JP7138445B2 - Fuel cell device module and fuel cell device - Google Patents

Description

The present disclosure relates to a fuel cell device module and a fuel cell device using the same.

A fuel cell module comprising a cell stack in which a plurality of fuel cells capable of obtaining electric power using a hydrogen-containing gas (fuel gas) and an oxygen-containing gas (air) are stacked in a storage container as a configuration of a fuel cell; Various proposals have been made for fuel cell devices in which the fuel cell module and auxiliary equipment required for its operation are housed in a housing such as an exterior case.

A fuel cell module, as described in Patent Document 1, has a configuration in which at least one cell stack device (cell stack) is accommodated in a storage chamber of a storage container. A cell stack is constructed by arranging and fixing, for example, a plurality of columnar fuel cells in a row on a base called a manifold for supplying fuel gas to each cell.

Adjacent to the side surface (hereinafter also referred to as "first side surface") in the arrangement direction (longitudinal direction) of the cell stack, an oxygen-containing gas is supplied to the columnar root or base below each fuel cell constituting the cell stack. An oxygen-containing gas introduction member is provided to supply the oxygen-containing gas.

Japanese Patent No. 6239198

By the way, the oxygen-containing gas (air) is supplied to the bottom of each cell in a heated state, but if the heating is insufficient and the temperature of the oxygen-containing gas is relatively low, the power generation efficiency of the bottom of the fuel cell was likely to be relatively low. Also, if the oxygen-containing gas has an uneven temperature distribution or is not uniformly supplied to the cells, the power generation efficiency of the fuel cell module may decrease.

An object of the present invention is to provide a fuel cell module with high power generation efficiency and a fuel cell device using the same.

The fuel cell module of the present disclosure includes at least one cell stack in which a plurality of fuel cells are arranged in rows;
an oxygen-containing gas introducing member located opposite one first side surface of the cell stack along the cell stack arrangement direction and having a supply hole for supplying an oxygen-containing gas to the lower part of the cell stack;
a wall facing a second side of the cell stack opposite to the first side;
at least one first spacer extending in the arrangement direction in the vertical direction of the cell stack, above the supply holes, and positioned between the first side surface and the oxygen-containing gas introducing member;
A plurality of second spacers extending in the arrangement direction in the vertical direction of the cell stack, positioned at the same position as or above the supply hole, and positioned between the second side surface and the wall. and
Each of the plurality of second spacers is spaced apart in the vertical direction,
The plurality of second spacers are
a central second spacer located in the central portion of the cell stack in the vertical direction;
at least one end second spacer located at the end of the cell stack in the vertical direction from the central portion;
the lower end of the central second spacer is positioned at or below the central position between the supply hole and the upper end of the cell stack in the vertical direction;
the upper end of the central second spacer is positioned above the central position in the vertical direction,
In the vertical direction, the sum of the lengths of the surfaces of the plurality of second spacers facing the cell stack is greater than the sum of the lengths of the surfaces of the at least one first spacer facing the cell stack It is characterized by

Further, the fuel cell module of the present disclosure includes a plurality of cell stacks in which fuel cells are arranged in rows,
an oxygen-containing gas introduction part positioned facing one side of the cell stack along the arrangement direction of the cell stack,
The plurality of cell stacks includes a first cell stack and a second cell stack positioned side by side along the arrangement direction of the first cell stack,
The oxygen-containing gas introduction section is positioned between the first cell stack and the second cell stack, and the oxygen-containing gas introduction section includes a first surface facing the first cell stack, a second a second surface facing the two-cell stack;
The first surface has a plurality of first supply holes for supplying the oxygen-containing gas to the first cell stack, and the second surface has second supply holes for supplying the oxygen-containing gas to the second cell stack. have a plurality of
When viewed from the side perpendicular to the first surface and the second surface,
In the arrangement direction,
The opening position of at least one first supply hole located on the first surface and the opening position of the second supply hole on the second surface located closest to the region facing the first supply hole different, and the areas of the first supply holes and the areas of the second supply holes are all the same .

A fuel cell device according to the present disclosure includes any one of the fuel cell modules described above, auxiliary equipment for operating the fuel cell module, an exterior case for housing the fuel cell module and the auxiliary equipment, Prepare.

Since the fuel cell module of the present disclosure can supply the relatively hot oxygen-containing gas to the lower portion of the fuel cell, the power generation efficiency of the fuel cell module can be increased. Alternatively, since the temperature distribution and supply amount of the oxygen-containing gas can be prevented from becoming non-uniform, the power generation efficiency of the fuel cell module can be increased.

1 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the configuration of a fuel cell module according to an embodiment; FIG. FIG. 2 is a side view for explaining the structure of the cell stack device shown in FIG. 1; FIG. 4 is a top view of the cell stack along the direction in which the fuel cells are arranged; BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS It is a vertical sectional view explaining the structure of the fuel cell module of 1st Embodiment, (a) is a general view of a module, (b) is an enlarged view of one cell stack side. FIG. 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view illustrating the configuration of a fuel cell module according to a second embodiment, where (a) is an overall view of the module and (b) is an enlarged view of one cell stack side. FIG. 4 is a diagram schematically showing the shape and arrangement of oxygen-containing gas supply holes provided on both sides of the oxygen-containing gas introduction member of the fuel cell module of the first and second embodiments; FIG. 10 is a vertical cross-sectional view for explaining the configuration of a fuel cell module according to a third embodiment, where (a) is an overall view of the module and (b) is an enlarged view of one cell stack side. FIG. 11 is a diagram schematically showing an example of the shape and arrangement of oxygen-containing gas supply holes provided on the reformer (second cell stack) side surface of the oxygen-containing gas introduction member of the fuel cell module of the third embodiment; be. FIG. 5 is a diagram schematically showing another example of the shape and arrangement of oxygen-containing gas supply holes provided on the surface of the oxygen-containing gas introduction member on the reforming section (second cell stack) side. FIG. 10A is a diagram schematically showing an example of the shape and arrangement of oxygen-containing gas supply holes provided on both sides of the oxygen-containing gas introduction member of the fuel cell module of the third embodiment, and FIG. FIG. 2B is a view showing the first surface on the side of the quality section (second cell stack), and (b) the second surface on the side of the vaporization section (first cell stack). 1 is an exploded perspective view showing the configuration of a fuel cell device according to an embodiment; FIG.

