KR101093710B1 - Fuel cell system, fuel evaporator and reformer used thereto - Google Patents

Abstract

A fuel cell system according to the present invention includes a stack for generating electricity by an electrochemical reaction of hydrogen and oxygen; A reformer comprising a fuel vaporizer for vaporizing a liquid fuel containing hydrogen, and a reforming reactor for reforming the vaporized fluid to generate a hydrogen-rich reformed gas; A fuel supply unit supplying fuel to the reformer; And an air supply unit for supplying air to the stack, wherein the fuel vaporizer includes a receiving unit having an accommodating space for substantially accommodating the fuel, and a heat source for providing the heat source for evaporating the fuel to the accommodating unit. And a screen member having a plurality of pores and positioned in the accommodation portion while being spaced apart from the inner wall of the accommodation portion.

Fuel Cell, Fuel Supply Unit, Air Supply Unit, Reformer, Stack, Fuel Vaporizer, Receiving Unit, Heating Unit, Screen Member, Pore, Airtight Container, Pipe Line

Description

FUEL CELL SYSTEM, FUEL EVAPORATOR AND REFORMER USED THERETO}

1 is a schematic diagram showing an overall configuration of a fuel cell system according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

2 is an exploded perspective view showing the structure of the fuel vaporizer shown in FIG.

3 is a cross-sectional view of the coupling cross-sectional view of FIG.

4 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the stack structure shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a sectional configuration diagram showing a modification of the fuel vaporization apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG.

6 is a schematic diagram showing an overall configuration of a fuel cell system according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view showing the structure of the fuel vaporization apparatus shown in FIG. 6.

8 is a cross-sectional view of the coupling cross-sectional view of FIG.

The present invention relates to a fuel cell system, and more particularly, to a fuel vaporizer of a fuel cell system and a reformer employing the same.

As is known, a fuel cell is a power generation system that directly converts the chemical reaction energy of hydrogen contained in a hydrocarbon-based material such as methanol and oxygen or air containing oxygen into electrical energy.

This fuel cell is classified into a phosphoric acid fuel cell, a molten carbonate fuel cell, a solid oxide fuel cell, a polymer electrolyte type or an alkaline fuel cell according to the type of electrolyte used. Each of these fuel cells operates on essentially the same principle, but differs in the type of fuel used, operating temperature, catalyst, and electrolyte.

Among these, the polymer electrolyte fuel cell (PEMFC, hereinafter referred to as PEMFC for convenience), which has been developed recently, has excellent output characteristics, low operating temperature, and fast start-up and response characteristics compared to other fuel cells. By using hydrogen produced by reforming methanol, ethanol, or the like as a fuel, it has a wide range of applications such as mobile power sources such as automobiles, distributed power sources such as houses and public buildings, and small power sources such as electronic devices.

Such a PEMFC basically includes a stack, a reformer, a fuel tank, a fuel pump, and the like to constitute a system. The stack forms the body of the fuel cell, and the fuel pump supplies the fuel in the fuel tank to the reformer. The reformer reforms the fuel to generate hydrogen gas and supplies the hydrogen gas to the stack. The PEMFC thus feeds the fuel in the fuel tank to the reformer by operation of a fuel pump, reforming the fuel in the reformer to generate hydrogen gas, and electrochemically reacting the hydrogen gas and oxygen in the stack to produce electrical energy. Generate.

In the fuel cell system as described above, the reformer includes a fuel vaporizer for vaporizing fuel and a reaction part for generating hydrogen-rich reformed gas from the vaporized fuel.

Among these, the fuel vaporization apparatus is for vaporizing liquid fuel easily to react. The fuel vaporizer includes a container containing fuel and a heater for heating the container. When the heater is heated to heat the container, fuel is removed from the heater. The generated heat energy is transferred to generate bubbles, and the bubbles grow to a size above the threshold while point contacting the bottom of the container and vaporize the fuel as they rise by convection.

