Honda Motor Co., Ltd.

Nec Corporation

Honda Motor Ltd., Ltd.

Hiroki Homma

Tetsuya Ogawa

Koji Dan

Keiji Tsukamoto

Masahiko Izumi

Tadashi Tsunoda

Shigeru Toda

Atsushi Ishioka

Yuki Yoshimine

Yukihiko Kiyohiro

Tsutomu Takahashi

Jun Yamamoto

Bunichi Saito

Hideichi Yamamura

Yukihisa Kanao

Jun Mizuno

A reformer and an evaporator of a fuel cell module are provided adjacent to each other. An exhaust gas combustion chamber which combusts a fuel exhaust gas and an oxygen-containing exhaust gas discharged from a fuel cell to produce a combustion exhaust gas includes a first chamber and a second chamber connected to each other, and a combustion chamber outlet for discharging the combustion exhaust gas in the exhaust gas combustion chamber. At least part of an outer wall surface of the first chamber faces the evaporator with clearance. At least part of a wall forming the second chamber is a common wall shared with the reformer.

Fuel cell module

In a fuel cell module, a reformer and an evaporator provided adjacent to each other each extend to surround at least part of outer periphery of an exhaust gas combustion chamber as viewed in the direction of arrangement of the reformer and the evaporator. An auxiliary device case surrounds the outer periphery of the reformer and the evaporator with clearance. Both ends of the evaporator in the extension direction thereof are spaced from each other. The evaporator and the auxiliary device case are connected only by a first connector section at one position. The evaporator and the reformer are connected only by a second connector section at one position. Both ends of the reformer in the extension direction thereof are spaced from each other. The reformer and the auxiliary device case are connected only by a third connector section at one position.

An object of the present invention is to provide a fuel cell system for preventing carbon deposition in a fuel cell stack to be supplied with reformed gas. A fuel cell systemA of the present invention includes a partial oxidation reformerfor partially oxidizing raw fuel to produce carbon monoxide and hydrogen, a shift reactorfor shift reacting the carbon monoxide with steam to produce carbon dioxide and hydrogen, a fuel cell stackfor generating electric power by electrochemical reaction between oxidant gas and the hydrogen which is produced in at least one of the partial oxidation reformerand the shift reactor, and an exhaust gas recirculation pipe Pfor supplying steam contained in exhaust gas of the fuel cell stackto the shift reactor

Fuel cell system

A fuel cell of a fuel cell stack includes a power generation reaction area, a marginal area around the power generation reaction area, and a first reactant gas flow area and a second reactant gas flow area. The first reactant gas flow area and the second reactant gas flow area are provided outside the power generation reaction area and inside the marginal area. The fuel cell stack includes a first load applying unit configured to apply a first load to the marginal area in the stacking direction and a second load applying area configured to apply a second load to the power generation reaction area in the stacking direction.

Fuel cell stack

A fuel cell module includes combustion gas channel members connected to a combustor and extending upward along the fuel cell stack. The combustion gas channel members have combustion gas channels, and combustion gas ejection holes. A combustion gas produced in the combustor flows through the combustion gas channels upward, and the combustion gas ejection holes are connected to the combustion gas channels for releasing the combustion gas toward side surfaces of the fuel cell stack.

A fuel cell module includes a first casing containing the fuel cell stack, and a second casing containing the first casing, an exhaust gas combustor, and a heat exchanger. The exhaust gas combustor has a combustion gas discharge opening opened to a combustion gas chamber formed between the first casing and the second casing.

A fuel cell includes separators. A second plate of the separator includes a second circular disk section, a second elongated plate section, and a second rectangular section. A fuel gas supply passage extends through the second circular disk section. The second rectangular section has a fuel gas inlet for supplying a fuel gas to a fuel gas channel, an outer ridge, and a fuel gas outlet for discharging the fuel gas, and a detour path forming wall bent in a V-shape toward the fuel gas inlet. A fuel gas inlet is formed in the V-shaped inner area of the detour path forming wall.

