JP2000251907A - Solid polymer fuel cell - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To suppress the production cost, and well keep the humidity of a solid polymer membrane by installing a plurality of recessed or projecting parts for keeping a humidifying agent in the inner wall of at least one channel of a channel plate. SOLUTION: A frame body 10 is made of injection molded resin (engineering plastic). A cutout part 117 for embedding a cell 20 and a cathode side channel plate 30 is formed in the central part on the top surface side of a frame body 10, and a recessed part 115 for embedding a anode side channel plate 40 and a partition plate 50 is formed on the bottom surface side. A window 116 is installed in the central part of the cutout part 117 so that the anode side channel plate 40 can come in contact with an anode 203. The anode side channel plate 40 is a plate smaller than the frame body 10, and formed by injection-molding a mixture of phenol resin and carbon powder. Ribs 401 are arranged at constant interval in parallel in the white void arrow direction, and a channel 400 for letting flow reformed gas and moisture is formed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a polymer electrolyte fuel cell, and more particularly, to an improvement of a polymer electrolyte fuel cell for supplying a reformed gas and water to a channel leading to a polymer electrolyte membrane.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A fuel cell supplies a hydrogen-rich fuel gas to an anode side and an oxidant gas to a cathode side, respectively.
This is a battery that generates electricity by electrochemically reacting hydrogen and oxygen. Air is often used as the oxidant gas. As the fuel gas, a light hydrocarbon such as natural gas or naphtha, or a reformed fuel gas made of a lower alcohol, or pure hydrogen gas is used.

There are various types of fuel cells depending on the type of electrolyte, such as a phosphoric acid type and a molten carbonate type. In recent years, research on solid polymer type fuel cells using a solid polymer membrane as an electrolyte has been actively made. . In general, this polymer electrolyte fuel cell sandwiches a cell in which a cathode is provided on one surface of a solid polymer membrane and an anode is provided on the other surface, with a channel plate having a plurality of ribs juxtaposed on the surface. It has a basic structure.
In a practical polymer-type solid fuel cell, such a basic structure is used as a unit cell, and a large number of such cells are stacked to increase power generation at a high voltage.

[0004]

The polymer electrolyte fuel cell can obtain excellent battery characteristics mainly by lowering the internal resistance of the polymer electrolyte membrane. For this reason, usually, for example, water is supplied to the solid polymer membrane through the channel on the anode side together with the reformed gas, thereby ensuring the conductivity of the solid polymer membrane.

Here, when a dense material is used for the channel plate, a certain amount of the water supplied to the channel is not used for humidifying the solid polymer film, but flows out through the channel. Therefore,
For example, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 5-41230, a channel plate formed by cutting a plate made of hydrophilic porous carbon is used. This is an improvement in which water is held in the channel itself by utilizing the hydrophilicity of the channel so that the supply of water to the solid polymer membrane is smooth.

However, in this case, there are problems in manufacturing cost and labor required for cutting and the like. Further, the strength is not sufficient due to the porous material, and when a plurality of cells are stacked and fixed by tightening, the channel plate may be deformed with time and may be damaged. Thus, it is considered that there is still room for technical improvement in order to achieve both the manufacturing cost of the channel plate, the moisture retention of the solid polymer film, and the strength of the channel plate.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and has as its object to provide a polymer electrolyte fuel cell.
An object of the present invention is to provide a polymer electrolyte fuel cell capable of satisfactorily moisturizing a solid polymer membrane of a fuel cell and stably generating electric power while suppressing manufacturing costs.

[0008]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, according to the present invention, a cell comprising a solid polymer membrane having a cathode and an anode disposed on both surfaces thereof has a plurality of ribs juxtaposed to form a channel. As a polymer electrolyte fuel cell sandwiched between a pair of channel plates and configured to humidify the solid polymer membrane through the channels during operation, at least one of the channel plates has a concave or convex shape for retaining a humidifier on the inner wall of the channel. A plurality of stagnation portions were scattered. In other words, a configuration is adopted in which the water supplied from the outside stagnates and easily stays in the staying portion.

