JP5353056B2 - Control system for fuel cell device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a control system of the fuel cell system.

  In recent years, fuel cells using hydrogen as fuel as a clean power source with high energy conversion efficiency have begun to be applied to automobiles and portable devices. A fuel cell is a device that converts chemical energy into electrical energy by electrochemically reacting fuel and oxygen in the atmosphere.

An example of the fuel used in the fuel cell is hydrogen. However, hydrogen is a gas at room temperature and has problems in handling and storage. On the other hand, fuels that are liquid at room temperature, such as alcohols and gasoline, are easy to handle and store, and are attracting attention as raw materials for hydrogen (for example, see Patent Document 1).
JP2008-007367

  By the way, since the reaction apparatus which produces | generates hydrogen from liquid fuel becomes high temperature, the fuel cell which mounts such a reaction apparatus in a gas station room, a gas tank room where a combustible gas is integrated, a laboratory, etc. It is preferable not to bring in devices and electronic equipment.

  An object of the present invention is to prevent a fuel cell device or an electronic device including a reaction device in operation from approaching a prohibited area for bringing in a high-temperature object such as a fire-prohibited area.

To solve the above problems, the invention according to claim 1, a control system of a fuel cell system, a fuel cell, a reactor for generating a fuel supply before Symbol fuel cell, before Symbol reactor a control unit for controlling the operation, including a fuel cell device that includes a signal receiving unit, an output to receive the operation disabling signal of Jo Tokoro frequency the control unit, operation not from said signal receiver When the signal is received, the reactor is stopped , a prohibited area where the bringing of the fuel cell device during operation is prohibited is set, and an operation disable signal is output near the entrance to the prohibited area characterized Rukoto provided a signal transmitter.

The invention according to claim 2 is the control system for the fuel cell device according to claim 1, wherein the signal receiving unit further receives a warning signal having a frequency different from that of the operation disabling signal, And a notification means for notifying a user when a warning signal is received from the signal receiving section.

According to a third aspect of the invention includes an electronic apparatus comprising a control system for a fuel cell according to claim 1 or 2, the electronic device main body which is driven by electric power supplied from the pre-Symbol fuel cell system It is characterized by that.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a control system for a fuel cell device according to the second aspect, wherein a forbidden area where entry of the operating fuel cell apparatus is prohibited is set, and an entrance to the prohibited area is set. A driving disabling signal transmitter that outputs a driving disabling signal is provided in the vicinity, and a warning signal transmitter that outputs a warning signal is provided at a position farther from the prohibited area than the driving disabling signal transmitter. .

The invention according to claim 5 is the control system for the fuel cell device according to claim 2, wherein a prohibited area where entry of the fuel cell device during operation is prohibited is set, and an entrance to the prohibited area is set In the vicinity, a transmitter is provided that outputs an operation disable signal and outputs a warning signal that reaches farther than the operation disable signal.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, it can prevent that a fuel cell apparatus and an electronic device provided with the reaction apparatus in operation approach to the carrying-in prohibition area | region of a high temperature thing.

  The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. However, although various technically preferable limitations for implementing the present invention are given to the embodiments described below, the scope of the invention is not limited to the following embodiments and illustrated examples.

[First Embodiment]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a portable electronic device 100 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The portable electronic device 100 is a portable electronic device such as a notebook personal computer, a PDA, an electronic notebook, a digital camera, a mobile phone, a wristwatch, or a game device.

  The portable electronic device 100 includes a fuel cell device 130, an electronic device main body 101 driven by power supplied from the fuel cell device 130, and the like. As will be described later, the fuel cell device 130 generates electric power using the fuel cell 140 and supplies it to the electronic device main body 101.

  Next, the fuel cell device 130 will be described. The fuel cell device 130 generates electric power to be output to the electronic device main body 101, and includes a fuel cartridge 102, a liquid feed pump 103, an air pump 107, a reaction device 110, a DC / DC converter 131, a secondary battery 132, a control. Unit 133, signal receiving unit 134, and the like.

