JP2003317773A - Fuel cell - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a fuel cell allowing a fuel cell system to be downsized. <P>SOLUTION: In this fuel cell, four fuel battery cells 10, a fuel feed passage to the fuel battery cells 10, and micro valves 5a and 5b regulating the supplied amount of liquid fuel passing the individual fuel introduction parts 3a and 3b of the fuel feed passage are integrated in the same substrate. The substrate comprises a holding body 16 for holding four fuel battery cells 10, a gas-liquid separating membrane 2, a fuel pole side substrate 3, and an air pole side substrate 4. The fuel battery cell 10 comprises an ionic conduction membrane 11 held by a fuel pole 12 and an air pole 13. The mixed fluid of methanol and water is fed to the fuel pole 12 and air is fed to the air pole 13 through the permeable holes 4a in the air pole side substrate 4. Carbon dioxide produced at the fuel poles 12 of the fuel battery cells 10 is discharged to the outside through the air-liquid separating membrane 2 and discharge holes 31 in the fuel pole side substrate 3. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a small fuel cell that can be used as a power source for portable equipment and the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, small fuel cells that can be used as power sources for portable devices have been researched and developed in various places, and as a fuel cell of this type, a polymer electrolyte fuel cell (PEFC) is used.
Alternatively, a direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) for supplying methanol to a fuel cell has been proposed.

Here, a fuel cell system using a polymer electrolyte fuel cell requires a fuel reformer for reforming methanol into hydrogen, whereas a fuel cell system using a direct methanol fuel cell uses a fuel reformer. Since a reformer is not required, it is advantageous in terms of downsizing the system. However, when the methanol concentration is high, the methanol will pass through the solid electrolyte membrane of the fuel cell and the voltage of the fuel cell will drop, so it is also considered to dilute and supply methanol. Further, in the direct methanol fuel cell, since carbon dioxide is generated at the fuel electrode, it is necessary to provide a carbon dioxide removing means for removing carbon dioxide.

Further, in these fuel cell systems, the fuel supply device for supplying fuel to the fuel cell is connected to the fuel cell via the fuel supply path, and the amount of fuel supplied through the fuel supply path is controlled. A controlling valve is arranged on the fuel supply path.

[0005]

By the way, the above-mentioned conventional fuel cell system is constructed by combining a fuel supply device, a fuel supply passage, a valve, a fuel cell, a carbon dioxide removing means, etc., which are individual parts. However, there is a problem that the number of parts is large and it is difficult to downsize the fuel cell system. Further, when a small amount (for example, several μl / min) of liquid fuel is supplied to the fuel cell, the liquid fuel may not be stably supplied to the fuel cell due to the dead volume of the fuel supply passage. .

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a fuel cell capable of downsizing a fuel cell system.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the invention of claim 1 comprises at least a fuel cell and
The present invention is characterized in that a fuel supply path to a fuel cell and a microvalve for adjusting the supply amount of liquid fuel passing through the fuel supply path are integrated on the same substrate, and the fuel cell system is miniaturized. Also, since the weight can be reduced and the fuel supply path can be shortened, the dead volume can be reduced and a small amount of liquid fuel can be stably supplied to the fuel cell unit. In addition, there is an advantage that the work of joining the fuel cell unit and the fuel supply path becomes unnecessary.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the fuel supply passage is provided with a plurality of types of individual fuel introducing portions for individually introducing a plurality of types of liquid fuel and a plurality of types of individual fuel introducing portions. The fuel cell system includes a mixing unit for mixing liquid fuel to obtain a mixed liquid fuel to be supplied to the fuel cells, and the microvalve is provided for each of the fuel introducing units. A mixed liquid fuel in which a plurality of types of liquid fuels are mixed can be used as the fuel of the fuel cell.

According to a third aspect of the invention, in the second aspect of the invention, a concentration sensor for detecting the concentration of the mixed liquid fuel is integrated on the base body, so that the microvalve is output according to the output of the concentration sensor. It is possible to construct a fuel cell system in which the fuel cell system is controlled, and it is possible to prevent the fuel cell system from increasing in size while providing a concentration sensor for detecting the concentration of the mixed liquid fuel.

According to the invention of claim 4, in the invention of claim 3, the control means for controlling the respective microvalves so that the output of the concentration sensor approaches a specified value within a specified range, the mixed liquid fuel is therefore provided. Can be adjusted so as to be substantially equal to the specified value, and the output of the fuel cell can be stabilized.