As described above, irrespective of the material of the channel plate, the stagnation of water can be ensured by a relatively simple method of providing a stagnant portion in the channel plate. The effect of humidifying the polymer film can be obtained. Further, since the present channel plate may be made of a dense material, it can be manufactured by molding. This eliminates the need for steps such as shaving a porous material, and is expected to significantly improve the manufacturing cost and yield in addition to the above effects. Specifically, a mixed material of general carbon powder and a resin (preferably a phenol resin) can be molded and used.

[0010] The retaining portion may be formed on either the side surface of the rib or the surface of the channel plate. Further, it may be formed on the upper surface of the rib. Although details will be described later, when a convex retaining portion is provided on the side surface of the rib, 1/40 of the channel width is used.
In the case where a protrusion amount of not less than 2/3 or less and a recessed stay portion are provided, it is desirable that the recess amount is 1/40 or more of the channel width.

[0011] Further, when a convex retaining portion is provided on the surface of the channel plate, the protrusion amount is 1/40 or more and 2/3 or less of the height of the rib. It is desirable to set the amount of indentation to / 40 or more. Further, in the case where a concave retaining portion is provided on the upper surface of the rib, it is preferable that the concave amount is 1/40 or more of the height of the rib. further,
It is desirable that the interval between adjacent stagnation portions is 10 mm or less.

These numerical ranges are calculated as values to be set for an appropriate flow rate of a reformed gas or the like inside the fuel cell, in which moisture is retained for effectively moisturizing the solid polymer membrane. It is.

[0013]

(Embodiment 1) Hereinafter, Embodiment 1 of a polymer electrolyte fuel cell according to the present invention will be described. FIG. 1 is a partial assembly view of a cell unit 100 constituting a polymer electrolyte fuel cell 1 (hereinafter, simply referred to as “fuel cell 1”) according to the present embodiment. As shown in this figure, the cell unit 100 is
Is sandwiched between the cathode-side channel plate 30 and the anode-side channel plate 40.

The cell 20 includes a solid polymer membrane 201, a cathode 202, an anode 203, and a frame-like gasket 204.
Etc. The solid polymer membrane 201 is an electrolyte of the fuel cell 1 and is a thin film made of perfluorocarbon sulfonic acid (for example, Nafion manufactured by Du Pont). Cathode 2
02, the anode 203 is a membrane (carbon paper) made of carbon carrying platinum (Pt), and the solid polymer membrane 2
The central portions of both main surfaces of the first and second main surfaces are respectively hot-pressed. In FIG. 1, the anode 203 is indicated by a broken line because it is located on the back side of the solid polymer film 201.

The cathode 202 side of the cell 20 is placed on the cathode side channel plate 30 via a frame-like gasket 204. The cell 20 is embedded in the notch 117 of the frame 10 together with the cathode-side channel plate 30, and the anode 203 side of the cell 20 is overlapped with the anode-side channel plate 40 via the frame-shaped gasket 204.

Although not shown in FIG. 1, between the cathode 202 and the cathode-side channel plate 30 and between the anode 203 and the anode-side channel plate 40, a current collector 24 made of water-repellent carbon paper is provided. 2
5 is inserted. Cathode side channel plate 30
Has a configuration in which a center channel plate 310 is fitted into a frame 300.

The center channel plate 310 is a flat plate member formed by injection molding a mixture of phenolic resin and carbon powder, and has a black arrow (y direction) on a surface (lower surface in FIG. 1) facing the cathode 202. Are arranged side by side at regular intervals in parallel with each other, thereby forming channels 311 for flowing air in the same direction. The frame 300 is also formed by injection molding of the same material as the central channel plate 310, and has a rectangular window 303. Surface facing cathode 202 side (upper surface side in FIG. 1)
Are provided at regular intervals in the y-direction, thereby forming respective channels 301... 302 for introducing or discharging air to the channels 311.

