JP2008186800A - Gas-liquid separator and fuel cell device equipped with the same - Google Patents

Abstract

A gas-liquid separator capable of efficiently separating a gas in a liquid and a fuel cell device including the same are provided.
A fuel cell device includes an electromotive unit that has an anode and a cathode and generates power by a chemical reaction, a fuel tank, and a circulation system that supplies fuel and air to the electromotive unit. The circulation system includes a fuel flow path 22 that circulates fuel supplied from a fuel tank through the anode, an air flow path 24 that circulates air through the cathode, and an anode between an outflow end of the anode and the fuel tank in the fuel flow path. And a gas-liquid separator 40 that separates liquid and gas. The gas-liquid separator is formed of a porous material, has a first surface in contact with the gas-liquid two-phase flow and a second surface in contact with the outside air, and transmits a gas in the gas-liquid two-phase flow. 46 and a catalyst 48 that is provided at least on the second surface side in the gas permeable membrane and reacts the gas that passes through the gas permeable membrane with oxygen in the outside air to generate heat on the second surface side. Yes.
[Selection] Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a gas-liquid separator, and a fuel cell device that includes the gas-liquid separator and is used as a power source for electronic devices and the like.

  Currently, secondary batteries such as lithium ion batteries are mainly used as power sources for portable notebook personal computers (hereinafter referred to as notebook PCs) and mobile devices. In recent years, a small fuel cell with high output and no need for charging has been expected as a new power source due to an increase in power consumption accompanying the enhancement of functions of these electronic devices and a request for longer use. There are various types of fuel cells. In particular, a direct methanol fuel cell (hereinafter referred to as DMFC) using a methanol solution as a fuel is easier to handle than a fuel cell using hydrogen as a fuel. Since the system is simple, it is attracting attention as a power source for electronic devices.

  Usually, the DMFC includes a fuel tank in which methanol is stored, a liquid feed pump that pumps methanol to the electromotive unit, an air pump that supplies air to the electromotive unit, and the like. The electromotive unit includes a cell stack in which a plurality of single cells each having an anode and a cathode are stacked. Electricity is generated by a chemical reaction by supplying methanol diluted to the anode side and air to the cathode side. As reaction products accompanying power generation, unreacted methanol and carbon dioxide gas are generated on the anode side of the electromotive section, and water is generated on the cathode side. The reaction product water is exhausted as steam.

  In the gas-liquid two-phase flow of unreacted fuel and carbon dioxide generated at the anode, carbon dioxide gas inhibits the power generation reaction. Therefore, when the unreacted fuel generated at the anode is circulated and used, It is necessary to separate and remove the expected components. Therefore, a gas-liquid separator is provided in the flow path extending between the anode outlet of the electromotive unit and the fuel tank. Unreacted methanol and carbon dioxide generated on the anode side of the electromotive section are sent to a gas-liquid separator, and methanol and carbon dioxide are separated. After the separation, methanol is sent to the fuel tank through the recovery channel, and carbon dioxide gas is sent to the cathode channel through the exhaust channel (for example, Patent Document 1).

As a gas-liquid separator, what was comprised by the tube which consists of a porous gas-liquid separation membrane is proposed (for example, patent document 2). The tube is disposed across the flow of the liquid, and the inside is decompressed by an exhaust device. Thereby, the gas contained in the liquid is exhausted into the tube through the tube of the gas-liquid separation membrane and separated from the liquid.
JP-A-2005-108718 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-4002

  In the fuel cell device configured as described above, the fuel separated by the gas-liquid separator is returned to the fuel tank and is used again for power generation. Therefore, in order to efficiently use the fuel, the gas-liquid separator provided between the electromotive unit and the fuel tank needs to be able to reliably separate the fuel and the carbon dioxide gas.

  However, the anode fuel circulation system of the fuel cell device has a relatively high temperature, and the gas separated by the gas-liquid separator contains a large amount of water vapor immediately after the separation. For this reason, when the separated gas is cooled, water vapor is condensed and adheres to the surface of the gas-liquid separation membrane constituting the gas-liquid separator. And this condensation will fill the hole of the gas-liquid separation membrane and close the gas passage. As a result, the gas-liquid separation efficiency of the gas-liquid separator may be reduced.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object thereof is to provide a gas-liquid separator capable of efficiently separating a gas in a liquid, and a fuel cell device including the same.

