JP7014530B2 - Fuel cell system and power generation method - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a fuel cell system and a power generation method.

Specific movements toward the realization of a hydrogen-based society are underway at the national government, local governments, and private companies. For example, a hydrogen station for fuel cell vehicles has been constructed, and fuel cells for home and business use are being developed.

Fuel cells generate electric power with high efficiency through electrical and chemical reactions. In a fuel cell, hydrogen obtained by reforming a hydrocarbon fuel such as city gas, liquefied petroleum (LP) gas, or natural gas is generally used. In the future hydrogen society, hydrogen will be supplied as fuel as it is through a conduit, eliminating the need for a reformer to reform hydrocarbon fuel, and fuel cells are devices that can effectively utilize hydrogen supplied as fuel. it is conceivable that.

By the way, if fuel gas leaks from the conduit, it may lead to an accident such as a fire. Therefore, a mechanism that can detect the fuel gas leak and prevent the accident is required. As a countermeasure for this, a technique of deodorizing a fuel gas is known so that even if a fuel gas leaks, it can be detected (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Moreover, as a typical odorant in city gas, a mixture of t-butyl mercaptan (TBM: tertiary-butyl mercaptan) and dimethyl sulfide (DMS: dimethyl sulfide) and the like can be mentioned.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2014-46250

So far, an inexpensive and efficient desulfurization method has not been sufficiently studied when an odorant containing a sulfur compound is used for the odor of hydrogen gas.

An object of the present invention is to provide a fuel cell system and a power generation method for inexpensively and efficiently desulfurizing hydrogen gas deodorized by an odorant containing a sulfur compound.

Specific means for solving the above problems include the following embodiments.
<1> A fuel cell that generates power using hydrogen gas, an adsorbent that is arranged upstream of the fuel cell and has an adsorbent that adsorbs a sulfur compound contained in the odorant that deodorizes hydrogen gas, and an adsorbent. The desulfurization section, which is one of the hydrogen addition desulfurization sections for hydrogenating the sulfur compound with the hydrogen gas, is arranged downstream of the desulfurization section and upstream of the fuel cell, and is supplied to the desulfurization section. A fuel cell system including a decompression unit that decompresses the hydrogen gas more than the pressure of the hydrogen gas.
<2> The fuel cell system according to <1>, wherein the desulfurization portion includes at least one of the adsorption portions, and the adsorbent includes at least one of activated carbon and activated carbon impregnated with a metal.
<3> The fuel cell system according to <1> or <2>, wherein the adsorbent contains activated carbon impregnated with a metal.
<4> The hydrodesulfurization section is provided with at least one of the heating means for heating the hydrodesulfurization section and at least one of a voltage application section for applying a voltage to the hydrodesulfurization section. <1> The fuel cell system according to any one of <3>.
<5> The fuel cell system according to <4>, wherein the electric power generated by the fuel cell is supplied to at least one of the heating means and the voltage application unit.

<6> A power generation method using the fuel cell system according to any one of <1> to <5>, wherein the odorant containing the sulfur compound and an odorous component other than the sulfur compound is used. The power generation method used.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a fuel cell system and a power generation method for inexpensively and efficiently desulfurizing hydrogen gas deodorized by an odorant containing a sulfur compound.

It is a figure which shows the specific structure of the fuel cell system of this embodiment.

Hereinafter, specific embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail, but the present invention is not limited to the following embodiments, and the present invention is carried out with appropriate modifications within the scope of the object of the present invention. can do.

The numerical range indicated by using "-" in the present specification means a range including the numerical values before and after "-" as the minimum value and the maximum value, respectively.
In the numerical range described stepwise in the present specification, the upper limit value or the lower limit value described in one numerical range may be replaced with the upper limit value or the lower limit value of another numerical range described stepwise. good. Further, in the numerical range described in the present specification, the upper limit value or the lower limit value of the numerical range may be replaced with the value shown in the examples.

