Title: Fuel cell system provided with fluoride absorber
Abstract: Removing fluorine elements from circulating water that cools a fuel cell power generation system increases the durability of metal piping etc. of a water circulation path of this system.The fuel cell power generation system is provided with: a fuel cell main body 4, a water circulation path 8, and a fluoride absorber 6 provided in at least a portion of the water circulation path 8. The fluoride absorber 6 absorbs fluorine elements from water flowing through the water circulation path 8.
Patent Number: 6,855,449 Issued on 02/15/2005 to Hatano
| Inventors:
|
Hatano; Makoto (Obu, JP)
|
| Assignee:
|
Aisan Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Aichi-Ken, JP)
|
| Appl. No.:
|
423941 |
| Filed:
|
April 28, 2003 |
Foreign Application Priority Data
| Jun 12, 2002[JP] | 2002-171582 |
| Current U.S. Class: |
429/34; 210/683; 429/12 |
| Intern'l Class: |
H01M 008//04; C02F 001//42 |
| Field of Search: |
429/34,12
210/683
|
References Cited [Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Maples; John S.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Dennison, Schultz, Dougherty & MacDonald
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A fuel cell system comprising:
a fuel cell main body;
a water circulation path for circulating water through the fuel cell main
body, and
a fluoride absorber provided within the water circulation path, the
fluoride absorber removing fluorine elements from the water circulating
through the water circulation path.
2. A fuel cell system as set forth in claim 1, wherein;
the fluoride absorber has a fluoride absorbing member contacting with the
circulating water directly.
3. A fuel cell system as set forth in claim 2, wherein;
the fluoride absorbing member is principally formed from hydroxyapatite.
4. A fuel cell system as set forth in claim 2, wherein;
the fluoride absorbing member has one of the following shapes: a
comb-shaped polyhedron shape, a multi-piped cylinder shape, or a bead
shape.
5. A fuel cell system as set forth in claim 1, wherein;
the fluoride absorber is of a cartridge type attached to the water
circulation path such that the fluoride absorber can be removed and
replaced.
6. A cartridge-type fluoride absorber used in a fuel cell system, the
cartridge-type fluoride absorber comprising:
a fluoride absorbing member, and
a cartridge case housing the fluoride absorbing member, the cartridge case
having an inflow connection hole to be connected with an upstream side of
a water circulation path of the fuel cell system, and an outflow
connection hole to be connected with a downstream side of the water
circulation path of the fuel cell system.
7. A fluoride absorber as set forth in claim 6, wherein;
the fluoride absorbing member is principally formed from hydroxyapatite.
8. A fluoride absorber as set forth in claim 6, wherein;
the fluoride absorbing member has one of the following shapes: a
comb-shaped polyhedron shape, a multi-piped cylinder shape, or a bead
shape.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE
This application claims priority to Japanese patent application serial
number 2002-171582, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by
reference as if fully set forth herein.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Filed of the Invention
The present invention relates to a power generation system utilizing a fuel
cell (hereafter referred to as fuel cell system). Specifically, it relates
to a technique for removing fluorine from water circulating through a
water circulation path of the fuel cell system.
2. Description of the Related Art
In fuel cell systems, hydrogen obtained by reforming fuel such as methanol,
gasoline, etc. is supplied to a negative electrode (fuel electrode) of the
fuel cell, and air is supplied to a positive electrode (air electrode). An
electrochemical reaction between the hydrogen and oxygen is caused to take
place within the fuel cell, thus generating power. Among fuel cell
systems, it is expected that so-called polymer electrolyte-type fuel cells
(PEFC), which use a polymer electrolyte membrane that conducts hydrogen
ions, will readily constitute a compact and highly efficient power
generating system. PEFC is expected to be an appropriate power source for
electric cars, etc.
Polymer electrolyte-type fuel cells usually utilize a perfluoro-type
fluorocarbon polymer ion exchanging membrane (for example, a membrane
formed from perfluorocarbon sulfonic acid having the sulfonic acid group
as the ion exchanging radical). It is essential that this type of membrane
remains wet for maintaining sufficient conductivity of hydrogen ions.