A fuel cell module M (hereinafter sometimes simply referred to as "module") of the embodiment is a power generation/heat generation module of a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC). As shown in the exploded perspective view of FIG. 1, the fuel cell module M includes two rows of cell stacks 1 (1A, 1B) inside a storage container 20 having a double structure consisting of an inner box 21 and an outer box 22. A storage container 20 containing a cell stack device S comprising a manifold 2 and a reformer 3, an oxygen-containing gas introducing member 4 (4A, 4B, etc.), and an internal heat insulating member 5 (5A, 5B, 5C, etc.). The opening of (accommodating space 27) is sealed with a lid or the like. A modular heat exchanger E, which is smaller than the side surface, is attached to the side surface of the storage container 20 .

The cell stack 1 consists of a first cell stack 1A on the right side of the drawing (hereinafter referred to as right column) and a second cell stack 1B on the left side of the drawing (hereinafter referred to as left column). As described above, the direction in which the fuel cells are arranged (stacked and fixed) in the cell stack 1 (1A, 1B) is simply referred to as the "arrangement direction", and includes cells and cell stacks orthogonal to this arrangement direction. The top and bottom (vertical) direction of each device is called the "vertical direction". Although there is no structural difference between the first cell stack 1A in the right column and the second cell stack 1B in the left column, the cell stacks located below the vaporization section 3A on the upstream side of the reformer 3 is called a first cell stack 1A, and the cell stack located below the downstream reforming section 3B in the reformer 3 is called a second cell stack 1B.

Furthermore, the left side (facing surface) of the first cell stack 1A in the right column and the right side (facing surface) of the second cell stack 1B in the left column, which are opposed to each other in FIG. Call it the "first side" (1x) of the stack. In addition, the outer side surface (right side in the drawing) of the first cell stack 1A in the right column and the outer side surface (left side in the drawing) of the second cell stack 1B in the left column on the opposite side are both referred to as the "second side surface" of the cell stack. ” (symbol 1y).

In the present disclosure , the term “opposing” surfaces is a concept including face-to-face, confrontation, etc., in which surfaces face each other with a gap (space) in addition to the case where the surfaces are in direct contact with each other. Therefore, the shape and roughness (unevenness) of the surface of the object are not considered.

In the case of a first embodiment (FIG. 4), a second embodiment (FIG. 5), and a third embodiment (FIG. 7) described later, in which the cell stack device S is accommodated in the storage container 20, The first side surface of each cell stack 1A and 1B is the "first surface" of the oxygen-containing gas introduction member 4 (symbol 4x: first cell stack 1A side) and the "second surface" (reference numeral 4y: second cell stack 1B side). The second side surfaces of the cell stacks 1A and 1B are respectively the inner wall surface of the heat insulating material 5A (symbol 5x: first cell stack 1A side) and the inner wall surface of the heat insulating material 5B, which constitute the wall part on the side of the module. (symbol 5y: second cell stack 1B side).

The cell stack device S is arranged between the first spacer 6 arranged between the oxygen-containing gas introducing member 4 and the heat insulating materials 5A and 5B constituting the side walls of the module. They are placed and fixed at predetermined positions in the housing space 27 via the second spacers 7 , respectively. This point will be described in detail in each embodiment described later.

The basic structures of the first cell stack 1A and the second cell stack 1B will be explained. As shown in the side view of FIG. 2, each of the cell stacks 1A and 1B is a hollow flat plate fuel cell having a plurality of fuel gas passages through which the fuel gas flows vertically (upward in this example). A plurality of fuel cells 10 are arranged in an upright state with collector members 17 interposed between the respective fuel cells 10 and electrically connected in series to form a cell stack.

In the cell stacks 1A and 1B, the lower end of each fuel cell 10 is fixed to the manifold 2 that supplies the fuel gas to the fuel cell 10. As shown in FIG. Note that the manifold 2 is not included in the cell stack. At both ends in the arrangement direction of the cell stack, current lead-out portions 18 for drawing out current generated by power generation are provided. Further, above the cell stack, a reformer 3 (not shown in FIG. 2) for generating fuel gas to be supplied to the fuel cells 10 is arranged.

As shown in the top view of FIG. 3, each fuel cell 10 has fuel on one flat surface (left side in the drawing) of a columnar conductive support 11 having a pair of opposed flat surfaces (wide surfaces). An electrode layer 12, a solid electrolyte layer 13, and an oxygen electrode layer 14 are laminated in this order. An interconnector 15 and a P-type semiconductor layer 16 are laminated in this order on the flat surface on the other side of the conductive support 11 (on the right side in the drawing). Inside the conductive support 11, a plurality of perforated fuel gas flow paths 11a are provided for allowing the fuel gas to flow.

The collector member 17 that connects the fuel cells 10 has a mesh shape when viewed three-dimensionally, and as indicated by the dotted line arrow in FIG. , 4B, etc.) can freely pass through the gap between the cell stack and the oxygen-containing gas introduction member 4 or between the cell stack and the wall. there is Therefore, the oxygen-containing gas supplied to the lower portion of each fuel cell 10 moves in and out between the adjacent fuel cells 10 (gap) while moving from the upper portion of the fuel cell 10 (from the back side of the paper in FIG. 3). surface) [see dash-dotted lines in the first embodiment (Fig. 4), the second embodiment (Fig. 5) and the third embodiment (Fig. 7) below].

