JP2001043872A - Solid polymer electrolyte type fuel cell - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To equalize cell internal resistance in cell surfaces and distribution of current density, by equalizing temperature distribution in fuel, air, and refrigerant on cell surfaces, and equalizing temperature distribution in catalyst and ion exchange film. SOLUTION: This solid polymer electrolyte type fuel cell is equipped with fluid passage plates 1, (2), (3) having fluid passages 11, (21), (31), respectively, formed therein and supplied with fluids such as fuel, air, and refrigerant. Inlets 12, (22), (32) for letting the supplied fluids into the fluid passages 11, (21), (31) and outlets 13, (23), (33) for letting out the excessively supplied fluids are disposed in reversed relation to each other while fluids flowing through adjoining fluids passages 11A and 11B, (21A and 21B), (31A and 31B) formed in the respective fluid passage plates 1, (2), (3) are directed reverse to each other, thereby causing the total of physical properties of the supplied fluids diffused in opposed electrodes from adjoining fluid passage to be equalized in all portions.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell having respective passage plates provided with fluid passages to which fluids such as fuel, air and refrigerant are supplied.
In addition to reversing the direction of flow of the adjacent passages formed in each passage plate, the sum of the physical characteristics of the supply fluids diffused from the adjacent fluid passages into the opposing electrodes is the same at any location. The temperature distribution of fuel, air and refrigerant on the cell surface is made uniform,
The present invention relates to a solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell in which the temperature distribution in an ion exchange membrane is made uniform and the internal resistance and current density distribution of the cell on the cell surface are made uniform.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell (U.
In SP4988853), in order to maintain the cell temperature of the fuel cell at a certain desired value, a refrigerant circulation passage P is provided as shown in FIG. 14, and the refrigerant passage plate PT, the refrigerant and the refrigerant in the air passage plate are provided. The flow of fuel and air is unidirectional throughout from the inlet I to the outlet O, which is a design feature of many solid polymer electrolyte fuel cells.

In the case of a solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell,
Fuel (generally a hydrogen-containing gas) and air (or oxygen) are introduced into the cell as the reducing and oxidizing agents, respectively, through the fuel and air inlets of the cell. Excess fuel and air after the reaction are discharged through the respective outlets.

Fuel and air flow through a fuel-air passage P connecting an inlet I and an outlet O on the cell surface of the battery, and are consumed as the reaction proceeds. In the case of a fuel cell adopting a separator type in which a current collector plate and a gas passage plate are integrated, a fuel passage is provided on the separator surface facing the fuel electrode, and an air passage is provided facing the air electrode.

[0005] In the above-mentioned conventional battery, the entire fuel and air flow in the same direction from the inlet at one end to the outlet at the other end, and under the fuel passage and the air passage having such shapes. The composition, pressure, temperature, humidity, and the like of the gas at the fuel electrode and the air electrode change along the gas flow direction.

[0006] As in the case of the gas passage plate, in the passage formation of the refrigerant passage plate, the flow of the entire refrigerant is in the same direction from the inlet to the outlet. In a cell having such a refrigerant distribution structure, the temperature of the cell has a temperature gradient along the flow of the refrigerant from the inlet to the outlet of the refrigerant.

That is, in the fuel passage and the air passage described above, the gas composition and the pressure, temperature, humidity, and the like at the fuel electrode and the air electrode form a linear gradient in the plane direction along the gas flow direction. To change.

[0008]

As is well known, in the above-mentioned conventional solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell, the ionic conductivity of the ion exchange membrane of the fuel cell is such that the ionic conductivity of the ion exchange membrane is water-containing in the ionic membrane and the temperature of the environment. Therefore, in the solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell using the gas passage plate and the refrigerant passage plate as described above, the internal resistance distribution of the cell in the cell surface direction does not depend on the direction of gas flow and refrigerant flow. There is a problem that uniformity occurs.

At the same time, uneven current density due to uneven internal resistance not only reduces the output of the entire cell,
This creates variations in waste heat in the cell surface direction, making it difficult to control the heat and water of the fuel cell, and as a result, the difference in the thermal histories of the reaction catalyst and the ion exchange membrane is large, resulting in the durability of the catalyst and the ion exchange membrane. You will lose. In the above-described shape of the refrigerant passage, the pattern of the temperature gradient of the refrigerant on the cell surface mainly due to heat exchange with the waste heat of the reaction is locally determined by the fuel electrode and the air electrode having the gas distribution characteristics as described above. There was a problem that the pressure, temperature and humidity were not in a favorable condition.