Furthermore, since fuel cells use an exothermic reaction between hydrogen
and oxygen, heat tends to be produced. However, the optimal operating
temperature of polymer electrolyte-type fuel cells is 80.degree. to
100.degree. C. Consequently, cooling must be performed. Usually, cooling
water is introduced through the fuel cells.
Moreover, the reaction between hydrogen and oxygen forms water at the
positive electrodes (air electrode) of the fuel cells. The water that is
formed within the fuel cells must be removed from the fuel cells.
In power generating systems mainly composed of polymer electrolyte-type
fuel cells, the polymer electrolyte membranes must remain wet, the fuel
cells must be cooled, and water formed at the positive electrodes must be
discharged. In order for these functions to be performed, a water
circulation path passes through a fuel cell main body (stack).
Since fuel cell systems have become more compact in recent years, water
circulation paths that are as simple as possible have been devised. For
example, Japanese laid open patent publication 6-275284 presents a polymer
electrolyte-type fuel cell wherein a portion of the cooling water flowing
a cooling water passage formed within a gas separator is supplied to a
negative electrode (fuel electrode), and water formed at a positive
electrode (air electrode) is guided into the cooling water passage.
In this type of power generating systems utilizing fuel cells, providing a
water circulation path along which the cooling water circulates allows all
of the followings to be realized: the cooling water circulates; the
polymer electrolyte membrane remains wet; and the water that has been
formed is discharged.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A piping system for a water circulation path is indeed simplified if a
portion of the cooling water is supplied to the negative electrode (fuel
electrode) so that the polymer electrolyte membrane remains wet, and the
water formed at the positive electrode (air electrode) of the fuel cell
flows into the cooling water and circulates. However, research by the
present inventor shows that the following problem occurs.
As stated above, polymer electrolyte-type fuel cells use a fluorocarbon
polymer ion exchanging membrane as the polymer electrolyte membrane,
wherein typically the principal chain of the polymer consists of
fluorocarbon polymer and side chains of the polymer consist of the
sulfonic acid group capable of adding hydrogen ions (protons) thereto.
When this type of membrane is used in a state whereby water is added (a
wet state), a very small amount of fluorine ions separates from the
principal chain and reacts with surrounding water molecules to form
hydrogen fluoride. When the water, either from the cooling water supplied
to the fuel electrodes or the water formed at the air electrodes,
circulates for a long period, fluorine elements such as fluorine ions,
hydrogen fluoride, etc., gradually accumulate in the cooling water.
The fluorine elements in the circulating water lower the pH value of the
circulating water (cooling water), rendering it more corrosive to metal.
Furthermore, the fuel cells can get damaged. Consequently, in order to
improve the reliability and service life of the water circulating-type
fuel cell systems, fluorine elements must not be allowed to accumulate in
the circulating water.
The present invention was created in light of the discovery that preventing
the accumulation of fluorine elements in the circulating water plays an
important role in improving the reliability and service life of the water
circulating-type fuel cell systems. The object of the present invention is
to prevent the fuel cells, metal components of the fuel cell systems (for
example, the piping that comprises the water circulation path), etc., from
being damaged by fluorine elements such as hydrogen fluoride, etc.,
contained in the circulating water.
The fuel cell system of the present invention is provided with a fuel cell
main body and a circulation path that causes water passing through the
fuel cell main body to circulate (here and below, the water may also be in
the form of water vapor). The fuel cell system of the present invention is
characterized in having a fluoride absorber embedded in the water
circulation path, this fluoride absorber absorbing fluorine elements from
the water circulating through this water circulation path.
If the fluoride absorber is embedded in the water circulation path,
fluorine elements can be removed from the circulating water, thus
preventing damage to the metal components of the fuel cell system (for
example, the piping comprising the water circulation path) and to the fuel
cell, etc.
It is particularly preferred that the fluoride absorber is a cartridge type
attached to the water circulation path in a manner that the fluoride
absorber can be readily replaced.
Making the fluoride absorber a cartridge type allows the easy replacement
of the fluoride absorber. In other words, by making the fluoride absorber
a cartridge type, the fluoride absorbing member can easily be replaced
when the fluoride absorbing capacity thereof has decreased. This increases
the durability of the fuel cell system, and also improves maintenance.
