Patent Application
20240145753
This application claims priority of Japanese Patent Application No. 2021-029224 filed in Japan on February 25, 2021, the entire disclosure of which being incorporated herein by reference.
The present disclosure relates to a fuel cell module and a fuel cell device.
A fuel cell module including a plate-like member having a hollow portion inside is known for supplying an oxidant gas to a fuel cell stack (see Patent Literature 1).
A fuel cell module according to a first aspect includes:
The fuel cell stack, the oxidant gas supply plate, and the first off-gas flow channel are located in this order in the normal direction of the main surface of the oxidant gas supply plate.
In the normal direction, the first heat-insulating material is located adjacent to the first off-gas flow channel and the second heat-insulating material is located outside the first heat-insulating material.
A fuel cell device according to a second aspect includes:
Embodiments of a fuel cell module to which the present disclosure is applied are described below with reference to the drawings.
In a first embodiment of the present disclosure, a fuel cell device including a fuel cell module may include a mechanism for adjusting the amount of fuel gas and reforming water supplied to the fuel cell module, a mechanism for cooling the off-gas discharged from the fuel cell module, and the like. As shown in
In the fuel cell module 10, the oxidant gas can be supplied to the fuel cell stack 12 from outside the fuel cell module 10 through the oxidant gas flow channel portion 18 and the oxidant gas supply plate 11. The fuel cell module 10 may also discharge the gas exhausted from the fuel cell stack 12 from the fuel cell module 10 via the first off-gas flow channel 14 and the second off-gas flow channel, which is to be described later.
The fuel cell device including the fuel cell module 10 has a predetermined posture relative to the ground surface at the time of installation. In the present description, the direction of the fuel cell module 10 in the fuel cell device that is vertically upward in the posture predetermined with respect to the ground surface is called an upward direction (first direction). In the present description, the direction of the fuel cell module 10 in the fuel cell device that is vertically downward in the predetermined posture with respect to the ground surface is called a downward direction.
The oxidant gas supply plate 11, as a whole, may have a plate-like shape. More specifically, the oxidant gas supply plate 11, as a whole, may have a rectangular plate-like shape. As shown in
Since the oxidant gas supply plate 11 is exposed to high temperatures, it may be formed of a heat-resistant material such as a metal.
In the present description, the directions parallel to a main surface of the oxidant gas supply plate 11 and perpendicular to each other are called a traveling direction and a width direction. In the present description, the main surface is a surface of a thin plate that is much larger in area than the other surfaces. As described later, the oxidant gas supply plate 11 is arranged in the fuel cell module 10 so that the traveling direction is parallel to the direction in which the off-gas travels. The traveling direction and the width direction may be parallel to the sides of the main surface, which is rectangular.
As shown in
The second plate portion 21 may have, at a position opposite to the supply plate inlet 22, a first projection 35 protruding to the outward side, or in other words, protruding to the side opposite to the first plate portion 20. The first projection 35 may be recessed to the side opposite to the first plate portion 20. The second plate portion 21 may have a supply plate outlet 23. The supply plate outlet 23 may be arranged in the lower end portion of the side wall opposite to the fuel cell stack 12. A plurality of supply plate outlets 23 may be provided at intervals along a direction in which the cells arranged.
The oxidant gas supply plate 11 may be configured so that the oxidant gas can flow in from the supply plate inlet 22, flow in one direction inside, then turn back and flow out from the supply plate outlet 23. More specifically, an isolating portion 24 provided within the oxidant gas supply plate 11, as shown in
The isolating portion 24 may be substantially linearly symmetrical with respect to a straight line connecting the supply plate inlet 22 and the supply plate outlet 23, when viewed from the normal direction of the main surface of the oxidant gas supply plate 11. The isolating portion 24 may have portions extending from the supply plate outlet 23 side to the supply plate inlet 22 side on both sides of the line segment connecting the supply plate inlet 22 and the supply plate outlet 23, when viewed from the normal direction of the main surface of the oxidant gas supply plate 11. More specifically, the isolating portion 24 may be U-shaped, open on the supply plate inlet 22 side.
The isolating portion 24 may be formed by any method. As shown in
As shown in
As described later, the oxidant gas supply plate 11 may have a projection protruding from at least one of the first plate portion 20 to the opposite wall (first heat-insulating material) 13 side and the second plate portion 21 to the fuel cell stack 12 side. As shown in
As shown in
The first projection 26 may be formed, for example, by press molding a sheet metal, which becomes the first plate portion 20, into an outwardly recessed shape. The first projection 26 may also be formed by joining a projection member to a sheet metal, which becomes the first plate portion 20.
The oxidant gas supply plate 11 may have a second projection 27 protruding from the first main surface. The second projection 27 may be at least higher from the first main surface than the first projection 26. As described below, the oxidant gas supply plate 11 is arranged so that the first main surface faces the opposite wall 13, and the second projection 27 may contact the opposite wall 13.
The length of the second projection 27 in the width direction may be longer than the length in the traveling direction. The length of the second projection 27 in the width direction may be shorter than the distance between the two portions of the isolating portion 24 extending in the direction opposite traveling direction, at both ends of the portion of the isolating portion 24 extending in the width direction. The second projection 27 may be positioned between the first projection 26 and the supply plate inlet 22 in the traveling direction. The second projection 27 may be positioned at the center in the width direction. The second projection 27 may extend in the width direction.
The second projection 27 may also be formed, for example, by press molding a sheet metal, which becomes the first plate portion 20, into an outwardly recessed shape. The second projection 27 may be formed by joining a projection member to a sheet metal, which becomes the first plate portion 20.
As shown in
The flow regulating portion 28 may regulate the flow of the oxidant gas within the oxidant gas supply plate 11. More specifically, the flow regulating portion 28 may restrict the flow of the oxidant gas flowing from the supply plate inlet 22 in the opposite traveling direction. As shown in
The flow regulating portions 28 may be formed by any method. As shown in
The oxidant gas supply plate 11 may have an extended portion 36 to be fixed within the housing 19. The extended portion 36 may be provided at the end of the oxidant gas supply plate 11 in the traveling direction. The extended portion 36 may have, when viewed from the width direction, a portion extending in the traveling direction and a portion that is bent from the aforesaid portion and extends toward the side of the second plate portion 21. The extended portion 36 may be formed from a sheet metal, which becomes at least one of the first plate portion 20 and the second plate portion 21.
