Fuel cell unit

Abstract

A fuel cell unit 1a of the present disclosure comprises a housing 10, a pair of doors 20, and a fuel cell module 30. The housing 10 has an opening 12. The opening 12 is surrounded by an edge 14. The edge 14 includes a first straight line section 14a and a second straight line section 14b. The first straight line section 14a and the second straight line section 14b extend parallel to each other. The pair of doors 20 are attached to the housing 10 and cover the opening 12. The fuel cell module 30 is positioned inside the housing 10. The pair of doors 20 include a first door 21a and a second door 21b. The first door 21a is attached to the first straight line section 14a so as to be able to rotate about the first straight line section 14a. The second door 21b is attached to the second straight line section 14b so as to be able to rotate about the second straight line section 14b.

Description

fuel cell unit

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a fuel cell unit.

[0002] Patent Document 1 describes a fuel cell unit. This fuel cell unit has a piping section and an exhaust section on a maintenance surface for performing maintenance on the inside of the housing. The piping section has pipes arranged to supply fuel for power generation to the fuel cell module inside the housing. The exhaust section discharges exhaust gas from the fuel cell module. The maintenance surface has, for example, a door structure fixed to the frame via a hinge or a removable panel structure with its periphery fixed with screws.

[0003] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2018-160324

[0004] When installing a fuel cell unit, it is necessary to consider not only the area required for installation of the fuel cell unit but also the area required for maintenance. For example, when configuring a fuel cell system that installs multiple fuel cell units to obtain a large power output, it is desirable to improve the ratio of the power output to the area required for maintenance of the multiple fuel cell units.

[0005] The present disclosure provides an advantageous technique from the viewpoint of reducing the area required for maintenance of a fuel cell unit.

[0006] The present disclosure provides a fuel cell unit comprising: a housing having an opening surrounded by an edge including a first straight portion and a second straight portion extending parallel to each other; a pair of doors attached to the housing and covering the opening; and a fuel cell module disposed inside the housing, wherein the pair of doors include a first door attached to the first straight portion so as to be rotatable about the first straight portion, and a second door attached to the second straight portion so as to be rotatable about the second straight portion.

[0007] The technology of the present disclosure is advantageous from the viewpoint of reducing the area required for maintenance of the fuel cell unit.

[0008] a perspective view of a fuel cell unit according to embodiment 1; a perspective view of a fuel cell unit with a pair of doors open; a front view of the pair of doors in a locked state; a rear view showing the interior of the housing of the pair of doors in a locked state; a partial front view of the pair of doors in an unlocked state; a partial rear view showing the rear side of the pair of doors in an unlocked state; a partial rear view showing the rear side of the pair of doors in an unlocked state; a side view showing the first rod and the first rod receiving portion; a side view showing the second rod and the second rod receiving portion;

[0009] (Knowledge forming the basis of the present disclosure) In some cases, screwed exterior panels must be removed for maintenance of a fuel cell unit. For example, when configuring a fuel cell system including multiple such fuel cell units to obtain a large power generation output, space is required to transport the removed exterior panels for efficient maintenance. This tends to reduce the ratio of power generation output to the area required for maintenance of multiple fuel cell units. If a door structure is adopted in the fuel cell unit, the space required for transporting the exterior panels is eliminated. However, for example, depending on the type of door structure, the space required for opening and closing the door can become large, making it difficult to improve the ratio of power generation output to the area required for maintenance of multiple fuel cell units.

[0010] Therefore, the inventors conducted extensive research into a fuel cell unit structure that would be advantageous from the perspective of reducing the area required for maintenance of the fuel cell unit, and as a result, they discovered that the area required for maintenance of the fuel cell unit can be easily reduced by adopting a specific door structure, leading to the completion of the fuel cell unit of the present disclosure.

[0011] Hereinafter, embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, unnecessary detailed description may be omitted. For example, detailed description of already well-known matters or redundant description of substantially the same configuration may be omitted.

[0012] The accompanying drawings and the following description are provided to enable those skilled in the art to fully understand the present disclosure, and are not intended to limit the subject matter recited in the claims. In the accompanying drawings, the x-axis, y-axis, and z-axis are perpendicular to each other, and the negative direction of the z-axis is the direction of gravity.

[0013] First Embodiment Hereinafter, a first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 6E.

