JPH0676852A - Portable power source - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent a belt from being cut by friction by slantly cutting the upper angular sections of two side faces where the hanging belt is hooked on the outside face of a case storing a power source. CONSTITUTION:Exhaust holes 13 discharging the exhaust gas from a fuel cell main body 2 are provided on one side face slant section of a pyramid body on a case 1, and several connectors 14 for extracting the electric power generated by the main body 2 are provided on the side face slant section on the opposite side to the exhaust holes 13. An operation panel 15 is provided at the flat portion of the upper face of the pyramid body on the case 1, and a hanging belt 20 is provided at portions near both side face slant sections in the longitudinal direction of the case 1. The belt 20 is hooked on fitting metals 21 to carry a power source. Upper angular sections of the case 1 are slantly cut and the slant angles are properly set, and the case 1 becomes easy to carry when the belt 20 hooked on the fitting metals 21 is hung from the shoulder. The surface cross sectional area of the exhaust holes 3 can be increased, and the concentration of friction and stress is eliminated. The belt 20 can be prevented from being cut by friction.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a portable power source, and more particularly to a portable power source using a fuel cell as a power source for power generation.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Fuel cells have a phosphoric acid fuel cell (PAF) type, depending on the type of electrolyte used.
C), molten carbonate fuel cell, MC
FC), solid oxide fuel cell (SOF)
C), alkaline type (alkaline fuel cell, AFC), etc. Further, depending on the type of fuel used, it can be classified into a methanol fuel cell, a hydrazine fuel cell and the like. Furthermore, it is classified into first to third generations according to the degree of technological development, development goals, time of practical application, and the like.

A fuel cell is a device for obtaining electric energy from hydrogen obtained by reforming a fuel such as natural gas, methanol, naphtha, and coal, and oxygen in the air, and has the following features. (1) The power generation efficiency is high, which also suppresses CO ₂ emission, which is excellent from the viewpoint of global environmental problems. (2) A cogeneration system that can simultaneously use electricity and heat (cogeneration). (3) The amount of air pollutants (NO _x , SO _x ) emitted, noise, etc. are small and environmental protection is good. (4) Due to the modular structure, the construction period can be shortened and an efficient power supply installation plan can be made. (5) The efficiency of power generation is not affected by the scale of the equipment, and even if it is small, the efficiency comparable to that of a large-scale power plant can be obtained. (6) Even in partial load, high power generation efficiency as high as full load (rated load) is obtained. (7) Since natural gas, methanol, naphtha, coal, etc. can be used as fuel, the fuel can be diversified.

Due to these features, the fuel cell has been attracting attention as a promising new power generation system that can be used in various applications from space use to automobile use, large-scale power generation to small-scale power generation. In particular, in recent years, a small-scale small power source of about several 100 W for mobile communication, construction / civil engineering work, etc. has attracted attention, and there is a growing interest in making it portable.

[0005]

By the way, in order to make a fuel cell portable, it is necessary to house all of the power generation equipment mainly composed of the fuel cell in a small and lightweight case, which is convenient for carrying. It is necessary to hang a shoulder belt etc. Therefore, for example, a box-type power source as shown in FIG. 4 is proposed, but a power source of such a shape causes various problems as described below.

First, the shoulder belt 120 is attached to the belt 2.
Since the upper corner portion Y of the side surface is formed into an acute angle (substantially right angle in the illustrated example), the shoulder belt 120 and the case 101 come into contact with each other at one point when carrying the power source. Therefore, since friction, stress, etc. are concentrated on that one point, there is a risk that the shoulder belt 120 will be worn out during transportation and the power supply will fall.

Also, in the case of a portable fuel cell, a lid is provided on the upper surface of the case 101, and the lid is removed during operation,
When not in use, it is desirable to position the operation part on the upper surface of the case 101, and to provide an intake hole, an exhaust hole, and a takeout port of the hydrogen storage device because the lid is covered. Due to such a restriction, it is unavoidable to provide it at the position indicated by 113 in FIG. 4 upward, which causes the following problems. That is, although the exhaust hole 113 needs to discharge a large amount of exhaust gas generated in the fuel cell main body 102, the exhaust hole 11
3 has a limited area. Therefore, the configuration provided on the upper surface of the case 101 has a problem that pressure loss is large and power generation performance may be deteriorated.

