WO2014119221A1 - Fuel cell module - Google Patents

Fuel cell module Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2014119221A1
WO2014119221A1 PCT/JP2013/085350 JP2013085350W WO2014119221A1 WO 2014119221 A1 WO2014119221 A1 WO 2014119221A1 JP 2013085350 W JP2013085350 W JP 2013085350W WO 2014119221 A1 WO2014119221 A1 WO 2014119221A1
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
gas
fuel cell
combustion
oxygen
fuel
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/JP2013/085350
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Yuki Yoshimine
Ayaka Nango
Original Assignee
Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Honda Motor Co., Ltd. filed Critical Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
Publication of WO2014119221A1 publication Critical patent/WO2014119221A1/en

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    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C01—INORGANIC CHEMISTRY
    • C01B—NON-METALLIC ELEMENTS; COMPOUNDS THEREOF; METALLOIDS OR COMPOUNDS THEREOF NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASS C01C
    • C01B3/00—Hydrogen; Gaseous mixtures containing hydrogen; Separation of hydrogen from mixtures containing it; Purification of hydrogen
    • C01B3/02—Production of hydrogen or of gaseous mixtures containing a substantial proportion of hydrogen
    • C01B3/32—Production of hydrogen or of gaseous mixtures containing a substantial proportion of hydrogen by reaction of gaseous or liquid organic compounds with gasifying agents, e.g. water, carbon dioxide, air
    • C01B3/34—Production of hydrogen or of gaseous mixtures containing a substantial proportion of hydrogen by reaction of gaseous or liquid organic compounds with gasifying agents, e.g. water, carbon dioxide, air by reaction of hydrocarbons with gasifying agents
    • C01B3/38—Production of hydrogen or of gaseous mixtures containing a substantial proportion of hydrogen by reaction of gaseous or liquid organic compounds with gasifying agents, e.g. water, carbon dioxide, air by reaction of hydrocarbons with gasifying agents using catalysts
    • C01B3/384—Production of hydrogen or of gaseous mixtures containing a substantial proportion of hydrogen by reaction of gaseous or liquid organic compounds with gasifying agents, e.g. water, carbon dioxide, air by reaction of hydrocarbons with gasifying agents using catalysts the catalyst being continuously externally heated
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M8/24—Grouping of fuel cells, e.g. stacking of fuel cells
    • H01M8/2457—Grouping of fuel cells, e.g. stacking of fuel cells with both reactants being gaseous or vaporised
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01J—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS
    • B01J8/00—Chemical or physical processes in general, conducted in the presence of fluids and solid particles; Apparatus for such processes
    • B01J8/02—Chemical or physical processes in general, conducted in the presence of fluids and solid particles; Apparatus for such processes with stationary particles, e.g. in fixed beds
    • B01J8/04—Chemical or physical processes in general, conducted in the presence of fluids and solid particles; Apparatus for such processes with stationary particles, e.g. in fixed beds the fluid passing successively through two or more beds
    • B01J8/0446—Chemical or physical processes in general, conducted in the presence of fluids and solid particles; Apparatus for such processes with stationary particles, e.g. in fixed beds the fluid passing successively through two or more beds the flow within the beds being predominantly vertical
    • B01J8/0461—Chemical or physical processes in general, conducted in the presence of fluids and solid particles; Apparatus for such processes with stationary particles, e.g. in fixed beds the fluid passing successively through two or more beds the flow within the beds being predominantly vertical in two or more cylindrical annular shaped beds
    • B01J8/0465—Chemical or physical processes in general, conducted in the presence of fluids and solid particles; Apparatus for such processes with stationary particles, e.g. in fixed beds the fluid passing successively through two or more beds the flow within the beds being predominantly vertical in two or more cylindrical annular shaped beds the beds being concentric
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M8/04—Auxiliary arrangements, e.g. for control of pressure or for circulation of fluids
    • H01M8/04007—Auxiliary arrangements, e.g. for control of pressure or for circulation of fluids related to heat exchange
    • H01M8/04014—Heat exchange using gaseous fluids; Heat exchange by combustion of reactants
    • H01M8/04022—Heating by combustion
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M8/04—Auxiliary arrangements, e.g. for control of pressure or for circulation of fluids
    • H01M8/04007—Auxiliary arrangements, e.g. for control of pressure or for circulation of fluids related to heat exchange
    • H01M8/04067—Heat exchange or temperature measuring elements, thermal insulation, e.g. heat pipes, heat pumps, fins
    • H01M8/04074—Heat exchange unit structures specially adapted for fuel cell
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M8/06—Combination of fuel cells with means for production of reactants or for treatment of residues
    • H01M8/0606—Combination of fuel cells with means for production of reactants or for treatment of residues with means for production of gaseous reactants
    • H01M8/0612—Combination of fuel cells with means for production of reactants or for treatment of residues with means for production of gaseous reactants from carbon-containing material
    • H01M8/0625—Combination of fuel cells with means for production of reactants or for treatment of residues with means for production of gaseous reactants from carbon-containing material in a modular combined reactor/fuel cell structure
    • H01M8/0631—Reactor construction specially adapted for combination reactor/fuel cell
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M8/06—Combination of fuel cells with means for production of reactants or for treatment of residues
    • H01M8/0662—Treatment of gaseous reactants or gaseous residues, e.g. cleaning
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M8/24—Grouping of fuel cells, e.g. stacking of fuel cells
    • H01M8/241—Grouping of fuel cells, e.g. stacking of fuel cells with solid or matrix-supported electrolytes
    • H01M8/2425—High-temperature cells with solid electrolytes
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M8/24—Grouping of fuel cells, e.g. stacking of fuel cells
    • H01M8/241—Grouping of fuel cells, e.g. stacking of fuel cells with solid or matrix-supported electrolytes
    • H01M8/2425—High-temperature cells with solid electrolytes
    • H01M8/2432—Grouping of unit cells of planar configuration
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01J—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS
    • B01J2208/00—Processes carried out in the presence of solid particles; Reactors therefor
    • B01J2208/00008—Controlling the process
    • B01J2208/00017—Controlling the temperature
    • B01J2208/00504—Controlling the temperature by means of a burner
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C01—INORGANIC CHEMISTRY
    • C01B—NON-METALLIC ELEMENTS; COMPOUNDS THEREOF; METALLOIDS OR COMPOUNDS THEREOF NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASS C01C
    • C01B2203/00—Integrated processes for the production of hydrogen or synthesis gas
    • C01B2203/06—Integration with other chemical processes
    • C01B2203/066—Integration with other chemical processes with fuel cells
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C01—INORGANIC CHEMISTRY
    • C01B—NON-METALLIC ELEMENTS; COMPOUNDS THEREOF; METALLOIDS OR COMPOUNDS THEREOF NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASS C01C
    • C01B2203/00—Integrated processes for the production of hydrogen or synthesis gas
    • C01B2203/08—Methods of heating or cooling
    • C01B2203/0805—Methods of heating the process for making hydrogen or synthesis gas
    • C01B2203/0811—Methods of heating the process for making hydrogen or synthesis gas by combustion of fuel
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C01—INORGANIC CHEMISTRY
    • C01B—NON-METALLIC ELEMENTS; COMPOUNDS THEREOF; METALLOIDS OR COMPOUNDS THEREOF NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASS C01C
    • C01B2203/00—Integrated processes for the production of hydrogen or synthesis gas
    • C01B2203/08—Methods of heating or cooling
    • C01B2203/0805—Methods of heating the process for making hydrogen or synthesis gas
    • C01B2203/0811—Methods of heating the process for making hydrogen or synthesis gas by combustion of fuel
    • C01B2203/0827—Methods of heating the process for making hydrogen or synthesis gas by combustion of fuel at least part of the fuel being a recycle stream
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C01—INORGANIC CHEMISTRY
    • C01B—NON-METALLIC ELEMENTS; COMPOUNDS THEREOF; METALLOIDS OR COMPOUNDS THEREOF NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASS C01C
    • C01B2203/00—Integrated processes for the production of hydrogen or synthesis gas
    • C01B2203/12—Feeding the process for making hydrogen or synthesis gas
    • C01B2203/1205—Composition of the feed
    • C01B2203/1211—Organic compounds or organic mixtures used in the process for making hydrogen or synthesis gas
    • C01B2203/1235—Hydrocarbons
    • C01B2203/1247—Higher hydrocarbons
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C01—INORGANIC CHEMISTRY
    • C01B—NON-METALLIC ELEMENTS; COMPOUNDS THEREOF; METALLOIDS OR COMPOUNDS THEREOF NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASS C01C
    • C01B2203/00—Integrated processes for the production of hydrogen or synthesis gas
    • C01B2203/12—Feeding the process for making hydrogen or synthesis gas
    • C01B2203/1258—Pre-treatment of the feed
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C01—INORGANIC CHEMISTRY
    • C01B—NON-METALLIC ELEMENTS; COMPOUNDS THEREOF; METALLOIDS OR COMPOUNDS THEREOF NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASS C01C
    • C01B2203/00—Integrated processes for the production of hydrogen or synthesis gas
    • C01B2203/12—Feeding the process for making hydrogen or synthesis gas
    • C01B2203/1288—Evaporation of one or more of the different feed components
    • C01B2203/1294—Evaporation by heat exchange with hot process stream
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C01—INORGANIC CHEMISTRY
    • C01B—NON-METALLIC ELEMENTS; COMPOUNDS THEREOF; METALLOIDS OR COMPOUNDS THEREOF NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASS C01C
    • C01B2203/00—Integrated processes for the production of hydrogen or synthesis gas
    • C01B2203/80—Aspect of integrated processes for the production of hydrogen or synthesis gas not covered by groups C01B2203/02 - C01B2203/1695
    • C01B2203/82—Several process steps of C01B2203/02 - C01B2203/08 integrated into a single apparatus
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M8/10—Fuel cells with solid electrolytes
    • H01M8/12—Fuel cells with solid electrolytes operating at high temperature, e.g. with stabilised ZrO2 electrolyte
    • H01M2008/1293—Fuel cells with solid oxide electrolytes
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M8/06—Combination of fuel cells with means for production of reactants or for treatment of residues
    • H01M8/0606—Combination of fuel cells with means for production of reactants or for treatment of residues with means for production of gaseous reactants
    • H01M8/0612—Combination of fuel cells with means for production of reactants or for treatment of residues with means for production of gaseous reactants from carbon-containing material
    • H01M8/0618—Reforming processes, e.g. autothermal, partial oxidation or steam reforming
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
    • Y02E60/00—Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
    • Y02E60/30—Hydrogen technology
    • Y02E60/50—Fuel cells

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a fuel cell module including a fuel cell stack formed by stacking a plurality of fuel cells for generating electricity by electrochemical reactions of a fuel gas and an oxygen-containing gas.
  • a solid oxide fuel cell employs a solid electrolyte of ion-conductive solid oxide such as stabilized zirconia.
  • the solid electrolyte is interposed between an anode and a cathode to form an electrolyte electrode assembly (hereinafter also referred to as MEA) .
  • the electrolyte electrode assembly is sandwiched between separators (bipolar plates).
  • separators bipolar plates
  • a fuel cell battery disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2001-236980 (hereinafter referred to as the conventional technique 1) is known. As shown in FIG.
  • the fuel cell battery includes a fuel cell stack la, and a heat insulating sleeve 2a is provided at one end of the fuel cell stack la.
  • a reaction device 4a is provided in the heat insulating sleeve 2a.
  • the reaction device 4a includes a heat exchanger 3a.