[Fuel cell system]
The fuel cell system according to the embodiment of the present invention comprises a fuel cell that generates power using hydrogen gas and a sulfur compound that is arranged upstream of the fuel cell and is contained in the odorant that deodorizes the hydrogen gas. An adsorbent unit having an adsorbent to be adsorbed, a desulfurization unit which is one of the hydrogenated desulfurization units for hydrogenating the sulfur compound with hydrogen gas, and a desulfurization unit downstream of the desulfurization unit and upstream of the fuel cell. It is provided with a decompression unit that is arranged and decompresses the hydrogen gas with respect to the pressure of the hydrogen gas supplied to the desulfurization unit. By providing the desulfurization section upstream of the decompression section, hydrogen gas is supplied to the desulfurization section at a higher pressure, and as a result, the sulfur compound can be efficiently adsorbed by the adsorbent, and the sulfur compound can be hydrogen gas. Can be efficiently reacted with hydrogenated desulfurization. Therefore, the amount of the adsorbent loaded can be reduced, and the amount of the catalyst used for hydrogenation desulfurization can also be reduced. Therefore, hydrogen gas deodorized by an odorant containing a sulfur compound can be desulfurized inexpensively and efficiently. can do.

As the hydrogen gas, a high-purity hydrogen gas, for example, a hydrogen gas having a purity of 99% or more may be used. Examples of high-purity hydrogen gas include hydrogen gas derived from liquid hydrogen, derived from refined hydrocarbon modification, derived from electrolysis of water, and the like.
Further, the fuel cell system of the present embodiment preferably does not have a reformer that reforms hydrocarbon gas to generate hydrogen. This eliminates the need for a reformer, a device for removing carbon monoxide generated by the reforming, and the like, and makes it possible to miniaturize and simplify the fuel cell system.

(Fuel cell)
The fuel cell system of the present embodiment includes a fuel cell that generates electricity using hydrogen gas. The fuel cell may be, for example, a fuel cell having a cathode (air electrode), an electrolyte and an anode (fuel electrode), or a fuel cell stack in which a plurality of fuel cell cells are stacked. The cathode is an electrode to which a gas containing oxygen such as air is supplied, and the anode is an electrode to which a gas containing hydrogen is supplied. As the cathode, the electrolyte and the anode, conventionally known ones may be used depending on the type of the fuel cell.

The type of fuel cell is not particularly limited, and is, for example, a polymer electrolyte fuel cell (PEFC), a phosphoric acid fuel cell (PAFC), a molten carbonate fuel cell (MCFC), and a solid oxide fuel cell ( SOFC).

When a polymer electrolyte fuel cell (PEFC), a phosphate fuel cell (PAFC), or the like is used as the fuel cell, hydrogen supplied to the anode generally moves as protons in the electrolyte and becomes oxygen on the cathode side. Power is generated by reacting and moving electrons from the anode to the cathode. Further, water (water vapor) generated by power generation is discharged from the cathode side as a cathode off gas together with unreacted oxygen, and unreacted hydrogen is discharged from the anode side as an anode off gas.

When a molten carbonate fuel cell (MCFC), a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC), or the like is used as the fuel cell, oxygen and carbon dioxide or oxygen generally supplied to the cathode are carbonate ions or oxygen, respectively. Power is generated by moving in the electrolyte as ions and reacting with hydrogen on the anode side, and moving electrons from the anode to the cathode. Further, water (water vapor) generated by power generation is discharged from the anode side as an anode off gas together with unreacted hydrogen, and unreacted oxygen is discharged from the cathode side as a cathode off gas.

(Desulfurization part)
The fuel cell system of the present embodiment is arranged upstream of the fuel cell, has an adsorbent provided with an adsorbent that adsorbs the sulfur compound contained in the odorant that deodorizes hydrogen gas, and reacts the sulfur compound with hydrogen gas. It is provided with a desulfurization section, which is one of the hydrogenation desulfurization sections for hydrogenation desulfurization. As a result, the sulfur compound contained in the odorant can be removed, and the poisoning of the electrode catalyst of the fuel cell by the sulfur compound is suppressed.

The adsorbing portion is not particularly limited as long as it includes an adsorbent that adsorbs the sulfur compound contained in the odorant that deodorizes hydrogen gas. The adsorbent may have a structure capable of adsorbing a sulfur compound that deodorizes hydrogen gas supplied to the adsorbing portion, and may be appropriately selected depending on the type of the sulfur compound.