[0014] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a fuel cell unit according to a first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the fuel cell unit 1a includes a housing 10, a pair of doors 20, and a fuel cell module 30. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the fuel cell unit 1a with the pair of doors 20 open. As shown in FIG. 2, the housing 10 has an opening 12. The opening 12 is surrounded by an edge 14. The edge 14 includes a first linear portion 14a and a second linear portion 14b. The first linear portion 14a and the second linear portion 14b extend parallel to each other. The pair of doors 20 are attached to the housing 10 to cover the opening 12. The fuel cell module 30 is disposed inside the housing 10. The pair of doors 20 include a first door 21a and a second door 21b. The first door 21a is attached to the first linear portion 14a so as to be rotatable about the first linear portion 14a. The second door 21b is attached to the second linear portion 14b so as to be rotatable about the second linear portion 14b.

[0015] The housing 10 has, for example, a rectangular parallelepiped shape. For example, the housing 10 includes five panels that form the top, bottom, back, and a pair of parallel side surfaces of the fuel cell unit 1a, and these panels are fixed to each other by screws or the like. The edge 14 is formed, for example, by the ends of the four panels that form the top, bottom, and pair of side surfaces opposite the back surface of the fuel cell unit 1a.

[0016] The pair of doors 20 form, for example, the front of the fuel cell unit 1a. Opening the pair of doors 20 allows access to the fuel cell module 30 inside the housing 10, enabling maintenance of the fuel cell unit 1a. This eliminates the need for space to transport the exterior panels that are screwed in place when they must be removed for maintenance of the fuel cell unit. In addition, compared to when a single-door structure is used, the space required to open the pair of doors 20 tends to be smaller. This makes the fuel cell unit 1a advantageous from the perspective of reducing the area required for maintenance. The pair of doors 20 are attached to the edge 14 by, for example, hinges 25.

[0017] The pair of doors 20 have a pair of end faces that face each other when they are closed, and the pair of end faces extend in a direction parallel to the first linear portion 14a.

[0018] The fuel cell module 30 includes, for example, a fuel cell stack and auxiliary equipment.

[0019] As shown in FIG. 1 , the pair of doors 20 have, for example, an air intake port 26 and an exhaust port 27. The air intake port 26 is an opening for introducing air into the interior of the housing 10. The air is supplied to the fuel cell module 30 as oxidizing gas. The exhaust port 27 is an opening for introducing exhaust gas discharged from the fuel cell module 30 to the outside of the housing 10. The exhaust gas includes at least one of anode off-gas discharged from the anode of the fuel cell module 30 and cathode off-gas discharged from the cathode of the fuel cell module 30. The air intake port 26 and the exhaust port 27 may each be formed on any one of the top surface, bottom surface, back surface, or pair of side surfaces of the fuel cell unit 1a, instead of on the pair of doors 20.

[0020] 1 , the first door 21a includes, for example, a first lever 22a. In addition, the second door 21b includes, for example, a second lever 22b. The first lever 22a enables the first door 21a to be rotatable about the first linear portion 14a. The second lever 22b enables the second door 21b to be rotatable about the second linear portion 14b. Therefore, the pair of doors 20 can be opened without using tools or the like, facilitating maintenance of the fuel cell unit 1a.

[0021] The first lever 22a and the second lever 22b are disposed on the front sides of the first door 21a and the second door 21b, respectively. When the pair of doors 20 are closed, the first lever 22a and the second lever 22b are located near a pair of opposing end faces of the pair of doors 20 in the central portion of the front of the fuel cell unit 1a.

[0022] 3 is a front view of the pair of doors 20 in a locked state. In this state, the first door 21a and the second door 21b are locked and cannot rotate.