However, in the conventional fuel vaporizer, since the heater is driven by using the power generated from the stack, the present invention is trying to reduce the above power, that is, parasitic power, based on the heat exchange amount of the fuel per unit heat exchange area of the preset container. to be. In addition, based on the heat exchange amount of the fuel per unit heat exchange area of the predetermined vessel is trying to reduce the size of the overall device by reducing the heat exchange area of the container and the heat generating area of the corresponding heater.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and an object thereof is to reduce parasitic electric power generating heat energy based on a heat exchange amount of fuel per unit heat exchange area of a predetermined container, and to heat exchange area of a container and a heat generating area of a heater. To provide a fuel vaporizer, a reformer and a fuel cell system employing the same.

A fuel vaporization apparatus of a fuel cell system according to the present invention for achieving the above object is provided in a fuel cell system for vaporizing a liquid fuel containing hydrogen and generating a reformed gas rich in hydrogen from the vaporized fuel. An accommodating part having an accommodating space substantially accommodating the fuel; A heating unit providing a heat source for evaporating the fuel to the receiving unit; And a screen member having a plurality of pores and positioned in the accommodation portion while being spaced apart from an inner wall of the accommodation portion.

In the fuel vaporization apparatus of the fuel cell system according to the present invention, it is preferable that the accommodation portion is formed of a sealed container in which the accommodation space is sealed.

Further, the fuel vaporization apparatus of the fuel cell system according to the present invention may be configured such that the heating portion is provided outside the sealed container to heat the sealed container.

And the fuel vaporization device of the fuel cell system according to the present invention, the screen member may be installed on the inner bottom surface of the sealed container spaced apart by a predetermined interval. In this case, it is preferable that the heating part is made of a heating plate with a built-in heating wire, and the heating plate is closely attached to the lower end of the airtight container.

In addition, in the fuel vaporization apparatus of the fuel cell system according to the present invention, the screen member may be installed on the inner wall and the bottom surface of the hermetic container at predetermined intervals. In this case, the heating unit is made of a heating plate with a built-in heating wire, the heating plate may be installed in close contact with the outer wall and the bottom of the sealed container.

In addition, the fuel vaporization apparatus of the fuel cell system according to the present invention is provided on the upper end of the hermetically sealed container, and a vapor discharge part for discharging vapor evaporated from the receiving space of the hermetically sealed container, and is installed on the sidewall of the hermetically sealed container. And a fuel injector for injecting fuel into the receiving space of the container.

In addition, the fuel vaporization apparatus of the fuel cell system according to the present invention comprises a conduit in which the receiving portion forms an opening at both ends, and injects the fuel into the inner space of the conduit through one of the openings, and the other opening. Through may be configured to discharge the vapor evaporating in the internal space.

In this case, the fuel vaporization apparatus of the fuel cell system according to the present invention is preferably provided with the screen member spaced apart from the inner wall of the pipe by a predetermined interval. And it is preferable that the heating part is formed of a heating block with a built-in heating wire while forming a through hole that can be inserted into the pipe so as to surround the entire pipe.

In addition, the reformer of the fuel cell system according to the present invention for achieving the above object, the fuel vaporization device for vaporizing a fuel containing hydrogen; And a reforming reaction unit connected to the fuel vaporizer to generate a hydrogen-rich reformed gas from vapor vaporized by the fuel vaporizer through a chemical catalytic reaction.

The fuel vaporizer includes a receiving portion having an accommodating space substantially accommodating the fuel, a heating portion for providing a heat source for evaporating the fuel to the accommodating portion, and a plurality of pores and spaced apart from an inner wall of the accommodating portion. While including the screen member located in the receiving portion.

The reformer of the fuel cell system according to the present invention includes: an airtight container for sealing the accommodating space, a vapor discharge part installed at an upper end of the airtight container for discharging steam evaporated from the airtight space of the airtight container; It may include a fuel injector is installed on the side wall of the sealed container for injecting fuel into the receiving space of the sealed container.

In this case, it is preferable that the heating part is made of a heating plate with a built-in heating wire, and the heating plate is closely attached to the sealed container.

