Solid oxide fuel cell power module

By employing a double-layer encapsulation container and heat box in the solid oxide fuel cell, an insulation structure is formed, which solves the problem of uneven temperature in the fuel cell stack and achieves stable operation and efficient thermal management of the fuel cell stack.

CN119627168BActive Publication Date: 2026-05-19TSINGHUA UNIVERSITY
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Patent Information

Authority / Receiving Office
CN · China
Patent Type
Patents(China)
Current Assignee / Owner
TSINGHUA UNIVERSITY
Filing Date
2024-11-26
Publication Date
2026-05-19

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

In solid oxide fuel cells, thermal stress and temperature difference caused by uneven temperature inside the stack at high temperatures affect the stability and lifespan of the fuel cell.

Method used

The solid oxide fuel cell power generation module adopts a double-layer structure, including an encapsulation container and a heat box, forming a double-layer insulation structure, extending the heat transfer path, reducing the global temperature difference, and ensuring the temperature uniformity of the fuel cell stack.

Benefits of technology

It effectively reduces heat loss and temperature difference in the battery stack, improves the stability and durability of the battery stack, and ensures stable operation of the battery stack at high temperatures.

✦ Generated by Eureka AI based on patent content.

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Abstract

The application provides a solid oxide fuel cell power generation module, and relates to the technical field of fuel cells, which comprises a packaging container, a cell stack, an anode gas inlet pipe, a cathode gas inlet pipe, a gas outlet pipe and a heat box, the packaging container has a containing cavity for containing the cell stack; the anode gas inlet pipe and the cathode gas inlet pipe are both communicated with the cell stack, the anode gas inlet pipe is used for feeding fuel gas into the cell stack, the cathode gas inlet pipe is used for feeding oxidant gas into the cell stack, so that the fuel and the oxidant can have an electrochemical reaction in the cell stack, the gas outlet pipe is communicated with the cell stack and is used for discharging tail gas after the electrochemical reaction; the heat box has a sealed cavity for containing the packaging container, at least part of the anode gas inlet pipe, at least part of the cathode gas inlet pipe and at least part of the gas outlet pipe are all located outside the heat box. The application has a double-layer structure, can ensure the uniformity of the temperature of the cell stack, reduce heat loss and global temperature difference, and enable the cell stack to operate stably.
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Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of fuel cell technology, and more particularly to a solid oxide fuel cell power generation module. Background Technology

[0002] Solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) are a clean energy power generation technology that typically reacts hydrogen, hydrocarbon fuels, or other fuels with an oxidant to achieve a highly efficient conversion of chemical energy into electrical energy. SOFCs generally operate at temperatures above 600°C, higher than other types of fuel cells. Therefore, temperature and other characteristics play a crucial role in the operation and lifespan of SOFCs. Specifically, temperature changes directly affect the output power of SOFCs, and higher operating temperatures can significantly improve battery performance, but also carry the risk of material degradation and efficiency reduction.

[0003] In related technologies, the non-uniformity of temperature inside the battery stack at high temperatures is a significant factor affecting battery stability and lifespan. Excessive temperature gradients and inlet / outlet temperature differences can generate significant thermal stress inside the battery, potentially leading to localized cracks or serious malfunctions, thereby reducing stack performance and durability, and even causing thermal runaway. Therefore, it is essential to reduce the global temperature difference and local temperature gradient within the battery to maintain the stable and efficient operation of the battery stack. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The present invention aims to at least partially solve one of the technical problems in the related art.

[0005] To address this, embodiments of the present invention propose a solid oxide fuel cell power generation module with a double-layer structure, which ensures the uniformity of the battery stack temperature, reduces heat loss and global temperature difference, and enables the battery stack to operate stably.

[0006] A solid oxide fuel cell power generation module according to an embodiment of the present invention includes an encapsulation container, a battery stack, an anode inlet pipe, a cathode inlet pipe, an outlet pipe, and a heat box. The encapsulation container has a receiving cavity for accommodating the battery stack. The battery stack includes a plurality of single cells stacked layer by layer and connected in series along the height direction of the encapsulation container, and the thickness direction of the single cell is consistent with the height direction of the encapsulation container. The anode inlet pipe and the cathode inlet pipe are both connected to the battery stack. The anode inlet pipe is used to introduce a fuel gas flow into the battery stack, and the cathode inlet pipe is used to introduce an oxidant gas flow into the battery stack, so that the fuel and oxidant undergo an electrochemical reaction inside the battery stack. The outlet pipe is connected to the battery stack and is used to discharge the exhaust gas after the electrochemical reaction. The heat box has a sealed cavity for accommodating the encapsulation container, and at least a portion of the anode inlet pipe, at least a portion of the cathode inlet pipe, and at least a portion of the outlet pipe are all located outside the heat box.