As shown in
The oxidant gas may be supplied to the fuel cell stack 12 from the oxidant gas supply plate 11. The fuel gas may be supplied to the fuel cell stack 12 from the reformer 15. The fuel cell stack 12 may be erected on a manifold 37 that temporarily stores the fuel gas supplied from the reformer 15. The fuel cell stack 12 may include a plurality of stacked fuel cells. A hollow flat plate type fuel cell having a gas channel passing through the interior thereof in the vertical direction may be used as the fuel cell. The fuel cell generates electricity by an electrochemical reaction of the supplied oxidant gas and fuel gas. The fuel cell stack 12 discharges the gas produced by the electrochemical reaction, as well as unreacted fuel gas and oxidant gas. Hereafter, in the present description, the gas to be discharged is also referred to as off-gas.
The fuel cell stack 12 may be positioned adjacent to the oxidant gas supply plate 11 within the housing 19. The fuel cell stack 12 may be arranged so that the side surfaces of the fuel cells face the main surface of the oxidant gas supply plate 11. More specifically, the fuel cell stack 12 may face the main surface of the second plate portion 21. The fuel cell stack 12 may be arranged so that the stacking direction of the fuel cells is parallel to the width direction of the oxidant gas supply plate 11.
The fuel cell stack 12 may have an off-gas outlet flush with the distal end of the inner space IS of the oxidant gas supply plate 11 or on the upward direction side of the inner space IS of the oxidant gas supply plate 11 in the vertical direction. For example, the fuel cell stack 12 may have an off-gas outlet on its top surface within the fuel cell module 10. The top surface of the fuel cell stack 12 may be located at the same position as the distal end of the oxidant gas supply plate 11 in the vertical direction.
The opposite wall 13 may be a member having a flat surface. The opposite wall 13 may be a flat plate member. The opposite wall 13 may be a heat-insulating material (first heat-insulating material). In the configuration in which the opposite wall 13 is a heat-insulating material, it may be located adjacent to the first off-gas flow channel in the normal direction of the main surface of the oxidant gas supply plate 11.
The opposite wall 13 may be formed of a metal. As shown in
The off-gas channel plate 38 may have a flat plate portion 39, a side wall portion 40, and a flange portion 41. The flat plate portion 39 may function as the opposite wall 13. The flat plate portion 39 may be rectangular. The side wall portion 40 may be provided on all but a few of the outer edges of the flat plate portion 39. For example, the side wall portion 40 may be provided on all but one of the four sides of the rectangular flat plate portion 39. The side wall portion 40 may be vertical at the same height to the flat plate portion 39. The flange portion 41 may be provided on the side wall portion 40. The flange portion 41 may be brim-shaped.
The first off-gas flow channel 14 may be defined by the first main surface of the oxidant gas supply plate 11 and the opposite wall 13. Thus, in the normal direction of the main surface of the oxidant gas supply plate 11, the fuel cell stack 12, the oxidant gas supply plate 11, and the first off-gas flow channel 14 may be positioned in this order. Furthermore, in the aforesaid normal direction, the opposite wall 13, which is the first heat-insulating material, may be located further outward from the first off-gas flow channel 14. The first off-gas flow channel 14 may be part of the total flow channel of the off-gas that is discharged from the off-gas outlet of the fuel cell stack 12 and flows to the off-gas outlet of the housing 19.
As described above, in the configuration in which the flat plate portion 39 of the off-gas channel plate 38 functions as the opposite wall 13, the flange portion 41 of the off-gas channel plate 38 may be joined to the first main surface of the oxidant gas supply plate 11, as illustrated in
The off-gas channel plate 38 may be positioned so that the outer edge, where the side wall portion 40 and the flange portion 41 are not provided, faces in the opposite direction of the traveling direction of the oxidant gas supply plate 11. In such an arrangement, the off-gas channel plate 38 may be joined to the first main surface in the end portion in the traveling direction. The space between the oxidant gas supply plate 11 and the off-gas channel plate 38 may be open on the opposite side of the traveling direction. Therefore, the end of the off-gas channel plate 38 on the side of the direction opposite to the traveling direction may function as an off-gas inflow port.
In the above-described arrangement with respect to the oxidant gas supply plate 11, as shown in
In the above-described arrangement with respect to the oxidant gas supply plate 11, when the traveling direction is vertically downward within the housing 19, the off-gas channel plate 38 may extend in the same direction as the distal end of the oxidant gas supply plate 11, or in a direction opposite to the traveling direction, in other words, the upward direction.
As shown in
The flat plate portion 39 of the off-gas channel plate 38 may have, in an area facing the supply plate inlet 22, a discharge hole 42 into which the oxidant gas flow channel portion 18 is to be inserted. The discharge hole 42 may be circular or rectangular with rounded corners. The minimum diameter of the discharge hole 42 may be longer than the outer diameter of the oxidant gas flow channel portion 18. Since the minimum diameter of the discharge hole 42 is longer than the outer diameter of the oxidant gas flow channel portion 18, the off-gas flowing into the first off-gas flow channel 14 from the off-gas inflow port can be discharged through the discharge hole 42.
The reformer 15 may carry a catalyst inside. The reformer 15 may use the catalyst to generate a fuel gas to be supplied to the fuel cell stack 12 through a water vapor reforming reaction of raw fuel gas, such as city gas containing hydrocarbon gas. The reformer 15 may be located in the vicinity of the fuel cell stack 12 within the fuel cell module 10. More specifically, the reformer 15 may be located above the fuel cell stack 12 within the fuel cell module 10.
The vaporizer 16 may vaporize the supplied reforming water. The vaporizer 16 may supply the vaporized water vapor to the reformer 15. The vaporizer 16 may be located above the fuel cell stack 12 within the fuel cell module 10. As shown in
A reforming portion having the same function as the reformer 15 and a vaporizing portion having the same function as the vaporizer 16 may be integrated to form an integrated reformer 15. In such a configuration, the vaporizing portion may be located in the second direction from the reforming portion.
As shown in
The second heat-insulating material 17 may surround the oxidant gas flow channel portion 18 together with the first heat-insulating material. In the first embodiment, the oxidant gas flow channel portion 18 may be buried in the second heat-insulating material 17. The second heat-insulating material 17 may have a first groove 29 formed to conform the shape of the oxidant gas flow channel portion 18. The second heat-insulating material 17 may have the oxidant gas flow channel portion 18 buried in the first groove 29. The thickness and depth of the first groove 29 may be larger than the diameter of the oxidant gas flow channel portion 18. In a state where the first heat-insulating material 13 is in close contact with the side surface of the second heat-insulating material 17 where the first groove 29 is provided, the first heat-insulating material 13, the first groove 29, and the outer peripheral surface of the oxidant gas flow channel portion 18 may define a second off-gas flow channel connected to the first off-gas flow channel 14. The second off-gas flow channel allows the off-gas flowing out of the first off-gas flow channel 14 to be discharged from the fuel cell module 10.