The fuel cartridge 102 stores a liquid mixture of raw liquid fuel (for example, methanol, ethanol, dimethyl ether) and water. Liquid raw fuel and water may be stored separately in the fuel cartridge 102.
The liquid mixture in the fuel cartridge 102 is fed to the vaporizer 104 of the reaction device 110 by the liquid feed pump 103.

The reactor 110 includes a vaporizer 104, a reformer 105, a carbon monoxide remover 106, a catalytic combustor 109, a fuel cell 140, and the like, which are accommodated in a heat insulating container 111.
The vaporizer 104 heats the liquid mixture sent from the fuel cartridge 102 to about 110 to 160 ° C. by heat transfer from the reformer 105 and vaporizes it. The air-fuel mixture vaporized by the vaporizer 104 is sent to the reformer 105.

  The reformer 105 has a flow path formed therein, and a reforming catalyst is supported on the wall surface of the flow path. As the reforming catalyst, a Cu / ZnO-based catalyst, a Pd / ZnO-based catalyst, or the like is used. The reformer 105 heats the air-fuel mixture sent from the vaporizer 104 to about 300 to 400 ° C. by heat transfer from a catalyst combustor 109 and a heater / temperature sensor 105a, which will be described later, and performs a reforming reaction by the catalyst in the flow path. Wake up. That is, a mixed gas (reformed gas) such as hydrogen, carbon dioxide as a fuel, and a minute amount of carbon monoxide as a by-product is generated by a catalytic reaction between raw fuel and water.

Here, when the raw fuel is methanol, the reformer 105 mainly undergoes a steam reforming reaction, which is a main reaction as shown in the following chemical reaction formula (1).
CH ₃ OH + H ₂ O → 3H ₂ + CO ₂ (1)
In addition, a small amount (about 1%) of carbon monoxide is generated as a by-product by a side reaction such as the following chemical reaction formula (2) that occurs sequentially after the chemical reaction formula (1).
H ₂ + CO ₂ → H ₂ O + CO (2)
The product (reformed gas) resulting from the reactions of the chemical reaction formulas (1) and (2) is sent to the carbon monoxide remover 106.

A flow path is formed inside the carbon monoxide remover 106, and a selective oxidation catalyst for selectively oxidizing carbon monoxide is supported on the wall surface of the flow path. As the selective oxidation catalyst, for example, Pt / Al ₂ O ₃ or the like can be used.

The carbon monoxide remover 106 is supplied with reformed gas generated by the reformer 105 and external air by an air pump 107. The reformed gas is mixed with air and flows through the flow path of the carbon monoxide remover 106 and is heated to about 110 to 160 ° C. by heat transfer from the reformer 105 and the like. Carbon monoxide in the reformed gas is preferentially oxidized by the main reaction as shown in the following chemical reaction formula (3) by the catalyst. As a result, carbon dioxide is generated as the main product, and the concentration of carbon monoxide in the reformed gas can be reduced to about 10 ppm at which the fuel cell 140 can be supplied.
2CO + O ₂ → 2CO ₂ (3)
Since the reaction of the chemical reaction formula (19) is an exothermic reaction, it is disposed adjacent to the vaporizer 104 where the endothermic reaction (vaporization of the mixed solution) is performed.
The reformed gas that has passed through the carbon monoxide remover 106 is sent to the fuel cell 140.

  The reformed gas (off-gas) that has passed through the fuel supply channel 144a of the fuel battery cell 140 and external air are sent to the catalytic combustor 109 by the air pump 107, and the hydrogen remaining in the reformed gas is combusted by the air. The heat exchanger 107 is disposed adjacent to the carbon monoxide remover 106, and in the process of passing offgas and air supplied from the fuel cell 140 to the catalytic combustor 109, offgas is generated by the heat of the carbon monoxide remover 106. And heat the air.

  The fuel cell 140 converts chemical energy into electrical energy by an electrochemical reaction between the reformed gas and oxygen. Hereinafter, the case where the fuel cell 140 is a polymer electrolyte fuel cell will be described.

