JP4015839B2 - Fuel cell power generation system - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a fuel cell power generation system that generates electricity by reacting hydrogen and oxygen.
[0002]
[Prior art]
A conventional fuel cell power generation system will be described with reference to FIG.
The general structure of a conventional general fuel cell power generation system is well known as shown in FIG. 5 (Matsuda / Takehara edition, Battery Handbook, (Hei 13), 569, Maruzen).
In FIG. 5, the battery stack 52 is arranged in the upper part of the device casing 51, and the control unit 53 such as an inverter is separated from the hydrogen supply unit 55 such as a reformer via the water treatment device 54 and the like. is set up. By such a configuration, even if leaked hydrogen gas from the hydrogen supply portion 55, such as a reformer, the control unit 53, such as an inverter, the hydrogen gas is rather difficulty flows.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In the conventional fuel cell power generation system as described above, when a combustible gas such as raw material gas or hydrogen leaks from the hydrogen supply unit 55 such as a reformer, an air blower (not shown) in the apparatus 51 is not provided. Depending on the flow direction of the airflow due to the suction, the leaked combustible gas may flow into a control unit such as an inverter, and in the worst case, there is a risk of ignition or explosion by a spark generated by the control component.
[0004]
The present invention provides a fuel cell capable of ensuring safety with no risk of explosion, a smaller and more reliable system, and protecting a control unit and an air blower from external dust and the like. The purpose is to provide a power generation system.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The fuel cell power generation system of the present invention controls the fuel cell system enclosure, and a hydrogen supply unit for supplying hydrogen to the fuel cell, and air blower for sending air to the fuel cell, the operation of the fuel cell The fuel cell is partitioned by a control unit , the device casing and the first partition, and is partitioned by a first chamber for storing the control unit, the device casing, the first partition, and a second partition. And a second chamber that stores the air blower, and a third chamber that is partitioned by the apparatus housing and the second partition and stores the hydrogen supply unit, and the air blower inlet is in the second chamber While opening, a part of the first chamber is opened to the outside of the device housing, the other part of the first chamber is opened in the device, and the first chamber and the third chamber are It is configured to be isolated with two chambers in between .
[0006]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below.
<< Reference Form 1 >>
The configuration of the fuel cell power generation system in Embodiment 1 of this reference, will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a fuel cell power generation system. In the device casing 1, there are a fuel cell 3 constituted by a battery stack, a hydrogen supply unit 2 for supplying hydrogen to the fuel cell, an air blower 5 for sending air to the fuel cell, and a control unit for controlling the operation of the fuel cell. 4 is provided. The hydrogen supply unit 2 includes a hydrogen cylinder, a container filled with a hydrogen storage material, or a reformer. A dedicated air inlet 6 is provided in the air blower 5, and the air inlet 6 is opened to the outside of the apparatus housing 1.
The operation of this fuel cell power generation system will be briefly described below. Hydrogen supplied from the hydrogen supply unit 2 is supplied to the fuel cell 3 through the hydrogen pipe 7. On the other hand, the air sucked by the air blower 5 from the intake port 6 is supplied to the fuel cell 3 through the air pipe 8. Electric power is generated by reacting the supplied hydrogen and oxygen in the air. Moreover, if the heat generated at the same time is used, so-called combined heat and power generation (cogeneration) is performed, and energy can be used effectively. A series of these operations is performed by the control unit 4, and a DC voltage is converted into an AC voltage as necessary.
[0007]
By the way, a large amount of air is supplied to the fuel cell 3 by the air blower 5. The air blower 5 is provided with a dedicated intake port 6, and the intake port 6 is configured to open to the outside of the apparatus housing 1, so that a combustible gas such as raw material gas or hydrogen should be generated from the hydrogen supply unit 2. Even if it leaks out, the flow of combustible gas through the control unit 4 by the air blower 5 does not occur, and there is no risk of ignition or explosion due to a spark generated by the control component. For this reason, safety is high even if the control parts do not have explosion-proof specifications. Furthermore, the control part 4 can be installed near the hydrogen supply part 2 by providing the partition wall 9 shown in FIG.
[0008]
<< Reference form 2 >>
The configuration of the fuel cell power generation system in Reference Embodiment 2 will be described with reference to FIG. Hereinafter, the same parts are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description of the parts is omitted.
As shown in FIG. 2, the apparatus housing 1 of the fuel cell power generation system includes a hydrogen supply unit 2, a battery stack unit 3, a control unit 4, and an air blower 5 that sends air to the battery stack unit 3. In the housing 1, a partition wall 21 for partitioning a chamber for storing the hydrogen supply unit 2 and a portion for storing other elements is provided, thereby forming a dedicated chamber 22 for storing the hydrogen supply unit, and the air blower 5. The air inlet 23 is opened to the outside of the housing 1 through the chamber 22.
[0009]
By adopting such a configuration, the pressure of the chamber 22 that accommodates the hydrogen supply unit becomes lower than the pressure of the other space 24 in the apparatus housing 1, and combustible gases such as source gas and hydrogen are supplied from the hydrogen supply unit 2. Even if the flammable gas leaks out, the flammable gas does not flow out to the space 24 side where the control unit 4 or the like is installed, so that it is safe.
[0010]
<< Reference form 3 >>
The configuration of the fuel cell power generation system in Reference Embodiment 3 will be described with reference to FIG.