The second heat-insulating material 17 may have a second groove 43 formed to be continuous with the first groove 29, as shown in
The second off-gas flow channel may be connected, via a third off-gas flow channel for example, to an off-gas treatment chamber 44 provided in the fuel cell module 10. The off-gas treatment chamber 44 may be provided, for example, on the surface of the second heat-insulating material 17 opposite to the surface on which the first groove 29 is provided, and connected to the third off-gas flow channel via a communication hole 45. When viewed from the normal direction of the main surface of the second heat-insulating material 17, a portion of the off-gas treatment chamber 44 may overlap a portion of the first groove 29. Between the aforesaid portion of the first groove 29 and the off-gas treatment chamber 44, the heat-insulating material may be thinner than other portions. The off-gas treatment chamber 44 may be filled with a combustion catalyst that burns unreacted combustion gas in the off-gas.
A third groove 46 may be formed in the vicinity of the location where the first groove 29 and the second groove 43 are connected. The third groove 46 may be shaped to conform the shape of the portion of the oxidant gas flow channel portion 18 to be buried that is outside of the first groove 29. The thickness and depth of the third groove 46 may be the same as the diameter of the oxidant gas flow channel portion 18.
As shown in
In the first embodiment, the oxidant gas flow channel portion 18 is tubular. The oxidant gas flow channel portion 18 may be located outside the first off-gas flow channel 14 in the normal direction of the main surface of the oxidant gas supply plate 11. In the first embodiment, the oxidant gas flow channel portion 18 may be located on the outside of the opposite wall 13, in other words, on the opposite side of the opposite wall 13 from the first off-gas flow channel 14. The oxidant gas flow channel portion 18 may be connected to the oxidant gas supply plate 11.
The oxidant gas flow channel portion 18 may have a meandering shape. As shown in
As shown in
Within the housing 19, the oxidant gas supply plate 11 may be separated away from the inner wall of the housing 19 on the upward direction (first direction) side. By being separated away from the inner wall, the space on the fuel cell stack 12 side of the oxidant gas supply plate 11 may communicate with the space on the opposite side, in other words, the space that serves as the first off-gas flow channel 14. For example, with such a configuration, the off-gas discharged from the fuel cell stack 12 may flow into the first main surface side of the oxidant gas supply plate 11 from the direction opposite to the traveling direction of the oxidant gas supply plate 11.
Within the housing 19, in the oxidant gas supply plate 11, the second plate portion 21, which is a surface facing the fuel cell stack 12, and the first plate portion 20, which is a surface on the opposite side of the fuel cell stack 12, may be connected directly or indirectly to the housing 19. In the first embodiment, the first plate portion 20 of the oxidant gas supply plate 11 is connected to the tubular oxidant gas flow channel portion 18, and the inlet 31 of the oxidant gas flow channel portion 18 is connected to the housing 19. In the first embodiment, with such a configuration, the oxidant gas supply plate 11 is indirectly connected to the housing 19.
Within the housing 19, a third heat-insulating material 34 may be provided around the inner space where the oxidant gas supply plate 11, the fuel cell stack 12, the reformer 15, and the vaporizer 16 are provided, except on the side of the opposite wall 13.
As shown in
In the fuel cell module 10 of the first embodiment with the above-described configuration, the fuel cell stack 12, the oxidant gas supply plate 11, and the first off-gas flow channel 14 are located in this order in the normal direction of the main surface of the oxidant gas supply plate 11, the first heat-insulating material 13 is located adjacent to the first off-gas flow channel 14, and the second heat-insulating material 17 is located outside the first heat-insulating material 13 in the normal direction. With such a configuration, in the fuel cell module 10, since the oxidant gas supply plate 11 is sandwiched between the fuel cell stack 12 and the first off-gas flow channel 14, which have high-temperature during power generation, the oxidant gas can be heated just before it is supplied to the fuel cell stack 12. Further, with such a configuration, since the off-gas flows through the first off-gas flow channel 14 before being cooled by other media, the fuel cell module 10 can further heat the oxidant gas, compared to a configuration in which the first heat-insulating material 13 is not adjacent to the first off-gas flow channel 14, for example. Further, with such a configuration, since the first heat-insulating material 13 is adjacent to the first off-gas flow channel 14, the fuel cell module 10 can suppress heat dissipation of the off-gas. As a result, the fuel cell module 10 can suppress the reduction of the heat exchanged between the off-gas and the oxidant gas. Further, since the fuel cell module 10 has the second heat-insulating material 17 in addition to the first heat-insulating material 13, the temperature of the space surrounded by the first heat-insulating material 13 and the second heat-insulating material 17 can also be maintained.
The fuel cell module 10 of the first embodiment further has the oxidant gas flow channel portion 18, which is located outside the first off-gas flow channel 14 in the normal direction of the main surface of the oxidant gas supply plate 11 and connected to the oxidant gas supply plate 11. The oxidant gas supplied to the fuel cell module 10 can be drawn in from the air, and therefore has a low temperature close to air temperature, immediately after flowing into the fuel cell module 10. With respect to such an event, the fuel cell module 10 with the above-described configuration can have the oxidant gas flow channel portion 18, where the oxidant gas, which can have a low temperature close to the air temperature near the inlet, flows, to be in close proximity to the first off-gas flow channel 14 via the first heat-insulating material 13. Thus, since the fuel cell module 10 avoids rapid cooling of the first off-gas flow channel 14, the oxidant gas within the oxidant gas supply plate 11 can be further heated.
In the fuel cell module 10 of the first embodiment, the oxidant gas flow channel portion 18 has a meandering shape. With such a configuration, since the fuel cell module 10 can lengthen the path of the oxidant gas flowing before it is supplied to the oxidant gas supply plate 11, a larger area of heat exchange to heat the oxidant gas can be secured before the oxidant gas reaches the oxidant gas supply plate 11.
In the fuel cell module 10 of the first embodiment, the groove 29 is formed in the second heat-insulating material 17 to bury the oxidant gas flow channel portion 18, and the groove 29 and the outer peripheral surface of the oxidant gas flow channel portion 18 define the second off-gas flow channel that is connected to the first off-gas flow channel 14. With such a configuration, the fuel cell module 10 can perform heat exchange between the oxidant gas flowing in the oxidant gas flow channel portion 18 and the off-gas flowing in the second off-gas flow channel, with a simple configuration, to thereby heat the oxidant gas before it flows into the oxidant gas supply plate 11. Further, since the second off-gas flow channel is defined by the second heat-insulating material, the fuel cell module 10 can efficiently transfer heat from the off-gas flowing in the second off-gas flow channel to the oxidant gas flowing in the oxidant gas flow channel portion 18.
