JP2002063920A - Fuel cell device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent water from flowing back into a fuel cell from a water tank even if a device is tilted as it is moved or carried, in a portable fuel cell device with a fuel cell and a water tank set at the top and bottom. SOLUTION: In a pipe connection of a fuel cell 1 and a water tank 2, a first exhaust pipe 31, a first drain pipe 41 and a second drain pipe 42 have each their upper end parts connected to pipe connecting openings provided in a left area of the fuel cell 1, and their lower end parts connected to pipe connecting openings provided in a right area of the water tank 2. A second exhaust pipe 32, a third drain pipe 43 and a fourth drain pipe 44 have each their upper end parts connected to pipe connecting openings provided in a right area of the fuel cell 1, and their lower end parts connected to pipe connecting openings provided in a left area of the water tank 2. Like this, it is desirable that they are not only mutually connected at left and right opposite areas but also at back and forth opposite areas against the water tank 2.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention particularly relates to a portable fuel cell device having a structure in which a water tank is provided below a fuel cell.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A fuel cell device is an environmentally friendly power generator that generates power by a chemical reaction between fuel hydrogen gas and oxygen gas in the air. In particular, portable fuel cell devices are widely used as maintenance power sources for equipment, temporary power sources outdoors, emergency power sources for emergencies, etc. because they can be easily moved without installation work. This portable fuel cell device usually has a control unit A and a battery unit B in a device main body as shown in FIG.
And an auxiliary unit C, a replaceable hydrogen cylinder D is built in as a fuel source, and a caster E is attached to a lower part. The battery unit B is composed of, for example, a polymer electrolyte fuel cell 1, and the auxiliary unit C has a pump, a water tank 2, and the like. The fuel cell 1 and the water tank 2 are provided with an exhaust pipe and a drain pipe. Connected by

[0003] The fuel cell 1 and the water tank 2 are, for example, shown in FIG.
As shown in (a), two exhaust pipes 3 and four drain pipes 4 arranged in the left and right regions are connected to each other, and the exhaust pipe 3 converts hydrogen gas that has not reacted in the fuel cell 1 into water. Lead to tank 2,
The drain pipe 4 serves to drain circulating cooling water sent from the water tank 2 to the fuel cell 1 via a pump (not shown) and water generated by a chemical reaction in the fuel cell 1 to the water tank 2. I have.

[0004]

In the above-mentioned conventional fuel cell device, it is desirable that the water surface in the water tank 2 is always kept horizontal when moving or transporting.
When the water in the water tank 2 is inclined to the side as shown in FIG. 6B, the water in the water tank 2 is located in the left area.
Backflow to the fuel cell 1 through the fuel cell. The exhaust pipe 3 and the drain pipe 4 are both a fuel cell 1 and a water tank 2.
, The connection end is open, and there is no on-off valve, so that backflow occurs.

When the water in the water tank 2 flows back into the fuel cell 1, the water may flow into the gas passage of the hydrogen electrode or the cooling water passage. In particular, when the water flows into the gas passage of the hydrogen electrode via the exhaust pipe 3, Some of them may remain in the aisle or may freeze and freeze. When such a situation occurs, the flow of the hydrogen gas supplied from the hydrogen cylinder to the hydrogen electrode when the fuel cell device is reused is hindered, and the normal operation of the fuel cell cannot be performed or the power generation performance is reduced. .

For this reason, conventionally, the water in the water tank 2 is drained at the time of moving or transporting. However, when the water is left for a long time, the solid polymer electrolyte membrane in the fuel cell dries and becomes conductive when reused. There is a problem that becomes worse. If an open / close valve is provided in each of the exhaust pipe 3 and the drain pipe 4, backflow of water can be prevented. However, since the number of open / close valves increases, it becomes troublesome to operate each time, and the number of parts increases the cost. Also.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a fuel cell device which can prevent backflow of water from a water tank into the fuel cell even when the fuel cell device is tilted during movement or transportation, and which does not require an on-off valve. The purpose is to provide.

[0008]

As a specific means for achieving the above object, the present invention comprises a control section, a battery section, and an auxiliary section, wherein a fuel cell of the battery section and an auxiliary section are provided. A water tank disposed vertically above and below the fuel tank, wherein drain and exhaust pipe connection ports provided in left and right regions with a central portion of the fuel cell interposed therebetween; and the water tank Pipe connection ports provided in the left and right regions with the central portion of the fuel cell side connected to the fuel cell side pipe connection port and the water tank side pipe connection port in a mutually opposite region. Make a summary. Further, the pipe connection port of the fuel cell is located in the front-rear region across the center of the fuel cell, and the pipe connection port of the water tank is also located in the front-rear area across the center of the water tank. The gist of the present invention is that the pipe connection port and the pipe connection port on the water tank side are connected to each other so as to be in front and rear opposite regions.