  • reaction device 4a as a treatment of liquid fuel, partial oxidation reforming which does not use water is performed. After the liquid fuel is evaporated by an exhaust gas, the liquid fuel passes through a feeding point 5a which is part of the heat exchanger 3a.
  • the fuel is evaporated by an exhaust gas, the liquid fuel passes through a feeding point 5a which is part of the heat exchanger 3a.
  • a solid oxide fuel cell disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2010- 504607 (hereinafter referred to as the conventional technique 2) has a heat exchanger 2b including a cell core lb.
  • the heat exchanger 2b heats the cathode air utilizing waste heat.
  • technique 3 includes a first area lc having a circular cylindrical shape extending vertically, and an annular second area 2c around the first area lc, an annular third area 3c around the second area 2c, and an annular fourth area 4c around the third area 3c .
  • a burner 5c is provided in the first area lc, and a reforming pipe 6c is provided in the second area 2c.
  • a water evaporator 7c is provided in the third area 3c, and a CO shift converter 8c is provided in the fourth area 4c.
  • the present invention has been made to solve the problems of this type, and an object of the present
  • the present invention relates to a fuel cell module including a fuel cell stack formed by stacking a plurality of fuel cells for generating electricity by electrochemical reactions of a fuel gas and an oxygen-containing gas, a reformer for reforming a mixed gas of a raw fuel chiefly containing hydrocarbon and water vapor to produce the fuel gas supplied to the fuel cell stack, an evaporator for evaporating water, and supplying the water vapor to the reformer, a heat exchanger for raising the temperature of the oxygen-containing gas by heat exchange with a combustion gas, and supplying the oxygen-containing gas to the fuel cell stack, an exhaust gas combustor for combusting the fuel gas discharged from the fuel cell stack as a fuel exhaust gas and the oxygen-containing gas discharged from the fuel cell stack as an oxygen-containing exhaust gas to produce the combustion gas, and a start-up combustor for combusting the raw fuel and the oxygen-containing gas to produce the combustion gas.
  • a fuel cell stack formed by stacking a plurality of fuel cells for generating electricity
  • the fuel cell module includes an inner area where the exhaust gas combustor and the start-up combustor are
  • the exhaust gas combustor and the start-up combustor are provided coaxially in the inner area, and the exhaust gas combustor has a combustion cup member having a closed bottom adjacent to the start-up combustor, and a plurality of combustion gas holes are formed in an outer
  • the inner area containing the exhaust gas combustor and the start-up combustor is
  • the annular outer area is then provided around the inner area.
  • the reformer, the evaporator, and the heat exchanger are provided in the outer area.
  • the exhaust gas combustor and the start-up combustor are coaxial with and separated away from each other. Therefore, radiation of the heat of the combustion gas produced in the combustion cup member, due to heat dissipation toward the start-up combustor, is suppressed suitably. Accordingly, the exhaust gas combustor can sufficiently supply the heat to respective components in the outer area, i.e., the reformer, the evaporator, and the heat exchanger.
  • FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically showing structure of a fuel cell system including a fuel cell module according to an embodiment of the present invention
  • FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing FC peripheral equipment of the fuel cell module
  • FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view showing the FC
  • FIG. 4 is a perspective view with partial omission showing the FC peripheral equipment
  • FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view showing main components of the FC peripheral equipment
  • FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view showing main components of an exhaust gas combustor of the FC peripheral equipment ;
  • FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view showing the FC
  • FIG. 8 is a view showing a combustion cup member of a comparative example
  • FIG. 9 is a graph showing the relationship between the buffer ratio and the flow angle
  • FIG. 10 is another cross sectional view showing the FC peripheral equipment
  • FIG. 11 is a view schematically showing a fuel cell battery disclosed in a conventional technique 1 ;
  • FIG. 12 is a perspective view with partial cutout showing a solid oxide fuel cell disclosed in a conventional technique 2;
  • FIG. 13 is a view schematically showing a fuel cell system disclosed in a conventional technique 3.
  • a fuel cell system 10 includes a fuel cell module 12 according to an embodiment of the present invention, and the fuel cell system 10 is used in various applications, including stationary and mobile applications.
  • the fuel cell system 10 is mounted on a vehicle.
  • the fuel cell system 10 includes the fuel cell module (SOFC module) 12 for generating electrical energy in power generation by electrochemical reactions of a fuel gas (a gas produced by mixing a hydrogen gas, methane, and carbon monoxide) and an oxygen-containing gas (air), a raw fuel supply apparatus (including a fuel gas pump) 14 for
  • an oxygen-containing gas supply apparatus supplying a raw fuel (e.g., city gas) to the fuel cell module 12, an oxygen-containing gas supply apparatus
  • the fuel cell module 12 includes a solid oxide fuel cell stack 24 formed by stacking a plurality of solid oxide fuel cells 22 in a vertical direction (or horizontal
  • the fuel cell 22 includes an electrolyte electrode assembly (MEA) 32.
  • the electrolyte electrode assembly 32 includes a cathode 28, an anode 30, and an electrolyte 26 interposed between the cathode 28 and the anode 30.
  • the electrolyte 26 is made of ion- conductive solid oxide such as stabilized zirconia.
  • a cathode side separator 34 and an anode side separator 36 are provided on both sides of the electrolyte electrode assembly 32.
  • An oxygen-containing gas flow field 38 for supplying the oxygen-containing gas to the cathode 28 is formed in the cathode side separator 34, and a fuel gas flow field 40 for supplying the fuel gas to the anode 30 is formed in the anode side separator 36.
  • the fuel cell 22 various types of conventional SOFCs can be adopted.
  • the operating temperature of the fuel cell 22 is high, that is, several hundred °C. Methane in the fuel gas is reformed at the anode 30 to obtain hydrogen and CO, and the hydrogen and CO are supplied to a portion of the electrolyte 26 adjacent to the anode 30.
  • An oxygen-containing gas supply passage 42a, an oxygen- containing gas discharge passage 42b, a fuel gas supply passage 44a, and a fuel gas discharge passage 44b extend through the fuel cell stack 24.
  • the oxygen-containing gas supply passage 42a is connected to an inlet of each oxygen- containing gas flow field 38
  • the oxygen-containing gas discharge passage 42b is connected to an outlet of each oxygen-containing gas flow field 38
  • the fuel gas supply passage 44a is connected to an inlet of each fuel gas flow field 40
  • the fuel gas discharge passage 44b is
  • the fuel cell module 12 includes a reformer 46 for reforming a mixed gas of a raw fuel chiefly containing hydrocarbon (e.g., city gas) and water vapor to produce a fuel gas supplied to the fuel cell stack 24, an evaporator 48 for evaporating water and supplying the water vapor to the reformer 46, a heat exchanger 50 for raising the fuel gas supplied to the fuel cell stack 24, an evaporator 48 for evaporating water and supplying the water vapor to the reformer 46, a heat exchanger 50 for raising the
  • an exhaust gas combustor 52 for combusting the fuel gas discharged from the fuel cell stack 24 as a fuel exhaust gas and the oxygen-containing gas discharged from the fuel cell stack 24 as an oxygen- containing exhaust gas to produce the combustion gas
  • a start-up combustor 54 for combusting the raw fuel and the oxygen-containing gas to produce the combustion gas.
  • the fuel cell module 12 is made up of the fuel cell stack 24 and FC (fuel cell) peripheral equipment (BOP) 56 (see FIGS. 1 and 2).
  • FC peripheral equipment 56 includes the reformer 46, the evaporator 48, the heat exchanger 50, the exhaust gas combustor 52, and the start-up combustor 54.
  • the FC peripheral equipment 56 includes a first area (inner area) Rl where the exhaust gas combustor 52 and the start-up combustor 54 are provided, an annular second area (outer area) R2 formed around the first area Rl and where the reformer 46 and the evaporator 48 are provided, and an annular third area (outer area) R3 formed around the second area R2 and where the heat
  • a cylindrical outer member 55 constituting an outer wall is provided on the outer
  • the reformer 46 may be provided on the inner side in the radial direction and the heat exchanger 50 may be provided on the outer side in the radial direction, and in the third area R3, the evaporator 48 may be provided.
  • the heat exchanger 50 may be provided on the inner side in the radial direction and the reformer 46 may be provided on the outer side in the radial direction, and in the third area R3, the evaporator 48 may be provided.
  • the start-up combustor 54 is provided at the other end distant from the fuel cell stack 24, and includes an air supply pipe 57 and a raw fuel supply pipe 58.
  • the start-up combustor 54 has an ejector function, and generates negative pressure in the raw fuel supply pipe 58 by the flow of the air supplied from the air supply pipe 57 for sucking the raw fuel .
  • the exhaust gas combustor 52 is provided at one end adjacent to the fuel cell stack 24, and has a combustion cup member 60 at a position spaced away from the start-up combustor 54.
  • the combustion cup member 60 is attached to a support portion 62 such that the combustion cup member 60 is oriented from the fuel cell stack 24 toward the start-up combustor 54 (first area Rl).
  • the support portion 62 includes an attachment plate body 62a to which the fuel cell stack 24 is attached, and a cylindrical body 62b formed integrally with the attachment plate body 62a.
  • a plurality of holes e.g., circular holes or
  • a buffer 63 is provided in the combustion cup member 60 for facilitating a change in the flow direction of the combustion gas from an axial direction (indicated by an arrow L) from an opening 60p of the combustion cup member 60 toward the bottom 60e, to a radial direction (indicated by an arrow M) of the combustion cup member 60.
  • the buffer 63 is formed by an area defined between the bottom 60e and a portion where the holes 60a are provided.
  • the volume l of the entire combustion cup member 60 and the volume W2 of the buffer 63 are set such that a relationship of W2/W1 > 1/4 is satisfied.
  • the combustion cup member 60 has a cylindrical shape having a constant opening-diameter in the axial direction.
  • the overall length Dl of the combustion cup member 60 in the axial direction and the length D2 of the buffer 63 in the axial direction are set such that a relationship of D2/D1 ⁇ 1/4 is satisfied.
  • the combustion cup member 60 and the support portion 62 are fixed together by a fixing mechanism 64 such that the combustion cup member 60 and the support portion 62 are not rotatable with respect to each other.
  • the fixing mechanism 64 includes recesses 64b and a
  • the protrusion 64a that is engageable with any of the recesses 64b.
  • the protrusion 64a is formed to protrude outward in the radial direction at the end of the combustion cup member 60 adjacent to the opening 60p.
  • the recesses 64b are formed at a lip portion of the inner circumferential surface of the support portion 62.
  • At least the recesses 64b are provided at a plurality of, e.g., two positions.
  • the protrusion 64a may be provided in the support portion 62, and the recesses 64b may be provided in the combustion cup member 60.
  • one end of an oxygen-containing exhaust gas channel 63a and one end of a fuel exhaust gas channel 63b are provided at the combustion cup member 60.
  • the combustion gas is produced inside the combustion cup member 60 by combustion reaction of the fuel gas (more specifically, fuel exhaust gas) and the oxygen-containing gas (more specifically, oxygen-containing exhaust gas).
  • the reformer 46 is a
  • the operating temperature of the reformer 46 is set at several hundred °C .
  • the reformer 46 includes a plurality of reforming pipes (heat transmission pipes) 66 provided around the exhaust gas combustor 52 and the start-up combustor 54. Each of the reforming pipes 66 is filled with reforming catalyst pellets (not shown). Each of the reforming pipes 66 has one end (lower end) fixed to a first lower ring member 68a, and the other end (upper end) fixed to a first upper ring member 68b.
  • the outer circumferential portions of the first lower ring member 68a and the first upper ring member 68b are fixed to the inner circumferential surface of a cylindrical member 70 by welding or the like.