The fuel cell module 10 of the first embodiment is further provided with the off-gas treatment chamber 44 connected to the second off-gas flow channel and having a combustion catalyst that burns the off-gas that has passed through the second off-gas flow channel, and the oxidant gas flow channel portion 18 has the first portion 48 that overlaps the off-gas treatment chamber 44 when viewed from the normal direction of the main surface of the oxidant gas supply plate 11. With such a configuration, the fuel cell module 10 can efficiently transfer heat generated by combustion of unreacted combustion gas in the off-gas treatment chamber 44 to the oxidant gas flowing in the oxidant gas flow channel portion 18.
The fuel cell module 10 of the first embodiment is further provided with the off-gas channel plate 38 that defines the flow channel of the off-gas together with the oxidant gas supply plate 11. With such a configuration, the fuel cell module 10 can perform efficient heat exchange between the oxidant gas and the off-gas in the oxidant gas supply plate 11 without dispersing the off-gas discharged from the fuel cell stack 12 to the surroundings. Thus, the fuel cell module 10 can further heat the oxidant gas.
In the fuel cell module 10 of the first embodiment, the discharge hole 42 and the second off-gas flow channel are communicated with each other by the guide portion 47. With such a configuration, the fuel cell module 10 can guide the off-gas discharged from the first off-gas flow channel 14, which is defined by the off-gas channel plate 38, to flow into the second off-gas flow channel.
In the fuel cell module 10 of the first embodiment, the off-gas inflow port of the off-gas channel plate 38 is located flush with the oxidant gas supply plate 11 or on the opposite side of the oxidant gas supply plate 11 in the traveling direction. With such a configuration, the fuel cell module 10 can efficiently guide the off-gas discharged from the fuel cell stack 12 to the first off-gas flow channel 14.
In the fuel cell module 10 of the first embodiment, the off-gas channel plate 38 is joined to the first main surface outside the area of the first projection 26 in the width direction. With such a configuration, since the area where the first projection 26 is located is concentrated in the interior of the first off-gas flow channel 14, the fuel cell module 10 can perform efficient heat exchange between the oxidant gas and the off-gas in the oxidant gas supply plate 11. Thus, the fuel cell module 10 can further heat the oxidant gas.
In the fuel cell module 10 of the first embodiment, the off-gas channel plate 38 is joined to the first main surface outside the area of the first projection 26 on the traveling direction side of the flow channel of the off-gas. With such a configuration, since the area used for heat exchange between the oxidant gas and the off-gas in the oxidant gas supply plate 11 is large, the fuel cell module 10 can perform efficient heat exchange between the oxidant gas and the off-gas. Thus, the fuel cell module 10 can further heat the oxidant gas.
The fuel cell module 10 of the first embodiment is further provided with a cover portion covering the hole-like heat-insulating portion 25. With such a configuration, the fuel cell module 10 avoids the oxidant gas flowing out of the supply plate outlet 23 from entering the first off-gas flow channel 14 through the hole-like heat-insulating portion 25.
The fuel cell module 10 of the first embodiment is further provided with the off-gas treatment chamber 44, and the second off-gas flow channel and the off-gas treatment chamber 44 are connected via the third off-gas flow channel. With such a configuration, the fuel cell module 10 can have an increased degree of freedom in design. For example, the fuel cell module 10 can be designed so that the distance between the connection location of the second off-gas flow channel and the third off-gas flow channel and the location where the inlet of the oxidant gas flow channel portion 18 is buried is reduced. Thus, in such an example, in the fuel cell module 10, the oxidant gas supplied from the oxidant gas flow channel portion 18 is immediately heat exchanged by the off-gas flowing in the second off-gas flow channel, so that the oxidant gas flowing in the oxidant gas flow channel portion 18 and the off-gas can efficiently transfer heat.
In the fuel cell module 10 of the first embodiment, the second off-gas flow channel and the third off-gas flow channel have the same thickness and depth. With such a configuration, since the wall from the second off-gas flow channel to the third off-gas flow channel is continuous, the fuel cell module 10 can flow the off-gas uniformly. Further, with such a configuration, the fuel cell module 10 can be manufactured in a concise manner and with a reduced manufacturing cost.
In the fuel cell module 10 of the first embodiment, the oxidant gas flow channel portion 18 has the fifth portion extending in the lower side in the fuel cell module 10. With such a configuration, since the center of gravity of the oxidant gas flow channel portion 18 is located on the lower side in the vertical direction, the fuel cell module 10 can be stabilized.
In the fuel cell module 10 of the first embodiment, the oxidant gas supply plate 11 has the first plate portion 20 and the second plate portion 21 located opposite each other, the first plate portion 20 has the supply plate inlet 22, the second plate portion 21 has the supply plate outlet 23, and the supply plate inlet 22 is provided in the vicinity of the center of the fuel cell stack 12 in the stacking direction. With such a configuration, the fuel cell module 10 can reduce the difference in temperature distribution in the stacking direction of the fuel cell stack 12.
In a second embodiment of the present disclosure, a fuel cell module will be described below. The second embodiment differs from the first embodiment in the configuration of the oxidant gas supply plate, the first off-gas flow channel, the second heat-insulating material, the oxidant gas flow channel portion and the like. The following is a description of the second embodiment focusing on matters different from the first embodiment Note that components having the same functions and structures as those of the first embodiment will be denoted by the same reference signs.
As shown in
Similar to the first embodiment, in the fuel cell module 100, the oxidant gas can be supplied to the fuel cell stack 12 from outside the fuel cell module 100 via the oxidant gas flow channel portion 180 and the oxidant gas supply plate 110. The fuel cell module 100 can also discharge, via the first off-gas flow channel 140, the gas discharged by the fuel cell stack 12 from the fuel cell module 100.
As shown in
Similar to the first embodiment, the oxidant gas supply plate 110 may be formed of a heat-resistant material such as a metal.
As shown in
The second plate portion 210 may have, at a location opposite the supply plate inlet 220, a third projection 350 that is recessed to the side opposite to the first plate portion 200. As shown in
The oxidant gas supply plate 110 may have at least one flow regulating portion 280 between the supply plate inlet 220 and the supply plate outlet 230, when viewed from the normal direction of the main surface of the oxidant gas supply plate 11. The flow regulating portion 280 may be provided on at least one of the first plate portion 200 and the second plate portion 210. In one example, the flow regulating portion 280 is provided on both the first plate portion 200 and the second plate portion 210 in the same shape and opposite each other. The flow regulating portion 280 may rise from at least one of the first plate portion 200 and the second plate portion 210 to the other.