According to the present invention, a water tank is provided by connecting the pipe connection ports in the left and right areas of the fuel cell and the pipe connection ports in the left and right areas of the water tank to mutually opposite areas so that the water tank can be tilted in any direction. Water can be prevented from flowing back into the fuel cell. For example, when tilted to the left, the right side of the water tank becomes higher, creating an air pocket inside, and water is discharged from the right area of the water tank to the exhaust pipe and drain pipe connecting to the left area of the fuel cell. Do not enter. The opposite phenomenon occurs when tilting to the right. Furthermore, by making the front and rear areas of the fuel cell pipe connection port and the front and rear areas of the water tank pipe connection ports opposite to each other, not only in the left-right direction but also in the front-back direction. The backflow of water into the fuel cell can be prevented.

[0010]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Next, an embodiment of a fuel cell device according to the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG.
FIG. 2A is a schematic diagram showing a pipe connection state between a fuel cell 1 and a water tank 2, wherein a pipe connection port provided in a left and right region with a center portion of the fuel cell 1 interposed therebetween; Are connected so that the pipe connection ports provided in the left and right regions are opposite to each other.

That is, the first exhaust pipe 31 has a pipe connection port 1L1 for exhaust gas whose upper end is provided in the left area of the fuel cell 1.
The lower end is connected to a pipe connection port 2R1 provided in the right area of the water tank 2. The second exhaust pipe 32 has an upper end connected to a pipe connection port 1R1 for exhaust gas provided in a right area of the fuel cell 1 and a lower end connected to a pipe connection port 2L1 provided in a left area of the water tank 2. Connected.

On the other hand, the first drain pipe 41 has an upper end connected to a drain connection port 1L2 provided in the left area of the fuel cell 1, and a lower end provided in a right area of the water tank 2. Connected to connection port 2R2. The second drain pipe 42 has a drain connection port 1 whose upper end is provided in the left area of the fuel cell 1.
L3, and the lower end is connected to a pipe connection port 2R3 provided in the right area of the water tank 2.

Similarly, the third drain pipe 43 has an upper end connected to a drain connection port 1R2 provided in a right area of the fuel cell 1, and a lower end provided in a left area of the water tank 2. The fourth drain pipe 44 is connected to the pipe connection port 2L2, and further has an upper end provided in a drain connection port 1R3 provided in a right area of the fuel cell 1 and a lower end provided in a left area of the water tank 2. Respectively connected to the provided pipe connection port 2L3. In FIG. 2, Q is a hydrogen gas exhaust pipe, and R is an atmosphere open pipe.

As shown in FIG. 3, hydrogen gas is supplied from a hydrogen cylinder 5 to a hydrogen electrode via a pressure reducing valve 6 to the fuel cell 1, and air taken in by an air fan 7 is supplied to the air electrode. Electric power is generated by an electrochemical reaction through a solid polymer electrolyte membrane (not shown), and water is generated at the same time. Water is supplied from the water tank 2 to the fuel cell 1 via a water supply pipe 9 by a pump 8 to humidify hydrogen gas to wet the solid polymer electrolyte membrane and cool the fuel cell 1.

The current obtained by the power generation is equal to D
C / AC inverter 10 or DC / DC converter 11
To be used as necessary power supply. DC / AC
The inverter converts the DC power generated by the fuel cell 1 into AC
The power is converted into 100V AC power, and the DC / DC converter converts DC power into 24V DC. The unreacted hydrogen gas at the hydrogen electrode of the fuel cell 1 is exhausted to the water tank 2 through the exhaust pipe 3 (the first exhaust pipe 31 and the second exhaust pipe 32). Guided to the exhaust duct 13 via the hydrogen gas exhaust pipe Q and the throttle valve 12,
It is exhausted outside.

The water supplied to the fuel cell 1 is returned to the water tank 2 through the drain pipes 4 (the first drain pipe 41 to the fourth drain pipe 44). The fuel is supplied to the fuel cell 1 by the pump 8 and circulated. Reference numeral 14 denotes a sub-tank, which collects water supplied from the outside and supplies water to the water tank 2 via a water supply pump 15 as appropriate to keep the water level in the water tank 2 substantially constant.

The fuel cell device can be moved by the caster E. When used as a power source for work such as construction work, the fuel cell device is convenient for movement within a work site. It may be tilted when transported to another work site. FIG. 1B is a schematic diagram showing a state in which the fuel cell 1 is tilted to the left, and the fuel cell 1 and the water tank 2 fixed to the fuel cell device are tilted to the left at the same angle.

