JP2000323156A - Solid polymer type fuel cell - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a solid polymer type fuel cell with an excellent sealing property between fuel battery cells. SOLUTION: In the solid polymer type fuel cell, a fuel battery cell comprises a pair of electrodes 11, 11 in which an electrolyte membrane 12 is clamped at an intermediate portion and a separator 20 used for collecting an electricity from the electrodes 11, 11 and having a gas flow passage for feeding a gas at the above electrode side. A plurality of fuel battery cells are stacked while elastic packing members 31 are interposed at a periphery portion. An elastic resin 41 is filled in a periphery space portion Al formed between the above separator 20 and the elastic packing members 31.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a solid polymer fuel in which a plurality of fuel cells comprising a pair of electrodes sandwiching an electrolyte membrane in the middle and separators contacting the electrodes are stacked in a large number. The present invention relates to a battery, and more particularly to a polymer electrolyte fuel cell having excellent sealing properties.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Fuel cells have been actively developed in response to recent environmental problems and resource problems. Particularly, as a fuel cell, a polymer electrolyte fuel cell has been studied in view of the demand for small size and light weight. Such a fuel cell is usually composed of a pair of electrodes sandwiching an electrolyte membrane in the middle, and a separator contacting each of the electrodes. Are stacked in a large number.

FIG. 7 shows an example of a fuel cell constituting a conventional polymer electrolyte fuel cell. As shown in the drawing,
The fuel cell 10 includes an electrolyte membrane 12 and the electrolyte membrane 1.
It comprises a pair of electrodes 11 having a sandwich structure sandwiching 2 from both sides and a separator 20 contacting the electrodes while sandwiching the sandwich structure from both sides. Separator 2
0 has a gas flow path 21 for gas supply on the electrode side.

[0004] The fuel cell having the above-described structure is provided with an electrolyte membrane 12.
And a large number of cells are stacked with the elastic packing material 31 interposed at the peripheral edge of the separator 20. However, a smaller size is required, and since a large number of cells are stacked and used, the sealing property between the cells is excellent. Fuel cells are required.

FIG. 8 shows a state in which a large number of fuel cells are stacked. Usually, a packing material made of various resins is used as the elastic packing material 31, and various gas flow paths of the fuel cell separator are secured. The separator is provided in close contact with the peripheral portion of the separator so as not to leak to the location. However, the shape of the separator is complicated, and it is extremely difficult to provide the packing material at a predetermined position. There is a problem that gas leaks from the gap A1 and a part of the internal gap A2.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has found a polymer electrolyte fuel cell which can solve the above-mentioned problems, and the gist of the present invention is to provide a polymer electrolyte fuel cell having a pair of electrolyte membranes 12 sandwiching an electrolyte membrane 12 therebetween. Electrodes 11 and 11 and the electrodes 11 are in contact with each other and used for current collection from the electrodes.
In a polymer electrolyte fuel cell in which a plurality of fuel cells each comprising a separator 20 having a gas flow path 21 for gas supply on the electrode side are stacked with an elastic packing material 31 interposed therebetween at the periphery thereof, The solid polymer fuel cell is characterized in that a peripheral gap A1 formed between the elastic polymer material and the elastic packing material 31 is filled with an elastic resin 41. Further, a polymer electrolyte fuel cell characterized in that a peripheral gap A1 formed between the separator 20 and the elastic packing material 31 and an internal gap A2 are filled with an elastic resin 41, The solid polymer fuel cell further includes a solid polymer fuel cell in which part or all of the outer peripheral surface of the fuel cell is covered with an elastic resin 41 to form a covering portion A3.

[0007]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below in detail.
FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view showing the structure of the polymer electrolyte fuel cell of the present invention. The structure of each component used is the same as that of a conventional fuel cell. The fuel cell 10 includes an electrolyte membrane 12
And a pair of electrodes 11 having a sandwich structure sandwiching the electrolyte membrane 12 from both sides, and a separator 20 contacting the electrodes while sandwiching the sandwich structure from both sides.

The total thickness of the separator 20 is usually 0.8 m
m to 1.2 mm. Further, the electrolyte membrane 12
Usually, it is formed from a cation exchange membrane such as a fluorosulfonic acid resin in which sulfonate groups are introduced into a fluoropolymer membrane, and has a thickness of 20 to 200 μm, preferably 50 to 1 μm.
It is in the range of 00 μm.

A plurality of the above-described fuel cells 10 are formed as one unit, and a large number of the fuel cells are stacked with an elastic packing material 31 interposed therebetween to obtain a polymer electrolyte fuel cell. The shape of the elastic packing material 31 can be appropriately determined in consideration of the sealing property, but the cross-sectional shape is preferably a hemispherical shape, a rectangular shape, or a combination of these shapes. May use a plurality of elastic packing materials.