[0023] FIG. 4 is a rear view showing the interior of the housing 10 with the pair of doors 20 in a locked state. As shown in FIG. 4, the first door 21a includes a first rod 23a connected to a first lever 22a. The second door 21b includes a second rod 23b connected to a second lever 22b. The housing 10 includes a first rod receiving portion 16a and a second rod receiving portion 16b. The first rod receiving portion 16a is capable of receiving an axial end 23m of the first rod 23a. The second rod receiving portion 16b is capable of receiving an axial end 23n of the second rod 23b. The first lever 22a moves the first rod 23a toward and away from the first rod receiving portion 16a. The second lever 22b moves the second rod 23b toward and away from the second rod receiving portion 16b. The first rod receiving portion 16a has a first guide surface 17a that guides the end 23m of the first rod 23a into the inside of the housing 10 when the first rod 23a moves toward the first rod receiving portion 16a. The second rod receiving portion 16b has a second guide surface 17b that guides the end 23n of the second rod 23b into the inside of the housing 10 when the second rod 23b moves toward the second rod receiving portion 16b. With this configuration, the pair of doors 20 are locked in a state where they are inserted inside the housing 10, which tends to improve the airtightness of the interior of the housing 10. This makes it easier to prevent leakage of electromagnetic waves that cause electromagnetic interference.

[0024] As shown in FIG. 3, the first lever 22a and the second lever 22b extend along the z-axis direction when the pair of doors 20 are locked.

[0025] 4, the first rod 23a and the second rod 23b are disposed on the back sides of the first door 21a and the second door 21b, respectively. The first door 21a includes, for example, a pair of first rods 23a. The second door 21b includes, for example, a pair of second rods 23b. The housing 10 includes, for example, a pair of first rod receiving portions 16a and a pair of second rod receiving portions 16b. The pair of first rods 23a are disposed along the end surface of the first door 21a that faces the second door 21b when the pair of doors 20 are closed. The pair of second rods 23b are disposed along the end surface of the second door 21b that faces the first door 21a when the pair of doors 20 are closed.

[0026] For example, the first door 21 a includes a first coupler 24 a, and the second door 21 b includes a second coupler 24 b. The first rod 23 a is connected to the first lever 22 a by the first coupler 24 a. The second rod 23 b is connected to the second lever 22 b by the second coupler 24 b.

[0027] FIG. 5 is a partial front view of the pair of doors 20 in an unlocked state. FIGS. 6A to 6C are partial rear views showing the back side of the pair of doors 20 in an unlocked state. FIG. 6D is a side view showing the first rod 23a and the first rod receiving portion 16a. FIG. 6E is a side view showing the second rod 23b and the second rod receiving portion 16b. As shown in FIG. 5, the first lever 22a and the second lever 22b extend along a plane perpendicular to the z-axis when the pair of doors 20 is unlocked. For example, the pair of doors 20 is unlocked by rotating the first lever 22a and the second lever 22b from a state in which they extend along the z-axis direction to a state in which they extend along a plane perpendicular to the z-axis.

[0028] The first coupler 24a is attached to the first lever 22a so as to be rotatable about the rotation axis of the first lever 22a. The second coupler 24b is attached to the second lever 22b so as to be rotatable about the rotation axis of the second lever 22b. The first coupler 24a rotates, for example, in a plane parallel to the zx plane as the first lever 22a rotates. As a result, the first coupler 24a changes from the state shown in FIG. 4 to the state shown in FIG. 6B. The second coupler 24b rotates, for example, in a plane parallel to the zx plane as the second lever 22b rotates. As a result, the second coupler 24b changes from the state shown in FIG. 4 to the state shown in FIG. 6B. As a result, as shown in FIGS. 4, 6A, and 6B, the first rod 23a can move back and forth relative to the first rod receiving portion 16a. Furthermore, the second rod 23b can move back and forth relative to the second rod receiving portion 16b.

[0029] 4, for example, one of the pair of first rod receiving portions 16a and one of the pair of second rod receiving portions 16b are positioned near the top surface of the fuel cell unit 1a. The other of the pair of first rod receiving portions 16a and the other of the pair of second rod receiving portions 16b are positioned near the bottom surface of the fuel cell unit 1a. One of the pair of first rods 23a extends from the first coupler 24a toward the top surface of the fuel cell unit 1a. The other of the pair of first rods 23a extends from the first coupler 24a toward the bottom surface of the fuel cell unit 1a. One of the pair of second rods 23b extends from the second coupler 24b toward the top surface of the fuel cell unit 1a. The other of the pair of second rods 23b extends from the second coupler 24b toward the bottom surface of the fuel cell unit 1a.