The other aspect of the present invention is to present the cartridge-type
fluoride absorber utilized in the fuel cell system.
The fluoride absorber is provided with a cartridge case and a fluoride
absorbing member housed within the cartridge case. The cartridge case
forms a portion of the water circulation path, the fluoride absorbing
member making direct contact with the circulating water.
It is preferred that the fluoride absorbing member within the fluoride
absorber of the present invention is principally formed from
hydroxyapatite.
Hydroxyapatite (typically Ca.sub.10 (PO.sub.4).sub.6 (OH).sub.2) readily
becomes fluoroapatite (typically Ca.sub.10 (PO.sub.4).sub.6 (F).sub.2) by
reacting to fluorine elements in water. By adopting a fluoride absorbing
member containing hydroxyapatite, the fluorine elements in the water can
be removed rapidly and efficiently.
The fuel cell main body typically applicable to the present invention is a
layered plurality of unit cells having a negative electrode (fuel
electrode) supplied with hydrogen gas at one face of a polymer electrolyte
membrane and a positive electrode (air electrode) supplied with air at the
other face of the polymer electrolyte membrane. The polymer electrolyte
membrane is a fluorocarbon polymer ion exchanging membrane.
The shape and type of constituent material of the fluoride absorber of the
present invention is not restricted, as long as these remove fluorine
elements (typically fluorine ions, hydrogen fluoride) from the water
flowing through the water circulation path.
For example, the fluoride absorber may have a shape whereby the fluoride
absorbing member is affixed to a portion of an inner wall face of the
piping that comprises the water circulation path (here, this also includes
the water tank etc. in which the circulating water is stored). A suitable
arrangement is one where a cartridge-type fluoride absorber is attached to
a portion of the water circulation path in a manner that it can be easily
replaced.
Any fluoride absorbing member can be employed, as long as it has the
property of absorbing or removing the fluorine elements such as fluorine
ions, hydrogen fluoride, etc. from the water.
For example, the fluoride absorbing member may comprise a metal compound
having a greater ionizing tendency than the metal comprising the piping of
the water circulation path and the water tank, this metal compound
typically comprising a calcium compound (typically in the form of powder
or particles) such as calcium hydroxide, calcium chloride, etc. In the
fluoride absorber containing this type of fluoride absorbing member, the
fluorine ions in the water and the calcium react, the calcium fluoride
that is precipitated is trapped by a means for separating solids and
liquids, such as a fine film, an aluminum coagulating agent, etc., and the
fluorine elements are thus removed from the water circulation path.
Alternatively, an ion exchanging member capable of adsorbing fluorine or a
chelating member may equally well be utilized as the fluoride absorbing
member. This type of fluoride absorbing member is preferably composed of a
zirconium ferrite ion exchanging member or a fluorine chelating resin that
bears cerium (Ce).
Furthermore, a ceramic member having comparatively greater temperature
resistivity can suitably be utilized as the fluoride absorbing member. The
material from which this type of ceramic member is preferably formed is a
ceramic having a hydroxyl group that readily displaces F.sup.-.
Hydroxyapatite is particularly suitable as it has a high capacity for
adsorbing fluorine and can easily be molded into differing shapes. From
the viewpoint of maximizing the area thereof directly coming into contact
with water, porous hydroxyapatite (typically having a needle-shaped
crystal configuration) is particularly suitable.
The fluoride absorbing member may be formed in its entirety from a fluorine
adsorbing material, or the fluoride absorbing member may be provided with
the fluorine adsorbing material only in the portion thereof that makes
contact with the water in the water circulation path. For example, the
fluoride absorbing member may equally well be a fluorine absorbing
material (for example, chelating resin or hydroxyapatite) coated onto a
surface face of a supporting body that has high mechanical strength.