According to a fifth aspect of the invention, in the first aspect of the invention, the control means for controlling the microvalve is provided so that the output of the fuel cell approaches a target value within a desired range. The output of the fuel cell unit can be adjusted to a desired target value.

According to a sixth aspect of the invention, in the invention of the fourth or fifth aspect, the control means is integrated in the base body, so that the control means is provided separately from the base body. It is possible to reduce the size of the fuel cell system.

According to a seventh aspect of the invention, in the first to sixth aspects of the invention, since the base body is formed of at least two kinds of materials, the characteristics of each constituent element and the workability at the time of manufacture are improved. Manufacturing is facilitated by using a suitable material.

According to an eighth aspect of the invention, in the first to seventh aspects of the invention, the liquid fuel supplied to the fuel cell includes a liquid organic fuel, and carbon dioxide generated in the fuel cell is discharged to the outside. Since the discharge part for discharging is formed on the base body, carbon dioxide generated in the fuel cell can be discharged to the outside through the discharge part formed on the base body, and a decrease in output of the fuel cell is prevented. be able to. Moreover, since the discharge part for discharging carbon dioxide to the outside is integrated with the base body, the part where carbon dioxide is generated in the fuel cell and the discharge part can be brought close to each other, without using a pump or the like. Therefore, carbon dioxide can be efficiently discharged.

[0015]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The fuel cell of the present embodiment is a small fuel cell that can be used as a power source for portable equipment, for example, and as shown in FIGS. A fuel cell module 1 in which 10 are arranged in a two-dimensional array is provided. That is, the fuel cell 10 is
Two are arranged in the vertical direction and two in the horizontal direction in FIG. Each fuel cell 10 is a direct methanol fuel cell that uses an aqueous methanol solution as a fuel.

As shown in FIG. 2, the fuel cell module 1 has a square outer shape as a whole, and four fuel cell cells 10 each having a square outer shape and four fuel cells. A grid frame-shaped holding body 16 for holding the cells 10 is provided. Here, the holder 16 is formed of a synthetic resin having insulating properties and elasticity.

Each fuel cell 10 has a structure in which an ion conductive film 11 made of a solid polymer film having high hydrogen ion conductivity is sandwiched between a pair of catalyst electrodes 12 and 13 provided on both sides in the thickness direction. 1 (b), the ion conductive film 1
The catalyst electrode 12 formed on the upper side of 1 constitutes a fuel electrode,
The catalyst electrode 13 formed below the ion conductive film 11 constitutes an air electrode. The outer shape of each of the catalyst electrodes 12 and 13 is square.

By the way, the fuel cell module 1 includes two tape-shaped lead terminals 14 made of a highly conductive material such as aluminum and three inter-cell connection terminals made of a highly conductive material such as aluminum. 15 is integrally provided on the holding body 16, four fuel battery cells 10 are connected in series by utilizing the three inter-cell connection terminals 15, and one lead terminal 14 (on the right side in FIG. 2A) is used. One end of the lead terminal 14) is connected to the negative electrode side of the series circuit of the four fuel battery cells 10, and the other lead terminal 14 (the left lead terminal 14 in FIG. 2A)
Is connected to the positive electrode side of the series circuit of the four fuel cells 10. Here, the other ends of the two lead terminals 14 are drawn out of the holding body 6. Further, the inter-cell connection terminal 15 is formed in a U-shaped cross section, and is formed across both sides of the holding body 16 in the thickness direction.

The fuel cell module 1 described above has a structure as shown in FIG.
A fuel electrode side substrate 3 made of a glass substrate is disposed on the upper surface side in (b) through a gas-liquid separation film 2 made of a porous film having water repellency, and a glass plate is formed on the lower surface side in FIG. 1 (b). An air electrode side substrate 4 made of a substrate is arranged. The function of the gas-liquid separation membrane 2 will be described later.

