Fuel cell module

Abstract

A fuel cell module which provides a structure of not causing gas leakage on an oxygen-containing gas flow path including a heat exchanger, and is reduced in costs. The fuel cell module comprises a power generating chamber housing a fuel cell, and an almost rectangular parallelepiped casing enclosing the power generating chamber, wherein the left and right walls and the top wall of the casing are hollow walls each forming a reaction gas flowing space by an outer shell member and an inner shell member provided in parallel with a specified gap between them, the outer shell member and the inner shell member are respectively formed in a U-shape in section, and a reaction gas introducing member is provided that suspends into the power generating chamber from the inner shell member of the top wall, communicates with the reaction gas flowing space, and introduces a reaction gas into the power generating chamber.

Description

technical field [0001] The present invention relates to a fuel cell module including a power generation chamber for accommodating a solid oxide fuel cell, and a case housing the power generation chamber. Background technique [0002] FIG. 26 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a typical example of a conventional solid oxide fuel cell module 100 (Patent Documents 1, 2, etc.). [0003] Heat exchangers 120 a and 120 b are arranged on four or two sides of a substantially rectangular parallelepiped metal casing 110 in which the power generation chamber 111 is built. In the power generation chamber 111, there are, for example, four battery packs 80 in which fuel cells are arranged in one row, reformers 71 arranged above them, and manifolds 72 to which the battery packs 80 are mounted. . The communicator 72 is a fuel gas cartridge. An oxygen-containing gas chamber 140 is disposed on the power generation chamber 111, and a plurality of oxygen-containing gas introduction p...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

[0009] In the conventional fuel cell module 100 shown in FIG. 26, the upper ends of the heat exchangers 120a, 120b and the bottom plate 142 of the oxygen-containing gas chamber 140 are joined by welding flange parts, and leakage of oxygen-containing gas easily occurs from this welded part 115.

If the oxygen-containing gas that has become high temperature through the heat exchanger leaks, not only the utilization rate of the oxygen-containing gas will decrease, but also the heat exchange efficiency and power generation efficiency will decrease due to heat loss, which will damage the high-efficiency thermal independent operation.

[0010] In addition, the casing 110 is separated up and down through the bottom plate 142 of the oxygen-containing gas chamber 140, so that not only the structure is complicated, but also the number of parts increases, and the assembly process of connecting and fixing and / or welding them also increases, and the storage cost and manufacturing cost of the parts increase.

[0011] Since there are relatively many welded parts in the housing of the conventional fuel cell module like this, the reliability of the gas seal is lowered, and there is also a problem of increasing the manufacturing cost.

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