In addition, the structure of the hydrogen storage device 104 is inevitably arranged to be taken in and out from the position of the exhaust hole 113 as shown in the figure, so that the size of the entrance and exit of the device 104 cannot be secured sufficiently, There is also a problem that it is difficult to carry out the operation of putting in and out the device 104. In addition, the operating portion is provided with a connector 114 for taking out the generated power output, but since this connector 114 also faces upward, the direction of connection with the external cable is restricted, and it is particularly difficult to take out in the horizontal direction. There is a problem.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and can prevent the risk that the shoulder belt is worn out when carrying it, and has a small pressure loss in the exhaust hole.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a very convenient portable power source that can be easily put in and taken out of a hydrogen storage device and can be connected to an external cable from any direction.

[0010]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a portable power source in which a power generation facility mainly including a fuel cell is housed in a case, and a shoulder belt is hung on the outer surface of the case. It is characterized in that the upper corners of the two sides to be worn are cut obliquely.

[0011]

As described above, if the upper corners of the two side surfaces on which the shoulder belt is hung are cut diagonally, the shoulder belt is completely different from the case (that is, the diagonally cut portion) when carrying the power source. Even if they do not come into contact with each other, or even if they come into contact with each other, friction, stress, etc. will not concentrate at one point of the shoulder belt. Therefore, there is no possibility that the shoulder belt will be worn out due to friction or the like, and it is possible to prevent the risk of the power supply falling when carrying it.

Further, since the exhaust holes for the exhaust gas discharged from the fuel cell can be provided in the obliquely cut portion, the total area of the exhaust holes is increased as compared with the conventional case where the exhaust holes are provided on a flat surface. To do. Therefore, since the pressure loss is reduced, the auxiliary power (for example, the air supply fan) is also reduced, and the power generation efficiency is improved. In addition, since an inlet / outlet port for inserting / removing the hydrogen storage device can be provided in the diagonally cut portion, a sufficient size of the inlet / outlet port can be secured as compared with the conventional case where the inlet / outlet port is flat. be able to. In addition, since the hydrogen storage device is easily accessible and can be taken out with a slight inclination, the hydrogen storage device can be taken in and out quickly and easily.

In addition, since a connector or the like for taking out the power generation output can be provided in the diagonally cut portion opposite to the diagonally cut portion, the external cable can be connected from any direction. You can

[0014]

1 is a perspective view (partly in section) of a portable power supply according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line X--X of the portable power supply of FIG. 1, showing a light metal such as aluminum or duralumin. For example, a phosphoric acid type fuel cell body 2 is arranged as a cell body in the lower center of a case 1 which is made of a pyramid having a tapered shape as it goes upward. A plurality of hydrogen absorbing alloys (5 in the illustrated example) filled with a hydrogen storage alloy for supplying hydrogen as fuel to the fuel cell main body 2 is provided on the side of the exhaust side which is a ventilation passage for the exhaust gas discharged.
A hydrogen storage device 4 including the hydrogen storage alloy cylinder 3 of the present invention is arranged. Here, the hydrogen storage device 4 is disposed on the exhaust side of the fuel cell body 2 because
Efficient use of high temperature exhaust gas discharged from each cylinder 3
This is for heating the hydrogen storage alloy filled therein, and by this heating, hydrogen is smoothly supplied from the hydrogen storage device 4 to the fuel cell main body 2.

Inside the case 1, the fuel cell main body 2
Various control systems and other equipments are arranged on the side of the air supply side (that is, on the side opposite to the hydrogen storage device 4) which is an air ventilation path to the. For example, an air supply fan 6 that is driven by the power generation of the fuel cell body 2 and supplies air to the fuel cell body 2 near the air supply hole 5 described later.
Is arranged below the air supply fan 6, and is supplied to the ventilation path of the air taken into the case 1 by the air supply fan 6 by heating the air and supplying the fuel cell main body 2 with an operating temperature ( A starting heater 7 for raising the temperature to about 100 ° C. is arranged, and the starting heater 7 is driven by the power generation of the fuel cell main body 2. Below the start-up heater 7, unreacted hydrogen that has not contributed to the reaction among hydrogen supplied from the hydrogen storage device 4 to the fuel cell main body 2 and air supplied from an air supply fan 8 described later. Is disposed by catalytic combustion to prevent hydrogen from being discharged outside the case 1. The catalytic combustor 9 is filled with a catalyst such as platinum. Further, an air supply fan 8 for supplying air necessary for catalytic combustion is arranged beside the catalytic combustor 9, and the air supply fan 8 is provided beside the air supply fan 8 for power generation of the fuel cell main body 2. A DC-DC converter 10 is arranged to control the electromotive force generated as a constant voltage (for example, 12V).
On the side of the DC converter 10, a rotation speed of the air supply fan 8 is controlled to adjust the amount of air supplied to the catalytic combustor 9, and a starting heater 7 is provided when the fuel cell main body 2 reaches an operating temperature. A control device 11 for controlling the stop and the like is arranged, and a fuse relay box 12 is arranged above the control device 11.