In addition, the reformer of the fuel cell system according to the present invention, the receiving portion includes a conduit that forms an opening at both ends, through the opening through one of the fuel injected into the inner space of the conduit, through the other opening It may be configured to discharge the vapor evaporating in the internal space.

In this case, it is preferable that the heating part is formed of a heating block with a built-in heating wire while forming a through hole through which the pipe can be inserted to surround the entire pipe.

The reformer of the fuel cell system according to the present invention may further include at least one carbon monoxide reduction unit connected to the reforming reaction unit to reduce the carbon monoxide concentration of the reforming gas through a chemical catalytic reaction.

In addition, a fuel cell system according to the present invention for achieving the above object, a stack for generating electricity by the electrochemical reaction of hydrogen and oxygen; A reformer comprising a fuel vaporization device for vaporizing a liquid fuel containing hydrogen and a reforming reaction part for reforming the vaporized fluid to generate a hydrogen-rich reformed gas; A fuel supply unit supplying fuel to the reformer; And an air supply unit for supplying air to the stack,

The fuel vaporizer includes a receiving portion having an accommodating space substantially accommodating the fuel, a heating portion for providing a heat source for evaporating the fuel to the accommodating portion, and a plurality of pores and spaced apart from an inner wall of the accommodating portion. While including the screen member located in the receiving portion.

In the fuel cell system according to the present invention, the fuel supply unit comprises: a fuel tank for storing the liquid fuel; And a fuel pump connected to and installed with the fuel tank, and the air supply unit may include an air pump that sucks air.

In addition, the fuel cell system according to the present invention, the accommodating portion is a sealed container for sealing the accommodating space, a vapor discharge portion which is installed on the upper end of the sealed container to discharge the vapor evaporated in the accommodating space of the sealed container; It may include a fuel injection unit which is installed on the side wall of the sealed container to inject fuel into the receiving space of the sealed container.

In this case, it is preferable that the heating part is made of a heating plate with a built-in heating wire, and the heating plate is closely attached to the sealed container.

And the fuel cell system according to the present invention, the receiving portion includes a conduit to form an opening at both ends, through the opening through one of the fuel injected into the inner space of the conduit, the other through the inner It can also be configured to discharge vapors evaporating from the space.

In this case, it is preferable that the heating part is formed of a heating block with a built-in heating wire while forming a through hole through which the pipe can be inserted to surround the entire pipe.

In addition, the fuel cell system according to the present invention, the reformer may be further provided with at least one carbon monoxide reduction unit is connected to the reforming reaction unit to reduce the carbon monoxide concentration of the reforming gas through a chemical catalytic reaction.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings so that those skilled in the art may easily implement the present invention. The present invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein.

1 is a schematic diagram showing an overall configuration of a fuel cell system according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to the drawings, the system 100 reforms a fuel containing hydrogen to generate a hydrogen-rich reformed gas, and converts chemical energy generated by the electrochemical reaction of the reformed gas and oxygen directly into electrical energy. Polymer Electrode Membrane Fuel Cell (PEMFC) is adopted.

In the fuel cell system 100 according to the present invention, the fuel further includes water in addition to a hydrocarbon-based liquid fuel such as methanol or ethanol, and the liquid fuel and water are referred to as mixed fuels for convenience in the following description. define. In addition, the system 100 may use pure oxygen gas stored in a separate storage means as oxygen reacting with the reformed gas, and may use air containing oxygen as it is. However, the latter example of using air as oxygen will be described below.

The fuel cell system 100 basically includes a reformer 30 for reforming the mixed fuel to generate a hydrogen-rich reformed gas, and a stack for generating electrical energy through an electrochemical reaction between the reformed gas and air. 10, a fuel supply unit 50 for supplying the mixed fuel to the reformer 30, and an air supply unit 70 for supplying air to the stack 10.

The fuel supply unit 50 is connected to the first tank 51 for storing liquid fuel containing hydrogen, the second tank 52 for storing water, and the first and second tanks 51 and 52. And a fuel pump 53. And the air supply unit 70 includes an air pump 71 for sucking the air.

The reformer 30 used in the fuel cell system 100 of the present invention generates a reformed gas rich in hydrogen from the vaporized fuel through a fuel vaporizer 40 for vaporizing the mixed fuel and a chemical catalytic reaction. And a reforming reaction section 33 and at least one carbon monoxide reduction section 35 for reducing the concentration of carbon monoxide contained in the reforming gas.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing the structure of the fuel vaporization apparatus shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a combined cross-sectional view of FIG. 2.

1 to 3, the fuel vaporization device 40 includes an accommodating part 41 for accommodating fuel, a heating part 45 for heating the accommodating part 41, and an accommodating part 41. It includes a screen member 49 is located.

The accommodating portion 41 includes a sealed container 42 forming an accommodating space for accommodating fuel supplied from the first and second tanks 51 and 52, and a fuel injection for injecting fuel into the accommodating space. A portion 43 and a vapor discharge portion 44 for discharging the vapor evaporated in the receiving space.

The sealed container 42 includes a container sealed in the accommodation space, and forms a vapor discharge part 44 on an upper end of the container, and a fuel injection part 43 on a side wall of the container. The fuel injection unit 43 forms a fuel injection port 43a on the sidewall of the sealed container 42, and the fuel injection port 43a and the first and second tanks 51 through the first supply line 81. , 52). In addition, the steam outlet 44 forms at least one steam discharge port 44a on the upper end of the sealed container 42, and the steam discharge port 44a and the reforming reaction part through the second supply line 82. 33). In the present embodiment, the shape of the sealed container 42 is formed in the form of a hexahedron having an accommodation space therein, as shown in the drawing, but is not necessarily limited to the shape thereof.

The heating part 45 is for providing the sealed container 42 with a heat source for evaporating fuel contained in the accommodation space of the sealed container 42. The heating part 45 is located outside the airtight container 42 so as to heat the outer wall of the airtight container 42. Preferably, the heating part 45 includes a heating plate 46 installed in close contact with the lower end of the airtight container 42 and a heating wire 47 installed in the heating plate 46.

Here, the fuel vaporization apparatus 40 according to the present embodiment arranges the screen member 49 having a plurality of pores 49b spaced apart from the inner wall of the sealed container 42 by a predetermined interval, so that the fuel vaporizer 40 It has a feature to maximize the heat transfer rate of the heating portion 45 for.

More specifically, the screen member 49 has a plate-shaped body 49a corresponding to the inner bottom surface of the airtight container 42 while having pores 49b having a fine pattern in which a plurality of holes are formed. The body 49a is disposed to be spaced apart from the inner bottom surface of the sealed container 42 by a predetermined interval. The screen member 49 may be formed of a metal material such as aluminum, copper, iron, or the like having thermal conductivity, or may be formed of a nonmetal material such as ceramic. In addition, when the screen member 49 is made of a metallic material, the edge end of the body 49a may be welded to the inner wall of the sealed container 42 to fix it. In addition, when the screen member 49 is made of a non-metal material, the edge end of the body 49a may be fixed to the inner wall of the sealed container 42 by a coupling means such as a screw or an adhesive.

Therefore, the fuel vaporization device 40 according to the present embodiment includes a screen member 49 disposed to be spaced apart from the inner bottom surface of the hermetic container 42 by a predetermined interval, so that the fuel generated when the heating unit 45 is heated. The contact area per unit volume between the bubble and the bottom surface is increased. This increases the rate of bubble growth and increases the number of bubbles generated in the unit area of the bottom surface of the sealed container 42 per unit time, thereby maximizing the heat exchange amount of heat energy and fuel of the heating part 45. have.

On the other hand, the reforming reaction unit 33 has a structure for generating a hydrogen-rich reformed gas from the fuel vaporized by the fuel vaporizer 40 through a steam reformer (SR) catalytic reaction. Preferably, the reforming reaction section 33 is made of a cylindrical reaction vessel type, and forms a conventional reforming catalyst layer inside the reaction vessel. At this time, the reforming reaction unit 33 may be connected to the steam outlet 44 by the second supply line 82 as described above.