  • the inner circumferential portions of the first lower ring member 68a and the first upper ring member 68b are fixed to the outer circumferential portions of the exhaust gas combustor 52 and the start-up combustor 54 by welding or the like.
  • the cylindrical member 70 extends in an axial direction indicated by an arrow L, and an end of the cylindrical member 70 adjacent to the fuel cell stack 24 is fixed to the attachment plate body 62a.
  • a plurality of openings 72 are formed in the outer
  • the evaporator 48 has evaporation pipes (heat transmission pipes) 74 provided adjacent to, and outside the reforming pipes 66 of the reformer 46. As shown in FIG. 7, the reforming pipes 66 are arranged at equal intervals on a virtual circle, concentrically around the first area Rl.
  • the evaporation pipes 74 are arranged at equal intervals on a virtual circle, concentrically around the first area Rl.
  • the number of the evaporation pipes 74 is half of the number of the reforming pipes 66.
  • the evaporation pipes 74 are positioned on the back side of every other position of the reforming pipe 66 (i.e., at positions spaced away from the center of the first area Rl).
  • each of the evaporation pipes 74 has one end (lower end) which is fixed to a second lower ring member 76a by welding or the like, and the other end (upper end) which is fixed to a second upper ring member 76b by welding or the like.
  • the outer circumferential portions of the second lower ring member 76a and the second upper ring member 76b are fixed to the inner circumferential surface of the cylindrical member 70 by welding or the like.
  • the inner circumferential portions of the second lower ring member 76a and the second upper ring member 76b are fixed to the outer circumferential portions of the exhaust gas combustor 52 and the start-up combustor 54 by welding or the like .
  • the second lower ring member 76a is positioned below the first lower ring member 68a (i.e., outside the first lower ring member 68a in the axial direction), and the second upper ring member 76b is positioned above the first upper ring member 68b (i.e., outside the first upper ring member 68b in the axial direction) .
  • An annular mixed gas supply chamber 78a is formed between the first lower ring member 68a and the second lower ring member 76a, and a mixed gas of raw fuel and water vapor is supplied to the mixed gas supply chamber 78a.
  • annular reformed gas discharge chamber 78b is formed between the first upper ring member 68b and the second upper ring member 76b, and the produced fuel gas (reformed gas) is discharged to the reformed gas discharge chamber 78b. Both ends of each of the reforming pipes 66 are opened to the mixed gas supply chamber 78a and the reformed gas discharge chamber 78b.
  • a ring shaped end ring member 80 is fixed to an end of the cylindrical member 70 on the start-up combustor 54 side by welding or the like.
  • An annular water supply chamber 82a is formed between the end ring member 80 and the second lower ring member 76a, and water is supplied to the water supply chamber 82a.
  • An annular water vapor discharge chamber 82b is formed between the second upper ring member 76b and the attachment plate body 62a, and water vapor is discharged to the water vapor discharge chamber 82b. Both ends of each of the evaporation pipes 74 are opened to the water supply chamber 82a and the water vapor discharge chamber 82b.
  • the reformed gas discharge chamber 78b and the water vapor discharge chamber 82b are provided in a double deck manner, and the reformed gas discharge chamber 78b is provided on the inner side with respect to the water vapor discharge chamber 82b (i.e., below the water vapor discharge chamber 82b) .
  • the mixed gas supply chamber 78a and the water supply chamber 82a are provided in a double deck manner, and the mixed gas supply chamber 78a is provided on the inner side with respect to the water supply chamber 82a (i.e., above the water supply chamber 82a).
  • a raw fuel supply channel 84 is opened to the mixed gas supply chamber 78a, and an evaporation return pipe 90 described later is connected to a position in the middle of the raw fuel supply channel 84 (see FIG. 1).
  • the raw fuel supply channel 84 has an ejector function, and generates negative pressure by the flow of the raw fuel for sucking the water vapor.
  • the raw fuel supply channel 84 is fixed to the second lower ring member 76a and the end ring member 80 by welding or the like.
  • One end of a fuel gas channel 86 is connected to the reformed gas discharge chamber 78b, and the other end of the fuel gas channel 86 is connected to the fuel gas supply passage 44a of the fuel cell stack 24 (see FIG. 1).
  • the fuel gas channel 86 is fixed to the second upper ring member 76b by welding or the like, and extends through the attachment plate body 62a (see FIG. 2).
  • a water channel 88 is connected to the water supply chamber 82a.
  • the water channel 88 is fixed to the end ring member 80 by welding or the like.
  • evaporation return pipe 90 formed by at least one
  • evaporation pipe 74 is provided in the water vapor discharge chamber 82b, and the other end of the evaporation return pipe 90 is connected to a position in the middle of the raw fuel supply channel 84 (see FIG. 1).
  • the heat exchanger 50 includes a plurality of heat exchange pipes (heat
  • Each of the heat exchange pipes 96 has one end (lower end) fixed to a lower ring member 98a, and the other end (upper end) fixed to an upper ring member 98b.
  • a lower end ring member 100a is provided below the lower ring member 98a, and an upper end ring member 100b is provided above the upper ring member 98b.
  • the lower end ring member 100a and the upper end ring member 100b are fixed to the outer circumference of the cylindrical member 70 and the inner circumference of the outer member 55 by welding or the like.
  • An annular oxygen-containing gas supply chamber 102a to which the oxygen-containing gas is supplied is formed between the lower ring member 98a and the lower end ring member 100a.
  • An annular oxygen-containing gas discharge chamber 102b is formed between the upper ring member 98b and the upper end ring member 100b.
  • the heated oxygen- containing gas is discharged to the oxygen-containing gas discharge chamber 102b.
  • Both ends of each of the heat exchange pipes 96 are fixed to the lower ring member 98a and the upper ring member 98b by welding or the like, and opened to the oxygen-containing gas supply chamber 102a and the oxygen-containing gas discharge chamber 102b.
  • the mixed gas supply chamber 78a and the water supply chamber 82a are placed on the radially inward side relative to the inner circumference of the oxygen-containing gas supply chamber 102a.
  • the oxygen-containing gas discharge chamber 102b is provided outside the reformed gas discharge chamber 78b at a position offset downward from the reformed gas discharge chamber 78b.
  • a cylindrical cover member 104 is provided on the outer circumferential portion of the outer member 55. The center position of the cylindrical cover member 104 is shifted downward. Both of upper and lower ends (both of axial ends) of the cover member 104 are fixed to the outer member 55 by welding or the like, and a heat recovery area (chamber) 106 is formed between the cover member 104 and the outer
  • a plurality of holes 108 are formed circumferentially in a lower marginal end portion of the outer member 55 of the oxygen-containing gas supply chamber 102a, and the oxygen-containing gas supply chamber 102a communicates with the heat recovery area 106 through the holes 108.
  • An oxygen-containing gas supply pipe 110 communicating with the heat recovery area 106 is connected to the cover member 104.
  • An exhaust gas pipe 112 communicating with the third area R3 is connected to an upper portion of the outer member 55.
  • each of two oxygen-containing gas pipes 114 is provided in the oxygen-containing gas discharge chamber 102b.
  • Each of the oxygen-containing gas pipes 114 has a stretchable member such as a bellows 114a between the upper end ring member 100b and the attachment plate body 62a.
  • the other end of each of the oxygen- containing gas pipes 114 extends through the attachment plate body 62a, and is connected to the oxygen-containing gas supply passage 42a of the fuel cell stack 24 (see FIG. 1) .
  • a first combustion gas channel 116a as a passage of the combustion gas is formed in the first area Rl, and a second combustion gas channel 116b as a passage of the combustion gas that has passed through the holes 60a is formed in the second area R2.
  • combustion gas channel 116c as a passage of the combustion gas that has passed through the openings 72 is formed in the third area R3. Further, a fourth combustion gas channel 116d is formed as a passage after the exhaust gas pipe 112.
  • the second combustion gas channel 116b forms the reformer 46 and the evaporator 48, and the third combustion gas channel 116c forms the heat exchanger 50.
  • the raw fuel supply apparatus 14 includes a raw fuel channel 118.
  • the raw fuel channel 118 is branched into the raw fuel supply channel 84 and the raw fuel supply pipe 58 through a raw fuel regulator valve 120.
  • a desulfurizer 122 for removing sulfur compounds in the city gas (raw fuel) is provided in the raw fuel supply channel 84.
  • the oxygen-containing gas supply apparatus 16 includes an oxygen-containing gas channel 124.
  • the oxygen-containing gas channel 124 is branched into the oxygen-containing gas supply pipe 110 and the air supply pipe 57 through an oxygen-containing gas regulator valve 126.
  • the water supply apparatus 18 is connected to the evaporator 48 through the water channel 88.
  • the air (oxygen-containing gas) and the raw fuel are supplied to the start-up combustor 54. More
  • the air pump by operation of the air pump, the air is supplied to the oxygen-containing gas channel 124.
  • the air By adjusting the opening degree of the oxygen-containing gas regulator valve 126, the air is supplied to the air supply pipe 57.
  • raw fuel such as the city gas (containing CH 4 , C 2 H 6 , C 3 H 8 , C 4 Hi 0 ) is supplied to the raw fuel channel 118.
  • the raw fuel is supplied into the raw fuel supply pipe 58.
  • the raw fuel is mixed with the air, and supplied into the start-up combustor 54 (see FIGS. 3 and 4).
  • the mixed gas of the raw fuel and the air is supplied into the start-up combustor 54, and the mixed gas is ignited to start combustion. Therefore, the combustion gas produced in combustion flows from the first area Rl to the second area R2. Further, the combustion gas is supplied to the third area R3, and then, the combustion gas is discharged to the outside of the fuel cell module 12 through the exhaust gas pipe 112.
  • the reformer 46 and the evaporator 48 are provided in the second area R2 , and the heat exchanger 50 is provided in the third area R3.
  • the combustion gas discharged from the first area Rl first heats the reformer 46, next heats the evaporator 48, and then heats the heat exchanger 50.
  • the air oxygen- containing gas
  • the mixed gas of the raw fuel and the water vapor is supplied to the heat exchanger 50, and the mixed gas of the raw fuel and the water vapor is
  • the opening degree of the oxygen-containing gas regulator valve 126 is adjusted such that the flow rate of the air supplied to the oxygen-containing gas supply pipe 110 is increased, and the opening degree of the raw fuel regulator valve 120 is adjusted such that the flow rate of the raw fuel supplied to the raw fuel supply channel 84 is increased.
  • the water is supplied to the water channel 88.
  • the air is supplied from the oxygen-containing gas supply pipe 110 to the heat recovery area 106 of the outer member 55.
  • the air flows through the holes 108 into the oxygen-containing gas supply chamber 102a.
  • the air flows into the heat exchanger 50, and the air is temporarily supplied to the oxygen-containing gas supply chamber 102a. Thereafter, while the air is moving inside the heat exchange pipes 96, the air is heated by heat exchange with the combustion gas supplied into the third area R3. After the heated air is temporarily supplied to the oxygen-containing gas discharge chamber 102b, the air is supplied to the oxygen-containing gas supply passage 42a of the fuel cell stack 24 through the oxygen-containing gas pipes 114 (see FIG. 1). In the fuel cell stack 24, the heated air flows along the oxygen-containing gas flow field 38, and the air is supplied to the cathode 28.
  • the air After the air flows through the oxygen-containing gas flow field 38, the air is discharged from the oxygen- containing gas discharge passage 42b into the oxygen- containing exhaust gas channel 63a.
  • the oxygen-containing exhaust gas channel 63a is opened to the combustion cup member 60 of the exhaust gas combustor 52, and the oxygen- containing exhaust gas is supplied into the combustion cup member 60.