On the other hand, the fuel gas (hydrogen-containing gas, reformed gas) flowing through the perforated fuel gas passages 11a is supplied through the raw fuel supply pipe 3c in the reformer 3 described above. It is produced by steam reforming raw fuel such as gas. That is, the reformer 3 includes a vaporization section 3A for vaporizing water, a reforming section 3B in which a reforming catalyst (not shown) for reforming raw fuel into fuel gas is arranged, and the above-mentioned A raw fuel supply pipe 3c and a fuel gas distribution pipe 3d for transporting the reformed and produced fuel gas to the manifold 2 are provided.

The reformer 3 is warmed by combustion heat of unreacted oxygen-containing gas and fuel gas (hereinafter sometimes referred to as off-gas) discharged from the upper end of the cell stack. In addition, in the present disclosure, an embodiment having a reformer is shown, but a form not having a reformer is also possible.

A specific embodiment in which the cell stack device S configured as described above is accommodated in the storage container 20 will be described below.

FIG. 4 shows the structure of the fuel cell module of the first embodiment, FIG. 5 of the second embodiment, and FIG. 7 of the third embodiment (respectively referred to as M1, M2, and M3). 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a direction; FIG. In these figures, for ease of explanation, an oxygen-containing gas flow path 25 for supplying oxygen-containing gas (air) to the cell stack and an oxygen-containing gas flow path 25 for discharging exhaust gas after burning off-gas , and the exhaust gas flow path 26 are drawn in an emphasized and enlarged manner. A thermocouple for measuring the temperature of the flowing air may be inserted into the oxygen-containing gas introduction member, but the illustration thereof is omitted.

First, a first embodiment shown in FIGS. 4 and 6 will be described. In the following second and third embodiments as well, the same constituent members may be denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof may be omitted. Further, the solid arrows in each figure indicate the flow (gas flow) of the oxygen-containing gas and exhaust gas.

As shown in FIG. 4(a), the storage container 20 constituting the fuel cell module M1 has a double structure having an inner wall 23 composed of the side wall of the inner box 21 and an outer wall 24 composed of the side wall of the outer box 22. A housing space 27 for housing the cell stack device S is provided by the inner wall 23 . An oxygen-containing gas inflow pipe 25a is connected to the bottom of the storage container 20, and oxygen-containing gas is supplied to each of the cell stacks 1A and 1B through an oxygen-containing gas channel 25 formed between the inner wall 23 and the outer wall 24. An oxygen-containing gas (air) is introduced.

An exhaust gas channel 26 for discharging combustion exhaust gas is provided in parallel along the cell stack arrangement direction inside the container of the oxygen-containing gas channel 25 with the inner wall 23 interposed therebetween. With this configuration, heat exchange is performed between the low-temperature air flowing upward through the oxygen-containing gas channel 25 and the high-temperature exhaust gas flowing downward through the exhaust gas channel 26, The air in the oxygen-containing gas flow path 25 is warmed. An exhaust gas outflow pipe 26a is connected to the end of the exhaust gas flow path 26 at the bottom left of the drawing so that the exhaust gas after the heat exchange described above is led to the heat exchanger E (see FIG. 1) not shown. It's becoming

An oxygen-containing gas introduction member 4A penetrates through the inner wall 23 in the center of the upper portion of the storage container 20 so as to hang down between the first cell stack 1A in the right row and the second cell stack 1B in the left row. are arranged. As a result, the oxygen-containing gas warmed by heat exchange with the exhaust gas is caused to flow down to the bottom of each of the cell stacks 1A and 1B, and is supplied directly to the root or base of each columnar fuel cell 10. can do.

In the vicinity of the lower end of the oxygen-containing gas introduction member 4A, a plurality of supply holes 41, which are flow holes or blowholes for warmed air, are provided as shown in FIG. 6, the oxygen-containing gas introduction member 4A is viewed from the left second cell stack 1B side, as indicated by the white arrow in the enlarged cross-sectional view of FIG. 4(b). 4y) of the oxygen-containing gas introduction member. Therefore, although not visible in FIG. 6, supply holes having the same specifications as the supply holes 41 are also provided on the "first surface" (reference numeral 4x) side of the oxygen-containing gas introduction member 4A on the back side of the paper. They are formed at symmetrical positions.

Inside the inner box 21 of the storage container 20, a plurality of internal heat insulating members 5, that is, the side heat insulating materials 5A and 5B and the bottom heat insulating material 5C form the previously described housing space 27. As shown in FIG. The lower part of the accommodation space 27 that accommodates the cell stacks 1A, 1B and the manifold 2 may be called a power generation chamber 27A, and the upper part of the accommodation space 27, which includes the reformer 3 and burns the off-gas, may be called a combustion chamber 27B. be.

Then, as shown in FIG. 4(a), between each cell stack 1A, 1B and the oxygen-containing gas introduction member 4A positioned therebetween, and between each cell stack 1A, 1B and the power generation chamber 27A wall portion A plurality of spacers (first spacer 6, second spacer 7) are provided in the vertical direction between the side heat insulating materials 5A, 5B constituting (side walls). Each spacer extends in the cell arrangement direction. The spacer adjusts the gaps between the oxygen-containing gas introduction member, the cell stack, and the side heat insulating material, fixes the position of each cell stack, and controls the flow of the oxygen-containing gas flowing through the gap between these members. is established for

The spacer is a member provided at the same position as the supply hole of the oxygen-containing gas introduction member in the vertical direction or above the supply hole and between the cell stack and the oxygen-containing gas introduction member or the wall portion. , which are opposite to the cell stack. In addition, the opposing surface (opposing portion) of the spacer protrudes from the oxygen-containing gas introduction member or the side heat insulating material toward the cell stack, and is at the same position or position as the supply hole of the oxygen-containing gas introduction member in the vertical direction. The part above the supply hole and facing the cell stack. As a result, the oxygen-containing gas flowing through the gaps between the oxygen-containing gas introducing member, the cell stack, and the side heat insulating material can be promoted to the cell stack side. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 4, the spacer contacts the oxygen-containing gas introduction member or the side heat insulating material and the cell stack, so that the oxygen flowing through the gap between the oxygen-containing gas introduction member, the cell stack and the side heat insulating material is reduced. Containing gases can be driven by the cell stack.

