JPH0320971A - Humidity controller for fuel cell raw material gas - Google Patents

Humidity controller for fuel cell raw material gas

Info

Publication number
JPH0320971A
JPH0320971A JP1152139A JP15213989A JPH0320971A JP H0320971 A JPH0320971 A JP H0320971A JP 1152139 A JP1152139 A JP 1152139A JP 15213989 A JP15213989 A JP 15213989A JP H0320971 A JPH0320971 A JP H0320971A
Authority
JP
Japan
Prior art keywords
raw material
material gas
cooling water
fuel cell
gas
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
JP1152139A
Other languages
Japanese (ja)
Other versions
JP2670146B2 (en
Inventor
Choichi Furuya
長一 古屋
Kuninobu Ichikawa
市川　国延
Ko Wada
和田　香
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd
Original Assignee
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd filed Critical Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd
Priority to JP1152139A priority Critical patent/JP2670146B2/en
Publication of JPH0320971A publication Critical patent/JPH0320971A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of JP2670146B2 publication Critical patent/JP2670146B2/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M8/04—Auxiliary arrangements, e.g. for control of pressure or for circulation of fluids
    • H01M8/04082—Arrangements for control of reactant parameters, e.g. pressure or concentration
    • H01M8/04089—Arrangements for control of reactant parameters, e.g. pressure or concentration of gaseous reactants
    • H01M8/04119—Arrangements for control of reactant parameters, e.g. pressure or concentration of gaseous reactants with simultaneous supply or evacuation of electrolyte; Humidifying or dehumidifying
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M8/04—Auxiliary arrangements, e.g. for control of pressure or for circulation of fluids
    • H01M8/04007—Auxiliary arrangements, e.g. for control of pressure or for circulation of fluids related to heat exchange
    • H01M8/04029—Heat exchange using liquids
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M2300/00—Electrolytes
    • H01M2300/0017—Non-aqueous electrolytes
    • H01M2300/0065—Solid electrolytes
    • H01M2300/0082—Organic polymers
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
    • Y02E60/00—Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
    • Y02E60/30—Hydrogen technology
    • Y02E60/50—Fuel cells

Landscapes

  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
  • Sustainable Development (AREA)
  • Sustainable Energy (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
  • Electrochemistry (AREA)
  • General Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Fuel Cell (AREA)

Abstract

PURPOSE:To keep the moisture content in an electrolyte film of a cell constant at high response rate according to load variation without use of any specific means by separating raw material gas passages from a cooling water passage with a steam peameable gas diffusion film. CONSTITUTION:Cooling water 3 heated by cooling a solid polymer electrolyte type fuel cell main body 2 is introduced into a raw material gas humidity controller 1 in which raw material gas passages are separated from a cooling water passage with a steam permeable gas diffusion film. The cooling water 3 is in contact with hydrogen in the fuel gas and oxygen through the gas diffusion film, and steam is added to raw material gases at steam partial pressure corresponding to the temperature at that time. When the steam partial pressure in the raw material gas is high, moisture is transferred to the cooling water. Moisture content in each raw material gas is balanced with the steam partial pressure which keeps equilibrium at the temperature of the cooling water from the cell main body 2 in response to the variation in the supply amount of the raw material gas without use of any specific means. As a result, the moisture content in the electrolyte film is automatically kept constant at high response rate according to load variation.

Description

【発明の詳細な説明】 （産業上の利用分野） 本発明は、固体高分子電解質型燃料電池の電解質膜に最
適な含水十を保持するために、燃料電池に供給するｎ前
の原料ガスに対して調湿する装ｄに関する。DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention provides a method for maintaining the optimal water content in the electrolyte membrane of a solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell. It relates to a device for controlling humidity.

（従来の技術） 固体高分子電解質型燃料電池では、電解質膜を常時一定
の湿潤状態に保持する必要がある。電解質膜が乾燥する
と、イオン導電度が低下するとともに、膜と電極との接
合不良を起こして出力の急激な低下を来す。(Prior Art) In a solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell, it is necessary to maintain an electrolyte membrane in a constant wet state at all times. When the electrolyte membrane dries, the ionic conductivity decreases and a bonding failure between the membrane and the electrodes occurs, resulting in a sharp drop in output.

従来、電解質膜に水分を補給する方法として、原料ガス
の中で水素ガスに対し水蒸気を添加して燃料電池に供給
する方法があった。Conventionally, as a method of replenishing water to an electrolyte membrane, there has been a method of adding water vapor to hydrogen gas in a raw material gas and supplying the hydrogen gas to a fuel cell.

