Fuel cell system, its operation method, and method for circulating heated air

Abstract

Before operating the fuel cell, the air in the battery chamber is heated to melt the frozen water. 【Solution means】The fuel cell systems 100 and 200 include a battery chamber 60 defined by partition walls 11 - 16, a fuel cell 1 installed in the battery chamber 60, ducts 20a and 20b communicating with the battery chamber 60 through at least one of the openings 11a and 13a provided in the partition walls 11 and 13 among the partition walls 11 - 16 and the other openings 11b and 13b, and a preheater 3 for sending out heated air. At least the battery chamber 60, one of the openings 11a and 13a and the other opening 11b and 13b, and the ducts 20a and 20b constitute warm air circulation paths 30A and 30B for the heated air sent out from the preheater 3.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a fuel cell system that operates normally even in a low-temperature environment, a method for operating the fuel cell system, and a method for circulating heated air in the fuel cell system.

Background Art

[0002] A fuel cell that generates electricity through a chemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen is currently used as a power generation device that does not emit carbon dioxide, such as a power source for households and commercial use, and a power source for vehicles. Although water is generated and discharged during the operation of the fuel cell, there is a possibility that some moisture remains inside the fuel cell even when it is stopped. When using a fuel cell in a low-temperature environment such as a cold region or winter, the moisture remaining inside freezes, causing a flooding phenomenon that inhibits the chemical reaction at the electrodes, or obstructs the discharge of the generated water, resulting in problems such as the inability to start the fuel cell or the fuel cell malfunctioning when starting.

[0003] Patent Document 1 discloses a hydrogen power generation system (Claims 1 and 10 of Patent Document 1) including a hydrogen generation device, a power generation device (fuel cell) that generates electricity using hydrogen, and a cartridge-type hydrogen storage device capable of supplying hydrogen to the fuel cell. The waste heat reuse mechanism that heats the outside air drawn in by the waste heat of the fuel cell includes a temperature sensor, a shutter capable of opening and closing the exhaust side opening, a fan that sends the air in the return duct to the housing through the intake side opening, and a controller that opens the shutter and drives the fan when the temperature of the outside air is below a predetermined temperature (Claim 11). However, the hydrogen power generation system of Patent Document 1 has no idea of preheating the air inside the housing before the operation of the fuel cell, and there is also no preheater for that purpose.

[0004] Patent Document 2 discloses a fuel cell device having a fuel cell module and auxiliary equipment for operating the fuel cell module inside an exterior case, which is partitioned into a module storage chamber and an auxiliary equipment storage chamber by a partition member (Claim 1 of Patent Document 2). However, since the fuel cell device of Patent Document 2 utilizes the radiant heat of the fuel cell module (paragraph 0021 of the same specification), similar to Patent Document 1, there is no idea of preheating the air inside the exterior case before the fuel cell operates, and there is no preheater either.

[0005] Patent Document 3 discloses a fuel cell system (Claim 1 of Patent Document 3) including a fuel cell, a diaphragm-type air supply unit that takes in air and supplies it to the fuel cell, and a heating unit that heats the air in the space from the intake port to the air supply unit. Further, Patent Document 3 indicates that the heating of the air by the heating unit may be executed prior to the start of operation of the air supply unit (paragraph 0028 of the same specification). However, there is no idea of circulating and filling the heated air, and it does not have such a mechanism.

[0006] Patent Document 4 discloses a fuel cell power generation device (Claim 1 of Patent Document 4) that includes a fuel cell body, fuel reforming equipment, cooling system equipment, a heater, and a ventilation fan in a package, and circulates the air heated by the heater inside the package by an air circulation means to prevent the freezing of the water inside the package when the power generation operation stops. Patent Document 4 indicates that the air heated by the heater is intensively guided to the cooling system equipment (Claim 4), but since it does not show the position of the fuel cell body, there is no idea of warming the housing surface of the fuel cell to melt the frozen water inside. Since intensively and excessively heating a specific part of the fuel cell may lead to a failure of the fuel cell, the relative positional relationship between the fuel cell and the heater, and the size of the space inside the package are important.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0007]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Patent Document 3

Patent Document 4

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0008] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a fuel cell system, an operation method of a fuel cell system, and a method for circulating heated air in a fuel cell system that warms the fuel cell in the battery chamber before the operation of the fuel cell in order to solve the problems of the prior art.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0009] The fuel cell systems 100 and 200 of the present invention include a battery chamber 60 defined by partition walls 11 - 16, a fuel cell 1 installed in the battery chamber 60, ducts 20a and 20b communicating with the battery chamber 60 through at least one of the openings 11a, 13a and the other openings 11b, 13b provided in the partition walls 11 and 13 among the partition walls 11 - 16, and a preheater 3 for sending out heated air. At least the battery chamber 60, one of the openings 11a, 13a and the other opening 11b, 13b, and the ducts 20a and 20b constitute warm air circulation paths 30A and 30B for the heated air sent out from the preheater 3. The partition walls 11 - 16 include a first partition wall 11, a second partition wall 12, a third partition wall 13, and a fourth partition wall 14. Among the four surfaces of the first to fourth partition walls 11 - 14, two or three of the partition walls 12 - 14 are in contact with the fuel cell 1, and the remaining two or one partition walls 11, 12 form partition flow paths 31 and 32 for flowing heated air between the fuel cell 1 as part of the warm air circulation paths 30A and 30B. The partition walls 11 - 16 include a fifth partition wall 15 and a sixth partition wall 16 facing each other. The fifth and sixth partition walls 15 and 16 each have a ventilation opening 15a and 16a, and the preheater 3 is provided at one of the openings 11a, 13a or the other opening 11b, 13b of the partition walls 11 and 13, or is provided between the ventilation openings 15a and 16a of the fifth or sixth partition walls 15 and 16 and the fuel cell 1. The battery chamber 60 includes a first space 65 between the fifth partition wall 15 and the fuel cell 1 and another space 66 between the sixth partition wall 16 and the fuel cell 1. The preheater 3 is provided at one opening 11a located on the side of the first space 65, and the air outlet 3a of the preheater 3 is arranged in the first space 65 having a smaller volume than the other space 66. The battery chamber 60 includes a first space 65 between the fifth partition wall 15 and the fuel cell 1 and another space 66 between the sixth partition wall 16 and the fuel cell 1. The preheater 3 is provided in the other space 66 having a smaller volume than the first space 65 and is arranged between the ventilation opening 16a of the sixth partition wall 16 and the fuel cell 1. It is provided with shutters for opening or closing the ventilation opening 15a of the fifth partition wall 15 and / or the ventilation opening 16a of the sixth partition wall 16.

[0010] In the fuel cell systems 100 and 200 of the present invention, during the preliminary operation before operating the fuel cell 1, the preheater 3 sends out heated air, and the heated air circulates in the warm air circulation paths 30A and 30B composed of at least the battery chamber 60, the one and the other openings 11a, 13a, 11b, 13b, and the ducts 20a, 20b. Thus, in the present invention, before operating the fuel cell 1, the battery chamber 60 is filled with heated air to warm the fuel cell 1, and even if the water inside is frozen, it is completely melted, enabling the normal operation of the fuel cell 1. Further, by the circulation of the warm air, without allowing the air to stagnate, constantly bringing new heated air into contact with the housing surfaces 81, 82, 85, 86 of the fuel cell 1, the frozen water inside the fuel cell 1 can be efficiently liquefied.