The flow regulating portion 280 may include at least one first flow regulating portion 281 and at least one second flow regulating portion 282. The rising of the first flow regulating portion 281 from at least one of the first plate portion 200 and the second plate portion 210 to the other may be in contact with the aforesaid other. The second flow regulating portion 282 may have a gap in the facing direction between the first plate portion 200 and the second plate portion 210 while rising from at least one of the first plate portion 200 and the second plate portion 210 to the other. Since the second flow regulating portion 282 is part of the first plate portion 200 and the second plate portion 210, in a configuration in which the second flow regulating portion 282 is provided on both the first plate portion 200 and the second plate portion 210, there is a gap between the second flow regulating portions 282 facing each other. In the following description, when describing matters common to the first flow regulating portion 281 and the second flow regulating portion 282, they are simply referred to as the flow regulating portion 280.
The flow regulating portion 280 may be shaped to extend at least in a direction that intersects the direction from the supply plate inlet 220 to the supply plate outlet 23. At least some of a plurality of flow regulating portions 280 may be curved in the direction from the supply plate outlet 230 to the supply plate inlet 220, when viewed from the normal direction of the main surface of the oxidant gas supply plate 110. For example, the first flow regulating portion 281 proximate to the supply plate inlet 220 may be curved in the direction from the supply plate outlet 230 to the supply plate inlet 220, when viewed from the normal direction of the main surface of the oxidant gas supply plate 110. The plurality of flow regulating portions 280 may be located so as to be aligned in the direction from the supply plate inlet 220 to the supply plate outlet 230. The flow regulating portions 280 adjacent to each other in the aforesaid direction may have portions that do not overlap each other in the width direction.
The flow regulating portion 280 may regulate the flow of oxidant gas from the supply plate inlet 220 to the supply plate outlet 230 within the oxidant gas supply plate 110. The first flow regulating portion 281 may regulate the flow of the oxidant gas so that the oxidant gas avoids the first flow regulating portion 281 in the flow of the oxidant gas from the supply plate inlet 220 to the supply plate outlet 230. The second flow regulating portion 282 may regulate the flow of the oxidant gas flowing from the supply plate inlet 220 to the supply plate outlet 230 so that the oxidant gas becomes a flow that flows through the gap between the second flow regulating portion 282 and a flow that avoids the second flow regulating portion 282. With such a configuration, the flow regulating portion 280 may disperse the oxidant gas in multiple directions parallel to the main surface of the second plate portion 210.
The second plate portion 210 may have a plurality of support portions 650. The plurality of support portions 650 may be located side by side in the width direction. The support portion 650 may support heat-insulating material sandwiched between the fuel cell stack 12 and the oxidant gas supply plate 110 in the fuel cell module 100. The support portion 650 may be a projection protruding from the second plate portion 210 toward the fuel cell stack 12.
As shown in
As shown in
Similar to the first embodiment, the fuel cell stack 12 may be supplied with oxidant gas from the oxidant gas supply plate 110.
Similar to the first embodiment, the fuel cell stack 12 may be positioned adjacent to the oxidant gas supply plate 110 within the housing 19. Similar to the first embodiment, the fuel cell stack 12 may be arranged so that the side surfaces of the fuel cells face the main surface of the oxidant gas supply plate 110. More specifically, similar to the first embodiment, the fuel cell stack 12 may face the main surface of the second plate portion 210. Similar to the first embodiment, the fuel cell stack 12 may be arranged so that the stacking direction of the fuel cells is parallel to the width direction of the oxidant gas supply plate 110.
Unlike the first embodiment, the fuel cell stack 12 may have an off-gas outlet on the downward direction side (the side opposite the first direction) from the distal end of the inner space IS of the oxidant gas supply plate 11 in the vertical direction. For example, the top of the fuel cell stack 12 may be located on the downward direction side from the distal end of the oxidant gas supply plate 11 in the vertical direction.
Unlike the first embodiment, the first heat-insulating material 130 may be located between the oxidant gas supply plate 110 and the first off-gas flow channel 140 in the normal direction of the main surface of the oxidant gas supply plate 110. The first heat-insulating material 130 may have a rectangular plate-like shape. The first heat-insulating material 130 may be sized to cover the fuel cell stack 12, the oxidant gas supply plate 110, the reformer 15, and the vaporizer 16 within the fuel cell module 100.
The first heat-insulating material 130, together with other heat-insulating materials, may define an inner space that houses the oxidant gas supply plate 110, the fuel cell stack 12, the reformer 15, and the vaporizer 16. An exhaust gas lead-out portion 490 may be provided in the aforesaid inner space. The first heat-insulating material 130 may be disposed in contact with a first off-gas flow channel portion 510, which will be described later, and the oxidant gas supply plate 110. As shown in
In the flow of the off-gas discharged from the fuel cell stack 12 to the reformer 15 side, the exhaust gas lead-out portion 490 may allow the off-gas to flow in a direction opposite to the second direction, in other words, in a direction from the vaporizer 16 side to the reformer 15 side. For example, such a function can be achieved by forming the exhaust gas lead-out portion 490 in the direction opposite to the second direction on the upward direction side of the inner space above.
In the flow of the off-gas discharged from the fuel cell stack 12 toward the reformer 15 side, the exhaust gas lead-out portion 490 may cause the off-gas to flow toward the center of the housing 19 in the second direction. For example, such a function can be achieved by forming the exhaust gas lead-out portion 490 in the vicinity of the center, in the second direction, of the inner space on the upward direction side, as shown in
As described above, the configuration in which the exhaust gas lead-out portion 490, which is a cutout, is provided on the opposite side of the second direction or in the vicinity of the center in the second direction is described as an example, but the exhaust gas lead-out portion 490 is not limited to be provided in the vicinity of the end portion in the direction opposite to the second direction or in the vicinity of the center in the second direction, but may be provided in the vicinity of the end portion on the second direction side or provided over the entire second direction.
Furthermore, the exhaust gas lead-out portion 490 may be formed by cutting out a part of an area in the fuel cell module 100 that contains the supply plate inlet 220, when viewed from the normal direction of the main surface of the oxidant gas supply plate 110. In other words, the cutout area may be cut in a size so that there is a gap between the cutout and the outer peripheral surface of a communication pipe 500 that communicates the supply plate inlet 220 and the oxidant gas flow channel portion 180. The off-gas discharged from the fuel cell stack 12 can be avoided from flowing below the cutout by the first heat-insulating material 130.
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The first off-gas flow channel portion 510 may be arranged so that the flat plate-like portion is parallel to the main surface of the oxidant gas supply plate 110. The first groove portion 530 may have a portion that overlaps a part of the exhaust gas lead-out portion 490 within the fuel cell module 100, when viewed from the normal direction of the main surface. The first groove portion 530 may be shaped such that the aforesaid portion is one end of the path-like shape. The first groove portion 530 may include, for example, a U-shape portion. The U-shaped portion may open on the upward direction side and the both leg portions of the U-shaped portion may extend substantially parallel to each other in the upward direction. A communication hole 540 may be formed in the vicinity of the aforesaid portion of the first groove portion 530.