The frame 10 is made of injection-molded resin (engineering plastic, hereinafter referred to as "EP"). A cutout 117 is formed in the center of one side (upper side in FIG. 1) of the frame 10 to insert the cell 20 and the cathode side channel plate 30, and the other side (lower side in FIG. 1). , A recessed stay portion 115 into which the anode-side channel plate 40 and the partition plate 50 are inserted is formed. Further, a window 1 is provided at the center of the notch 117 so that the anode-side channel plate 40 and the anode 203 can come into contact with each other.
16 have been established.

On one side (the right end in FIG. 1) of the end of the frame 10 in the longitudinal direction (x direction), a pair of manifold holes 111 and slots 112 for supplying water to the cell unit 100, and a reformed gas Supply manifold holes 113
A pair of manifold holes 118 and a groove 119 (water-repellent carbon paper) for discharging unreacted reformed gas containing hydrogen are provided on the other side (the left end side in FIG. 1) in the longitudinal direction. , And a pair of manifold holes 120 and slots 121 (perforated felt material at regular intervals) for discharging water.

Each of the slots 114 or 119 is formed along a direction (y-direction) orthogonal to the longitudinal direction (x-direction) of the anode-side channels 400, and communicates with each of the manifold holes 111 or 118 at both ends. are doing.
The anode-side channel plate 40 is a plate slightly smaller than the frame 10 and is a portion having the main feature of the present invention. The anode-side channel plate 40 is obtained by mixing a general carbon (preferably cheaper than porous carbon) powder with a phenol resin. This is made by injection molding. Further, ribs 401 are arranged in parallel at regular intervals in parallel with the white arrow (x direction), thereby forming channels 400 for flowing the reformed gas and the moisture in the same direction.

This anode side channel plate 40 is
Furthermore, a central portion 40a located at the center in the longitudinal direction of the channel 400, and an upstream portion 40b and a downstream portion 40c sandwiching the central portion 40a, the central portion 40a being the upstream portion 40b
The height of the ribs 401 is provided with a step so that the height of the ribs 401 is higher than that of the downstream portion 40c.
A high portion 401 a of the rib 401 (hereinafter simply referred to as “rib 401 a”) fits into the window 102 and is in electrical contact with the anode 203.

Here, FIG. 2 is a partial sectional view of the anode side channel plate 40 centering on the rib 401a.
The main body of the ribs 401 including the ribs 401a is 2 m in height.
It has a size of mx 2 mm in width and basically has a channel width of 4
mm, and a convex retaining portion 4 such as a semicircle, a rectangle, or a triangle is formed on the side surface of the rib 401a.
010, 4012, 4015, and similarly-shaped concave stay portions 4011, 4013, 4016 are formed.

Here, in FIG. 2, the concave retaining portions 4011.
The shape of the (convex stay portions 4010...) Is aligned for each channel 400, but is not necessarily required, and these shapes may be formed into one channel 400. Further, the concave stay portions 4011 ... in one channel 400 ...
Alternatively, only the convex retaining portions 4010 may be provided, or only one of these shapes may be formed on the anode-side channel plate 40.

The concave stagnation portions 4011... (Convex stagnation portions 4010...) Have an indentation amount corresponding to 1/40 or more of the channel width (1/40 or more and 2/3 or less of the channel width). (Corresponding protrusion amount), and the distance between adjacent ones in the y direction is set to be approximately 10 mm. Further, for example, there is a portion in which a notch 4014 is provided in the rib 401a by concave retaining portions 4013 and 4016 provided on both side surfaces of one rib 401a, and adjacent channels 400 communicate with each other.

In FIG. 2, the ribs 4 are shown for easy understanding.
01a, the concave retaining portions 4011... (The convex retaining portions 40
10) are shown larger than actual. FIGS. 4 and 5 used in the description of the following embodiments are similarly illustrated. The reason for configuring the anode-side channel plate 40 in such a shape is as follows. That is, by providing the concave retaining portions 4011 (the convex retaining portions 4010 ...) in the channel 401a, the channels 400 ...
A portion where fuel gas flowing in the direction stagnates is secured, and water is easily retained around this portion. Moisture channel 400 ...
By staying in the inside for a long time, it becomes possible to efficiently humidify the solid polymer film 201 even when the amount of external water supply is relatively small.