Since the adsorbent has excellent adsorption performance of the sulfur compound and is inexpensive, it is preferable to contain at least one of activated carbon and activated carbon to which a metal is attached, and since it is excellent in the adsorption performance of the sulfur compound, a metal is attached. It preferably contains activated carbon.

As the activated carbon, activated carbon usually used in the desulfurization field, the deodorizing field and the like can be used without particular limitation.

Examples of the raw material of activated carbon include palm husks, coal (anthracite, bituminous coal, etc.), wood flour, peat charcoal, bamboo charcoal, and the like.
Among these, as a raw material for activated carbon, coconut shell is preferable from the viewpoint of having a small average pore diameter and a small content of impurities.

The activated carbon is preferably activated carbon treated with an inorganic acid. When the activated carbon is treated with an inorganic acid, impurities are removed, the specific surface area is improved, and the surface of the activated carbon is made hydrophilic. Therefore, the adsorption performance of the sulfur compound tends to be further improved, and the dispersity of the metal attached to the activated carbon tends to be further improved.
Examples of the inorganic acid for treating activated carbon include hydrochloric acid, nitric acid, sulfuric acid and the like.

The shape of the activated carbon is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include granular, columnar (for example, columnar), fibrous, honeycomb, and crushed carbon.
Among these, as the shape of the activated carbon, for example, from the viewpoint of cost, at least one shape selected from the group consisting of granular, columnar, and crushed is preferable, and the shape is high in density and fine powder. From the viewpoint of not containing, at least one shape selected from granular and columnar is more preferable.

The metal impregnated in the activated carbon preferably contains, for example, copper, and more preferably contains copper and at least one selected from the group consisting of nickel, tungsten, and molybdenum.
It is considered that most of the metal impregnated in the activated carbon is contained as a compound containing a metal element (oxide, inorganic acid salt, organic acid salt, etc.), but it may be contained as a single metal. ..

The amount of the metal impregnated in the activated charcoal is preferably 1.0% by mass to 20.0% by mass, preferably 2.0% by mass to 15.0% by mass, based on the total mass of the activated charcoal. Is more preferable, and more preferably 2.0% by mass to 8.0% by mass or less.

When the metal attached to the activated carbon contains copper and other metals, the amount of copper attached is preferably, for example, 20% by mass to 80% by mass with respect to the total mass of the metal attached to the activated carbon. It is more preferably 30% by mass to 80% by mass or less, further preferably 40% by mass to 80% by mass or less, and particularly preferably 40% by mass to 65% by mass or less.

In the present specification, the amount of metal impregnated in activated carbon is a value measured by ICP (Inductively Coupled Plasma) emission spectroscopy. As the measuring device, for example, Optima 8000 (product name) manufactured by Perkin-Elmer can be preferably used. However, the measuring device is not limited to this.

An example of a method for producing activated carbon impregnated with metal will be described. Activated carbon impregnated with metal can be produced, for example, by the following method. However, the method for producing activated carbon impregnated with metal is not limited to this.
(1) Prepare a solution (impregnated solution) in which a metal compound containing a metal element to be impregnated with activated carbon is dissolved or dispersed in a solvent.
(2) Immerse activated carbon in the impregnated solution.
(3) The activated carbon immersed in the impregnated solution is dried to remove the solvent.
(4) The dried activated carbon after immersion is calcined to form a metal oxide or the like on the activated carbon.
By the above method, activated carbon impregnated with a metal can be produced.

Examples of the metal compound for preparing the impregnating solution include metal salts such as metal nitrate, metal acetate, metal sulfate, metal chloride and metal phosphate.
Specifically, copper nitrate trihydrate, copper acetate monohydrate, nickel nitrate hexahydrate, nickel acetate tetrahydrate, 12-tangstophosphate n hydrate, ammonium molybdate tetrahydrate. And so on.