Although various resins can be used as the material of the elastic packing material 31, heat-resistant elastomer resins such as silicone rubber, fluorine rubber, and acrylic rubber can be suitably used from the viewpoint of heat resistance and durability. . Also,
It is preferable that the resin used has a heat resistance temperature of 150 ° C. or higher, and if it is lower than 150 ° C., there is a problem that heat resistance is poor and it is difficult to withstand long-term continuous use. Heat resistant temperature is 30
If the temperature is 0 ° C. or higher, the elasticity tends to be poor, which is not preferable. The heat resistance temperature may be measured according to ASTM D2000 (measured in ASTM # 3 oil).

In the polymer electrolyte fuel cell of the present invention shown in FIG. 1, an elastic resin 41 is filled in a peripheral space A1 formed between the separator 20 and the elastic packing material 31. As the elastic resin 41, the elastic packing material 31 is used.
The resin used may be the same as or different from the resin used, and after stacking, the resin may be placed in a mold and injection-molded or directly injected. Peripheral gap A1
By filling the resin with the elastic resin 41, the sealing property between the fuel cells can be improved.

FIGS. 2 to 6 show another embodiment in which the form of the seal is different depending on the method of taking out the electrode member and the like. FIG. 2 shows that the elastic resin 41 is provided in the peripheral gap A1 and the internal gap A2. The filled fuel cell, FIG.
2 is filled with an elastic resin 41, and the entire outer peripheral surface of the fuel cell unit is covered with the elastic resin 41 to form a covering portion A3. FIG. 4 shows that the peripheral gap A1 and the internal gap A2 have elastic resin. 41, and the entire outer peripheral surface of the fuel cell unit is covered with the elastic resin 41 to cover the fuel cell.
3 is a fuel cell. FIG. 5 corresponds to FIG. 3, and a part of the outer peripheral surface is covered with an elastic resin 41 to form a covering part A3. FIG. 6 corresponds to FIG. 4, and a part of the outer peripheral surface is covered with an elastic resin 41 to form a covering part A3.

[0013]

As described above, in the polymer electrolyte fuel cell of the present invention, when a plurality of fuel cells are stacked,
Even if the sealing position is displaced, the sealing is completed completely by the elastic resin, and there is an advantage that the sealing performance is extremely good.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view showing an example of the structure of a polymer electrolyte fuel cell according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic sectional view showing another embodiment of the polymer electrolyte fuel cell of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic sectional view showing another embodiment of the polymer electrolyte fuel cell of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic sectional view showing another embodiment of the polymer electrolyte fuel cell of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a schematic sectional view showing another embodiment of the polymer electrolyte fuel cell of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a schematic sectional view showing another embodiment of the polymer electrolyte fuel cell of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a schematic sectional view showing a fuel cell of a conventional polymer electrolyte fuel cell.

FIG. 8 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a state where conventional fuel cells are stacked.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 Fuel cell 11 Electrode 12 Electrolyte membrane 31 Elastic packing material 20 Separator 41 Elastic resin A1 Peripheral void A2 Internal void

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An electrolyte membrane (1) having an electrolyte membrane (12) interposed therebetween.
A pair of electrodes (11), (11), and a separator that is in contact with each of the electrodes (11), is used for current collection from the electrodes, and has a gas flow path (21) for gas supply on the electrode side. 20) In a polymer electrolyte fuel cell in which a plurality of fuel cells composed of 20) are stacked with an elastic packing material (31) interposed therebetween at the periphery thereof, between the separator (20) and the elastic packing material (31). A polymer electrolyte fuel cell characterized in that the formed peripheral gap (A1) is filled with an elastic resin (41). 2. An electrode having an electrolyte membrane (12) sandwiched therebetween.
A pair of electrodes (11), (11), and a separator that is in contact with each of the electrodes (11) and is used for current collection from the electrodes and has a gas flow path (21) for gas supply on the electrode side ( In a polymer electrolyte fuel cell in which a plurality of fuel cells composed of 20) are stacked with an elastic packing material (31) interposed therebetween at the periphery thereof, between the separator (20) and the elastic packing material (31). A polymer electrolyte fuel cell characterized in that the peripheral void (A1) and the internal void (A2) formed are filled with an elastic resin (41). 3. A covering part (A3) in which a part or the whole of the outer peripheral surface of the fuel cell is covered with an elastic resin (41).
The polymer electrolyte fuel cell according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: