KR20060108112A - Reformer for fuel cell system - Google Patents

Abstract

The reforming apparatus for a fuel cell system according to the present invention includes at least one reactor body made of a plate type while having a predetermined accommodation space therein, and a catalyst layer filled in the accommodation space,

The reactor body includes at least one catalyst inlet for filling the catalyst into the receiving space and a closing member for closing the catalyst inlet.

Fuel Cell, Stack, Reformer, Reaction Base, Brazing, Bonding, Receiving Space, Catalyst Layer, Catalyst Inlet, Finish, Welding

Description

Reformer for Fuel Cell System {REFORMER FOR FUEL CELL SYSTEM}

1 is a block diagram schematically illustrating a configuration of a fuel cell system employing a reforming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

2 is a perspective view illustrating a reformer for a fuel cell system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

3 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 2.

4 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the reformer shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view for explaining the structure and manufacturing method of the reactor body shown in FIG. 4.

6 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the configuration of a reformer for a fuel cell system according to another embodiment of the present invention.

The present invention relates to a fuel cell system, and more particularly to a plate type reformer for generating hydrogen from fuel.

As is known, a fuel cell is a power generation system that generates electrical energy using fuel and oxygen such as methanol, ethanol and natural gas.

The polymer electrolyte fuel cell (PEMFC, hereinafter called PEMFC for convenience), which has been recently developed in such a fuel cell, has excellent output characteristics, low operating temperature, and fast start-up and response characteristics. As well as mobile power sources such as automobiles, as well as distributed power sources such as homes, public buildings and small power sources such as for electronic devices has a wide range of applications.

PEMFC basically includes a stack, a reformer, a fuel tank, etc. to construct a system. The stack forms the body of a fuel cell that generates electrical energy through the reaction of hydrogen and oxygen, and the fuel pump supplies the fuel in the fuel tank to the reformer. The reformer then reforms the fuel to generate hydrogen and supplies this hydrogen to the stack.

In such a fuel cell system, the reformer generates hydrogen from the fuel through a chemical catalytic reaction by thermal energy. The reformer generates thermal energy using the fuel, and generates hydrogen through the reforming reaction of the fuel by the thermal energy. And a plurality of fuel processing units that generate and reduce the concentration of carbon monoxide contained in hydrogen.

However, according to the conventional reformer for a fuel cell system, since a plurality of fuel processing units are distributed and disposed in a container type, heat exchange between them is not directly performed, which is disadvantageous in terms of heat transfer, and the size of the entire system is compactly realized. There is a problem that can not be.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and an object thereof is to provide a reforming apparatus for a fuel cell system that can maximize heat transfer efficiency and reduce the volume of an entire system as a plate type structure.

In order to achieve the above object, the reforming apparatus for a fuel cell system according to the present invention includes at least one reactor body having a predetermined accommodating space therein and having a plate type, and a catalyst layer filled in the accommodating space. ,

The reactor body includes at least one catalyst inlet for filling the catalyst into the receiving space and a closing member for closing the catalyst inlet.

The reforming apparatus for a fuel cell system according to the present invention may include a plurality of the reactor main bodies, and the reactor main bodies may be sequentially stacked to form an aggregate structure of the reactor main bodies.

In addition, in the reforming apparatus for a fuel cell system according to the present invention, the reactor body may include a welding unit for joining the finishing member and the catalyst inlet.

In the reforming apparatus for a fuel cell system according to the present invention, the catalyst inlet is formed as a hole communicating with the receiving space, and has an open end for inserting the finishing member.

In addition, in the reforming apparatus for a fuel cell system according to the present invention, the finishing member may be formed as a block forming a combination with the catalyst inlet.

In the reformer for a fuel cell system according to the present invention, the reactor body includes a first metal plate having a first groove corresponding to the accommodation space and a second groove corresponding to the catalyst inlet, and the first metal. A second metal plate arranged in close contact with the plate to form the receiving space by the first groove, and the catalyst inlet by the second groove, and a melted portion in close contact with the first metal plate and the second metal plate; It may be formed to include a junction for integrally bonding the first, second metal plate.

In addition, in the reforming apparatus for a fuel cell system according to the present invention, the first metal plate may form a close contact portion at portions other than the first and second grooves.

And in the reforming apparatus for a fuel cell system according to the present invention, the joining portion is formed as a metal thin plate interposed between the first metal plate and the second metal plate while having a shape corresponding to the contact portion of the first metal plate. It is preferably formed by melting the thin metal plate by heat.

In the reforming apparatus for a fuel cell system according to the present invention, the first and second metal plates may be formed of stainless steel or aluminum. In this case, the metal thin plate is preferably made of a material having a lower melting point than the first and second metal plates.

In the reforming apparatus for a fuel cell system according to the present invention, the catalyst layer may be formed by filling a catalyst in pellet form into the accommodation space through the catalyst inlet.

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. As those skilled in the art would realize, the described embodiments may be modified in various different ways, all without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention.

1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a fuel cell system employing a reformer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to the fuel cell system 100 applied to the present invention with reference to the drawings, the fuel cell system 100 generates hydrogen by reforming the reactants containing the fuel, the hydrogen is electrochemically reacted with oxygen It is made of a polymer electrolyte fuel cell (PEMFC) method to generate electrical energy.

The fuel in the fuel cell system 100 includes a fuel made of a liquid or gaseous state containing hydrogen such as methanol, ethanol or natural gas. However, the fuel described below means the liquid fuel described above.

The fuel cell system 100 is a stack 10 for generating electrical energy by the reaction of hydrogen and oxygen, and a reforming for reforming a reactant containing fuel to generate hydrogen and supply the hydrogen to the stack 10. It comprises a device 30, a fuel supply source 50 for supplying fuel to the reformer 30, and an air supply source 70 for supplying oxygen to the stack 10.

The stack 10 includes the electricity generating unit 11 of the minimum unit for generating the above-described electrical energy, which is centered on a conventional membrane-electrode assembly (MEA). And a separator (also referred to as 'bipolar plate' in the art) on both sides thereof. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the stack 10 having the aggregate structure of the electricity generators 11 can be formed by providing a plurality of the electricity generators 11 having the minimum unit and arranging them continuously. Since the stack 10 may be configured as a stack of a conventional polymer electrolyte fuel cell, detailed description thereof will be omitted herein.

In this embodiment, the reformer 30 is configured as a fuel treatment unit that chemically changes the reactants mentioned and ultimately reforms the fuel provided by the fuel source 50 to generate hydrogen. The fuel treatment unit includes a reforming reactor for generating hydrogen through a reforming reaction of fuel by thermal energy, an oxidation reactor for generating the thermal energy through oxidation of fuel, and a carbon monoxide purifier for reducing the concentration of carbon monoxide contained in hydrogen. It may include. The configuration of such a reforming device 30 will be described later with reference to FIGS. 2 to 5.

The fuel supply source 50 for supplying fuel to the reformer 30 includes a fuel tank 51 for storing fuel, and a fuel pump 53 for discharging the fuel and supplying the fuel to the reformer 30. It may include. In addition, the air supply 70 may include an air pump 71 for sucking air at a predetermined pumping pressure and supplying the air to the stack 10. Alternatively, the air source 70 is not limited to having an air pump 71, but may have a fan of a conventional structure.

Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings, the reforming apparatus 30 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail.

2 is a perspective view illustrating a reformer for a fuel cell system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional configuration diagram of FIG. 2.

Referring to the drawings, the reforming apparatus 30 according to the present embodiment is provided as a reforming reactor of a fuel processing unit that generates hydrogen from the fuel through a reforming reaction of the fuel by thermal energy.