For example, in the configuration in which the exhaust gas lead-out portion 490 is located in the direction opposite to the second direction as shown in
In the configuration in which the exhaust gas lead-out portion 490 is located in the vicinity of the center in the second direction as shown in
The communication hole 540 may be connected to the exhaust gas lead-out portion 490. By connecting the communication hole 540 and the exhaust gas lead-out portion 490, the inner space formed by the joining of the first off-gas flow channel portion 510 and the partition plate 520, in other words, the first off-gas flow channel 140 may communicate with the flow channel defined by the exhaust gas lead-out portion 490. The first groove portion 530 may communicate, at the other end, with a discharge portion 670 having a discharge port 550. The discharge port 550 may discharge the off-gas from the fuel cell module 100.
In the portion of the first off-gas flow channel portion 510 extending along the first direction, the width of the portion on the discharge port 550 side where the off-gas is discharged from the fuel cell module 100 may be narrower than the width of the portion on the inlet side where the off-gas discharged from the fuel cell stack 12 flows in. More specifically, in a plurality of portions in the first off-gas flow channel 510 that extend along the first direction and are located at different positions in a direction intersecting the first direction, for example, in the width direction, the width of the portion on the discharge port 550 side where the off-gas is discharged from the fuel cell module 100 may be narrower than the width of the portion on the inlet side where the off-gas discharged from the fuel cell stack 12 flows in. More specifically, in the U-shaped portion of the first groove portion 530 of the first off-gas flow channel portion 510, the width of the leg portion on the discharge port 550 side may be narrower than the width of the leg portion on the communication hole 540 side. Furthermore, in the first off-gas flow channel portion 510, the width of the leg portion on the side of the communication hole 540 may be narrower than the width of the portion on the side of the discharge port 550. Furthermore, the width of the portion connecting both leg portions of the U-shaped portion of the first groove portion 530 may be narrower than the width of the leg portion on the communication hole 540 side and the width of the leg portion on the discharge port 550 side.
The portion of the first off-gas flow channel portion 510 on the off-gas inflow side (on the communication hole 540 side), specifically the leg portion, may be filled with a pretreatment material. The pretreatment material may adsorb Si contained in the off-gas as the ff-gas flows in contact with the pretreatment material. The portion of the first off-gas flow channel portion 510 on the discharge port 550 side, specifically the leg portion, may be filled with a combustion catalyst. The combustion catalyst may burn the combustible gases such as hydrogen and carbon monoxide contained in the off-gas. In the first off-gas flow channel portion 510, the combustion catalyst may be located on the second direction side within the fuel cell module 100.
The first off-gas flow channel portion 510 may have an oxidant gas introducing portion 560. The oxidant gas introducing portion 560 may be a pipe, or may be groove-shaped by recessing the flat plate of the first off-gas flow channel portion 510 in the same direction as the first groove portion 530. The oxidant gas introducing portion 560 may be joined to the partition plate 520 to cover the groove. When joined to the partition plate 520, the oxidant gas introducing portion 560 may not be in communication with the first groove portion 530. The oxidant gas introducing portion 560 may communicate with an oxidant gas flow channel, which is to be described later, via a first through-hole 570 formed in the partition plate 520.
One end of the oxidant gas introducing portion 560 may function as an oxidant gas introducing port 580. The oxidant gas introducing port 580 may introduce the oxidant gas to be supplied to the fuel cell stack 12 into the fuel cell module 100 via the oxidant gas flow channel. The oxidant gas introducing portion 560 may be located in the vicinity of the discharge port 550. The oxidant gas introducing portion 560 may be separate from the first off-gas flow channel portion 510. In the configuration in which the oxidant gas introducing portion 560 is separate from the first off-gas flow channel portion 510, the oxidant gas introducing portion 560 may be located on the surface of the partition plate 520 to which the first off-gas flow channel portion 510 is joined.
The oxidant gas introducing port 580 may be located on the upward direction (first direction) side from the discharge port 550 within the fuel cell module 100.
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The oxidant gas flow channel portion 180 may be joined to the other side of the partition plate 520 to which the first off-gas flow channel portion 510 is joined. The oxidant gas flow channel portion 180 may be positioned to overlap the first off-gas flow channel portion 510 when viewed from the normal direction of the main surface of the partition plate 520. The oxidant gas flow channel may be defined by joining the oxidant gas flow channel portion 180 to the partition plate 520. More specifically, the oxidant gas flow channel may be defined by joining the oxidant gas flow channel portion 180 to the partition plate 520 to cover a second groove portion 600, which is obtained by recessing a part of the flat plate into a path-like shape. The recessed depth of the second groove portion 600 may be shallower than the recessed depth of the first groove portion 530.
The oxidant gas flow channel portion 180 may be arranged so that the flat plate portion is parallel to the main surface of the oxidant gas supply plate 110. A part of the oxidant gas flow channel portion 180 may overlap the entire area of the first off-gas flow channel portion 510 within the fuel cell module 100, when viewed from the normal direction of the main surface of the partition plate 520. More specifically, a part of the second groove portion 600 may overlap the entire area of the first groove portion 530, when viewed from the aforesaid normal direction. The oxidant gas flow channel portion 180 may overlap the extension portion 590 when viewed from the aforesaid normal direction.
The second groove portion 600 may have a part overlapping the entire supply plate inlet 220 within the fuel cell module 100, when viewed from the normal direction of the aforesaid main surface. The second groove portion 600 may be shaped such the aforesaid part is one end of the path-like shape. The aforesaid part may communicate with the inner space IS of the oxidant gas supply plate 110 via the communication pipe 500 and the supply plate inlet 220. The second groove portion 600 may have a part overlapping the oxidant gas introducing portion 560 at the other end of the path-like shape within the fuel cell module 100. The aforesaid may communicate, via the first through-hole 570, with the space defined by the oxidant gas introducing portion 560. The second groove portion 600 may include, for example, a U-shaped portion.
The partition plate 520 may have a second through-hole 610 through which the communication pipe 500 passes.
The partition plate 520 may have a cutout 620. Within the fuel cell module 100, the cutout 620 may be located at least partially in an area other than the area where it overlaps the first off-gas flow channel 140 and the second groove portion 600 that defines the oxidant gas flow channel, when viewed from the normal direction of the main surface of the partition plate 520. More specifically, the cutout 620 may be located at least partially in an area other than the area where it overlaps the first groove portion 530 and the second groove portion 600, when viewed from the aforesaid normal direction. The cutout 620 may also be provided along the first off-gas flow channel 140, in the central portion of the U-shape of first off-gas flow channel 140, more specifically, of the first groove portion 530. The cutout 620 may be provided around the first off-gas flow channel 140 and the second groove portion 600 that defines the oxidant gas flow channel.