[0011] In the embodiments of the fuel cell systems 100 and 200, two or three partition walls 12 - 14 in contact with the fuel cell 1 are composed of metal members or members with high thermal conductivity. The second to fourth partition walls 12, 13, 14 are each in contact with the fuel cell 1, and the first partition wall 11 constitutes a first partition wall flow path 31 for flowing heated air between the upper surface 81 of the fuel cell 1 as a part of the warm air circulation path 30A. The third and fourth partition walls 13 and 14 are in contact with the respective side surfaces 83 and 84 of the fuel cell 1, and the warm air circulation path 30B includes a first partition wall flow path 31 for flowing heated air between the first partition wall 11 and the upper surface 81 of the fuel cell 1, and a second partition wall flow path 32 for flowing heated air between the second partition wall 12 and the bottom surface 82 of the fuel cell 1. The fuel cell 1 is provided with a pair of ventilation ports 1a and 1b for intake and exhaust, and the pair of ventilation ports 1a and 1b and the inside of the fuel cell 1 constitute an in-cell flow path 36 through which heated air passes as a part of the warm air circulation paths 30A and 30B. An opening / closing device 8 is provided for opening or closing one of the openings 11a and 13a or / and the other openings 11b and 13b of the partition walls 11 and 13 to communicate or block the warm air circulation paths 30A and 30B.

[0012] The operation method of the fuel cell systems 100 and 200 of the present invention is such that the fuel cell systems 100 and 200 include a battery chamber 60 defined by the partition walls 11 - 16, a fuel cell 1 installed in the battery chamber 60, ducts 20a and 20b communicating with the battery chamber 60 through at least one of the openings 11a and 13a and the other openings 11b and 13b provided in the partition walls 11 and 13 among the partition walls 11 - 16, and a preheater 3 for sending out heated air, and at least the battery chamber 60, one of the openings 11a and 13a and the other openings 11b and 13b, and the ducts 20a and 20b constitute the warm air circulation paths 30A and 30B for the heated air sent out from the preheater 3. When starting the fuel cell systems 100 and 200, when the measured temperature of the battery chamber 60 is equal to or lower than the first temperature, a process of operating the preheater 3 to circulate the heated air in the warm air circulation paths 30A and 30B, and when the heated air is circulated in the warm air circulation paths 30A and 30B and a certain period of time has elapsed and / or when the measured temperature of the battery chamber 60 becomes equal to or higher than the second temperature, a process of operating the fuel cell 1 to start power generation is included. The process of circulating the heated air through the heating air circulation paths 30A and 30B includes at least filling the upper space 61 between the upper partition wall 11 of the partition wall and the fuel cell 1, the empty space 65 between the front partition wall 15 of the partition wall and the fuel cell 1, and the rear space 66 between the rear partition wall 16 of the partition wall and the fuel cell 1 with the heated air, and bringing the heated air into contact with the surfaces 81, 85, and 86 of the fuel cell 1.

[0013] The operation method of the fuel cell systems 100 and 200 of the present invention is as follows: When starting the fuel cell system, if the battery chamber 60 is at a specific first temperature or lower, the preheater 3 is operated to fill the battery chamber 60 with heated air by circulating the heated air. Then, when the operating time of the preheater 3, which is expected to completely melt the frozen water in the fuel cell 1, is reached and / or when the temperature in the battery chamber 60 is reached, the operation of the fuel cell 1 is started. Thereby, a failure of the fuel cell 1 due to freezing of water can be avoided.

[0015] The method for circulating the heated air of the present invention, in the method for circulating the heated air in the fuel cell system 100, the heated air sent out from the preheater 3 provided at one opening 11a of the first partition wall 11 flows through the empty space 65 of the battery chamber 60, the upper surface 81 and the interior of the fuel cell 1, the other space 66 of the battery chamber 60, the other opening 11b of the first partition wall 11, and the upper duct 20a communicating with the first partition wall 11, and returns to the one opening 11a, flowing through the first heating air circulation path 30A.

[0016] The method for circulating the heated air of the present invention, in the method for circulating the heated air in the fuel cell system 200, the heated air sent out from the preheater 3 provided in the other space 66 of the battery chamber 60 flows through the other space 66, the upper surface 81, the bottom surface 82, and the interior of the fuel cell 1, the empty space 65 of the battery chamber 60, one opening 13a of the third partition wall 13, the side duct 20b communicating with the third partition wall 13, and the other opening 13b of the third partition wall 13, and returns to the other space 66, flowing through the second heating air circulation path 30B.

Advantages of the Invention

[0017] In the fuel cell system, its operation method, and the heated air circulation method of the present invention, before starting the fuel cell, the frozen water inside the fuel cell is melted by heating, enabling the fuel cell to operate normally without failure. Therefore, the present invention is optimal for using a fuel cell in a low-temperature environment.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0018]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0019] Hereinafter, embodiments of the fuel cell system, its operation method, and the heated air circulation method of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 6. The following descriptions of the embodiments, examples, and the drawings are illustrative and do not limit the present invention in an exclusive manner. Also, FIGS. 1 to 6 are all drawings simplified for easy understanding of the present invention.

[0020] The fuel cell systems 100 and 200 of the present invention include a hollow battery chamber 60 defined by six-sided partition walls 11 - 16, a box-shaped fuel cell 1 installed in the battery chamber 60, ducts 20a and 20b that communicate with the battery chamber 60 through at least one of the openings 11a, 13a, 11b, 13b provided in the partition walls 11 and 13 among the partition walls 11 - 16, and a preheater 3 that sends out heated air before the operation (or startup or actuation) of the fuel cell 1. At least the battery chamber 60, the openings 11a, 13a, 11b, 13b of the partition walls 11 and 13, and the ducts 20a and 20b constitute warm air circulation paths 30A and 30B through which the heated air circulates.

[0021] In the present invention, during the preliminary operation before the operation of the fuel cell 1, the heated air circulates through the warm air circulation paths 30A and 30B to fill the battery chamber 60 with the heated air. Thereby, in a low-temperature environment, the surfaces 81, 82, 85, 86 of the fuel cell 1 are heated, the water frozen inside is melted, and after being completely melted, the normal operation of the fuel cell 1 is enabled. The warm air circulation paths 30A and 30B may be either a vertical circulation (rotating vertically) that forms a substantially vertical circulation surface (Figure 2) or a horizontal circulation (rotating horizontally) that forms a substantially horizontal circulation surface (Figure 4). Also, the circulation (rotation) direction may be either clockwise or counterclockwise.