  • the water from the water supply apparatus 18 is supplied to the evaporator 48.
  • the raw fuel After the raw fuel is desulfurized in the desulfurizer 122, the raw fuel flows through the raw fuel supply channel 84, and moves toward the reformer 46.
  • the evaporator 48 After the water is temporarily supplied to the water supply chamber 82a, while water is moving inside the evaporation pipes 74, the water is heated by the combustion gas flowing through the second area R2, and vaporized. After the water vapor flows into the water vapor discharge chamber 82b, the water vapor is supplied to the evaporation return pipe 90 connected to the water vapor discharge chamber 82b. Thus, the water vapor flows inside the evaporation return pipe 90, and flows into the raw fuel supply channel 84. Then, the water vapor is mixed with the raw fuel supplied by the raw fuel supply apparatus 14 to produce the mixed gas .
  • the mixed gas from the raw fuel supply channel 84 is temporarily supplied to the mixed gas supply chamber 78a of the reformer 46.
  • the mixed gas moves inside the reforming pipes 66.
  • the mixed gas is heated by the combustion gas flowing through the second area R2, and is then steam-reformed. After removal (reforming) of
  • a reformed gas chiefly containing methane is obtained.
  • the reformed gas is temporarily supplied to the reformed gas discharge chamber 78b as the fuel gas.
  • the fuel gas is supplied to the fuel gas supply passage 44a of the fuel cell stack 24 through the fuel gas channel 86 (see FIG. 1).
  • the heated fuel gas flows along the fuel gas flow field 40, and the fuel gas is supplied to the anode 30. In the meanwhile, the air is supplied to the cathode 28.
  • the fuel gas After the fuel gas flows through the fuel gas flow field 40, the fuel gas is discharged from the fuel gas discharge passage 44b to the fuel exhaust gas channel 63b.
  • the fuel exhaust gas channel 63b is opened to the inside of the combustion cup member 60 of the exhaust gas combustor
  • combustion of the oxygen-containing exhaust gas and the fuel exhaust gas is started inside the combustion cup member 60. In the meanwhile, combustion operation by the start-up combustor 54 is stopped.
  • the buffer 63 is provided in the combustion cup member 60 at a position adjacent to the bottom 60e.
  • combustion cup member 60 toward the bottom 60e in the axial direction indicated by the arrow L is changed to the radial direction of the combustion cup member 60 indicated by the arrow M. Therefore, the combustion gas supplied into the combustion cup member 60 flows through the holes 60a from the first area Rl into the second area R2. Then, the combustion gas is supplied to the third area R3, and
  • the fuel gas can suitably heat the reformer 46, the evaporator 48, and the heat exchanger 50 in the outer area.
  • improvement in the heat efficiency is achieved, and thermally self-sustaining operation is
  • Thermally self-sustaining operation herein means operation where the operating temperature of the fuel cell 22 is maintained using only heat energy generated in the fuel cell 22, without supplying additional heat from the outside .
  • FIG. 8 an experiment was conducted using a combustion cup member 60comp. without any buffer for comparison with the combustion cup member 60 according to the embodiment of the present invention.
  • the combustion cup member 60comp. holes 60a are formed adjacent to the bottom 60e. The combustion gas produced in the combustion cup member 60comp. was discharged to the outside through the holes 60a immediately after the
  • the angle ⁇ 0 defined between the outer circumferential surface of the combustion cup member 60comp. and the direction in which the combustion gas is discharged through the holes 60a (hereinafter referred to as the flow angle) is less than 90°. Therefore, the combustion gas cannot be supplied suitably to the reformer 46 and the evaporator 48 provided in the second area R2 as an outer area, or to the heat exchanger 50 provided in the third area R3 as an outer area, disadvantageously .
  • the flow angle ⁇ ° was measured while changing the volume Wl of the entire combustion cup member 60 and the volume W2 of the buffer 63 to have various values, and changing the total area of the holes 60a.
  • the obtained result is shown in FIG. 9.
  • the holes 60a were configured to have the totals areas X, 2X, and 3X, in the ratios of 1:2:3, respectively.
  • the flow angle ⁇ ° was within a target range if the buffer ratio was 25% or more.
  • Wl of the entire combustion cup member 60 and the volume W2 of the buffer 63 are set such that the relationship of W2/W1 ⁇ 1/4 is satisfied.
  • the flow direction of the combustion gas produced in the exhaust gas combustor 52 is changed reliably from the axial direction to the radial direction in the combustion cup member 60. Therefore, the fuel gas is supplied reliably toward the reformer 46, the evaporator 48, and the heat exchanger 50 provided in the outer area, and thus can heat them suitably.
  • thermally self-sustaining operation is facilitated.
  • Thermally self-sustaining operation herein means operation where the operating temperature of the fuel cell 22 is maintained using only heat energy generated in the fuel cell 22, without supplying additional heat from the outside.
  • the FC peripheral equipment 56 includes the first area (inner area) Rl where the exhaust gas combustor 52 and the start-up combustor 54 are provided, the annular second area (outer area) R2 around the first area Rl and where the reformer 46 and the evaporator 48 are provided, and the annular third area (outer area) R3 around the second area R2 and where the heat exchanger 50 is provided.
  • the first area Rl is provided at the center
  • the annular second area R2 is provided around the first area Rl
  • the annular third area R3 is provided around the second area R2.
  • the exhaust gas combustor 52 and the start-up combustor 54 are coaxially with and separated away from each other. Therefore, heat radiation of the combustion gas produced in the combustion cup member 60, due to heat dissipation toward the start-up combustor 54, is suppressed suitably. Accordingly, the exhaust gas combustor 52 can sufficiently supply the heat to respective components in the second area R2 and the third area R3, i.e., the reformer 46, the evaporator 48, and the heat exchanger 50.
  • the reformer 46 includes the annular mixed gas supply chamber 78a, the annular reformed gas discharge chamber 78b, the reforming pipes 66, and the second combustion gas channel 116b.
  • the mixed gas is supplied to the mixed gas supply chamber 78a, and the produced fuel gas is discharged into the reformed gas discharge chamber 78b.
  • Each of the reforming pipes 66 has one end connected to the mixed gas supply chamber 78a, and the other end connected to the reformed gas discharge chamber 78b.
  • the second combustion gas channel 116b supplies the combustion gas to the space between the reforming pipes 66.
  • the evaporator 48 includes the annular water supply chamber 82a, the annular water vapor discharge chamber 82b, the evaporation pipes 74, and the second combustion gas channel 116b.
  • the water is supplied to the water supply chamber 82a, and the water vapor is discharged into the water vapor discharge chamber 82b.
  • Each of the evaporation pipes 74 has one end connected to the water supply chamber 82a, and the other end connected to the water vapor
  • the second combustion gas channel 116b supplies the combustion gas to the space between the evaporation pipes 74.
  • the heat exchanger 50 includes the annular oxygen- containing gas supply chamber 102a, the annular oxygen- containing gas discharge chamber 102b, the heat exchange pipes 96, and the third combustion gas channel 116c.
  • the oxygen-containing gas is supplied to the oxygen-containing gas supply chamber 102a, and the heated oxygen-containing gas is discharged into the oxygen-containing gas discharge chamber 102b.
  • Each of the heat exchange pipes 96 has one end connected to the oxygen-containing gas supply chamber 102a, and the other end connected to the oxygen-containing gas discharge chamber 102b.
  • the third combustion gas channel 116c supplies the combustion gas to the space between the heat exchange pipes 96.
  • the annular supply chambers (mixed gas supply chamber 78a, water supply chamber 82a, and oxygen-containing gas supply chamber 102a)
  • the annular discharge chambers (reformed gas discharge chamber 78b, water vapor discharge chamber 82b, and oxygen-containing gas discharge chamber 102b) and the pipes (reforming pipes 66, evaporation pipes 74, and heat exchange pipes 96) are provided as basic structure.
  • simple structure is achieved easily.
  • the production cost of the fuel cell module 12 is reduced effectively. Further, by changing the volumes of the supply chambers and the discharge chambers , and the length, the diameter, and the number of the pipes, a suitable operation can be achieved depending on various operating conditions, and the design flexibility of the fuel cell module can be enhanced.
  • the reformed gas discharge chamber 78b, the water vapor discharge chamber 82b, and the oxygen-containing gas discharge chamber 102b are provided at the side of one end adjacent to the fuel cell stack 24, and the mixed gas supply chamber 78a, the water supply chamber 82a, and the oxygen-containing gas supply chamber 102a are provided at the side of the other end distant from the fuel cell stack 24.
  • the reactant gas immediately after heating and the reactant gas immediately after reforming can be supplied to the fuel cell stack 24 promptly.
  • the exhaust gas from the fuel cell stack 24 can be supplied to the exhaust gas combustor 52, the reformer 46, the evaporator 48, and the heat exchanger 50 of the FC peripheral equipment 56 while decrease in the temperature of the exhaust gas from the fuel cell stack 24 due to heat radiation is suppressed as much as possible.
  • the exhaust gas combustor 52 is provided at the side of one end adjacent to the fuel cell stack 24, and the start-up combustor 54 is provided at the side of the other end distant from the fuel cell stack 24.
  • the exhaust gas from the fuel cell stack 24 is supplied to the exhaust gas combustor 52, and combusted to produce a combustion gas, decrease in the temperature is suppressed as much as possible. Therefore, improvement in the heat efficiency is achieved, and thermally self- sustaining operation is facilitated easily.
  • start-up combustor 54 supplies the combustion gas toward the fuel cell stack 24, the time required for increasing the temperature of the fuel cell stack 24, i.e., the time required for starting operation, can be reduced effectively.
  • the combustion cup member 60 is attached to the support portion 62 fixed to the first area Rl such that the combustion cup member 60 is oriented from the fuel cell stack 24 toward the first area Rl.
  • the fixing mechanism 64 is provided for fixing the support portion 62 and the
  • combustion cup member 60 together such that the support portion 62 and the combustion cup member 60 are not
  • the fixing mechanism 64 includes the recesses 64b and the protrusion 64a that is engageable with any of the recesses 64b. At least the recesses 64b are provided at a plurality of positions, e.g., at two positions for enabling adjustment of the phase between the support portion 62 and the combustion cup member 60.
  • the phase of the holes 60a can be adjusted. That is, in FIG. 7, the holes 60a are oriented toward positions between the reforming pipes 66 of the reformer 46. Since the combustion gas supplied from the holes 60a to the second area R2 flows toward the positions between the reforming pipes 66, the quantity of the heat supplied to the reforming pipes 66 is relatively small.
  • the holes 60a are oriented toward the reforming pipes 66 of the reformer 46. Since the combustion gas supplied from the holes 60a to the second area R2 flows toward the reforming pipes 66, the quantity of heat supplied to the reforming pipes 66 is relatively large. Therefore, improvement in the heat exchanging efficiency in the reformer 46 is achieved. Thus, the quantity of the heat supplied to respective components, in particular, to the reformer 46, can be adjusted easily and reliably.
  • the combustion gas flows from the first area Rl to the second area R2 , and then, flows from the second area R2 to the third area R3.
  • the combustion gas is discharged to the outside of the fuel cell module 12.
  • the heat can be effectively supplied to the exhaust gas combustor 52, the reformer 46, the evaporator 48, and the heat exchanger 50 of the FC peripheral equipment 56.
  • improvement in the heat efficiency is achieved, and thermally self-sustaining operation is facilitated.
  • the fuel cell module 12 is a solid oxide fuel cell module. Therefore, the fuel cell module 12 is suitable for, in particular, high temperature type fuel cells such as SOFC.