Accordingly, the present inventor has proposed a solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell having a passage plate in which a fluid passage to which a fluid such as fuel, air and a refrigerant is supplied is formed in each passage plate. The invention is directed to reversing the direction of flow of adjacent passages, so that the sum of the physical properties of the supply fluids diffused from the adjacent fluid passages into the opposing electrodes is the same at any location. Focusing on the technical idea of, and as a result of further research and development, the temperature distribution of fuel, air and refrigerant on the cell surface was made uniform, and the catalyst,
The present invention has been achieved to achieve the object of making the temperature distribution in the ion exchange membrane uniform and the distribution of the internal resistance and current density of the battery on the cell surface uniform.

[0011]

The solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell according to the present invention (first invention according to claim 1) comprises a fuel,
In a solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell provided with each passage plate in which a fluid passage to which a fluid such as air and a refrigerant is supplied is formed, the flow direction of adjacent fluid passages formed in each passage plate is reversed. And the sum of the physical characteristics of the supply fluids diffusing from the adjacent fluid passages into the opposing electrodes is the same at any location.

The solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell according to the present invention (the second invention according to the second aspect) is the fuel cell according to the first aspect,
The adjacent fluid passages are formed so as to extend in parallel with each of the passage plates, and the arrangement relationship between an inlet through which the supply fluid is introduced and an outlet through which excess supply fluid is discharged is opposite to each other. Is what it is.

The solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell according to the present invention (third invention according to claim 3) is characterized in that in the second invention,
The inlet and the outlet of the adjacent fluid passages are arranged close to each other and are juxtaposed at one end and the other end in a symmetrical positional relationship with respect to the center of each passage plate. is there.

The solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell according to the present invention (fourth invention according to claim 4) is characterized in that in the third invention,
The passage plate is a fuel passage plate in which a fuel passage to which fuel is supplied is formed, and the fuel passage is constituted by a groove formed in the fuel passage plate, and is opposed to the adjacent fuel passage. The sum of the pressure, the sum of the temperature and the sum of the humidity of the fuel diffused into the electrode is configured to be the same at any part.

[0015] The solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell according to the present invention (fifth invention according to claim 5) is characterized in that in the third invention,
The passage plate is an air passage plate in which an air passage to which air is supplied is formed, and the air passage is formed by a groove formed in the air passage plate, and is opposed to the adjacent air passage. The sum of the pressure, the sum of the temperature, and the sum of the humidity of the air diffused into the electrode are configured to be the same at any part.

The solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell according to the present invention (the sixth invention according to the sixth invention) is characterized in that in the third invention,
The passage plate is a refrigerant passage plate in which a refrigerant passage to which a refrigerant is supplied is formed, and the refrigerant passage is constituted by a groove formed in the refrigerant passage plate, and is opposed to the adjacent refrigerant passage. It is configured such that the sum of the temperatures of the refrigerant diffusing into the electrode is the same at any part.

[0017]

In the solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell according to the first aspect of the present invention having the above-mentioned structure, the flow is formed in each of the passage plates, and the flow direction of the flow is reversed from the adjacent fluid passages into the opposing electrodes. Since the sum of the physical characteristics of the supplied fluid becomes the same at any part, the temperature distribution of the supplied fluid on the cell surface is made uniform, the temperature distribution on the catalyst and the ion exchange membrane is made uniform, This has the effect of making the distribution of internal resistance and current density uniform.

In the solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell according to the second aspect of the present invention having the above structure, in the first aspect, the adjacent fluid passages are formed so as to extend in parallel with each of the passage plates, and the supply fluid is provided. Since the arrangement relationship between the inlet to be introduced and the outlet from which the surplus supply fluid is discharged is opposite to each other, for example, when a part of one fluid passage is close to the inlet, the other fluid passage adjacent to the other fluid passage is adjacent. Is close to the discharge port, so if the physical characteristics of the supply fluid that diffuses from the adjacent fluid passage into the opposing electrode is greater in one part of the fluid passage, then in the vicinity of the other fluid passage Is small, the effect is obtained that the sum of the physical characteristics of the supply fluids diffused from the adjacent fluid passages into the opposing electrodes is the same at any part.