As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 3, the gas-liquid separation membrane 2 has a collector electrode 22 made of a conductive material on each surface of the surface facing the fuel cell module 1 corresponding to each fuel electrode 12. Are formed. That is, on the surface of the gas-liquid separation membrane 2 facing the fuel cell module 1,
The four collector electrodes 22 are arranged in a two-dimensional array. Here, the collector electrode 22 has a hole 22a penetrating in the thickness direction. In addition, each collector electrode 22 is a gas-liquid separation membrane 2
Are electrically connected to the fuel electrode 12 facing each other in the thickness direction. Further, each current collecting electrode 22 is continuously and integrally provided with a connection terminal 22b electrically connected to the lead terminal 14 or the inter-cell connection terminal 15 described above. The collector electrode 22 and the connection terminal 22 may be formed by a plating method, or may be formed by etching a metal substrate and attached to the gas-liquid separation film 2.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 5, the air electrode side substrate 4 is made of a conductive material on each surface corresponding to each air electrode 13 on the surface facing the fuel cell module 1. The collector electrode 42 is formed.
That is, four current collecting electrodes 42 are arranged in a two-dimensional array on the surface of the air electrode side substrate 4 facing the fuel cell module 1. Here, each collector electrode 42 is electrically connected to the air electrode 13 facing in the thickness direction of the air electrode side substrate 4. In addition, each current collecting electrode 42 is continuously and integrally provided with a connection terminal 42b that is electrically connected to the lead terminal 14 or the inter-cell connection terminal 15 described above. The collector electrode 42 and the connection terminal 42b are formed by the sputtering method.

By providing the above-mentioned connection terminals 22b and 42b, the fuel cell of the present embodiment has the fuel electrode 12 of the fuel cell 10 at the upper right of FIG. 1 (a) as shown in FIG. 1 (a).
1 is connected to the right lead terminal 14 in the path of the fuel electrode 12-collector electrode 12-connection terminal 22b-the right lead terminal 14 in FIG.
The air electrode 13 of 0 is the fuel electrode 12 of the fuel cell 10 at the lower right.
And air electrode 13-collection electrode 42-connection terminal 42b-Fig. 2
Right side inter-cell connection terminal 15-connection terminal 2 in (a)
2b-collector electrode 22-fuel electrode 12 are connected together. Similarly, the air electrode 13 of the lower right fuel cell 10 is the fuel electrode 12 of the lower left fuel cell 10, and the air electrode 13-collecting electrode 42-connection terminal 42b-the lower center cell in FIG. 2 (a). Connection terminal 15-connection terminal 22b-collector electrode 2
2-connected by the path of the fuel electrode 12. Similarly, the air electrode 13 of the lower left fuel cell 10 is the fuel electrode 12 of the upper left fuel cell 10, and the air electrode 13-collecting electrode 4
2-connection terminal 42b-cell connection terminal 15 on the left side in FIG. 2 (a) -connection terminal 22b-collection electrode 22-fuel electrode 12 are connected by a path. In addition, the air electrode 13 of the fuel cell 10 on the upper left side includes the lead terminal 14 on the left side in FIG. 1A, the air electrode 13-the collecting electrode 42-the connecting terminal 42.
b-Connected by the route of the left lead terminal 14 in FIG. Therefore, the voltage across the series circuit of the four fuel cells 10 is applied to the external circuit connected between the lead terminals 14, 14.

By the way, the fuel electrode side substrate 3 is provided with a fuel supply path for supplying fuel to each fuel cell 10, as shown in FIGS. Here, the fuel supply path includes two individual fuel introduction parts 3a, 3 for individually introducing two types of liquid fuel (for example, a liquid organic fuel such as methanol and water for diluting the liquid organic fuel).
b, and 2 introduced through the individual fuel introduction parts 3a, 3b
There are provided a mixing passage 3c for obtaining a mixed liquid fuel to be mixed with different types of liquid fuel and supplied to the fuel cell 10, and a mixed fuel supply section 3d for supplying the mixed liquid fuel obtained in the mixing passage 3c to each fuel cell 10. is doing. On the other hand, in the air electrode side substrate 4 provided with the above-mentioned current collecting electrode 42, a large number of vent holes 4a for supplying air to the air electrode 13 of each fuel cell 10 are provided.
Are formed. In addition, the gas-liquid separation membrane 2 described above contains H
Four minute communication holes 2a for connecting the character-shaped mixed fuel supply portion 3d to the space between the gas-liquid separation membrane 2 and each fuel electrode 12
Are formed.

Therefore, each fuel cell 10 has a mixed liquid (for example, a few liquids) of methanol, which is a liquid organic fuel supplied through the individual fuel introducing section 3a, and water, which is a liquid fuel supplied through the individual fuel introducing section 3b. wt% methanol aqueous solution) is supplied to the fuel electrode 12 as a mixed liquid fuel, and air as an oxidant is passed through the vent hole 4a to the air electrode 1
When the fuel electrode 12 consumes 1 mol of water, the air electrode 13 consumes 3 mol of water. Occurs).