[0030] As shown in FIG. 6D , the first guide surface 17a is inclined with respect to, for example, a first plane including the first linear portion 14a and the second linear portion 14b and a second plane perpendicular to the first plane. Additionally, the first guide surface 17a protrudes toward the outside of the housing 10 and the center of the opening 12. The first plane is a plane parallel to the zx plane, and the second plane is a plane parallel to the xy plane. The second guide surface 17b is inclined with respect to, for example, the first plane and the second plane, and protrudes toward the outside of the housing 10 and the center of the opening 12 as shown in FIG. 6E . With this configuration, when the first rod 23a advances toward the first rod receiving portion 16a, the end 23m of the first rod 23a slides on the first guide surface 17a, making it easier for the first door 21a to enter the inside of the housing 10. Additionally, when the second rod 23b advances toward the second rod receiving portion 16b, the end 23n of the second rod 23b slides on the second guide surface 17b, making it easier for the second door 21b to enter the inside of the housing 10.

[0031] 4, 6A, and 6B, the end 23m of the first rod 23a includes, for example, a tapered first portion 23p. Additionally, the end 23n of the second rod 23b includes, for example, a tapered second portion 23q. With this configuration, the end 23m easily slides on the first guide surface 17a, and the end 23n easily slides on the second guide surface 17b. This makes it easier to reduce the force required to open and close the pair of doors 20.

[0032] For example, when first portion 23p is viewed in a direction perpendicular to the axis of first rod 23a, first portion 23p has a contour that curves outward from first rod 23a. For example, when second portion 23q is viewed in a direction perpendicular to the axis of second rod 23b, second portion 23q has a contour that curves outward from second rod 23b. This configuration tends to reduce the frictional force when end 23m slides on first guide surface 17a, and tends to reduce the frictional force when end 23n slides on second guide surface 17b. This further reduces the force required to open and close the pair of doors 20.

[0033] Each of the first portion 23p and the second portion 23q includes, for example, a part of a sphere or a spheroid.

[0034] 2, the fuel cell unit 1a includes, for example, a conductive packing 40. The conductive packing 40 is disposed around the opening 12 between the housing 10 and the pair of doors 20. This configuration tends to further increase the airtightness of the interior of the housing 10, and the conductive packing 40 can function as an electromagnetic wave shield. This makes it easier to prevent leakage of electromagnetic waves that cause electromagnetic interference.

[0035] The conductive packing 40 is attached to, for example, the edge 14 of the housing 10. The conductive packing 40 may also be attached to the rear sides of the pair of doors 20. The conductive packing 40 contains, for example, an elastomer in which a conductive filler is dispersed. The conductive packing 40 may also contain a foam such as urethane foam and a conductive film or conductive fiber covering the foam.

[0036] 2, the housing 10 includes a member 15 that extends, for example, parallel to the first linear portion 14a and divides the opening 12 into left and right portions. The member 15 forms, for example, a part of the edge 14. The first rod receiving portion 16a and the second rod receiving portion 16b are formed, for example, at both end portions of the member 15.

[0037] The fuel cell unit 1a includes, for example, a pair of conductive packings 40. The pair of conductive packings 40 are arranged along the edge 14 of the opening separated into left and right sides by the member 15, with a portion of the packings being arranged on the member 15. This configuration makes it easier to prevent leakage of electromagnetic waves that cause electromagnetic interference.

[0038] (Additional Notes) The above description of the embodiments discloses the following techniques.

[0039] (Technology 1) A fuel cell unit comprising: a housing having an opening surrounded by an edge including a first straight portion and a second straight portion extending parallel to each other; a pair of doors attached to the housing and covering the opening; and a fuel cell module arranged inside the housing, wherein the pair of doors include a first door attached to the first straight portion so as to be rotatable about the first straight portion, and a second door attached to the second straight portion so as to be rotatable about the second straight portion.

[0040] According to the first technique, it is possible to provide a fuel cell unit that is advantageous from the viewpoint of reducing the area required for maintenance.

[0041] (Technology 2) The fuel cell unit described in Technology 1, wherein the first door includes a first lever that allows the first door to rotate about the first linear portion, and the second door includes a second lever that allows the second door to rotate about the second linear portion.

[0042] According to the second technique, the pair of doors can be opened without using tools or the like, making it easy to perform maintenance on the fuel cell unit 1a.