In the solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell according to the third aspect of the present invention, the inlet and the outlet of the adjacent fluid passage are arranged close to each other. Since the juxtaposition is made at one end and the other end in a symmetrical positional relationship with respect to the center of each of the passage plates, the physical characteristics of the supply fluid diffused from the adjacent fluid passage into the opposing electrode are different from those of the one fluid passage. The effect that the sum of the physical characteristics of the supply fluids diffused from the adjacent fluid passages into the opposing electrode is the same at any portion because the larger fluid at one portion is smaller at the portion adjacent to the other fluid passage. To play.

In the solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell according to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the passage plate is a fuel passage plate in which a fuel passage to which fuel is supplied is formed. A fuel passage is formed by a groove formed in the fuel passage plate, and the sum of the pressure, the sum of the temperature, and the sum of the humidity of the fuel diffused from the adjacent fuel passage into the opposed electrode is determined by any part. Therefore, there is an effect that the temperature distribution of the fuel on the cell surface is made uniform, and the distribution of the internal resistance and current density of the battery on the cell surface is made uniform.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell according to the third aspect, the passage plate is an air passage plate provided with an air passage to which air is supplied. The air passage is constituted by a groove formed in the air passage plate, and the sum of the pressure, the sum of the temperature, and the sum of the humidity of the air diffused from the adjacent air passages into the opposing electrodes are determined by any part. Therefore, there is an effect that the temperature distribution of air on the cell surface is made uniform, and the distribution of the internal resistance and current density of the battery on the cell surface is made uniform.

In the solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell according to the sixth aspect of the present invention, the passage plate is a refrigerant passage plate provided with a refrigerant passage to which a refrigerant is supplied. The coolant passage is constituted by a groove formed in the coolant passage plate, and the sum of the temperatures of the coolant diffused from the adjacent coolant passages into the opposing electrodes is the same at any portion. This has the effect of making the temperature distribution of the refrigerant on the surface uniform and the distribution of the internal resistance and current density of the battery on the cell surface uniform.

[0023]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described.
This will be described with reference to the drawings.

(First Embodiment) As shown in FIGS. 1 to 6, a solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell according to a first embodiment has a fluid passage 11 through which fluids such as fuel, air and a refrigerant are supplied. Each passage plate 1, 2, in which 21, 31 is formed
3. In the solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell provided with 3, the inlets 12, 22, 32 of the fluid passages 11, 21, 31 through which the supply fluid is introduced, and the outlet 13, through which excess supply fluid is discharged, The arrangement of the fluid passages 23, 33 is opposite to each other, and the adjacent fluid passages 11A, 11B, 21A, 21 formed in each of the passage plates 1, 2, 3 are arranged.
While reversing the flow directions of B, 31A and 31B,
The electrodes 53, 54, 5 facing from the adjacent fluid passages
The sum of the physical properties of the supply fluids diffusing into 5, 56 is configured to be the same at any part.

The solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell is shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 6, hydrogen electrodes 53 and 54 as fuels facing each other and air electrodes 55 and 56 as anodes are opposed to each other.
A separator 61 having an air passage 21, a hydrogen absorption / exhaust passage 11 and the like is interposed between electrode units 51 and 52 having a structure in which a polymer ion exchange membrane 57 as an electrolyte is sandwiched between the two electrodes. The separator 62 in which the air passage 21 and the refrigerant passage 31 are formed is connected to the electrode unit 5.
The separator 63 in contact with the other surface of the electrode unit 52 and in contact with the other surface of the electrode unit 52 is formed by laminating a required number of these components.

In FIGS. 4 to 6, the passages marked with white circles indicate the positions of the passages where the entrance is located below and the exit is located above, and flow in the same direction (for example, downward in the thickness direction of the paper). The passages marked with indicate the positions of the passages in which the inlet is located above and the outlet is located below, and flow in the direction opposite to the flow direction of the white circle passage (for example, upward in the thickness direction of the paper). ing. That is, the fuel passages 11 adjacent to each other
A-11B, air passages 21A-21B, refrigerant passage 31A
The flow direction of -31B is reversed.

The adjacent fluid passages 11A, 11B, 2
As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, 1A, 21B, 31A, and 31B are formed in the respective passage plates 1, 2, and 3 so as to extend parallel to each other in a crank shape, and the inlet 12 through which the supply fluid is introduced. , 22, 32 and the arrangement of the discharge ports 13, 23, 33 from which the excess supply fluid is discharged are reversed.

