JP2003331890A - Direct methanol fuel cell power generator - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Problem] To provide a direct methanol fuel cell power generation device capable of bringing an output voltage to a steady state at an early stage. SOLUTION: A methanol aqueous solution is flown as a fuel in an anode flow path provided on one side of an electrolyte membrane, and air is flowed as an oxidant in a cathode flow path provided on the other side of the electrolyte membrane to generate electricity by a chemical reaction. An electromotive section, and a liquid sending mechanism 11 for supplying an aqueous methanol solution to the anode flow path when a voltage generated in the electromotive section rises to a predetermined voltage or higher.
1 and an air supply mechanism 11 for supplying air to the cathode channel
And switching means for switching the driving of the power supply 6 from the auxiliary power supply 206 to the electric power generated by the electromotive unit.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a direct-type methanol fuel cell power generator capable of driving an electronic device such as a small portable device, which has conventionally used a battery as a driving power source.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, fuel cells are expected to be used as a power source for portable electronic devices that support an information-oriented society or as a power source for dealing with air pollution and global warming.

Among the fuel cells, the direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC), which generates electricity by directly extracting protons from methanol, is portable because it does not require a reformer and requires a small fuel volume. Applications to electronic devices are also considered, and expectations for applications in various fields are increasing.

However, this type of direct methanol fuel cell has a problem that the output electromotive voltage is low at first and it takes time to increase the output voltage.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and is a direct methanol fuel cell power generator capable of bringing a high output voltage to a steady state at an early stage. The purpose is to provide.

[0006]

According to claim 1 of the present invention, an aqueous methanol solution is flown as a fuel into an anode channel provided on one surface side of an electrolyte membrane, and a cathode provided on the other surface side. An electromotive section that causes air to flow through the flow path as an oxidant to generate electromotive force by a chemical reaction, and a liquid feed mechanism that supplies an aqueous methanol solution to the anode flow path when the voltage generated in the electromotive section rises above a predetermined voltage. And a switching means for switching the drive of an air supply mechanism for supplying air to the cathode flow path from an auxiliary power source to the electric power generated by the electromotive section, to provide a direct methanol fuel cell power generator.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, an aqueous methanol solution as a fuel is made to flow through the anode channel provided on one surface side of the electrolyte membrane, and as an oxidizing agent at the cathode channel provided on the other surface side. An electromotive section that flows air to generate electromotive force by a chemical reaction, a liquid feeding mechanism that supplies an aqueous methanol solution to the anode flow channel, an air feeding mechanism that feeds air to the cathode flow channel, the air feeding mechanism and the air feeding mechanism. Auxiliary power source for driving the liquid mechanism and electric power generated by the electromotive unit from the auxiliary power source for driving the liquid feeding mechanism and the air feeding mechanism when the voltage generated in the electromotive unit rises above a predetermined voltage. There is provided a direct type methanol fuel cell power generation device having a switching means for switching to.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, an electromotive portion comprising an anode electrode including an anode catalyst layer, a cathode electrode including a cathode catalyst layer, and an electrolyte membrane disposed between the cathode electrode and the anode electrode. An anode flow channel plate provided with an anode flow channel facing the anode electrode and passing an aqueous methanol solution, and a cathode flow channel plate provided with a cathode flow channel facing the cathode and passing an oxidant. A direct methanol fuel cell power generation device for generating power by a reaction between methanol in the aqueous methanol solution and the oxidant, wherein a liquid feed mechanism for supplying the aqueous methanol solution to the anode channel and an oxidant to the cathode channel An air supply mechanism for supplying, an auxiliary power source for driving the air supply mechanism and the liquid supply mechanism, a voltage detection unit for detecting an electromotive voltage generated in the electromotive unit, and When the voltage detected by the pressure detection unit rises to a predetermined voltage, it has a switching unit for switching the driving of the liquid feeding mechanism and the air feeding mechanism from the auxiliary power source to the electric power generated by the electromotive unit. A direct methanol fuel cell power generator is provided.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, an electromotive section comprising an anode electrode including an anode catalyst layer, a cathode electrode including a cathode catalyst layer, and an electrolyte membrane disposed between the cathode electrode and the anode electrode. An anode flow channel plate provided with an anode flow channel facing the anode electrode and passing an aqueous methanol solution, and a cathode flow channel plate provided with a cathode flow channel facing the cathode and passing an oxidant. A direct methanol fuel cell power generation device for generating power by a reaction between methanol in the aqueous methanol solution and the oxidant, wherein a liquid feed mechanism for supplying the aqueous methanol solution to the anode channel and an oxidant to the cathode channel An air supply mechanism for supplying, a secondary battery for driving the air supply mechanism and the liquid supply mechanism, a voltage detection section for detecting an electromotive voltage generated in the electromotive section, Switching means for switching the drive of the liquid feeding mechanism and the air feeding mechanism to the electric power generated by the electromotive unit from the secondary battery when the voltage detected by the pressure detection unit rises to a first predetermined voltage; And a charging means for supplying electric power generated by the electromotive section to the secondary battery to charge the voltage when the voltage detected by the voltage detecting section rises to a second predetermined voltage. A type methanol fuel cell power generator is provided.