The reformer 30 constitutes a plate-type reactor body 41 having a catalyst layer 38 therein for promoting the reforming reaction.

In the above, the reactor body 41 is formed of a metal plate of a substantially rectangular shape (a rectangle whose length in the x-axis direction is longer than the length in the y-axis direction in FIG. 2) forming a predetermined accommodation space 43 (FIG. 3) therein. . In this case, the reactor body 41 may be filled with a catalyst in a pellet form in the accommodation space 43 to form the catalyst layer 38.

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 4, the reactor main body 41 includes a catalyst inlet 45 for filling the catalyst in pellet form into the accommodation space 43, and substantially closes the catalyst inlet 45. The finishing member 47 is provided.

The catalyst inlet 45 is formed at one side of the reactor body 41 as a hole communicating with the receiving space 43, and has an open end 46 into which the finishing member 47 can be inserted. It is formed on the side. At this time, the catalyst inlet 45 may be formed as a single hole in the side of the reactor body 41, as shown in the figure, but is not limited to this may be formed of a plurality of holes in the side of the reactor body (41). have.

The closing member 47 may be formed as a closing block 48 forming a coupling with the catalyst inlet 45. The finishing block 48 is inserted through the open end 46 of the catalyst inlet 45 to close the catalyst inlet 45.

This reactor body 41 is provided with a weld 49 for joining the finish block 48 to the open end 46 of the catalyst inlet 45, which is an edge of the finish block 48. The stage and the open end 46 of the catalyst inlet 45 may be formed by laser welding. The weld 49 serves to integrally bond the finishing block 48 to the reactor body 41 while sealing the gap between the edge end of the finishing block 48 and the open end 46.

Accordingly, the catalyst inlet 45 is charged into the receiving space 43 through the catalyst inlet 45 of the reactor body 41 to form the catalyst layer 38, and the finishing block 48 is inserted into the catalyst inlet 45. The reformer 30 according to the present embodiment can be formed by laser welding the finishing block 48 and the open end 46 of the catalyst inlet 45. At this time, the reforming device 30 is an injection unit (not shown) for injecting fuel into the receiving space 43 and for discharging hydrogen generated through the reforming reaction of the fuel by the catalyst layer 38. It is obvious that an outlet portion (not shown) is formed.

Referring to the structure of the reactor body 41 configured as described above in more detail, the reactor body 41 is a first metal plate 31 and a first metal plate 31 for substantially containing the catalyst in the form of pellets The second metal plate 32 in close contact with each other), and the joining portion 35 for integrally joining the first metal plate 31 and the second metal plate 32.

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view for explaining the structure and manufacturing method of the reactor body shown in FIG. 4.

Referring to the drawings, in the reactor body 41 according to the present embodiment, the first metal plate 31 corresponds to the first groove 33 corresponding to the receiving space 43 and the catalyst inlet 45. The second groove 34 is formed on the upper surface in the drawing. The first groove 33 is formed in a shape that takes an approximately rectangular shape in the remaining portions except for the upper edge portion of the first metal plate 31. The second groove 34 is formed at the edge portion so as to communicate with the first groove 33. The second groove 34 is formed as a shape complementary to the finishing block 48, the open end 46 (Fig. 4) as mentioned in one short side portion of the first metal plate 31. Can be formed. In this case, the portion “a” of the first metal plate 31 excluding the first groove 33 and the second groove 33 in the drawing is formed as an adhesion part in close contact with the second metal plate 32 which will be described later. do.

The second metal plate 32 is formed in a size corresponding to the first metal plate 31 and is joined to the tight portion of the first metal plate 31 by the joining portion 35 which will be described later.

Accordingly, the second metal plate 32 is joined to the tight contact portion a of the first metal plate 31 by the joining part 35, thereby accommodating the receiving space 43 and the first space by the first groove 33. The catalyst inlet 35 by the two grooves 34 can be formed.