Since the ceramic member formed from hydroxyapatite etc. has good
mechanical strength and molding processability, it can be formed into a
variety of differently-shaped fluoride absorbing members. A suitable
alternative is that a supporting member (or a supporting layer) is formed
from a different ceramic, such as silica or the like, and a fluorine
adsorbing ceramic member formed from hydroxyapatite etc., is coated onto a
surface face thereof. For example, the present invention proposes a
double-layered fluoride absorbing member that has a hydroxyapatite layer
formed on an upper face of a quartz glass layer (supporting layer). The
double-layered fluoride absorbing member may be formed on inner walls of
the piping (typically formed from stainless steel) that comprises the
water circulation path.
The present invention can be better understood with reference to the
drawings and by reading the embodiments.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of a fuel cell system of the present
invention.
FIG. 2 shows an overall diagonal view of a fuel cell main body (stack).
FIG. 3 shows a cross-sectional view along the line III--III of FIG. 2.
FIG. 4 shows a disassembled diagonal view of a portion of the fuel cell
main body (stack) of FIG. 2.
FIG. 5 shows an example of the chemical structure of the material
comprising a fluorocarbon polymer ion exchanging membrane.
FIG. 6 is a view showing the interior structure of a cartridge-type
fluoride absorber.
FIG. 7 is a different view showing the interior structure of the
cartridge-type fluoride absorber.
FIG. 8 is another view showing the interior structure of the cartridge-type
fluoride absorber.
FIG. 9 is yet another view showing the interior structure of the
cartridge-type fluoride absorber.
PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
A first embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail
below with the aid of FIGS. 1-6. FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a fuel cell
system of the present invention, FIG. 2 is an overall diagonal view of a
fuel cell main body comprising the fuel cell system, FIG. 3 is a
cross-sectional view along the line III--III of FIG. 2, FIG. 4 is a
disassembled diagonal view of a portion of the fuel cell main body, FIG. 6
is a cross-sectional view of a fluoride absorber. Furthermore, in the
following description, the relative dimensions of each component are not
necessarily accurate.
As shown in FIG. 1, a fuel cell system 1 is provided with a hydrogen gas
source 2, an air source 3, a fuel cell main body 4 (hereafter referred to
as fuel cell 4), a water tank 5, a pump 7, and a fluoride absorber 6.
The hydrogen gas source 2, which supplies hydrogen gas to be used as fuel
to the fuel cell 4, consists of, for example, a hydrogen cylinder filled
with liquefied hydrogen gas, a hydrogen occluded alloy in which hydrogen
gas is occluded, or the like. Further, the hydrogen gas source 2 can also
comprise a reformer that forms hydrogen gas by water-vapor reforming of
hydrocarbon materials such as methanol etc.
The air source 3 supplies air to the fuel cell 4 and consists of, for
example, an air compressor or the like.
The fuel cell 4 generates power exothermically. The power generating
efficiency of the fuel cell 4 decreases as the temperature thereof rises.
To deal with this, the circulation water stored in the water tank 5 is
sent into the fuel cell 4 by means of the pump 7 so as to cool the fuel
cell 4. Furthermore, since the fuel cell 4 generates power by means of a
reaction between hydrogen and oxygen, water is formed as power is
generated. Both the circulation water that has passed through the fuel
cell 4 and the water that has been formed in the fuel cell 4 are returned
to the water tank 5 through a water circulation path 8. In order to
prevent damage to the fuel cell 4, the water that circulates through the
water circulation path 8 must be pure water from which ions have been
removed.
Trace quantities of fluorine compounds are present in the water that has
passed through the fuel cell 4 and the water formed within the fuel cell
4. These fluorine compounds are removed from the circulating water by
passing the water that is circulating in the water circulation path 8
through the fluoride absorber 6, thus maintaining the circulating water in
a pure state.
As shown in FIG. 2, the fuel cell 4 consists of a pair of end plates 4A
between which a plurality of unit cells 40 are fixed in a layered state.
Bolts B and nuts N are utilized to fix the plurality of unit cells 40 in a
layered state. In the case where the fuel cell 4 is used in an electric
car, the fuel cell 4 is located within the engine room.
