阅读说明：本技术 吸气预热装置以及燃料电池发电系统 (Intake air preheating device and fuel cell power generation system ) 是由 公野元贵 于 2020-07-06 设计创作，主要内容包括：本实施方式的吸气预热装置具备箱体(4)、吸气口(5)、连接口(6)、空气的流路(7)、以及加热部(8)。箱体能够连接于燃料电池封装。吸气口设于箱体,从箱体的外部向箱体的内部吸入空气。连接口设于箱体,将箱体连接于燃料电池封装。空气的流路在箱体的内部设置于从吸气口至连接口。加热部配置于流路上,对空气进行加热。(The intake air preheating device of the present embodiment is provided with a box (4), an intake port (5), a connection port (6), an air flow path (7), and a heating unit (8). The tank can be connected to the fuel cell package. The air suction port is provided in the case, and sucks air from the outside of the case into the inside of the case. The connection port is provided in the case and connects the case to the fuel cell package. The air flow path is provided from the air inlet to the connection port in the casing. The heating unit is disposed on the flow path and heats the air.)

1. An intake air preheating device for a fuel cell power generation system, comprising:

a case connectable to the fuel cell package;

an air suction port provided in the case, for sucking air from outside the case into the case;

a connection port provided in the case body to connect the case body to the fuel cell package;

a flow path for the air from the air inlet to the connection port is provided in the casing; and

and a heating unit disposed in the flow path and configured to heat the air.

2. The intake air preheating apparatus according to claim 1,

the flow path is folded back at least twice inside the case, and has at least 3 rows of adjacent flow path sections, and the heating section is disposed on a flow path section on the intermediate flow side of the at least 3 rows of flow path sections.

3. The intake air preheating apparatus according to claim 2,

the heating unit heats air flowing through the flow path unit on the intermediate flow side and air flowing through another flow path unit adjacent to the flow path unit on the intermediate flow side.

4. Intake air preheating apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3,

and an opening/closing mechanism capable of opening/closing the air inlet.

5. Intake air preheating apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3,

the air suction port is arranged at a position near the upper end of the box body.

6. The intake air preheating device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising:

a bypass flow path provided from the intake port side to the connection port side in the case without passing through the heating unit; and

and a switching unit that switches which of the flow path through the heating unit and the bypass flow path the air flows through.

7. Intake air preheating apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3,

the heating portion has an electric heater.

8. Intake air preheating apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3,

the heating unit has a flow path of hot water that recovers heat generated by the power generation of the fuel cell.

9. Intake air preheating apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3,

the heating portion has a flow path for exhaust gas discharged from the fuel cell.

10. A fuel cell power generation system is provided with:

a fuel cell package; and

a gas-suction preheating device,

the intake air preheating device is provided with:

a case connectable to the fuel cell package;

an air suction port provided in the case, for sucking air from outside the case into the case;

a connection port provided in the case body to connect the case body to the fuel cell package;

a flow path for the air from the air inlet to the connection port is provided in the casing; and

and a heating unit disposed in the flow path and configured to heat the air.

Technical Field

The embodiment of the invention relates to an intake air preheating device and a fuel cell power generation system.

Background

In a fuel cell power generation system installed in a cold region where the outside air temperature is below freezing point, if the temperature of air supplied from the outside drops, equipment and piping in the fuel cell power generation system freeze, which causes a failure or damage. In order to prevent freezing of equipment and piping, an intake air preheating unit is provided in a fuel cell power generation system installed in a cold district, and the intake air preheating unit heats air supplied to the fuel cell power generation system in advance when the outside air temperature decreases.

The conventional intake air preheating unit is generally configured as follows: the air supply device is provided in a package of a fuel cell, has a flow path for air sucked from an air inlet, preheats the air passing through the flow path to a temperature at which devices and the like in the package do not freeze by a heater or the like, and supplies the preheated air to the fuel cell.

However, the conventional intake air preheating unit needs to be configured to be largely changed for a standard type fuel cell power generation system that does not require the intake air preheating unit, and thus the configuration tends to be complicated and expensive.