The partition plate 520 may have a raised portion 630 protruding into the first groove portion 530 within the fuel cell module 100 in the area overlapping both the first groove portion 530 and the second groove portion 600, when viewed from the normal direction of the main surface of the partition plate 520. With such a configuration, the heat exchange efficiency between the first off-gas flow channel portion 510 and the oxidant gas flow channel portion 180 can be improved.
Similar to the first embodiment, a third heat-insulating material 340 may be provided around the inner space within the housing 19 where the oxidant gas supply plate 110, the fuel cell stack 12, the reformer 15, and the vaporizer 16 are provided, except for the portion where the first heat-insulating material 130 is provided.
The third heat-insulating material 340 may have a portion extending along the upward direction (first direction) on the opposite side of the oxidant gas supply plate 110 of the fuel cell stack 12. In the aforesaid portion, a recessed portion 640 may be formed in the vicinity of the location of the reformer 15 in the upward direction, when viewed from the fuel cell stack 12 side. A gap may be provided between the recessed portion 640 and the reformer 15.
Similar to the first embodiment, in the fuel cell module 100 of the second embodiment with the above-described configuration, the fuel cell stack 12, the oxidant gas supply plate 110, and the first off-gas flow channel 140 are located in this order in the normal direction of the main surface of the oxidant gas supply plate 110, the first heat-insulating material 130 is located adjacent to the first off-gas flow channel 140, and the second heat-insulating material 170 is located outside the first heat-insulating material 130 in the normal direction. Thus, similar to the first embodiment, the fuel cell module 100 can also heat the oxidant gas just before the oxidant gas is supplied to the fuel cell stack 12. Further, similar to the first embodiment, the fuel cell module 100 can also reduce the reduction of heat exchanged between the off-gas and oxidant gas. Furthermore, since the fuel cell module 100 has the second heat-insulating material 170 in addition to the first heat-insulating material 130, the temperature of the space surrounded by the first heat-insulating material 130 and the second heat-insulating material 170 can also be maintained.
Similar to the first embodiment, the fuel cell module 100 of the second embodiment also further has the oxidant gas flow channel portion 180, which is located outside the first off-gas flow channel 140 in the normal direction of the main surface of the oxidant gas supply plate 110 and connected to the oxidant gas supply plate 110. Thus, similar to the first embodiment, the fuel cell module 100 can also further heat the oxidant gas within the oxidant gas supply plate 11.
Similar to the first embodiment, in the fuel cell module 100 of the second embodiment, the oxidant gas supply plate 110 has the first plate portion 200 and the second plate portion 210 located opposite each other, the first plate portion 200 has the supply plate inlet 220, the second plate portion 210 has the supply plate outlet 230, and the supply plate inlet 220 is provided in the vicinity of the center of the fuel cell stack 12 in the stacking direction. Thus, similar to the first embodiment, the fuel cell module 10 can also reduce difference in temperature distribution in the stacking direction of the fuel cell stack 12.
In the fuel cell module 100 of the second embodiment, the supply plate inlet 220 is provided in a portion of the first plate portion 200 opposite the end portion of the fuel cell stack 12 on the first direction side. In the fuel cell stack 12, the upward direction side tends to be hotter than the downward direction side. With respect to such an event, the fuel cell module 100 with the above-described configuration can bring a relatively low temperature portion of the oxidant gas supply plate 110 to face the end portion of the fuel cell stack 12 on the upward direction side by means of the oxidant gas introduced into the oxidant gas supply plate 110. Thus, the fuel cell module 100 can reduce the temperature variation in the first direction of the fuel cell stack 12.
In the fuel cell module 100 of the second embodiment, the first heat-insulating material 130 is located between the oxidant gas supply plate 110 and the first off-gas flow channel 140 in the normal direction of the main surface of the oxidant gas supply plate 110. With such a configuration, the fuel cell module 100 can suppress the heat dissipation of the oxidant gas supply plate 110.
In the fuel cell module 100 of the second embodiment, the off-gas discharged from the fuel cell stack 12 may flow into the first off-gas flow channel 140 through the flow channel defined by the exhaust gas lead-out portion 490 formed in the first heat-insulating material 130 and the communication pipe 500 that communicates the supply plate inlet 220 and the oxidant gas flow channel portion 180. With such a configuration, the fuel cell module 100 can enable the off-gas discharged from the fuel cell stack 12 to flow around the communication pipe 500 that supplies oxidant gas to the oxidant gas supply plate 110. Thus, the fuel cell module 100 can heat the oxidant gas in the communication pipe 500.
In the fuel cell module 100 of the second embodiment, the exhaust gas lead-out portion 490 is a cutout portion obtained by cutting out a part of the first heat-insulating material 170. With such a configuration, in the fuel cell module 100, it is easy to provide the exhaust gas lead-out portion 490 by simply cutting out a part of the first heat-insulating material 130. In the fuel cell module 100, the first heat-insulating material 130 is arranged in contact with the first off-gas flow channel portion 510 and the oxidant gas supply plate 110. With such a configuration, the fuel cell module 100 can avoid the off-gas from flowing below the cut out first heat-insulating material 130, so that the off-gas effectively flows to the exhaust gas lead-out portion 490.
In the fuel cell module 100 of the second embodiment, the communication pipe 500 is deviated from the center of the exhaust gas lead-out portion 490 in a direction perpendicular to the first direction and the normal direction of the main surface of the oxidant gas supply plate 110. With such a configuration, in the flow channel where the off-gas flows, since the portion on the side opposite to the direction to which the communication pipe 500 is deviated is wide, the fuel cell module 100 can reduce the pressure drop of the off-gas.
In the fuel cell module 100 of the second embodiment, in the configuration in which the communication pipe 500 is deviated from the center of the exhaust gas lead-out portion 490, the exhaust gas lead-out portion 490 is extended and located on the opposite side of the second direction. With such a configuration, in the fuel cell module 100, the cooling of the off-gas cooled is suppressed by the vaporizer 16, so that hotter off-gas can be used for heat exchange with the oxidant gas.
In the fuel cell module 100 of the second embodiment, the oxidant gas flow channel is defined by joining the first off-gas flow channel portion 510, which defines a part of the first off-gas flow channel 140, to one surface of the partition plate 520, and joining the oxidant gas flow channel portion 180 to the other surface of the partition plate 520 so that the oxidant gas flow channel portion 180 overlaps the first off-gas flow channel portion 510 when viewed from the normal direction of the main surface of the partition plate 520. With such a configuration, the fuel cell module 100 can easily be configured to a configuration in which the first off-gas flow channel 140 and the oxidant gas flow channel are adjacent to each other to allow the off-gas and the oxidant gas to perform heat exchange.
