JP6699262B2 - Fuel cell case - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a fuel cell case.

  When a fuel cell stack is mounted on a vehicle, there are some which are housed and mounted in a fuel cell case. Such a fuel cell case has a hydrogen permeation part that permeates hydrogen to the outside of the fuel cell case in order to reduce the hydrogen concentration in the fuel cell case when hydrogen leaks from the fuel cell stack. It is known (Patent Document 1).

JP 2002-366647 A

  In the fuel cell case of Patent Document 1, the hydrogen permeation part is arranged on the upper side in the gravity direction of the fuel cell case. When attempting to arrange the fuel cell stack and the converter in a space limited in the horizontal direction, it is considered to arrange the converter on the upper side in the gravity direction of the fuel cell stack and to house the fuel cell stack and the converter in the fuel cell case. Be done. However, in such a fuel cell case, since the converter is arranged on the upper side in the gravity direction of the fuel cell stack, it is only necessary to dispose the hydrogen permeable part on the upper side in the gravity direction of the fuel cell case. It is possible that the hydrogen concentration cannot be reduced efficiently. Therefore, in a fuel cell case containing a fuel cell stack and a converter, there is a demand for an arrangement of a hydrogen permeation part that can efficiently reduce the hydrogen concentration in the fuel cell case when hydrogen leaks from the fuel cell stack. Was there.

  The present invention has been made to solve at least a part of the problems described above, and can be realized as the following modes.

  (1) According to one aspect of the present invention, a fuel cell case is provided. This fuel cell case accommodates a fuel cell stack having a plurality of stacked single cells, and a converter arranged on the upper side in the gravity direction of the fuel cell stack and capable of controlling the voltage output from the fuel cell stack. A fuel cell case mounted on a vehicle, wherein the fuel cell case has a first surface on one side in a stacking direction of the unit cells among the surfaces forming the fuel cell case, The case is mounted on the vehicle in a state of being inclined in the direction of gravity from the front-rear direction of the vehicle so as to be positioned on the upper side in the direction of gravity of the second surface on the other side of the stacking direction of the unit cells, A first hydrogen-permeable portion formed at a position facing the end portion of the fuel cell stack on the one side on the first surface and permeable to hydrogen; and a first hydrogen-permeable portion on the first surface. And a second hydrogen permeable portion that is formed on the upper side in the gravity direction and is permeable to hydrogen, and is formed on the second surface on the upper side in the gravity direction from a position facing the end of the fuel cell stack on the other side. , A third hydrogen permeable portion that is permeable to hydrogen. According to such an aspect, since hydrogen is lighter than air, it tends to collect on the upper side in the direction of gravity inside the fuel cell case, so that the second hydrogen permeable portion and the third hydrogen permeable portion efficiently Can ventilate. Also, depending on the internal structure of the fuel cell case, the hydrogen leaked from the fuel cell stack does not rise to the space inside the fuel cell case where the converter is housed, and the fuel cell stack inside the fuel cell case does not rise. Some stay in the space where it is housed. In the fuel cell case of the present invention mounted on a vehicle such that the first surface is positioned above the second surface in the direction of gravity, such hydrogen is stored in the fuel cell stack inside the fuel cell case. Of the existing space, it is easy to gather around the first surface. Therefore, efficient ventilation can be provided by the first hydrogen-permeable portion formed on the first surface. By arranging the first hydrogen permeable portion, the second hydrogen permeable portion, and the third hydrogen permeable portion in the present invention, hydrogen leaks from the fuel cell stack in the fuel cell case containing the fuel cell stack and the converter. In this case, the hydrogen concentration in the fuel cell case can be efficiently reduced.

  The embodiment of the present invention is not limited to the fuel cell case, but may be applied to various embodiments such as a ventilation device for the fuel cell case and a ventilation method for the fuel cell stack. In addition, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and it goes without saying that the present invention can be implemented in various forms without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

It is an explanatory view showing a fuel cell case in an embodiment of the present invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the outline of the vehicle provided with the fuel cell case.

A. First embodiment:
FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a fuel cell case 300 according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, XYZ axes that are orthogonal to each other are illustrated. The XYZ axes in FIG. 1 correspond to the XYZ axes in the other figures. The fuel cell case 300 is mounted on a vehicle as a power source for a motor. The fuel cell case 300 is a rectangular parallelepiped member that houses the fuel cell stack 100 and the converter 200.

  The fuel cell stack 100 is arranged on the − side of the converter 200 in the Z-axis direction. The fuel cell stack 100 has a plurality of unit cells 110 that generate electricity by an electrochemical reaction of a reaction gas. The unit cells 110 are fastened while being applied with a compressive load in a state of being stacked in the stacking direction D. In the present embodiment, the stacking direction D of the single cells 110 is the X-axis direction. In the present embodiment, the fuel cell stack 100 receives supply of hydrogen gas and air and generates electricity by an electrochemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen.