The solvent for preparing the impregnating solution is not particularly limited, and is limited to water, an acidic aqueous solution (nitrite aqueous solution, etc.), a basic aqueous solution (ammonia aqueous solution, etc.), an alcohol solvent (methanol, ethanol, n-propanol, etc.), and a ketone. Examples thereof include system solvents (acetone, methyl ethyl ketone, etc.), ether solvents (diethyl ether, etc.), ester solvents (ethyl acetate, butyl acetate, etc.), hydrocarbon solvents (toluene, etc.), and the like.
Among these, water is preferable as the solvent for preparing the impregnating solution from the viewpoint that it does not remain after firing.
In the preparation of the impregnation solution, one type of solvent may be used alone, or two or more types may be mixed and used.

The concentration of the metal compound in the impregnating solution is not particularly limited, and can be appropriately set depending on, for example, the type of the metal compound, the amount of the metal attached to the activated carbon, the type of the activated carbon, and the like.

The immersion temperature is not particularly limited and can be, for example, in the range of 10 ° C to 80 ° C.
The immersion time is also not particularly limited, and may be, for example, in the range of 5 minutes to 2 hours.

The drying method is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include a method of drying by heating.
The heating temperature is not particularly limited and can be, for example, in the range of 50 ° C to 150 ° C.

The calcination temperature is preferably in the range of 150 ° C. to 300 ° C. from the viewpoint of promoting the decomposition of the metal compound and suppressing the ignition of the metal-impregnated coal, for example.
The firing time is not particularly limited and can be, for example, in the range of 1 hour to 24 hours.

The sulfur compound used for deodorizing hydrogen gas is not particularly limited as long as it is adsorbed by an adsorbent and can deodorize hydrogen gas. Specifically, examples of the sulfur compound include hydrogen sulfide ( _H2S ), carbonyl sulfide (COS), mercaptans [methyl mercaptan (MM), ethyl mercaptan (EM), t-butyl mercaptan (TBM), etc.], and sulfide. Classes [dimethyl sulfide (DMS), diethyl sulfide (DES), dimethyl disulfide (DMDS), etc.], thiophenes [tetrahydrothiophene (THT), etc.] and the like can be mentioned. Of these, t-butyl mercaptan (TBM) is preferable.
As the sulfur compound, one type may be used alone, or two or more types may be used in combination.

