IP Library Granted Patent US 9,543,597
Granted Patent B2
US 9,543,597 · App. 13/758,551 · Granted Jan 10, 2017

Fuel-cell power generation system and method of manufacturing the same

Inventors: Yasuhiro Arai (Yokohama, JP); Takayuki Shinohara (Yokohama, JP); Jun Udagawa (Yokohama, JP); Kenzo Tonoki (Tokyo, JP); Norihito Togashi (Yokohama, JP)
Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA; Toshiba Fuel Cell Power Systems Corporation
H01M8/04H01M8/0286H01M8/04201Y02E60/50Y02P70/56
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,543,597
App. No.
13/758,551
Granted
Jan 10, 2017
Kind
B2
Abstract

According to one embodiment, a fuel-cell power generation system includes a fuel cell that generates electricity by electrochemical reaction using fuel and an oxidizer and a resin module that includes a flow path through which fuel, air, or water flows, inner walls defining the flow path being made of resin.

Claims (25)

1. A fuel-cell power generation system comprising:

a fuel cell that generates electricity by electrochemical reaction using fuel and an oxidizer;

a resin module that is provided outside the fuel cell, the resin module including portions on which a plurality of devices can be mounted, and the resin module being configured as a subassembly of a plurality of flow paths through which fuel, air, or water flows, inner walls defining the flow paths being made of resin, the plurality of flow paths being formed to correspond to the plurality of devices and being formed integrally within the resin module; and

a cut-off device formed separate from the resin module and configured to directly connect to the resin module at the portions on which a plurality of devices can be mounted;

wherein the resin module includes:

a welded surface part, to which a weld lid is welded when vibration welding is performed, and

a first wall and a second wall, which are respectively provided at a first side of the welded surface and at a second side of the welded surface while keeping certain distances and spaces from the welded surface,

wherein when the resin module is covered with the welded part, a first trap part formed between the first wall and the welded surface part, and

a second trap part formed between the second wall and the welded surface part and

wherein when vibration welding is performed, swarf produced from the welded surface part is trapped and sealed by either of the first trap part or the second trap part.

2. The fuel-cell power generation system according to claim 1 , wherein the resin module includes an inlet coupling part and an outlet coupling part provided at an inlet and an outlet of the flow path respectively, the inlet coupling part and the outlet coupling part having a quick-fastener structure.

3. The fuel-cell power generation system according to claim 1 , wherein the inside of the resin module has a larger cross-sectional area than that of the flow path and further includes a buffer unit connected to the flow path.

4. The fuel-cell power generation system according to claim 1 , wherein the resin module has a structure that causes a device to be installed via an O-ring.

5. The fuel-cell power generation system according to claim 1 , wherein resin material for the resin module includes polyphenylene sulfide.

6. The fuel-cell power generation system according to claim 1 , wherein

the resin module is formed such that a plurality of flow paths are integrally molded with resin,

the system further comprises a device fixed to the resin module via a sealing member,

a through-hole is made in one of the resin module and the device and a small diameter hole smaller in diameter than that of the through-hole is made in the other, and a fixing screw is screwed into the through-hole and the small diameter hole, thereby fixing the module and device to each other, and

a tapping screw requiring no insert member is used as the fixing screw, the angle of each thread of the screw being in a range of 20 to 35°.

7. The fuel-cell power generation system according to claim 6 , wherein the resin module includes

a first convex structure part that is located in a place where the sealing member is arranged,

a plurality of second convex structure parts that are located in a plurality of places in which the fixing screw is screwed and fixed, and

a rib that couples at least two of the first convex structure part and the second convex structure parts to each other.

8. The fuel-cell power generation system according to claim 6 , wherein the material of the device in a position opposite the resin module is the same as that of the resin module.

9. The fuel-cell power generation system according to claim 6 , wherein a plurality of sealing members are arranged on a surface on which the resin module and the device are installed and fluid passage holes are made in areas divided by the sealing members, respectively.

Assignments (4)
MERGER Recorded Jun 28, 2019
From: TOSHIBA FUEL CELL POWER SYSTEMS CORPORATION
To: TOSHIBA ENERGY SYSTEMS & SOLUTIONS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 049620/0281 →
PARTIAL ASSIGNMENT Recorded Jun 28, 2019
From: TOSHIBA ENERGY SYSTEMS & SOLUTIONS CORPORATION
To: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
Reel/Frame 049627/0019 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 16, 2018
From: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
To: TOSHIBA ENERGY SYSTEMS & SOLUTIONS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 045255/0768 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 4, 2013
From: ARAI, YASUHIRO; SHINOHARA, TAKAYUKI; UDAGAWA, JUN; TONOKI, KENZO; TOGASHI, NORIHITO
To: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA; TOSHIBA FUEL CELL POWER SYSTEMS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 029750/0126 →
Priority Claims (3)
JP 2010-175640 · Aug 4, 2010 · national
JP 2010-286349 · Dec 22, 2010 · national
JP 2011-160796 · Jul 22, 2011 · national
Continuity (2)
Continuation PCTJP2011067513 · Jul 29, 2011
Related Publication 20130149629A1 · Jun 13, 2013