A front inclined portion of the pyramid above the case 1,
Further, air suction holes 5 (only the front inclined portion side is shown in the drawing) are provided at positions on the rear inclined portion and far from the exhaust gas exhaust hole 13 described later. An exhaust gas exhaust hole 13 for exhausting exhaust gas discharged from the fuel cell body 2 is provided on one of the side surface inclined portions of the pyramid above the case 1, and the side surface on the side opposite to the exhaust gas exhaust hole 13 is provided. The inclined portion is provided with several connectors 14 for extracting electric power generated by the fuel cell main body 2. On the flat portion of the upper surface of the pyramid above the case 1, for example, a lamp for displaying the residual hydrogen pressure in the hydrogen storage alloy cylinder 3,
An operation panel 15 provided with a pressure switch for adjusting the hydrogen pressure in the hydrogen storage alloy cylinder 3 and a valve opening / closing switch for opening / closing valves such as a hydrogen supply valve (neither is shown) is provided. Further, shoulder belts 20 for carrying a power source are provided on both side surfaces in the longitudinal direction of the case 1 near the side surface inclined portions, and the belt 20 is hooked to the case 1 by a metal fitting 21. in this case,
The length of the shoulder belt 20 is preferably such that it does not come into contact with the case 1. Conversely, if the length of the belt 20 is fixed, the inclination angle of the side surface inclined portion is such that the belt 20 is shouldered. It is preferable that the inclination is such that the belt 20 is slightly gentler than the angle formed by the belt 20 when it is hung on. In addition, when the belt 20 is hung on the shoulder,
The center of gravity of the power supply is tilted slightly toward the human body so that it can be carried easily.

The pyramid portion above the case 1 in which the air intake hole 5, the exhaust gas exhaust hole 13, the connector 14, the operation panel 15 and the like are provided is covered with a lid body 16 made of the same material as the case 1. The cover 16 covers the upper surface of the case 1, and the stopper 17 is used to cover the upper surface of the case 1.
6 and the case 1 can be fixed in a sealed state. Reference numeral 18 in the drawing is a handle attached to the upper portion of the lid body 16, and can be used instead of the shoulder belt 20 when the case 1 is covered and the power source is carried. Here, in order to enhance the airtightness in the case 1, a packing 1 is provided at a portion where the case 1 and the lid 16 are in contact with each other.
9 is provided.

Most of the air taken in from the air intake hole 5 by the drive of the air supply fan 6 is directly supplied to the fuel cell main body 2 for power generation, while the remaining air is the control device 11 and DC-DC. The control device 11 and the DC-DC converter 10 are passed through the periphery of the converter 10 and the like.
And the like are cooled and then supplied to the fuel cell main body 2. Then, the high-temperature exhaust gas heated by the power generation in the fuel cell main body 2 is discharged from the exhaust gas discharge hole 13 to the outside of the case 1 after heating the hydrogen storage device 4 via the periphery of the hydrogen storage device 4. The air taken in from the air intake hole 5 is supplied to the fuel cell main body 2, but a part of the intake duct through which the intake air from the air intake hole 5 to the fuel cell main body 2 passes is formed in the case 1. It constitutes a part of the inner surface.
Further, the exhaust gas after the reaction is discharged from the exhaust gas discharge hole 13 via the periphery of the hydrogen storage device 4, and a part of the exhaust duct through which the exhaust gas from the fuel cell main body 2 to the exhaust gas discharge hole 13 passes. A part of the inner peripheral surface of the case 1 constitutes.

