JPS63170867A - Solid electrolyte fuel cell - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To be stable in structure and have the same volume efficiency as the monolithic type by taking each unit cell structure that a polygonal grating type fuel electrode and an air electrode are connected through solid electrolyte by arranging a fuel passage and an air passage parallel and alternately. CONSTITUTION:Each unit cell 22 has a structure that a rectangular grating type fuel electrode 24 and a same type air electrode 25 are connected through a laterally situated solid electrolyte 26 by arranging a fuel passage F and an air passage A in parallel. By the arrangement, the effective area of the cell can be formed 2-50 times in a same volume compared with that of cylindrical one, achieving high efficiency power generation. Also, since the laminate 21 composed of laminated unit cells 22 has a complete self-supporting nature, the assembly is easy and the mass-production is feasible. Furthermore, the structural stability and durability can be improved compared with the monolithic type.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] [A field of use in business] The present invention relates to improvements in solid electrolyte fuel cells.

[Prior art] Solid electrolyte fuel cell (Solid Oxide F
uelCell (hereinafter referred to as 5OFC) is attracting attention as one of the highly efficient power generation systems. This 5OFC
utilizes the oxygen ion conductivity within the oxide solid, and approximately 1
It generates electricity by causing an electrode reaction using fuel gas and air at an operating temperature of 1,000°C.

By the way, as a conventional 5OFC, a structure shown in FIG. 9 or FIG. 10 has been manufactured or proposed.

That is, in 5OFG shown in FIG. 9, a battery film 2 is formed on the surface of a cylindrical porous ceramic substrate 1. This battery thin film 2 is made up of a fuel electrode (or air electrode), a solid electrolyte, and an air electrode (or fuel electrode) stacked one after another in the form of a thin film. In this 5OFC, power is generated by flowing fuel (or air) inside the base 1 and flowing air (or fuel) outside.

As a result, the current flows in a flow path as shown by the arrow in the figure.

In addition, 5OFC in Fig. 10 is a so-called monolithic type, and the above-mentioned battery @ membrane itself is, for example, a honeycomb-shaped block 1.
1. In such 5OFC, F in the figure
Fuel gas is flowed into the region shown by , and air is flowed into the region shown by A. As a result, the current flows through the flow path as shown by the arrow in the figure.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, all conventional 5OFCs have the following problems.

That is, in the 5OFC shown in FIG. 9, the effective battery area per unit volume is small and the volumetric efficiency is low. Moreover, not only the structure of the module is complicated, but also the formation of the battery thin film 2 is difficult, resulting in poor mass productivity.

On the other hand, a monolithic type 5OFC similar to the one shown in Figure 10 can be expected to have high volumetric efficiency, but since a honeycomb-shaped block 11 is formed in the inner body of the cell M membrane, strength and assembly are difficult, and in practice Not even a prototype was made.

The present invention was made to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems, and is a solid electrolyte fuel that is structurally stable, has volumetric efficiency equivalent to that of a monolithic type, is easy to assemble, and has excellent mass productivity. The aim is to provide batteries.

[Means for Solving the Problems] The present invention connects polygonal lattice-shaped fuel electrodes and air electrodes via a solid electrolyte so that fuel channels and air channels are formed in parallel and alternately. Single-layer cells with a lattice structure, and these single-layer cells are connected via ink connectors to 8! The device is characterized by comprising a stacked body and gas manifolds provided at each end of the stacked body.

[Function 1 According to the present invention, a unit cell has a structure in which a polygonal lattice-shaped fuel electrode and air electrode are connected via a solid electrolyte so that fuel channels and air channels are formed in parallel and alternately. For,
Compared to the conventional cylindrical 5OFC, the effective area of the battery per unit volume can be increased, the volumetric efficiency can be improved, and the battery can be made more compact. Moreover, since such a unit cell can be made mostly of ceramics, the support structure becomes simple, the structural reliability can be further improved, and the stress caused by expansion of each component can be reduced.

[*Embodiments of the Invention] Examples of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3.