The carbon monoxide reduction unit 35 has a structure for reducing the concentration of carbon monoxide contained in the reformed gas through a water-gas shift reaction (WGS) catalytic reaction or a selective CO oxidation (PROX) catalyst reaction. Have Preferably, the carbon monoxide reduction unit 35 is formed in a cylindrical reaction vessel type, and forms a conventional water gas conversion catalyst layer or a carbon monoxide selective oxidation catalyst layer in the reaction vessel. Here, the reforming reaction unit 33 and the carbon monoxide reduction unit 35 may be connected and installed by the third supply line 83.

4 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the stack structure shown in FIG. 1.

1 and 4, the stack 10 applied to the present system 100 generates electric energy through an oxidation / reduction reaction of reformed gas reformed by the reformer 30 and oxygen contained in air. The plurality of electricity generating units 11 have a stacked structure.

In detail, each of the electricity generating units 11 forms a cell of the smallest unit generating electricity by arranging the bipolar plate 16 on both sides thereof with the electrode-electrolyte composite 12 at the center thereof. A plurality of cells are provided to form the stack 10 of the laminated structure as in the present embodiment. In addition, a separate contact plate 13 may be positioned at the outermost side of the stack 10 to closely contact the plurality of electricity generating units 11. However, the stack 10 according to the present invention excludes the contact plate 13 described above, and the bipolar plate 16 positioned at the outermost portion of the plurality of electricity generating units 11 replaces the role of the contact plate. can do. In addition to the function of bringing the adhesion plate 13 into close contact with the plurality of electricity generating units 11, the adhesion plate 13 may be configured to have a unique function of the bipolar plate 16.

The electrode-electrolyte composite 12 has an anode and cathode electrodes on both sides, and has an electrolyte membrane between the two electrodes. The anode electrode oxidizes the reformed gas, draws out the converted electrons to the outside, generates a current through the flow of electrons, and moves hydrogen ions to the cathode electrode through the electrolyte membrane. The cathode electrode converts the above-described hydrogen ions, electrons and oxygen into water. The electrolyte membrane also enables ion exchange to move hydrogen ions generated at the anode electrode to the cathode electrode.

The bipolar plate 16 has a function of supplying a reforming gas and air for the oxidation / reduction reaction of the electrode-electrolyte composite 12 to the anode electrode and the cathode electrode, and connects the anode electrode and the cathode electrode in series. The Lord also has the function of a conductor. More specifically, the bipolar plate 16 forms a hydrogen passage for supplying a reforming gas to the anode on a surface in close contact with the anode of the electrode-electrolyte composite 12, and of the electrode-electrolyte composite 12. On the surface in close contact with the cathode electrode, a flow channel 17 is formed to form an air passage for supplying air to the cathode electrode.

On the other hand, the adhesion plate 13 has a first injection portion 13a for supplying the reformed gas to the hydrogen passage of the bipolar plate 16 and a second injection portion for supplying air to the air passage of the bipolar plate 16. 13b, the first discharge portion 13c for discharging the hydrogen gas remaining after reacting at the anode electrode of the electrode-electrolyte composite 12, and the remaining electrode after reacting at the cathode electrode of the electrode-electrolyte composite 12 A second discharge portion 13d for discharging air is formed. The first injection unit 13a may be connected to the carbon monoxide reduction unit 35 by the fourth supply line 84. In addition, the second injection part 13b may be connected to the air pump 71 by the fifth supply line 85.

The operation of the fuel cell system according to the first embodiment of the present invention configured as described above will be described in detail as follows.

First, the fuel pump 53 is operated to supply liquid fuel stored in the first tank 51 and water stored in the second tank 52 to the first supply line 81, and the liquid fuel and water are mixed. The fuel is supplied to the accommodation space of the sealed container 42 through the fuel injection portion 43.