[0007] According to an embodiment of the solid oxide fuel cell power generation module of the present invention, the containment cavity of the encapsulation container provides a first sealed environment for the electrochemical reaction of the fuel cell stack, while the heat box seals the entire encapsulation container in a second sealed environment, i.e., within the sealed cavity. This forms a double-layer insulation structure on the outside of the fuel cell stack, allowing fuel to be introduced into the fuel cell stack through the anode inlet pipe and oxidant to be introduced into the fuel cell stack through the cathode inlet pipe. After the fuel and oxidant undergo an electrochemical reaction inside the fuel cell stack, the heat generated by the fuel cell stack needs to be transferred to the external environment sequentially through the containment cavity and the sealed cavity. This not only extends the heat transfer path and makes it less prone to rapid heat dissipation, thus providing insulation for the fuel cell stack, but also effectively reduces the overall temperature difference of the fuel cell stack located in this thermal environment. Therefore, compared with related technologies, the present invention has a double-layer structure, which can ensure the temperature uniformity of the fuel cell stack, reduce heat loss and global temperature difference, and enable the fuel cell stack to operate stably.

[0008] In some embodiments, the inner peripheral wall of the sealed cavity is provided with a heat-insulating coating.

[0009] In some embodiments, the heat insulation coating is a ceramic microsphere high-temperature heat insulation coating.

[0010] In some embodiments, the heat box includes a locking member and a plurality of insulation plates, the plurality of insulation plates surrounding and forming the sealed cavity, and any two adjacent insulation plates are locked together by the locking member.

[0011] In some embodiments, in any two adjacent insulation boards, one insulation board has a first contact surface and the other insulation board has a second contact surface. The first contact surface and the second contact surface cooperate to form a joint. The joint can be one of a stepped joint, a sawtooth joint, and a wavy joint.

[0012] In some embodiments, the thickness of the insulation board is a, where 40 ≤ a ≤ 80 mm.

[0013] In some embodiments, the power generation module further includes a preheater mounted at the bottom of the encapsulation container and located within the sealed cavity, with at least a portion of the cathode inlet pipe located within the preheater and adapted to be preheated by the preheater.

[0014] In some embodiments, the cathodes of all the single cells are connected to the accommodating cavity so that the high-temperature cathode exhaust gas after the electrochemical reaction can directly enter the accommodating cavity.

[0015] In some embodiments, the outlet pipe includes an anode outlet pipe and a cathode outlet pipe. The anode outlet pipe is connected to the battery stack and is used to discharge the anode tail gas after the electrochemical reaction. The accommodating cavity, the preheater, and the cathode outlet pipe are connected in sequence to allow the high-temperature cathode tail gas after the electrochemical reaction to be introduced into the preheater to preheat the cathode inlet pipe. At least a portion of the cathode outlet pipe is located outside the preheater.

[0016] In some embodiments, the preheater has a mounting cavity, and the cathode inlet pipe includes a first section, a heat exchange coil section, and a second section connected in sequence. At least a portion of the first section is located outside the preheater, the heat exchange coil section is located in the mounting cavity, and the end of the second section opposite to the heat exchange coil section is connected to the battery stack.

[0017] In some embodiments, at least a portion of the second segment is located in the accommodating cavity and extends in a direction from the bottom to the top of the encapsulation container, so that the second segment exchanges heat with the high-temperature cathode exhaust gas within the accommodating cavity.

[0018] In some embodiments, the anode inlet pipe and the anode outlet pipe are arranged at intervals on the top of the battery stack, and at least a portion of the anode inlet pipe and at least a portion of the anode outlet pipe are located outside the packaging container;

[0019] The bottom of the battery stack is spaced apart from the inner bottom wall of the accommodating cavity and the two are connected by a first support.

[0020] In some embodiments, the first support includes a connected metal base plate and a support column. The metal base plate is connected to the bottom of the battery stack and has a through hole to reduce the contact area between the metal base plate and the bottom of the battery stack. The end of the support column facing away from the metal base plate is connected to the inner bottom wall of the accommodating cavity.

[0021] In some embodiments, at least one of the anode inlet pipe and the cathode inlet pipe is provided with a pressurizing device for pressurizing the fuel gas flow or oxidant gas flow so that the battery stack can operate at a set pressure.

[0022] In some embodiments, the set pressure is P, where 1 ≤ P ≤ 3 bar.