[0022] The fuel cell 1 used in the present invention is also referred to as a fuel cell device, a fuel cell body, a fuel cell module, or a fuel cell box, and includes a cell stack in which a plurality of cells are stacked inside its housing. Each cell includes an ion exchange membrane electrolyte, a negative electrode (fuel electrode) and a positive electrode (oxygen electrode) to which hydrogen and air (oxygen) are supplied on both sides of the electrolyte, and a pair of separators that sandwich the electrolyte, the negative electrode, and the positive electrode to form the boundary between cells. In FIGS. 2, 3, 5, and 6, the internal structure of the fuel cell 1 is shown in a cross-sectional notation (hatching) for the sake of simplicity of description. In the present invention, a solid polymer (membrane) type fuel cell (PEFC) using an ion exchange membrane is used, but any type such as a phosphoric acid type fuel cell (PAFC), a molten carbonate type fuel cell (MCFC), a solid oxide type fuel cell (SOFC), an alkaline electrolyte type fuel cell (AFC), a direct type fuel cell (DFC), a biofuel cell (BFC), etc. may be used. The fuel cell 1 receives hydrogen supply from a hydrogen storage device (hydrogen storage alloy) not shown, and the electricity generated in the fuel cell 1 is supplied to a storage battery and a load (power consumption device) through an electric wire.

[0023] In the present embodiment, the partition walls include a first partition wall (upper partition wall) 11 that forms the ceiling of the battery chamber 60, a second partition wall (bottom partition wall) 12 that faces the first partition wall 11 and forms the bottom surface 82 of the battery chamber 60, a third partition wall (left partition wall) 13 that forms one side wall (the left wall in FIGS. 3 and 6) of the battery chamber 60, and a fourth partition wall (right partition wall) 14 that faces the third partition wall 13 and forms the other side wall (the right wall in FIGS. 3 and 6) of the battery chamber 60.

[0024] As will be described later, in the first embodiment (fuel cell system 100), the first partition wall 11 serves as the partition wall 11 and has one and the other openings 11a, 11b (FIG. 2), and heated air is passed between the battery chamber 60 and the upper duct 20a. In the second embodiment (fuel cell system 200), the third partition wall 13 serves as the partition wall 13 and has one and the other openings 13a, 13b (FIG. 5), and heated air is passed between the battery chamber 60 and the side duct 20b. The second partition wall 12 and the fourth to sixth partition walls 14-16 other than the first and third partition walls 11, 13 may also serve as partition walls. The partition walls 11-14 are made of an opaque member, or a transparent or translucent member that allows the inside to be visible.

[0025] As long as the heated air passes through and circulates in the partition walls 11 and 13, two or three or more or a large number of openings 11a, 13a, 11b, and 13b can be provided. The cross-sectional shapes of the openings 11a, 13a, 11b, and 13b are not particularly limited and may be rectangular, polygonal, circular, or the like. The length L2 between the openings 11a, 13a, 11b, and 13b on one side and the other side is formed longer than the depth L1 between the front and the rear of the fuel cell 1. Thereby, the circulating heated air easily contacts the surface of the fuel cell 1, particularly the front surface 85 and the rear surface 86.

[0026] The partition walls 11 and 13 are provided with an opening / closing device 8 that opens or closes one of the openings 11a, 13a or / and the other openings 11b, 13b to communicate or cut off the warm air circulation paths 30A and 30B. There is no limitation on the opening / closing device 8 as long as it can open and close the openings 11a, 13a, 11b, and 13b. For example, an opening / closing device 8 (FIGS. 1 and 4) that reciprocates a closing plate with a solenoid, a valve for gas, or the like can be used. When operating (or starting or running) the preheater 3, one of the openings 11a, 13a or / and the other openings 11b, 13b are opened automatically (for example, a command from a control device) or manually by the opening / closing device 8, or if they are already in an open state, they are maintained, and the heated air is circulated through the warm air circulation paths 30A and 30B. On the other hand, after the battery chamber 60 is sufficiently filled with the heated air, the preheater 3 is stopped and the openings 11a, 13a, 11b, and 13b are closed by the opening / closing device 8 to keep the battery chamber 60 warm.

[0027] The ducts 20a and 20b are formed on the side opposite to the battery chamber 60 with the partition walls 11 and 13 interposed therebetween, over the entire length L of the fuel cell systems 100 and 200, and / or longer than the depth L1 along the depth L1 between the front and the rear of the fuel cell 1 (FIGS. 2 and 4). The ducts 20a and 20b promote the circulation of the heated air. The cross-sectional shapes of the ducts 20a and 20b are not limited and may be any of rectangular (FIGS. 3 and 6), polygonal, circular, elliptical, or the like.

[0028] In the present invention, among the first to fourth partition walls 11 - 14 on two pairs of opposite four surfaces, two or three of the partition walls are in surface contact, face contact, or abutment with the fuel cell 1, and the remaining two or one partition walls form first and second partition wall flow paths 31 and 32 for flowing heated air between the surfaces of the fuel cell 1 as part of the first and second warm air circulation paths 30A and 30B. As a result, in the two or three partition walls that are in surface contact with the fuel cell 1, they are in surface contact with each surface of the fuel cell 1 without forming a flow path, and the opposite side of the fuel cell 1 abuts against and is surrounded by the heating elements 42, 43, 44 (hatching in FIGS. 3 and 6). The two partition walls of the two or three partition walls are the third and fourth partition walls 13 and 14 shown in FIG. 6, but are not limited thereto, and may be any of the first and second partition walls 11 and 12, the first and third partition walls 11 and 13, the first and fourth partition walls 11 and 14, the second and third partition walls 12 and 13, or the second and fourth partition walls 12 and 14. Also, the three partition walls of the two or three partition walls are the second to fourth partition walls 12 - 14 shown in FIG. 3, but are not limited thereto, and may be any of the first to third partition walls 11 - 13, the first, second, and fourth partition walls 11, 12, 14, or the first, third, and fourth partition walls 11, 13, 14.

[0029] Among the four surfaces, in the remaining two or one partition walls, first and second partition wall flow paths 31 and 32 are formed between the partition walls and the fuel cell 1. The remaining two partition walls are the first and second partition walls 11 and 12 shown in FIG. 5, but are not limited thereto, and may be any of the first and third partition walls 11 and 13, the first and fourth partition walls 11 and 14, the second and third partition walls 12 and 13, the second and fourth partition walls 12 and 14, or the third and fourth partition walls 13 and 14, and first and second partition wall flow paths may be formed between any of them and the fuel cell 1. The remaining one partition wall is the first partition wall 11 shown in FIG. 2, but is not limited thereto, and may be any of the second, third, or fourth partition walls 12, 13, 14, and a first partition wall flow path may be formed between any of them and the fuel cell 1.