The anode-side channel plate 4
Since 0 can be produced by molding a mixed material of a general carbon powder and a resin, it is not necessary to use hydrophilic expensive porous carbon or the like as the material of the channel plate as in the related art. In addition, there is no need for a step such as a process of cutting out ribs, so that the cost reduction effect is large, and improvement in production yield can be expected.

Further, the size of the amount of indentation (projection) is limited to the above range. If the amount of indentation (projection) is less than 1/40 of the channel width, moisture cannot be sufficiently retained. I know that. In addition, the convex retaining portion 40
In the case where 10 ... are provided, if the protrusion amount exceeds 2/3 of the channel width, the gas flow tends to deteriorate. For this reason, in the case of the current channel (approximately 4 mm width), the projection amount of the convex retaining portions 4010 is 0.1 mm in consideration of the molding ability by molding using a general mold.
(This corresponds to 1/40 of the channel width) and preferably not more than / of the channel width, and the recess amount of the concave stay portions 4011... Is preferably 0.1 mm or more.

The concave retaining portions 4011 (convex retaining portions 4010) are provided at intervals of approximately 10 mm, but are set in order to secure a certain amount of water, and are set within a range of 10 mm or less. It is desirable to set with.
The fuel cell 1 has a configuration in which a plurality of cell units 100 are stacked via a partition plate 50. The partition plate 50 is an airtight glassy carbon plate of the same size as the anode-side channel plate 40, and when the cell units 100 are stacked, the cathode-side channel plate 30 and the anode-side channel plate 4 of the adjacent cell units 100 are stacked.
0 while electrically conducting with the cathode channel 311.
. And the mixed gas of the reformed gas and the water flowing through the anode side channels 400.

FIG. 3 is a partial assembly view showing a specific configuration of the fuel cell 1. As shown in FIG. As shown in the figure, the stacked cell units 100 are fixed with both ends sandwiched between a pair of end plates 61 and 62. The fuel cell 1 is further provided with various pipes L1 to L4 for supplying fuel gas and water to each cell unit 100 and discharging unreacted reformed gas and water. In place
Reformed gas regulator 4 (pipe L1), unreacted reformed gas regulator 5 (pipe L3), water / unreacted reformed gas separation tank 3, water cooler 6 (both pipe L4), water pump 2
(Pipe L2) and the like.

In the fuel cell 1 having such a configuration, during operation, first, the operator places the fuel cell 1 in the air flow path (the cathode side channels 301, 311 and 302).
Are arranged horizontally. Then, air is sent into the channels 301 by using a fan (not shown).
As a result, air flows through the cathode-side channels 311 to supply oxygen to the cathode 202 (oxygen utilization is set to about 40% in advance by the supply of air by a fan). Is discharged.

On the other hand, the manifold L 113 has a pipe L 1
And reformed gas regulator 4 (usually 100-800 mm
The reformed gas is supplied by a pressure of about H ₂ O), and water is supplied to the manifold hole 112 by the pipe L2 and the water pump 2. The supplied water and reformed gas are supplied to each cell unit 1
, And in each cell unit 100, are distributed from the slot 112 or 114 to the upstream portion 40 b of the anode-side channel plate 40, and flow through the anode-side channels 400... Downstream (x direction) to the anode 203. Supply of the reformed gas and the solid polymer film 201 as described above.
Moisturizing is performed simultaneously.

At this time, the output of the water pump 2 measures the water pressure in the water supply slot 112 and adjusts it to an appropriate water pressure value. The pressure of the discharged unreacted reformed gas is adjusted by the unreacted reformed gas regulator 5. The discharge pressure is such that the reformed gas utilization rate in the fuel cell 1 is 70%.
Adjust so that it is at least%.