As shown in FIG. 3, the apparatus housing 1 includes a hydrogen supply unit 2 such as a reformer, a fuel cell 3, a control unit 4, and an air blower 5 for sending air to the fuel cell 3, and at least a hydrogen supply unit By providing partition walls 31 and 32 for isolating each of 2 and the control unit 4 from the other, a dedicated chamber 33 for storing the hydrogen supply unit and a dedicated chamber 34 for storing the control unit are formed. The air inlet 35 of the air blower 5 is opened to the chamber 34 that accommodates the control unit, and the other portion of the chamber 34 is provided with an air intake port 36 that is opened to the outside of the apparatus housing 1. 0011
By adopting such a configuration, even when outside air flows into the chamber 34 that accommodates the control unit 4 from the air intake port 36 and a combustible gas such as source gas or hydrogen leaks from the hydrogen supply unit 2, Since the combustible gas does not flow into the chamber 34, it is safe. Further, since the control unit 4 can be cooled by the outside air flowing in, the temperature rise can be suppressed even if the control unit 4 is made more compact, and a smaller and more reliable system can be achieved.
[0012]
<< Embodiment 1 >>
The configuration of the fuel cell power generation system according to Embodiment 1 will be described with reference to FIG.
As shown in FIG. 4, the apparatus housing 1 includes a hydrogen supply unit 2 such as a reformer, a fuel cell 3, a control unit 4, and an air blower 5 for sending air to the fuel cell 3, and at least a hydrogen supply unit 2 and a partition wall 41 and 42 for isolating each of the control unit 4 from each other, thereby forming a dedicated chamber 43 for storing the hydrogen supply unit 2 and a dedicated chamber 44 for storing the control unit 4 respectively. Yes. An air inlet 45 of the air blower 5 is opened in the apparatus housing 1, and an air intake port 46 opened to the outside of the apparatus housing 1 is provided in a part of the chamber 44 that houses the control unit 4. A vent hole 47 opened in the apparatus housing 1 is provided in the other part of the chamber 44 that accommodates the portion 4 .
[0013]
By adopting such a configuration, even when outside air flows into the chamber 44 that accommodates the control unit 4 from the air intake 46 and a combustible gas such as raw material gas or hydrogen leaks from the hydrogen supply unit 2, Since the combustible gas does not flow into the chamber 44 of the control unit 4 , it is safe. Further, since the control unit 4 can be cooled, a more compact and reliable system can be obtained.
In FIG. 4, the air intake port 48 is provided below the device housing 1, but the air intake port 48 may be installed at another location in the device housing 1, and the air intake port 48 is provided. It is not necessary.
[0014]
<< Reference Form 4 >>
The configuration of the fuel cell power generation system in Reference Embodiment 4 will be described with reference to FIG.
As shown in FIG. 2, a combustible gas detector 25 is provided in the vicinity of the air inlet 23 of the air blower 5.
By adopting such a configuration, even if a combustible gas such as a raw material gas or hydrogen leaks from the hydrogen supply unit 2, if the combustible gas detector 25 detects the combustible gas and exceeds the allowable amount, Since safety measures such as stopping can be taken, a highly reliable system can be obtained. Further, the combustible gas detector 25 may be provided in the control unit 4.
[0015]
<< Reference Form 5 >>
The configuration of the fuel cell power generation system in Reference Embodiment 5 will be described with reference to FIG.
As shown in FIG. 3, a filter 37 is provided at the air intake port 36, so that the control unit 4 and the air blower 5 can be protected from dust from the outside, and a more reliable system can be obtained. . Such a filter may be provided at the air inlet of the air blower 5.
[0016]
<< Reference Form 6 >>
The configuration of the fuel cell power generation system in Reference Embodiment 6 will be described with reference to FIG.
In FIG. 4, the control unit 4 is molded with resin or the like (not shown), so that the control unit 4 can be protected even when dust, flammable gas, etc. flows from the outside. It can be set as a highly reliable system.
[0017]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, even if the flammable gas leaks from the hydrogen supply unit, the leaked flammable gas does not flow into the control unit, and it is possible to prevent explosion and the like in advance. There is an effect of enhancing the sex. Further, since the control components can be cooled by the flow of outside air, the temperature rise can be suppressed even if the control unit is made more compact, and a smaller and more reliable system can be obtained.
[Brief description of the drawings]
1 is a schematic block diagram of a fuel cell power generation system according to Embodiment 1 of the reference of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of a fuel cell power generation system in Reference Embodiments 2 and 4 of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram of a fuel cell power generation system in Reference Embodiments 3 and 5 of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a schematic configuration diagram of a fuel cell power generation system according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a schematic configuration diagram of a fuel cell power generation system in a conventional example.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Apparatus housing | casing 2 Hydrogen supply part 3 Fuel cell 4 Control part 5 Air blower 6, 23, 35, 45 Air inlet 21, 31, 32, 41, 42 Partition 22, 22, 33, 43 Chamber which accommodates hydrogen supply part 24 Space Unit 25 Combustible gas detector 34, 44 Chamber for accommodating control unit 36, 46, 48 Air intake port 37 Filter 47 Ventilation port

Claims (1)

And fuel cell device casing, a hydrogen supply unit for supplying hydrogen to a fuel cell, an air blower for sending air to the fuel cell, and a control unit for controlling the operation of the fuel cell, said device housing and a first partition wall A first chamber that houses the control unit, a second chamber that houses the fuel cell and the air blower, and is partitioned by the device housing, the first partition, and the second partition, and the device partitioned by the housing and a second partition wall, and a third chamber for accommodating the hydrogen supply portion, the air inlet of the air blower causes the opening to the second chamber, a portion of said first chamber The outside of the apparatus housing is opened, the other part of the first chamber is opened in the apparatus, and the first chamber and the third chamber are separated with the second chamber interposed therebetween. fuel cell power generation system being.

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