[0010]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. <First Embodiment> FIG. 1 shows an example of the configuration of a direct methanol fuel cell power generator used in the battery system of the present invention. Direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) electromotive device 1
The electromotive section of 00 includes an anode electrode including an anode current collector 101 and an anode catalyst layer 102, and a cathode current collector 103.
And a cathode electrode including the cathode catalyst layer 104, and an electrolyte membrane 1 disposed between the anode electrode and the cathode electrode.
Including 05. The anode channel plate 106 is the anode current collector 1
The anode flow channel 109 is disposed on the 01 side and has a methanol supply port 107 and a methanol discharge port 108.
Are formed. A methanol aqueous solution container 110 containing the methanol aqueous solution is connected to a methanol supply port 107 of the anode flow channel plate 106 via a liquid feed pump 111. Although not shown, the electromotive device 100 is heated by a heater.

On the other hand, the cathode flow channel plate 112 is arranged on the cathode current collector 103 side of the electromotive device 100, and has a oxidant supply port 113 and an oxidant discharge port 114. 115 is formed. An air supply pump 116 is connected to the oxidant supply port 113, and an oxidant such as air is sent to the oxidant supply port 113 from the outside.

The aqueous methanol solution is supplied from the aqueous methanol solution container 110 by means of the liquid feed pump 111 to the anode flow channel plate 1.
It is supplied to the methanol supply port 107 of No. 06, and flows through the groove portion of this flow path plate, that is, the anode flow path 109. The convex portion of the anode flow channel plate 106 is in contact with the anode current collector 101 such as anode carbon paper, and the aqueous methanol solution flowing through the anode flow channel 109 is the anode current collector 1.
By soaking into 01, the aqueous methanol solution is supplied to the anode catalyst layer 102. However, not all of the supplied methanol aqueous solution permeates the anode current collector 101, and the remaining methanol aqueous solution is discharged to the outside from the methanol discharge port 108.

On the other hand, the air taken in from the oxidant supply port 113 by the air supply pump 116 is the cathode channel plate 1.
It flows through the twelve grooves, that is, the cathode channel 115, and penetrates into the cathode catalyst layer 104. Then, the remaining air is discharged to the outside from the oxidant discharge port 114.

As the electrolyte membrane 105, for example, a Nafion membrane having high proton conductivity is used. The catalyst used in the anode catalyst layer 102 is, for example, PtRu with less poisoning, and the catalyst used in the cathode catalyst layer is, for example, Pt.

In the direct methanol fuel cell power generator having such a structure, an aqueous methanol solution is supplied to the anode catalyst layer 102 to generate protons (protons) by a catalytic reaction, the generated protons pass through the electrolyte membrane 105, and the cathode Electric power is generated by reacting oxygen supplied to the catalyst layer 104 with the catalyst.

The methanol concentration of the anode catalyst layer 102 changes depending on its thickness, and the thinner the thickness, the lower the concentration. From the maximum power density of power generation, it was found that the methanol concentration is preferably about 0.5 M, and therefore it is desirable that the thickness of the anode catalyst layer 102 be 40 μm or more, preferably 40 to 150 μm. Further, by setting the porosity (Nafion content ε) of the anode catalyst layer 102 to 0.4 to 0.7, a high diffusion rate of the aqueous methanol solution can be obtained.