That is, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the inlets 12, 22 and the outlets 13, 23 of the adjacent fuel passages 11A, 11B and air passages 21A, 21B are arranged close to each other. At the same time, they are juxtaposed at the left upper end at one end and the lower right end at the other end in a symmetrical positional relationship with respect to the center of each of the passage plates 1, 2, and 3.

As shown in FIG. 3, the inlet 32 and the outlet 33 of the adjacent refrigerant passages 31A and 31B are arranged close to each other, and the respective passage plates 1, 2,. 3 are juxtaposed at the upper right end at the center at the center and the lower end at the left center at the other end.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the fuel passage plate 1 is formed with a fuel passage 11 to which hydrogen as a fuel is supplied.
The flow directions of the fuel passages 11A and 11B adjacent to each other in the vertical direction in the drawing are opposite to each other, and the fuel passages 11A and 11B
The sum of the pressure, the sum of the temperature and the sum of the humidity of the fuel diffused into the electrodes 53 and 54 facing each other is the same at any part.

That is, in the fuel passage plate 1, the fuel inlet 12 and the outlet 13 are provided in parallel at one end of the cell surface in the same direction. At the same time, the same number of fuel inlets 12 and outlets 13 are provided in parallel at the positions of the other ends facing each other in the plane direction. The fuel inlet 12 and the fuel outlet 13
Are arranged as fuel passages 11A,
11B in order to reverse the flow direction of the fuel passage plate 1B.
At the same direction, the fuel inlets 12
And the discharge port 13 are alternately arranged.

A fuel gate 12 and a discharge port 13 are separated by a gas gate. A pair of the fuel inlet 12 and the fuel outlet 13 located opposite each other is provided as a set, and a fuel passage 11 communicating the inlet and the outlet is provided. The fuel passage connecting the fuel inlet and the outlet is also alternated in the fuel flow direction.

One fuel passage 11 is constituted by one (shown) or one or more grooves 14. Fuel is distributed into the fuel passage 11 through each fuel inlet 12 at a fixed rate. Excess fuel from the reaction is discharged from the fuel outlet 13 connected to the fuel passage.

The air passage plate 2 is provided with an air passage 21 to which air is supplied as shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, and the air passage 21 is formed in a groove formed in the air passage plate 2. 24, the flow directions of the air passages 21A and 21B adjacent to each other in the vertical direction in the drawing are opposite to each other, and the air diffused into the opposing electrodes 55 and 56 from the adjacent air passages 21A and 21B. The sum of the pressure, the sum of the temperature, and the sum of the humidity are configured to be the same at any part.

That is, in the air passage plate 2, an air inlet 22 and an outlet 23 are provided in parallel at one end of the cell surface in the same direction. At the same time, the same number of air inlets 22 and outlets 23 are provided in parallel at the positions of the other ends facing each other in the plane direction. The air inlet 22 and the air outlet 23
Are arranged as air passages 21A adjacent to each other.
In order to reverse the direction of the flow of the air 21B, the air inlets 22 and the outlets 23 which are juxtaposed in the same direction are alternately arranged in the air passage plate 2.

A gas gate separates the air inlet 22 and the outlet 23 which are arranged in the same row. A pair of an air inlet 22 and an air outlet 23 located opposite to each other is provided as a set, and an air passage 21 communicating the inlet and the outlet is provided. Similarly, the air passages 21 connecting the air inlet 22 and the outlet 23 alternate with each other in the air flow direction.

One air passage is constituted by one (shown) or one or more grooves 24. Air flows at a constant rate through each air inlet 22 through the air passages 21.
Is distributed within. Excess air from the reaction is passed through the air passage 2
Air is discharged from the air outlet 23 connected to the air outlet 1.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 6, the refrigerant passage plate 3 is provided with a refrigerant passage 31 to which a refrigerant is supplied, and the refrigerant passage 3 is formed in a groove 34 formed in the refrigerant passage plate. The directions of the flows of the refrigerant passages 31A and 31B adjacent to each other in the vertical direction in the drawing are opposite.

With respect to the installation of the refrigerant inlet 32 and the refrigerant outlet 33, the refrigerant inlet 32 and the refrigerant outlet 33 are alternately arranged at one end in the same direction on the refrigerant passage plate 3 as in the fuel and air passage plates. Provide. At the same time, the same number of refrigerant inlets 32 and outlets 33 are provided at the other end positions facing each other in the plane direction.