  The fuel cell 140 supplies the reformed gas to the solid polymer electrolyte membrane 141, the fuel electrode 142 (anode) and the oxygen electrode 143 (cathode) formed on both surfaces of the solid polymer electrolyte membrane 141, and the fuel electrode 142. A fuel electrode separator 144 provided with a fuel supply flow path 144a to be supplied and an oxygen electrode separator 145 provided with an oxygen supply flow path 145a for supplying oxygen to the oxygen electrode 143 are stacked.

The solid polymer electrolyte membrane 141 transmits hydrogen ions, but has a property of not passing oxygen molecules, hydrogen molecules, carbon dioxide, and electrons.
The reformed gas is sent to the fuel electrode 142 via the fuel supply channel 144a. At the fuel electrode 142, the reaction shown in the following electrochemical reaction formula (4) by hydrogen in the reformed gas occurs.
H ₂ → 2H ⁺ + 2e ⁻ (4)
The generated hydrogen ions permeate the solid polymer electrolyte membrane 141 and reach the oxygen electrode 143. The generated electrons are supplied to the anode output electrode 146.

External air is sent to the oxygen electrode 143 through the oxygen supply channel 145a by the air pump 107. In the oxygen electrode 143, water is generated by hydrogen ions that have passed through the solid polymer electrolyte membrane 141, oxygen in the air, and electrons supplied from the cathode output electrode 147 as shown in the following electrochemical reaction formula (5). Is done.
2H ⁺ + 1 / 2O ₂ + 2e ⁻ → H ₂ O (5)
Note that a catalyst (not shown) that promotes the reactions of the electrochemical reaction formulas (4) and (5) is provided on both surfaces of the solid polymer electrolyte membrane 141.

When the fuel cell 140 is of a solid oxide type, the following electrochemical reaction formulas (6) and (7) by oxygen ions that have passed through hydrogen, carbon monoxide, and electrolyte in the reformed gas at the fuel electrode. ) Occurs to generate electrons.
H ₂ + O ²⁻ → H ₂ O + 2e ⁻ (6)
CO + O ²⁻ → CO ₂ + 2e ⁻ (7)
On the other hand, at the oxygen electrode, the reaction shown in the following electrochemical reaction formula (8) occurs by oxygen and electrons, and electrons are consumed.
1 / 2O ₂ + 2e ⁻ → O ²⁻ (8)
When the fuel cell 140 is of a solid oxide type, carbon monoxide is also used for the reaction of the fuel electrode, so that the carbon monoxide remover 106 is unnecessary.

  The anode output electrode 146 and the cathode output electrode 147 are connected to a DC / DC converter 131 that is an external circuit, and electrons that have reached the anode output electrode 146 are supplied to the cathode output electrode 147 through the DC / DC converter 131. .

The DC / DC converter 131 converts the power generated by the fuel battery cell 140 into an appropriate voltage, and then supplies the power to the electronic device main body 101 and charges the secondary battery 132 with the power.
The secondary battery 132 charges the electric power generated by the fuel battery cell 140 and supplies the electric power to the electronic device main body 101 while the power generation by the fuel battery cell 140 is stopped.
The control unit 133 controls the entire fuel cell device 130 by controlling the liquid feed pump 103, the air pump 107, and the like.

The signal receiving unit 134 includes an antenna that receives an electromagnetic wave having a predetermined frequency transmitted from an external transmitter, amplifies the received signal as necessary, and outputs the amplified signal to the control unit 133.
When the portable electronic device 100 is a mobile phone or the like, a signal receiving unit provided in the electronic device main body 101 may be used.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the vicinity of the high-temperature substance carry-in prohibition region 1 in the embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 2, a high-temperature substance carry-in prohibition region 1 is surrounded by a wall 2 at its outer periphery, and can only enter and exit from an entrance / exit 3 provided at one location. An inoperable signal transmitter 4 is installed near the entrance 3. The operation disabling signal transmitter 4 transmits an electromagnetic wave (operation disabling signal) having a predetermined frequency received by the signal receiving unit 134. Note that the operation disabling signal transmitter 4 may constantly transmit an operation disabling signal or may transmit it at a predetermined time interval. Further, the operation disabling signal may be transmitted only when the doorway 3 is open.
When there are a plurality of entrances 3 to the high-temperature substance carry-in prohibition area 1, an operation disable signal transmitter 4 may be provided at each entrance 3.
Moreover, you may output a driving | operation impossible signal so that it may propagate throughout the carrying-in prohibition area | region 1.