Next, the power generation operation will be described with reference to FIG. 2 showing the control circuit connected to the DMFC electromotive device 100 described above. The aqueous methanol solution stored in the aqueous methanol solution container 110 is supplied to the methanol supply port 107 of the DMFC electromotive device 100 by the liquid delivery pump 111, and the air is supplied by the air delivery pump 116 to the DMFC electromotive device 1.
No. 00 is supplied to the oxidant supply port 113.

The control circuit 200 for controlling the DMFC electromotive device 100 includes a voltage detection unit 202 for detecting the output voltage of the DMFC electromotive device 100 and a switch for switching the switch according to the voltage detected by the voltage detection unit 202. A control circuit 203, normally open switches S21 and S22 that are controlled to open and close by the switch control circuit 203, a liquid feed pump drive unit 204 that drives a motor 111m of the liquid feed pump 111, and a motor of the air feed pump 116. An air supply pump 205 that drives 116 m, and the DMFC electromotive device 1
When the output voltage of 00 is low, this air supply pump 205
And a secondary battery 206 connected to the liquid delivery pump driving unit 204 via a switch S21, and a switch S22 for driving the load when the output voltage of the DMFC electromotive unit 100 reaches a predetermined height. And an electric power output unit 207 that is supplied to the outside via the.

Liquid feed pump drive section 204, air feed pump 20
5 and the electric power output part 207 are comprised by the DCDC converter. Further, the liquid feeding pump driving unit 204 has two input terminals a and b of the air feeding pump 205. In both driving units, the a input terminal is connected to the switch S21 and the b input terminal is connected to the DMFC electromotive device 100. Has been done.

Next, the operation of this DMFC control circuit will be described. First, since the output voltage of the DMFC electromotive device 100 is low, the switch control circuit 203 sets the switch S21.
And the secondary battery 206 is connected to the air supply pump 205 and the liquid supply pump 204. As a result, the liquid feed pump drive unit 204 drives the motor 111m, and the liquid feed pump 111 drives the methanol aqueous solution in the methanol aqueous solution container 110 to D
It is sent to the methanol supply port 107 of the MFC electromotive section 110.
On the other hand, the air supply pump drive unit 205 drives the motor 116 m, and the air supply pump 116 sends air to the oxidant supply port 113 of the DMFC electromotive unit 110. The aqueous methanol solution passes through the anode channel 108, and the remaining aqueous methanol solution is discharged outside through the methanol outlet 109. On the other hand, the air introduced through the oxidant supply port 13 passes through the cathode channel 115 and the remaining air is removed. From the oxidant discharge port 114 to the exhaust pipe 11
It is discharged to the outside via 7.

In this way, when the DMFC electromotive device 100 starts electromotive force and the output voltage rises to a predetermined voltage, the voltage is detected by the voltage detector 202 and sent to the switch control circuit 203. When the switch control circuit 203 detects that the voltage has become equal to or higher than the predetermined voltage, the switch S21 is opened to disconnect the secondary battery 206. At this time, the liquid feed pump drive unit 204 and the air feed pump drive unit 2
A predetermined voltage is applied to the 05 from the DMFC electromotive device 100, and the motors 111m and 116m continue to operate.
Are driven, and the liquid feed pump 111 and the air feed pump 1 are respectively driven.
The aqueous methanol solution and the air by 16 are supplied to the DMFC electromotive device 100.

At the same time, the switch control circuit 203 closes the switch S22, and the DMFC electromotive device 10 is closed.
The power generated at 0 is output to the outside as load driving power via the power output unit 207. In this way D
The electric power generated by the MFC electromotive section is taken out to an external load. <Second Embodiment> Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG.
The methanol aqueous solution discharged to the methanol discharge port 109 of the FC electromotive device 100 is replaced with the methanol aqueous solution container 1 again.
The configuration shown in FIG. 1 differs from the configuration shown in FIG. In FIG. 3, the same members as those described in FIG. 1 have the same reference numerals.

Also in this embodiment, the aqueous methanol solution supplied from the aqueous methanol solution container 110 is fed by the liquid feed pump 1.
11 supplies the methanol to the methanol supply port 107 of the anode flow path plate 106 that constitutes the DMFC electromotive device 100,
It flows through the anode channel 108. During this time, the aqueous methanol solution soaks into the anode current collector 101, and the remaining aqueous methanol solution is returned from the methanol outlet 109 to the aqueous methanol solution container 110.