That is, the fuel cell module M1 of the first embodiment is provided above the supply hole 41, and is provided between each of the cell stacks 1A, 1B and the oxygen-containing gas introduction member 4A. It has a spacer 6 (upper end 6A, lower part 6B). Two second spacers 7 (upper end portion 7A, central portion 7C ).

Then, in the vertical direction of each cell stack, the sum of the lengths of the surfaces of the upper end second spacer 7A and the central second spacer 7C, which are the second spacers 7, facing the cell stacks 1A and 1B is the first It is larger than the sum of the lengths of the surfaces of the upper end first spacer 6A and the lower first spacer 6B, which are the spacers 6, facing the respective cell stacks 1A and 1B.

With this configuration, the high-temperature oxygen-containing gas flowing between the cells can be promoted from between the cells to between the cell stacks 1A and 1B and the oxygen-containing gas introduction member 4A, and the oxygen-containing gas introduction member 4A and the oxygen-containing gas flowing therein can be efficiently heated. That is, by supplying a relatively high-temperature oxygen-containing gas to the lower portion of the fuel cell, uneven temperature distribution of the fuel cell in the vertical direction can be alleviated, and the power generation efficiency of the fuel cell module M1 can be improved. can.

Further, as shown in FIG. 4, in the fuel cell module M1 of the first embodiment, the lower end of the central second spacer 7C is located at the center position between the supply hole 41 and the upper end of the cell stack 1A in the vertical direction. (Central line in the drawing: dashed line) or below the central position, and the upper end of the central second spacer 7C is positioned above the central position in the vertical direction.

Furthermore, in the fuel cell module M, two second spacers 7 (upper end portion 7A, center portion 7C) disposed between each cell stack 1A, 1B and each side heat insulating material 5A, 5B When the vertical lengths of the respective cell stacks are compared, the vertical length of the central second spacer 7C is longer than the vertical length of the upper end second spacer 7A located at the end.

With these configurations, the oxygen-containing gas having a relatively high temperature is supplied to the cell stacks 1A and 1B and the oxygen-containing gas introduction member 4A at the central portion in the vertical direction, which has a relatively high temperature due to the heat generated by the reaction in the cell, Joule heat, and the like. can be urged between Therefore, the oxygen-containing gas introduction member 4A and the oxygen-containing gas flowing therein can be efficiently heated. That is, by supplying a relatively high-temperature oxygen-containing gas to the lower portion of the fuel cell, the uneven temperature distribution of the fuel cell in the vertical direction can be alleviated. can be improved.

As described above, the relationship between the cell stacks 1A and 1B and the surrounding walls (the side heat insulating materials 5A and 5B) in the accommodation space 27 after the cell stack device S is accommodated, and the relationship between the cell stacks 1A and 1B and oxygen The relationship with the contained gas introducing member 4A will be described in more detail below.

In the case of the fuel cell modules M1, M2, and M3 having two rows of cell stacks as in the embodiment, the relationship between these cell stacks, the wall portion, and the oxygen-containing gas introduction portion is such that the center of the cell stack row is sandwiched between them. Therefore, in the detailed description below, only one side of the cell stack (the first cell stack 1A in the right column this time) will be described.

FIG. 4(b) is an enlarged view of the first cell stack 1A (right column) in the housing space 27, which is part of FIG. 4(a).

As described above, the first side surface 1x, which is the side surface of the oxygen-containing gas introduction member side of the first cell stack 1A, and the first surface 4x, which is the side surface of the oxygen-containing gas introduction member 4A, which is the side surface of the cell stack. Between them, an upper end first spacer 6A and a lower first spacer 6B, which are first spacers, are arranged in a state of being spaced apart in the vertical direction of the cell stack.

Further, between the second side surface 1y, which is the side surface of the first cell stack 1A on the wall side, and the inner wall surface 5x, which is the side surface of the side heat insulating material 5A on the cell stack side, an upper end second spacer, which is a second spacer, is provided. The second spacer 7A and the central second spacer 7C are arranged in a state separated from each other in the vertical direction of the cell stack.

Here, the sum of the vertical lengths of the facing surfaces of the second spacers 7A, 7B, 7C and the cell stack 1A (second side surface 1y) is the length of the first spacers 6A, 6B and the cell stack 1A (first side surface 1x) is greater than the sum of the vertical lengths of the opposing surfaces of the , as described above.

Furthermore, in the cell stack device S, when focusing on the space between each member (the gap in the vertical direction of the cell stack), in the horizontal direction of the cell stack (horizontal direction in the drawing), as shown in FIG. The distance L1 of the first gap between the first side surface 1x of the first cell stack 1A and the first surface 4x of the oxygen-containing gas introducing member 4A is the second side surface 1y of the first cell stack 1A and the inner wall surface of the side heat insulating material 5A. 5x, less than the distance L2 of the second gap. As a result, the oxygen-containing gas introduction member 4A is more likely to receive radiant heat from the cell stack, and the temperature of the oxygen-containing gas flowing therethrough can be increased.

Due to these configurations, the fuel cell module M1 of the first embodiment shown in FIG. do. Therefore, in the fuel cell module M1 of this embodiment, the temperature difference generated between the upper portion and the lower portion of the fuel cell is reduced, and as a result, the power generation efficiency of the entire cell stack can be improved.

Each spacer including the first spacer 6 and the second spacer 7 may be made of the same material as each heat insulator 5 . Specifically, a heat-resistant ceramic fiber or the like can be used.

