, 7...Outside air intake, 9...
Exhaust port, 8A...Chi Af3B...Inverter,
8C...Control unit, 8...Power conversion unit, 10, 2[)
, 30...Package, 2OA, 30A...Upstream package chamber, 20E, 30B...Downstream package chamber, 20C...Full view 3 Figure 2 Figure 4

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1) A fuel cell unit including a fuel reformer and auxiliary equipment, and a power conversion unit including a chopper, an inverter, and its control unit arranged on the output side of the fuel cell are housed in a package having a ventilation fan. an upstream package chamber that accommodates the power conversion section and has a ventilation fan on its external air intake side; and an upstream package chamber that accommodates the fuel cell section and is cooled by cooling air discharged from the upstream package chamber. What is claimed is: 1. A packaged fuel cell power generation device comprising: a package comprising a downstream package chamber in which a downstream package chamber is provided;