On the other hand, the air supplied to the oxidant supply port 113 by the air supply pump 116 flows through the cathode flow passage 115 of the cathode flow passage plate 112, and in the process, part of the air permeates the cathode catalyst layer 104. . The remaining air is exhausted to the outside from the oxidant exhaust port 114 via the exhaust pipe 117.

Next, the power generation operation of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 4 showing the control circuit connected to the DMFC electromotive device 100 described above. In FIG. 4, the same members as in FIG.
The circuits are numbered the same. The control circuit of FIG. 4 is different from the control circuit of FIG. 2 in that the switch S21 is a switch S2.
1a and switch S21b. The switch control circuit 203 controls the opening and closing of the switch S21a and the opening and closing of the switch S21b to be opposite to each other. In this control circuit, when the generated voltage of the DMFC electromotive device 100 is low, the voltage detection unit 202 detects the voltage,
The switch control circuit 203 closes the switch S21a to supply the power of the secondary battery 206 with the liquid feed pump 204 and the air feed pump 2.
No. 05, and the pump is operated to send the aqueous methanol solution and air to the DMFC electromotive device 100.

In this way, when the DMFC electromotive device 100 operates and the generated voltage rises to a predetermined voltage, the switch control circuit 203 opens the switch S21a and the switch S21b according to the detected voltage sent from the voltage detection unit 202.
Close. In this way, the drive power sources for the liquid feed pump 111 and the air feed pump 116 are switched. Also, D
When the output voltage of the MFC electromotive unit reaches a predetermined voltage, the switch control circuit 203 closes the switch S22 to close the power output unit 2
The output of 07 is supplied to an external load.

The control circuit shown in FIG. 4 can also be used to control the DMFC electromotive device shown in FIG. 1, and conversely the control circuit shown in FIG. 2 can be used to control the DMFC electromotive device shown in FIG. Can also be used for. In the control circuits shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the secondary battery 206 is, for example, a lithium ion secondary battery, and other external auxiliary power source may be used.

According to this embodiment, since the remainder of the aqueous methanol solution used in the DMFC electromotive device is recovered, there is an advantage that the methanol can be effectively reused. <Third Embodiment> Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the above-described embodiment, it is necessary to generate power by the DMFC electromotive unit according to the maximum power at the peak load. On the other hand, in the control circuit of the third embodiment,
As shown in FIG. 5, the point that a capacitor C1 is provided on the output side of the power output unit 207 that supplies power to an external load is different from the above-described embodiment. Also in FIG. 5, FIG.
The same members and circuits as those in FIG. 4 have the same reference numerals.

First, the switch S21a is closed, the power of the secondary battery 206 is supplied to the liquid feed pump drive unit 204 and the air feed pump drive unit 205, and the motors 111m and 116m are driven to start the methanol aqueous solution and the air to the DMFC. The power is sent to the electric device 100 to start power generation. When the voltage of the DMFC electromotive device 100 rises to a predetermined value (first predetermined voltage), the switch control circuit 203 causes the switch S21 to operate.
a is opened and the switch S21b is closed to switch the power source for pump drive.

When the capacitor C1 is connected between the output terminal of the power output unit 207 and the ground, and the switch S22 is closed, the power of the power output unit 207 is stored in the capacitor C1.
Stored in 1. Therefore, the DMFC electromotive device 100
Of the external load supplied from the power output unit 207 becomes approximately the average voltage of the external load, the switch control circuit 20
3 detects that from the voltage detection unit 202, and further DM
Upon detecting that the output voltage of the FC electromotive device 100 has reached the second predetermined voltage, the switch S22 is closed.

When the output voltage of the electromotive device 100 reaches a voltage at which the average voltage of the external load supplied from the power output unit 207 can be stably output, the switch control circuit 2
03 detects that from the voltage detection unit 202, and further D
It is detected that the output voltage of the MFC electromotive device 100 has reached the second predetermined voltage, and the switch 22 is closed.

The DMFC electromotive device 10 has a large load.
When the maximum output power of 0 or the maximum output of the power output unit 27 is exceeded even for an instant, the output voltage becomes low and the output voltage is kept constant by the output-side capacitor C1 in order to prevent a problem that the load shuts down. It is possible to maintain This shutdown time is a few msec
If the output voltage is small, the output voltage can be kept constant by the capacitor C1.