Further, the odorant used for odorizing hydrogen gas may further contain an odorizing component other than the above-mentioned sulfur compound. By containing an odorous component other than the sulfur compound, the desulfurization cost can be reduced. The odorizing component other than the sulfur compound is not particularly limited as long as it is other than the sulfur compound and is adsorbed by the adsorbent and can deodorize hydrogen gas. Specifically, the odorous components include 1-pentene, cis-2-pentene, trans-2-pentene, 2-methyl1-butene, 3-methyl1-butene, 2-methyl2-butene, allenes, and the like. Methylallene, ethylallene, 1,3-pentadiene, 2-methyl1,3-butadiene, 2,3-dimethyl1,3-butadiene, 1,4-pentadiene, 1,5-hexadiene, 1,6-heptadiene, 1,3,5-hexatriene, 1-butin, 2-butin, styrene, vinyl acetylene, heptene, octene, nonen, decene, propylene, 1-butene, isobutene, trans-2-butene, cis-2-butene, 1,5-Hexadiene 3-in, diisobutylene, 1-hexene, isoprene, 1,3-butadiene, 1,2-butadiene, cyclopentene, cyclopentadiene (dicyclopentanediene), 1,3-cyclohexadiene, 1, 3-Cycloheptadiene, 1,5-Cyclooctadien, 1,5,9-Cyclododecatorien, 4-vinylcyclohexene-1,1-vinylcyclohexene-1,5-ethylidene-2-norbornen, 5-vinyl- 2-norbornen, bicyclopentadiene, cyclohexene, 1-methylpyrazine, pyrazine, 2-methylpyrazine, 2-methyl-3-isobutylpyrazine, 2,3-dimethylpyrazine, 2,5-dimethylpyrazine, 2,6-dimethylpyrazine , 2,3,5-trimethylpyrazine, 2-ethylpyrazine, 2-propylpyrazine, 2-vinylpyrazine, 2-allylpyrazine, 2-picolin, α. p-dimethyl-styrene, cumene, 2,5-diethylpyrazine, limonene, mesitylene, 2-methylnaphthalene, 3-methylindole (scator), milsen, α-pinen, 1-octen-3-one, 2,3- Butanedione, pentane-2,3-dione, hexane-2,5-dione, heptane-2,5-dione, ethylidene diethyl ether, isopropanol, n-butanol, isobutanol, amyl alcohol, propagil alcohol, β, γ- Hexenol (cis-hexen-1-ol), formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, propionaldehyde, hexanal (caproaldehyde), cuminaldehyde, acetone, 2-octanone, 3-octanone, diacetyl (2,3-butandione), acetphenone, methyl Homet, methylacetate, methylpropionate, methylphenylacetate, ethylhomet, ethylacetate, isopropylhomet, isoamylacetate, n-amylacetate, phenylethylhomet, 2-isopentenylacetate, ethylpropionate, Butyl acetate, isobutyl acetate, amylpropionate, ethylcaproate, amylbutyrate, ethylcaprilate, ethylcaplate, hexylbutyrate, ethyl cinnamate, benzylacetate, ethylcrotonate, ethyl 3,3-dimethylacrylate , Ethyl-4-methyl-4-pentenoate, ethyl-4-methyl-3-pentenoate, ethylhept-3-enoate, ethylpyrvate, propylcrotonate, methyl acrylate, butyl acrylate, allyl acrylate, methyl methacrylate, menthyl acetate , Bornyl acetate, β-phenylethyl acetate, allyl caproate, ethylmethylphenylglycidate, p-cresyl acetate, acetol acetate, ethyl 9-decenoate, 2,3 octanedione, methyl-3-acetoxy-butanoate , Propionone, 2-methyl-2-pentenal, acetoinacetate, methyl3-hydroxy-butyrate, 2-methyl-1-hepten-3-ol, 8-nonen-2-one, acetoin, 3-methyl-3-bu Tenylacetate, tetrahydrocitral, allyl alcohol, butanal (butylaldehyde), 2,3-butandione (diacetyl), isobutylse Rosolve, Isobutylaldehyde, Carbitolacetate, 2-decenal, Decanal, Diisobutylcarbinol, Dodecanal (laurylaldehyde), Ethylacrylate, Ethylbutyrate, Ethylvalerate, Ethylvinylketone, Ethyl2-methylbutyrate, Heptanol, 1 -Heptanol, 2-heptanone, 2-heptenal, 2-hexenol, mesityloxide, 2-methylbutanal-1,3-methylbutanal-1,2-methylbutanol, methylisoamylketone (5-methyl-2-) Hexanone), 2-methyl-1-pentanol, 2-methylbutylacetate, 2-methylpropanol (isobutylaldehyde), 2-nonanal, n-nonanal (pelargonaldehyde), 2-octenal, octanal (n-caprylaldehyde) ), Octylacetate, 1-penten-3-one (ethylvinylketone), isopental, pentanal (barrel aldehyde), 2,4-pentandione (acetylacetone), isopentylacetate (isoamylacetate), pentylacetate (n) -Amilacetate), propanal (propionaldehyde), propanonic acid, propylbutyrate, undecanal, butyloin, tetrahydrofuran, 2-methyltetrachloride, cyclohexene oxide, m-cresol, N- (2'-flufuryl) pyrrole, 2- Pyrrol aldehyde, 5-methyl-2-pyrol aldehyde, N-ethylpyrrole aldehyde, 2-acetyl-N-methylpyrrole, diketen, 5-acetyl 2-methyloxazole, 2-acetylfuran, 2-methylfuran, furfural, full Frill acetone, 5-methyl-2-furfural, dihydrofuranone, cyclopentanone, phenyln-butyrate, 2-phenyl-2-butenal, diflufuryl ether, chrysantenone, 2-buten-4-olide, 2-methoxyphenol ( Gaiacol), 2-methoxy-3-ethylpyrazine, 2-methoxy-3-isobutylpyrazine, 2-methoxy-3-isobutylpyridine, 2-methoxy-3-isopropylpyrazine, 2-methoxy-3-propylpyrazine, anisole , Benzaldehyde, 1,8-cineol, cyclopentylacetate, 2-ethoxy-3-ethylpyrazine, 2-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzaldehyde (o-vanillin) ), Phenyl ether, normal hexane and the like.
As the odorizing component, one type may be used alone, or two or more types may be used in combination.