[0030] The heat generating elements 42, 43, and 44 installed surrounding the fuel cell 1 are devices, apparatuses, instruments, members, pipes, etc. that generate heat or retain heat, such as a storage battery, a control panel, a hydrogen storage device, a hydrogen pipe group, etc. The storage battery stores electricity obtained from the fuel cell 1 and a solar cell (not shown), etc., and also starts up together with the fuel cell systems 100 and 200 to measure the stored electricity amount, and thus becomes hotter than the outside air temperature in a low-temperature environment. When the control panel turns on the power of the fuel cell systems 100 and 200, the built-in power supply device, electrical equipment, control device, etc. operate, and heat is generated even before the fuel cell 1 operates. The hydrogen storage device becomes hot even before hydrogen is released (before the fuel cell 1 operates) in order to heat the hydrogen storage alloy to release hydrogen. The hydrogen pipe group becomes relatively hot because it is a pipe containing hydrogen released from the hydrogen storage device.

[0031] When two or three side walls 12 - 14 contact the surfaces 82 - 84 of the fuel cell 1, the fuel cell 1 is not directly exposed to the low-temperature outside air, and the side walls 12 - 14 and the heat generating elements 42, 43, 44 in close contact therewith exhibit a heat insulation effect of not releasing heat, thereby preventing the freezing of water inside the fuel cell 1 in advance. Also, during the preliminary operation before the fuel cell 1 operates, the side walls 12 - 14 and the surfaces 82 - 84 of the fuel cell 1 are warmed by the heating (heat transfer) from the heat generating elements 42, 43, 44 that contact the opposite side of the fuel cell 1 with the side walls 12 - 14 sandwiched therebetween, and together with the heating by the preheater 3, the water in the fuel cell 1 in a frozen state can be melted. With this contact structure, in the present invention, the power consumption by the preheater 3 can be reduced.

[0032] The two or three side walls 12 - 14 that contact the fuel cell 1 are composed of a flat metal member or a high heat conductivity member. Thereby, heat can be efficiently transmitted from the heat generating elements 42, 43, 44 that operate and generate heat before the fuel cell 1 operates, such as the storage battery 2, the control panel, and / or the hydrogen pipe group, to the fuel cell 1 through the side walls 12 - 14 in a contact state.

[0033] The partition further includes a fifth partition (front partition) 15 that forms the front wall of the battery chamber 60 and a sixth partition (rear partition) 16 that faces the fifth partition 15 and forms the rear wall of the battery chamber 60. The fifth and sixth partitions 15 and 16 are also the outer walls of the fuel cell systems 100 and 200, respectively, and have ventilation openings 15a and 16a for exchanging the air in the battery chamber 60 with the outside air. The fifth and sixth partitions 15 and 16 can be made of an opaque member, or a transparent or translucent member that allows the interior to be visible.

[0034] The battery chamber 60 is a space surrounded by the first to sixth partitions 11 - 16, in which the fuel cell 1 is disposed. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, it includes a first space (front space) 65 formed between the fuel cell 1 and the fifth partition 15, another space (rear space) 66 formed between the fuel cell 1 and the sixth partition 16, and an upper space 61 formed between the fuel cell 1 and the first partition 11. Heated air circulates and fills the first space 65, the other space 66, and the upper space 61, warming the front surface 85, the rear surface 86, and the upper surface 81 of the fuel cell 1 and promoting the melting of the frozen water on the fuel cell 1. By providing a space in the battery chamber 60, a larger volume of heated air can be stored.

[0035] The pre - heater 3 is provided one or more at the openings 11a, 13a, 11b, 13b of the partition walls 11 and 13, or one or more between the ventilation openings 15a and 16a of the fifth or sixth partition 15 and 16 and the fuel cell 1. By providing the pre - heater 3 at the openings 11a, 13a, 11b, 13b, the circulating heated air can be efficiently warmed, and the power - saving effect is significant. On the other hand, by providing the pre - heater between the ventilation openings 15a and 16a and the fuel cell 1, a large amount of new outside air can be taken in while heating, and the battery chamber 60 and the ducts 20a and 20b can be effectively ventilated. The installation position of the pre - heater 3 is not limited. For example, it may be installed outside the fuel cell systems 100 and 200 and blow heated air into the battery chamber 60 through a pipe or the like. The number of pre - heaters 3 is not limited, and one or more can be used. Also, the pre - heater 3 is preferably of an integrated type with a blower fan, but it may be of a separate type, that is, the blower fan is independently arranged at another position.

[0036] The fuel cell systems 100 and 200 may include a shutter (not shown) that opens or closes the ventilation openings 15a and 16a of the fifth partition wall and / or the sixth partition wall 15 and 16. By closing the ventilation openings 15a and 16a with the shutter, the battery chamber 60 after being filled with heated air can be kept warm, and also, when the fuel cell 1 stops, the battery chamber 60 can be heat-insulated to prevent freezing of moisture in advance. Further, although not shown, the fuel cell systems 100 and 200 include a temperature sensor that measures the temperature of the battery chamber 60, and a control device that controls the operations of the pre-heater 3, the fuel cell 1, the opening / closing device 8, the shutter, etc. according to the measured temperature by the temperature sensor. The temperature sensor is provided inside or on the surface 81 - 86 of the fuel cell 1, on the inner or outer surface of the partition walls 11 - 16, or in the ducts 20a and 20b. Also, the temperature sensor and the control device can be installed not only inside the fuel cell systems 100 and 200 but also outside thereof.

[0037] Hereinafter, the fuel cell system 100 of the first embodiment will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3. For the configurations identical to those described above, the description will be omitted in this embodiment. FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view showing the fuel cell system 100 of the first embodiment, showing the state where the upper cover 51 is removed. FIGS. 2 and 3 are schematic cross-sectional views showing the cross-section taken along line A - A and line B - B of FIG. 1, respectively.

[0038] The fuel cell system 100 shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 includes a battery chamber 60 whose space is defined by six partition walls 11 - 16, a fuel cell 1 installed on the second partition wall (bottom partition wall) 12 of the battery chamber 60, a first partition wall (partition partition wall) 11 that forms the ceiling surface of the battery chamber 60, one and the other openings 11a and 11b provided in the partition partition wall 11, an upper duct 20a that communicates with the battery chamber 60 through the one and the other openings 11a and 11b, and a blower fan integrated pre-heater 3 provided in one opening 11a that sends heated air in the direction of the battery chamber 60 before the operation of the fuel cell 1. At least the battery chamber 60, the one and the other openings 11a and 11b, and the upper duct 20a constitute a first warm air circulation path 30A of vertical circulation shown in FIG. 2 through which the heated air sent from the pre-heater 3 flows.

[0039] As shown in FIG. 3, in the fuel cell system 100, three sides of the second partition wall 12, the third partition wall 13, and the fourth partition wall 14 are in contact with the bottom surface 82 and both side surfaces 83 and 84 of the fuel cell 1 respectively (abut). The second, third, and fourth partition walls 12, 13, and 14 made of a metal member or a high - thermal - conductivity member have surfaces opposite to the fuel cell 1 side in contact with the heating elements, that is, the storage battery 42, the control panel 43, and the hydrogen pipe group 44 respectively. At least the storage battery 42 in the charged state and the control panel 43 after the fuel cell system 100 is started generate heat even before the fuel cell 1 operates. Due to their heat transfer effect, together with the heating by the pre - heater 3, they warm the entire surface 81 - 86 of the fuel cell 1 and promote the melting of the frozen water inside. Also, when the hydrogen pipe group 44 is arranged adjacent to or in the vicinity of the hydrogen storage device, the hydrogen pipe group 44 is warmed together with the hydrogen storage device, and the contact of the hydrogen pipe group 44 with the second partition wall 12 also promotes the melting of the frozen water before the fuel cell 1 operates.