In this way, the sealed container 42 is heated using the heating unit 45 in the state where the mixed fuel is accommodated in the storage space of the sealed container 42. Then, the heat energy generated from the heating part 45 is transferred to the bottom surface of the sealed container 42, and the fuel is vaporized by the heat energy to form bubbles.

At this time, the fuel vaporization device 40 according to the present embodiment arranges the screen member 49 spaced apart from the bottom surface of the sealed container 42 by a predetermined interval, while making point contact with the bottom surface of the sealed container 42. Since bubbles grown to a size larger than a threshold are biased by the screen member 49, the contact area of bubbles to the bottom surface may be increased. That is, bubbles grown to a size larger than or equal to the threshold value do not rise from the bottom surface of the airtight container 42 due to the convection action and are pressed in a state of being in contact with the bottom surface by being interfered by the screen member 49. Thus, the contact area of the above-mentioned bubbles with respect to the bottom surface of the airtight container 42 between the bottom surface of the airtight container 42 and the screen member 49 is increased, thereby accelerating the growth rate of the air bubbles. . This increases the heat exchange amount of the fuel to the thermal energy per unit time, and substantially increases the number of bubbles passing through the pores 49b of the screen member 49 to vaporize the fuel in a short time.

During this process, the vaporized gas in the sealed container 42 is discharged through the vapor discharge part 44, and the vapor is supplied to the reforming reaction part 33 through the second supply line 82. . Then, in the reforming reaction unit 33, the decomposition reaction of the mixed fuel and the modification reaction of carbon monoxide proceed simultaneously through the steam reforming (Steam Reformer) catalyst reaction to generate a reforming gas containing carbon dioxide and hydrogen. At this time, it is difficult for the reforming reaction section 33 to completely perform the carbon monoxide modification reaction, thereby generating a reforming gas containing a small amount of carbon monoxide as a minor product.

Next, the reformed gas generated in the reforming reaction unit 33 is supplied to the carbon monoxide reduction unit 35 through the third supply line 83. Then, the carbon monoxide reduction unit 35 reduces the concentration of carbon monoxide contained in the reformed gas through a water-gas shift reaction (WGS) catalytic reaction or a selective CO oxidation (PROX) catalyst reaction.

Subsequently, the reformed gas having the reduced concentration of carbon monoxide is supplied to the first injection part 13a of the stack 10 through the fourth supply line 84. At the same time, the air pump 71 is operated to supply air to the second injection portion 13b of the stack 10 through the fifth supply line 85.

Therefore, the reformed gas is supplied to the anode electrode of the electrode-electrolyte composite 12 through the bipolar plate 16, and air is supplied to the cathode electrode. When the reformed gas flows to the anode, the anode decomposes hydrogen into electrons and protons (hydrogen ions) through an oxidation reaction. The proton is moved to the cathode electrode through the electrolyte membrane, and the electrons are not moved through the electrolyte membrane, but are moved to the cathode electrode through the conductive wires. In addition, the cathode generates water through the reduced protons and the reduction reaction of electrons and oxygen.

FIG. 5 is a sectional configuration diagram showing a modification of the fuel vaporization apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG.

Referring to FIG. 5, in this case, the screen member 49 is configured to be spaced apart from the inner wall and the inner bottom surface of the sealed container 42 at a predetermined interval based on the structure of the above-described embodiment. Moreover, according to the said modification, the heating part 45 can be installed in close contact with the outer side wall and the lower end of the airtight container 42.

6 is a schematic view showing the overall configuration of a fuel cell system according to a second embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view showing the structure of the fuel vaporization apparatus shown in FIG. 6, and FIG. 8 is FIG. Is a cross-sectional configuration diagram. The same components as those described in FIG. 1 are the same members with the same functions.

6 to 8, the fuel cell system 200 according to the present exemplary embodiment includes an accommodating part 91 in the form of a passage through which a mixed fuel passes, and a heating part (eg, an outer side of the accommodating part 91). A fuel vaporizer 90 is provided where 95 is located. The reformer 60 applied to the system 200 includes the fuel vaporizer 90, a reforming reaction unit 63 and a carbon monoxide reduction unit 65 as in the first embodiment.