As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, each unit cell 40 is formed from a positive
electrode (air electrode) 41, a negative electrode (fuel electrode) 42,
and an electrolyte member 43, all of these being sandwiched between a pair
of central plates 44. However, the unit cell 40 on the left side in FIG. 3
is sandwiched between a left side plate 47 and one of the central plates
44, and the unit cell 40 on the right side is sandwiched between a right
side plate 48 and one of the central plates 44. Adjoining unit cells 40
share one central plate 44 in common, these unit cells 40 essentially
being separated by this central plate 44.
The positive electrode 41 consists of a collecting body 41j and a catalyst
layer 41k. The negative electrode 42 consists of a collecting body 42j and
a catalyst layer 42k. The collecting bodies 41j and 42j may be formed, for
example, from a porous body member having conductor particles collected
thereon. The catalyst layers 41k and 42k may be formed, for example, from
a porous body matrix composed of carbon particles bearing a catalyst
powder consisting of platinum, etc. As shown in FIG. 4, the positive
electrode 41 and the negative electrode 42 each have a gasket 45 enclosing
their circumference edges. Four corner portions of each gasket 45 have
through holes 45a (as will be explained later, hydrogen gas is supplied
via the through holes 45a) and through holes 45b (as will be explained
later, air is supplied via the through holes 45b) formed therein.
The electrolyte member 43 exhibits proton conductivity and consists of an
ion exchanging membrane that is selectively permeable to protons (hydrogen
ions). Here, `NAFION (Registered trademark)` manufactured by E. I. DuPont,
America, was used. This membrane is the fluorocarbon polymer ion
exchanging membrane shown in the example of chemical structure shown in
FIG. 5. Through holes 43a and 43b are formed in the four corner portions
of the electrolyte member 43, these corresponding to the through holes 45a
and 45b of the gaskets 45.
The left side plate 47, the central plates 44, and the right side plate 48
are formed from a conductor such as stainless steel, titanium alloy, or
the like. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, air supply grooves 44E and 47E are
formed in one face of each of the plates 44 and 47 respectively (the faces
on the right side in FIG. 3, the faces abutting the positive electrode
41), these air supply grooves 44E and 47E having a plurality of linear
grooves 44e and 47e extending in a linear shape. As shown in FIG. 4,
connecting concave members 44f and 47f are formed at the periphery of the
linear grooves 44e and 47e of the air supply grooves 44E and 47E, these
connecting concave members 44f and 47f communicating with the linear
grooves 44e and 47e. The concave members 44f and 47f connect with through
holes 44b and 47b (to be described).
Hydrogen gas supply grooves 44M and 48M are formed in the other face of the
plates 44 and 48 respectively (the faces on the left side in FIG. 3, the
faces abutting the negative electrode 42), these hydrogen gas supply
grooves 44M and 48M having a plurality of linear grooves 44m and 48m
extending in a linear shape. Although this is not shown in FIG. 4,
connecting concave members 44n and 48n are formed at the periphery of the
linear grooves 44m and 48m of the hydrogen gas supply grooves 44M and 48M,
these connecting concave members 44n and 48n communicating with the linear
grooves 44m and 48m. The concave members 44n and 48n connect with through
holes 44a and 48a (to be described).
Through holes 47a, 47b, 44a, 44b, 48a, and 48b are formed in the four
corner portions of the plates 47, 44, and 48 respectively, these through
holes corresponding to the through holes 45a and 45b of the gaskets 45.
The through holes 47a, 45a, 43a, 44a, and 48a are aligned in a linear
manner to form a through path that communicates with the connecting
concave members 44n and 48n that are used for supplying hydrogen gas. The
through holes 47b, 45b, 43b, 44b and 48b are aligned in a linear manner to
form a through path that communicates with the connecting concave members
44f and 47f that are used for supplying air.
The plate 47, located at the leftmost side in FIG. 3, has a hollow space
47g formed therein. The plate 48, located at the rightmost side, has a
hollow space 48g formed therein. In the manner of the plate 44 described
above, the right-side face of the left-side plate 47 has air supply
grooves 47E formed therein, these consisting of the plurality of grooves
47e extending in a linear shape and the connecting concave members 47f
formed at the periphery of these grooves 44e. Further, in the manner of
the plate 44 described above, a left-side face of the plate 48 has the
hydrogen gas supply grooves 48M formed therein, these consisting of the
plurality of grooves 48m extending in a linear shape and the connecting
concave members 48n formed at the periphery of these grooves 48m.