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Abstract

A fuel cell module (12) includes an inner area where an exhaust gas combustor (52) and a start-up combustor (54) are provided, and an annular outer area around the inner area and where a reformer (46), an evaporator (48), and a heat exchanger (50) are provided. The exhaust gas combustor (52) and the start-up combustor (54) are provided coaxially, and the exhaust gas combustor (52) includes a combustion cup member (60). A plurality of holes (60a) are formed in the outer circumferential portion of the combustion cup member (60) for supplying a combustion gas produced in the combustion cup member (60) to the outer area.

Description

DESCRIPTION
Title of Invention
FUEL CELL MODULE
Technical Field
The present invention relates to a fuel cell module including a fuel cell stack formed by stacking a plurality of fuel cells for generating electricity by electrochemical reactions of a fuel gas and an oxygen-containing gas.
Background Art
Typically, a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) employs a solid electrolyte of ion-conductive solid oxide such as stabilized zirconia. The solid electrolyte is interposed between an anode and a cathode to form an electrolyte electrode assembly (hereinafter also referred to as MEA) .
The electrolyte electrode assembly is sandwiched between separators (bipolar plates). In use, generally,
predetermined numbers of the electrolyte electrode
assemblies and the separators are stacked together to form a fuel cell stack.
As a system including this fuel cell stack, for
example, a fuel cell battery disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2001-236980 (hereinafter referred to as the conventional technique 1) is known. As shown in FIG.
11, the fuel cell battery includes a fuel cell stack la, and a heat insulating sleeve 2a is provided at one end of the fuel cell stack la. A reaction device 4a is provided in the heat insulating sleeve 2a. The reaction device 4a includes a heat exchanger 3a.
In the reaction device 4a, as a treatment of liquid fuel, partial oxidation reforming which does not use water is performed. After the liquid fuel is evaporated by an exhaust gas, the liquid fuel passes through a feeding point 5a which is part of the heat exchanger 3a. The fuel
contacts an oxygen carrier gas heated by the exhaust gas thereby to induce partial oxidation reforming, and then, the fuel is supplied to the fuel cell stack la.
Further, as shown in FIG. 12, a solid oxide fuel cell disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2010- 504607 (PCT) (hereinafter referred to as the conventional technique 2) has a heat exchanger 2b including a cell core lb. The heat exchanger 2b heats the cathode air utilizing waste heat.
Further, as shown in FIG. 13, a fuel cell system disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2004- 288434 (hereinafter referred to as the conventional
technique 3) includes a first area lc having a circular cylindrical shape extending vertically, and an annular second area 2c around the first area lc, an annular third area 3c around the second area 2c, and an annular fourth area 4c around the third area 3c .
A burner 5c is provided in the first area lc, and a reforming pipe 6c is provided in the second area 2c. A water evaporator 7c is provided in the third area 3c, and a CO shift converter 8c is provided in the fourth area 4c.
Summary of Invention
In the conventional technique 1, at the time of reforming by partial oxidation in the reaction device 4a, heat of the exhaust gas is used for heating the liquid fuel and the oxygen carrier gas. Therefore, the quantity of heat energy for raising the temperature of the oxygen-containing gas supplied to the fuel cell stack la tends to be
inefficient, and the efficiency is low.
Further, in the conventional technique 2, in order to increase heat efficiency, long flow channels are adopted to have a sufficient heat transmission area. Therefore, considerably high pressure losses tend to occur.
Further, in the conventional technique 3, radiation of the heat from the central area having the highest
temperature is suppressed using heat insulation material (partition wall). Therefore, heat cannot be recovered, and the efficiency is low.
The present invention has been made to solve the problems of this type, and an object of the present
invention is to provide a fuel cell module having simple and compact structure in which it is possible to achieve
improvement in the heat efficiency and facilitation of thermally self-sustaining operation.
The present invention relates to a fuel cell module including a fuel cell stack formed by stacking a plurality of fuel cells for generating electricity by electrochemical reactions of a fuel gas and an oxygen-containing gas, a reformer for reforming a mixed gas of a raw fuel chiefly containing hydrocarbon and water vapor to produce the fuel gas supplied to the fuel cell stack, an evaporator for evaporating water, and supplying the water vapor to the reformer, a heat exchanger for raising the temperature of the oxygen-containing gas by heat exchange with a combustion gas, and supplying the oxygen-containing gas to the fuel cell stack, an exhaust gas combustor for combusting the fuel gas discharged from the fuel cell stack as a fuel exhaust gas and the oxygen-containing gas discharged from the fuel cell stack as an oxygen-containing exhaust gas to produce the combustion gas, and a start-up combustor for combusting the raw fuel and the oxygen-containing gas to produce the combustion gas.
The fuel cell module includes an inner area where the exhaust gas combustor and the start-up combustor are
provided, and an annular outer area around the inner area and where the reformer, the evaporator, and the heat
exchanger are provided.
The exhaust gas combustor and the start-up combustor are provided coaxially in the inner area, and the exhaust gas combustor has a combustion cup member having a closed bottom adjacent to the start-up combustor, and a plurality of combustion gas holes are formed in an outer
circumferential portion of the combustion cup member for supplying the combustion gas produced in the combustion cup member to the outer area.
In the present invention, the inner area containing the exhaust gas combustor and the start-up combustor is
centrally- located. The annular outer area is then provided around the inner area. The reformer, the evaporator, and the heat exchanger are provided in the outer area.
In the structure, heat waste and heat radiation are suppressed suitably. Thus, improvement in the heat
efficiency is achieved, and thermally self-sustaining operation is facilitated. Further, simple and compact structure is achieved in the entire fuel cell module.
Moreover, in the inner area, the exhaust gas combustor and the start-up combustor are coaxial with and separated away from each other. Therefore, radiation of the heat of the combustion gas produced in the combustion cup member, due to heat dissipation toward the start-up combustor, is suppressed suitably. Accordingly, the exhaust gas combustor can sufficiently supply the heat to respective components in the outer area, i.e., the reformer, the evaporator, and the heat exchanger.
The above and other objects features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which preferred embodiments of the present invention is shown by way of illustrative example.
Brief Description of Drawings
FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically showing structure of a fuel cell system including a fuel cell module according to an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing FC peripheral equipment of the fuel cell module;
FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view showing the FC
peripheral equipment;
FIG. 4 is a perspective view with partial omission showing the FC peripheral equipment;
FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view showing main components of the FC peripheral equipment;
FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view showing main components of an exhaust gas combustor of the FC peripheral equipment ;
FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view showing the FC
peripheral equipment;
FIG. 8 is a view showing a combustion cup member of a comparative example;
FIG. 9 is a graph showing the relationship between the buffer ratio and the flow angle;
FIG. 10 is another cross sectional view showing the FC peripheral equipment;
FIG. 11 is a view schematically showing a fuel cell battery disclosed in a conventional technique 1 ;
FIG. 12 is a perspective view with partial cutout showing a solid oxide fuel cell disclosed in a conventional technique 2; and
FIG. 13 is a view schematically showing a fuel cell system disclosed in a conventional technique 3.
Description of Embodiments
As shown in FIG. 1, a fuel cell system 10 includes a fuel cell module 12 according to an embodiment of the present invention, and the fuel cell system 10 is used in various applications, including stationary and mobile applications. For example, the fuel cell system 10 is mounted on a vehicle.
The fuel cell system 10 includes the fuel cell module (SOFC module) 12 for generating electrical energy in power generation by electrochemical reactions of a fuel gas (a gas produced by mixing a hydrogen gas, methane, and carbon monoxide) and an oxygen-containing gas (air), a raw fuel supply apparatus (including a fuel gas pump) 14 for
supplying a raw fuel (e.g., city gas) to the fuel cell module 12, an oxygen-containing gas supply apparatus
(including an air pump) 16 for supplying the oxygen- containing gas to the fuel cell module 12, a water supply apparatus (including a water pump) 18 for supplying water to the fuel cell module 12, and a control device 20 for
controlling the amount of electrical energy generated in the fuel cell module 12.
The fuel cell module 12 includes a solid oxide fuel cell stack 24 formed by stacking a plurality of solid oxide fuel cells 22 in a vertical direction (or horizontal
direction) . The fuel cell 22 includes an electrolyte electrode assembly (MEA) 32. The electrolyte electrode assembly 32 includes a cathode 28, an anode 30, and an electrolyte 26 interposed between the cathode 28 and the anode 30. For example, the electrolyte 26 is made of ion- conductive solid oxide such as stabilized zirconia.
A cathode side separator 34 and an anode side separator 36 are provided on both sides of the electrolyte electrode assembly 32. An oxygen-containing gas flow field 38 for supplying the oxygen-containing gas to the cathode 28 is formed in the cathode side separator 34, and a fuel gas flow field 40 for supplying the fuel gas to the anode 30 is formed in the anode side separator 36. As the fuel cell 22, various types of conventional SOFCs can be adopted.
The operating temperature of the fuel cell 22 is high, that is, several hundred °C. Methane in the fuel gas is reformed at the anode 30 to obtain hydrogen and CO, and the hydrogen and CO are supplied to a portion of the electrolyte 26 adjacent to the anode 30.
An oxygen-containing gas supply passage 42a, an oxygen- containing gas discharge passage 42b, a fuel gas supply passage 44a, and a fuel gas discharge passage 44b extend through the fuel cell stack 24. The oxygen-containing gas supply passage 42a is connected to an inlet of each oxygen- containing gas flow field 38, the oxygen-containing gas discharge passage 42b is connected to an outlet of each oxygen-containing gas flow field 38, the fuel gas supply passage 44a is connected to an inlet of each fuel gas flow field 40, and the fuel gas discharge passage 44b is
connected to an outlet of each fuel gas flow field 40.
The fuel cell module 12 includes a reformer 46 for reforming a mixed gas of a raw fuel chiefly containing hydrocarbon (e.g., city gas) and water vapor to produce a fuel gas supplied to the fuel cell stack 24, an evaporator 48 for evaporating water and supplying the water vapor to the reformer 46, a heat exchanger 50 for raising the
temperature of the oxygen-containing gas by heat exchange with a combustion gas, and supplying the oxygen-containing gas to the fuel cell stack 24, an exhaust gas combustor 52 for combusting the fuel gas discharged from the fuel cell stack 24 as a fuel exhaust gas and the oxygen-containing gas discharged from the fuel cell stack 24 as an oxygen- containing exhaust gas to produce the combustion gas, and a start-up combustor 54 for combusting the raw fuel and the oxygen-containing gas to produce the combustion gas.
Basically, the fuel cell module 12 is made up of the fuel cell stack 24 and FC (fuel cell) peripheral equipment (BOP) 56 (see FIGS. 1 and 2). The FC peripheral equipment 56 includes the reformer 46, the evaporator 48, the heat exchanger 50, the exhaust gas combustor 52, and the start-up combustor 54.
As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5 , the FC peripheral equipment 56 includes a first area (inner area) Rl where the exhaust gas combustor 52 and the start-up combustor 54 are provided, an annular second area (outer area) R2 formed around the first area Rl and where the reformer 46 and the evaporator 48 are provided, and an annular third area (outer area) R3 formed around the second area R2 and where the heat
exchanger 50 is provided. A cylindrical outer member 55 constituting an outer wall is provided on the outer
peripheral side of the third area R3.
In the second area R2, the reformer 46 may be provided on the inner side in the radial direction and the heat exchanger 50 may be provided on the outer side in the radial direction, and in the third area R3, the evaporator 48 may be provided. Alternatively, in the second area R2, the heat exchanger 50 may be provided on the inner side in the radial direction and the reformer 46 may be provided on the outer side in the radial direction, and in the third area R3, the evaporator 48 may be provided.
