Fuel cell module
A fuel cell module includes a fuel cell stack, and a container that has a frame structure in which a polyhedron is composed of a plurality of main beams, and houses the fuel cell stack. The container has a vertical length and a horizontal length different from each other in side view. At least one main beam among the main beams includes a plurality of fastening points that are arranged along a longitudinal direction of the at least one main beam.
1 . A fuel cell module comprising:
a fuel cell stack;
a container having a frame structure and including a plurality of main beams forming a polyhedron and including a first reinforcing beam, the container housing the fuel cell stack, and the first reinforcing beam connecting a first main beam and a second main beam among the plurality of main beams; and
a power control unit housed in the container and configured to control the fuel cell stack, wherein:
the container has a vertical length and a horizontal length different from each other in a side view;
the first main beam includes a plurality of fastening points that are arranged along a longitudinal direction of the first main beam, the fastening points being configured to fix a bolt that attaches the fuel cell module to an automobile;
the fuel cell module is attached to the automobile with the bolt at at least one fastening point of the fastening points; and
the power control unit is fixed to the first reinforcing beam.
2 . The fuel cell module according to claim 1 , wherein:
the first main beam extends along a first direction; and
half or more, but less than all, of the fastening points are disposed between both ends of the fuel cell stack in the first direction.
3 . The fuel cell module according to claim 1 , wherein:
the first main beam extends along a first direction;
the container includes a third main beam and a fourth main beam among the plurality of main beams and a second reinforcing beam each connected to the first main beam;
each of the third main beam, fourth main beam, and second reinforcing beam extend parallel to a second direction perpendicular to the first direction;
the second reinforcing beam is positioned between the third main beam and the fourth main beam in a direction parallel to the first direction; and
the fuel cell stack is disposed between the third main beam and the second reinforcing beam when viewed from the side view.
4 . The fuel cell module according to claim 1 , wherein:
a third reinforcing beam connects the first main beam and a fifth main beam among the plurality of main beams;
the fifth main beam includes a plurality of second fastening points that are arranged along a direction parallel to the longitudinal direction; and
a point where an extension line of the third reinforcing beam intersects with the fifth main beam among the plurality of main beams is positioned between adjacent second fastening points among the plurality of second fastening points of the fifth main beam.
5 . The fuel cell module according to claim 1 , wherein the power control unit is fixed to the container through a block made of a first metal, the first metal being a same metal as a casing of the power control unit.
6 . The fuel cell module according to claim 5 , wherein the power control unit is a second heaviest component after the fuel cell stack among parts housed in the container.
7 . The fuel cell module according to claim 5 , further comprising an air compressor that is housed in the container and is configured to supply air to the fuel cell stack,
wherein the power control unit is a third heaviest component after the fuel cell stack and the air compressor among parts housed in the container.
8 . The fuel cell module according to claim 5 , wherein the power control unit is fixed to the container by the block and a plate made of second metal different from the first metal.
9 . The fuel cell module according to claim 1 , wherein each of the fastening points of the first main beam further include a nut welded to the first main beam.
10 . The fuel cell module according to claim 2 , wherein:
six fastening points among the plurality of fastening points are arranged along the longitudinal direction of the first main beam; and
four of the six fastening points are disposed between the both ends of the fuel cell stack when viewed from the side view.
11 . The fuel cell module according to claim 1 , wherein:
the power control unit is suspended from the first reinforcing beam by a plurality of brackets;
two brackets among the plurality of brackets connect a surface of the power control unit to the first reinforcing beam; and
a third bracket among the plurality of brackets connects the two brackets.
12 . The fuel cell module according to claim 1 , wherein
the power control unit is suspended from the first main beam by a first bracket and a second bracket;
the first bracket is bent in an L-shape;
the second bracket has a flat plate shape;
a first bolt passes through a first hole provided at a first end of the first bracket and fixes the first bracket to the first main beam; and
a second bolt passes through a second hole provided at a second end of the first bracket and fixes the first bracket to the second bracket.
13 . The fuel cell module according to claim 12 , wherein a diameter of the first hole is greater than a diameter of the first bolt, and a diameter of the second hole is greater than a diameter of the second bolt.
14 . The fuel cell module according to claim 12 , wherein a surface of the first bracket having the second hole is inclined by an angle smaller than a right angle with respect to a vertical direction.
15 . The fuel cell module according to claim 1 , further comprising a first pipe for supplying fuel gases to the fuel cell stack and a second pipe for discharging gases from the fuel cell stack, wherein:
the first pipe and the second pipe extend within the container in the longitudinal direction,
the power control unit is suspended from the first main beam or the first reinforcing beam; and
the first pipe and the second pipe pass below the power control unit.
16 . The fuel cell module according to claim 1 , wherein:
the first main beam is directly connected to a third main beam of the plurality of main beams; and
the first main beam, the second main beam, and the third main beam each form a separate edge of the polyhedron.
17 . The fuel cell module according to claim 1 , wherein each edge of the polyhedron is formed by each main beam of the plurality of main beams.
18 . The fuel cell module according to claim 1 , wherein the first reinforcing beam traverses a face of the polyhedron.
19 . The fuel cell module according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of fastening points is not used to attach the fuel cell module to the automobile.
20 . A fuel cell module comprising:
a fuel cell stack; and
a container having a frame structure and including a plurality of main beams forming a polyhedron; wherein:
the container has a vertical length and a horizontal length different from each other in a side view;
the plurality of main beams includes:
a first main beam positioned along a first horizontal axis;
a second main beam positioned along a second horizontal axis substantially parallel to the first horizontal axis; and
a third main beam positioned along a first vertical axis substantially perpendicular to the first horizontal axis and directly connected to the first main beam and the second main beam;
the first main beam, the second main beam, and the third main beam each form an edge of the polyhedron;
the first main beam extends beyond the fuel cell stack in a direction along the first horizontal axis when viewed from the side view;
the first main beam includes a plurality of fastening points that are arranged along the first horizontal axis of the first main beam, the fastening points being configured to attach the fuel cell module to an automobile; and
at least one of the fastening points is positioned within a region of the first main beam that extends beyond the fuel cell stack in the direction along the first horizontal axis when viewed from the side view.