[0023] In some embodiments, the power generation module further includes a heating tube that extends spirally along the height direction of the encapsulation container and surrounds the outer peripheral wall of the encapsulation container. The heating tube is located in the sealed cavity and is used to heat the accommodating cavity.

[0024] In some embodiments, the power generation module further includes a second support, which is installed at the bottom of the heat box, and a heat insulation layer is provided between the second support and the bottom of the heat box.

[0025] In some embodiments, the heat insulation layer is a nanoporous heat insulation layer, or the heat insulation layer is a nanoporous heat insulation board.

[0026] In some embodiments, the power generation module further includes a first temperature sensor, which is installed in the sealed cavity and located adjacent to the battery stack to monitor the temperature of the battery stack.

[0027] In some embodiments, at least one of the anode inlet pipe and the cathode inlet pipe is provided with a second temperature sensor.

[0028] In some embodiments, the power generation module further includes a first test terminal and a second test terminal, the first test terminal being electrically connected to the anode of the battery stack, and the second test terminal being electrically connected to the cathode of the battery stack. At least a portion of the first test terminal and at least a portion of the second test terminal are located outside the heat box, and both the first test terminal and the second test terminal are adapted to be electrically connected to an electrochemical workstation to test the performance parameters of the battery stack.

[0029] Additional aspects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. Attached Figure Description

[0030] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a solid oxide fuel cell power generation module according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0031] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the connection structure of the encapsulation container, battery stack, and preheater in a solid oxide fuel cell power generation module according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0032] Reference numerals: 1. Encapsulation container; 11. Receptacle; 2. Battery stack; 21. Single cell; 3. Anode inlet pipe; 4. Cathode inlet pipe; 41. First section; 42. Heat exchange coil section; 43. Second section; 5. Outlet pipe; 51. Anode outlet pipe; 52. Cathode outlet pipe; 6. Heat box; 61. Locking element; 62. Insulation board; 63. Seam; 7. Preheater; 71. Mounting cavity; 8. First support; 81. Metal base plate; 82. Support column; 9. Heating tube; 91. First test end; 92. Second test end. Detailed Implementation

[0033] Embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. The embodiments described below with reference to the accompanying drawings are exemplary and intended to explain the present invention, and should not be construed as limiting the present invention.

[0034] like Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, a solid oxide fuel cell power generation module according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a packaging container 1, a battery stack 2, an anode inlet pipe 3, a cathode inlet pipe 4, an outlet pipe 5, and a heat box 6. The packaging container 1 has a receiving cavity 11 for accommodating the battery stack 2. The battery stack 2 includes a plurality of single cells 21 stacked layer by layer and connected in series along the height direction of the packaging container 1. The thickness direction of the single cell 21 is consistent with the height direction of the packaging container 1. The anode inlet pipe 3 and the cathode inlet pipe 4 are both connected to the battery stack 2. The anode inlet pipe 3 is used to supply air to the battery stack 2. The fuel gas flow and the cathode inlet pipe 4 are used to introduce an oxidant gas flow into the battery stack 2 so that the fuel and oxidant can undergo an electrochemical reaction inside the battery stack 2. The outlet pipe 5 is connected to the battery stack 2 and is used to discharge the exhaust gas after the electrochemical reaction. The hot box 6 has a sealed cavity for accommodating the encapsulation container 1. At least a portion of the anode inlet pipe 3, at least a portion of the cathode inlet pipe 4 and at least a portion of the outlet pipe 5 are all located outside the hot box 6, that is, at least a portion of the anode inlet pipe 3, at least a portion of the cathode inlet pipe 4 and at least a portion of the outlet pipe 5 all extend out of the hot box 6.

[0035] It is understood that, in the solid oxide fuel cell power generation module of the present invention, the containment cavity 11 of the encapsulation container 1 provides a first layer of sealed environment for the electrochemical reaction of the battery stack 2, while the heat box 6 seals the entire encapsulation container 1 in a second layer of sealed environment, that is, in the sealed cavity. This forms a double-layer heat preservation structure on the outside of the battery stack 2, allowing fuel to be introduced into the battery stack 2 through the anode inlet pipe 3 and oxidant to be introduced into the battery stack 2 through the cathode inlet pipe 4. After the fuel and oxidant undergo an electrochemical reaction inside the battery stack 2, the heat generated by the battery stack 2 needs to be transferred to the external environment through the containment cavity 11 and the sealed cavity in sequence. This not only extends the heat transfer path and makes it less prone to rapid heat dissipation, thus providing heat preservation for the battery stack 2, but also effectively reduces the overall temperature difference of the battery stack 2, which is located in this thermal environment. Therefore, compared with related technologies, the present invention has a double-layer structure, which can ensure the temperature uniformity of the battery stack 2, reduce heat loss and global temperature difference, and enable the battery stack 2 to operate stably.