The start-up combustor 54 is provided at the other end distant from the fuel cell stack 24, and includes an air supply pipe 57 and a raw fuel supply pipe 58. The start-up combustor 54 has an ejector function, and generates negative pressure in the raw fuel supply pipe 58 by the flow of the air supplied from the air supply pipe 57 for sucking the raw fuel .
The exhaust gas combustor 52 is provided at one end adjacent to the fuel cell stack 24, and has a combustion cup member 60 at a position spaced away from the start-up combustor 54. The combustion cup member 60 is attached to a support portion 62 such that the combustion cup member 60 is oriented from the fuel cell stack 24 toward the start-up combustor 54 (first area Rl). The support portion 62 includes an attachment plate body 62a to which the fuel cell stack 24 is attached, and a cylindrical body 62b formed integrally with the attachment plate body 62a.
A plurality of holes (e.g., circular holes or
rectangular holes) 60a, which are combustion gas holes, are formed along the outer circumference of the marginal end of the combustion cup member 60 on the bottom side (i.e., the side adjacent to a bottom 60e). A buffer 63 is provided in the combustion cup member 60 for facilitating a change in the flow direction of the combustion gas from an axial direction (indicated by an arrow L) from an opening 60p of the combustion cup member 60 toward the bottom 60e, to a radial direction (indicated by an arrow M) of the combustion cup member 60.
The buffer 63 is formed by an area defined between the bottom 60e and a portion where the holes 60a are provided. The volume l of the entire combustion cup member 60 and the volume W2 of the buffer 63 are set such that a relationship of W2/W1 > 1/4 is satisfied. The combustion cup member 60 has a cylindrical shape having a constant opening-diameter in the axial direction. The overall length Dl of the combustion cup member 60 in the axial direction and the length D2 of the buffer 63 in the axial direction are set such that a relationship of D2/D1 ≥ 1/4 is satisfied. The combustion cup member 60 and the support portion 62 are fixed together by a fixing mechanism 64 such that the combustion cup member 60 and the support portion 62 are not rotatable with respect to each other. As shown in FIG. 6, the fixing mechanism 64 includes recesses 64b and a
protrusion 64a that is engageable with any of the recesses 64b. The protrusion 64a is formed to protrude outward in the radial direction at the end of the combustion cup member 60 adjacent to the opening 60p. The recesses 64b are formed at a lip portion of the inner circumferential surface of the support portion 62.
For the purpose of adjusting the phase between the support portion 62 and the combustion cup member 60, at least the recesses 64b are provided at a plurality of, e.g., two positions. The protrusion 64a may be provided in the support portion 62, and the recesses 64b may be provided in the combustion cup member 60.
As shown in FIG. 3, one end of an oxygen-containing exhaust gas channel 63a and one end of a fuel exhaust gas channel 63b are provided at the combustion cup member 60. The combustion gas is produced inside the combustion cup member 60 by combustion reaction of the fuel gas (more specifically, fuel exhaust gas) and the oxygen-containing gas (more specifically, oxygen-containing exhaust gas).
As shown in FIG. 1, the other end of the oxygen- containing exhaust gas channel 63a is connected to the oxygen-containing gas discharge passage 42b of the fuel cell stack 24, and the other end of the fuel exhaust gas channel 63b is connected to the fuel gas discharge passage 44b of the fuel cell stack 24. As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5 , the reformer 46 is a
preliminary reformer for reforming higher hydrocarbon (C2+) such as ethane (C2H6), propane (C3H8), and butane (C4Hi0) in the city gas (raw fuel) to produce the fuel gas chiefly containing methane (CH4), hydrogen, and CO by steam
reforming. The operating temperature of the reformer 46 is set at several hundred °C .
The reformer 46 includes a plurality of reforming pipes (heat transmission pipes) 66 provided around the exhaust gas combustor 52 and the start-up combustor 54. Each of the reforming pipes 66 is filled with reforming catalyst pellets (not shown). Each of the reforming pipes 66 has one end (lower end) fixed to a first lower ring member 68a, and the other end (upper end) fixed to a first upper ring member 68b.
The outer circumferential portions of the first lower ring member 68a and the first upper ring member 68b are fixed to the inner circumferential surface of a cylindrical member 70 by welding or the like. The inner circumferential portions of the first lower ring member 68a and the first upper ring member 68b are fixed to the outer circumferential portions of the exhaust gas combustor 52 and the start-up combustor 54 by welding or the like. The cylindrical member 70 extends in an axial direction indicated by an arrow L, and an end of the cylindrical member 70 adjacent to the fuel cell stack 24 is fixed to the attachment plate body 62a. A plurality of openings 72 are formed in the outer
circumference of the cylindrical member 70 in a
circumferential direction at predetermined height positions.
The evaporator 48 has evaporation pipes (heat transmission pipes) 74 provided adjacent to, and outside the reforming pipes 66 of the reformer 46. As shown in FIG. 7, the reforming pipes 66 are arranged at equal intervals on a virtual circle, concentrically around the first area Rl.
The evaporation pipes 74 are arranged at equal intervals on a virtual circle, concentrically around the first area Rl. The number of the evaporation pipes 74 is half of the number of the reforming pipes 66. The evaporation pipes 74 are positioned on the back side of every other position of the reforming pipe 66 (i.e., at positions spaced away from the center of the first area Rl).
As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, each of the evaporation pipes 74 has one end (lower end) which is fixed to a second lower ring member 76a by welding or the like, and the other end (upper end) which is fixed to a second upper ring member 76b by welding or the like. The outer circumferential portions of the second lower ring member 76a and the second upper ring member 76b are fixed to the inner circumferential surface of the cylindrical member 70 by welding or the like. The inner circumferential portions of the second lower ring member 76a and the second upper ring member 76b are fixed to the outer circumferential portions of the exhaust gas combustor 52 and the start-up combustor 54 by welding or the like .
The second lower ring member 76a is positioned below the first lower ring member 68a (i.e., outside the first lower ring member 68a in the axial direction), and the second upper ring member 76b is positioned above the first upper ring member 68b (i.e., outside the first upper ring member 68b in the axial direction) . An annular mixed gas supply chamber 78a is formed between the first lower ring member 68a and the second lower ring member 76a, and a mixed gas of raw fuel and water vapor is supplied to the mixed gas supply chamber 78a. Further, an annular reformed gas discharge chamber 78b is formed between the first upper ring member 68b and the second upper ring member 76b, and the produced fuel gas (reformed gas) is discharged to the reformed gas discharge chamber 78b. Both ends of each of the reforming pipes 66 are opened to the mixed gas supply chamber 78a and the reformed gas discharge chamber 78b.
A ring shaped end ring member 80 is fixed to an end of the cylindrical member 70 on the start-up combustor 54 side by welding or the like. An annular water supply chamber 82a is formed between the end ring member 80 and the second lower ring member 76a, and water is supplied to the water supply chamber 82a. An annular water vapor discharge chamber 82b is formed between the second upper ring member 76b and the attachment plate body 62a, and water vapor is discharged to the water vapor discharge chamber 82b. Both ends of each of the evaporation pipes 74 are opened to the water supply chamber 82a and the water vapor discharge chamber 82b.
The reformed gas discharge chamber 78b and the water vapor discharge chamber 82b are provided in a double deck manner, and the reformed gas discharge chamber 78b is provided on the inner side with respect to the water vapor discharge chamber 82b (i.e., below the water vapor discharge chamber 82b) . The mixed gas supply chamber 78a and the water supply chamber 82a are provided in a double deck manner, and the mixed gas supply chamber 78a is provided on the inner side with respect to the water supply chamber 82a (i.e., above the water supply chamber 82a).
A raw fuel supply channel 84 is opened to the mixed gas supply chamber 78a, and an evaporation return pipe 90 described later is connected to a position in the middle of the raw fuel supply channel 84 (see FIG. 1). The raw fuel supply channel 84 has an ejector function, and generates negative pressure by the flow of the raw fuel for sucking the water vapor.
The raw fuel supply channel 84 is fixed to the second lower ring member 76a and the end ring member 80 by welding or the like. One end of a fuel gas channel 86 is connected to the reformed gas discharge chamber 78b, and the other end of the fuel gas channel 86 is connected to the fuel gas supply passage 44a of the fuel cell stack 24 (see FIG. 1). The fuel gas channel 86 is fixed to the second upper ring member 76b by welding or the like, and extends through the attachment plate body 62a (see FIG. 2).
A water channel 88 is connected to the water supply chamber 82a. The water channel 88 is fixed to the end ring member 80 by welding or the like. One end of the
evaporation return pipe 90 formed by at least one
evaporation pipe 74 is provided in the water vapor discharge chamber 82b, and the other end of the evaporation return pipe 90 is connected to a position in the middle of the raw fuel supply channel 84 (see FIG. 1).
As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the heat exchanger 50 includes a plurality of heat exchange pipes (heat
transmission pipes) 96 which are provided along and around the outer circumference of the cylindrical member 70. Each of the heat exchange pipes 96 has one end (lower end) fixed to a lower ring member 98a, and the other end (upper end) fixed to an upper ring member 98b.
A lower end ring member 100a is provided below the lower ring member 98a, and an upper end ring member 100b is provided above the upper ring member 98b. The lower end ring member 100a and the upper end ring member 100b are fixed to the outer circumference of the cylindrical member 70 and the inner circumference of the outer member 55 by welding or the like.
An annular oxygen-containing gas supply chamber 102a to which the oxygen-containing gas is supplied is formed between the lower ring member 98a and the lower end ring member 100a. An annular oxygen-containing gas discharge chamber 102b is formed between the upper ring member 98b and the upper end ring member 100b. The heated oxygen- containing gas is discharged to the oxygen-containing gas discharge chamber 102b. Both ends of each of the heat exchange pipes 96 are fixed to the lower ring member 98a and the upper ring member 98b by welding or the like, and opened to the oxygen-containing gas supply chamber 102a and the oxygen-containing gas discharge chamber 102b.
The mixed gas supply chamber 78a and the water supply chamber 82a are placed on the radially inward side relative to the inner circumference of the oxygen-containing gas supply chamber 102a. The oxygen-containing gas discharge chamber 102b is provided outside the reformed gas discharge chamber 78b at a position offset downward from the reformed gas discharge chamber 78b. A cylindrical cover member 104 is provided on the outer circumferential portion of the outer member 55. The center position of the cylindrical cover member 104 is shifted downward. Both of upper and lower ends (both of axial ends) of the cover member 104 are fixed to the outer member 55 by welding or the like, and a heat recovery area (chamber) 106 is formed between the cover member 104 and the outer
circumferential surface of the outer member 55.
A plurality of holes 108 are formed circumferentially in a lower marginal end portion of the outer member 55 of the oxygen-containing gas supply chamber 102a, and the oxygen-containing gas supply chamber 102a communicates with the heat recovery area 106 through the holes 108. An oxygen-containing gas supply pipe 110 communicating with the heat recovery area 106 is connected to the cover member 104. An exhaust gas pipe 112 communicating with the third area R3 is connected to an upper portion of the outer member 55.
For example, one end of each of two oxygen-containing gas pipes 114 is provided in the oxygen-containing gas discharge chamber 102b. Each of the oxygen-containing gas pipes 114 has a stretchable member such as a bellows 114a between the upper end ring member 100b and the attachment plate body 62a. The other end of each of the oxygen- containing gas pipes 114 extends through the attachment plate body 62a, and is connected to the oxygen-containing gas supply passage 42a of the fuel cell stack 24 (see FIG. 1) .