Each spacer and each heat insulator may be arranged on the side surfaces of the cell stacks 1A and 1B along the array direction of the fuel cells 10, and the width (length) along the cell array direction on the side surfaces of the cell stacks 1A and 1B. (length) equal to or greater than the width (length). Note that each spacer and each cell stack do not necessarily have to be in contact with each other, and there may be a slight gap between them.

Next, a second embodiment (FIG. 5), which is a modification of the first embodiment (FIG. 4), will be described. Also in this embodiment, the same reference numerals may be assigned to the same constituent members as those described above, and detailed description thereof may be omitted.

A fuel cell module M2 of the second embodiment shown in FIG. The cell stack device S of this embodiment differs from that of the first embodiment in that the gap (distance) between each of the cell stacks 1A and 1B and the oxygen-containing gas introducing member 4A positioned therebetween and the , the arrangement and configuration of the first spacer 6 arranged in the gap. This point will be explained below.

As in the first embodiment, looking only at one cell stack (the first cell stack 1A in the right column), as shown in the enlarged view of FIG. 5B, the oxygen-containing gas in the first cell stack 1A Between the first side surface 1x, which is the side surface of the introduction member, and the first surface 4x, which is the side surface of the oxygen-containing gas introduction member 4A, which is the side surface of the oxygen-containing gas introduction member 4A, an upper end first spacer 6A as a first spacer and a lower part In addition to the first spacers 6B, central first spacers 6C are arranged in a state of being spaced apart in the vertical direction of the cell stack, near the center of the gap in the vertical direction.

Further, between the second side surface 1y, which is the side surface of the first cell stack 1A on the wall side, and the inner wall surface 5x, which is the side surface of the side heat insulating material 5A on the cell stack side, an upper end second spacer, which is a second spacer, is provided. A second spacer 7A, a lower second spacer 7B, and a central second spacer 7C are arranged separately from each other in the vertical direction of the cell stack. That is, the fuel cell module M2 of the second embodiment includes three spacers in each of the gaps on both sides in the left-right direction of the cell stack 1A. The lower second spacer 7B is located above the supply hole 41. As shown in FIG.

Here, in the fuel cell module M2 of the second embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5(b), a central first spacer 6C is provided near the center in the vertical direction between the cell stack 1A and the oxygen-containing gas introduction member 4A. are arranged. Therefore, even if the oxygen-containing gas introduction member 4A is deformed due to high temperature, the central first spacer 6C acts as a cushioning material to bring the cell stack 1A and the oxygen-containing gas introduction member 4A into contact with each other. can be suppressed.

Furthermore, focusing on the size of each spacer (vertical length: indicated by an arrow), the vertical length of the central first spacer 6C is the same as that of the cell stack and the wall. It is shorter than the vertical length of the central second spacer 7C between the parts. As a result, the gas at the central portion in the vertical direction, which has a high temperature, can be urged toward the oxygen-containing gas introduction member 4A.

Further, in the fuel cell module M2 of the second embodiment, in the gap between the cell stack and the oxygen-containing gas introduction member, the vertical length of the center first spacer 6C is equal to that of the upper end first spacer 6A. It is shorter than any of the vertical length and the vertical length of the lower first spacer 6B. With this configuration, the gas in the central portion in the vertical direction, which has a high temperature, can be urged toward the introduction member.

The fuel cell module M2 of the second embodiment includes a space J1 (volume J1 _VOL ) surrounded by the upper end first spacer 6A and the central first spacer 6C, the first central spacer 6C and the lower first spacer 6C. The sum of the spatial volumes of the "first space" consisting of the space J2 (volume J2 _VOL ) surrounded by the first spacer 6B is the space surrounded by the upper end second spacer 7A and the central second spacer 7C. It is larger than the total spatial volume of the "second space" consisting of K1 (volume K1 _VOL ) and the space K2 (volume K2 _VOL ) surrounded by the central second spacer 7C and the lower first spacer 7B. [see FIG. 5(b)].

That is, in other words, the [total volume of the space without spacers (J1 _VOL + J2 _VOL )] between the cell stack and the oxygen-containing gas introduction member is equal to the [space without spacers] between the cell stack and the side heat insulating material. larger than the total volume (K1 _VOL +K2 _VOL )]. With this configuration, in the space (J1, J2) between the cell stack 1A and the oxygen-containing gas introduction member 4A, which is closer to the oxygen-containing gas introduction member 4A, the space ( K1, K2) By urging more oxygen-containing gas heated in the cell into the "first space" between the cell stack and the oxygen-containing gas introduction member, the oxygen-containing gas introduction member 4A is increased. The oxygen-containing gas flowing down through it can be warmed more efficiently. In the drawing, the distance L1 of the first gap and the distance L2 of the second gap are the same distance, but L1 and L2 may be different as long as the total volume of the space is in the above relationship.

With these configurations as well, the fuel cell module M2 of the second embodiment shown in FIG. be able to. Therefore, the power generation efficiency of the fuel cell module M2 of this embodiment can be improved.

In the fuel cell modules M1 and M2 of the first and second embodiments, the fuel cell module has two rows of cell stacks. In this case, the inner wall of the fuel cell module may also serve as the oxygen-containing gas introduction member.

Further, in the fuel cell module M of the second embodiment, it is possible to adopt a configuration in which the lower second spacer 7B, which is positioned below the gap between the cell stack and the wall portion, is not provided.

FIG. 7 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the structure of the fuel cell module M3 of the third embodiment. 8 to 10 are plan views showing various shape examples of the oxygen-containing gas supply holes formed in the oxygen-containing gas introduction member used in this fuel cell module M3. 8 and 9, and the plan view of FIG. 10(a) are views of the oxygen-containing gas introduction member viewed from the direction of the white arrow in the enlarged cross-sectional view of FIG. 7(b). Also, it corresponds to the "second surface" (reference numeral 4y) of the oxygen-containing gas introduction member. The plan view of FIG. 10(b) corresponds to the "first surface" (reference numeral 4x) of the oxygen-containing gas introduction member. Furthermore, the same reference numerals may be assigned to the same constituent members as those in the first and second embodiments described above, and detailed description thereof may be omitted.