[0040] The first partition wall (partition wall) 11 of the fuel cell system 100 defines an upper space 61 in the battery chamber 60 between the fuel cell 1. In the upper space 61, a first partition wall flow path 31 (FIG. 2) through which the heated air from the pre - heater 3 flows is formed as a part of the warm air circulation path 30A. The heated air passing through the first partition wall flow path 31 in the upper space 61 warms the upper surface 81 of the fuel cell 1 before the fuel cell 1 operates. Also, since the first partition wall flow path 31 is formed by branching from the flow path in the sending direction from the pre - heater 3 (in a substantially right - angle direction), it has the effect of dispersing the extremely high - temperature air immediately after being sent out from the pre - heater 3.

[0041] The fuel cell 1 mounted on the second partition wall 12 shown in FIG. 2 is provided with a pair of air inlets and outlets 1a and 1b for intake and exhaust on the front surface 85 and the rear surface 86 of the fuel cell 1. A battery internal flow path 36 that reaches the other (exhaust side) air outlet 1b from the one (intake side) air outlet 1a through the inside of the fuel cell 1 is configured as a part of the first warm air circulation path 30A. A part of the heated air flowing through the warm air circulation path 30A passes through the inside of the fuel cell 1 before operation and effectively melts the frozen water remaining in the cells or the drain pipes inside the fuel cell 1.

[0042] The battery chamber 60 shown in FIG. 2 has a larger volume in the other space (rear space) 66 between the sixth partition wall 16 and the rear surface 86 of the fuel cell 1 than in the one space (front space) 65 between the fifth partition wall 15 and the front surface 85 of the fuel cell 1. A preheater 3 is provided at one opening 11a on the side of the one space 65 with a smaller volume, and the air outlet 3a of the preheater 3 is arranged in the one space 65 with a smaller volume, so as to promote the flow of the extremely high-temperature air immediately after heating, which is sent out from the preheater 3 in the direction of the one space 65, without staying in the one space 65.

[0043] Since the air outlet 3a of the preheater 3 is provided in the one space 65 with a smaller volume, the flow rate of the extremely high-temperature air is increased, and the contact time with the front surface 85 of the fuel cell 1 is shortened, thereby preventing the excessive concentration of heating on the front surface 85 of the fuel cell 1 and the resulting failure of the fuel cell 1. In addition, another space 66 with a large volume is provided distal to the preheater 3, so that the inflowing high-temperature air is not immediately flowed but homogenized in the other space 66 to generate heated air at an appropriate temperature. The large-volume other space 66 functions as a space for storing a large amount of the homogenized heated air at an appropriate temperature. Therefore, in this embodiment, the relative positional relationship between the fuel cell 1 and the preheater 3, and the relative sizes of the one space 65 and the other space 66 are clarified, and the problems of the prior art (the fuel cell power generation device of Patent Document 4) can be solved.

[0044] As shown in FIG. 2, the upper duct 20a of the fuel cell system 100 is formed on the partition wall 11 (the first partition wall) on the side opposite to the battery chamber 60 with the partition wall 11 interposed therebetween, over the entire length L of the fuel cell system 100 and longer than the depth L1 along the depth L1 of the fuel cell 1. The upper duct 20a is a space surrounded or defined by the first partition wall 11 and the third to sixth partition walls 13-16 and the upper cover 51, and constitutes a warm air circulation path 30A for returning the heated air received from the other space 66 of the battery chamber 60 through the other opening 11b to the one space 65 of the battery chamber 60 through the one opening 11a. An opening / closing device 8 for communicating or blocking the warm air circulation path 30A is provided at the other opening 11b of the partition wall (the first partition wall) 11.

[0045] Next, the fuel cell system 200 of the second embodiment will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 4 to 6. For the components identical to those described above, the description thereof will be omitted in this embodiment. FIG. 4 is a schematic plan view showing the fuel cell system 200 of the second embodiment, showing the state with the upper cover 51 removed. FIGS. 5 and 6 are schematic cross-sectional views showing the cross-section taken along line C-C and the cross-section taken along line D-D of FIG. 4, respectively.

[0046] The fuel cell system 200 shown in FIGS. 4 to 6 includes a battery chamber 60 whose space is defined by six partitions 11 - 16, a fuel cell 1 installed on the second partition (bottom partition) 12 of the battery chamber 60 via a support portion 72, a third partition (partition wall) 13 forming one side wall of the battery chamber 60, one and the other openings 13a, 13b provided in the partition wall 13, side ducts 20b communicating with the battery chamber 60 through the one and the other openings 13a, 13b, and a blower fan integrated preheater 3 provided in the other space 66 of the battery chamber 60 and sending heated air in the direction of the back surface 86 of the fuel cell 1 before the operation of the fuel cell 1. At least the battery chamber 60, the one and the other openings 13a, 13b, and the side ducts 20b constitute a second warm air circulation path 30B of the horizontal circulation shown in FIG. 4 through which the heated air sent from the preheater 3 flows.

[0047] As shown in FIG. 4 of the fuel cell system 200, the third partition 13 and the fourth partition 14 are in contact with the respective side surfaces 83, 84 of the fuel cell 1. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 5, as a part of the second warm air circulation path 30B, a first partition flow path 31 is formed in the upper space 61 between the first partition 11 and the upper surface 81 of the fuel cell 1, and a second partition flow path 32 is formed in the bottom space 62 between the second partition 12 and the bottom surface 82 of the fuel cell 1. The bottom surface 82 of the fuel cell 1 is provided with a support portion 72 that supports the fuel cell 1 and is fixed to the second partition 12. The support portion 72 extends along the depth L1 of the fuel cell 1 and forms the bottom space 62 (FIGS. 5 and 6). The bottom space 62 constitutes a part of the second warm air circulation path 30B as the second partition flow path 32 through which the heated air flows. When the heated air flows through the second partition flow path 32, the bottom surface 82 of the fuel cell 1 can be warmed, and the frozen water in the drain pipe disposed at the lower part in the fuel cell 1 can be particularly melted.

[0048] In the fuel cell system 200, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the volume of the other space (rear space) 66 between the sixth partition wall 16 and the fuel cell 1 is smaller than the volume of the one space (front space) 65 between the fifth partition wall 15 and the fuel cell 1. The preheater 3 is provided in the other space 66 having a smaller volume than the one space 65, and is fixedly supported by the second partition wall 12 between the ventilation port 16a of the sixth partition wall 16 and the fuel cell 1. It may be fixedly supported by any of the partition walls 11 - 14, 16 or the fuel cell 1. The air outlet 3a of the preheater 3 is directed toward the fuel cell 1.