The hydrogenated desulfurization unit is not particularly limited as long as it has a configuration in which a sulfur compound is reacted with hydrogen gas to hydrogenate desulfurize. As hydrodesulfurization, for example, a sulfur compound is reacted with hydrogen on a cobalt-nickel (Co-Ni) -based catalyst or a nickel-molybdenum (Ni-Mo) -based catalyst to convert it into hydrogen sulfide, and the converted hydrogen sulfide is converted. Examples thereof include a method of removing by adsorbing to an adsorbent.

The adsorbent that adsorbs and removes hydrogen sulfide is not limited as long as it is generally used as an adsorbent for hydrogen sulfide, and for example, zinc oxide, iron oxide, manganese oxide, copper oxide, nickel oxide, and calcium oxide. , Magnesium oxide, aluminum oxide, barium oxide, strontium oxide, aluminum oxide, silicon oxide, phosphorus oxide, boron oxide and the like.

In addition, since the hydrogenated desulfurization section uses a part of the hydrogen gas used as fuel for the fuel cell for hydrogenating desulfurization, there is no need for a separate pipe, valve, etc. for supplying the hydrogen gas to the hydrogenating desulfurizing section. The configuration of the fuel cell system can be simplified.

The hydrogenated desulfurization unit may be provided with heating means. The heating means may be a heat source such as a heater, or may be configured to supply heat generated by a fuel cell.
The heating temperature by the heating means is preferably 250 ° C to 400 ° C, more preferably 250 ° C to 350 ° C.

The concentration of the sulfur compound that deodorizes hydrogen gas (the concentration of the sulfur compound before being supplied to the desulfurization section) is preferably 0.1 ppm to 10 ppm, particularly as the concentration of t-butyl mercaptan (TBM). It is more preferably 1 ppm to 10 ppm, further preferably 1 ppm to 5 ppm.

The concentration of the sulfur compound in the hydrogen gas after desulfurization is preferably 10 ppb or less, preferably 1 ppb or less, and further preferably 0.1 ppb or less. In particular, when only t-butyl mercaptan (TBM) is contained as the sulfur compound, it is easy to suppress the concentration of the sulfur compound to the sub-ppb (0.1 ppb) order or less. For example, it is easier to lower the concentration of the sulfur compound than in city gas, liquefied petroleum gas, etc. containing a sulfur compound other than TBM.

Further, as described above, the odorant may further contain an odorant component other than the sulfur compound, and the odorant component may be configured to be removed together with the sulfur compound, which has an effect on the fuel cell. Since it is small, it may be supplied to the fuel cell in the state of a mixed gas with hydrogen. Since the odorant contains a sulfur compound, the concentration of the odorant component other than the sulfur compound in the gas can be lowered. Therefore, the gas containing the odorous component may be released to the atmosphere without separately removing the odorous component or deodorizing the odorous component.

From the viewpoint of advancing hydrogenated desulfurization of a sulfur compound at a lower temperature, the hydrogenated desulfurization unit may have a configuration in which a catalyst is arranged between a pair of electrodes and a voltage is applied between the electrodes. The electric field generated between the electrodes improves the catalytic activity, lowers the temperature of the reaction, improves the reaction efficiency, and the like.
Further, from the viewpoint of suppressing the generation of by-products and the required electric energy, the voltage applied between the electrodes is preferably less than the minimum voltage (discharge generation voltage) that causes discharge between the electrodes. Further, as the catalyst used in hydrogenation desulfurization, it is preferable to select a catalyst in which discharge is unlikely to occur when a voltage is applied between the electrodes.

Further, as the power source of the above-mentioned heating means and the power source for applying a voltage between the electrodes, the electric power generated by the fuel cell system of the present embodiment may be used.