Now, the value of the capacitor C1 will be described. This capacitor C1 is for smoothing the ripple voltage and for dealing with the instantaneous peak current of the output voltage of the power output section.

ESR is the equivalent series resistance of the capacitor C1.
(Ω), AC noise standard ΔV (v), response time Δt
(Second), if the load current variation is ΔI (A), the capacitance C (F) of the capacitor can be expressed as C = (ΔI × Δt) / (ΔV− (ΔI × ESR)).

For example, in order to suppress the output voltage fluctuation to ± 200 mV or less when the peak maximum output current flows within 5 A or more and 100 μsec or more than the continuous maximum output current of the fuel cell, 5000 μF is applied to the above equation. It can be seen that a capacitor having the above capacity may be used. Here, ESR is a typical value of 20 such as organic semiconductor capacitors.
It was calculated as mΩ or less.

In this way, the DMFC electromotive device 100
The electric power generated at the switch S2 is output from the electric power output unit 207.
2 to the external load. At this time, since the capacitor C1 is charged, the DMFC electromotive device 100 may generate power according to the average power, which is lower than the peak power of the external load.

According to this embodiment of the invention, the DMFC
In the electromotive section, it is sufficient to generate electric power according to the average electric power of the external load. Therefore, if the external load is the same, there is an advantage that the fuel cell can be downsized. <Fourth Embodiment> Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the third embodiment described above, the capacitor C1 is used to store electricity, but when the time from opening to closing of the switch S22 is relatively long, the secondary battery can be used to maintain the output voltage. .

The control circuit of this type of embodiment is shown in FIG. In the figure, reference numerals 100 to 207 refer to members and circuits of the same type in the control circuit shown in FIG. In this embodiment, an auxiliary device drive voltage adjusting unit 602 including a DCDC converter, a secondary battery charging control unit 604, a switch S61, a switch S64, and a diode D1 are provided.

As the diode D1, it is desirable to use a Schottky diode which has a low forward voltage drop and a small insertion loss.

The switch S61 is closed when the DMFC is activated, and the voltage of the secondary battery SB1 is controlled via the diode D1 to control the liquid feed pump drive section 204 and the air feed pump drive section 20.
In addition to 5, the auxiliary pump is driven. DMF
When the output of the C electromotive device 100 becomes high and the current flowing through the diode D1 becomes almost zero, the switch S61 opens. The switch S61 is opened when the DMFC power generator is complemented for a long period of time or when the DMFC generator is stopped.

The accessory drive voltage adjusting section 602 is controlled by the initial drive control (standby control) by the secondary battery SB1.
When the output voltage of the DMFC electromotive device 100 rises and the output can drive the pump sufficiently, it is used for switching the drive power supply path to the secondary battery SB1 without any time difference.

This auxiliary machine drive voltage adjusting section 602 is used because it is necessary to make the output voltage sufficiently higher than the voltage being driven through the secondary battery SB1 and the diode D1. That is, the range of the output voltage when the maximum power output of the DMFC electromotive device 100 is possible is wide, and the output voltage per unit cell is 0.3.
Since V is 0.8 V, for example, when five DMFCs are connected in series, the output voltage is 1.5 V to 4 V, and at a voltage value near the lower limit, during initial driving through the secondary battery SB1 through the diode D1. This is because the drive voltage of the auxiliary device may not always be switched from the secondary battery to the DMFC because the voltage always falls below the voltage.

The secondary battery charge control unit 604 is for charging the secondary battery SB1 when the power generation of the DMFC is sufficient. For example, if the secondary battery SB1 is a lithium secondary battery, charge with a constant current up to 4.2 V per unit cell. 4.
When it reaches 2V, it switches to constant voltage charging. Assuming that the rated output capacity of the battery is 1 CmA, the charging current when charging with a constant current is 1/2 CmA or less. After the voltage reaches 4.2V, when the constant voltage control is started, for example, 1/10 to 1
When the state of CmA of / 20 or less continues for 1 minute or more, it is processed as a full charge and the charging is finished.