Documents of the prior art

Patent document

Patent document 1: japanese patent laid-open publication No. 2013-69520

Disclosure of Invention

An object of the present invention is to provide an intake air preheating device and a fuel cell power generation system that can simplify the configuration and reduce the cost by flexibly using the design of a standard type fuel cell power generation system.

The intake air preheating device of the present embodiment includes a housing, an intake port, a connection port, an air flow path, and a heating unit. The tank can be connected to the fuel cell package. The air suction port is provided in the case, and sucks air from the outside of the case into the inside of the case. The connection port is provided in the case and connects the case to the fuel cell package. The air flow path is provided from the air inlet to the connection port in the casing. The heating unit is disposed on the flow path and heats the air.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a sectional view showing an intake air preheating unit according to a first embodiment.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view showing a fuel cell power generation system of the first embodiment.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view showing an intake air preheating unit according to a second embodiment.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view showing an intake air preheating unit according to a third embodiment.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view showing an intake air preheating unit according to a fourth embodiment.

Fig. 6 is a side view showing a suction preheating unit of the fourth embodiment.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view showing an intake air preheating unit of the fifth embodiment.

Detailed Description

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The present embodiment does not limit the present invention. In the drawings referred to in the present embodiment, the same reference numerals or similar reference numerals are given to the same portions or portions having the same functions, and redundant description thereof may be omitted. For convenience of explanation, the dimensional ratios in the drawings may be different from the actual ratios, or some of the components may be omitted from the drawings.

(first embodiment)

Fig. 1 is a sectional view showing an intake air preheating unit 1 according to a first embodiment as an example of an intake air preheating device. Fig. 2 is a sectional view showing the fuel cell power generation system 2 of the first embodiment.

The intake air preheating unit 1 constitutes a fuel cell power generation system 2 together with a fuel cell package 3 shown in fig. 2, and is a device for preheating air (i.e., intake air) taken into the fuel cell package 3. The fuel cell power generation system 2 is configured as follows: the intake air preheating unit 1 can be provided by adding a slight change to the design of the standard fuel cell power generation system, based on the design of the standard fuel cell power generation system not incorporating the intake air preheating unit, as an option in the case of the cold district specification.

Specifically, as shown in fig. 1, the intake air preheating unit 1 includes a housing 4, an intake port 5, a connection port 6, an air flow path 7, and a heating unit 8.

The case 4 can be attached to the fuel cell package 3 shown in fig. 2. The intake air preheating unit 1 can be selectively installed in the fuel cell power generation system 2 when the fuel cell package 3 can be connected to the case 4 and the specification of the cold district is set.

The air inlet 5 is provided in the case 4. The air inlet 5 sucks air a from the outside of the casing 4 into the inside of the casing 4.

More specifically, as shown in fig. 1, the inlet 5 is provided at a position near the upper end of the front wall 41 of the casing 4. Since the air inlet 5 is provided in the vicinity of the upper end of the casing 4, the air inlet 5 can be prevented from being clogged with snow.

The connection port 6 is provided in the case 4. The connection port 6 connects the case 4 to the fuel cell package 3. More specifically, the connection port 6 is provided in the rear wall portion 42 of the case 4 on the opposite side to the front wall portion 41.

The flow path 7 is provided from the air inlet 5 to the connection port 6 in the casing 4. The flow path 7 flows the air a sucked from the air inlet 5 to the connection port 6, and discharges the air a from the connection port 6 to supply the air a into the fuel cell package 3.

More specifically, the flow path 7 is folded twice inside the casing 4, and has 3 rows of flow path sections 71 to 73 in which the upstream side flow path section 71, the intermediate flow path section 72, and the downstream side flow path section 73 are adjacent to each other and continuous. More specifically, the flow path 7 is configured to define 3 rows of flow path portions 71 to 73 by an upstream side flow path wall 74 extending from the upper wall portion 43 of the casing 4 toward the bottom wall portion 44 and a downstream side flow path wall 75 extending from the bottom wall portion 44 of the casing 4 toward the upper wall portion 43 on the downstream side of the upstream side flow path wall 74.