Figure 1 is a configuration diagram of 5OFC, Figure 2 is the 5OFC of Figure 1.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the laminate shown in C, and FIG. 3 is a plan view showing unit cells constituting the laminate shown in FIG. 2, and numeral 21 in the figure is the laminate. This laminate 21 includes, for example, five unit cells 2.
2 are stacked horizontally via an ink connector 23. Note that interconnectors 2 similar to those described above are provided on the side surfaces of the unit cells 22 on the end side of the laminate 21, respectively.
3 are provided, and these interconnectors 23 are made of, for example, La Cr O9, Ni Cr YSZ cermet,
It is formed from Ni AQ-AQ20:1 cermet. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, each unit cell 22 has a fuel electrode 24 in the shape of a rectangular lattice and an air electrode 25 in the same shape.
It has a structure in which the fuel flow path F and the air flow path A are connected via a solid electrolyte 26 arranged between their sides so that they are arranged in parallel. The fuel electrode 24 is made of, for example, Ni
Due to the YSZ cermet, the air electrode 25 is made of La Ca
The electrolyte 26 is formed of Mn O3 and stabilized zirconia, respectively. Further, the unit cell 22 can be manufactured by integral extrusion, by filling the extruded parts of each fuel electrode and air electrode with electrolyte, and by integral sintering. The laminate 2
At the end of 1, there is a gas manifold 27 at the top and bottom.
．． 28, an air inlet/outlet 29 and a fuel outlet 30 are connected to the upper manifold 27, and a fuel inlet 31 and an air inlet/outlet 32 are connected to the lower manifold 28, respectively.

The 5OFG having such a configuration generates power through the following operations. That is, the fuel rises from the fuel inlet 31 through the lower manifold 28 in the fuel flow path F of each unit cell 22 that constitutes the stacked body 21 . On the other hand, air descends from the air inlet/outlet 29 through the upper manifold 27 in the air flow path A of each unit cell 22 constituting the stacked body 21 . In this case, the air is transferred to the air outlet 3 of the lower manifold 28.
2 may be used to raise the inside of the air flow path A of each unit cell 22 constituting the stacked body 21. The laminate 2
1 is maintained at a temperature of 600 to 1200°C, and here, an electrode reaction occurs between the fuel and air through the electrolyte 26 of the unit cell 22 to generate electricity, and the unit cell 22 is stacked in the horizontal direction). Current flows. The current generated in this way is transferred to the ink connectors 2 which also serve as current collectors on both sides of the laminate 21.
It is taken out from 3. During power generation, the voltage is approximately 0.6V per unit cell 22, so if 20 unit cells 22 are stacked, the voltage will be 20V? ! ! Can be used as a source.

Therefore, the solid electrolyte fuel cell described above can exhibit various effects listed below.

(2) The effective area of the battery can be 2 to 50 times larger than that of conventional cylindrical batteries within the same volume, and high efficiency power generation can be achieved.

(2) The laminate 21 constituted by [1] of the unit cell 22 has sufficient self-reliance, so it is easy to assemble and can be mass-produced.

(2) By changing the number of stacked unit cells 22, the generated voltage can be easily adjusted.

(2) Compared to the monolithic type, it has higher structural stability and strength, and the current path can be simplified.

(2) Since the unit cell 22 has a structure in which a polygonal lattice-shaped fuel electrode 24 and air electrode 25 are connected by a solid electrolyte 26, even if there is an expansion difference between the fuel electrode 24, air electrode 25, and solid electrolyte 26, , stress associated with this can be easily released and reliability can be improved.

Note that the 5OFG of the present invention is not limited to the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 to 3. For example, the structure shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 described below or the structure shown in FIGS. 6 to 8 may be used.

That is, FIG. 4 is a plan view of 5OFG showing another embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing main parts of 5OFG of FIG. 4, and 41 in the figure is fa! ii body. This laminate 4
1 connects, for example, four unit cells 42 to an interconnector 43.
They are stacked vertically with each other in between. Note that interconnectors 43 similar to those described above are provided on the upper and lower surfaces of the upper and lower unit cells 42 in the laminate 21, respectively. As shown in FIG. 5, each unit cell 42 has a rectangular lattice-shaped fuel electrode 44 and a rectangular lattice-shaped air electrode 45 arranged so that the fuel flow path F and the air flow path A intersect with each other. It has a structure in which they are connected via a solid electrolyte 46 placed between the lower surfaces. Furthermore, on the four side surfaces which are the ends of the stacked body 41, a fuel inlet manifold 47, a fuel outlet manifold 48, and an air inlet/outlet manifold 49.5 are provided.
0 are provided so as to face each other.