At this time, an air pocket P is formed at the upper end of the right area in the water tank 2, and the pipe connection ports 2R1, 2R2, 2R3 existing in the right area of the water tank 2 are open to the air pocket P. Becomes Therefore, these pipe connection ports 2
The water in the water tank 2 does not flow into the first exhaust pipe 31, the first drain pipe 41, and the second drain pipe 42 connected to R1, 2R2, and 2R3. There is no backflow of water to the left area of.

Although water flows into the pipe connection ports 2L1, 2L2, 2L3 existing in the left area of the water tank 2, the second exhaust gas connected to these pipe connection ports 2L1, 2L2, 2L3. The water flows into the pipe 32, the third drain pipe 43, and the fourth drain pipe 44 only to the same level as the surface of the water in the water tank 2, and does not reach any higher level. Water does not flow back into the area. Thereby, when the fuel cell device is tilted to the left, backflow of water from the water tank 2 into the fuel cell 1 can be prevented.

FIG. 1C is a schematic diagram showing a state where the fuel cell device is tilted to the right. In this case, the fuel cell device is symmetrical to the case where the fuel cell device is tilted to the left. An air pocket P is formed at the upper end of the left area, and the pipe connection ports 2L1, 2L2, 2L3 existing in the left area of the water tank 2 are opened to the air pocket P. Therefore, the water in the water tank 2 flows into the second exhaust pipe 32, the third drain pipe 43, and the fourth drain pipe 44 connected to these pipe connection ports 2L1, 2L2, 2L3. Therefore, water does not flow back to the right area of the fuel cell 1.

Although water flows into the pipe connection ports 2R1, 2R2, 2R3 existing in the right area of the water tank 2, the first exhaust gas connected to these pipe connection ports 2R1, 2R2, 2R3. The pipe 31, the first drain pipe 41, and the second drain pipe 42 only flow to the same level as the water level of the water in the water tank 2, and do not reach any higher level. Water does not flow back into the area. Thus, even when the fuel cell device is tilted to the right, backflow of water from the water tank 2 into the fuel cell 1 can be prevented.

FIG. 4 shows an example in which the backflow of water can be prevented not only in the inclination in the left-right direction but also in the inclination in the front-rear direction. FIG. 4A shows the first exhaust pipe 31 and the second exhaust pipe. FIG. 3 is a schematic plan view showing a connection state of a pipe 32, and as shown by a solid line, a first exhaust pipe 31 has a left area of the fuel cell 1 and a right area of the water tank 2 and a front area S1 across a central portion. Is connected, the second exhaust pipe 32 connects the right area of the fuel cell 1 to the left area of the water tank 2 and the rear area S4 across the center. Alternatively, when the first exhaust pipe 31 connects the left area of the fuel cell 1 to the right area of the water tank 2 and the rear area S2 across the center as shown by the broken line,
The second exhaust pipe 32 is provided between the right area of the fuel cell 1 and the water tank 2.
Is connected to the front region S3 in the left region of FIG. That is, the first exhaust pipe 31 and the second exhaust pipe 32
They are connected to the left and right opposite areas and to the front and rear opposite areas.

FIG. 4B is a schematic plan view showing a connection state of the first drain pipe 41 to the fourth drain pipe 44. The first drain pipe 41 includes a left area of the fuel cell 1 and a water tank. The second drain pipe 42 is connected to the left area of the fuel cell 1 and to the right area of the water tank 2 and to the front area S1 across the center of the fuel cell 1. And connect. Third
Drain pipe 43 connects the right area of the fuel cell 1 with the left area of the water tank 2 and the rear area S4 across the center, and
Drain pipe 44 connects the right area of the fuel cell 1 with the left area of the water tank 2 and the front area S3 across the center. In other words, these drain pipes are connected to the left and right opposite areas and to the front and rear opposite areas.

In this case, both the exhaust pipe and the drain pipe are connected to the left and right opposite regions and the front and rear opposite regions, so that the water tank 2 can move from the water tank 2 to the fuel cell 1 not only in the left and right directions but also in the front and rear directions. The backflow of water can be prevented. At the pipe connection ports 2L1 and 2R1 of the water tank 2 shown in FIG. 2, an example is shown in which both are located in the front region.
In order to be applicable in the case of (a), they are provided separately in front and back.

When the inclination test was conducted between the case of the present invention in which the pipes were connected in this way and the case of the conventional pipe connection, the results shown in Table 1 were obtained.