Unlike the first embodiment, the accommodating portion 91 includes a conduit 92 forming openings 92a and 92b at both ends (hereinafter, referred to as "first opening" and "second opening"). The screen member 99 is disposed on the inner wall of the conduit 92 so as to be spaced apart by a predetermined interval. At this time, the screen member 99 is provided with a body (99a) having the same shape as the conduit 92, the body (99a) is formed with a plurality of pores (99b).

The conduit 92 causes the mixed fuel to be injected into the inner space of the conduit 92 through the first opening 92a, and the vapor generated while the mixed fuel is vaporized by the heating unit 95 receives the second opening 92b. ) To be discharged. At this time, the conduit 92 is disposed between the fuel supply unit 50 and the reforming reaction unit 33 to connect the first opening 92a and the fuel supply unit 50, and the second opening 92b and the reforming reaction unit. Connect (33).

The heating section 95 is for vaporizing the mixed fuel passing through the internal space of the conduit 92 by heating the conduit 92. The heating unit 95 includes a heating block 96 covering the entire conduit 92 and a heating wire 97 embedded in the heating block 96. Here, the heating block 96 forms a through hole 96a through which the conduit 92 is inserted.

According to the present invention, when the mixed fuel is supplied to the inner space of the conduit 92 through the first opening 92a of the conduit 92, the heating unit 95 vaporizes the mixed fuel passing through the inner space. And the vapor is discharged to the reforming reaction section 33 through the second opening 92b of the conduit 92.

The remaining components are the same as those of the first embodiment, and the process of vaporizing the mixed fuel using the fuel vaporizer 90 according to the present embodiment and the operation of the system 200 are also the same as the first embodiment. Detailed description will be omitted.

Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited thereto, and various modifications and changes can be made within the scope of the claims and the detailed description of the invention and the accompanying drawings. Naturally, it belongs to the scope of the invention.

According to the present invention, since the screen member positioned on the inner wall of the container is spaced apart, the heat exchange amount of fuel per unit heat exchange area of the container is increased, thereby reducing the parasitic power consumed to drive the heating unit, further improving the efficiency of the system. You can.

In addition, since the heat exchange area of the container and the heat generating area of the corresponding heater can be reduced based on the heat exchange amount of the fuel per unit heat exchange area of the predetermined container, the overall system size can be compactly implemented.

Claims (26)