In the fuel cell module 100 of the second embodiment, the depth of the recess of the second groove portion 600, which defines the oxidant gas flow channel, is shallower than the depth of the recess of the first groove portion 530, which defines the first off-gas flow channel 140. With such a configuration, the fuel cell module 100 can provide a space for housing the pretreatment material and the combustion catalyst in the first off-gas flow channel 140.
In the fuel cell module 100 of the second embodiment, the oxidant gas introducing portion 560 is disposed on the surface of the partition plate 520 to which the first off-gas flow channel portion 510 is joined, and the oxidant gas introducing portion 560 communicates with the oxidant gas flow channel via the through-hole 570 of the partition plate 520. With such a configuration, the fuel cell module 100 does not need to form piping on the oxidant gas flow channel portion 180 side, so that the step difference of the second groove portion 600 can be reduced. Therefore, the fuel cell module 100 can facilitate the processing of the heat-insulating material to be provided outside the oxidant gas flow channel portion 180 in the normal direction of the main surface of the oxidant gas supply plate 110, and can reduce manufacturing costs.
In the fuel cell module 100 of the second embodiment, in the portion of the first off-gas flow channel portion 510 extending along the first direction, the width of the portion on the discharge port 550 side where the off-gas is discharged from the fuel cell module 100 is narrower than the width of the portion on the inlet side where the off-gas discharged from the fuel cell stack 12 flows in. In the first off-gas flow channel 140, the fuel cell stack 12 side can be filled with a pretreatment material and the discharge port 550 side can be filled with a combustion catalyst. The off-gas just discharged from the fuel cell stack 12 has a temperature of about 500-700° C., and the temperature decreases as it passes through the pretreatment material and becomes about 200° C. at the combustion catalyst. With respect to such an event in the situation where the above-described configuration is adopted, since the width of the first off-gas flow channel portion 510 is larger on the high temperature side and smaller on the low temperature side, the fuel cell module 100 can more effectively perform heat exchange.
In the fuel cell module 100 of the second embodiment, the first off-gas flow channel portion 510 includes the extension portion 590 that branches in the vicinity of the discharge port 550 where the off-gas is discharged from the fuel cell module 100 and extends toward the vicinity of the oxidant gas introducing portion 560. With such a configuration, the fuel cell module 100 can expand the heat exchange area for heat exchange between the oxidant gas in the oxidant gas introducing portion 560 and the extension portion 590. Thus, the fuel cell module 100 can improve the efficiency of heat exchange of the oxidant gas.
In the fuel cell module 100 of the second embodiment, the oxidant gas flow channel portion 180 overlaps the extension portion 590 when viewed from the normal direction of the main surface of the oxidant gas supply plate 110. With such a configuration, the fuel cell module 100 can further expand the heat exchange area for heat exchange between the oxidant gas in the oxidant gas flow channel and the extension portion 590 via the partition plate 520. Thus, the fuel cell module 100 can further improve the efficiency of the heat exchange of the oxidant gas.
In the fuel cell module 100 of the second embodiment, the entire area of the first off-gas flow channel portion 510 overlaps a part of the oxidant gas flow channel portion 180, when viewed from the normal direction of the main surface of the partition plate 520. With such a configuration, the fuel cell module 100 can have all flow channels of the off-gas in contact with the partition plate 520 used to heat the oxidant gas.
In the fuel cell module 100 of the second embodiment, the oxidant gas introducing port 580 is located on the first direction side from the discharge port 550. With such a configuration, the fuel cell module 100 can avoid interference with the piping connected to the oxidant gas introducing port 580 when connecting, to the discharge port 550, a pipe to be connected to a heat exchanger to be provided on the opposite side of the first direction to the fuel cell module 100.
In the fuel cell module 100 of the second embodiment, the partition plate 520 has the cutout 620 at least partially in an area other than the area where it overlaps the first off-gas flow channel 140 and the oxidant gas flow channel, when viewed from the normal direction of the main surface of the partition plate 520. With such a configuration, the fuel cell module 100 can suppress heat conduction in the partition plate 520 and avoid excessive heating of the partition plate 520. Thus, the fuel cell module 100 can relieve stress due to thermal deformation of the partition plate 520. By providing the cutout 620 inside the U-shaped first groove portion 530 and the second groove portion 600, it is possible to avoid a case in which the high temperature exhaust gas heat just entering the first off-gas flow channel 140 loses heat to the low temperature oxidant gas just entering the oxidant gas introducing port 580 so as to reduce the heat exchange efficiency.
Although the embodiments according to the present disclosure have been described based on the drawings and the examples, it is to be noted that various changes and modifications may be made easily by those who are ordinarily skilled in the art based on the present disclosure. Thus, it is to be noted that such changes and modifications are included in the scope of the present disclosure. For example, functions and the like included in each component, each step or the like can be rearranged without logical inconsistency, and a plurality of components, steps or the like can be combined into one or divided. Although the embodiment according to the present disclosure has been described focusing on the device, the embodiment according to the present disclosure can also be realized as a method including steps executed by each component of the device. The embodiments according to the present disclosure can also be realized as a method and a program executed by a processor included in the device, or a storage medium on which a program is recorded. It is to be understood that the scope of the present disclosure includes these as well.
For example, in the first embodiment, the flange portion 41 on the traveling direction side of the off-gas channel plate 38 functions as a cover portion, but the hole-like heat-insulating portion 25 may be covered by a cover portion that is separate from the off-gas channel plate 38.
Further, in the second embodiment, the structure of the oxidant gas supply plate 110 is not limited to the above, but may have a fourth projection 660 that rises on the fuel cell stack 12 side within the fuel cell module 100, as shown in
The descriptions such as “first” and “second” in the present disclosure are identifiers for distinguishing corresponding configurations. Configurations distinguished by the descriptions such as “first” and “second” in the disclosure can exchange numbers in the corresponding configurations. For example, a first camera can exchange “first” and “second”, which are identifiers, with a second camera. The exchange of identifiers takes place at the same time. Even after exchanging identifiers, the corresponding configuration is distinguished. The identifier may be deleted. The configuration with the identifier deleted is distinguished by a reference sign. It may not be used as a basis for interpreting the order of the corresponding configurations and the existence of identifiers with lower numbers, based on the description of identifiers such as “first” and “second” in this disclosure.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021-029224 | Feb 2021 | JP | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/JP2022/008091 | 2/25/2022 | WO |