  The converter 200 is arranged on the + side of the fuel cell stack 100 in the Z-axis direction, and is electrically connected to the fuel cell stack 100. The converter 200 can control the voltage output from the fuel cell stack 100.

  The fuel cell case 300 houses the fuel cell stack 100 and the converter 200. The fuel cell case 300 has a first surface 310 and a second surface 320.

  The first surface 310 is a surface on the − side in the X-axis direction among the surfaces forming the fuel cell case 300. The second surface 320 is a surface on the + side in the X-axis direction among the surfaces forming the fuel cell case 300.

  The first surface 310 has a first hydrogen permeable portion 330a and a second hydrogen permeable portion 330b. The second surface 320 has a third hydrogen permeable portion 330c. In the following description, reference numeral "330" will be used to collectively refer to each of the three hydrogen permeable parts.

  The hydrogen permeation part 330 can permeate hydrogen. In the present embodiment, the hydrogen permeable portion 330 has a configuration in which a hydrogen permeable film is provided inside the through hole. The hydrogen permeable membrane is formed of a hardly water permeable material that allows gases such as hydrogen and air to pass therethrough and hardly allows liquid water to pass therethrough.

  The first hydrogen permeable portion 330a is a position facing the end of the first surface 310 on the − side in the X-axis direction of the fuel cell stack 100, and is Y compared to the second hydrogen permeable portion 330b. It is formed at a position closer to the + side in the axial direction.

  “The first hydrogen-permeable portion 330a is formed at a position on the first surface 310 that faces the end of the fuel cell stack 100 on the − side in the X-axis direction”, that is, the first hydrogen-permeable portion 330a. Is projected from the − side in the X-axis direction, at least a part of the first hydrogen permeation part 330a is projected on the surface of the end portion on the − side in the X-axis direction of the fuel cell stack 100.

  The second hydrogen permeable portion 330b is on the first surface 310 at a position on the + side in the Z-axis direction with respect to the first hydrogen permeable portion 330a, and compared with the first hydrogen permeable portion 330a, Y It is formed at a position closer to the center in the axial direction.

  The third hydrogen permeation part 330c is on the + side in the Z axis direction from the position facing the end on the + side in the X axis direction of the fuel cell stack 100 on the second surface 320, and in the Y axis direction. It is formed near the center.

  FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing an outline of a vehicle 400 including the fuel cell case 300. In FIG. 2, in order to facilitate understanding, the hydrogen permeation part 330 is shown to be seen from the − side in the Y axis direction. Vehicle 400 is an electric vehicle driven by a motor. The front of the vehicle 400 faces a direction F inclined from the − side in the X-axis direction to the − side in the Z-axis direction. The Z axis in the XYZ axes of FIG. 2 is an axis inclined from the coordinate axis G extending from the lower side to the upper side in the gravity direction to the − side in the X axis direction. A space for mounting the fuel cell case 300 in the vehicle 400 is an internal region R of the vehicle 400 on the − side in the Z-axis direction from the hood 410 in front of the vehicle 400.

  The fuel cell case 300 is mounted on the vehicle 400 in a state of being inclined in the gravity direction from the front-rear direction of the vehicle 400 such that the first surface 310 is located above the second surface 320 in the gravity direction. The state in which "the first surface 310 is located above the second surface 320 in the direction of gravity" means that the end on the + side of the first surface 310 in the Z-axis direction is in the Z-axis direction of the second surface 320. It is a state of being positioned on the upper side in the direction of gravity from the end portion on the + side of.

  According to the embodiment described above, since hydrogen is lighter than air, it tends to collect upward in the gravity direction inside the fuel cell case 300. Therefore, when hydrogen leaks from the fuel cell stack 100, the hydrogen leaks in the Z-axis direction. Hydrogen can be efficiently ventilated by the 2nd hydrogen permeation|transmission part 330b and the 3rd hydrogen permeation|transmission part 330c formed in the position of + side of.

  Further, when hydrogen leaks from the fuel cell stack 100, the fuel cell stack 100 is housed inside the fuel cell case 300 without rising to the space where the converter 200 is housed inside the fuel cell case 300. May stay in the space where it is. For example, by accommodating the fuel cell stack 100 and the converter 200 in the fuel cell case 300, the internal structure of the fuel cell case 300 becomes complicated, so that the space inside the fuel cell case 300 in which the converter 200 is accommodated It is possible that hydrogen cannot rise. In such a case, in the fuel cell case 300 mounted on the vehicle 400 so that the first surface 310 is located above the second surface 320 in the direction of gravity, the fuel cell stack 100 is housed inside the fuel cell case 300. Of the space formed, it is easy to gather around the first surface 310. Therefore, efficient ventilation can be performed by the first hydrogen permeation portion 330a formed on the first surface 310.