As shown in FIG. 3, through holes 47h that pass through to the space 47g
are formed in the base of each groove 47e of the left-side plate 47.
Moreover, through holes 48h passing through to the space 48g are formed in
the base of each groove 48m of the right-side plate 48.
Further, a pair of holes 47c and 47d connecting to the space 47g are formed
in a central portion of a left-side face (i.e. the face that does not have
the air supply grooves 47E formed therein) of the left-side plate 47.
Moreover, a pair of holes 48c and 48d connecting to the space 48g are
formed in a central portion of a right-side face (i.e. the face that does
not have the hydrogen supply grooves 48M formed therein) of the right-side
plate 48. The through holes 47a and 47b, corresponding to the through
holes 45a and 45b of the gaskets 45, are formed in the four corner
portions of the left-side plate 47. The through holes 48a and 48b,
corresponding to the through holes 45a and 45b of the gaskets 45, are
formed in the four corner portions of the right-side plate 48. The through
holes 47a and 48a communicate with the hydrogen gas supply grooves 44M and
48M. The through holes 47b and 48b communicate with the air supply grooves
44E and 47E.
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, both end plates 4A are larger in size than the
plates 44, 47, and 48, each of the four corner portions of the end plates
4A being fastened by the bolts B and nuts N. An insulating member 49 is
located between one of the end plates 4A and the plate 47. Through holes
49a and 49b, these corresponding to the through holes of all the members
described above, are formed in the four corner portions of the insulating
member 49. Another insulating member 49 is located between the other end
plate 4A and the plate 48. Through holes 49a and 49b, these corresponding
to the through holes of all the members described above, are formed in the
four corner portions of this insulating member 49. A center portion of the
left-side insulating member 49 has through holes 49c and 49d formed
therein, these corresponding to the pair of through holes 47c and 47d. A
center portion of the right-side insulating member 49 has through holes
49c and 49d formed therein, these corresponding to the pair of through
holes 48c and 48d.
The left-side end plate 4A has 4a and 4b formed therein, these
corresponding to the through holes formed in the four corner portions of
all the members described above. The center portion of the left-side end
plate 4A has 4c and 4d formed therein, these corresponding to the pair of
through holes 49c and 49d. The right-side end plate 4A also has 4a and 4b
formed therein, these corresponding to the through holes formed in the
four corner portions of all the members described above. The center
portion of the right-side end plate 4A also has 4c and 4d formed therein,
these corresponding to the pair of through holes 49c and 49d.
When the fuel cell main body 4 shown in FIG. 2 is in an assembled state,
the through holes formed in the four corner portions of all the members
described above communicate to form gas passages A and B (see FIG. 3). The
through holes 4a of the end plates 4A communicate with the gas passages A
to supply hydrogen gas at the negative electrode 42 side of the
electrolyte member 43 of the fuel cell 4. The through holes 4b of the end
plates 4A communicate with the gas passages B to supply air at the
positive electrode 41 side of the electrolyte member 43 of the fuel cell
4.
The through hole 4c of the left-side end plate 4A, the through hole 49c of
the insulating member 49, and the through hole 47c of the plate 47
communicate to the space 47g, forming a through path along which water is
supplied to the space 47g. The through hole 4d of the left-side end plate
4A, the through hole 49d of the insulating member 49, and the through hole
47d of the plate 47 communicate to the space 47g, forming a through path
along which water is discharged from the space 47g. The through hole 4c of
the right-side end plate 4A, the through hole 49c of the insulating member
49, and the through hole 48c of the plate 48 communicate to the space 48g,
forming a through path along which water is supplied to the space 48g. The
through hole 4d of the right-side end plate 4A, the through hole 49d of
the insulating member 49, and the through hole 48d of the plate 48
communicate to the space 48g, forming a through path along which water is
discharged from the space 48g.