[0036] Specifically, the height direction of the encapsulation container 1 and the thickness direction of the single cell 21 can both be the vertical direction shown in the figure. The accommodating cavity 11 can extend in the vertical direction. The specific structure and working principle of the battery stack 2 can adopt the existing technology in this field, and will not be described in detail here. The fuel can be reformed gas or pure hydrogen, wherein the reformed gas can be a gas containing H2, H2O, CO, and CO2, which can be obtained by passing a mixture of alkane fuel and water vapor through a reformer, and can specifically adopt the existing technology in this field. The oxidant can be air or pure oxygen. Each of the anode inlet pipe 3, cathode inlet pipe 4, and outlet pipe 5 can be sealed by welding at the outlet hole of the encapsulation container 1 (that is, the junction where the aforementioned components pass through the encapsulation container 1).

[0037] It should be noted that the battery stack 2 in this invention can be a solid oxide fuel cell, which uses hydrocarbon fuel to generate electricity and heat through electrochemical reaction, and has the advantages of high energy conversion efficiency and flexible fuel.

[0038] In some embodiments, the inner peripheral wall of the sealed cavity is provided with a heat-insulating coating (not shown in the figure) to reduce heat loss of the sealed cavity caused by heat radiation, thereby further improving the temperature uniformity of the battery stack 2.

[0039] Furthermore, the heat insulation coating is not limited to a high-temperature heat insulation coating of ceramic microspheres.

[0040] like Figure 1 As shown, in some embodiments, the hot box 6 includes a locking member 61 and a plurality of insulation plates 62, the plurality of insulation plates 62 surrounding the formed sealed cavity, and any two adjacent insulation plates 62 are locked together by the locking member 61.

[0041] Understandably, the locking element 61 and multiple insulation plates 62 work together to form the structure of the heat box 6, which is easy to disassemble and maintain, and can ensure the insulation performance of the encapsulated container 1.

[0042] Specifically, the locking element 61 may not be limited to using straps and clamps, etc., so that it can be removed after the power generation module has finished operating or during maintenance. The insulation board 62 may be six, for example, and the six insulation boards 62 are assembled into a cuboid heat box 6 to simplify the structure of the heat box 6 and reduce the difficulty of processing.

[0043] like Figure 1 As shown, in some embodiments, in any two adjacent insulation boards 62, one insulation board 62 has a first contact surface and the other insulation board 62 has a second contact surface. The first contact surface and the second contact surface cooperate to form a joint 63, which is the connection point of any two adjacent insulation boards 62. The joint 63 can be one of a stepped joint 63, a sawtooth joint 63, and a wavy joint 63.

[0044] Understandably, using stepped joints 63, serrated joints 63, or wavy joints 63 can increase the contact area between any two adjacent insulation boards 62 at the joint 63, further improving the sealing performance of the sealed cavity, reducing the risk of gas leakage, and also reducing heat loss.

[0045] Specifically, both the first contact surface and the second contact surface can be located at the edge of the insulation board 62 and extend along the length of the insulation board 62.

[0046] Furthermore, the thickness of the insulation board 62 is a, where 40≤a≤80mm. The thickness of the insulation board 62 can be, for example, 40mm, 50mm, 60mm, 70mm, 80mm, etc., but is not limited to the listed values. Other unlisted values ​​within this range are also applicable.

[0047] It should be noted that the battery stack 2 is located at the highest temperature point in the entire power generation module. The key to the power generation module's performance lies in insulating the battery stack 2. Therefore, when the required temperature of the outer wall of the heat box 6 is not too low, the insulation plate 62 can be slightly thinner. However, when the required temperature of the outer wall of the heat box 6 is only slightly above room temperature, a thicker insulation plate 62 is needed to ensure adequate insulation. Furthermore, the operating temperature of the battery stack 2 is generally between 700℃ and 800℃.

[0048] like Figure 2 As shown, in some embodiments, the power generation module further includes a preheater 7, which is installed at the bottom of the encapsulation container 1 and located within a sealed cavity, and at least a portion of the cathode inlet pipe 4 is located in the preheater 7 and is adapted to be preheated by the preheater 7.