As shown in the schematic cross-sectional view of FIG. 7(a), in the fuel cell module M3 of the third embodiment, as in the first and second embodiments, a plurality of spacers (first spacer 6, second Two spacers 7) are arranged between the respective members.

In the fuel cell module M3 of the third embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7A, the oxygen-containing gas introduction member 4B is supported at the lowest end corresponding to the tip of the oxygen-containing gas introduction member 4B. A third spacer 8 is provided. In addition, the third spacer 8 is an example of the "first member".

The third spacer 8 has a shape extending in the cell arrangement direction while being in contact with both the oxygen-containing gas introduction member 4B and the manifold 2, thereby forming a left and right space between the oxygen-containing gas introduction part and the manifold. The oxygen-containing gas supplied to the cell stack 1A side (right side in the figure) and the oxygen-containing gas supplied to the cell stack 1B side (left side in the figure) move left and right through the directional gap. suppressed. Therefore, the amount of oxygen-containing gas supplied to the cell stack 1A side (right side in the figure) and the cell stack 1B side (left side in the figure) per hour is stabilized, and as a result, the power generation efficiency of the entire cell stack is improved. can be done. In addition, the third spacer 8 may be inclined upward from the central portion to the end portion in the left-right direction.

Next, with reference to FIGS. 8 to 10, it is arranged between the first cell stack 1A in the right column (on the side of the vaporizing section 3A) and the second cell stack 1B in the left column (on the side of the reforming section 3B). The oxygen-containing gas introducing members 4B to 4D will be explained.

As described above, at the lower end of the oxygen-containing gas introduction member, the heated oxygen-containing gas is supplied to the plurality of fuel cells 10 in the longitudinal direction of the cell stack, which is the cell arrangement direction. In order to uniformly supply air, supply holes (42 to 47, etc.), which are air outlet holes or blow holes, are provided.

As a conventionally known structure of the supply hole, the supply hole shown in FIG. Those formed in opposite and symmetrical shapes and positions across the center of the oxygen-containing gas introduction member, which look the same arrangement when viewed from the side (symbol 4x), that is, from which side of the wide surface of the oxygen-containing gas introduction member A supply hole arrangement that looks like the same shape and arrangement (the opposite side can be seen) is known.

By the way, in a structure in which a relatively high-temperature oxygen-containing gas is led out from a supply hole, the oxygen-containing gas gathers in the supply hole, so the temperature of the oxygen-containing gas introducing member around the supply hole may rise locally. have a nature. When the supply holes are positioned symmetrically on the first surface and the second surface of the oxygen-containing gas introduction member, respectively, as in the conventional structure, the above-described phenomenon appears more remarkably. It may cause deformation of the member. If the oxygen-containing gas introduction member is deformed, the temperature distribution of the oxygen-containing gas flowing down inside becomes uneven, or the amount of oxygen-containing gas introduced into the fuel cell cannot be made uniform. There is a risk that the power generation efficiency of the battery module will be low.

The oxygen-containing gas introduction members 4B, 4C, and 4D of the fuel cell module M3 of the embodiment shown in FIGS. It is intended to alleviate various problems that arise in The specific shape and arrangement thereof will be described below.

FIG. 8 is a side view of the oxygen-containing gas introduction member 4B in FIG. 7(a) from the side perpendicular to the first and second surfaces. In other words, the second surface 4y side of the oxygen-containing gas introduction member 4B used in the above-described third embodiment (FIG. 7) [on the second cell stack 1B side and in FIG. It is a plan view seen from the arrow side].

The oxygen-containing gas introduction member 4B in FIG. 8 is closest to the opening position of at least one first supply hole 42 (dotted line) located on the first surface 4x and the region facing the first supply hole 42 in the arrangement direction. The opening position of the second supply hole 43 (solid line) on the second surface 4y is different from that of the second surface 4y.

That is, in the oxygen-containing gas introduction member 4B, the supply holes 42 and the supply holes 43 provided in the first surface 4x and the second surface 4y, which may induce a local temperature rise, are shifted in the arrangement direction. Therefore, it is possible to suppress deformation of the oxygen-containing gas introduction member 4B due to a local temperature rise. As a result, the temperature distribution of the oxygen-containing gas flowing down the inside of the oxygen-containing gas introduction member 4B and the introduction amount of the oxygen-containing gas are suppressed from becoming uneven, so that the power generation efficiency of the fuel cell module M3 is improved. be able to.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 8, "the opening positions are different" includes the case where the opening portions of the first supply hole 42 and the second supply hole 43 partially overlap. Further, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 8, the opening positions of all the first supply holes 42 and the second supply holes 43 corresponding to the first supply holes 42 are different, but there is a possibility that the temperature may rise locally. The opening positions of the first supply hole 42 and the second supply hole 43 may be different only in a certain part.

In the oxygen-containing gas introduction member 4B, as shown in FIG. 8, when the second surface 4y side [the second cell stack 1B side] is viewed in plan, the second supply holes 43 (solid lines) are adjacent at the center in the arrangement direction. The center-to-center distance (pitch) P3 may be longer than the center _- to _- center distance (pitch) P4 between the second supply holes 43 adjacent to each other at the ends in the arrangement direction.

Similarly, on the first surface 4x side [first cell stack 1A side] indicated by the dotted line, the center-to-center distance (pitch) P1 between the adjacent _first supply holes 42 (dotted line) at the center in the arrangement direction is , the center-to-center distance (pitch) P2 between adjacent _first supply holes 42 at the ends in the arrangement direction. Also, the center-to-center distance here refers to the average center-to-center distance of each region.