  In order to achieve the above object, a gas-liquid separator according to an aspect of the present invention includes a first surface that is formed of a porous material and is in contact with a gas-liquid two-phase flow and a second surface that is in contact with outside air. A gas permeable membrane that permeates gas in a two-phase flow; and at least the second surface side of the gas permeable membrane, the gas that passes through the gas permeable membrane reacts with oxygen in the outside air. And a catalyst for generating heat on the second surface side.

A fuel cell device according to another aspect of the present invention includes a cell having an anode and a cathode, an electromotive unit that generates electric power by a chemical reaction, a fuel tank that contains fuel, and fuel supplied from the fuel tank. A fuel flow path that circulates through the anode of the electromotive section; a gas flow path that circulates air through the cathode of the electromotive section; and between the outflow end of the electromotive section and the fuel tank in the fuel flow path. And a gas-liquid separator that separates liquid and gas, and a circulation system,
The gas-liquid separator is formed of a porous material and has a first surface in contact with the gas-liquid two-phase flow discharged from the anode and a second surface in contact with outside air, and the gas in the gas-liquid two-phase flow A gas permeable membrane that permeates, and at least the second surface side of the gas permeable membrane, and reacts the gas that permeates the gas permeable membrane with oxygen in the outside air to make the second surface side And a catalyst for generating heat.

  According to the above configuration, by providing a heat generation function to the second surface side of the gas permeable membrane, dew condensation of the permeated gas is prevented, and a decrease in gas-liquid separation efficiency is prevented. Thereby, the gas-liquid separator which can isolate | separate the gas in a liquid efficiently, and a fuel cell apparatus provided with the same can be provided.

Hereinafter, a fuel cell device according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 schematically shows a circulation system configuration of a fuel cell device. As shown in FIG. 1, the fuel cell device 10 is configured as a DMFC using methanol as a liquid fuel. The fuel cell device 10 includes a DMFC stack 12 that constitutes an electromotive unit, a fuel tank 14, a circulation system 20 that supplies fuel and air to the DMFC stack, and a battery control unit 51 that controls the operation of the entire fuel cell device. Yes.

  The fuel tank 14 has a sealed structure, and contains high-concentration methanol as a liquid fuel. The fuel tank 14 may be formed as a fuel cartridge that is detachable from the fuel cell device 10.

  The circulation system 20 includes a fuel flow path (liquid flow path) 22 for circulating the fuel supplied from the fuel supply port 14 a of the fuel tank 14 through the DMFC stack 12, and an air flow path for circulating a gas containing air through the DMFC stack 12. (Gas flow path) 24, a plurality of auxiliary machines provided in the fuel flow path and the air flow path. The fuel flow path 22 and the air flow path 24 are each formed by piping or the like.

  FIG. 2 shows the laminated structure of the DMFC stack 12, and FIG. 3 schematically shows the power generation reaction of each cell. As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the DMFC stack 12 as a cell stack is a stacked structure in which a plurality of, for example, four single cells 140 and five rectangular plate-like separators 142 are alternately stacked. And a frame body 145 that supports the laminated body. Each single cell 140 includes a substantially rectangular plate-like cathode (air electrode) 46 and an anode (fuel electrode) 47 each composed of a catalyst layer and carbon paper, and a substantially rectangular high-pitch sandwiched between the cathode and anode. A membrane / electrode assembly (MEA) integrated with the molecular electrolyte membrane 144 is provided. The polymer electrolyte membrane 144 is formed in a larger area than the anode 37 and the cathode 36.

  The three separators 142 are stacked between two adjacent single cells 140, and the other two separators are stacked at both ends in the stacking direction. The separator 142 and the frame 145 are formed with a fuel channel 146 that supplies fuel to the anode 37 of each unit cell 140 and an air channel 147 that supplies air to the cathode 36 of each unit cell.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the supplied fuel and air chemically react with the electrolyte membrane 144 provided between the anode 37 and the cathode 36, thereby generating electric power between the anode and the cathode. The electric power generated in the DMFC stack 12 is supplied to an external device or the like via the battery control unit 51.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the auxiliary equipment provided in the fuel flow path 22 is connected to the fuel supply port 14a of the fuel tank 14 through the piping to the on-off valve 26, the fuel pump 28, and the output portion of the fuel pump. A connected mixing tank 30 is provided. The auxiliary machine detects the concentration of the fuel provided on the outflow side of the liquid feed pump 34 connected to the output portion of the mixing tank 30 constituting a part of the fuel tank via the liquid filter 32 and the liquid feed pump. Concentration sensor 35 is provided. The output portion of the liquid feed pump 34 is connected to the anode 37 of the DMFC stack 12 via the fuel flow path 22.