[0043] (Technology 3) A fuel cell unit according to Technology 2, wherein the first door includes a first rod connected to the first lever, the second door includes a second rod connected to the second lever, the housing includes a first rod receiving portion capable of receiving an axial end of the first rod and a second rod receiving portion capable of receiving an axial end of the second rod, the first lever moves the first rod back and forth relative to the first rod receiving portion, the second lever moves the second rod back and forth relative to the second rod receiving portion, the first rod receiving portion has a first guide surface that guides the end of the first rod into the inside of the housing when the first rod advances toward the first rod receiving portion, and the second rod receiving portion has a second guide surface that guides the end of the second rod into the inside of the housing when the second rod advances toward the second rod receiving portion.

[0044] According to the third technique, it is easy to prevent leakage of electromagnetic waves that cause electromagnetic interference.

[0045] (Technology 4) A fuel cell unit described in Technology 3, wherein the first guide surface is inclined with respect to a first plane including the first straight portion and the second straight portion and a second plane perpendicular to the first plane, and protrudes toward the outside of the housing and the center of the opening, and the second guide surface is inclined with respect to the first plane and the second plane, and protrudes toward the outside of the housing and the center of the opening.

[0046] According to the fourth technique, it is easy to prevent leakage of electromagnetic waves that cause electromagnetic interference.

[0047] (Technology 5) The fuel cell unit according to Technology 4, wherein the end of the first rod includes a tapered first portion, and the end of the second rod includes a tapered second portion.

[0048] According to Technology 5, it is easy to reduce the force required to open and close the pair of doors.

[0049] (Technology 6) A fuel cell unit described in Technology 5, wherein the first portion has an outline curved outward from the first rod when the first portion is viewed in a direction perpendicular to the axis of the first rod, and the second portion has an outline curved outward from the second rod when the second portion is viewed in a direction perpendicular to the axis of the second rod.

[0050] According to technique 6, it is easier to reduce the force required to open and close a pair of doors.

[0051] (Technology 7) The fuel cell unit according to any one of Technologies 1 to 6, further comprising conductive packings arranged around the openings between the housing and the pair of doors.

[0052] According to the seventh technique, it is easy to prevent leakage of electromagnetic waves that cause electromagnetic interference.

[0053] The techniques of the present disclosure are useful in fuel cell units.

Claims

1. A fuel cell unit comprising: a housing having an opening surrounded by an edge including a first straight portion and a second straight portion extending parallel to each other; a pair of doors attached to the housing and covering the opening; and a fuel cell module disposed inside the housing, wherein the pair of doors include a first door attached to the first straight portion so as to be rotatable about the first straight portion, and a second door attached to the second straight portion so as to be rotatable about the second straight portion.

2. A fuel cell unit as described in claim 1, wherein the first door includes a first lever that enables the first door to rotate about the first linear portion, and the second door includes a second lever that enables the second door to rotate about the second linear portion.

3. The fuel cell unit described in claim 2, wherein the first door includes a first rod connected to the first lever, the second door includes a second rod connected to the second lever, the housing includes a first rod receiving portion capable of receiving an axial end of the first rod and a second rod receiving portion capable of receiving an axial end of the second rod, the first lever moves the first rod toward and away from the first rod receiving portion, the second lever moves the second rod toward and away from the second rod receiving portion, the first rod receiving portion has a first guide surface that guides the end of the first rod toward the inside of the housing when the first rod advances toward the first rod receiving portion, and the second rod receiving portion has a second guide surface that guides the end of the second rod toward the inside of the housing when the second rod advances toward the second rod receiving portion.

4. A fuel cell unit as described in claim 3, wherein the first guide surface is inclined with respect to a first plane including the first straight portion and the second straight portion and a second plane perpendicular to the first plane, and protrudes toward the outside of the housing and the center of the opening, and the second guide surface is inclined with respect to the first plane and the second plane, and protrudes toward the outside of the housing and the center of the opening.

5. The fuel cell unit according to claim 4, wherein the end of the first rod includes a tapered first portion, and the end of the second rod includes a tapered second portion.

6. A fuel cell unit as described in claim 5, wherein the first portion has an outline curved outward from the first rod when the first portion is viewed in a direction perpendicular to the axis of the first rod, and the second portion has an outline curved outward from the second rod when the second portion is viewed in a direction perpendicular to the axis of the second rod.

7. The fuel cell unit according to any one of claims 1 to 6, further comprising conductive packing disposed around the opening between the housing and the pair of doors.

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