[0049] It is understood that the preheater 7 integrated at the bottom of the encapsulation container 1 can preheat the oxidant in the cathode inlet pipe 4. Since the gas flow rate on the cathode side is much greater than that on the anode side, preheating the cathode inlet pipe 4 can increase the inlet temperature and minimize the temperature difference between the inlet and outlet of the battery stack 2. At the same time, the preheater 7 is integrated at the bottom of the encapsulation container 1, which not only makes the power generation module structure compact, but also further utilizes the heat dissipation at the bottom of the battery stack 2. Compared with related technologies, the present invention can preheat the cathode inlet gas to reduce the temperature difference between the inlet and outlet of the battery stack 2, avoid excessively high temperature gradients inside the battery stack 2, and maintain the stable operation of the battery stack 2.

[0050] like Figure 2 As shown, in some embodiments, the cathodes of all individual cells 21 are connected to the containment cavity 11, that is, the cathodes of the battery stack 2 adopt an open design so that the high-temperature cathode exhaust gas after the electrochemical reaction can directly enter the containment cavity 11, thereby making the gas flow more direct and efficient, enhancing convective heat transfer, reducing the internal temperature difference, ensuring the uniformity of temperature distribution, and reducing the pressure drop on the cathode side. Since the gas flow rate on the cathode side is much greater than the gas flow rate on the anode side, the pressure loss of the present invention is lower than that of related technologies.

[0051] It should be noted that, normally, in the battery stack 2, the cathode gas is distributed to the individual cells 21 in different layers to participate in the reaction. After the reaction is completed, the cathode exhaust gas of all the individual cells 21 is collected and discharged through the cathode exhaust pipe. However, in this invention, the cathode of the battery stack 2 adopts an open design, which directly exposes the cathode outlet of the individual cell 21, so that the cathode exhaust gas directly enters the containment cavity 11 of the encapsulation container 1 from the individual cell 21.

[0052] like Figure 2 As shown, in some embodiments, the exhaust pipe 5 includes an anode exhaust pipe 51 and a cathode exhaust pipe 52. The anode exhaust pipe 51 is connected to the battery stack 2 and is used to discharge the anode exhaust gas after the electrochemical reaction. The accommodating cavity 11, the preheater 7, and the cathode exhaust pipe 52 are connected in sequence to allow the high-temperature cathode exhaust gas after the electrochemical reaction to be introduced into the preheater 7 to preheat the cathode inlet pipe 4. At least a portion of the cathode exhaust pipe 52 is located outside the preheater 7. Both the anode exhaust gas and the cathode exhaust gas discharged from the power generation module can be further utilized as waste heat in subsequent heat exchange components (such as burners).

[0053] Understandably, by passing the high-temperature cathode exhaust gas into the preheater 7 to preheat the cathode inlet pipe 4, the inlet temperature can be made closer to the outlet temperature, reducing the temperature difference between the inlet and outlet of the battery stack 2, further realizing the utilization of waste heat and improving energy utilization efficiency.

[0054] like Figure 2As shown, in some embodiments, the preheater 7 has a mounting cavity 71, and the cathode inlet pipe 4 includes a first section 41, a heat exchange coil section 42, and a second section 43 connected in sequence. At least a portion of the first section 41 is located outside the preheater 7, the heat exchange coil section 42 is located in the mounting cavity 71, and the end of the second section 43 away from the heat exchange coil section 42 is connected to the battery stack 2. The heat exchange coil structure increases the heat exchange area of ​​the cathode inlet pipe 4, which is beneficial for efficient heating and temperature rise of the cathode inlet pipe 4.

[0055] Specifically, the mounting cavity 71 can be connected to the receiving cavity 11 to allow the high-temperature cathode exhaust gas in the receiving cavity 11 to enter the mounting cavity 71. The high-temperature cathode exhaust gas interacts with the heat exchange coil and is turbulent, further enhancing the heat transfer coefficient and improving the preheating performance of the preheater 7 for the cathode inlet pipe 4. For example, an inlet pipe can be provided at the top of the outer wall of the preheater 7, extending in the vertical direction (i.e., along the extension direction of the receiving cavity 11), so that the top of the inlet pipe is connected to the receiving cavity 11 and the bottom is connected to the mounting cavity 71, realizing the connection between the mounting cavity 71 and the receiving cavity 11.

[0056] like Figure 2 As shown, in some embodiments, at least a portion of the second segment 43 is located in the accommodating cavity 11 and extends in a direction from the bottom to the top of the encapsulation container 1, so that the second segment 43 exchanges heat with the high-temperature cathode tail gas in the accommodating cavity 11, that is, heat transfer occurs, thereby further making full use of the heat generated by the battery stack 2 and ensuring the preheating effect of the cathode gas (i.e. oxidant) in the cathode inlet pipe 4.