In this embodiment, the switch circuit 103 closes the switch S61 when the voltage of the DMFC electromotive device 100 is low. Then, the voltage of the secondary battery SB1 such as a lithium-ion secondary battery is supplied to the liquid delivery pump drive unit 104 and the air delivery pump drive unit 105 via the diode D1.
And the motors 111m and 116m are driven to supply the aqueous methanol solution and the air to the DMFC electromotive device 100, respectively.

After that, when the voltage of the DMFC electromotive device 100 rises, the switch control circuit 203 closes the switch S62 and supplies the electric power generated in the DMFC electromotive unit to the voltage adjusting units 602 and 603. DMFC electromotive device 100
When the voltage generated at 1 is further increased, the switch control circuit 203 closes the switch S63. Therefore, power is supplied from the power output unit 107 to the external load.

When the voltage generated by the DMC electromotive device 100 becomes higher than that of the secondary battery SB1, the diode D
Due to 1, the power is not supplied from the secondary battery SB1 to the liquid feed pump drive unit 204 and the air feed pump drive unit 205, and the DMFC electromotive device 100 supplies power exclusively to these drive units. After that, the secondary battery SB1 is charged with electric power supplied from the DMFC electromotive unit via the voltage adjusting unit 603 and the voltage adjusting unit 604.

In order to deal with the instantaneous increase in the power supplied to the load in the third embodiment, the output capacitor (see FIG.
C1) is useful, but the output voltage is maintained by the secondary battery SB1 shown in FIG. 6 for coping with an increase in load power of several msec or more. Here, the DCDC converter section of the power output section 207 is configured to compare the output voltage with an output reference voltage included therein.

Therefore, when the load is large and the output voltage is low, the difference from the output reference voltage, that is, the error voltage becomes large.
Is opened and at the same time, the switch S64 is closed. The voltage detection unit 202 also detects the voltage drop of the switch S64 and the output voltage. When the output power falls below the maximum output power of the power generator, the switch control circuit 203 controls the switch S63 to close again, and at the same time the switch S6.
4 opens.

With this function, it is possible to operate the load without shutting it down even when the maximum instantaneous power of the load continues for several seconds or more. Furthermore, the capacitor C2 on the output side is connected to the voltage detection unit 202 and the switch control circuit 20.
3 has a merit of facilitating downsizing because the capacity corresponding to the time when the output voltage changes until the switch S63 and the switch S64 are opened and closed is sufficient.

Further, according to this embodiment of the present invention, the secondary battery is used for starting the power generation of the fuel cell, but thereafter, the secondary battery is charged by the fuel cell, The usage time of the battery can be extended.

[0051]

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to obtain a direct methanol fuel cell power generator which can quickly bring the output voltage to a high steady state.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a direct methanol fuel cell used in a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration of a DMFC control circuit according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration of a direct methanol fuel cell used in a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a configuration of a DMFC control circuit according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a configuration of a DMFC control circuit according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a configuration of a DMFC control circuit according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

100 ... DMFC electromotive device, 101 ... Anode current collector, 102 ... Anode catalyst layer, 103 ... Cathode current collector, 104 ... Cathode catalyst layer, 105 ...
..Electrolyte membrane, 106 ... Anode flow plate, 107 ...
..Methanol supply port, 108 ... Methanol discharge port, 109 ... Anode flow channel, 110 ... Methanol aqueous solution container, 111 ... Liquid feed pump, cathode flow channel plates 112, 113 ... Oxidizing agent Supply port, 114 ... Oxidant discharge port, 115 ... Cathode flow path, 116 ...
Air supply pump 117 ... Exhaust pipe, 118 ... Liquid recovery pipe, 200 ... Control circuit, 202 ... Voltage detection unit,
203 ... Switch control circuit, 206, SB1 ...
Secondary battery, 207 ... Power output section, C1, C2 ...
Condenser, 602 ... Auxiliary equipment drive voltage adjusting unit, 60
4 ... Secondary battery charge control unit.