[0049] Since the preheater 3 is provided in the other space 66 with a smaller volume, the extremely high-temperature air immediately after heating from the preheater 3 does not stay in the small-capacity other space 66 but flows at a high flow rate, and passes through the first partition wall flow path 31 in the upper space 61, the in-cell flow path 36 that passes through the inside of the fuel cell 1 from the ventilation port 1b on the other (intake side) to the ventilation port 1a on the one (exhaust side), and the second partition wall flow path 32 in the bottom space 62, and is supplied to the one space 65. In the large-capacity one space 65 distal to the preheater 3, the inflowing high-temperature air is not immediately made to flow, but is homogenized in the one space 65 to generate heated air at an appropriate temperature. Also, the large-capacity one space 65 functions as a space for storing a large amount of the homogenized heated air at an appropriate temperature.

[0050] In other words, in this embodiment, the relative positional relationship between the fuel cell 1 and the preheater 3 and the relative sizes of the one space 65 and the other space 66 are clear, and the housing surfaces 81 - 86 of the fuel cell 1 are warmed to melt the frozen water inside. In FIG. 4, two preheaters 3 arranged in parallel are shown, but the number and arrangement method are not limited, and the preheater 3 can be arranged singly, or two or more in series, parallel, or at other appropriate positions.

[0051] As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the side duct 20b of the fuel cell system 200 is formed on the side opposite to the battery chamber 60 with the partition wall (third partition wall) 13 interposed therebetween, extending over the entire length L of the fuel cell system 200 and longer than the depth L1 along the depth L1 of the fuel cell 1. The side duct 20b is a space formed adjacent to the heating element 43, and returns the heated air received from one space 65 of the battery chamber 60 through one opening 13a to the other space 66 of the battery chamber 60 through the other opening 13b. In this embodiment, the side duct 20b is provided only on the left side (FIG. 6), but it may be provided only on the right side or on both the left and right sides.

[0052] Hereinafter, the operation method according to the present invention of the fuel cell systems 100 and 200 will be described in detail.

[0053] First, the fuel cell systems 100 and 200 are started, and the temperature inside the battery chamber 60 or outside the fuel cell systems 100 and 200 is measured by a temperature sensor (not shown). When the measured temperature is equal to or lower than the first temperature, a control device (not shown) that has received the measured temperature signal transmits a start signal to the blower fan integrated preheater 3 to start the preheater 3 and circulate the heated air through the heating air circulation paths 30A and 30B. There is no limitation on the first temperature, but it is, for example, any temperature of 10°C or lower, preferably 5°C, 4°C, 3°C, 2°C, 1°C, 0°C, -1°C, -2°C, -3°C, -4°C, or -5°C. By starting the fuel cell systems 100 and 200, heating elements installed surrounding the fuel cell 1, such as the storage battery 42, the control panel 43, and the hydrogen generator, also start and generate heat.

[0054] By circulating the heated air through the heating air circulation paths 30A and 30B, in the fuel cell system 100, the upper space 61 between the upper partition (the first partition) 11 of the partition wall and the fuel cell 1, the empty space 65 between the front partition (the fifth partition) 15 of the partition wall and the fuel cell 1, and the other space 66 between the rear partition (the sixth partition) 16 of the partition wall and the fuel cell 1 are filled with the heated air. In the fuel cell system 200, further, the bottom space 62 between the bottom partition (the second partition) 12 of the partition wall and the fuel cell 1 is filled with the heated air. The filled heated air contacts the surfaces 81, 82, 85, 86 of the fuel cell 1 to warm the surfaces 81, 82, 85, 86. Also, heat is transferred from the heating elements 42, 43, 44 to the surfaces 82, 83, 84 of the fuel cell 1 through the partition walls 12, 13, 14.

[0055] Next, when a certain period of time has elapsed since the preheater 3 was started (when or after the elapse) and / or when the measured temperature of the battery chamber 60 becomes equal to or higher than the second temperature (when or after becoming equal to or higher than the second temperature), the control device transmits a stop signal to the preheater 3 to stop the preheater 3. After confirming the stop, the control device transmits a start signal to the fuel cell 1 to officially operate the fuel cell 1. The certain period of time is not limited as long as it is the time for the frozen water in the fuel cell 1 to melt, but can be set to any time between, for example, 1 minute and 30 minutes. The second temperature is not limited as long as it is a temperature equal to or higher than the set first temperature, but is, for example, any temperature of 5°C or higher. As an alternative method, before the preheater 3 stops, that is, during operation, the control device may transmit a start signal to the fuel cell 1 to operate the fuel cell 1. In this case, the fuel cell 1 may be operated when a certain period of time has elapsed since the preheater 3 was started or after the elapse, and the preheater 3 may be stopped when the measured temperature of the battery chamber 60 becomes equal to or higher than the second temperature or thereafter. Also, after the preheater 3 is started, the fuel cell 1 may be operated when the measured temperature of the battery chamber 60 becomes equal to or higher than the second temperature or thereafter, and the preheater 3 may be stopped when a certain period of time has elapsed since the preheater 3 was started or after the elapse.

[0056] During operation, the fuel cell 1 starts generating electricity through the reaction between hydrogen supplied from a hydrogen generator to the negative electrode (fuel electrode) via a hydrogen pipe group 44 and oxygen supplied from the air in the atmosphere to the positive electrode (oxygen electrode), and transmits the generated electricity to a storage battery 42 or an electric power consuming device such as a household electrical appliance. If the temperature drops again below the first temperature during the operation of the fuel cell 1, the preheater 3 may be restarted.

[0057] Thereafter, after receiving a specific signal, for example, a signal indicating that the stored power of the storage battery 42 has exceeded a certain value, a stop signal from a driver / manager, a failure signal of the fuel cell 1, etc., the control devices of the fuel cell systems 100 and 200 stop the operations of the fuel cell 1 and the fuel cell systems 100 and 200.

[0058] Hereinafter, the method for circulating heated air according to the present invention in the fuel cell system will be described in detail.

[0059] In the method for circulating heated air in the fuel cell system 100 (first embodiment), after the start (or operation or activation) of the fuel cell system 100 and before the start of the fuel cell 1, the control device (not shown) of the fuel cell system 100 starts the blower fan integrated preheater 3, and the preheater 3 sends out heated air from the air outlet 3a in the direction of a space 65. The heated air sent out from the preheater 3 provided at one opening 11a of the first partition wall 11 flows through a first warm air circulation path 30A that returns to the one opening 11a through a space (front space) 65 in the battery chamber 60, the upper surface 81 and the interior of the fuel cell 1, the other space (rear space) 66 in the battery chamber 60, the other opening 11b of the first partition wall 11, and the upper duct 20a communicating with the first partition wall 11. Thereby, in a low temperature environment, each surface (the upper surface 81, the front surface 85, and the rear surface 86 in this first embodiment) of the fuel cell 1 is warmed, and the frozen water inside it melts.