In the fuel cell system 1 configured as described above, the hydrogen gas
sent from the hydrogen gas source 2 is supplied to the gas passages A from
the through holes 4a of the end plates 4A, the hydrogen gas being
introduced into the hydrogen gas supply grooves 44M and 48M via the
connecting concave members 44n and 48n, and being introduced to the
negative electrode 42 side of the electrolyte member 43 of the fuel cell
4. The air sent from the air source 3 is supplied to the gas passages B
from the through holes 4b of the end plates 4A, the air being introduced
into the air supply grooves 44E and 47E via the connecting concave members
44f and 47f, and being introduced to the positive electrode 41 side of the
electrolyte member 43 of the fuel cell 4.
Furthermore, the pure water sent from the pump 7 is introduced into the
spaces 47g and 48g from the through holes 4c of the end plates 4A, thus
cooling the fuel cell main body 4. The pure water that has cooled the fuel
cell main body 4 is discharged from the spaces 47g and 48g via the through
holes 4d of the end plates 4A, and is returned to the water tank 5.
A portion of the water that is supplied into the spaces 47g and 48g is
introduced to the positive electrode 41 and the negative electrode 42 via
the through holes 47h and 48h and the grooves 47e and 48m, and is further
supplied to the ion exchanging membrane that comprises the electrolyte
member 43. Further, a portion of the water supplied into the spaces 47g
and 48g is transmitted to the ion exchanging membranes 43 of the other
unit cells 40 via the gas passages A and B, wetting these ion exchanging
membranes 43. In this manner, the ion exchanging membrane 43 of each unit
cell 40 is vested with suitable proton (hydrogen ion) conductivity.
The hydrogen ions that have penetrated the ion exchanging membrane 43 and
the oxygen contained in the air react at the positive electrode 41,
forming water. The water that has been formed is introduced into the space
47g via the connecting concave member 44f, the gas passages B, the
connecting concave member 47f, the grooves 47e, and the through holes 47h.
That is, the water that has been formed at the positive electrode 41 (i.e.
water containing trace quantities of fluorine elements) joins together
with the pure water used for cooling and is discharged from the fuel cell
main body 4.
The water that has been discharged in this manner is passed through the
fluoride adsorber 6 integrated into the water circulation path 8. This
passage through the fluoride adsorber 6 removes fluorine elements from the
water that has passed through the fuel cell or the water formed within the
fuel cell, maintaining the water to be circulated in the water circulation
path 8 in a pure state. Corrosion resistant metal such as SUS etc. is
utilized for the piping of the water circulation path 8.
The fluoride adsorber 6 is a cartridge type that comprises a portion of the
piping of the water circulation path 8 and is capable of being removed. As
shown in FIG. 6, the cartridge 6 is provided with a cartridge case 6a
housing a fluoride absorbing member 61. The cartridge case 6a has an
inflow connection hole 6b connecting with an upstream side of the water
circulation path 8 of the fuel cell system, and an outflow connection hole
6c connecting with a downstream side of the water circulation path 8 of
the fuel cell system. The cartridge case 6a forms a portion of the water
circulation path 8 of the fuel cell system. A plurality of plates 61a are
housed within a current through member (discharge channel) 65 within the
cartridge 6, these plates 61a protruding from an inner wall face of the
cartridge case 6a, being arranged coaxially with a central opening and
being spaced at an equal distance from one another (here, they will be
referred to as having a comb-shaped polyhedron shape). Each plate 61a has
an identical shape and protrudes in a direction approximately orthogonal
to the direction of the water current. Furthermore, in the present
embodiment, the fluoride absorbing member 61 is formed from porous
hydroxyapatite.
The fluorine elements in the circulating water are introduced into the
discharge channel 65 of the fluoride adsorber cartridge 6, and are
absorbed by the fluoride absorbing member (porous hydroxyapatite) 61. In
the present embodiment, the plurality of plates 61a described above
increase the surface that comes into contact with the water. Consequently,
even though the cartridge 6 is compact, it can remove the fluorine
elements efficiently.
Moreover, as shown in FIG. 6, the portion of the cartridge 6 (specifically,
the discharge channel) having the fluoride absorbing member 61 formed
therein is wider in diameter than the portions to the anterior and
posterior thereof. Consequently, even though the cartridge 6 is compact,
sufficient space is ensured for providing the fluoride absorbing member
61, and water can flow freely through the discharge channel.