The 5OFC having such a configuration generates power through the following operations. That is, the fuel is supplied to the fuel inlet manifold 4.
7, the fuel flows horizontally through the fuel flow path F of each unit cell 42 constituting the stacked body 41, and is discharged from the fuel outlet manifold 48. On the other hand, air passes through the air inlet/outlet manifold 49 to each unit cell 4 constituting the stacked body 41.
The air flows horizontally through the air flow path A of No. 2 and is discharged from the air inlet/outlet manifold 50. In this case, the air may be passed through the air inlet/outlet manifold 50, horizontally circulated within the air flow path A of each unit cell 42 constituting the stacked body 41, and may be discharged from the air inlet/outlet manifold 49. The inside of the laminate 41 is maintained at a temperature of 600 to 1200°C, and the fuel and air are supplied to the unit cells 42.
An electrode reaction occurs through the electrolyte 46 to generate electricity, and current flows in the stacking direction (vertical direction) of the unit cells 42. The current generated in this way is taken out from the interconnector 43 which also serves as a current collector on the upper and lower surfaces of the M hot body 41. During power generation, approximately 0.6
Since the voltage is V, if 20 unit cells 42 are stacked, it can be used as a 20V power source. Therefore, various effects similar to those of the previously described embodiments can be exhibited in the fourth and fifth OFCs shown in FIG.

Further, FIG. 6 shows a 5OFG showing still another embodiment of the present invention.
7 is a perspective view showing the laminate of 5OFC in FIG. 6, and FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along the line X-Xa in FIG. 6.
51 in the figure is a laminate.

As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, this laminate 51 is constructed by connecting, for example, 10 unit cells 52 via an ink connector 53 so that the fuel electrodes and air electrodes of each unit cell 52, which will be described later, match each other. They are stacked vertically. As shown in FIG. 7, each unit cell 52 has a rectangular lattice-shaped fuel electrode 54 and a rectangular lattice-shaped air electrode 55 arranged between their sides so that the fuel flow path F and the air flow path A are arranged in parallel. It has a structure in which they are alternately connected via solid electrolytes 56 placed in between. Gas manifolds 57 and 58 are provided at the upper and lower ends of the stacked body 51, and the upper manifold 57 has an air inlet and outlet 59 and a fuel outlet 60.
However, a fuel port 61 and an air inlet/outlet 62 are connected to the lower manifold 58, respectively.

The 5OFC having such a configuration generates power through the following operations. That is, the fuel rises from the fuel inlet 61 through the lower manifold 58 into the fuel flow path F of each unit cell 52 constituting the stacked body 51. On the other hand, air descends from the air inlet/outlet 59 through the upper manifold 57 in the air flow path A of each unit cell 52 constituting the stacked body 51. In this case, air is transferred to the air inlet/outlet 62 of the lower manifold 58.
The inside of the air flow path A of each unit cell 52 constituting the 1liJ body 51 may be raised through the air. The inside of the stacked body 51 is maintained at a temperature of 600 to 1200° C. Here, an electrode reaction occurs between the fuel and air via the electrolyte 56 of the unit cell 52 to generate electricity. current flows in the direction). The current generated in this way is taken out from a gas manifold 57 located in the lower part of the stacked body 51 and also serving as a current collector. During power generation, the voltage is about 0.6 V per unit cell 52 as in the previous embodiment, so if 20 unit cells 22 are stacked, it can be used as a 20 VW source. Therefore, as shown in FIGS. 6 to 8, 5O
The FG can also exhibit various effects similar to those of the previously described embodiments.

[Effects of the Invention] As detailed above, the present invention provides a solid electrolyte fuel cell that is structurally stable, has the same volumetric efficiency as a monolithic type, is easy to assemble, and has excellent m-productivity. This is something that can be provided.

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a unit cell constituting the laminate shown in FIG. 2, FIG. 4 is a plan view of a 5OFC showing another embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. The figure is a perspective view showing essential parts of the 5OFC shown in Fig. 4, Fig. 6 is a configuration diagram of a 5OFG showing still another embodiment of the present invention, and Fig. 7 shows a stacked body of the 5C) FC shown in Fig. 6. Perspective view, Figure 8 is X in Figure 6
9 is a perspective view showing a conventional solid oxide fuel cell, and FIG. 10 is a plan view showing another conventional solid oxide fuel cell.

21.41.51...Laminated body, 22.42.52...
・Unit cell, 23.43.53...interconnector,
24.44.54...Fuel electrode, 25.45.55...
・Air electrode, 26.46.56...Solid electrolyte, 27.
28.47-50.57.58...Gas manifold, 29.32.59.62...Air inlet/outlet, 30.
60...Fuel outlet, 31.61...Fuel inlet.

Applicant's agent: Patent attorney: Takehiko Suzue M1 figure 2nd N M5 figure 6th yA Figure 7

Claims (1)

[Claims] A single-layer cell with a lattice structure in which a polygonal lattice-shaped fuel electrode and air electrode are connected via a solid electrolyte so that fuel channels and air channels are formed parallel and alternately, and these single-layer cells. 1. A solid electrolyte fuel cell comprising: a stacked body stacked together via an interconnector; and gas manifolds provided at each end of the stacked body.