(Decompression section)
The fuel cell system of the present embodiment is arranged downstream of the desulfurization unit and upstream of the fuel cell, and includes a decompression unit that reduces the pressure of hydrogen gas higher than the pressure of hydrogen gas supplied to the desulfurization unit. For example, it is preferable to use a decompression unit to reduce the pressure of hydrogen gas to a pressure suitable for the specifications of the fuel cell or the like, and the supply pressure of hydrogen gas is about 0.1 MPa of medium pressure (pressure of hydrogen gas supplied to the desulfurization unit). It is preferable to reduce the pressure from low to about 0.02 MPa. The decompression unit is not particularly limited as long as it has a configuration for lowering the supply pressure of the supplied hydrogen gas.

In the fuel cell system, a hydrogen detector or the like may be arranged in the decompression section so that hydrogen leakage can be detected.

[Power generation method]
The power generation method of the present embodiment is a power generation method using the fuel cell system of the present embodiment described above, and uses an odorant containing a sulfur compound and an odorant component other than the sulfur compound. As a result, the amount of sulfur compounds required for odorizing hydrogen gas can be reduced, and the desulfurization cost can be reduced.

Hereinafter, a specific configuration of the fuel cell system of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 1, the fuel cell system 10 includes a desulfurization unit 1, a decompression unit 2, and a fuel cell 3. Further, in the fuel cell system 10, hydrogen gas deodorized by an odorant containing a sulfur compound is supplied to the desulfurization section 1 through the distribution channel 4, and the hydrogen gas desulfurized through the distribution channel 4 is supplied to the decompression section 2 and the fuel cell. It is configured to be supplied in the order of 3.

The hydrogen gas deodorized by the odorant containing a sulfur compound is supplied to the desulfurization section 1 through the distribution channel 4, and the odorant is adsorbed by the adsorbent in the desulfurization section 1 or hydrogen gas is used. It is hydrogenated and desulfurized using. Then, the desulfurized hydrogen gas is depressurized by the decompression unit 2 through the flow path 4, and then is supplied to the fuel cell 3 as an anode gas and electrochemically with an oxygen gas supplied to the fuel cell 3 as a cathode gas. Power is generated by the reaction. The gas discharged from the fuel cell 3 (anode off gas) is released into the atmosphere. Since the decompression unit 2 is located downstream of the desulfurization unit 1, the partial pressure of the sulfur compound contained in the odorant tends to be higher, so that the adsorption performance of the adsorbent tends to be improved, and the pressure is higher. Due to the high price, hydrogenated desulfurization tends to proceed easily.

1 ... desulfurization part, 2 ... decompression part, 3 ... fuel cell, 4 ... distribution route, 10 ... fuel cell system

Claims (7)

Fuel cells that generate electricity using hydrogen gas and
An adsorbent located upstream of the fuel cell and having an adsorbent that adsorbs a sulfur compound contained in the odorant that deodorizes hydrogen gas, and a hydrogenated desulfurization by reacting the sulfur compound with the hydrogen gas. The desulfurization part, which is one of the hydrogenated desulfurization parts,
A decompression unit located downstream of the desulfurization unit and upstream of the fuel cell and depressurizing the hydrogen gas with respect to the pressure of the hydrogen gas supplied to the desulfurization unit.
(However, the desulfurization unit and the hydrogen gas storage unit are connected via a distribution channel, and the hydrogen gas storage unit and the decompression unit are connected to each other via a distribution channel. (Except for the configuration in which the parts are connected via a distribution channel) Fuel cell system. The desulfurization portion is provided with at least the adsorption portion.
The fuel cell system according to claim 1, wherein the adsorbent includes at least one of activated carbon and activated carbon impregnated with a metal. The fuel cell system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the adsorbent contains activated carbon impregnated with a metal. At least the hydrogenated desulfurization unit is provided as the desulfurization unit, and the desulfurization unit is provided.
The fuel cell system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising at least one of a heating means for heating the hydrogenated desulfurized portion and a voltage applying portion for applying a voltage to the hydrogenated desulfurized portion. The fuel cell system according to claim 4, wherein the electric power generated by the fuel cell is supplied to at least one of the heating means and the voltage application unit. The fuel cell system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, which is not provided with a reformer that reforms a hydrocarbon gas to generate the hydrogen gas. The power generation method using the fuel cell system according to any one of claims 1 to 6.
A power generation method using the odorant containing the sulfur compound and an odorant component other than the sulfur compound.

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