As a result, it is possible to increase the strength of the central portion in the arrangement direction, which is likely to reach a relatively high temperature under the influence of heat from the cell stack, so that deformation of the oxygen-containing gas introduction member 4B can be suppressed.

In addition, since the flow velocity of the oxygen-containing gas flowing down the oxygen-containing gas introduction member 4B is slower at the end than at the center, there is a possibility that the amount of oxygen-containing gas introduced at the end in the arrangement direction of the cell stack is reduced. . However, with the configuration described above, the oxygen-containing gas can be uniformly introduced in the arrangement direction of the cell stack, so that the power generation efficiency can be improved.

The central portion in the arrangement direction refers to the central region when the oxygen-containing gas introduction member is divided into three equal parts in the arrangement direction. Center-to-center distance is the distance between respective centers of adjacent openings. Center-to-center distance (pitch) can be evaluated by comparing the average center-to-center distance at the center to the average center-to-center distance at the edges.

Next, the oxygen-containing gas introduction members 4C and 4D shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 change the shape and size of each supply hole so that the air can flow between the central portion and the end portions in the cell arrangement direction. It is intended to produce a difference in the amount of supply. In these embodiments, one cell stack can be accommodated in the storage container 20, and a supply hole can be provided only on one side surface of the oxygen-containing gas introducing member facing one cell stack.

In the oxygen-containing gas introducing member 4C shown in FIG. 9, the second supply hole 45 (solid line) positioned on the second surface 4y side is shown in the figure as compared to the substantially circular central portion of the supply hole near the end. It is formed in an elliptical shape with a diameter extending in the arrangement direction. In addition, the first supply holes 44 (dotted line: hidden line) located on the first surface 4x side are also elliptical in shape with diameters extending in the arrangement direction compared to the supply holes in the central portion which are substantially circular. is formed in

With this configuration, the oxygen-containing gas can be easily discharged from the supply holes at the ends in the arrangement direction where the flow velocity is slow, so that the oxygen-containing gas can be uniformly discharged in the arrangement direction of the cell stack. Efficiency can be improved.

Similarly, in the oxygen-containing gas introduction member 4D shown in FIG. 10, of the second supply holes 47 (solid lines) located on the second surface 4y side shown in FIG. The opening diameter is formed to be larger than that of the central portion. The same applies to the first supply holes 46 (dotted line: hidden line) positioned on the first surface 4x side shown in FIG. 10(b).

With these configurations, the oxygen-containing gas is discharged intensively from the central portion in the arrangement direction, and the temperature of the central portion is locally increased, thereby suppressing deterioration of the durability of the oxygen-containing gas introduction member 4D. be able to.

10, the second supply hole 47 positioned on the second surface 4y side [solid line in FIG. 10(a)] and the first supply hole 46 positioned on the first surface 4x side [FIG. b) solid line], the oxygen-containing gas introduction member 4D has the second supply holes 47 [FIG. 46 [FIG. 10(b)].

That is, in the oxygen-containing gas introduction member 4E, the total opening area of the first supply holes 46 on the first surface 4x corresponding to the first cell stack 1A located on the vaporization section 3A side of the reformer 3 is the reforming It is smaller than the total opening area of the second supply holes 47 on the second surface 4y corresponding to the second cell stack 1B located on the reforming section 3B side of the vessel 3.

With this configuration, by reducing the amount of oxygen-containing gas supplied to the vaporization section 3A side of the reformer 3, which becomes relatively low temperature due to the vaporization of water (endothermic reaction), the oxygen-containing gas is discharged from the upper end of the first cell stack 1A. Since the concentration of the fuel gas in the discharged gas can be increased, the combustion state of the mixed gas discharged from the upper end of the first cell stack 1A can be stabilized.

Next, FIG. 11 is a see-through perspective view showing an example of the fuel cell device 100 of the embodiment.
The fuel cell device 100 includes the aforementioned fuel cell module M, a heat exchanger E, auxiliary equipment for operating the fuel cell module M, and an exterior case 30 that houses the fuel cell module M and the auxiliary equipment. there is In addition, in FIG. 11, illustration of the auxiliary machine and a part of the configuration is omitted.

The inside of the exterior case 30 composed of the struts 31 and the exterior plate 32 is vertically partitioned by the partition plate 33 . The upper side is configured as a module storage chamber 34 for storing the above-described fuel cell module M, heat exchanger E, etc., and the lower side is configured as an auxiliary equipment storage chamber 35 for storing auxiliary equipment for operating the module M. ing.

According to the fuel cell device 100 of the embodiment, by including the fuel cell module M, power generation efficiency can be improved.

Although the present invention has been described in detail above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications and improvements are possible without departing from the gist of the present invention.

1 cell stack 1A first cell stack 1B second cell stack 1x first side 1y second side 3 reformer 3A vaporizer 3B reformer 4 oxygen-containing gas introduction member 4A oxygen-containing gas introduction member 41 first supply hole 4B Oxygen-containing gas introduction member 42 First supply hole 43 Second supply hole 4C Oxygen-containing gas introduction member 44 First supply hole 45 Second supply hole 4D Oxygen-containing gas introduction member 46 First supply hole 47 Second supply hole 4x First Surface 4y Second surface 5 Internal heat insulating member 5A Side heat insulating material 5B Side heat insulating material 5x Inner wall surface 5y Inner wall surface 6 First spacer 6A Upper end first spacer 6B Lower first spacer 6C Center first spacer 7 Second spacer 7A Upper end second spacer 7B Lower second spacer 7C Center second spacer 8 Third spacer 10 Fuel cell 20 Storage container 100 Fuel cell device M, M1, M2, M3 Fuel cell module S Cell stack device

