JP2006179220A - Fuel cell terminal structure and fuel cell - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To perform down sizing of a fuel cell by dispensing with a terminal plate and an insulating plate. <P>SOLUTION: A conventional fuel cell is provided with first and second terminal plates 13, 14 arranged on both end faces of a cell laminate 12, a first insulating plate 15 arranged outside the first terminal plate 13, a second insulating plate 16 arranged outside the second terminal plate 14, a first end plate 17 arranged outside the first insulating plate 15, a pressure plate 18 arranged outside the second insulating plate 16, and a second end plate 20 arranged outside the same plate 18 via a spring 19. In contrast, in this fuel cell 1, by applying a conductive treatment to the end face opposite to the cell laminate 12 in the pressure plate 2, and by applying insulation treatment to the faces except that of the same plate 2, conventional members 14, 16 are omitted, and by applying the conductive treatment to the inner side face of a first end plate 8, and by applying the insulation treatment to the faces except that of the plate 8, the conventional members 13, 15 are omitted. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a fuel cell used in a fuel cell system, and more particularly to a fuel cell terminal structure and a fuel cell structure.

  Conventionally, the structure of this type of fuel cell is described, for example, in Patent Documents 1 and 2 below. FIG. 7 is a sectional view showing the schematic structure of these fuel cells. In this fuel cell 11, a first terminal plate 13 and a second terminal plate 14 are arranged at both ends of a cell laminate 12 formed by laminating a plurality of single cells, and a resin-made first plate is formed outside each terminal plate 13, 14. The first insulating plate 15 and the second insulating plate 16 are arranged, respectively, the first end plate 17 is arranged outside the first insulating plate 15, the pressure plate 18 is arranged outside the second insulating plate 16, A second end plate 20 is disposed outside the pressure plate 18 via a spring 19. These members 12 to 20 are clamped and laminated by fastening the end plates 17 and 20 at both ends with upper and lower fastening plates 21.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-233132 (page 3-4, FIG. 1) JP 2002-124291 A (page 3-4, FIG. 1) JP 2004-152684 A JP 2004-158341 A

  By the way, the above-described fuel cell is used, for example, by being housed in a package (casing) of the fuel cell system, and the general spread of such a fuel cell system is expected. Therefore, there is a demand for downsizing the fuel cell and reducing the number of parts.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a fuel cell terminal structure and a fuel cell that can be miniaturized.

  In order to achieve the above object, according to the first aspect of the present invention, in the fuel cell terminal structure facing the fuel cell and deriving the generated power of the fuel cell to an external load, the conductive treatment is applied to the end surface facing the fuel cell. In other words, at least a portion of the surface other than the end surface that is in contact with the conductive member is insulated.

  According to the configuration of the above invention, the terminal plate and the insulating plate are substantially omitted from the fuel cell terminal structure including the terminal plate, the pressure plate, and the insulating plate in the conventional fuel cell. The thickness of the fuel cell terminal structure is reduced by the amount of the plate and the insulating plate, and the number of parts is reduced.

  In order to achieve the above object, a second aspect of the present invention provides a cell stack in which fuel cells are stacked, a first fuel cell terminal disposed on one end surface side in the stacking direction of the cell stack, and a cell. A second fuel cell terminal disposed on the other end surface side in the stacking direction of the stack, biasing means for biasing the first fuel cell terminal and the second fuel cell terminal toward each other, and a first fuel cell terminal A first end plate disposed on the outside via a pressing means, and the first fuel cell terminal is subjected to a conductive treatment on an end surface facing the cell stack, and contacts at least a conductive member on a surface other than the end surface. The purpose is that the portion is insulated.

  According to the configuration of the present invention, the second terminal plate and the second insulating plate are substantially omitted from the structure of the conventional fuel cell, so that the fuel cell is equivalent to the second terminal plate and the second insulating plate. This reduces the size and reduces the number of parts.