（発明が解決しようとする課題） 燃料電池を定常運転するときには、原料ガスの供給量も
一定であり、燃料電池の電解質膜を一定の湿潤状態に維
持するために必要な水蒸気供給咀も一定であるところか
ら、原料ガスに対して経験的に一定の水蒸気を添加すれ
ばよい。しかし、燃料電池に負荷変動が生ずるときには
、これに対応するように原料ガスの供給量を変化させる
必要があり、また、燃料電池の発熱量も変動するので、
両者を考慮して原料ガスへの水蒸気の添加ｍを制御する
必要があるが、この制御は大変難しい。また、燃料電池
の負荷変動に対する応答速度も要求される。さらに、こ
の制御には、種々のセンサーや制御手段を必要とするた
め、装置が複雑になる。(Problem to be Solved by the Invention) When a fuel cell is operated steadily, the amount of raw material gas supplied is constant, and the amount of water vapor supplied necessary to maintain the electrolyte membrane of the fuel cell in a constant wet state is also constant. From a certain point, a certain amount of water vapor may be added to the raw material gas based on experience. However, when load fluctuations occur in the fuel cell, it is necessary to change the supply amount of raw material gas in response to this, and the amount of heat generated by the fuel cell also fluctuates.
It is necessary to control the amount of water vapor added to the raw material gas by considering both factors, but this control is very difficult. Furthermore, response speed to load fluctuations of the fuel cell is also required. Furthermore, this control requires various sensors and control means, making the device complex.

本発明は、上記の問題点を解消し、負荷変動に対しても
特別な調湿制御手段を用いることな＜、電解質膜の含水
率を高い応答速度で一定に保持することを可能にした、
原料ガスの調湿装置を提供しようとするものである。The present invention solves the above problems and makes it possible to maintain the water content of an electrolyte membrane constant at a high response speed even in response to load fluctuations without using special humidity control means.
The present invention aims to provide a humidity control device for raw material gas.

（課題を解決するための手段） 本発明は、固体高分子電解質型燃料電池に供給する直前
の原料ガスを調湿する装置において、水蒸気を透過する
ガス拡散膜により、該原料ガスの流路と燃料電池から流
出する冷却水の流路とを分離したことを特徴とする燃料
電池原料ガスの調湿装置である。(Means for Solving the Problems) The present invention provides an apparatus for controlling the humidity of raw material gas immediately before supplying it to a solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell, in which a gas diffusion membrane that transmits water vapor is used to connect the flow path of the raw material gas. This is a humidity control device for fuel cell raw material gas, characterized in that the flow path for cooling water flowing out from the fuel cell is separated from the flow path for cooling water.

〈作用） 第Ｉ図は、本発明に係る原料ガス調氾装置と固体高分子
電解質型燃料電池本体との関係を示した流れ図である。<Function> FIG. I is a flowchart showing the relationship between the raw material gas regulating device and the solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell body according to the present invention.

第１図では、水蒸気を透過するガス拡散膜で原料ガス流
路と冷却水流路に分離した原料ガス調湿装置ｌを、燃料
電池本体２の直前にを配置し、燃料電池本体を冷却して
、それ自体は加熱された冷却水３を原料ガス調湿装置ｌ
に導入し、水素ガス、必要に応じて酸素ガスについても
ガス拡＠膜を介して接触させ、接触時の温度に対応する
水蒸気分圧で原料ガス中に水蒸気を添加し、原料ガス中
の水蒸気分圧の方が高いときには水分を冷却水側に移行
させる。In Fig. 1, a raw material gas humidity control device 1, which is separated into a raw material gas flow path and a cooling water flow path by a gas diffusion membrane that permeates water vapor, is placed immediately in front of the fuel cell main body 2, and is used to cool the fuel cell main body. , itself supplies the heated cooling water 3 to the raw gas humidity control device l.
Hydrogen gas and, if necessary, oxygen gas are also brought into contact with each other through a gas expansion membrane, and water vapor is added to the raw material gas at a water vapor partial pressure corresponding to the temperature at the time of contact. When the partial pressure is higher, the water is transferred to the cooling water side.

このように、本発明の原料ガス２Ｉ湿装置を用いると、
特別な調節手段を用いなくとも、原料ガスの供給量の変
動に対応し、燃料電池本体から流出した直後の冷却水の
温度に平衡する水蒸気分圧に、原料ガスをバランスさせ
ることができ、燃料電池の電解質膜に対して最適な湿潤
状態を保持するように、原料ガスに水分の補給若しくは
除湿を行うことができる。In this way, when the raw material gas 2I humidifying device of the present invention is used,
Even without using any special adjustment means, it is possible to respond to fluctuations in the supply amount of raw material gas and balance the raw material gas to a water vapor partial pressure that is in equilibrium with the temperature of the cooling water immediately after it flows out of the fuel cell main body. Moisture can be replenished or dehumidified to the raw material gas so as to maintain an optimal moist state for the electrolyte membrane of the battery.

