FUEL-CELL COMPRESSED-AIR SUPPLYING DEVICE

Abstract

A fuel-cell compressed-air supplying device 6 includes a centrifugal compressor 12 provided in a casing 11, and a bearing device 14 for supporting a rotation shaft 13 of the compressor 12. The bearing device 14 includes a pair of radial foil bearings 21 and 22 provided coaxially with the rotation shaft 13 for supporting the rotation shaft 13 in the radial direction, and an axial magnetic bearing 23 facing to the rotation shaft 13 in the axial direction for supporting the rotation shaft 13 in the axial direction. Axial electromagnets 24 and 25 of the axial magnetic bearing 23 are integrated with the radial foil bearings 21 and 22, respectively.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a fuel-cell apparatus employing a fuel-cell compressed-air supplying device according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view schematically illustrating a first embodiment of the fuel-cell compressed-air supplying device according to the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a radial foil bearing for use in the fuel-cell compressed-air supplying device according to the present invention;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view illustrating a radial attraction-force generating portion illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 illustrates a configuration of another radial attraction-force generating portion, and corresponds to FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 illustrates a configuration of still another radial attraction-force generating portion, and corresponds to FIG. 4; and

FIG. 7 illustrates a configuration of yet another radial attraction-force generating portion, and corresponds to FIG. 4.

Claims

1. A fuel-cell compressed-air supplying device for compressing air and supplying the compressed air to a fuel-cell, comprising: a centrifugal compressor provided in a casing; anda bearing device for supporting a rotation shaft of the compressor, whereinthe bearing device includes a pair of radial foil bearings provided coaxially with the rotation shaft for supporting the rotation shaft in the radial direction, and control-type axial magnetic bearing having a pair of axial electromagnets facing to flange portions provided in the rotation shaft in the axial direction for supporting the rotation shaft in the axial direction, andthe axial electromagnet of the axial magnetic bearing is integrated with the radial foil bearing.

2. The fuel-cell compressed-air supplying device according to claim 1, wherein a radial attraction-force generating portion causing a magnetic attraction force acting on the flange portion from the axial electromagnet to have a radial attraction force is formed on an axial electromagnet facing surface of the flange portion.

3. The fuel-cell compressed-air supplying device according to claim 2, wherein the radial attraction-force generating portion is formed such that at least one annular groove is provided on the axial electromagnet facing surface of the flange portion.

4. The fuel-cell compressed-air supplying device according to claim 3, wherein the annular groove is coaxial with the axial electromagnet, and the annular groove and the axial electromagnet are displaced in the radial direction from a position at which the annular groove and the axial electromagnet exactly face to each other in the axial direction.

5. The fuel-cell compressed-air supplying device according to claim 2, wherein the radial attraction-force generating portion is formed such that the axial electromagnet facing surface of the flange portion is tapered.

6. The fuel-cell compressed-air supplying device according to claim 1, wherein the radial foil bearings include a flexible bearing foil having a bearing surface facing to the rotation shaft in the radial direction, an elastic member for supporting the bearing foil, and an outer ring for holding the bearing foil and the elastic member between the outer ring and the rotation shaft.

7. The fuel-cell compressed-air supplying device according to claim 6, wherein the axial magnetic bearing controls a force acting between a pair of axial electromagnets including an electromagnet yoke and an electromagnet coil.

8. The fuel-cell compressed-air supplying device according to claim 7, wherein the outer ring of the radial foil bearing serves as an electromagnet yoke and the electromagnet coil is fitted into a concave portion provided on the outer ring of the radial foil bearing, so that the axial electromagnet of the axial magnetic bearing is integrated with the radial foil bearing.

9. The fuel-cell compressed-air supplying device according to claim 1, wherein one of the axial electromagnets faces to the flange portion provided at one end of the rotation shaft, and the other axial electromagnet faces to the flange portion provided at the other end of the rotation shaft.