A fuel cell system including a reformer for vaporizing a liquid fuel containing hydrogen and generating a reformed gas rich in hydrogen from the vaporized fuel, An accommodation portion having an accommodation space for accommodating the fuel; A heating unit providing a heat source for evaporating the fuel to the receiving unit; And A screen member having a plurality of pores, located in the receiving portion while being spaced apart from the inner wall of the receiving portion Fuel vaporizer comprising a. The method of claim 1, A fuel vaporization apparatus, wherein the accommodation portion comprises a sealed container for sealing the accommodation space. The method of claim 2, And a fuel vaporizing device to install the screen member at predetermined intervals on an inner bottom surface of the sealed container. The method of claim 3, wherein And the heating unit is provided outside the sealed container to heat the sealed container. The method of claim 4, wherein And a heating plate in which the heating unit is provided with a built-in heating wire, and the heating plate is closely attached to a lower end of the airtight container. The method of claim 2, And a fuel vaporizing device to install the screen member at predetermined intervals on an inner wall and a bottom surface of the sealed container. The method of claim 6, And a heating plate in which the heating unit is provided with a built-in heating wire, and the heating plate is closely attached to the outer wall and the bottom of the sealed container. The method of claim 2, A vapor discharge part installed at an upper end of the sealed container and discharging vapor evaporated from the receiving space of the sealed container, and a fuel injection part installed at a side wall of the sealed container to inject fuel into the receiving space of the sealed container; Fuel vaporizer. The method of claim 1, The receiving portion is composed of a conduit forming openings at both ends, A fuel vaporization device for injecting the fuel into the interior space of the conduit through one of the openings, and discharges vapor evaporating in the interior space through the other opening. The method of claim 9, And a fuel vaporizer for installing the screen member at predetermined intervals on an inner wall of the conduit. The method of claim 9, A fuel vaporization device comprising a heating block having a heating wire therein while forming a through hole through which the heating part can be inserted so as to surround the entire pipe. A fuel vaporization device for vaporizing a fuel containing hydrogen; And A reforming reaction unit connected to the fuel vaporizer to generate hydrogen-rich reformed gas from vapor vaporized by the fuel vaporizer through a chemical catalytic reaction. Including; The fuel vaporizer includes a receiving part having an accommodating space for accommodating the fuel, a heating part for providing a heat source for evaporating the fuel to the accommodating part, and having a plurality of pores and spaced apart from an inner wall of the accommodating part. A reformer of a fuel cell system comprising a screen member located within the receptacle. 13. The method of claim 12, The accommodating portion includes a sealed container for sealing the accommodating space, a vapor discharging portion provided at an upper end of the sealed container for discharging vapor evaporated from the accommodating space of the sealed container, and is provided on the side wall of the sealed container for sealing A reformer of a fuel cell system comprising a fuel injector for injecting fuel into a receiving space of a container. The method of claim 13, A reformer of a fuel cell system, wherein the heating unit is formed of a heating plate in which a heating wire is built-in, and the heating plate is closely attached to the sealed container. 13. The method of claim 12, The receiving portion includes a conduit forming openings at both ends, A reformer of a fuel cell system through one of the openings to inject the fuel into the interior space of the conduit, and through the other opening to discharge the vapor evaporating in the interior space. The method of claim 15, A reformer of a fuel cell system comprising a heating block in which a heating wire is formed while forming a through hole through which the heating portion can be inserted into the pipeline so as to surround the entire pipeline. 13. The method of claim 12, And at least one carbon monoxide reduction unit connected to the reforming reaction unit to reduce the carbon monoxide concentration of the reforming gas through a chemical catalytic reaction. A stack for generating electricity by an electrochemical reaction of hydrogen and oxygen; A reformer comprising a fuel vaporizer for vaporizing a liquid fuel containing hydrogen, and a reforming reactor for reforming the vaporized fluid to generate a hydrogen-rich reformed gas; A fuel supply unit supplying fuel to the reformer; And An air supply unit for supplying air to the stack Including, The fuel vaporizer includes a receiving part having an accommodating space for accommodating the fuel, a heating part for providing a heat source for evaporating the fuel to the accommodating part, and having a plurality of pores and spaced apart from an inner wall of the accommodating part. A fuel cell system comprising a screen member located within the receiving portion. The method of claim 18, The fuel supply unit: A fuel tank for storing the liquid fuel; And A fuel cell system comprising a fuel pump connected to the fuel tank and installed. The method of claim 18, And the air supply unit includes an air pump for sucking air. The method of claim 18, The accommodating portion includes a sealed container for sealing the accommodating space, a vapor discharging portion provided at an upper end of the sealed container for discharging vapor evaporated from the accommodating space of the sealed container, and is provided on the side wall of the sealed container and sealed. A fuel cell system comprising a fuel injector for injecting fuel into a receiving space of a container. The method of claim 21, And a heating plate in which the heating unit is provided with a built-in heating wire, and the heating plate is closely attached to the sealed container. The method of claim 18, The receiving portion includes a conduit forming openings at both ends, A fuel cell system for injecting the fuel into the interior space of the conduit through one of the openings, and discharges vapor evaporating in the interior space through the other opening. The method of claim 23, wherein A fuel cell system comprising: a heating block in which a heating wire is formed while forming a through hole through which the heating portion can be inserted so that the heating portion surrounds the entire pipeline. The method of claim 18, The reformer further comprises at least one carbon monoxide reduction unit installed in connection with the reforming reaction unit to reduce the carbon monoxide concentration of the reforming gas through a chemical catalytic reaction. The method of claim 18, The fuel cell system is a fuel cell system comprising a polymer electrolyte fuel cell (PEMFC) method.

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