The refrigerant passages 31 connecting the refrigerant inlets 32 and the refrigerant outlets 33 located opposite to each other are alternately arranged in the flow direction of the refrigerant. The refrigerant passage 31 is constituted by one (shown) or one or more grooves 34. The refrigerant is discharged from the refrigerant outlet 33 through the refrigerant passage 31 through the respective refrigerant inlets 32 at a fixed rate. The flow direction of the refrigerant in the refrigerant passage 31 is made to coincide with the flow direction of the air in the air passage in the laminating direction.

FIGS. 1 to 3 in the first embodiment.
1 shows one structural design example of the fuel passage plate 1, the air passage plate 2 and the refrigerant passage plate 3, respectively. In the first embodiment, the fuel, the air and the refrigerant are separated from one another at the upper and lower ends and the other end. In this structure, fuel, air or refrigerant at a quarter of the total flow rate flows into each passage in a direction opposite to that of the adjacent passage.

Each of the passages of the first embodiment is formed of a single groove, and is folded five steps at right angles in a crank shape. However, the number of grooves and the number of folded steps may be set as necessary. Can be.

In the solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell of the first embodiment having the above structure, the partial pressure of hydrogen in the fuel in the fuel passage 11 or the partial pressure of oxygen in the air in the air passage 21 is determined by the It decreases according to the reaction from the inlet to the outlet of 11,21.

On the other hand, the humidity in the air rises with the reaction. Since the flow directions of the fuel and air in the passages 11 and 21 adjacent to each other are opposite to each other, the directions of the partial pressure and the gradient of the humidity are also opposite.

FIG. 7 conceptually shows a partial pressure gradient of fuel or air along the fluid passages 11 and 12. As shown in FIG. 7, at each reaction progress point, FIGS.
Passages 11A (black circles-dashed lines in FIG. 7), 11B (white circles-solid lines in FIG. 7), 21A adjacent in the vertical direction in the inside
The difference between the partial pressure of hydrogen in the fuel or the partial pressure of oxygen in the air at (black circles—dashed lines in FIG. 7) and 21B (solid circles in FIG. 7) causes the porous electrodes 53, 54, 55, 56 to Promotes the interdiffusion of hydrogen and oxygen between adjacent passages. As a result, the partial pressure distributions of hydrogen and oxygen can be finally made uniform on the cell surface.

In the refrigerant passage plate 3, as shown in FIG. 8, the refrigerant flows from the inlet 32 to the outlet 33 of the adjacent refrigerant passages 31 A (black circles—dashed lines in FIG. 8) and 31 B (white circles—solid lines in FIG. 8). A temperature gradient of the refrigerant is generated according to the direction. However, the temperature gradient in each passage 31 is reduced and uniformized by heat transfer due to the temperature difference between adjacent passages.

As a result, the temperature distribution eventually becomes uniform in the cell surface. FIG. 8 conceptually shows a temperature distribution in a single passage and a distribution of temperature reduced by heat transfer between the vertically adjacent passages.

In the solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell according to the first embodiment having the above operation, the fluid passages 11 formed in the passage plates 1, 2, and 3 in which the flow directions of the supply fluids are opposite to each other are provided. , 21, and 31, the sum of the physical characteristics of the supply fluids diffused into the electrodes 53, 54, 55, and 56, which are porous bodies facing each other, is the same at any part, and therefore, the supply fluid supply This has the effect of making the temperature distribution uniform, making the temperature distribution in the catalyst and the ion exchange membrane uniform, and making the distribution of the internal resistance and current density of the battery on the cell surface uniform.

That is, in the solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell of the first embodiment, the adjacent fluid passages 11, 21, 31
Are formed in the respective passage plates 1, 2, 3 so as to extend in parallel with each other, and the introduction ports 12, 22, 32 into which the supply fluid is introduced.
And outlets 13, 23 from which the excess supply fluid is discharged,
Since the arrangement relationship of 33 is opposite to each other, for example, when one of the fluid passages 11A, 21A, 31A is close to the inlet 22, the adjacent fluid passages 11B, 21B, 31B are adjacent to each other. Is close to the outlet,
When the physical properties of the supply fluid that diffuses from the adjacent fluid passages into the opposed porous electrode are large in a portion of one fluid passage and small in a portion adjacent to the other fluid passage, they are adjacent to each other. This has the effect that the sum of the physical properties of the supply fluid diffusing from the fluid passage into the opposing electrode is the same at any location.