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    (72) Inventor Hirohisa Miyamoto             1st Komukai Toshiba-cho, Sachi-ku, Kawasaki-shi, Kanagawa             Inside the Toshiba Research and Development Center (72) Inventor Mitsuhiro Tomimatsu             1st Komukai Toshiba-cho, Sachi-ku, Kawasaki-shi, Kanagawa             Inside the Toshiba Research and Development Center F term (reference) 5H027 AA08 DD00 DD03 KK52 KK54                       MM02

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. An electromotive force is generated by a chemical reaction by flowing an aqueous methanol solution as a fuel into an anode channel provided on one surface side of an electrolyte membrane and flowing an air as an oxidant into a cathode channel provided on the other surface side of the electrolyte membrane. Of the electromotive section, and of the liquid feeding mechanism that supplies the aqueous methanol solution to the anode flow channel and the air feeding mechanism that supplies air to the cathode flow channel when the voltage generated in the electromotive section rises above a predetermined voltage. A direct methanol fuel cell power generator comprising: a switching unit that switches driving from an auxiliary power source to electric power generated by the electromotive section. 2. An electromotive force is generated by a chemical reaction by flowing an aqueous methanol solution as a fuel into an anode channel provided on one surface side of an electrolyte membrane and flowing air as an oxidant into a cathode channel provided on the other surface side of the electrolyte membrane. An electromotive section, a liquid feeding mechanism for supplying an aqueous methanol solution to the anode flow channel, an air feeding mechanism for feeding air to the cathode flow channel, and an auxiliary power source for driving the air feeding mechanism and the liquid feeding mechanism. A switching means for switching the driving of the liquid feeding mechanism and the air feeding mechanism from the auxiliary power source to the electric power generated by the electromotive unit when the voltage generated in the electromotive unit rises above a predetermined voltage. A direct-type methanol fuel cell power generator characterized by: 3. An electromotive part composed of an anode electrode including an anode catalyst layer, a cathode electrode including a cathode catalyst layer, and an electrolyte membrane disposed between the cathode electrode and the anode electrode, and facing the anode electrode. An anode flow channel plate provided with an anode flow channel for passing an aqueous methanol solution, and a cathode flow channel plate provided with a cathode flow channel for passing an oxidant facing the cathode, and methanol in the aqueous methanol solution are provided. A direct-type methanol fuel cell power generator that generates power by a reaction of the oxidant, including a liquid feeding mechanism that supplies an aqueous methanol solution to the anode channel, and an air feeding mechanism that supplies an oxidant to the cathode channel. An auxiliary power source for driving the air supply mechanism and the liquid supply mechanism, a voltage detection unit for detecting an electromotive voltage generated in the electromotive unit, and a detection by the voltage detection unit Direct type methanol having a switching means for switching the driving of the liquid feeding mechanism and the air feeding mechanism from the auxiliary power source to the electric power generated by the electromotive section when the generated voltage rises to a predetermined voltage. Fuel cell power generator. 4. A methanol aqueous solution container for storing the aqueous methanol solution to be supplied to the anode channel, and a liquid recovery mechanism for returning the aqueous methanol solution passing through the anode channel to the methanol aqueous solution container. 3. A direct methanol fuel cell power generator according to 3. 5. The direct methanol fuel cell power generator according to claim 3, wherein the auxiliary power source is a secondary battery. 6. An electromotive section composed of an anode electrode including an anode catalyst layer, a cathode electrode including a cathode catalyst layer, and an electrolyte membrane disposed between the cathode electrode and the anode electrode, and facing the anode electrode. An anode flow channel plate provided with an anode flow channel for passing an aqueous methanol solution, and a cathode flow channel plate provided with a cathode flow channel for passing an oxidant facing the cathode, and methanol in the aqueous methanol solution are provided. A direct-type methanol fuel cell power generator that generates power by a reaction of the oxidant, including a liquid feeding mechanism that supplies an aqueous methanol solution to the anode channel, and an air feeding mechanism that supplies an oxidant to the cathode channel. A secondary battery that drives the air supply mechanism and the liquid supply mechanism, a voltage detection unit that detects an electromotive voltage generated in the electromotive unit, and a voltage detection unit that detects the voltage. Switching means for switching the driving of the liquid feeding mechanism and the air feeding mechanism to electric power generated by the electromotive section when the generated voltage rises to a first predetermined voltage; and the voltage detecting section. A direct methanol fuel cell power generation, comprising: a charging unit that supplies electric power generated by the electromotive unit to the secondary battery to charge the secondary battery when the detected voltage rises to a second predetermined voltage. apparatus. 7. The direct circuit according to claim 3, further comprising an output circuit for supplying electric power generated by the electromotive section to an external load, and a capacitor connected to an output terminal of the output circuit. Type methanol fuel cell power generator.