The unreacted reformed gas that has passed through the anode side channels 400 passes through the slots 119 through the manifold holes 118.
Through the cell unit 100. The water that has passed through the anode-side channels 400.
From the cell unit 100 through the manifold hole 120
Is discharged outside. The water and the unreacted reformed gas are collected by the pipes L4 or L3, respectively, and separated into the two in the separation tank 3. The collected water is cooled by the water cooler 6 and then supplied to the fuel cell 1 again from the water pump 2 through the pipe L2. The unreacted reformed gas is discharged from the discharge port 8 of the separation tank 3, and is reused again as a reformed gas or a combustion gas of a temperature raising burner of the fuel cell system by a pipe (not shown).

Hereinafter, other embodiments will be described. In the other embodiments, the anode-side channel 40 has a main feature, and a duplicate description will be omitted. (Embodiment 2) FIG. 4 is a partial sectional view showing the structure of an anode-side channel plate 40 of a polymer electrolyte fuel cell according to Embodiment 2. As shown in this figure, in the second embodiment, in the plate plane (xy plane) corresponding to the groove bottom of the channel 400, a semicircular, rectangular, or triangular concave stagnant portion (4018, 4020, 4022) or It is characterized in that it has a configuration in which convex retaining portions (4017, 4019, 4021) are provided. With such a configuration, by changing the cross-sectional shape of the anode-side channel plate 40 along the channel width direction along the longitudinal direction of the rib 401a, substantially the same effects as in the first embodiment can be obtained. Also, since the channel width is often wider than the height of the rib 401a, the cross-sectional area of the concave stagnation portions 4018... Or the convex stagnation portions 4017 along the channel width direction is different from that of the first embodiment. Has the effect of retaining more water.

Here, the recess amount (projection amount) of the concave stay portions 4018 (the convex stay portions 4017...) Is 0.1 mm with respect to the rib 401a having a channel width of about 4 mm and a height of 2 mm × a width of 2 mm. It is set to 05 mm. In addition, in consideration of retention of water and gas flowability and production time as in the first embodiment, the second embodiment has a concave retaining portion 4018.
… Is 0.05 mm or more (more than 1/40 of the height of the ribs), and the convex retaining portions 4017 are 0.05 mm or more and 1.3 mm.
It is desirable to set the protrusion amount to be equal to or less than 1/40 of the rib height and equal to or less than 2/3.

(Embodiment 3) FIG. 5 shows Embodiment 3 of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a structure of an anode-side channel plate 40 of the polymer electrolyte fuel cell in FIG. In the above-described first and second embodiments, an example is shown in which a concave stay portion or a convex stay portion is provided at a position corresponding to the channel 400. In the third embodiment, the upper surface of the rib 401 a has a semicircular shape or a rectangular shape. , Triangular concave stagnant part (4023, 4
024, 4025). According to such a configuration, in addition to the effect of retaining water similarly to the effects of the above-described embodiments, the movement of water between adjacent channels 400 can be performed, and the solid polymer film can be more uniformly formed. 201 can be humidified.

Here, the recess amount of the concave stay portions 4023 is set to 0.05 mm for the rib 401a having a channel width of about 4 mm and a height of 2 mm × a width of 2 mm. In addition, in the same manner as in the above-described embodiment, in consideration of the retention of water and the gas flowability and the time of production, in the third embodiment, the recessed amount of the concave retaining portions 4023. It is desirable to set it to 1/40 or more.

(Example) As an example of the present invention, a single cell corresponding to each of the first to third embodiments was manufactured. Its main specifications are as follows. Electrolyte: Perfluorocarbon sulfonic acid membrane (Du Pon
Anode and cathode: Carbon paper (manufactured by Toray Industries, Inc.) is dipped in a fluororesin dispersion to impart water repellency, and carbon (powder Vulcan XC72R, BET surface area 254 m ² / g, oil supply 174 cc / 100 g) ) And a fluororesin were mixed to prepare an electrode substrate. On the other hand, Pt / C (50wt% Pt) and Nafion5w
A t% solution was mixed (fluorine resin was added as the case may be), and this was applied on the electrode substrate by screen printing to produce an anode and a cathode as gas diffusion electrodes.