Next, the operation of the portable power source configured as described above will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.
The arrow A indicates the flow of air sucked from outside the case 1.
Arrows B respectively indicate the flow of exhaust gas generated by the power generation of the fuel cell main body 2. First, when the lid 16 is removed from the case 1 and the valve of the hydrogen storage device 4 is opened by operating the valve opening / closing switch of the operation panel 15 provided on the upper surface of the case 1, the air remaining in the case 1 and Hydrogen storage device 4
A reaction is caused by the hydrogen supplied from the stand-by and the preliminary power generation is started. When the air supply fan 6 is activated by this preliminary power generation, new air sucked from the air suction hole 5 is supplied into the fuel cell main body 2 to start main power generation.
Due to this main power generation, the temperature of the fuel cell main body 2 gradually rises. On the other hand, since the hydrogen storage device 4 is made of a hydrogen storage alloy, if hydrogen is continuously supplied to the fuel cell main body 2, the temperature of the hydrogen storage device 4 decreases. Therefore, it becomes impossible to supply sufficient hydrogen to the fuel cell main body 2, so that the amount of power generation decreases. However, since the high-temperature exhaust gas generated by the power generation of the fuel cell body 2 passes around the hydrogen storage device 4, the temperature of the hydrogen storage device 4 is substantially constant despite the release of hydrogen from the hydrogen storage alloy. Maintained at. As a result, hydrogen required for power generation in the fuel cell body 2 can be sufficiently supplied. Also,
When the main power generation is started, the temperature of the control device 11, the DC-DC converter 10, and the like gradually rises due to radiant heat from the fuel cell main body 2. However, the control device 11 and D
Since the C-DC converter 10 and the like are constantly exposed to the outside air supplied from the air intake hole 5, excessive temperature rise is prevented. As a result, smooth power generation will be maintained.

According to the above embodiment, the belt 20 and the case 1 do not come into contact with each other when the belt 20 is hung on the shoulder,
Since the length of the belt 20 and the inclination angle of the side inclined portion are adjusted, there is no risk that the shoulder belt 20 will be worn out due to friction or the like. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the danger that the power source will fall when carrying the device. Further, since the corners of the lid body 16 are also cut obliquely, the shoulder belt 20 is less likely to come into contact with the lid body 16 when the case 1 is covered and carried.

Further, since the connector 14 is provided on the side slope portion, it is difficult for the shoulder belt 20 and the connector 14 and the like to come into contact with each other when carrying. In addition, since the side surface inclined portion where the exhaust gas exhaust hole 13 is provided is configured to open over the entire surface, it is easy to reach when taking out the hydrogen storage device 4, and it can be taken out even if it is slightly inclined. The hydrogen storage device 4 can be put in and taken out quickly and easily. [Other Matters] In the above embodiment, the phosphoric acid fuel cell was used as the fuel cell body 2, but the present invention is not limited to this.
For example, a low temperature operation type solid oxide fuel cell or the like can be used.

[0022]

As described above, according to the present invention, since the upper corners of the two side surfaces on which the shoulder belt is hooked are cut diagonally, the shoulder belt is cut in a case (that is, cut diagonally) when carrying the power source. Part), or even if it does, friction and stress will not concentrate on one point of the shoulder belt. Therefore, there is no possibility that the shoulder belt will be worn out due to friction or the like, and it is possible to prevent the risk of the power supply falling when carrying it.

Further, since the exhaust holes for the exhaust gas discharged from the fuel cell can be provided in the obliquely cut portion, the total area of the exhaust holes is increased as compared with the conventional case where the exhaust holes are provided on a flat surface. To do. Therefore, since the pressure loss is reduced, the auxiliary power (for example, the air supply fan) is also reduced, and the power generation efficiency is improved. In addition, since an inlet / outlet port for inserting / removing the hydrogen storage device can be provided in the diagonally cut portion, a sufficient size of the inlet / outlet port can be secured as compared with the conventional case where the inlet / outlet port is flat. be able to. In addition, since the hydrogen storage device is easily accessible and can be taken out with a slight inclination, the hydrogen storage device can be taken in and out quickly and easily.

In addition, a connector or the like for taking out the power generation output can be provided in the diagonally cut portion opposite to the diagonally cut portion, so that the external cable can be connected from any direction. You can

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view (partially sectional view) of a portable power supply according to an embodiment of the present invention.

2 is a cross-sectional view of the portable power supply of FIG. 1 taken along line XX.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a part of the portable power supply of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a line sectional view of a conventional portable power supply.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 case 2 fuel cell body 20 shoulder belt

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Hiroyuki Ito 2-18, Keihan Hondori, Moriguchi City Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd. (72) Koji Shindo 2-18, Keihan Hondori, Moriguchi City Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd. Within

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A portable power source in which a power generation facility mainly comprising a fuel cell is housed in a case, wherein upper corner portions of two outer side surfaces of the case on which a shoulder belt is hung are obliquely cut. A portable power supply characterized by