[0057] like Figure 2 As shown, in some embodiments, the anode inlet pipe 3 and the anode outlet pipe 51 are arranged at intervals on the top of the battery stack 2, and at least a portion of the anode inlet pipe 3 and at least a portion of the anode outlet pipe 51 are located outside the encapsulation container 1.

[0058] The bottom of the battery stack 2 is spaced apart from the inner bottom wall of the accommodating cavity 11 and the two are connected by the first support 8 to avoid the bottom of the battery stack 2 directly contacting the inner bottom wall of the accommodating cavity 11, thus preventing the problem of inconsistent overall temperature of the battery stack 2 due to excessive heat dissipation at the bottom of the battery stack 2.

[0059] like Figure 2 As shown, in some embodiments, the first support 8 includes a connected metal base plate 81 and a support column 82. The metal base plate 81 is connected to the bottom of the battery stack 2 and has a through hole to minimize the contact area between the metal base plate 81 and the bottom of the battery stack 2 while ensuring sufficient support strength for the battery stack 2, thereby reducing heat dissipation problems caused by heat transfer. The end of the support column 82 facing away from the metal base plate 81 is connected to the inner bottom wall of the accommodating cavity 11.

[0060] In some embodiments, at least one of the anode inlet pipe 3 and the cathode inlet pipe 4 is provided with a pressurizing device (not shown in the figure), which is used to pressurize the fuel gas flow or oxidant gas flow so that the battery stack 2 can operate at a set pressure.

[0061] Furthermore, the pressure is set to P, where 1 ≤ P ≤ 3 bar. The set pressure can be, for example, 1 bar, 1.5 bar, 2 bar, 2.5 bar, 3 bar, etc., but is not limited to the listed values. Other unlisted values ​​within this range are also applicable.

[0062] It is understandable that pressurization will improve the performance of battery stack 2, but it will also bring the risk of thermal runaway and gas leakage during actual operation. The performance gain from pressurization will gradually decrease as the pressure increases, and the improvement is very small above 3 bar. Therefore, the present invention determines the operating pressure to be in the range of 1 bar to 3 bar.

[0063] like Figure 2 As shown, in some embodiments, the power generation module further includes a heating tube 9, which extends spirally along the height direction of the encapsulation container 1 and wraps around the outer peripheral wall of the encapsulation container 1. The heating tube 9 is located in the sealed cavity and is used to heat the accommodating cavity 11 to provide heat to the battery stack 2 during the startup process of the power generation module until the battery stack 2 reaches the operating temperature. During the stable operation phase of the battery stack 2, it is turned off, allowing the battery stack 2 to release heat through electrochemical reaction to maintain the required heat. Since the heating tube 9 is wrapped around the encapsulation container 1, rapid heating and temperature rise of the battery stack 2 can be ensured.

[0064] In some embodiments, the power generation module further includes a second support (not shown in the figure), which is installed at the bottom of the heat box 6. A heat insulation layer is provided between the second support and the bottom of the heat box 6 to reduce the heat loss caused by heat conduction due to the bottom of the power generation module being in contact with the outside, which would result in the temperature of the single cell 21 in the lower part of the battery stack 2 being too low.

[0065] Furthermore, the insulation layer is a nanoporous insulation layer, or the insulation layer is a nanoporous insulation board.

[0066] In some embodiments, the power generation module further includes a first temperature sensor (not shown in the figure). The first temperature sensor is installed in the sealed cavity and arranged adjacent to the battery stack 2 to monitor the temperature of the battery stack 2. The air intake of the battery stack 2 through the cathode air intake pipe 4 can be adjusted according to the temperature of the sealed cavity in the power generation module, so as to remove excess heat from the battery stack 2 with excess air, thereby ensuring the uniformity of the internal temperature of the battery stack 2.

[0067] Specifically, there may be multiple first temperature sensors, which may be arranged at the top, middle or bottom of the hot box 6 (i.e., the sealed cavity) and near the battery stack 2 in the packaging container 1.

[0068] In some embodiments, at least one of the anode inlet pipe 3 and the cathode inlet pipe 4 is provided with a second temperature sensor (not shown in the figure) to measure the temperature of the gas in the anode inlet pipe 3 or the cathode inlet pipe 4, so as to ensure that the inlet temperature is close to the outlet temperature of the battery stack 2.