  In order to achieve the above object, a third aspect of the present invention provides a cell stack in which fuel cells are stacked, a first fuel cell terminal disposed on one end surface side in the stacking direction of the cell stack, and a cell. A second fuel cell, comprising: a second fuel cell terminal disposed on the other end surface side in the stacking direction of the stack; and a biasing means for biasing the first fuel cell terminal and the second fuel cell terminal toward each other. The purpose of the terminal is that the end surface facing the cell stack is subjected to a conductive treatment, and at least the portion of the surface other than the end surface that is in contact with the conductive member is subjected to an insulation treatment.

  According to the configuration of the invention, since the first terminal plate and the first insulating plate are substantially omitted from the structure of the conventional fuel cell, the amount of the fuel cell is the same as that of the first terminal plate and the first insulating plate. Dimensions are reduced and the number of parts is reduced.

  In order to achieve the above object, a fourth aspect of the present invention is directed to a cell stack in which fuel cells are stacked, a first fuel cell terminal disposed on one end surface side in the stacking direction of the cell stack, and a cell. A second fuel cell terminal disposed on the other end surface side in the stacking direction of the stack, biasing means for biasing the first fuel cell terminal and the second fuel cell terminal toward each other, and a first fuel cell terminal A first end plate disposed on the outside via a pressing means, and the first fuel cell terminal is subjected to a conductive treatment on an end surface facing the cell stack, and contacts at least a conductive member on a surface other than the end surface The second fuel cell terminal is subjected to a conductive treatment on the end surface facing the cell stack, and the second fuel cell terminal is subjected to an insulation treatment on at least a portion in contact with the conductive member on the surface other than the end surface. Is the spirit that is.

  According to the configuration of the present invention, the second terminal plate and the second insulating plate are substantially omitted from the structure of the conventional fuel cell, so that the fuel cell is equivalent to the second terminal plate and the second insulating plate. This reduces the size and reduces the number of parts. In addition, since the first terminal plate and the first insulating plate are substantially omitted, the size of the fuel cell is further reduced by the amount of the first terminal plate and the first insulating plate, and the number of parts is further reduced.

  In order to achieve the above object, according to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the second or fourth aspect of the invention, the first fuel cell terminal is configured such that the thickness of the insulation treatment at the portion in contact with the pressing means is the pressing means. It is intended that the thickness is thicker than the thickness of the insulating treatment at a portion other than the portion in contact with.

  According to the configuration of the invention, in addition to the operation of the invention according to claim 2 or 4, the first fuel cell terminal has higher rigidity with respect to the pressing means at the portion subjected to the insulation treatment.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, the fuel cell terminal structure can be reduced in thickness and cost, and as a result, the fuel cell employing the fuel cell terminal structure can be reduced in size and cost. .

  According to the invention according to any one of claims 2 to 4, the fuel cell can be reduced in size and cost.

  According to the invention described in claim 5, in addition to the effect of the invention described in claim 2 or 4, the effect of preventing electrical leakage can be enhanced.

[First Embodiment]
Hereinafter, a fuel cell terminal structure and a fuel cell according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing a schematic structure of a fuel cell in this embodiment. This fuel cell is an improved structure of a conventional fuel cell. As shown in FIG. 7, a conventional fuel cell 11 includes a cell laminate 12 formed by laminating a plurality of single cells (fuel cell), and a pair of first members disposed on both end faces of the cell laminate 12. The first terminal plate 13 and the second terminal plate 14, the resin-made first insulating plate 15 arranged outside the first terminal plate 13, and the resin-made second insulation arranged outside the second terminal plate 14 A plate 16, a first end plate 17 arranged outside the first insulating plate 15, a pressure plate 18 arranged outside the second insulating plate 16, and a spring as a pressing means outside the pressure plate 18 The 2nd end plate 20 arrange | positioned through 19 and the upper and lower fastening plates 21 which fasten these members 12-20 are provided.