In the solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell according to the first embodiment, the inlets 12, 22, 32 and the outlets 13, 23, 3 of the adjacent fluid passages 11, 21, 31 are provided.
3 are disposed adjacent to each other and are juxtaposed at one end and the other end in a symmetrical positional relationship with respect to the center of each of the passage plates 1, 2, 3.
The electrodes 53, 54, 55, 56 facing from 1, 31
If the physical properties of the supply fluid that diffuses into the fluid passage are large at one portion of one fluid passage, it is small at the portion adjacent to the other fluid passage. The sum of the physical properties is
This has the effect of being the same at any site.

Further, in the solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell according to the first embodiment, the adjacent fuel passages 11A and 11B formed by the grooves formed in the fuel passage plate 1 are provided.
Since the sum of the pressure, the sum of the temperature, and the sum of the humidity of the fuel diffused into the electrodes 53, 54 opposed to each other are the same in any part, the temperature distribution of the fuel on the cell surface is made uniform, This has the effect of making the distribution of the internal resistance and current density of the battery uniform on the surface.

Further, in the solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell of the first embodiment, the adjacent air passages 21A, 21B formed by the grooves 24 formed in the air passage plate 2 are provided.
Since the sum of the pressure, the sum of the temperature, and the sum of the humidity of the air diffused into the electrodes 55 and 56 facing each other are the same in any part, the temperature distribution of the air on the cell surface is made uniform, This has the effect of making the distribution of the internal resistance and current density of the battery uniform on the surface.

Further, in the solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell of the first embodiment, the groove 34 formed in the refrigerant passage plate 3 is provided.
The adjacent refrigerant passages 31A, 31 constituted by
Since the sum of the temperatures of the refrigerant diffused from B to the cell surface becomes the same at any portion, the temperature distribution of the refrigerant on the cell surface is made uniform, and the internal resistance and current density distribution of the battery on the cell surface are made uniform. This has the effect of

(Second Embodiment) As shown in FIGS. 9 to 11, the solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell of the second embodiment has inlets 12, 22, and 32 for supplying a supply fluid and an excess Outlets 13, 23, 3 from which the supply fluid is discharged
The difference from the first embodiment is that a plurality of grooves 14, 24, 34 forming the fluid passages 11, 21, 31 communicating with the third embodiment are different from the first embodiment. Will be described.

That is, as shown in FIGS. 9 to 11, the fuel, air and refrigerant inlets 12, 22, 3
2 and said outlets 13, 2 for fuel, air and refrigerant
The two grooves 14, 2 are communicated with one of the three
Numerals 4 and 34 extend in a crank shape in parallel with each other, and constitute the fluid passages 11, 21, and 31.

FIGS. 12 and 13 show a fuel cell stack according to the second embodiment, which is formed by stacking the fuel passage plate 1, the air passage plate 2 and the refrigerant passage plate 3 shown in FIGS. In one stack, the fuel passage 11,
Doors 12, 22 of the air passage 21 and the refrigerant passage 31,
32, 13, 23, 33 and each manifold 15, 25,
35, and each inlet / outlet 152 of each pipe (fuel, air, refrigerant) manifold 15, 25, 35 of the end plate 101 at one end close to the current collecting terminal 102.
153, 252, 253, 352, 353 are shown.

Therefore, in the second embodiment, fuel, air, and refrigerant are introduced in two parts at the upper and lower ends and the other end, and are introduced into each passage defined by the two grooves 14, 24, and 34. One half of the total flow, fuel, air or refrigerant, flows in opposite directions in adjacent passages 11, 12, 31. Fuel, air, and refrigerant flow in the same direction in the two grooves 24 forming the passages 11, 12, 31.

In the solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell according to the second embodiment having the above operation, the fluid passages 11 formed in the passage plates 1, 2, and 3 are adjacent to each other in the direction of the flow of the supply fluid. , 21, and 31, the sum of the physical characteristics of the supply fluids diffused into the electrodes 53, 54, 55, and 56, which are porous bodies facing each other, is the same at any part, and therefore, the supply fluid supply This has the effect of making the temperature distribution substantially uniform, making the temperature distribution in the catalyst and the ion exchange membrane almost uniform, and making the distribution of the internal resistance and current density of the battery on the cell surface almost uniform.