[0026]

[Table 1]

According to the results of this experiment, regarding the drain pipe, the inclination angle in the left-right direction until the water in the water tank 2 reaches the drain pipe connection port of the fuel cell 1 is 30 ° in the conventional example. On the other hand, in the case of the present invention, water did not reach even if it was largely tilted in either of the left and right directions unless it was turned over, and in particular, water did not flow into the lower pipe due to the tilt (no water). The angle of inclination in the front-rear direction is 45 ° in both the front and rear in the conventional example, whereas it is 85 ° in the front and rear in the present invention. In the case of the present invention, the inclination angle is nearly 90 °, and there is no backflow of water to the fuel cell even if the inclination is large in any of the front and rear directions unless the inclination is made forward or backward.

Regarding the exhaust pipe, the inclination angle in the horizontal direction until the water in the water tank 2 reaches the exhaust pipe connection port of the fuel cell 1 is 40 ° left and 35 ° right in the conventional example. In the case of the present invention, it was 70 ° left and 75 ° right. In the case of the present invention, the inclination angle is close to 90 °, and there is no backflow of water to the fuel cell 1 unless the inclination angle is set to the side or the inclination angle close to the side. Regarding the inclination angle in the front-rear direction, in both of the conventional example and the present invention, water flows into the pipe when it is tilted forward but does not reach the exhaust pipe connection port, and water does not flow into the pipe when it is tilted backward.

When moving or transporting, the fuel cell device tends to be tilted left and right due to the box shape of the fuel cell device, but in the case of the present invention, even if it is tilted considerably, unless it is turned over as described above. The water in the water tank 2 does not flow back to the fuel cell 1 through the drain pipe and the exhaust pipe,
The fuel cell 1 can be sufficiently protected.

[0030]

As described above, according to the present invention, in a portable fuel cell device in which a fuel cell and a water tank are disposed vertically, a connection between an exhaust pipe and a drain pipe is made mutually. Even if the fuel cell device is tilted in the left-right direction or the front-rear direction at the time of moving or transporting by setting the left and right opposite regions and the front and rear opposite regions, the water tank via the exhaust pipe and the drain pipe. Water does not flow back into the fuel cell. For this reason, backflow water does not flow into the gas passage and the water passage of the fuel cell, and these passages are normally maintained, so that the flow of hydrogen gas supplied from the hydrogen cylinder to the hydrogen electrode during reuse is improved. , Humidification of hydrogen gas,
There is an effect that the circulation of the cooling water is improved and the normal operation and the high-performance operation of the fuel cell are enabled. Further, since it is not necessary to drain the water from the water tank 2 when moving or transporting, the solid polymer electrolyte membrane in the fuel cell does not dry even if left for a long time until reuse, preventing deterioration of conductivity. be able to.
Furthermore, since the backflow of water can be prevented without attaching an opening / closing valve to each of the exhaust pipe and the drain pipe, troublesome operation and high cost can be prevented.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a fuel cell device according to the present invention, in which (a) is a schematic diagram of pipe connection between a fuel cell and a water tank, (b) is a schematic diagram when tilted to the left, (C) Schematic view when tilted to the right

FIG. 2 is a top view showing an example of a water tank.

FIG. 3 is an overall view showing a system configuration of a fuel cell device.

4A and 4B show another embodiment of pipe connection between a fuel cell and a water tank, and FIG. 4A is an explanatory view showing connection of a drain pipe;
(B) is an explanatory view showing the connection of the exhaust pipe.

FIG. 5 is a cutaway side view showing the entire configuration of the fuel cell device.

6A and 6B show a conventional example, in which FIG. 6A is a schematic view of a pipe connection between a fuel cell and a water tank, and FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Fuel cell 2 ... Water tank 3 ... Exhaust pipe 4 ... Drain pipe 5 ... Hydrogen cylinder 6 ... Pressure reducing valve 7 ... Air fan 8 ... Pump 9 ... Water supply pipe 10 ... DC / AC converter 11 ... DC / DC converter 12 ... Throttle Valve 13 ... Exhaust duct 14 ... Sub-tank 15 ... Water supply pump

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A fuel cell device comprising a control unit, a battery unit, and an auxiliary unit, wherein a fuel cell of the battery unit and a water tank of the auxiliary unit are vertically arranged. A drain port and a pipe connection port provided in the left and right regions with the center portion of the fuel cell interposed therebetween, and a pipe connection port provided in the left and right region with the center portion of the water tank interposed therebetween. The fuel cell device is characterized in that the pipe connection port on the side and the pipe connection port on the water tank side are connected so as to be mutually left and right opposite regions. 2. A pipe connection port of the fuel cell is located in a front-rear region across a center portion of the fuel cell, and a pipe connection port of the water tank is also located in a front-rear region across a center portion of the water tank. The fuel cell device according to claim 1, wherein the fuel cell-side pipe connection port and the water tank-side pipe connection port are connected so as to be in mutually opposite regions.