  The output portion of the anode 37 of the DMFC stack 12 is connected to the input portion of the mixing tank 30 through the fuel flow path 22. A gas-liquid separator 40 is provided in the fuel flow path 22 between the output portion of the DMFC stack 12 and the mixing tank 30. The exhaust fluid discharged from the anode 37 of the DMFC stack 12, that is, the unreacted aqueous methanol solution that has not been used for the chemical reaction, and the generated carbon dioxide are separated from each other by the gas-liquid separator 40. The separated aqueous methanol solution is returned to the mixing tank 30 through the fuel flow path 22 and supplied to the anode 37 again. The carbon dioxide separated by the gas-liquid separator 40 is sent to the air filter through the air flow path 24 described later.

  On the other hand, the upstream end 24a and the downstream end 24b of the air flow path 24 are each in communication with the atmosphere. The auxiliary equipment provided in the air flow path 24 is connected to the air flow path between the DMFC stack 12 and the air filter, and the air filter 50 provided near the upstream end 24a of the air flow path 24 on the upstream side of the DMFC stack 12. The air supply pump 52, the open / close valve 53, the exhaust filter 54 provided in the vicinity of the downstream end 24b of the air flow path 24 on the downstream side of the DMFC stack 12, and the open / close valve 55 are included.

  The air filter 50 captures and removes dust in the air sucked into the air flow path 24, impurities such as carbon dioxide, formic acid, fuel gas, and methyl formate, and harmful substances. The exhaust filter 54 detoxifies by-products in the gas exhausted from the air flow path 24 to the outside, and captures fuel gas and the like contained in the exhaust.

  The gas-liquid separator 40 described above is connected to the air flow path 24 between the inflow side of the DMFC stack 12 and the on-off valve 53. An air filter 56 is provided in the air flow path 24 between the gas-liquid separator 40 and the inflow side of the DMFC stack 12. The gas sent from the gas-liquid separator 40 to the air flow path 24 passes through the air filter 56, where impurities and harmful substances such as carbon dioxide and fuel gas are removed, and then sent to the DMFC stack 12.

  Next, the gas-liquid separator 40 will be described in detail. FIG. 4 shows the gas-liquid separator 40 in an enlarged manner, and FIG. 5 schematically shows the separation operation of the gas-liquid separator.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the gas-liquid separator 40 includes a separation tube 42 defining a part of the fuel flow path 22, and a hollow container 44 provided so as to cover the separation tube 42. Have. The separation tube 42 is formed by forming a gas permeable membrane 46 made of a porous material, for example, a porous fluorine-based resin and having a thickness of 1 to 2 mm into a cylindrical shape. The flow path through which the gas-liquid two-phase flow flows is defined by the inner surface (first surface) of the gas permeable membrane 46, and the outer surface of the separation tube 42 is formed by the outer surface (second surface). The gas permeable membrane 46 permeates the gas in the gas-liquid two-phase flow that flows in the flow path.

  In the gas permeable membrane 46, a particulate catalyst 48 is applied at least on the outer surface side, and is dispersed in the outer surface side region of the gas permeable membrane 46 to such an extent that gas permeation is not hindered. As the catalyst 48, platinum or an alloy containing platinum, for example, a platinum vanadium alloy or a platinum rhodium alloy is used. The gas permeable membrane 46 may be formed of a mixed material in which a fluorine solution and catalyst particles are mixed.

  Both ends of the separation tube 42 are connected to pipes 22 a forming the fuel flow path 22, respectively. Thereby, the separation tube 42 constitutes a part of the fuel flow path 22 through which the exhausted fluid discharged from the anode 37, that is, the gas-liquid two-phase fluid containing the unreacted methanol aqueous solution and the generated carbon dioxide flows.

  The container 44 is provided so as to cover the entire separation tube 42, and defines a sealed space 60 in contact with the outer surface of the separation tube 42. The container 44 is connected to the air flow path 24 between the air filter 56 and the on-off valve 53. A pipe 24 c that defines the air flow path 24 is connected to the container 44, and a space 60 in the container 44 communicates with the air flow path 24. Thereby, the outside air supplied from the air supply pump 52 is supplied to the space 60 in the container 44 and flows around the separation tube 42, and then sent to the air filter 56 and the cathode 36.