Anode-side channel plate: Phenolic resin: integrally molded with carbon powder (weight mixing ratio: 20:80), rib thickness 2 mm, channel width 4 mm, and concave recesses (convex stays) as protrusions ( Any of rectangular, triangular, and semicircular shapes having a recess depth of 0.1 mm was randomly arranged at 10 mm intervals for each channel.

Cathode-side channel plate: A porous carbon sintered body cut and processed. Rib thickness 2 mm x channel width 2 mm.
Is sandwiched between an anode and a cathode, and hot pressed (about 30 to 100 kg / cm ² , about 100 to 150 ° C., 3
(Condition of 0 to 100 seconds). The cathode-side and anode-side channel plates were superposed on this, and the obtained single cells corresponding to Embodiments 1, 2, and 3 were designated as batteries A, B, and C, respectively.

(Comparative Example) As a comparative example with respect to the embodiment,
As shown in FIG. 6, the anode side channel plate of the channel 400 having a linear structure (rib width 2 mm, channel width 4 m)
m) was prepared, and this was designated as Battery D. Other specifications of the single cell were the same as in the example.

(Performance Comparison Experiment) The single cells A to D of the above-described examples and comparative examples were operated under the following conditions, and the cell voltage (mV) with respect to the current density (mA / cm ² ) at this time.
Was measured to check the battery characteristics. Here, pure hydrogen was used instead of the reformed gas.

Reformed gas: pure hydrogen (from a hydrogen cylinder,
Humidified at 80 ° C. and supplied to the single cell) Oxidizer: air Reformed gas utilization rate: about 70% Air utilization rate: about 40% FIG. 7 is a voltage-current characteristic diagram summarizing the experimental results. As shown in the figure, the cell voltages of the batteries A, B, and C of the example were all higher than those of the battery D of the comparative example regardless of the value of the current density. The reason why the positions of the voltage-current curves of the batteries A, B, and C are higher than that of the battery D is mainly because the solid polymer membrane of the electrolyte is sufficiently humidified by the present invention, and the internal resistance of the battery is improved. it is conceivable that.

The current density of the batteries A to D was 0.5 A / c.
When the known 4-terminal method AC resistance value at a frequency of 1 kHz was measured at m ² , the battery D was found to be approximately 220 mΩ.
- it was cm ^2. On the other hand, in the batteries A, B, and C,
All were about 110 mΩ · cm ² . Thus, the fact that the resistance value of the example is half that of the comparative example is considered to support that the above-described internal resistance of the battery is favorably reduced.

(Other Matters) In the embodiment, the anode-side channel plate 40 and the partition plate 50 are separate bodies. However, the present invention can be similarly carried out in the case of using an integrally molded one. Is possible. Further, the fuel cell described in the embodiment has an anode-side channel plate 40.
Is a so-called internal humidification type fuel cell that supplies fuel and moisture (liquid) to the fuel cell. An external humidification type in which a steam generator is installed outside the fuel cell and the reformed gas is supplied to the fuel cell in a humidified state May be applied to the fuel cell.

Further, in the embodiment, an example has been described in which a concave retaining portion or a convex retaining portion is provided only on the anode-side channel plate. However, this is applicable to both the anode-side and cathode-side channel plates, You may apply only to a side channel. Further, in the present invention, the concave stay portion or the convex stay portion described in each embodiment may be combined.

The shape of the concave staying portion or the convex staying portion is not limited to the above shape, but may be any other shape.