By the way, in the fuel cell of this embodiment, the gas-liquid separation membrane 2 is provided in order to discharge the carbon dioxide generated in the fuel electrode 12, and the gas-liquid separation membrane 2 is further provided on the fuel electrode side substrate 3. A large number of exhaust holes 3 for discharging the permeated carbon dioxide
1 is formed. In addition, in the present embodiment, the gas-liquid separation membrane 2 and the exhaust hole 31 configure an exhaust unit that exhausts carbon dioxide generated in the fuel electrode 12 of the fuel cell unit 10.
Therefore, the carbon dioxide generated in the fuel cell unit 10 can be discharged to the outside through the discharge unit, and the output reduction of the fuel cell unit 10 can be prevented. Moreover, since the discharge part for discharging carbon dioxide to the outside is integrated with the fuel cell, the part where the carbon dioxide is generated in the fuel cell 10 and the discharge part can be brought close to each other, without using a pump or the like. Therefore, carbon dioxide can be efficiently discharged.

Here, in the fuel cell of the present embodiment, the individual fuel introduction section 3 is used without using a pump or the like for circulating the carbon dioxide generated in the fuel electrode 12 in the aqueous methanol solution.
To discharge using only the pressure in the fuel tank (not shown) that supplies methanol through a and the pressure in the fuel tank (not shown) that supplies water through the individual fuel introduction part 3b and the diffusion of carbon dioxide. In addition, the fuel electrode 12 and the gas-liquid separation membrane 2 are arranged close to each other.

The surface tension of water is about 0.073 N / m, but when methanol is mixed with water at a ratio of several%, the surface tension of the mixed solution is almost equal to the surface tension of methanol (0.020 N). / M)),
In order to prevent the gas-liquid separation membrane 2 from permeating the aqueous methanol solution (that is, to prevent the mixed liquid fuel from leaking to the outside through the gas-liquid separation membrane 2), very high water repellency is required. To do. Therefore, as the gas-liquid separation film 2, for example, a synthetic resin material having excellent chemical resistance and water repellency such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET) or polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) is used, and a polymer having a perfluoro group on the surface is used. It is preferable to perform a water-repellent treatment for coating with or a water-repellent treatment for exposing the surface to fluorine plasma. If the aqueous methanol solution permeates even after the water repellent treatment, it is necessary to further reduce the pore diameter. The water-repellent treatment of the gas-liquid separation film 2 is performed after the gas-liquid separation film 2 is adhered to the fuel electrode side substrate 3,
Depending on the material of the gas-liquid separation membrane 2, it may not be possible to adhere it to the fuel electrode side substrate 3 with an adhesive. When such a material is selected, the surface to be adhered before the adhesion may be roughened by plasma or the like. Good.

Further, on the fuel electrode side substrate 3, the flow rate of each liquid fuel passing through the individual fuel introducing portions 3a and 3b (that is,
Two normally closed type microvalves 5a and 5b for adjusting the supply amount of each liquid fuel) are joined together. Since the microvalves 5a and 5b are directly joined to the fuel electrode side substrate 3, the so-called dead volume can be reduced.

In the present embodiment, the holder 16 of the fuel cell module 1, the gas-liquid separation membrane 2, the fuel electrode side substrate 3 and the air electrode side substrate 4 form a base body. That is, since the base body is formed of a plurality of types of materials, the manufacture is facilitated by using a material suitable for the characteristics of each constituent element of the fuel cell of the present embodiment and the workability during manufacturing.

In the fuel cell of this embodiment, however, a plurality (four) of fuel cells 10, a fuel supply path to the fuel cells 10, and individual fuel introducing portions 3a, 3 of the fuel supply path.
Micro valve 5 for adjusting the amount of liquid fuel supplied through b
Since a and 5b are integrated on the same substrate, the fuel cell system can be made smaller and lighter. Further, since the fuel supply path can be shortened as compared with the case where a separate component is used for the fuel supply path, a dead volume can be reduced and a small amount (for example, several μl / min) of fuel can be stably supplied to the fuel cell unit 10. be able to. In the present embodiment, two types of liquid fuel are mixed and supplied to the fuel battery cell 10, but three or more types of liquid fuel are mixed and supplied to the fuel battery cell 10. Of course, one kind of liquid fuel (for example, liquid fuel diluted in advance) may be supplied to the fuel cell unit 10.