The junction part 35 is melt-formed in the close contact portion of the first metal plate 31 and the second metal plate 32 to function to integrally couple the first and second metal plates 31 and 32. The junction part 35 may be formed by melting / fixing a metal thin plate 35a having a shape corresponding to the contact portion a of the first metal plate 31 by a predetermined heat. At this time, the metal thin plate 35a is preferably formed of a conventional metal material having a lower melting point than the first and second metal plates 31 and 32. Thus, a method of bonding two or more base materials to each other by melting a predetermined thin metal sheet or film is also commonly referred to as a brazing bonding method in the art.

Looking at the manufacturing method of the reforming apparatus for a fuel cell system according to an embodiment of the present invention configured as described above, first, the first metal plate 31 and the first groove 33 and the second groove 34 are formed; A second metal plate 32 having a size corresponding to the first metal plate 31 and a finishing block 48 having a shape corresponding to the second groove 34 are prepared.

In this case, the first groove 33 is formed in the remaining portions except for the upper edge portion of the first metal plate 31. In addition, the second groove 34 is formed as an open shape to one side of the first metal plate 31 while communicating with the first groove 33 at the edge portion. The remaining portion of the first metal plate 31 except for the first and second grooves 33 and 34 is denoted as an “a” portion in the drawing, and the first metal plate in close contact with the second metal plate 32 ( 31) means the close contact portion.

Subsequently, a metal thin plate 35a of a shape corresponding to the contact portion a of the first metal plate 31 is interposed between the first metal plate 31 and the second metal plate 32.

The following is a process of integrally joining the first metal plate 31 and the second metal plate 32 by using a brazing bonding method, and the first metal plate 31 with the metal thin plate 35a therebetween. ) And the second metal plate 32 in a pressure-adhering state, the first metal plate 31 and the second metal plate 32 are heated to a predetermined temperature. Then, the thin metal plate 35a is melted by the above-described heat at the close contact portion between the first metal plate 31 and the second metal plate 32 so that the first metal plate 31 and the second metal plate 32 are formed. The junction part 35 is formed in the close contact part of the.

Accordingly, as the first and second metal plates 31 and 32 are integrally joined by the joining part 35, the accommodation space 43 by the first groove 33 of the first metal plate 31, and The reactor body 41 having the catalyst inlet 45 by the second groove 34 can be formed.

After such a process, the catalyst layer 38 is formed by introducing the catalyst in pellet form into the accommodation space 43 through the catalyst inlet 45 of the reactor body 41, and the finishing block 48 is the catalyst inlet 45. When the weld 49 is formed by laser welding the edge end of the finishing block 48 and the open end 46 of the catalyst inlet 45 in the state of inserting into the above), the reforming apparatus 30 of the present embodiment Manufacturing is complete.

In detail, according to the reforming apparatus 30 according to the present embodiment, the reactor body having the receiving space 43 and the catalyst inlet 45 by joining the first and second metal plates 31 and 32 in a brazing manner ( 41), the catalyst may be formed by filling the catalyst into the receiving space 43 through the catalyst inlet 45, and then closing the catalyst inlet 43.

Therefore, in the case of the reformer according to one example of a plate type by bonding a reaction plate and a separate plate formed by coating a catalyst layer on a channel that enables fuel flow to form a brazing method, the catalyst layer is heat Due to the problem of falling off, etc., the reforming apparatus 30 according to the present embodiment does not cause the problems as mentioned above as it is configured through the manufacturing process as described above.

When the reformer 30 is employed in the fuel cell system 100, when the fuel cell system 100 is operated, the fuel pump 51 is operated to feed the fuel into the accommodation space 43 of the reactor body 41. To supply. Then, the fuel flows into the accommodating space 43 to cause a reforming reaction by the catalyst layer 38. In the reforming apparatus 30 according to the present embodiment, hydrogen is generated by the reforming reaction of the fuel. .