  In contrast to the structure of the conventional fuel cell 11 described above, the fuel cell 1 according to this embodiment performs a conductive process on the end surface of the pressure plate 2 facing the cell stack 12 and performs an insulation process on the other surface of the pressure plate 2. Thus, the second terminal plate 14 and the second insulating plate 16 in the conventional fuel cell 11 are omitted. That is, in this embodiment, the pressure plate 2 corresponds to the first fuel cell terminal of the present invention disposed on one end surface side of the cell stack 12 in the stacking direction, and the pressure plate 2 faces the cell stack 12. Conductive treatment is applied to the end surface, and insulation processing is applied to the surface other than the end surface. In this way, one fuel cell terminal structure is configured to face the single cell (fuel cell) and derive the power generated by the fuel cell 1 to the external load. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 2, gold plating 3 is applied on the surface 2 a of the pressure plate 2 facing the cell stack 12. The other surface 2b of the pressure plate 2 is provided with an insulating lining 4 (for example, a tetrafluoride resin lining). In this embodiment, the pressure plate 2 is made of a metal plate made of SUS, steel, copper, brass, aluminum, or the like. In FIG. 3, the external appearance of the pressure plate 2 actually used is shown with a perspective view. At the upper end portion of the pressure plate 2, an electrode extraction portion 5 for wiring is projected. The pressure plate 2 is provided with a vent hole 6 and a recess 7 for receiving a spring 19.

  On the other hand, in this embodiment, the first terminal plate in the conventional fuel cell 11 is obtained by conducting the conductive treatment on the inner side surface of the first end plate 8 and applying the insulation treatment to the other side of the first end plate 8. 13 and the first insulating plate 15 are omitted. That is, in this embodiment, the first end plate 8 corresponds to the second fuel cell terminal of the present invention disposed on the other end surface side in the stacking direction of the cell stack 12, and the first end plate 8 is the cell stack. Conductive treatment is performed on the end surface facing 12, and insulation processing is performed on the surface other than the end surface. In this way, the other fuel cell terminal structure is constructed that faces the single cell (fuel cell) and derives the power generated by the fuel cell 1 to the external load. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 2, gold plating 3 is applied on the surface 8 a of the first end plate 8 facing the cell stack 12. In addition, an insulating lining 4 is applied to the other surface 8 b of the first end plate 8. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the first end plate 8 that is actually used. At the upper end portion of the first end plate 8, an electrode extraction portion 5 for wiring protrudes. The first end plate 8 is provided with a plurality of vent holes 6 and recesses 7. In this embodiment, the first end plate 8 and the second end plate 20 are each made of an aluminum plate. In this embodiment, the second end plate 20 disposed outside the pressure plate 2 via the spring 19 corresponds to the first end plate of the present invention.

  The above-described members 2, 7, 8, 20 are clamped and stacked by fastening the end plates 8, 20 at both ends with fastening plates 21. Here, in FIG. 1, in the space between the cell stack 12 and the fastening plate 21, pad silicon is provided as a heat insulating material that also serves as an insulating material. In this embodiment, the first end plate 8, the spring 19, the second end plate 20, and the fastening plate 21 correspond to the biasing means of the present invention that biases the pressure plate 2 and the first end plate 8 toward each other. To do.

  Further, in this embodiment, corresponding to the spring 19 as the pressing means provided between the pressure plate 2 and the second end plate 20, the thickness of the insulation treatment at the portion where the pressure plate 2 contacts the spring 19 is It is made thicker than the thickness of the insulation treatment at the part other than the part in contact with the spring 19. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 5, the insulating lining 4 a of the recess 7 corresponding to the spring 19 is formed about twice as thick as the insulating lining 4 b of the other part.

  Here, the conductive treatment of the fuel cell terminal may be performed at least on the surface in contact with the single cell. Desirably, it may be applied to the entire end face facing the single cell. More preferably, the electrode extraction part 5 to the external load may be provided over the entire circumference. On the other hand, the insulation treatment of the fuel cell terminal only needs to be performed only on a portion that may come into contact with the conductive member. However, when the second end plate 20 or the fastening plate 21 is a conductive member (generally a conductive member), it is desirable that the second end plate 20 or the fastening plate 21 be applied to a portion that may come into contact with them. The electrode extraction portion 5 is not in contact with the fastening plate 21.