As an example of the above-mentioned fuel cell design example, the output voltage is 3 V, the output current is 80 mA, the output power is 240 mW, the overall external dimensions are 57 mm square, and the external dimensions of the fuel cell 10 are 20 mm square. You can set it to.

By the way, in the present embodiment, glass substrates are used as the substrates 3 and 4, but not limited to glass substrates, silicon substrates may be used, for example. Further, the liquid organic fuel is not limited to methanol, and liquid organic fuels such as dimethyl ether and ethanol can be adopted, for example, and if dimethyl ether, ethanol, etc. are adopted, the safety of the fuel is improved compared to the case where methanol is adopted. It can be increased and the fuel can be easily handled.

If a concentration sensor for detecting the concentration of the mixed liquid fuel described above is integrated on the base body, a fuel cell system can be constructed so as to control the microvalves 5a and 5b according to the output of the concentration sensor. It ’s possible, and
It is possible to prevent an increase in size of the fuel cell system while providing a concentration sensor that detects the concentration of the mixed liquid fuel.
When the concentration sensor is integrated on the base body, the concentration sensor may be provided on the fuel electrode side substrate 3 forming a part of the base body.

Further, by providing a control means for controlling each microvalve 5a, 5b so that the output of the concentration sensor approaches a specified value within a specified range, the concentration of the mixed liquid fuel becomes substantially equal to the specified value. It can be adjusted, and the output of the fuel cell unit 10 can be stabilized. The control means controls the microvalve 5a per unit time so that the output of the concentration sensor becomes substantially equal to the specified value.
It is also possible to control the number of times each of the micro valves 5b is opened and closed.
You may make it adjust the opening amount of 5b. If the control means is integrated on the base body, the fuel cell system can be downsized as compared with the case where the control means is provided separately from the base body.

Further, a control means for controlling the microvalves 5a, 5b is provided so that the output between the lead terminals 14, 14 (that is, the output of the series circuit of the fuel cell unit 10) approaches a target value within a desired range. Then, the output between the lead terminals 14 and 14 can be adjusted to a desired target value according to the load fluctuation of the external circuit. If the control means is integrated on the base body, the fuel cell system can be downsized as compared with the case where the control means is provided separately from the base body.

[0036]

According to the invention of claim 1, at least the fuel cell, the fuel supply path to the fuel cell, and the microvalve for adjusting the supply amount of the liquid fuel passing through the fuel supply path are integrated on the same substrate. The fuel cell system can be made smaller and lighter, and the fuel supply path can be shortened so that the dead volume can be reduced and a small amount of liquid fuel can be used as fuel. There is an effect that it can be stably supplied to the battery cells. In addition, there is an advantage that the work of joining the fuel cell unit and the fuel supply path becomes unnecessary.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the fuel supply passage includes a plurality of types of individual fuel introducing portions for individually introducing a plurality of types of liquid fuel and a plurality of types of individual fuel introducing portions through the individual fuel introducing portions. The fuel cell system includes a mixing unit for mixing liquid fuel to obtain a mixed liquid fuel to be supplied to the fuel cells, and the microvalve is provided for each of the fuel introducing units. There is an effect that a mixed liquid fuel in which a plurality of types of liquid fuels are mixed can be used as the fuel of the fuel battery cell.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect of the present invention, a concentration sensor for detecting the concentration of the mixed liquid fuel is integrated in the base body, so that the microvalve is output according to the output of the concentration sensor. There is an effect that it is possible to construct a fuel cell system in which the fuel cell system is controlled. Moreover, it is possible to prevent the fuel cell system from becoming large while providing a concentration sensor that detects the concentration of the mixed liquid fuel. effective.

According to the invention of claim 4, in the invention of claim 3, the control means for controlling the respective microvalves so that the output of the concentration sensor approaches a specified value within a specified range, the mixed liquid fuel is therefore provided. The concentration can be adjusted to be substantially equal to the specified value, and the output of the fuel cell can be stabilized.

According to the invention of claim 5, in the invention of claim 1, the control means for controlling the microvalve is provided so that the output of the fuel cell approaches a target value within a desired range. Therefore, there is an effect that the output of the fuel cell unit can be adjusted to a desired target value.

