Electrochemical apparatus

Abstract

An electrochemical apparatus includes a cell stack, a power conversion apparatus, a control unit, and a heating tank. The power conversion apparatus is electrically connected to the cell stack. The control unit controls the power conversion apparatus. The heating tank includes a housing space housing the cell stack and heats the cell stack. The cell stack produces hydrogen by electrolyzing water using supplied power, or generates power through an electrochemical reaction between hydrogen and an oxidizing agent. The power conversion apparatus is disposed outside the heating tank, further toward a lower side than the cell stack is. The power conversion apparatus and the cell stack are electrically connected by a conductor that passes through a wall portion of the heating tank. The power conversion apparatus is disposed such that at least a portion thereof overlaps the heating tank when viewed in a vertical direction.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An electrochemical apparatus, comprising:
 a cell stack configured by a plurality of electrochemical cells being stacked;   a power conversion apparatus that is electrically connected to the cell stack;   a control unit that controls the power conversion apparatus; and   a heating tank that includes a housing space housing the cell stack and heats the cell stack, wherein   the cell stack is configured to produce hydrogen by electrolyzing water using supplied power, or generate power through an electrochemical reaction between hydrogen and an oxidizing agent,   the power conversion apparatus is disposed outside the heating tank, further toward a lower side than the cell stack is,   the power conversion apparatus and the cell stack are electrically connected by a conductor that passes through a wall portion of the heating tank, and   the power conversion apparatus is disposed such that at least a portion thereof overlaps the heating tank when viewed in a vertical direction.   
     
     
         2 . The electrochemical apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the power conversion apparatus is disposed such that at least a portion thereof overlaps the cell stack when viewed in the vertical direction.   
     
     
         3 . The electrochemical apparatus according to  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a plurality of cell stacks and a plurality of power conversion apparatuses, wherein   the plurality of cell stacks are each electrically connected to respective power conversion apparatuses, and the cell stack and the power conversion apparatus that are electrically connected to each other are disposed such that at least portions thereof overlap when viewed in the vertical direction.   
     
     
         4 . The electrochemical apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a ventilating unit that ventilates the housing space by supplying air into the housing space from outside the heating tank.   
     
     
         5 . The electrochemical apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the electrochemical cell includes an air electrode and a hydrogen electrode, and is configured to ventilate the housing space by supplying gas discharged from the air electrode into the housing space.   
     
     
         6 . The electrochemical apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the control unit is disposed further toward the lower side than the power conversion apparatus is.   
     
     
         7 . The electrochemical apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a discharge flow path through which gas discharged from the cell stack flows, wherein   the discharge flow path passes through the wall portion of the heating tank and extends outside the heating tank from the cell stack;   a discharge flow path heat exchanger is disposed in the housing space and cools gas flowing through the discharge flow path, and   the power conversion apparatus is configured to be cooled by cooling water, and the cooling water is configured to cool the gas flowing through the discharge flow path by flowing into the discharge flow path heat exchanger after cooling the power conversion apparatus.   
     
     
         8 . The electrochemical apparatus according to  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a ventilating unit that ventilates the housing space by supplying air into the housing space from outside the heating tank.   
     
     
         9 . The electrochemical apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein:
 the electrochemical cell includes an air electrode and a hydrogen electrode, and is configured to ventilate the housing space by supplying gas discharged from the air electrode into the housing space.   
     
     
         10 . The electrochemical apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein:
 the control unit is disposed further toward the lower side than the power conversion apparatus is.   
     
     
         11 . The electrochemical apparatus according to  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a discharge flow path through which gas discharged from the cell stack flows, wherein   the discharge flow path passes through the wall portion of the heating tank and extends outside the heating tank from the cell stack;   a discharge flow path heat exchanger is disposed in the housing space and cools gas flowing through the discharge flow path, and   the power conversion apparatus is configured to be cooled by cooling water, and the cooling water is configured to cool the gas flowing through the discharge flow path by flowing into the discharge flow path heat exchanger after cooling the power conversion apparatus.