[0069] like Figure 1 As shown, in some embodiments, the power generation module further includes a first test terminal 91 and a second test terminal 92. The first test terminal 91 is electrically connected to the anode of the battery stack 2, and the second test terminal 92 is electrically connected to the cathode of the battery stack 2. At least a portion of the first test terminal 91 and at least a portion of the second test terminal 92 are located outside the heat box 6, and both the first test terminal 91 and the second test terminal 92 are adapted to be electrically connected to the electrochemical workstation (wherein, the first test terminal 91 is electrically connected to the positive electrode of the electrochemical workstation, and the second test terminal 92 is electrically connected to the negative electrode of the electrochemical workstation) to test the performance parameters of the battery stack 2.

[0070] The working process of this solid oxide fuel cell power generation module will now be explained in detail, taking into account its specific structure:

[0071] 1) During the initial startup phase, the heating tube 9 needs to be started first to provide heat to the accommodating cavity 11 until the battery stack 2 is heated to the operating temperature;

[0072] 2) During the stable operation phase of the battery stack 2, the electrochemical reaction inside the battery stack 2 releases heat to maintain the temperature of the power generation module, and the heating tube 9 is shut off. Specifically, reformed gas or hydrogen is introduced into the battery stack 2 through the anode inlet pipe 3, while air or pure oxygen, preheated to a set temperature range in the preheater 7, is also introduced into the battery stack 2 through the cathode inlet pipe 4. This allows the introduced gas to undergo an electrochemical reaction inside the battery stack 2. During this process, because the battery stack 2 adopts an open cathode design, the high-temperature cathode exhaust gas is discharged into the containment cavity 11 of the encapsulation container 1. Then, it enters the mounting cavity 71 from the containment cavity 11 through the inlet pipe vertically arranged on the preheater 7, flows outside the heat exchange coil, and fully exchanges heat with the cathode inlet gas inside the heat exchange coil before being discharged from the cathode outlet pipe 52. Finally, both the anode high-temperature exhaust gas and the cathode high-temperature exhaust gas enter subsequent heat exchange components for further waste heat utilization. Simultaneously, the performance data of the battery stack 2 can be tested through an electrochemical workstation.

[0073] In the description of this invention, it should be understood that the terms "center," "longitudinal," "lateral," "length," "width," "thickness," "upper," "lower," "front," "rear," "left," "right," "vertical," "horizontal," "top," "bottom," "inner," "outer," "clockwise," "counterclockwise," "axial," "radial," and "circumferential" indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are used only for the convenience of describing this invention and simplifying the description, and are not intended to indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on this invention.

[0074] Furthermore, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. Thus, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one of that feature. In the description of this invention, "a plurality of" means at least two, such as two, three, etc., unless otherwise explicitly specified.

[0075] In this invention, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," "linking," and "fixing," etc., should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral part; they can refer to a mechanical connection, an electrical connection, or a connection that allows communication between them; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; they can refer to the internal communication of two components or the interaction between two components, unless otherwise explicitly limited. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this invention according to the specific circumstances.

[0076] In this invention, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, "above" or "below" the second feature can mean that the first feature is in direct contact with the second feature, or that the first feature is in indirect contact with the second feature through an intermediate medium. Furthermore, "above," "over," and "on top" of the second feature can mean that the first feature is directly above or diagonally above the second feature, or simply that the first feature is at a higher horizontal level than the second feature. "Below," "below," and "under" the second feature can mean that the first feature is directly below or diagonally below the second feature, or simply that the first feature is at a lower horizontal level than the second feature.

[0077] In this invention, the terms "one embodiment," "some embodiments," "example," "specific example," or "some examples," etc., refer to a specific feature, structure, material, or characteristic described in connection with that embodiment or example, which is included in at least one embodiment or example of the invention. In this specification, the illustrative expressions of the above terms do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example. Furthermore, the specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments or examples. Moreover, without contradiction, those skilled in the art can combine and integrate the different embodiments or examples described in this specification, as well as the features of different embodiments or examples.