  The fuel cell device 130 according to the present embodiment stops the operation when the signal reception unit 134 receives the operation disable signal transmitted from the operation disable signal transmitter 4. Hereinafter, processing of the control unit 133 will be described.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing processing of the control unit 133 during the operation of the portable electronic device 100.
First, the control unit 133 determines whether or not the signal receiving unit 134 has received an operation disable signal (step S1).

  When the operation disabling signal is received (step S1 → Yes), the control unit 133 determines whether or not the fuel cell system (reactor 110 and fuel cell 140) is operating (step S2).

  When the fuel cell system is operating (step S2 → Yes), the control unit 133 stops the fuel cell system (step S3). Specifically, the liquid feed pump 103 and the air pump 107 are stopped, and the power supply to the heater / temperature sensor 105a is stopped.

Thereafter, the control unit 133 supplies power from the secondary battery 132 to the electronic device main body 101. When the fuel cell device 130 or the electronic device main body 101 is provided with a notification unit such as a display unit or a speaker, a display indicating that the fuel cell system has stopped is displayed on the display unit, or a notification sound is output from the speaker. Is output. Thereby, the user can know that the fuel cell system has stopped.
Alternatively, when the fuel cell device 130 or the electronic device main body 101 is provided with a notification unit such as a vibration generation device or an odor generation device, the notification may be performed by vibration or odor.
Furthermore, when the portable electronic device 100 is a communication device and is communicating, the other party may be notified that the fuel cell system has stopped via the communication function.

  When the fuel cell system is not in operation (step S2 → No), the control unit 133 maintains the stopped state of the fuel cell system.

  When the operation disable signal is not received (step S1 → No), the control unit 133 determines whether or not the fuel cell system is operating (step S4). When the fuel cell system is operating (step S4 → Yes), the control unit 133 continues the operation of the fuel cell system.

  When the fuel cell system is not in operation (step S4 → No), the control unit 133 activates the fuel cell system and starts power generation (step S5). Specifically, power supply to the heater / temperature sensor 105a is started, and the liquid feed pump 103 and the air pump 107 are driven.

  Thereafter, the control unit 133 causes the electronic device main body 101 to supply the electric power generated by the fuel battery cell 140. Further, when a display unit or a speaker is provided in the electronic device main body 101, a display indicating that the fuel cell system has been activated is displayed on the display unit, or a notification sound is output from the speaker.

  Thus, according to the present embodiment, the fuel cell system can be stopped when the signal reception unit 134 receives the operation disabling signal output from the operation disabling signal transmitter 4, and the fuel cell system is stopped. The user of the portable electronic device 100 who knows that can stop the portable electronic device 100 while the secondary battery 132 is remaining. For this reason, the high temperature reactor 110 is not brought into the high temperature substance carry-in prohibition region 1.

  When starting the stopped portable electronic device 100, power is first supplied from the secondary battery 132 to the electronic device main body 101, and the control unit 133 performs the processing shown in FIG. For this reason, the fuel cell system is not started in the area where the operation disable signal output from the operation disable signal transmitter 4 is received, and the fuel cell system is started after sufficiently separating from the operation disable signal transmitter 4. For this reason, the reaction apparatus 110 does not become high temperature in the high temperature substance carry-in prohibition area 1 or in the vicinity thereof.

<Modification 1>
FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing the vicinity of the high temperature substance carry-in prohibition region 1 according to the first modification of the present invention. In this modification, an operation disable signal transmitter 4 is installed in the vicinity of the doorway 3 and a warning signal transmitter 5 is installed at a position away from the operation disable signal transmitter 4. The warning signal transmitter 5 transmits an electromagnetic wave (warning signal) having a frequency that is received by the signal receiving unit 134 and having a predetermined frequency that is different from the operation disabled signal.
The warning signal transmitters 5 may be installed at a plurality of concentric circles around the operation disabling signal transmitter 4.

