Fuel cell system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9871264-B2
Application number	US-201514794664-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 8, 2015
Priority date	Apr 16, 2013
Publication date	Jan 16, 2018
Grant date	Jan 16, 2018

Abstract

The present invention provides a fuel cell system using combustion heat for an evaporator and a desulfurizer effectively. The fuel cell system comprises a combustor, a reformer, a fuel cell, a first cathode air heating part, a desulfurizer and an evaporator. A mixture of oxygen and gas which is contained in fuel is combusted in the combustor. A combustion exhaust gas generated in the combustor flows in the fuel cell system in such a manner that the combustion exhaust gas gives thermal energy to the reformer, the first cathode air heating part, the desulfurizer, and the evaporator in this order.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A fuel cell system comprising:
a combustor where a mixture of oxygen and gas which is contained in fuel is combusted;
a reformer for generating a reformed gas to be used as the fuel through a reforming reaction from supplied gaseous fuel using a combustion exhaust gas generated in the combustor as a heat source;
a fuel cell for generating electric power through a reaction of the reformed gas and an oxidation gas;
a first cathode air heating part for heating the oxidation gas to be supplied to the fuel cell using the combustion exhaust gas which has heated the reformer as a heat source;
a desulfurizer for removing a sulfur ingredient contained in the fuel to be supplied to the reformer using the combustion exhaust gas which has heated the first cathode air heating part as a heat source; and
an evaporator for generating water vapor to be supplied to the reformer by evaporating a supplied water using the combustion exhaust gas which has heated the desulfurizer as a heat source,
wherein the reformer, the first cathode air heating part, the desulfurizer, and the evaporator are disposed in this order along a heat transfer direction of the combustion exhaust gas from the combustor in such a manner that the combustion exhaust gas flows from a device which operates at a higher temperature to a device which operates at a lower temperature.

2. The fuel cell system according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a cathode air supply flow channel through which the oxidation gas to be supplied to the fuel cell through the first cathode air heating part flows, wherein
the cathode air supply flow channel has a second cathode air heating part for heating the oxidation gas flowing through the cathode air supply flow channel using heat generated in the fuel cell.

3. The fuel cell system according to claim 2 , wherein
the second cathode air heating part is disposed at a bottom of the fuel cell, and
the cathode air supply flow channel is provided with the second cathode air heating part on an upstream side of the first cathode air heating part.

4. The fuel cell system according to claim 2 , wherein
the second cathode air heating part is disposed at a bottom of the fuel cell, and
the cathode air supply flow channel is provided with the second cathode air heating part on a downstream side of the first cathode air heating part.

5. The fuel cell system according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a metal plate disposed between the combustor and the reformer, wherein
a space through which the combustion exhaust gas generated in the combustor flows is formed between the metal plate and the reformer.

6. The fuel cell system according to claim 1 , wherein
a first space is formed between the combustor and the reformer,
a second space is formed between the reformer and the first cathode air heating part,
a third space is formed between the first cathode air heating part and the desulfurizer,
a fourth space is formed between the desulfurizer and the evaporator, and
at least one space selected from the second space, the third space, and the fourth space functions as a flow channel through which the combustion exhaust gas flows.

7. The fuel cell system according to claim 6 , wherein
a direction in which the combustion exhaust gas flows in one space selected from the group consisting of the second space, the third space, and the fourth space is opposite to a direction in which the combustion exhaust gas flows in at least one of the other spaces.

8. The fuel cell system according to claim 7 , further comprising:
a first exhaust gas introduction guide for leading the combustion exhaust gas to the second space; and
a second exhaust gas introduction guide for leading the combustion exhaust gas to the third space, wherein
the first exhaust gas introduction guide is provided at one end of the bottom surface of the first cathode air heating part,
the first exhaust gas introduction guide is inclined or extended downwardly from the one end of the bottom surface of the first cathode air heating part,
the second exhaust gas introduction guide is provided at one end of the bottom surface of the desulfurizer in such a manner that the first cathode air heating part is interposed between the first exhaust gas introduction guide and the second exhaust gas introduction guide,
the second exhaust gas introduction guide is inclined or extended downwardly from the one end of the bottom surface of the desulfurizer, and
the direction in which the combustion exhaust gas flows in the second space is opposite to the direction in which the combustion exhaust gas flows in the third space.

9. The fuel cell system according to claim 7 , further comprising:
a first exhaust gas introduction guide for leading the combustion exhaust gas to the second space; and
a second exhaust gas introduction guide for leading the combustion exhaust gas to the fourth space, wherein
the first exhaust gas introduction guide is provided at one end of the bottom surface of the first cathode air heating part,
the first exhaust gas introduction guide is inclined or extended downwardly from the one end of the bottom surface of the first cathode air heating part,
the second exhaust gas introduction guide is provided at one end of the bottom surface of the evaporator in such a manner that the first cathode air heating part and the desulfurizer are interposed between the first exhaust gas introduction guide and the second exhaust gas introduction guide,
the second exhaust gas introduction guide is inclined or extended downwardly from the one end of the bottom surface of the evaporator, and
the direction in which the combustion exhaust gas flows in the second space is opposite to the direction in which the combustion exhaust gas flows in the fourth space.

10. The fuel cell system according to claim 8 , further comprising:
a first exhaust gas lead-out part for upwardly leading the combustion exhaust gas which has flowed through the second space, wherein
the first exhaust gas lead-out part is provided at one end of an upper surface of the reformer in such a manner that the reformer is interposed between the first exhaust gas lead-out part and the first exhaust gas introduction guide, and
the first exhaust gas lead-out part is inclined or extended upwardly from the one end of the upper surface of the reformer.

11. The fuel cell system according to claim 7 , further comprising:
a first exhaust gas introduction guide for leading the combustion exhaust gas to the third space; and
a second exhaust gas introduction guide for leading the combustion exhaust gas to the fourth space, wherein
the first exhaust gas introduction guide is provided at one end of the bottom surface of the desulfurizer,
the first exhaust gas introduction guide is inclined or extended downwardly from the one end of the bottom surface of the desulfurizer,
the second exhaust gas introduction guide is provided at one end of the bottom surface of the evaporator in such a manner that the desulfurizer is interposed between the first exhaust gas introduction guide and the second exhaust gas introduction guide,
the second exhaust gas introduction guide is inclined or extended downwardly from the one end of the bottom surface of the evaporator, and
the direction in which the combustion exhaust gas flows in the third space is opposite to the direction in which the combustion exhaust gas flows in the fourth space.

12. The fuel cell system according to claim 11 , further comprising:
a first exhaust gas lead-out part for upwardly leading the combustion exhaust gas which has flowed through the third space, wherein
the first exh

Assignees

• Panasonic Ip Man Co Ltd

Inventors

• Dohkoshi Miki
• Ukai Kunihiro
• Maruyama Takehiro

Classifications

• H01M8/1246

  the electrolyte consisting of oxides · CPC title

• H01M8/04074

  Heat exchange unit structures specially adapted for fuel cell · CPC title

• H01M2008/1293

  Fuel cells with solid oxide electrolytes · CPC title

• H01M8/0675 Primary

  Removal of sulfur · CPC title

• H01M8/04022

  Heating by combustion · CPC title