[0060] In the method of circulating the heated air in the fuel cell system 200 (second embodiment), after the start (or operation or running) of the fuel cell system 100 and before the start of the fuel cell 1, a control device (not shown) of the fuel cell system 200 activates the blower fan integrated preheater 3, and the preheater 3 sends out the heated air from the air outlet 3a toward the fuel cell 1. The heated air sent out from the pair of preheaters 3 provided in the other space 66 of the battery chamber 60 passes through the other space 66, the upper surface 81, the bottom surface 82, and the inside of the fuel cell 1, an empty space 65 of the battery chamber 60, one opening 13a of the third partition wall 13, the side duct 20b communicating from the third partition wall 13, and the other opening 13b of the third partition wall 13, and returns to the other space 66, flowing through the second warm air circulation path 30B. Thereby, in a low temperature environment, each surface of the fuel cell 1 (in this second embodiment, the upper surface 81, the bottom surface 82, the front surface 85, and the rear surface 86) is warmed, and the frozen water inside it melts. Embodiments of the present invention include the following. [1] A battery chamber 60 defined by partition walls 11-16, A fuel cell 1 installed in the battery chamber 60, Ducts 20a, 20b communicating with the battery chamber 60 through at least one of the openings 11a, 13a and the other openings 11b, 13b provided in the partition walls 11, 13 among the partition walls 11-16, A preheater 3 for sending out heated air, A fuel cell system characterized in that at least the battery chamber 60, one of the openings 11a, 13a and the other openings 11b, 13b, and the ducts 20a, 20b constitute warm air circulation paths 30A, 30B for the heated air sent out from the preheater 3. [2] The partition walls 11-16 include a first partition wall 11, a second partition wall 12, a third partition wall 13, and a fourth partition wall 14, Among the four surfaces of the first to fourth partition walls 11-14, two or three partition walls 12-14 are in contact with the fuel cell 1, and the remaining two or one partition walls 11, 12 form partition channels 31, 32 for flowing heated air between the fuel cell 1 as part of the warm air circulation paths 30A, 30b. The fuel cell system according to [1] above. [3] The fuel cell system according to [2] above, wherein the two or three partition walls 12-14 in contact with the fuel cell 1 are composed of a metal member or a member with high thermal conductivity. [4] The second to fourth partition walls 12, 13, 14 are each in contact with the fuel cell 1. The fuel cell system according to [2] above, wherein the first partition wall 11 forms a first partition wall flow path 31 for flowing heated air between the upper surface 81 of the fuel cell 1 as a part of the warm air circulation paths 30A, 30B. [5] The third and fourth partition walls 13, 14 are each in contact with the respective side surfaces 83, 84 of the fuel cell 1. The warm air circulation path 30B includes a first partition wall flow path 31 for flowing heated air between the first partition wall 11 and the upper surface 81 of the fuel cell 1, and a second partition wall flow path 32 for flowing heated air between the second partition wall 12 and the bottom surface 82 of the fuel cell 1, in the fuel cell system according to [2] above. [6] The fuel cell 1 is provided with a pair of air vents 1a, 1b for intake and exhaust. The fuel cell system according to [1] above, wherein the pair of air vents 1a, 1b and the inside of the fuel cell 1 form a battery internal flow path 36 through which heated air passes as a part of the warm air circulation paths 30A, 30B. [7] The fuel cell system according to [1] above, comprising an opening / closing device 8 that opens or closes one of the openings 11a, 13a or / and the other opening 11b, 13b of the partition walls 11, 13 to communicate or cut off the warm air circulation paths 30A, 30B. [8] The partition walls 11-16 include a fifth partition wall 15 and a sixth partition wall 16 facing each other. The fifth and sixth partition walls 15, 16 each have a ventilation opening 15a, 16a. The preheater 3 is provided at one of the openings 11a, 13a or the other opening 11b, 13b of the partition walls 11, 13, or is provided between the ventilation openings 15a, 16a of the fifth or sixth partition walls 15, 16 and the fuel cell 1, in the fuel cell system according to [1] above. [9] The battery chamber 60 includes a first space 65 between the fifth partition wall 15 and the fuel cell 1 and another space 66 between the sixth partition walls 15, 16 and the fuel cell 1. The preheater 3 is provided at one opening 11a located on the side of the first space 65. The outlet 3a of the preheater 3 is arranged in the first space 65 having a smaller volume than the other space 66, the fuel cell system according to [8] above.

[10] The battery chamber 60 includes a first space 65 between the fifth partition wall 15 and the fuel cell 1 and another space 66 between the sixth partition wall 16 and the fuel cell 1. The preheater 3 is provided in the other space 66 having a smaller volume than the first space 65 and is arranged between the ventilation port 16 of the sixth partition wall 16 and the fuel cell 1, the fuel cell system according to [8] above.

[11] The fuel cell system according to [8] above, comprising a shutter for opening or closing the ventilation port 15a of the fifth partition wall 15 and / or the ventilation port 16a of the sixth partition wall 16.

[12] When the measured temperature of the battery chamber 60 is equal to or lower than the first temperature during startup of the fuel cell systems 100, 200 according to [1] above, the process of operating the preheater 3 to circulate heated air through the heating air circulation paths 30A, 30B, The process of circulating the heated air through the heating air circulation paths 30A, 30B, and when a certain period of time has elapsed and / or when the measured temperature of the battery chamber 60 becomes equal to or higher than the second temperature, starting power generation by operating the fuel cell 1. A method for operating a fuel cell system, characterized by including these processes.

[13] The process of circulating the heated air through the heating air circulation paths 30A, 30B includes at least filling the upper space 61 between the upper partition wall 11 of the partition wall and the fuel cell 1, the first space 65 between the front partition wall 15 of the partition wall and the fuel cell 1, and the rear space 66 between the rear partition wall 16 of the partition wall and the fuel cell 1 with the heated air and bringing the heated air into contact with the surfaces 81, 85, 86 of the fuel cell 1. The method for operating a fuel cell system according to

[12] above.

[14] In the method for circulating heated air in the fuel cell system 100 according to [9] above, the heated air sent out from the preheater 3 provided at one opening 11a of the first partition wall 11 flows through one space 65 of the battery chamber 60, the upper surface 81 and the interior of the fuel cell 1, the other space 66 of the battery chamber 60, the other opening 11b of the first partition wall 11, and the upper duct 20a communicating from the first partition wall 11, and returns to the one opening 11a, flowing through the first warm air circulation path 30A. The method for circulating heated air is characterized by this.

[15] In the method for circulating heated air in the fuel cell system 200 according to

[10] above, the heated air sent out from the preheater 3 provided in the other space 66 of the battery chamber 60 flows through the other space 66, the upper surface 81, the bottom surface 82 and the interior of the fuel cell 1, one space 65 of the battery chamber 60, one opening 13a of the third partition wall 13, the side duct 20b communicating from the third partition wall 13, and the other opening 13b of the third partition wall 13, and returns to the other space 66, flowing through the second warm air circulation path 30B. The method for circulating heated air is characterized by this.