第２図及び第３図は、本発明の原料ガス調湿装置の具体
的な構造を示した概念図である。FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 are conceptual diagrams showing the specific structure of the raw material gas humidity control device of the present invention.

第２図は、円筒状ガス拡散膜を用いた原料ガス調湿装置
であって、該ガス拡散ＩＩＩ２６を導管７の中心に配置
し、流路８及び９を形成する。これらの流路の一方には
燃料電池から流出する冷却水を、他方には燃料電池に供
給する原料ガスを流すようにしたものである。なお、冷
却水を外側の流路９に流すときには、外気により冷却水
が冷却され、その分、原料ガスへの水蒸気の供給電が低
下するので、冷却水の放熱を防ぐために導管を断熱材で
包む必変がある。FIG. 2 shows a source gas humidity control device using a cylindrical gas diffusion membrane, in which the gas diffusion III 26 is placed at the center of the conduit 7 and flow paths 8 and 9 are formed. Cooling water flowing out from the fuel cell flows through one of these channels, and raw material gas to be supplied to the fuel cell flows through the other. Note that when the cooling water is passed through the outer flow path 9, the cooling water is cooled by the outside air, and the power supplied to the raw material gas is reduced accordingly. Therefore, the conduit should be insulated to prevent heat dissipation of the cooling water. There is a necessity to wrap it up.

第３図は、板状ガス拡散膜を用いた原料ガス調湿装置で
あって、２枚の板状ガス拡散膜１０で冷却水流路Ｉｆを
形成し、ガス拡散膜の背面に対して、水素ガス７／ｉ　
１　４を設けた水素ガスセパレータｌ２と、酸素ガス溝
ｌ５を設けた酸素ガスセパレータｌ３を接合したもので
ある。なお、水素ガスにのみ水蒸気を補給する場合は、
酸素ガスセパレー夕側の板状ガス拡散膜の代わりにガス
を透過しない板を用いて冷却水流路を形成すればよい。FIG. 3 shows a source gas humidity control device using plate-shaped gas diffusion membranes, in which a cooling water flow path If is formed by two plate-shaped gas diffusion membranes 10, and hydrogen is gas 7/i
A hydrogen gas separator l2 provided with 14 grooves and an oxygen gas separator l3 provided with oxygen gas grooves l5 are joined together. In addition, when replenishing water vapor only to hydrogen gas,
Instead of the plate-shaped gas diffusion membrane on the side of the oxygen gas separator, a plate that does not transmit gas may be used to form the cooling water flow path.

本発明の原料ガス調湿装置に用いるガス拡散膜は、疎水
性のガス拡散膜であればその揮類を問わない。The gas diffusion membrane used in the raw material gas humidity control device of the present invention may be of any volatile type as long as it is a hydrophobic gas diffusion membrane.

（発明の効果） 本発明は、上記の構成を採用し、ガス拡散膜を介して冷
却水と原料ガスとを対峙させるという極めて簡単な構造
の調湿装置を燃料電池の直前に配置することにより、燃
料電池の負荷変動にともなう原料ガスの供給量の変化＝
Ｌ２びに燃料電池の発熱量の変動に即応して、原料ガス
に対して最適な水蒸気の補給若しくは水分の除去を行う
ことを可能とした。(Effects of the Invention) The present invention adopts the above configuration and arranges a humidity control device with an extremely simple structure in which the cooling water and the raw material gas are opposed to each other via a gas diffusion membrane just before the fuel cell. , change in raw material gas supply amount due to fuel cell load fluctuation =
This makes it possible to optimally replenish water vapor or remove water from the raw material gas in response to changes in L2 and the calorific value of the fuel cell.

【図面の簡単な説明】[Brief explanation of drawings]

第１図は本発明の原料ガス調湿装ぺと燃料電池本体との
関係を示した流れ図、第２図及び第３図は本発明の原料
ガス．ｉｉ湿装置の具体的な構造を示した概念図である
。 第２図 ４．水素ガス溝FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing the relationship between the raw material gas humidity control device of the present invention and the fuel cell main body, and FIGS. FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram showing the specific structure of the wet device. Figure 2 4. hydrogen gas groove

Claims (3)