Claims (13)

at least one cell stack in which a plurality of fuel cells are arranged in rows;
an oxygen-containing gas introducing member located opposite one first side surface of the cell stack along the cell stack arrangement direction and having a supply hole for supplying an oxygen-containing gas to the lower part of the cell stack;
a wall facing a second side of the cell stack opposite to the first side;
at least one first spacer extending in the arrangement direction in the vertical direction of the cell stack, above the supply holes, and positioned between the first side surface and the oxygen-containing gas introducing member;
A plurality of second spacers extending in the arrangement direction in the vertical direction of the cell stack, positioned at the same position as or above the supply hole, and positioned between the second side surface and the wall. and
Each of the plurality of second spacers is spaced apart in the vertical direction,
The plurality of second spacers are
a central second spacer located in the central portion of the cell stack in the vertical direction;
at least one end second spacer located at the end of the cell stack in the vertical direction from the central portion;
the lower end of the central second spacer is positioned at or below the central position between the supply hole and the upper end of the cell stack in the vertical direction;
the upper end of the central second spacer is positioned above the central position in the vertical direction,
In the vertical direction, the sum of the lengths of the surfaces of the plurality of second spacers facing the cell stack is greater than the sum of the lengths of the surfaces of the at least one first spacer facing the cell stack , fuel cell module. 2. The fuel cell module according to claim 1, wherein the vertical length of the central second spacer is longer than the vertical length of the end second spacer. the at least one first spacer includes a center first spacer positioned in the center in the vertical direction;
3. The fuel cell module according to claim 1, wherein the vertical length of the central first spacer is shorter than the vertical length of the central second spacer. comprising a plurality of the first spacers,
The plurality of first spacers,
a center first spacer positioned at the center in the vertical direction;
an upper end first spacer positioned at the upper end of the cell stack in the vertical direction;
a lower first spacer spaced below the central first spacer in the vertical direction;
The vertical length of the central first spacer is shorter than either of the vertical length of the upper end first spacer and the vertical length of the lower first spacer. 4. The fuel cell module according to any one of 3. In the left-right direction of the cell stack, which is orthogonal to the arrangement direction,
The distance of the first lateral gap between the first side surface of the cell stack and the oxygen-containing gas introducing member is
5. The fuel cell module according to claim 1, wherein the distance between the second side surface of the cell stack and the wall portion is shorter than the distance of the second lateral gap. comprising a plurality of the first spacers,
Each of the plurality of first spacers is spaced apart in the vertical direction,
a first space surrounded by each of the first spacers, the oxygen-containing gas introduction member, and the first side surface of the cell stack;
a second space surrounded by each of the plurality of second spacers, the wall portion, and the second side surface of the cell stack;
5. The fuel cell module according to claim 1, wherein the total volume of said first spaces is greater than the total volume of said second spaces. having a plurality of supply holes,
The plurality of supply holes include at least one central supply hole located at the center of the oxygen-containing gas introduction member in the arrangement direction and two or more located at the end of the oxygen-containing gas introduction member in the arrangement direction. an end feed hole of
Of the two or more end supply holes, at least one end supply hole positioned at both ends in the arrangement direction has an opening diameter in the arrangement direction larger than that of the central supply hole in the arrangement direction. The fuel cell module according to any one of claims 1 to 6. with multiple cell stacks,
The plurality of cell stacks are
a first cell stack;
a second cell stack positioned side by side along the arrangement direction of the first cell stack;
The oxygen-containing gas introducing member is positioned between the first cell stack and the second cell stack,
The oxygen-containing gas introduction member has a first surface facing the first cell stack and a second surface facing the second cell stack,
The first surface and the second surface each have a plurality of supply holes for supplying the oxygen-containing gas to the first and second cell stacks,
When viewed from the side perpendicular to the first surface and the second surface, in the arrangement direction,
an opening position of at least one first supply hole located on the first surface;
8. The fuel cell module according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein an opening position of a second supply hole on said second surface located closest to a region facing said first supply hole is different. . The center-to-center distance between the plurality of first supply holes or the second supply holes adjacent in the arrangement direction at the center portion in the arrangement direction is 9. The fuel cell module according to claim 8, wherein the distance is longer than the center-to-center distance between the first supply holes or the second supply holes. a reformer located above the plurality of cell stacks and having a vaporization section and a reforming section;
The vaporization section is positioned above the first cell stack,
10. The method according to claim 8 or 9, wherein a sum of opening areas of the plurality of first supply holes located on the first surface is smaller than a sum of opening areas of the plurality of second supply holes located on the second surface. fuel cell module. A fuel cell module comprising a manifold fixing lower ends of the first cell stack and the second cell stack,
A lower end of the oxygen-containing gas introduction member is separated from the manifold,
11. The fuel cell module according to any one of claims 8 to 10, further comprising a first member between the lower end of said oxygen-containing gas introduction member and said manifold, which contacts both and extends in said arrangement direction. a plurality of cell stacks in which fuel cells are arranged in rows;
an oxygen-containing gas introduction part positioned facing one side of the cell stack along the arrangement direction of the cell stack,
The plurality of cell stacks includes a first cell stack and a second cell stack positioned side by side along the arrangement direction of the first cell stack,
The oxygen-containing gas introduction section is positioned between the first cell stack and the second cell stack, and the oxygen-containing gas introduction section includes a first surface facing the first cell stack, a second a second surface facing the two-cell stack;
The first surface has a plurality of first supply holes for supplying the oxygen-containing gas to the first cell stack, and the second surface has second supply holes for supplying the oxygen-containing gas to the second cell stack. have a plurality of
When viewed from the side perpendicular to the first surface and the second surface,
In the arrangement direction,
The opening position of at least one first supply hole located on the first surface and the opening position of the second supply hole on the second surface located closest to the region facing the first supply hole The fuel cell module is different and the areas of the first supply hole and the second supply hole are all the same . a fuel cell module according to any one of claims 1 to 12;
an auxiliary device for operating the fuel cell module;
an exterior case that houses the fuel cell module and the auxiliary equipment;
A fuel cell device comprising:

Images