As shown in FIG. 3, a first combustion gas channel 116a as a passage of the combustion gas is formed in the first area Rl, and a second combustion gas channel 116b as a passage of the combustion gas that has passed through the holes 60a is formed in the second area R2. A third
combustion gas channel 116c as a passage of the combustion gas that has passed through the openings 72 is formed in the third area R3. Further, a fourth combustion gas channel 116d is formed as a passage after the exhaust gas pipe 112. The second combustion gas channel 116b forms the reformer 46 and the evaporator 48, and the third combustion gas channel 116c forms the heat exchanger 50.
As shown in FIG. 1, the raw fuel supply apparatus 14 includes a raw fuel channel 118. The raw fuel channel 118 is branched into the raw fuel supply channel 84 and the raw fuel supply pipe 58 through a raw fuel regulator valve 120. A desulfurizer 122 for removing sulfur compounds in the city gas (raw fuel) is provided in the raw fuel supply channel 84.
The oxygen-containing gas supply apparatus 16 includes an oxygen-containing gas channel 124. The oxygen-containing gas channel 124 is branched into the oxygen-containing gas supply pipe 110 and the air supply pipe 57 through an oxygen-containing gas regulator valve 126. The water supply apparatus 18 is connected to the evaporator 48 through the water channel 88.
Operation of the fuel cell system 10 will be described below.
At the time of starting operation of the fuel cell system 10, the air (oxygen-containing gas) and the raw fuel are supplied to the start-up combustor 54. More
specifically, by operation of the air pump, the air is supplied to the oxygen-containing gas channel 124. By adjusting the opening degree of the oxygen-containing gas regulator valve 126, the air is supplied to the air supply pipe 57.
In the meanwhile, in the raw fuel supply apparatus 14, by operation of the fuel gas pump, for example, raw fuel such as the city gas (containing CH4, C2H6, C3H8, C4Hi0) is supplied to the raw fuel channel 118. By regulating the opening degree of the raw fuel regulator valve 120, the raw fuel is supplied into the raw fuel supply pipe 58. The raw fuel is mixed with the air, and supplied into the start-up combustor 54 (see FIGS. 3 and 4).
Thus, the mixed gas of the raw fuel and the air is supplied into the start-up combustor 54, and the mixed gas is ignited to start combustion. Therefore, the combustion gas produced in combustion flows from the first area Rl to the second area R2. Further, the combustion gas is supplied to the third area R3, and then, the combustion gas is discharged to the outside of the fuel cell module 12 through the exhaust gas pipe 112.
As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the reformer 46 and the evaporator 48 are provided in the second area R2 , and the heat exchanger 50 is provided in the third area R3. Thus, the combustion gas discharged from the first area Rl first heats the reformer 46, next heats the evaporator 48, and then heats the heat exchanger 50.
Then, after the temperature of the fuel cell module 12 is raised to a predetermined temperature, the air (oxygen- containing gas) is supplied to the heat exchanger 50, and the mixed gas of the raw fuel and the water vapor is
supplied to the reformer 46. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 1, the opening degree of the oxygen-containing gas regulator valve 126 is adjusted such that the flow rate of the air supplied to the oxygen-containing gas supply pipe 110 is increased, and the opening degree of the raw fuel regulator valve 120 is adjusted such that the flow rate of the raw fuel supplied to the raw fuel supply channel 84 is increased. Further, by operation of the water supply apparatus 18, the water is supplied to the water channel 88. The air is supplied from the oxygen-containing gas supply pipe 110 to the heat recovery area 106 of the outer member 55. Thus, the air flows through the holes 108 into the oxygen-containing gas supply chamber 102a.
Therefore, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the air flows into the heat exchanger 50, and the air is temporarily supplied to the oxygen-containing gas supply chamber 102a. Thereafter, while the air is moving inside the heat exchange pipes 96, the air is heated by heat exchange with the combustion gas supplied into the third area R3. After the heated air is temporarily supplied to the oxygen-containing gas discharge chamber 102b, the air is supplied to the oxygen-containing gas supply passage 42a of the fuel cell stack 24 through the oxygen-containing gas pipes 114 (see FIG. 1). In the fuel cell stack 24, the heated air flows along the oxygen-containing gas flow field 38, and the air is supplied to the cathode 28.
After the air flows through the oxygen-containing gas flow field 38, the air is discharged from the oxygen- containing gas discharge passage 42b into the oxygen- containing exhaust gas channel 63a. The oxygen-containing exhaust gas channel 63a is opened to the combustion cup member 60 of the exhaust gas combustor 52, and the oxygen- containing exhaust gas is supplied into the combustion cup member 60.
Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the water from the water supply apparatus 18 is supplied to the evaporator 48. After the raw fuel is desulfurized in the desulfurizer 122, the raw fuel flows through the raw fuel supply channel 84, and moves toward the reformer 46.
In the evaporator 48, after the water is temporarily supplied to the water supply chamber 82a, while water is moving inside the evaporation pipes 74, the water is heated by the combustion gas flowing through the second area R2, and vaporized. After the water vapor flows into the water vapor discharge chamber 82b, the water vapor is supplied to the evaporation return pipe 90 connected to the water vapor discharge chamber 82b. Thus, the water vapor flows inside the evaporation return pipe 90, and flows into the raw fuel supply channel 84. Then, the water vapor is mixed with the raw fuel supplied by the raw fuel supply apparatus 14 to produce the mixed gas .
The mixed gas from the raw fuel supply channel 84 is temporarily supplied to the mixed gas supply chamber 78a of the reformer 46. The mixed gas moves inside the reforming pipes 66. In the meanwhile, the mixed gas is heated by the combustion gas flowing through the second area R2, and is then steam-reformed. After removal (reforming) of
hydrocarbon of C2+, a reformed gas chiefly containing methane is obtained. After this reformed gas is heated, the reformed gas is temporarily supplied to the reformed gas discharge chamber 78b as the fuel gas. Thereafter, the fuel gas is supplied to the fuel gas supply passage 44a of the fuel cell stack 24 through the fuel gas channel 86 (see FIG. 1). In the fuel cell stack 24, the heated fuel gas flows along the fuel gas flow field 40, and the fuel gas is supplied to the anode 30. In the meanwhile, the air is supplied to the cathode 28.
Thus, electricity is generated in the electrolyte electrode assembly 32.
After the fuel gas flows through the fuel gas flow field 40, the fuel gas is discharged from the fuel gas discharge passage 44b to the fuel exhaust gas channel 63b. The fuel exhaust gas channel 63b is opened to the inside of the combustion cup member 60 of the exhaust gas combustor
52, and the fuel exhaust gas is supplied into the combustion cup member 60.
Under the heating operation by the start-up combustor 54, when the temperature of the fuel gas in the exhaust gas combustor 52 exceeds the self-ignition temperature,
combustion of the oxygen-containing exhaust gas and the fuel exhaust gas is started inside the combustion cup member 60. In the meanwhile, combustion operation by the start-up combustor 54 is stopped.
As shown in FIG. 3, the buffer 63 is provided in the combustion cup member 60 at a position adjacent to the bottom 60e. In the structure, the flow direction of the combustion gas flowing from the opening 60p of the
combustion cup member 60 toward the bottom 60e in the axial direction indicated by the arrow L is changed to the radial direction of the combustion cup member 60 indicated by the arrow M. Therefore, the combustion gas supplied into the combustion cup member 60 flows through the holes 60a from the first area Rl into the second area R2. Then, the combustion gas is supplied to the third area R3, and
thereafter the combustion gas is discharged to the outside of the fuel cell module 12.
Therefore, the fuel gas can suitably heat the reformer 46, the evaporator 48, and the heat exchanger 50 in the outer area. Thus, improvement in the heat efficiency is achieved, and thermally self-sustaining operation is
facilitated. Thermally self-sustaining operation herein means operation where the operating temperature of the fuel cell 22 is maintained using only heat energy generated in the fuel cell 22, without supplying additional heat from the outside .
In this regard, as shown in FIG. 8, an experiment was conducted using a combustion cup member 60comp. without any buffer for comparison with the combustion cup member 60 according to the embodiment of the present invention. In the combustion cup member 60comp., holes 60a are formed adjacent to the bottom 60e. The combustion gas produced in the combustion cup member 60comp. was discharged to the outside through the holes 60a immediately after the
combustion gas had collided with the bottom 60e.
In the structure, the angle Θ0 defined between the outer circumferential surface of the combustion cup member 60comp. and the direction in which the combustion gas is discharged through the holes 60a (hereinafter referred to as the flow angle) is less than 90°. Therefore, the combustion gas cannot be supplied suitably to the reformer 46 and the evaporator 48 provided in the second area R2 as an outer area, or to the heat exchanger 50 provided in the third area R3 as an outer area, disadvantageously .
In the experiment, the flow angle θ° was measured while changing the volume Wl of the entire combustion cup member 60 and the volume W2 of the buffer 63 to have various values, and changing the total area of the holes 60a. The obtained result is shown in FIG. 9. In buffer ratio curves Bl, B2, and B3 of FIG. 9, the holes 60a were configured to have the totals areas X, 2X, and 3X, in the ratios of 1:2:3, respectively. In the structure, in all of the buffer ratio curves Bl, B2, and B3, the flow angle θ° was within a target range if the buffer ratio was 25% or more.
In the embodiment of the present invention, the volume
Wl of the entire combustion cup member 60 and the volume W2 of the buffer 63 are set such that the relationship of W2/W1 ≥ 1/4 is satisfied. In the structure, the flow direction of the combustion gas produced in the exhaust gas combustor 52 is changed reliably from the axial direction to the radial direction in the combustion cup member 60. Therefore, the fuel gas is supplied reliably toward the reformer 46, the evaporator 48, and the heat exchanger 50 provided in the outer area, and thus can heat them suitably. Thus,
improvement in the heat efficiency is achieved, and
thermally self-sustaining operation is facilitated.
Thermally self-sustaining operation herein means operation where the operating temperature of the fuel cell 22 is maintained using only heat energy generated in the fuel cell 22, without supplying additional heat from the outside. In the present embodiment, the FC peripheral equipment 56 includes the first area (inner area) Rl where the exhaust gas combustor 52 and the start-up combustor 54 are provided, the annular second area (outer area) R2 around the first area Rl and where the reformer 46 and the evaporator 48 are provided, and the annular third area (outer area) R3 around the second area R2 and where the heat exchanger 50 is provided.
That is, the first area Rl is provided at the center, the annular second area R2 is provided around the first area Rl , and the annular third area R3 is provided around the second area R2. Heat waste and heat radiation can be suppressed suitably. Thus, improvement in the heat
efficiency is achieved, thermally self-sustaining operation is facilitated, and simple and compact structure of the entire fuel cell module 12 is achieved.
Moreover, in the first area Rl , the exhaust gas
combustor 52 and the start-up combustor 54 are coaxially with and separated away from each other. Therefore, heat radiation of the combustion gas produced in the combustion cup member 60, due to heat dissipation toward the start-up combustor 54, is suppressed suitably. Accordingly, the exhaust gas combustor 52 can sufficiently supply the heat to respective components in the second area R2 and the third area R3, i.e., the reformer 46, the evaporator 48, and the heat exchanger 50.
Further, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, the reformer 46 includes the annular mixed gas supply chamber 78a, the annular reformed gas discharge chamber 78b, the reforming pipes 66, and the second combustion gas channel 116b. The mixed gas is supplied to the mixed gas supply chamber 78a, and the produced fuel gas is discharged into the reformed gas discharge chamber 78b. Each of the reforming pipes 66 has one end connected to the mixed gas supply chamber 78a, and the other end connected to the reformed gas discharge chamber 78b. The second combustion gas channel 116b supplies the combustion gas to the space between the reforming pipes 66.