【特許請求の範囲】[Claims] （１）固体高分子電解質型燃料電池に供給する直前の原
料ガスを調湿する装置において、水蒸気を透過するガス
拡散膜により、該原料ガスの流路と燃料電池から流出す
る冷却水の流路とを分離したことを特徴とする燃料電池
原料ガスの調湿装置。(1) In a device that controls the humidity of raw material gas immediately before being supplied to a solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell, a gas diffusion membrane that transmits water vapor is used to create a flow path for the raw material gas and a flow path for cooling water flowing out from the fuel cell. A humidity control device for a fuel cell raw material gas, characterized in that a fuel cell raw material gas is separated from the above. （２）円筒状のガス拡散膜により、原料ガス流路と冷却
水流路とを分離したことを特徴とする請求項（１）記載
の燃料電池原料ガスの調湿装置。(2) The humidity control device for fuel cell raw material gas according to claim (1), characterized in that the raw material gas flow path and the cooling water flow path are separated by a cylindrical gas diffusion membrane. （３）板状のガス拡散膜の一方に冷却水流路を形成し、
他方に原料ガス用の溝を設けたガスセパレータを接合し
たことを特徴とする請求項（１）記載の燃料電池原料ガ
スの調湿装置。(3) Forming a cooling water flow path on one side of the plate-shaped gas diffusion membrane,
2. The humidity control device for fuel cell raw material gas according to claim 1, wherein a gas separator having a groove for the raw material gas is joined to the other side.
JP1152139A 1989-06-16 1989-06-16 Fuel cell source gas humidity control system Expired - Lifetime JP2670146B2 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP1152139A JP2670146B2 (en) 1989-06-16 1989-06-16 Fuel cell source gas humidity control system

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP1152139A JP2670146B2 (en) 1989-06-16 1989-06-16 Fuel cell source gas humidity control system

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
JPH0320971A true JPH0320971A (en) 1991-01-29
JP2670146B2 JP2670146B2 (en) 1997-10-29

Family

ID=15533895

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
JP1152139A Expired - Lifetime JP2670146B2 (en) 1989-06-16 1989-06-16 Fuel cell source gas humidity control system

Country Status (1)

Country Link
JP (1) JP2670146B2 (en)

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO1995025357A1 (en) * 1994-03-15 1995-09-21 Ballard Power Systems Inc. Electrochemical fuel cell stack with humidification section located upstream from the electrochemically active section
DE10103568A1 (en) * 2001-01-26 2002-08-14 Daimler Chrysler Ag Process for improving the water balance of fuel cells
JP2002252012A (en) * 2001-02-23 2002-09-06 Asahi Kasei Corp Humidifier
JP2002298884A (en) * 2001-03-30 2002-10-11 Asahi Kasei Corp Humidifier
US6869709B2 (en) 2002-12-04 2005-03-22 Utc Fuel Cells, Llc Fuel cell system with improved humidification system
JP2012508947A (en) * 2008-11-05 2012-04-12 ベレノス・クリーン・パワー・ホールディング・アーゲー Fuel cell system including heat exchanger

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP2761066B2 (en) 1989-12-28 1998-06-04 三菱重工業株式会社 Solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell device and power generation method

Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS61135063A (en) * 1984-12-06 1986-06-23 株式会社東芝 Operation of fuel battery power plant
JPS63236519A (en) * 1987-03-24 1988-10-03 Ube Ind Ltd How to treat hazardous waste gas

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS61135063A (en) * 1984-12-06 1986-06-23 株式会社東芝 Operation of fuel battery power plant
JPS63236519A (en) * 1987-03-24 1988-10-03 Ube Ind Ltd How to treat hazardous waste gas

Cited By (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO1995025357A1 (en) * 1994-03-15 1995-09-21 Ballard Power Systems Inc. Electrochemical fuel cell stack with humidification section located upstream from the electrochemically active section
DE10103568A1 (en) * 2001-01-26 2002-08-14 Daimler Chrysler Ag Process for improving the water balance of fuel cells
WO2002059992A3 (en) * 2001-01-26 2003-07-31 Daimler Chrysler Ag Method for improving the water balance of fuel cells
JP2002252012A (en) * 2001-02-23 2002-09-06 Asahi Kasei Corp Humidifier
JP2002298884A (en) * 2001-03-30 2002-10-11 Asahi Kasei Corp Humidifier
US6869709B2 (en) 2002-12-04 2005-03-22 Utc Fuel Cells, Llc Fuel cell system with improved humidification system
JP2006509332A (en) * 2002-12-04 2006-03-16 ユーティーシー フューエル セルズ，エルエルシー Fuel cell system with improved humidification system
JP2012508947A (en) * 2008-11-05 2012-04-12 ベレノス・クリーン・パワー・ホールディング・アーゲー Fuel cell system including heat exchanger

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Publication number Publication date
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