  According to the fuel cell terminal structure of the fuel cell 1 of this embodiment described above, each of the two fuel cell terminal structures facing the single cell and deriving the generated power of the fuel cell 1 to an external load faces the single cell. Conductive treatment is applied to the end surface, and insulation processing is applied to the surface other than the end surface. Therefore, the terminal plate 14 and the insulating plate 16 are substantially omitted from one fuel cell terminal structure constituted by the terminal plate 14, the pressure plate 18 and the insulating plate 16 in the conventional fuel cell 11. The thickness of the fuel cell terminal structure is reduced by the amount of the terminal plate 14 and the insulating plate 16, and the number of parts is reduced. For this reason, one fuel cell terminal structure can be reduced in thickness and cost. Further, the terminal plate 13 and the insulating plate 15 are substantially omitted from the other fuel cell terminal structure constituted by the terminal plate 13, the insulating plate 15, and the first end plate 17 t in the conventional fuel cell 11. Therefore, the thickness of the fuel cell terminal structure is reduced by the amount corresponding to the terminal plate 13 and the insulating plate 15, and the number of parts is reduced. For this reason, the other fuel cell terminal structure can be reduced in thickness and cost.

  Further, according to the fuel cell 1 of this embodiment, the end face 2a facing the cell laminate 12 in the pressure plate 2 is subjected to the conductive treatment by the gold plating 3 with respect to the structure of the conventional fuel cell 11, and the pressure plate 2 Since the conventional second terminal plate 14 and the second insulating plate 16 are omitted by subjecting the other surface 2b to the insulation treatment by the insulating lining 4, the size of the fuel cell 1 is reduced by the amount of the parts 14 and 16. Thus, the number of parts is reduced. In addition, with respect to the structure of the conventional fuel cell 11, the inner surface 8 a of the first end plate 8 is subjected to the conductive treatment by the gold plating 3, and the other surface 8 b of the first end plate 8 is insulated by the insulating lining 4. Since the conventional first terminal plate 13 and the first insulating plate 15 are omitted, the dimensions of the fuel cell 1 are further reduced by the amount of the members 13 and 15, and the number of parts is further reduced. For this reason, size reduction of the fuel cell 1 can be achieved, and cost reduction of the fuel cell 1 can be achieved. Thereby, the fuel cell 1 can be accommodated compactly in the package of the fuel cell system, the fuel cell system can be reduced in size and cost, and the general spread of the system can be promoted. . Moreover, in the fuel cell 1 of this embodiment, since the conventional resin first insulating plate 15 and second insulating plate 16 are omitted, a change in surface pressure in the stacking direction of the cell stack 12 caused by creep is suppressed. be able to. Further, in the fuel cell 1 of this embodiment, the conventional second terminal plate 14 and the second insulating plate 16 and the conventional first terminal plate 13 and the first insulating plate 15 are omitted, and accordingly, a seal structure is provided accordingly. Can be simplified.

  In this embodiment, since the thickness of the insulating lining 4a at the part where the pressure plate 2 is in contact with the spring 19 is relatively thicker than the others, the rigidity of the part with respect to the spring 19 is increased. For this reason, the effect of electrical leakage prevention can be enhanced.

[Second Embodiment]
Next, a second embodiment of the fuel cell according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  In each of the embodiments described below (including the second embodiment), the same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, description thereof is omitted, and different points are mainly described. explain.

  FIG. 6 is a sectional view showing a schematic structure of the fuel cell in this embodiment. In the fuel cell 9 of this embodiment, a conductive treatment is applied to the end surface of the pressure plate 2 facing the cell stack 12 corresponding to only the right side of FIG. By subjecting the other surfaces to the insulation treatment, the configuration differs from the first embodiment in that only the second terminal plate 14 and the second insulating plate 16 in the conventional fuel cell 11 are omitted.

  Therefore, the fuel cell 9 of this embodiment also has a difference in operation and effect as compared with the first embodiment, but the fuel cell is the same as the conventional second terminal plate 14 and the second insulating plate 16 are omitted. The size of 9 is reduced and the number of parts is reduced. For this reason, the fuel cell 9 can be reduced in size, and the cost of the fuel cell 9 can be reduced. Accordingly, the fuel cell 9 can be accommodated in a compact package of the fuel cell system, the fuel cell system can be reduced in size and cost, and the general spread of the system can be promoted. . Other functions and effects are the same as those of the first embodiment.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and can be implemented as follows without departing from the spirit of the invention.