  According to the gas-liquid separator 40 configured as described above, the exhaust fluid discharged from the anode 37 flows through the separation tube 42, and the outer surface of the separation tube 42 is the outside air supplied to the space 60, that is, In contact with oxygen. The discharged fluid is relatively hot and has a pressure higher by several K Pascals than the outside air. Therefore, a differential pressure is generated inside and outside the separation tube 42. As a result, the gas contained in the exhaust fluid, here carbon dioxide and gaseous methanol fuel component, is transmitted to the outer space 60 through the gas permeable membrane 46 due to the pressure difference. The liquid in the discharged fluid cannot pass through the gas permeable membrane 46 due to its surface tension, and flows through the flow path as it is. Thereby, gas-liquid separation is performed.

Further, when the separated gas permeates the gas permeable membrane 46, it contacts the catalyst 48 on the outer surface side of the gas permeable membrane. Then, induced by the catalyst 48, the fuel component in the separation gas reacts with oxygen in the outside air as shown below to generate heat, and the outer surface side of the gas permeable membrane is heated.
CH ₃ OH + (3/2) O ₂ → CO ₂ + 2H ₂ O + reaction heat By generating such heat generation, water vapor contained in the separation gas is condensed on the outer surface of the gas permeable membrane 46. To prevent. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the pores of the gas permeable membrane 46 from being clogged with condensed water, and to suppress a decrease in gas permeability of the gas permeable membrane, that is, gas-liquid separation efficiency.

  The exhaust fluid separated by the gas-liquid separator 40 as described above is sent to the mixing tank 30 through the fuel flow path 22, and the separated gas is sent to the air filter 56 together with the outside air. After the impurities and the like are removed, they are sent to the cathode 36 of the DMFC stack 12.

  When the fuel cell device 10 configured as described above is used as a power source, the fuel pump 28, the liquid supply pump 34, and the air supply pump 52 are operated under the control of the battery control unit 51, and the on-off valves 26, 53, 55 is released. Methanol is supplied from the fuel tank 14 to the mixing tank 30 by the fuel pump 28 and mixed with water in the mixing tank to form a methanol aqueous solution having a desired concentration. Further, the aqueous methanol solution in the mixing tank is supplied to the anode 37 of the DMFC stack 12 through the fuel flow path 22 by the liquid feed pump 34.

  On the other hand, air, that is, air is sucked into the air flow path from the intake end 24 a of the air flow path 24 by the air supply pump 52. This air passes through the air filter 50, where dust and impurities in the air are removed. After passing through the air filter 50, the air is sent to the space 60 of the gas-liquid separator 40 through the air flow path 24, and further supplied to the cathode 36 of the DMFC stack 12 through the air filter 56.

  The methanol and air supplied to the DMFC stack 12 undergo an electrochemical reaction at the electrolyte membrane 144 provided between the anode 37 and the cathode 36, thereby generating electric power between the anode 37 and the cathode 36. The electric power generated in the DMFC stack 12 is supplied to an electronic device or the like via the battery control unit 51.

  Along with the electrochemical reaction, carbon dioxide is generated on the anode 37 side and water is generated on the cathode 36 side as reaction products in the DMFC stack 12. Carbon dioxide generated on the anode 37 side and unreacted methanol that has not been subjected to the chemical reaction are sent to the gas-liquid separator 40 through the fuel flow path 22 where they are separated into carbon dioxide and methanol. The separated methanol is recovered from the gas-liquid separator 40 through the fuel flow path 22 to the mixing tank 30 and used again for power generation.

  The separated carbon dioxide is sent from the space 60 of the gas-liquid separator 40 to the air flow path 24, and further sent to the air filter 56 together with air, where it is removed. The gas discharged from the DMFC stack 12 includes formic acid, methanol gas, methyl formate, and the like, and these impurities are removed together with carbon dioxide by the air filter 56. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the above-described impurities from being sent to the DMFC stack 12 and to prevent a decrease in power generation efficiency due to these impurities.

  Most of the water generated on the cathode 36 side of the DMFC stack 12 becomes water vapor and is discharged to the air flow path 24 together with air. The discharged air and water vapor are sent to a removal filter 540, where dust and impurities are removed and then exhausted from the downstream end 24b of the air flow path 24 to the outside.