The heating unit 8 is disposed on the flow path 7. The heating unit 8 heats the air flowing through the flow path 7. In the first embodiment, the heating unit 8 is constituted by an electric heater such as a jacket heater.

More specifically, the heating unit 8 is disposed on the middle flow path section 72 among the 3 rows of flow path sections 71 to 73. By being disposed in the intermediate flow path portion 72, the heating portion 8 can efficiently heat the air while suppressing heat dissipation from the intake air preheating unit 1 to the outside. The flow path 7 is folded back twice, so that the heating portion 8 can heat not only the air flowing through the center-side flow path portion 72 but also the air flowing through the upstream-side flow path portion 71 and the downstream-side flow path portion 73 adjacent to the center-side flow path portion 72. That is, the heating unit 8 can perform self-reheating recovery.

On the other hand, as shown in fig. 2, the fuel cell package 3 has a machine chamber 31 and an electrical chamber 32 partitioned by a partition wall 30. In the machine chamber 31 are disposed: a cell stack 33 (i.e., a cell main body) that generates electric power by reacting oxygen in the air supplied from the intake air preheating unit 1 with hydrogen in the fuel supplied from a fuel supply source (not shown); a blower 34 that introduces air supplied from the intake air preheating unit 1 into the cell stack 33 through a flow path 39; and a ventilation fan 36 for exhausting the fuel leaked in the machine chamber 31 through the exhaust port 35. In addition to these devices, auxiliary devices other than the blower 34 such as a pump (not shown) are disposed in the machine chamber 31. In the electric chamber 32, electric equipment 310 such as an inverter and a control board electrically connected to the battery stack 33, and a fan 37 are disposed. In order to make the pressure in the electric chamber 32 higher than that in the machine chamber 31, the fan 37 in the electric chamber 32 is disposed near the inlet 38 of the electric chamber 32 so as to form a positive pressure in the electric chamber 32, and the ventilation fan 36 in the machine chamber 31 is disposed near the outlet 35 of the machine chamber 31 so as to form a negative pressure in the machine chamber 31. By setting the pressure in the electrical chamber 32 higher than that in the machine chamber 31, it is possible to suppress adverse effects on the electrical device 310 caused by the inflow of the fuel gas from the machine chamber 31 side to the electrical chamber 32 side.

As shown in fig. 2, the intake air preheating unit 1 configured as described above is connected to the machine room 31 and the electric room 32 one by one via the connection port 6, and thereby a fuel cell power generation system 2 of a cold district standard can be configured.

In the fuel cell power generation system 2, the low-temperature outside air a in the cold region is sucked into the case 4 through the air inlet 5, and is heated by the heating portion 8 at least to a temperature at which the inside of the fuel cell package 3 does not freeze while flowing through the upstream-side flow passage portion 71, the intermediate-side flow passage portion 72, and the downstream-side flow passage portion 73 in this order.

The air a heated by the heating unit 8 is discharged from the connection port 6 and supplied into the fuel cell package 3. More specifically, the air a heated by the heater portion 8 of one of the intake air preheating units 1 connected to the machine chamber 31 is supplied into the machine chamber 31, and the air a heated by the heater portion 8 of the other of the intake air preheating units 1 connected to the electric chamber 32 is supplied into the electric chamber 32.

A part of the air a supplied into the machine chamber 31 is introduced into the cell stack 33 by the blower 34 and used for power generation. The other part of the air a supplied into the machine room 31 is used for ventilation of the machine room 31 by the ventilation fan 36.

The air a supplied into the electrical chamber 32 is exhausted from the exhaust port 311 of the electrical chamber 32 after heating the interior of the electrical chamber 32 to a temperature at which the interior of the electrical chamber 32 does not freeze.

According to the first embodiment, the intake air preheating unit 1 is selectively connected to the fuel cell package 3 in the case of the cold district specification, so that the design of the standard type fuel cell power generation system can be flexibly applied to achieve simplification of the configuration and reduction in cost.