As a result, when the hydrogen is supplied to the stack 10, and the air pump 71 is operated to supply air to the stack 10, the electricity generation unit 11 of the stack 10 reacts hydrogen and oxygen. By outputting the electric energy of the predetermined capacity.

6 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the configuration of a reformer for a fuel cell system according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to the drawings, the reformer 30A for a fuel cell system according to the present embodiment includes a first reactor body 41A as in the previous embodiment, and at least one second in the first reactor body 41A. It may be configured by stacking the reactor body (41B).

In the present embodiment, the second reactor main body 41B has the same structure as the first reactor main body 41A. As shown in the drawing, the second reactor main body 41B closely adheres to the upper and lower surfaces of the first reactor main body 41A. Can be arranged.

Preferably, the second reactor body 41B disposed on the upper surface of the first reactor body 41A generates heat energy in a predetermined temperature range by an oxidation reaction of fuel and oxygen, and generates the heat energy in the first reactor body ( It may be provided as an oxidation reactor of the fuel processing unit provided to 41A). In addition, the second reactor body 41B disposed on the lower surface of the first reactor body 41A may include carbon monoxide contained in hydrogen generated from the first reactor body 41A, and the carbon monoxide may be reacted with oxygen supplied separately. It may be provided as a carbon monoxide reducer (commonly referred to as a "PROX reactor") of the fuel processing unit for reducing the concentration.

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 as described above, by filling the catalyst in the form of pellets into the reactor body formed by joining the first and second metal plates in a brazing manner, to form a plate-type reforming device, the entire system can be compactly implemented. It is possible to improve the heat transfer efficiency of the overall reforming apparatus by enabling a laminated structure. In addition, in the reforming apparatus formed by bonding the reaction substrate having a catalyst layer coated on the channel with a separate plate in a brazing manner, the catalyst layer may be separated by heat during the brazing bonding process of the reaction substrate and the plate. I can solve it.

Claims (11)

At least one reactor body having a predetermined accommodating space therein and having a plate type; And Catalyst layer filled in the receiving space Including; The reactor body, the reformer for a fuel cell system including at least one catalyst inlet for filling the catalyst into the receiving space, and a closing member for closing the catalyst inlet. According to claim 1, A reformer for a fuel cell system, comprising a plurality of reactor bodies, and continuously stacking these reactor bodies to form an aggregate structure of the reactor bodies. The method according to claim 1 or 2, The reactor body includes a welding unit for joining the finishing member and the catalyst inlet. The method of claim 3, wherein The catalyst inlet is formed as a hole in communication with the receiving space, and the reformer for a fuel cell system having an open end for inserting the finishing member. The method of claim 4, wherein The finishing member is a reforming device for a fuel cell system is formed as a block forming a combination of the catalyst inlet. The method according to claim 1 or 2, The reactor body, A first metal plate having a first groove corresponding to the accommodation space and a second groove corresponding to the catalyst inlet; A second metal plate disposed in close contact with the first metal plate to form the accommodation space by the first groove and the catalyst inlet by the second groove; Bonding part which is melt-formed in the close contact part of the said 1st metal plate and said 2nd metal plate, and integrally joins the said 1st, 2nd metal plate Reformer for a fuel cell system comprising a. The method of claim 6, The first metal plate is a reforming device for a fuel cell system to form a close contact portion in the remaining portions other than the first and second grooves. The method of claim 7, wherein The joint portion is formed as a metal thin plate interposed between the first metal plate and the second metal plate while having a shape corresponding to the contact portion of the first metal plate, wherein the metal thin plate is melted by heat. Reformer for system. The method of claim 8, And the first and second metal plates are formed of stainless steel or aluminum. The method of claim 9, And the metal thin plate is formed of a material having a lower melting point than the first and second metal plates. According to claim 1, The catalyst layer is a reformer for a fuel cell system is formed by filling the catalyst in the form of pellets into the receiving space through the catalyst inlet.

Images