  According to the fuel cell device 10 configured as described above, the gas-liquid separator 40 provided between the DMFC stack and the mixing tank has a function of generating heat on the outer surface side of the gas permeable membrane 46, that is, a catalyst. The reaction heat between the fuel component and oxygen due to the above can be generated, and the outer surface side of the gas permeable membrane can be heated. Thereby, it is possible to prevent water vapor contained in the separation gas from condensing on the outer surface of the gas permeable membrane 46, and to suppress a decrease in gas permeability of the gas permeable membrane, that is, gas-liquid separation efficiency. Therefore, a gas-liquid separator capable of efficiently separating the gas in the liquid is obtained.

  Further, since the harmful gas separated by the gas-liquid separator 40 is immediately rendered harmless by the action of the catalyst 48, safety can be maintained even when the sealing property of the gas-liquid separator container 44 is impaired. Further, the gas-liquid separator 40 has a configuration in which a catalyst 48 is applied or dispersed in the gas permeable membrane 46, and the gas-liquid separator 40 can be reduced in size, improved in handleability, and reduced in manufacturing cost.

  Since the gas-liquid separator 40 having the above configuration can reliably separate carbon dioxide contained in the exhausted fuel, it prevents the carbon dioxide from being supplied to the DMFC stack together with the fuel, and prevents a decrease in power generation reaction due to the carbon dioxide. can do.

  Next, the gas-liquid separator 40 of the fuel cell device according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described. According to the second embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, the gas-liquid separator 40 includes a gas permeable membrane 46 formed in a sheet shape and a container 44 covering the gas permeable membrane 46. Yes. The gas permeable membrane 46 is provided so as to partition the inside of the container 44 into a first space 60a and a second space 60b.

  The first space 60a is connected to the air flow path 24 between the air supply pump 52 and the cathode 36 of the DMFC stack. Thus, the first space 60a constitutes a part of the air flow path 24, and the outside air supplied from the air supply pump 52 is supplied to the first space 60a in the container 44 and comes into contact with the gas permeable membrane 46. , And sent to the cathode 36.

  The second space 60b is connected to the fuel flow path 22 between the anode 37 of the DMFC stack and the mixing tank 30, and the exhaust fluid discharged from the anode 37, that is, the gas containing unreacted aqueous methanol solution and generated carbon dioxide. It constitutes a part of the fuel flow path 22 through which the liquid two-phase fluid flows.

  The gas permeable membrane 46 has a first surface facing the first space 60a and a second surface facing the second space 60b. The gas permeable membrane 46 is formed with a thickness of 1 to 2 mm from a porous material, for example, a porous fluororesin. The gas permeable membrane 46 permeates the gas in the gas-liquid two-phase flow flowing in the second space 60b and discharges it to the first space 60a.

  In the gas permeable membrane 46, a particulate catalyst 48 is applied at least on the first surface side, and is dispersed in a region on the first surface side of the gas permeable membrane 46 so as not to inhibit gas permeation. As the catalyst 48, platinum or an alloy containing platinum, for example, a platinum vanadium alloy or a platinum rhodium alloy is used. The gas permeable membrane 46 may be formed of a mixed material in which a fluorine solution and catalyst particles are mixed.

  According to the gas-liquid separator 40 configured as described above, the discharged fluid discharged from the anode 37 flows through the second space 60 b of the container 44, and the outside air enters the first space 60 a of the container 44. That is, oxygen is supplied. The discharged fluid is relatively hot and has a pressure higher by several K Pascals than the outside air. Therefore, a differential pressure is generated on both sides of the gas permeable membrane 46. As a result, the gas contained in the exhaust fluid, here carbon dioxide and methanol fuel components, permeate the gas permeable membrane 46 due to the pressure difference and are discharged to the first space 60a. The liquid in the exhaust fluid cannot permeate the gas permeable membrane 46 due to its surface tension, and thus the gas and liquid are separated.

  Further, when the separated gas passes through the gas permeable membrane 46, it comes into contact with the catalyst 48 on the first surface side of the gas permeable membrane. Then, the catalyst 48 induces the fuel component in the separated gas and oxygen in the outside air to react and generate heat, and the outer surface side of the gas permeable membrane is heated. By generating such heat generation, water vapor contained in the separation gas is prevented from condensing on the outer surface of the gas permeable membrane 46. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the pores of the gas permeable membrane 46 from being clogged with condensed water, and to suppress a decrease in gas permeability of the gas permeable membrane, that is, gas-liquid separation efficiency.