Industrial Applicability

[0061] The present invention can be widely used in an environment where air exists. For example, as a power source used at all times and in emergencies in houses, office buildings, factories, schools, hospitals, streetlights, traffic signals, emergency equipment, infrastructure facilities, commercial facilities, amusement facilities, neon advertisements, remote areas, mountain huts, remote islands, inside space stations, lunar facilities, etc., and also as a power source for passenger cars, motorcycles, buses, trucks, trains, ships, inside submarines, airplanes, inside rockets, inside artificial satellites, etc., the fuel cell system according to the present invention, its operation method, and the method for circulating heated air can be widely used.

Explanation of Signs

[0062] 1··Fuel cell, 1a, 1b··A pair of air vents, 3··Preheater, 3a··Outlet, 8··Opening / closing device, 11··First partition (partition wall), 12··Second partition, 13··Third partition (partition wall), 14··Fourth partition, 11a, 13a··One opening, 11b, 13b··The other opening, 20a, 20b··Duct, 30A, 30B··Heating circulation path, 31, 32··Partition flow path, 36··In-battery flow path, 60··Battery chamber, 65··One space, 66··Another space, 81 - 86··Surface of fuel cell, 100, 200··Fuel cell system,

Claims

1. a battery compartment defined by a partition; A fuel cell installed in a battery compartment; a duct communicating with the battery chamber through at least one opening and the other opening provided in the partition wall; A preheater that delivers heated air; At least the battery chamber, the one opening, the other opening, and the duct constitute a warm air circulation path for the heated air discharged from the preheater; The partition wall includes a first partition wall, a second partition wall, a third partition wall, and a fourth partition wall, A fuel cell system characterized in that, of the four faces of the first to fourth partition walls, two or three of the partition walls are in contact with a fuel cell, and the remaining two or one of the partition walls form a partition wall flow path between the fuel cell and the partition wall, which forms a part of a warm air circulation path for flowing heated air.

2. 2. The fuel cell system according to claim 1, wherein the partition walls on two or three sides in contact with the fuel cell are made of a metal material or a highly thermally conductive material.

3. the second to fourth partition walls each come into contact with the fuel cell; 2. The fuel cell system according to claim 1, wherein a first partition flow path for flowing heated air is formed between the first partition and an upper surface of the fuel cell as a part of the warm air circulation path.

4. the third and fourth partition walls contact each side surface of the fuel cell, The warm air circulation path is a first partition flow path for allowing the heated air to flow between the first partition and an upper surface of the fuel cell; 2. The fuel cell system according to claim 1, further comprising a second partition flow passage for allowing the heated air to flow between the second partition and a bottom surface of the fuel cell.

5. The fuel cell is provided with a pair of vents for intake and exhaust, 2. The fuel cell system according to claim 1, wherein the pair of vents and the inside of the fuel cell form an internal cell flow path through which heated air passes as part of a warm air circulation path.

6. 2. The fuel cell system according to claim 1, further comprising an opening / closing device for connecting or disconnecting the warm air circulation path by opening or closing one opening and / or the other opening of the partition wall.

7. a battery compartment defined by a partition; A fuel cell installed in a battery compartment; a duct communicating with the battery chamber through at least one opening and the other opening provided in the partition wall; A preheater that delivers heated air; At least the battery chamber, the one opening, the other opening, and the duct constitute a warm air circulation path for the heated air discharged from the preheater; The partition wall includes a fifth partition wall and a sixth partition wall opposed to each other, The fifth and sixth partitions each have a ventilation opening; The preheater is At one opening or the other opening of the dividing bulkhead, or provided between the ventilation hole of the fifth or sixth partition wall and the fuel cell, the battery chamber includes one space between the fifth partition and the fuel cell, and another space between the sixth partition and the fuel cell, The preheater is provided at one opening located on one space side, A fuel cell system, comprising: a preheater outlet disposed in one space having a smaller volume than the other spaces.

8. a battery compartment defined by a partition; A fuel cell installed in a battery compartment; a duct communicating with the battery chamber through at least one opening and the other opening provided in the partition wall; A preheater that delivers heated air; At least the battery chamber, the one opening, the other opening, and the duct constitute a warm air circulation path for the heated air discharged from the preheater; The partition wall includes a fifth partition wall and a sixth partition wall opposed to each other, The fifth and sixth partitions each have a ventilation opening; The preheater is At one opening or the other opening of the dividing bulkhead, or provided between the ventilation hole of the fifth or sixth partition wall and the fuel cell, the battery chamber includes one space between the fifth partition and the fuel cell, and another space between the sixth partition and the fuel cell, A fuel cell system, wherein the preheater is provided in another space having a smaller volume than the one space, and is disposed between the ventilation opening of the sixth partition wall and the fuel cell.

9. a battery compartment defined by a partition; A fuel cell installed in a battery compartment; a duct communicating with the battery chamber through at least one opening and the other opening provided in the partition wall; A preheater that delivers heated air; At least the battery chamber, the one opening, the other opening, and the duct constitute a warm air circulation path for the heated air discharged from the preheater; The partition wall includes a fifth partition wall and a sixth partition wall opposed to each other, The fifth and sixth partitions each have a ventilation opening; The preheater is At one opening or the other opening of the dividing bulkhead, or provided between the ventilation hole of the fifth or sixth partition wall and the fuel cell, A fuel cell system comprising a shutter for opening or closing a ventilation opening in a fifth partition and / or a ventilation opening in a sixth partition.

10. A method for operating a fuel cell system comprising: a battery chamber defined by a partition wall; a fuel cell installed in the battery chamber; a duct communicating with the battery chamber through at least one opening and the other opening provided in a partition wall of the partition wall; and a preheater that delivers heated air, wherein at least the battery chamber, the one opening and the other opening, and the duct constitute a warm air circulation path for the heated air delivered from the preheater, comprising: when the measured temperature of the battery compartment is equal to or lower than a first temperature during startup of the fuel cell system, activating a preheater to circulate heated air through a warm air circulation path; circulating the heated air through the warm air circulation path, and when a certain time has elapsed and / or when the measured temperature in the battery compartment reaches or exceeds a second temperature, operating the fuel cell to start generating electricity; A method for operating a fuel cell system, characterized in that the process of circulating heated air through a warm air circulation path includes a process of filling at least an upper space between an upper partition of the partition and the fuel cell, a space between a front partition of the partition and the fuel cell, and a rear space between a rear partition of the partition and the fuel cell with heated air, and bringing the heated air into contact with a surface of the fuel cell.

11. A method for circulating heated air in a fuel cell system as described in claim 7, characterized in that heated air discharged from a preheater provided at one opening of the first partition flows through a first warm air circulation path, passing through one space of the battery chamber, the upper surface and interior of the fuel cell 1, another space of the battery chamber, the other opening of the first partition, and an upper duct communicating with the first partition, before returning to one opening.

12. In the method of circulating heated air in a fuel cell system described in claim 8, the heated air discharged from a preheater provided in another space of the battery chamber flows through a second warm air circulation path that passes through the other space, the top and bottom surfaces and interior of the fuel cell, one space of the battery chamber, one opening of the third partition, a side duct communicating with the third partition, and the other opening of the third partition, and returns to the other space.

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