Further, in the present embodiment, the plates 61a of the fluoride
absorbing member 61 have the same shape and size and are aligned along the
direction in which the water flows. However, the plates 61a are not
necessarily restricted to this shape. For example, various types of plates
may be aligned that have differing heights and/or widths. It is possible
to increase the efficiency of fluoride absorption by using a fluoride
absorbing member that has a mixture of plates of differing heights and
widths, this increasing the area and time of contact with the water
flowing through the discharge channel 65.
One embodiment of the present invention has been described above. However,
the fuel cell system and fluoride absorber of the present invention are
not restricted to the form described in the present embodiment.
In the embodiment described above, the fluoride absorbing member is formed
in a comb-shaped polyhedron shape (as shown). However, the fluoride
absorbing member is not restricted to this shape.
For example, a cartridge 6A of a second embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7, is
equally possible. The cartridge 6A has a multi-piped cylinder shaped
(multi-tubed) fluoride absorbing member 62 provided within a portion of a
discharge channel 66, that is, the fluoride absorbing member 62 is
cylinder shaped and has a plurality of within-cylinder discharge channels
62a. From the viewpoint of increasing the physical strength etc. thereof,
it is preferable that the shear cross-sectional face of the cylinder is
honeycomb shaped.
The cartridge case 6A provided with the fluoride absorbing member 62 formed
in the above shape (and preferably made from hydroxyapatite) is also
efficient in removing fluorine elements. In this type of cartridge 6A, the
efficiency of fluoride absorption can easily be increased without
increasing the size of the actual cartridge by increasing the number of
within-cylinder discharge channels 62a and decreasing the diameter
thereof.
Further, a cartridge 6B of a third embodiment, as shown in FIG. 8, is
equally possible. The cartridge 6B has a plurality of bead-shaped (here,
`bead` refers not only to simple spheres but also includes
irregular-shaped particles and irregular shapes such as fragments of
crushed ceramic) fluoride absorbing members 63 provided at a plurality of
locations within a portion of a discharge channel 67. In this type of
cartridge 6B, the efficiency of fluoride absorption can be modulated
without increasing the size of the actual cartridge 6B by adjusting the
ratio according to which the bead-shaped fluoride absorbing members 63
fill the discharge channel 67. For example, the filling ratio of the
fluoride absorbing members can be increased relative to the unit volume of
the discharge channel 67 by mixing two types of spherical fluoride
absorbing members having differing diameters.
Furthermore, a cartridge 6C of a fourth embodiment, as shown in FIG. 9, is
equally possible. The cartridge 6C has a membrane-shaped fluoride
absorbing member 64 (preferably formed from porous hydroxyapatite) formed
along an inner wall face thereof. This type of fluoride absorbing member
64 may, for example, be formed by applying a film-shaped hydroxyapatite
porous body to the inner wall face or by flame coating the inner wall face
with hydroxyapatite. In that case, it is preferred that the inner wall
face of the piping (typically formed from stainless steel) that comprises
the cartridge 6C is earlier coated with quartz glass, and the
hydroxyapatite is coated over this quartz glass layer. In the cartridge 6C
provided with this type of fluoride absorbing member 64, the flow-speed of
water along a discharge channel 68 can be synchronized with other portions
of the water circulation path.
Further, the membrane-shaped fluoride absorbing member 64 as shown in FIG.
9 may equally well be formed along the inner wall face of the entirety or
a large portion of the piping that comprises the water circulation path 8.
In that case, the portion of the piping having the fluoride absorbing
member formed thereon corresponds to the fluoride absorber of the present
invention.
The embodiments of the present invention described in detail above are
merely intended to illustrate the invention and are not intended to limit
the scope of the claims. The art set forth in the claims encompasses
various transformations and modifications to the embodiments described
above.
Further, the technical elements disclosed in the present specification or
figures may be utilized separately or in all types of conjunctions and are
not limited to the conjunctions set forth in the claims. Furthermore, the
art disclosed in the present specification or figures may be utilized to
simultaneously realize a plurality of aims or to realize one of these
aims.
*