  The exhaust fluid separated by the gas-liquid separator 40 as described above is sent to the mixing tank 30 through the fuel flow path 22. Further, the separated gas is sent to the air filter together with the outside air, where impurities and the like are removed and then sent to the cathode 36 of the DMFC stack 12.

  In the second embodiment, the other configuration of the fuel cell apparatus is the same as that of the first embodiment described above, and the same reference numerals are given to the same portions, and detailed description thereof is omitted. In the second embodiment, the same operational effects as those of the first embodiment described above can be obtained.

  Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment as it is, and can be embodied by modifying the constituent elements without departing from the scope of the invention in the implementation stage. Various inventions can be formed by appropriately combining a plurality of constituent elements disclosed in the embodiments. For example, some components may be deleted from all the components shown in the embodiment. Furthermore, constituent elements over different embodiments may be appropriately combined.

  For example, in the gas-liquid separator, the catalyst provided on the gas permeable membrane is not limited to particles, and may be provided in other forms. The shape of the gas permeable membrane is not limited to a cylindrical shape and a sheet shape, and can be any shape. The form of the fuel cell is not limited to DMFC, but may be other forms such as PEFC (Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cell).

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a circulation system of a fuel cell device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a DMFC stack of the fuel cell device. FIG. 3 schematically shows a single cell of the DMFC stack. FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing a gas-liquid separator in the fuel cell device. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view for explaining the separation operation of the gas-liquid separator. FIG. 6 is a sectional view showing a gas-liquid separator of a fuel cell device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Fuel cell apparatus, 12 ... DMFC stack, 14 ... Fuel tank, 20 ... Circulation system,
22 ... Fuel channel, 24 ... Air channel, 30 ... Mixing tank, 36 ... Cathode (air electrode),
37 ... anode (fuel electrode), 40 ... gas-liquid separator, 46 ... gas permeable membrane, 48 ... catalyst,
44 ... container, 60 ... space

Claims (11)

A gas permeable membrane formed of a porous material, having a first surface in contact with the gas-liquid two-phase flow and a second surface in contact with the outside air, and transmitting gas in the gas-liquid two-phase flow;
A gas provided at least on the second surface side in the gas permeable membrane, and reacting a gas that passes through the gas permeable membrane with oxygen in the outside air to generate heat on the second surface side. Liquid separator.   The gas-liquid separator according to claim 1, wherein the catalyst is applied on the second surface of the gas permeable membrane.   The gas-liquid separator according to claim 1, wherein the catalyst is dispersed in at least the region on the second surface side in the gas permeable membrane.   The gas-liquid separator according to claim 1, wherein the gas permeable membrane is formed of a material obtained by mixing the porous material and the catalyst.   The gas permeable membrane is formed in a cylindrical shape, the first surface defines a flow path through which the gas-liquid two-phase flow flows, and the outer surface is formed by the second surface. The gas-liquid separator according to item 1.   The gas-liquid separator according to claim 5, further comprising an outer container that covers an outer surface of the gas permeable membrane and defines a space through which the outside air flows. An electromotive unit comprising a cell having an anode and a cathode, and generating electricity by a chemical reaction;
A fuel tank containing fuel;
A fuel flow path for circulating the fuel supplied from the fuel tank through the anode of the electromotive section; a gas flow path for circulating air through the cathode of the electromotive section; and the electromotive section within the fuel flow path A gas-liquid separator provided between an outflow end and the fuel tank, and separating a liquid and a gas, and a circulation system,
The gas-liquid separator is formed of a porous material and has a first surface in contact with the gas-liquid two-phase flow discharged from the anode and a second surface in contact with outside air, and the gas in the gas-liquid two-phase flow A gas permeable membrane that permeates, and at least the second surface side of the gas permeable membrane, and reacts the gas that permeates the gas permeable membrane with oxygen in the outside air to make the second surface side A fuel cell device comprising a catalyst for generating heat.   The fuel cell device according to claim 7, wherein the catalyst is applied on a second surface of the gas permeable membrane.   The fuel cell device according to claim 7, wherein the catalyst is dispersed in at least the region on the second surface side in the gas permeable membrane.   The gas permeable membrane is formed in a cylindrical shape, the first surface defines a part of a fuel flow path through which the gas-liquid two-phase flow flows, and the second surface forms an outer surface. 10. The fuel cell device according to any one of 9 above.   The fuel cell device according to claim 10, wherein the gas-liquid separator includes an outer container that covers an outer surface of the gas permeable membrane and defines a space that forms a part of the gas flow path.

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