According to a sixth aspect of the invention, in the invention of the fourth or fifth aspect, the control means is integrated with the base body, so that the control means is provided separately from the base body. There is an effect that the fuel cell system can be downsized.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the first to sixth aspects of the present invention, since the substrate is made of at least two kinds of materials, the characteristics of each constituent element and the workability at the time of manufacture are improved. The use of a suitable material has the effect of facilitating manufacturing.

According to the invention of claim 8, in the invention of claims 1 to 7, the liquid fuel supplied to the fuel cell includes a liquid organic fuel, and carbon dioxide generated in the fuel cell is discharged to the outside. Since the discharge part for discharging is formed on the base body, carbon dioxide generated in the fuel cell can be discharged to the outside through the discharge part formed on the base body, and a decrease in output of the fuel cell is prevented. be able to. Moreover, since the discharge part for discharging carbon dioxide to the outside is integrated with the base body, the part where carbon dioxide is generated in the fuel cell and the discharge part can be brought close to each other, without using a pump or the like. Therefore, carbon dioxide can be efficiently discharged.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment, (a) is a plan view, and (b) is a sectional view taken along the line AA ′ of (a).

FIG. 2 shows a fuel cell module used in the above,
(A) is a plan view and (b) is a sectional view taken along the line AA 'of (a).

3A and 3B show a gas-liquid separation membrane used in the above, FIG. 3A is a bottom view, and FIG. 3B is a sectional view taken along line AA ′ of FIG.

4A and 4B show a fuel electrode side substrate used in the above, wherein FIG. 4A is a bottom view and FIG. 4B is a sectional view taken along line AA ′ of FIG.

5A and 5B show an air electrode side substrate used in the above, wherein FIG. 5A is a plan view and FIG. 5B is a sectional view taken along line AA ′ of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Fuel cell module 2 Gas-liquid separation membrane 2a communication hole 3 Fuel electrode side substrate 3a, 3b Individual fuel introduction section 3c mixing section 3d mixed fuel supply unit 4 Air electrode side substrate 4a vent 5a, 5b Micro valve 10 Fuel cells 11 Ion conductive membrane 12 Catalyst electrode (fuel electrode) 13 Catalyst electrode (air electrode) 16 holder 31 Exhaust hole

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification code FI theme code (reference) H01M 8/24 H01M 8/24 R Z (72) Inventor Shuji Tanaka 1-4 Hachiman, Aoba-ku, Sendai-shi, Miyagi −22 Appearances 206 (72) Inventor Masayoshi Esashi 1-11-9, Minami Yagiyama, Taishiro-ku, Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture (72) Inventor Yoshiaki Tomonari 1048, Kadoma, Kadoma, Osaka Prefecture Matsushita Electric Works Co., Ltd. 72) Inventor Kazushi Yoshida 1048, Kadoma, Kadoma-shi, Osaka Matsushita Electric Works Co., Ltd. F-term within the company (reference) 5H026 AA08 CC00 5H027 AA08 KK31 MM09

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A fuel cell, at least a fuel supply path to the fuel cell, and a microvalve for adjusting the supply amount of liquid fuel passing through the fuel supply path are integrated on the same substrate. And a fuel cell. 2. The fuel supply path mixes an individual fuel introducing section for individually introducing a plurality of types of liquid fuel and a plurality of types of liquid fuel introduced through each individual fuel introducing section, and supplies the mixed fuel to the fuel cell unit. The fuel cell according to claim 1, further comprising a mixing section for obtaining a mixed liquid fuel, wherein the microvalve is provided for each of the fuel introducing sections. 3. The fuel cell according to claim 2, wherein a concentration sensor for detecting the concentration of the mixed liquid fuel is integrated on the base body. 4. The fuel cell according to claim 3, further comprising control means for controlling each of the microvalves so that the output of the concentration sensor approaches a specified value within a specified range. 5. The fuel cell according to claim 1, further comprising control means for controlling the microvalve so that the output of the fuel cell approaches a target value within a desired range. 6. The fuel cell according to claim 4, wherein the control means is integrated with the base body. 7. The fuel cell according to claim 1, wherein the base is made of at least two kinds of materials. 8. The liquid fuel supplied to the fuel cell includes a liquid organic fuel, and a discharge portion for discharging carbon dioxide generated in the fuel cell to the outside is formed on the base. The fuel cell according to any one of claims 1 to 7.