In the solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell according to the second embodiment, the fuel, air and refrigerant are introduced in two parts at the upper and lower ends and the other end.
Since the fluid is supplied by the fluid passages 4, 21, and 31, the number of entrances and exits can be reduced as compared with the first embodiment, so that the structure can be simplified. Play.

The above-described embodiments have been described by way of example only, and the present invention is not limited to these embodiments. Those skilled in the art will recognize from the claims, the detailed description of the invention, and the drawings. Modifications and additions are possible without departing from the technical idea of the present invention.

In the above embodiment, the number of inlets and outlets of fuel, air or refrigerant, and the number of passages connecting the corresponding inlets and outlets are described by way of example for simplicity of explanation. Although illustrated, it can be increased or decreased according to the quantitative setting state of the fuel and air, and in general, it is considered that the larger the number is, the better the current density is when the current density is large and the flow rate is large accordingly. .

In the above-described embodiment, an example in which the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet are arranged on the same surface as shown in FIGS. 12 and 13 has been described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. Instead, the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet can be arranged on different planes as needed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view showing a flow direction of a fuel passage plate and a fuel passage in a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view showing an air passage plate and a flow direction of the air passage in the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a front view showing the direction of flow of the refrigerant passage plate and the refrigerant passage in the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view for explaining a flow direction of adjacent fuel passages in the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view for explaining a flow direction of adjacent air passages in the first embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view for explaining the flow direction of adjacent refrigerant passages in the first embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a distribution of fuel and air partial pressure along a flow of a fuel passage and an air passage in the first embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a distribution of a refrigerant temperature along a flow of a refrigerant passage in the first embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a front view showing the direction of flow of a fuel passage plate and a fuel passage in a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a front view showing a flow direction of an air passage plate and an air passage in the second embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a front view showing the direction of flow of a refrigerant passage plate and a refrigerant passage in the second embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a partially cutaway perspective view showing a relationship between a manifold of a fuel cell stack according to a second embodiment and entrances and exits of respective passages.

FIG. 13 is a front view showing entrances and exits of each manifold of the stack according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 14 is a front view showing a conventional refrigerant passage plate and a refrigerant passage.

[Explanation of symbols]

1, 2, 3 Each passage plate 11, 21, 31 Fluid passage 12, 22, 32 Inlet 13, 23, 33 Outlet 11A, 11B, 21A, 21B, 31A, 31B Adjacent fluid passages 53, 54, 55, 56 electrodes

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell provided with a passage plate in which a fluid passage to which a fluid such as fuel, air, and a refrigerant is supplied is provided. The flow direction of the passage is reversed, and the sum of the physical characteristics of the supply fluids diffused from the adjacent fluid passages into the opposing electrodes is configured to be the same at any portion. Polymer electrolyte fuel cell. 2. The flow passage according to claim 1, wherein the adjacent fluid passages are formed in the respective passage plates so as to extend in parallel with each other, and an introduction port through which the supply fluid is introduced and a discharge through which excess supply fluid is discharged. A solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell, wherein the arrangement of outlets is reversed. 3. The one end according to claim 2, wherein the inlet and the outlet of the adjacent fluid passages are arranged close to each other and symmetrical with respect to the center of each passage plate. And a solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell which is juxtaposed at the other end. 4. The fuel passage plate according to claim 3, wherein the passage plate is a fuel passage plate in which a fuel passage to which fuel is supplied is formed, and the fuel passage is constituted by a groove formed in the fuel passage plate. Wherein the sum of the pressure, the sum of the temperature, and the sum of the humidity of the fuel diffused from the adjacent fuel passages into the opposing electrodes are the same at any part. Solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell. 5. The air passage plate according to claim 3, wherein the passage plate is an air passage plate provided with an air passage to which air is supplied, and the air passage is constituted by a groove formed in the air passage plate. Wherein the sum of the pressure, the sum of the temperature, and the sum of the humidity of the air diffused from the adjacent air passages into the opposing electrodes are the same at any part. Solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell. 6. The refrigerant passage plate according to claim 3, wherein the passage plate is a refrigerant passage plate in which a refrigerant passage to which a refrigerant is supplied is formed, and the refrigerant passage is formed by a groove formed in the refrigerant passage plate. The solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell is characterized in that the sum of the temperatures of the refrigerant diffusing into the opposing electrodes from the adjacent refrigerant passages is the same at any part.