  (1) Unlike the second embodiment, the first end plate in the conventional fuel cell is subjected to the conductive treatment on the inner side surface of the first end plate and the other side of the first end plate is insulated. Only the terminal plate 13 and the first insulating plate 15 may be omitted. In this case as well, although there are some differences in the effects, the size of the fuel cell is reduced by the amount of the parts 13 and 15 omitted, and the number of parts is reduced. For this reason, the fuel cell can be reduced in size, and the cost of the fuel cell can be reduced.

  (2) In each of the above embodiments, an insulating coating may be applied instead of the insulating lining 4.

  (3) In each of the above embodiments, the urging means is configured by the first end plate 8, the spring 19, the second end plate 20, and the fastening plate 21, but the urging means is configured to be fastened by a bolt. Good.

Sectional drawing which shows schematic structure of a fuel cell. The partial expanded sectional view of a pressure plate and a 2nd end plate. The perspective view which shows a pressure plate. The perspective view which shows a 2nd end plate. The partial expanded sectional view of a pressure plate. Sectional drawing which shows schematic structure of a fuel cell. Sectional drawing which shows schematic structure of the conventional fuel cell.

Explanation of symbols

1 Fuel Cell 2 Pressure Plate (First Fuel Cell Terminal)
2a Surfaces other than the opposing surface 2b 3 Gold plating 4 Insulating lining 7 Recess 8 First end plate (second fuel cell terminal, biasing means)
8a Surfaces other than the opposing surface 8b 9 Fuel cell 12 Cell stack 13 First terminal plate 14 Second terminal plate 15 First insulating plate 16 Second insulating plate 17 First end plate 18 Pressure plate 19 Spring (pressing means, biasing force) means)
20 Second end plate (biasing means)
21 Fastening plate (biasing means)

Claims (5)

In the fuel cell terminal structure that faces the fuel cell and derives the generated power of the fuel cell to an external load,
A fuel cell terminal structure, wherein an end surface facing the fuel cell is subjected to a conductive treatment, and at least a portion of the surface other than the end surface is in contact with a conductive member. A cell stack in which fuel cells are stacked;
A first fuel cell terminal disposed on one end surface side in the stacking direction of the cell stack;
A second fuel cell terminal disposed on the other end surface side in the stacking direction of the cell stack;
An urging means for urging the first fuel cell terminal and the second fuel cell terminal toward each other;
A first end plate disposed on the outside of the first fuel cell terminal via a pressing means,
The fuel is characterized in that the first fuel cell terminal is subjected to a conductive treatment on an end surface facing the cell stack, and an insulating treatment is performed on at least a portion of the surface other than the end surface contacting the conductive member. battery. A cell stack in which fuel cells are stacked;
A first fuel cell terminal disposed on one end surface side in the stacking direction of the cell stack;
A second fuel cell terminal disposed on the other end surface side in the stacking direction of the cell stack;
Urging means for urging the first fuel cell terminal and the second fuel cell terminal toward each other;
In the fuel, the second fuel cell terminal is subjected to a conductive treatment on an end surface facing the cell stack, and an insulating treatment is performed on at least a portion of the surface other than the end surface that contacts the conductive member. battery. A cell stack in which fuel cells are stacked;
A first fuel cell terminal disposed on one end surface side in the stacking direction of the cell stack;
A second fuel cell terminal disposed on the other end surface side in the stacking direction of the cell stack;
An urging means for urging the first fuel cell terminal and the second fuel cell terminal toward each other;
A first end plate disposed on the outside of the first fuel cell terminal via a pressing means,
The first fuel cell terminal is subjected to a conductive process on an end surface facing the cell stack, and an insulating process is performed on at least a portion of the surface other than the end surface that is in contact with the conductive member. The second fuel cell terminal A fuel cell, wherein an end surface facing the cell stack is subjected to a conductive treatment, and at least a portion in contact with a conductive member on a surface other than the end surface is subjected to an insulation treatment. 3. The first fuel cell terminal according to claim 2, wherein the thickness of the insulation treatment at the portion in contact with the pressing means is thicker than the thickness of the insulation treatment at a portion other than the portion in contact with the pressing means. 5. The fuel cell according to 4.

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