Even when the supply of the air a to the fuel cell package 3 is not necessary during the stop of power generation, the air a in the intake air preheating unit 1 can be heated by the heating portion 8 in the intermediate flow path portion 72, and the high-temperature air a can be efficiently stored in the intake air preheating unit 1. This can suppress the inflow of low-temperature outside air into the fuel cell package 3.

(second embodiment)

Next, a second embodiment of the opening/closing mechanism including the air inlet will be described. Fig. 3 is a sectional view showing the intake air preheating unit 1 of the second embodiment.

As shown in fig. 3, the intake air preheating unit 1 of the second embodiment includes an opening/closing mechanism 9 capable of opening/closing the intake port 5, in addition to the configuration of the first embodiment.

As shown in fig. 3, the opening/closing mechanism 9 includes a plurality of plate-like members 91 arranged adjacent to each other in the vertical direction in the inlet 5. The plate-like members 91 rotate about the respective rotation shafts 92, and the opening area of the air inlet 5 can be changed. For example, as shown by the solid line in fig. 3, the plate-like member 91 is inclined such that the outer end (the outside air side) of the plate-like member 91 is positioned below the inner end (the flow path 7 side) of the plate-like member 91, and the air inlet 5 can be opened while suppressing the intrusion of rainwater into the interior of the air intake preheating unit 1. On the other hand, as shown by the broken line in fig. 3, the plate-like members 91 are inclined more largely than in the solid line state, and the adjacent plate-like members 91 are brought into contact with or close to each other, whereby the intake port 5 can be blocked.

The plate member 91 may be rotated manually or automatically. When the plate-like member 91 is automatically rotated, for example, an actuator (not shown) for rotating the plate-like member 91 may rotate the plate-like member 9 to a position for blocking the air inlet 5 in response to receiving a signal for notifying the stop of power generation from the electrical device 310 side of the fuel cell package 3.

According to the second embodiment, when it is not necessary to supply the air a to the fuel cell package 3 during the stop of power generation, the air inlet 5 is blocked by the opening/closing mechanism 9, so that the inflow of the low-temperature outside air a into the fuel cell package 3 can be prevented.

(third embodiment)

Next, a third embodiment including a bypass flow path will be described. Fig. 4 is a sectional view showing the intake air preheating unit 1 of the third embodiment.

As shown in fig. 4, the intake air preheating unit 1 according to the third embodiment is configured to form a bypass passage 10 in addition to the configuration of the first embodiment.

The bypass flow path 10 is provided from the air inlet 5 side to the connection port 6 side in the casing 4 without passing through the heating portion 8. More specifically, in the example shown in fig. 4, the bypass flow path 10 is formed by the upstream end of the upstream side flow path portion 71 and the downstream end of the intermediate flow path portion 72.

In the third embodiment, the upstream-side flow path wall 74 includes a movable wall portion 741 as an example of a switching portion. The movable wall 741 switches between the passage 7 and the bypass passage 10 through the heating unit 8.

More specifically, as shown by the broken line in fig. 4, the movable wall portion 741 is moved to a position inclined with respect to the upstream flow path wall 74 other than the movable wall portion 741 so as to communicate the inlet 5 and the downstream flow path portion 73 by the shortest path, thereby forming the bypass flow path 10 including the upstream end of the upstream flow path portion 71 and the downstream end of the intermediate flow path portion 72. Further, an end of the upstream-side flow path wall 74 other than the movable wall portion 741 in the direction perpendicular to the paper surface in fig. 4 is fixed to the casing 4. Therefore, even if the movable wall portion 741 moves to a position where the bypass flow path 10 is formed, the upstream side flow path wall 74 does not fall.

As shown by the solid line in fig. 4, the movable wall portion 741 moves to a position in which the upstream-side flow path wall 74 is linear other than the movable wall portion 741, thereby releasing the bypass flow path 10 and separating the upstream-side flow path portion 71 from the intermediate-side flow path portion 72, as in the first embodiment.

The movable wall 741 may be moved manually or automatically. When the movable wall portion 741 is automatically moved, for example, when the outside air temperature detected by a temperature sensor (not shown) is equal to or higher than a predetermined temperature at which preheating of the air a is not necessary, an actuator (not shown) that moves the movable wall portion 741 may move the movable wall portion 741 to a position where the bypass flow path 10 is formed.