[0078] Although embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described above, it is understood that the above embodiments are exemplary and should not be construed as limiting the present invention. Those skilled in the art can make changes, modifications, substitutions and variations to the above embodiments within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A solid oxide fuel cell power generation module, characterized in that, include: A packaging container and a battery stack, the packaging container having a receiving cavity for accommodating the battery stack, the battery stack comprising a plurality of individual cells stacked layer by layer and connected in series along the height direction of the packaging container, the thickness direction of the individual cells being consistent with the height direction of the packaging container; The battery includes an anode inlet pipe, a cathode inlet pipe, and an outlet pipe. Both the anode inlet pipe and the cathode inlet pipe are connected to the battery stack. The anode inlet pipe is used to introduce a fuel gas flow into the battery stack, and the cathode inlet pipe is used to introduce an oxidant gas flow into the battery stack so that the fuel and oxidant can undergo an electrochemical reaction inside the battery stack. The outlet pipe is connected to the battery stack and is used to discharge the exhaust gas after the electrochemical reaction. as well as A hot box having a sealed cavity for accommodating the encapsulation container, wherein at least a portion of the anode inlet pipe, at least a portion of the cathode inlet pipe, and at least a portion of the outlet pipe are located outside the hot box; The encapsulation container's cavity provides a first sealed environment for the electrochemical reaction of the battery stack, and the thermal box seals the entire encapsulation container in a second sealed environment, forming a double-layer insulation structure on the outside of the battery stack. A preheater is installed at the bottom of the encapsulation container and within the sealed cavity, and at least a portion of the cathode inlet pipe is located in the preheater and adapted to be preheated by the preheater.

2. The solid oxide fuel cell power generation module according to claim 1, characterized in that, The inner peripheral wall of the sealed cavity is provided with a heat-insulating coating; And / or, the heat insulation coating is a ceramic microsphere high-temperature heat insulation coating.

3. The solid oxide fuel cell power generation module according to claim 2, characterized in that, The hot box includes a locking element and multiple insulation plates, which surround and form the sealed cavity. Any two adjacent insulation plates are locked together by the locking element. And / or, in any two adjacent insulation boards, one of the insulation boards has a first contact surface and the other insulation board has a second contact surface, the first contact surface and the second contact surface cooperate to form a joint, the joint being one of a stepped joint, a sawtooth joint and a wavy joint.

4. The solid oxide fuel cell power generation module according to any one of claims 1-3, characterized in that, The cathodes of all the single cells are connected to the containment cavity so that the high-temperature cathode exhaust gas after the electrochemical reaction can directly enter the containment cavity.

5. The solid oxide fuel cell power generation module according to claim 4, characterized in that, The outlet pipe includes an anode outlet pipe and a cathode outlet pipe. The anode outlet pipe is connected to the battery stack and is used to discharge the anode tail gas after the electrochemical reaction. The accommodating cavity, the preheater, and the cathode outlet pipe are connected in sequence to allow the high-temperature cathode tail gas after the electrochemical reaction to be introduced into the preheater to preheat the cathode inlet pipe. At least a portion of the cathode outlet pipe is located outside the preheater.

6. The solid oxide fuel cell power generation module according to claim 5, characterized in that, The preheater has an installation cavity, and the cathode inlet pipe includes a first section, a heat exchange coil section and a second section connected in sequence. At least a portion of the first section is located outside the preheater, the heat exchange coil section is located in the installation cavity, and the end of the second section away from the heat exchange coil section is connected to the battery stack. And / or, at least a portion of the second segment is located in the accommodating cavity and extends in a direction from the bottom to the top of the encapsulation container, so that the second segment exchanges heat with the high-temperature cathode exhaust gas within the accommodating cavity.

7. The solid oxide fuel cell power generation module according to claim 5, characterized in that, The anode inlet pipe and the anode outlet pipe are arranged at intervals on the top of the battery stack, and at least a portion of the anode inlet pipe and at least a portion of the anode outlet pipe are located outside the packaging container. The bottom of the battery stack is spaced apart from the inner bottom wall of the accommodating cavity and the two are connected by a first support. And / or, the first support includes a connected metal base plate and a support column, the metal base plate being connected to the bottom of the battery stack and having a through hole to reduce the contact area between the metal base plate and the bottom of the battery stack, and the end of the support column facing away from the metal base plate being connected to the inner bottom wall of the accommodating cavity.

8. The solid oxide fuel cell power generation module according to claim 1, characterized in that, At least one of the anode inlet pipe and the cathode inlet pipe is provided with a pressurizing device, which is used to pressurize the fuel gas flow or oxidant gas flow so that the battery stack can operate at a set pressure. And / or, the set pressure is P, where 1 ≤ P ≤ 3 bar.

9. The solid oxide fuel cell power generation module according to claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes a heating element that extends spirally along the height direction of the packaging container and surrounds the outer peripheral wall of the packaging container. The heating element is located in the sealed cavity and is used to heat the accommodating cavity. And / or, the power generation module further includes a second support, which is installed at the bottom of the heat box, and a heat insulation layer is provided between the second support and the bottom of the heat box; And / or, the heat insulation layer is a nanoporous heat insulation layer, or the heat insulation layer is a nanoporous heat insulation board.