The evaporator 48 includes the annular water supply chamber 82a, the annular water vapor discharge chamber 82b, the evaporation pipes 74, and the second combustion gas channel 116b. The water is supplied to the water supply chamber 82a, and the water vapor is discharged into the water vapor discharge chamber 82b. Each of the evaporation pipes 74 has one end connected to the water supply chamber 82a, and the other end connected to the water vapor
discharge chamber 82b. The second combustion gas channel 116b supplies the combustion gas to the space between the evaporation pipes 74.
The heat exchanger 50 includes the annular oxygen- containing gas supply chamber 102a, the annular oxygen- containing gas discharge chamber 102b, the heat exchange pipes 96, and the third combustion gas channel 116c. The oxygen-containing gas is supplied to the oxygen-containing gas supply chamber 102a, and the heated oxygen-containing gas is discharged into the oxygen-containing gas discharge chamber 102b. Each of the heat exchange pipes 96 has one end connected to the oxygen-containing gas supply chamber 102a, and the other end connected to the oxygen-containing gas discharge chamber 102b. The third combustion gas channel 116c supplies the combustion gas to the space between the heat exchange pipes 96.
As described above, the annular supply chambers (mixed gas supply chamber 78a, water supply chamber 82a, and oxygen-containing gas supply chamber 102a) , the annular discharge chambers (reformed gas discharge chamber 78b, water vapor discharge chamber 82b, and oxygen-containing gas discharge chamber 102b) and the pipes (reforming pipes 66, evaporation pipes 74, and heat exchange pipes 96) are provided as basic structure. Thus, simple structure is achieved easily.
Accordingly, the production cost of the fuel cell module 12 is reduced effectively. Further, by changing the volumes of the supply chambers and the discharge chambers , and the length, the diameter, and the number of the pipes, a suitable operation can be achieved depending on various operating conditions, and the design flexibility of the fuel cell module can be enhanced.
Further, the reformed gas discharge chamber 78b, the water vapor discharge chamber 82b, and the oxygen-containing gas discharge chamber 102b are provided at the side of one end adjacent to the fuel cell stack 24, and the mixed gas supply chamber 78a, the water supply chamber 82a, and the oxygen-containing gas supply chamber 102a are provided at the side of the other end distant from the fuel cell stack 24.
In the structure, the reactant gas immediately after heating and the reactant gas immediately after reforming (fuel gas and oxygen-containing gas) can be supplied to the fuel cell stack 24 promptly. Further, the exhaust gas from the fuel cell stack 24 can be supplied to the exhaust gas combustor 52, the reformer 46, the evaporator 48, and the heat exchanger 50 of the FC peripheral equipment 56 while decrease in the temperature of the exhaust gas from the fuel cell stack 24 due to heat radiation is suppressed as much as possible. Thus, improvement in the heat efficiency is achieved, and thermally self-sustaining operation is
facilitated.
Further, the exhaust gas combustor 52 is provided at the side of one end adjacent to the fuel cell stack 24, and the start-up combustor 54 is provided at the side of the other end distant from the fuel cell stack 24. In the structure, when the exhaust gas from the fuel cell stack 24 is supplied to the exhaust gas combustor 52, and combusted to produce a combustion gas, decrease in the temperature is suppressed as much as possible. Therefore, improvement in the heat efficiency is achieved, and thermally self- sustaining operation is facilitated easily.
Further, since the start-up combustor 54 supplies the combustion gas toward the fuel cell stack 24, the time required for increasing the temperature of the fuel cell stack 24, i.e., the time required for starting operation, can be reduced effectively.
Further, as shown in FIGS. 3, 4, and 6, the combustion cup member 60 is attached to the support portion 62 fixed to the first area Rl such that the combustion cup member 60 is oriented from the fuel cell stack 24 toward the first area Rl. Thus, the structure of the combustion cup member 60 is simplified, and reduction in the number of assembling steps is achieved. Further, as shown in FIG. 6, the fixing mechanism 64 is provided for fixing the support portion 62 and the
combustion cup member 60 together such that the support portion 62 and the combustion cup member 60 are not
rotatable with respect to each other. The fixing mechanism 64 includes the recesses 64b and the protrusion 64a that is engageable with any of the recesses 64b. At least the recesses 64b are provided at a plurality of positions, e.g., at two positions for enabling adjustment of the phase between the support portion 62 and the combustion cup member 60.
Therefore, simply by providing and arranging the protrusion 64a and the recesses 64b, the phase of the holes 60a can be adjusted. That is, in FIG. 7, the holes 60a are oriented toward positions between the reforming pipes 66 of the reformer 46. Since the combustion gas supplied from the holes 60a to the second area R2 flows toward the positions between the reforming pipes 66, the quantity of the heat supplied to the reforming pipes 66 is relatively small.
Thus, the heat exchanging efficiency of the reformer 46 is low.
In contrast, as shown in FIG. 10, the holes 60a are oriented toward the reforming pipes 66 of the reformer 46. Since the combustion gas supplied from the holes 60a to the second area R2 flows toward the reforming pipes 66, the quantity of heat supplied to the reforming pipes 66 is relatively large. Therefore, improvement in the heat exchanging efficiency in the reformer 46 is achieved. Thus, the quantity of the heat supplied to respective components, in particular, to the reformer 46, can be adjusted easily and reliably.
Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the combustion gas flows from the first area Rl to the second area R2 , and then, flows from the second area R2 to the third area R3.
Thereafter, the combustion gas is discharged to the outside of the fuel cell module 12. In the structure, the heat can be effectively supplied to the exhaust gas combustor 52, the reformer 46, the evaporator 48, and the heat exchanger 50 of the FC peripheral equipment 56. Thus, improvement in the heat efficiency is achieved, and thermally self-sustaining operation is facilitated.
Further, the fuel cell module 12 is a solid oxide fuel cell module. Therefore, the fuel cell module 12 is suitable for, in particular, high temperature type fuel cells such as SOFC.
While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to preferred embodiments, it will be understood that variations and modifications can be effected thereto by those skilled in the art without
departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims .

Claims

Claim 1. A fuel cell module (12) comprising:
a fuel cell stack (24) formed by stacking a plurality of fuel cells (22) for generating electricity by
electrochemical reactions of a fuel gas and an oxygen- containing gas;
a reformer (46) for reforming a mixed gas of a raw fuel chiefly containing hydrocarbon and water vapor to produce the fuel gas supplied to the fuel cell stack (24);
an evaporator (48) for evaporating water, and supplying the water vapor to the reformer (46),
a heat exchanger (50) for raising a temperature of the oxygen-containing gas by heat exchange with a combustion gas, and supplying the oxygen-containing gas to the fuel cell stack (24);
an exhaust gas combustor (52) for combusting the fuel gas discharged from the fuel cell stack (24) as a fuel exhaust gas and the oxygen-containing gas discharged from the fuel cell stack (24) as an oxygen-containing exhaust gas to produce the combustion gas ; and
a start-up combustor (54) for combusting the raw fuel and the oxygen-containing gas to produce the combustion gas, wherein the fuel cell module includes :
an inner area where the exhaust gas combustor (52) and the start-up combustor (54) are provided; and
an annular outer area around the inner area and where the reformer (46), the evaporator (48), and the heat
exchanger (50) are provided;
wherein the exhaust gas combustor (52) and the start-up combustor (54) are provided coaxially in the inner area; and the exhaust gas combustor (52) has a combustion cup member (60) having a closed bottom adjacent to the start-up combustor (54), and a plurality of combustion gas holes (60a) are formed in an outer circumferential portion of the combustion cup member (60) for supplying the combustion gas produced in the combustion cup member (60) to the outer area.
Claim 2. The fuel cell module according to claim 1, wherein a buffer (63) is provided in the combustion cup member (60) for facilitating a change in the flow direction of the combustion gas from an axial direction from an opening (60p) of the combustion cup member (60) toward the bottom (60e), to a radial direction of the combustion cup member ( 60 ) .
Claim 3. The fuel cell module according to claim 2 , wherein the buffer (63) is formed by an area defined between the bottom (60e) and a portion where the combustion gas holes (60a) are provided; and
a volume Wl of the entire combustion cup member (60) and a volume W2 of the buffer (63) are set such that a relationship of W2/W1 > 1/4 is satisfied.
Claim 4. The fuel cell module according to claim 1 , wherein the reformer (46) includes an annular mixed gas supply chamber (78a) to which the mixed gas is supplied, an annular reformed gas discharge chamber (78b) to which the produced fuel gas is discharged, a plurality of reforming pipes (66) each having one end connected to the mixed gas supply chamber (78a), and another end connected to the reformed gas discharge chamber (78b), and a combustion gas channel (116b) for supplying the combustion gas to spaces between the reforming pipes (66);
the evaporator (48) includes an annular water supply chamber (82a) to which the water is supplied, an annular water vapor discharge chamber (82b) to which the water vapor is discharged, a plurality of evaporation pipes (74) each having one end connected to the water supply chamber (82a), and another end connected to the water vapor discharge chamber (82b), and a combustion gas channel (116b) for supplying the combustion gas to spaces between the
evaporation pipes (74); and
the heat exchanger (50) includes an annular oxygen- containing gas supply chamber (102a) to which the oxygen- containing gas is supplied, an annular oxygen-containing gas discharge chamber (102b) to which the heated oxygen- containing gas is discharged, a plurality of heat exchange pipes (96) each having one end connected to the oxygen- containing gas supply chamber (102a), and another end connected to the oxygen-containing gas discharge chamber (102b), and a combustion gas channel (116c) for supplying the combustion gas to spaces between the heat exchange pipes (96).
Claim 5. The fuel cell module according to claim 4, wherein the reformed gas discharge chamber (78b), the water vapor discharge chamber (82b), and the oxygen-containing gas discharge chamber (102b) are provided at one end side adjacent to the fuel cell stack (24); and
the mixed gas supply chamber (78a), the water supply chamber (82a), and the oxygen-containing gas supply chamber (102a) are provided at another end side distant from the fuel cell stack (24).
Claim 6. The fuel cell module according to claim 1 , wherein the exhaust gas combustor (52) is provided at one end side adjacent to the fuel cell stack (24); and
the start-up combustor (54) is provided at another end side distant from the fuel cell stack (24).
Claim 7. The fuel cell module according to clam 5 , wherein the combustion cup member (60) is attached to a support portion (62) fixed in the inner area, such that the combustion cup member (60) is orientated from the fuel cell stack (24) toward the inner area.
Claim 8. The fuel cell module according to claim 7 , further including a fixing mechanism (64) for fixing the support portion (62) and the combustion cup member (60) together such that the support portion (62) and the
combustion cup member (60) are not rotatable with each other, the fixing mechanism (64) being provided on the support portion (62) and the combustion cup member (60), wherein the fixing mechanism (64) includes a protrusion (64a) and a recess (64b) that are engaged with each other, and
at least the recess (64b) is provided at a plurality of positions for enabling adjustment of a phase between the support portion (62) and the combustion cup member (60).
Claim 9. The fuel cell module according to claim 1, wherein the combustion gas flows from the inner area to the outer area, and thereafter the combustion gas is discharged to outside of the fuel cell module (12).
Claim 10. The fuel cell module according to claim 1, wherein the fuel cell module (12) is a solid oxide fuel cell module.
PCT/JP2013/085350 2013-01-30 2013-12-27 Fuel cell module WO2014119221A1 (en)

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JP2013016037A JP6051064B2 (en) 2013-01-30 2013-01-30 Fuel cell module
JP2013-016037 2013-01-30

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