  By arranging the hydrogen permeable portion 330 in the above-described embodiment, in the fuel cell case 300 accommodating the fuel cell stack 100 and the converter 200, when hydrogen leaks from the fuel cell stack 100, the hydrogen in the fuel cell case 300 The concentration can be efficiently reduced.

  Further, when the fuel cell stack and the converter are arranged in the inner region R under the condition that the length of the vehicle 400 in the front-rear direction in the inner region R is limited, the fuel cell stack and the converter are arranged in the front and rear of the vehicle 400. In the fuel cell case 300, the converter 200 is arranged on the upper side of the fuel cell stack 100 in the gravitational direction, so that the fuel cell case 300 can be arranged in the inner region R more easily than in the case where the converters are arranged in the direction.

  Further, when the vehicle 400 collides from the direction F, the fuel cell case 300 has a + side in the Z axis direction from the direction F as compared with a configuration in which a fuel cell in which the stacking direction of the single cells is the Y axis direction is mounted. Since the single cells 110 are stacked in the stacking direction D which is the direction inclined to, the damage in the single cells 110 can be suppressed.

  Further, in the vehicle 400, when the discharge port of the generated water generated by the power generation in the fuel cell stack 100 is provided in the rear direction of the vehicle 400, when the vehicle 400 is traveling downhill, the generated water is generated by the vehicle. Since the water tends to collect in the forward direction of 400, the generated water cannot be sufficiently discharged. However, in the fuel cell case 300, the first surface 310 is mounted in the vehicle 400 in a state of being inclined in the gravity direction from the front-rear direction of the vehicle 400 such that the first surface 310 is located above the second surface 320 in the gravity direction. Therefore, the generated water generated by the power generation in the fuel cell stack 100 easily flows to the rear side of the vehicle 400, so that the generated water can be efficiently discharged.

B. Modification:
In the first embodiment, the hydrogen permeable portion 330 has a configuration in which the hydrogen permeable film is provided inside the through hole, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the hydrogen permeable portion 330 may have a configuration in which a cylindrical frame body having a hydrogen permeable film is fitted inside the through hole.

  In the first embodiment, the first hydrogen permeable portion 330a is formed at a position closer to the + side in the Y axis direction, and the second hydrogen permeable portion 330b is formed at a position closer to the center in the Y axis direction. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The first hydrogen permeable portion 330a and the second hydrogen permeable portion 330b are respectively formed at any one of a position on the + side, a position on the − side, and a position on the center in the Y-axis direction. May be.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, examples, and modified examples, and can be realized with various configurations without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, technical features in the embodiments, examples, and modified examples corresponding to the technical features in each mode described in the section of the outline of the invention are to solve some or all of the above problems, or In order to achieve a part or all of the above effects, it is possible to appropriately replace or combine them. If the technical features are not described as essential in this specification, they can be deleted as appropriate.

100... Fuel cell stack 110... Single cell 200... Converter 300... Fuel cell case 310... First surface 320... Second surface 330... Hydrogen permeable part 330a... First hydrogen permeable part 330b... Second hydrogen permeable part 330c... 3rd hydrogen permeable part 400... Vehicle 410... Hood D... Stacking direction F... Direction G... Coordinate axis R... Internal region

Claims (1)

A fuel cell stack having a plurality of stacked single cells, and a converter arranged on the upper side in the gravity direction of the fuel cell stack and capable of controlling the voltage output from the fuel cell stack are housed and mounted on a vehicle. A fuel cell case,
In the fuel cell case, a first surface on one side in the stacking direction of the unit cells among the surfaces forming the fuel cell case is a stacking direction of the unit cells in the surface forming the fuel cell case. Is mounted on the vehicle in a state of being inclined in the direction of gravity from the front-rear direction of the vehicle so as to be positioned above the second surface on the other side of the direction of gravity,
A first hydrogen-permeable portion formed at a position facing the end portion of the fuel cell stack on the one side on the first surface, and capable of transmitting hydrogen;
A second hydrogen permeable portion which is formed on the first surface above the first hydrogen permeable portion in the direction of gravity and is permeable to hydrogen;
A fuel cell case, comprising a third hydrogen permeable portion formed on the second surface on the other side and facing the end portion of the fuel cell stack on the upper side in the direction of gravity, the hydrogen permeable portion.

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