[0048]

As described above, according to the present invention, a cell having a cathode and an anode disposed on both surfaces of a solid polymer film is composed of a pair of channel plates in which a plurality of ribs are juxtaposed to form a channel. A solid polymer fuel cell configured to humidify the solid polymer membrane through the channel during operation, wherein at least one of the channel plates has a concave or convex shape for retaining a humidifier on the inner wall of the channel. Since a plurality of stagnation portions are scattered, even if the amount of water to be supplied is small, it is possible to supply the reformed gas to the entire anode and humidify the solid polymer membrane satisfactorily, and obtain excellent battery characteristics. Can be.

If the channel plate is manufactured by molding, it is effective in reducing the manufacturing cost and improving the manufacturing yield.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an assembly diagram of a cell unit constituting a polymer electrolyte fuel cell according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a partial sectional view of an anode-side channel plate (first embodiment).

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the overall configuration of the fuel cell according to Embodiment 1.

FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional view of an anode-side channel plate (Embodiment 2).

FIG. 5 is a partial sectional view of an anode-side channel plate (Embodiment 3).

FIG. 6 is a partial cross-sectional view (conventional type) of an anode-side channel plate.

FIG. 7 is a characteristic diagram showing a result of a performance comparison experiment.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 fuel cell 10 frame 20 cell 40 anode-side channel plate 100 cell unit 201 solid polymer membrane 202 cathode 203 anode 400 (anode-side) channel 401a rib 4010, 4012, 4015, 4017, 4019,
4021 recessed staying portions 4011, 4013, 4016, 4018, 4020,
4022 to 4025 convex retaining portion 4014 notch

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Yasuo Miyake 2-5-5 Keihanhondori, Moriguchi-shi, Osaka Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Ikuo Yonezu 2-chome, Keihanhondori, Moriguchi-shi, Osaka No. 5 Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Koji Nishio 2-5-5 Keihanhondori, Moriguchi-shi, Osaka F-term in Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd. 5H026 AA06 BB00 BB02 BB08 CC03 EE05 EE18 HH03 5H027 AA06

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A cell having a cathode and an anode disposed on both sides of a solid polymer membrane, sandwiched between a pair of channel plates having a plurality of ribs arranged in parallel to form a channel,
A polymer electrolyte fuel cell configured to humidify a solid polymer membrane through the channel during operation, wherein at least one of the channel plates has a plurality of concave or convex retaining portions for retaining a humidifying agent on the inner wall of the channel. A polymer electrolyte fuel cell characterized by being scattered. 2. The polymer electrolyte fuel cell according to claim 1, wherein the channel plate is molded. 3. The stagnant portion includes a protrusion disposed on the side surface of the rib with a protrusion amount of 1/40 or more and チ ャ ネ ル or less of a channel width or a recess amount of 1/40 or more of a channel width. The polymer electrolyte fuel cell according to claim 1, wherein: 4. The stagnation portion is provided on the bottom surface of the channel plate with a protrusion amount of 1/40 or more and 以下 or less of the height of the rib or a recess amount of 1/40 or more of the height of the rib. The polymer electrolyte fuel cell according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the fuel cell is a fuel cell. 5. The rib according to claim 1, wherein the stagnating portion includes a rib disposed on the upper surface of the rib with a recessed amount equal to or more than 1/40 of the height of the rib. The polymer electrolyte fuel cell according to the above. 6. The polymer electrolyte fuel cell according to claim 3, wherein the staying portions are provided at intervals of 10 mm or less along a longitudinal direction of the channel. 7. The polymer electrolyte fuel cell according to claim 1, wherein the channel plate is made of a mixed material of carbon and resin. 8. A cell producing step of producing a cell by arranging a cathode and an anode on both sides of a solid polymer membrane, and a pair of channel plates having a plurality of ribs arranged side by side after the cell producing step And a step of disposing a channel plate to sandwich the polymer electrolyte fuel cell, wherein, in the channel plate disposing step, at least one of the channel plates has a concave shape in which a humidifier is retained on an inner wall of a channel. A method for manufacturing a polymer electrolyte fuel cell, comprising using a channel plate in which a plurality of convex retaining portions are scattered. 9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the channel plate used in the channel plate arranging step is formed by molding.