According to the third embodiment, when the ambient temperature of the fuel cell power generation system 2 is high and therefore the air a does not need to be preheated, the air a can be directly supplied to the fuel cell package 3 without preheating the air a by forming the bypass flow path 10. This makes it possible to make the passage 7 a short-cut path, and thus the pressure loss and the auxiliary power of the passage 7 can be reduced.

(fourth embodiment)

Next, a fourth embodiment in which the heating unit is a flow path of hot water will be described. Fig. 5 is a sectional view showing the intake air preheating unit 1 of the fourth embodiment. In fig. 5, the blower 34 and the electric room 32 shown in fig. 2 are not shown. Fig. 6 is a front view showing the intake air preheating unit 1 of the fourth embodiment.

The example in which the heating portion is constituted by an electric heater has been described so far. In contrast, the heating unit in the fourth embodiment is constituted by the flow path 81 of hot water in which the heat generated by the power generation of the fuel cell is recovered.

More specifically, as shown in fig. 5 and 6, the flow path 81 is a tubular flow path which is arranged to meander from the upstream end side to the downstream end side of the flow-side flow path portion 72 in a direction orthogonal to the flow direction of the air a. The upstream end and the downstream end of the flow path 81 are connected to the downstream end and the upstream end of the tubular flow path 12 disposed outside the intake air preheating unit 1, respectively.

A pump 13 for circulating water W1 through the flow paths 81 and 12 connected to each other is disposed in the flow path 12 outside the intake air preheating unit 1.

The flow path 12 outside the intake air preheating unit 1 is partially disposed inside the machine chamber 31. A heat exchanger 14 for exchanging heat with cooling water for cooling the cell stack 33 is provided in the flow path 12 inside the machine chamber 31. The cooling water heated by the power generation of the cell stack 33 passes through the cooling water flow path 13 to reach the heat exchanger 14, and exchanges heat with the water in the flow path 12 in the heat exchanger 14 to heat the water in the flow path 12. The heated water in the flow path 12 is introduced into the flow path 81 in the intake air preheating unit 1 by the pump 13, and exchanges heat with the air flowing through the flow path 7 to preheat the air.

According to the fourth embodiment, since the exhaust heat of the cell stack 33 can be used to preheat the air, the energy efficiency of the fuel cell power generation system 2 can be improved.

(fifth embodiment)

Next, a fifth embodiment in which the heating unit is a flow path of the exhaust gas will be described. Fig. 7 is a sectional view showing the intake air preheating unit 1 of the fifth embodiment.

Fig. 5 and 6 illustrate an example in which the heating unit is constituted by a hot water flow path 81 in which heat generated by power generation of the fuel cell is recovered. In contrast, the heating unit according to the fifth embodiment is configured such that the flow channel 81 shown in fig. 5 and 6 functions as a flow channel for the exhaust gas discharged from the fuel cell.

More specifically, as shown in fig. 7, the flow path 81 is connected to the flow path 15 of the exhaust gas G connected to the exhaust port 35 of the machine chamber 31. The exhaust gas G of the air electrode (cathode) having a high temperature due to the power generation of the cell stack 33 flows into the flow path 15. The high-temperature exhaust gas G flowing into the flow path 15 is introduced into the flow path 81 in the intake air preheating unit 1 through the flow path 15, and exchanges heat with the air a flowing through the flow path 7. Thereby preheating the air a.

According to the fifth embodiment, the air a can be preheated by the exhaust heat of the cell stack 33 as in the fourth embodiment, and therefore the energy efficiency of the fuel cell power generation system 2 can be improved.

While several embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments have been presented by way of example and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These embodiments can be implemented in other various manners, and various omissions, substitutions, and changes can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. These embodiments and modifications are included in the scope and gist of the invention, and are also included in the scope and equivalents of the invention described in the claims.

Description of the reference numerals

1 intake air preheating unit, 3 fuel cell package, 4 casing, 5 air inlet, 6 connecting port, 7 flow path, 8 heating part