In this modification, when the signal receiving unit 134 receives a warning signal, the control unit 133 displays a display indicating that the fuel cell system will be stopped soon by a display unit or a speaker provided in the electronic device main body 101, or A notification sound is output.
Thereafter, when the signal receiving unit 134 receives an operation disable signal, the control unit 133 stops the fuel cell system according to the flowchart of FIG.

  As described above, also in this modification, the fuel cell system is stopped in the high-temperature substance carry-in prohibition region 1 or in the vicinity thereof, so that the reactor 110 does not become high temperature. In addition, when the warning signal is received, the user is notified that the fuel cell system will be stopped soon, so that the user can be prompted to move away from the high temperature substance carry-in prohibition area 1.

  In this modification, the warning signal transmitter 5 is installed at a position farther from the high temperature substance carry-in prohibition area 1 than the operation disabling signal transmitter 4, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the warning signal transmitter is further provided. The second and third warning signal transmitters 5 may be provided at positions away from the high-temperature substance carry-in prohibition region 1 than 5, and the warning may be made in multiple stages until the fuel cell system is finally stopped.

  Or you may output both a warning signal and a driving impossible signal from a single transmitter. In this case, the output and frequency are adjusted so that the warning signal reaches farther than the operation impossible signal. In this case, only one transmitter can be used.

In the above embodiment, although the high temperature substance carry-in prohibition region 1 has been described, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the present invention may be applied to an area where prohibition of combustible materials is prohibited such as a factory or laboratory that handles fire.
In addition, since water vapor is generated from the fuel cell device 130, the present invention may be applied to an area where humidity management needs to be strict, such as a food storage where the dry state is maintained.

1 is a block diagram showing a portable electronic device 100 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. It is a schematic diagram which shows the vicinity of the high temperature substance carrying-in prohibition area | region 1. 5 is a flowchart showing processing of the control unit 133 during operation of the mobile electronic device 100. It is a schematic diagram which shows the vicinity of the carrying-in prohibition area | region 1 of the high temperature substance which concerns on the 1st modification of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Prohibited area 3 Entrance / exit 4 Operation impossible signal transmitter 5 Warning signal transmitter 100 Electronic device 101 Electronic device main body 110 Reactor 133 Control unit 134 Signal reception unit 140 Fuel cell

Claims (5)

A fuel cell, a reactor for generating a fuel supply before Symbol fuel cell, and a control unit for controlling the operation of the pre-Symbol reactor, signal reception and outputs the received operation disabling signal of Jo Tokoro frequency the control unit A fuel cell device comprising :
The control unit stops the reaction device when receiving an operation disable signal from the signal receiving unit ,
Set a prohibited area where bringing in the fuel cell device during operation is prohibited,
The entrance near to the prohibited area, the control system of a fuel cell device according to claim Rukoto provided the operation disabling signal transmitter for outputting a driving disabling signal. The signal receiving unit further receives a warning signal having a frequency different from the operation impossible signal,
2. The control system for a fuel cell device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit includes a notification unit that notifies a user when a warning signal is received from the signal reception unit. Control system for a fuel cell according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that it comprises a child device electrostatic including pre Symbol electronic device present body driven by electric power supplied from the fuel cell system. Set the forbidden region bring the fuel cell system in the OPERATION is prohibited,
In the vicinity of the entrance to the prohibited area, provided with an operation disable signal transmitter that outputs an operation disable signal,
3. The control system for a fuel cell device according to claim 2, wherein a warning signal transmitter that outputs a warning signal is provided at a position farther from the prohibited area than the operation disabling signal transmitter. Set the forbidden region bring the fuel cell system in the OPERATION is prohibited,
3. The fuel cell device according to claim 2, further comprising: a transmitter that outputs an operation disable signal and outputs a warning signal that reaches farther than the operation disable signal in the vicinity of the entrance to the prohibited area. Control system.

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