Fuel cell

A fuel cell of a fuel cell stack includes separators. Each of the separators includes a fuel gas supply section, a bridge, and a sandwiching section. A fuel gas supply passage extends through the center of the fuel gas supply section, and a fuel gas supply channel is formed in the bridge. A plurality of the fuel cells are stacked together to form a stack body. Side insulating members are provided in parallel with an extension line extending from the bridge, and along both of outer portions of the sandwiching section. The side insulating members suppress heat radiation from the fuel cells, and are used as a reference level for positioning the fuel cells at the time of stacking the fuel cells.

A fuel cell stack includes a stack body formed by stacking a plurality of solid oxide fuel cells. The fuel cell stack includes a lower end plate, a load plate, and a fuel cell support member. The lower end plate is positioned at one end of the stack body in the stacking direction for placing the stack body on the lower end plate. The load plate is provided at the other end of the stack body for applying a load to the stack body in the stacking direction. The fuel cell support member is provided between the load plate and the stack body, and includes a composite layer made of alumina fiber and vermiculite.

A separator of a fuel cell includes a sandwiching section, first and second bridges connected to the sandwiching section, a fuel gas supply section connected to the first bridge and an oxygen-containing gas supply section connected to the second bridge. The sandwiching section sandwiches an electrolyte electrode assembly, and has a fuel gas channel and an oxygen-containing gas channel separately. In the sandwiching section, a plurality of first projections are arranged in a zigzag pattern in a direction in which the first bridge extends, and the first projections at least protrude toward the fuel gas channel to contact an anode.

Fuel cell comprising separator with protrusions in zigzag-pattern

A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell stack, a heat exchanger, a reformer, and a combustor. The combustor is provided around the heat exchanger. A combustion gas path for supplying a combustion gas produced in the combustor to the heat exchanger and an exhaust gas path for supplying an exhaust gas discharged from the fuel cell stack after consumption in power generation reaction are merged at a merger section provided on an upstream side of a heat medium inlet of the heat exchanger.

A fuel cell module includes a fuel cell stack, a heat exchanger, an evaporator, a reformer, and a combustor for at least heating any of the fuel cell stack, the heat exchanger, the evaporator, and the reformer. The fuel cell module is surrounded by an inner heat insulating layer and an outer heat insulating layer. The inner heat insulating layer is used in a high temperature area, and the outer heat insulating layer is used in a low temperature area. The inner heat insulating layer contains a large amount of metal component in comparison with the outer heat insulating layer.

A flow path member includes an orifice section, a pressure regulating section, a filter section, and a distribution section joined together integrally, and these components are detachably provided between insulating seals. In the orifice section, orifice holes are formed around a fuel gas supply passage. In the pressure regulating section, a substantially ring shaped pressure regulating chamber is formed. In the filter section, a plurality of filter holes are formed. The orifice holes and the filter holes are connected through the pressure regulating chamber. In the distribution section, a plurality of distribution grooves for distributing the fuel gas flowing through the fuel gas supply passage in a stacking direction to flow along a separator surface, and a circular groove for supplying the fuel gas to the filter section are formed.

A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell stack, a heat exchanger, a reformer, and a combustor. A combustion gas path for supplying the combustion gas produced in the combustor to the heat exchanger as the heat medium is provided. The combustion gas path is provided between a space of dual walls comprising a first inner plate and a second inner plate and a first case unit and a second case unit accommodating a load applying mechanism and the fuel cell stack.

A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell stack, a fluid unit, and a load applying mechanism. The fluid unit includes a heat exchanger and a reformer provided on one side of the fuel cell stack, and the load applying mechanism is provided on the other side of the fuel cell stack. The load applying mechanism includes first and second tightening units for applying different loads to desired regions of the fuel cell stack in the stacking direction.

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Asaka, Japan

Hiroki Homma