JP2007213855A - Fuel cell - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To allow a desirable fluid such as a reaction gas, cooling medium and the like to flow through both sides of a metal separator smoothly and reliably, and to ensure to perform effective power generation successfully. <P>SOLUTION: A fuel cell 10 includes primary and secondary metal separators 14 and 16 which hold an electrolyte film-electrode structure 12 between them. On primary and secondary mounting portions 38a and 38b provided at the primary metal separators 14, removable types of primary and secondary flow path members 40a and 40b are attached. The primary and secondary flow path members 40a and 40b have a primary flow path groove 42a for linkage of an oxidizer gas flow path 36 with an oxidizer gas inlet communicating hole 30a, and a secondary flow path groove 42b for linkage of the oxidizer gas flow path 36 with an oxidizer gas outlet communicating hole 30b. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  In the present invention, an electrolyte / electrode structure in which a pair of electrodes are provided on both sides of an electrolyte and a metal separator are laminated, and the electrode / surface structure and one metal separator are disposed along the electrode surface. The present invention relates to an internal manifold type fuel cell in which a reaction gas flow path for supplying a reaction gas is formed.

  For example, a solid polymer fuel cell employs a solid polymer electrolyte membrane made of a polymer ion exchange membrane. This fuel cell has an electrolyte membrane / electrode structure in which an anode side electrode and a cathode side electrode each made of an electrode catalyst (electrode catalyst layer) and porous carbon (diffusion layer) are provided on both sides of a solid polymer electrolyte membrane. The power generation cell (unit cell) is sandwiched between separators (bipolar plates). Usually, in a fuel cell, a fuel cell stack in which a predetermined number of power generation cells are stacked is used.

  In the above fuel cell, an internal manifold is often configured to supply a fuel gas and an oxidant gas, which are reaction gases, to the anode side electrode and the cathode side electrode of each of the stacked power generation cells. The internal manifold includes a reaction gas inlet communication hole and a reaction gas outlet communication hole that are provided so as to penetrate in the stacking direction of the power generation cells, and an inlet side of the reaction gas flow path for supplying the reaction gas along the electrode surface. The reaction gas inlet communication hole and the reaction gas outlet communication hole communicate with the outlet side.

  In this case, the reaction gas inlet communication hole and the reaction gas outlet communication hole have a relatively small opening area. Therefore, in order to smoothly flow the reaction gas from the reaction gas inlet communication hole to the reaction gas outlet communication hole via the reaction gas flow path, a buffer portion is provided in the vicinity of the reaction gas inlet communication hole and the reaction gas outlet communication hole. Is needed.

  Therefore, for example, a fuel cell separator disclosed in Patent Document 1 is known. As shown in FIG. 10, the separator is formed with a fuel gas introduction port 1 penetrating therethrough, and the fuel gas introduction port 1 is connected to an introduction part (buffer part) 2. The introduction part 2 has widened parts 2a and 2b above and below the fuel gas inlet 1 and is configured to be enlarged vertically.

  In the introduction portion 2, a plurality of square-shaped convex portions 3 are arranged at equal intervals in the vertical and horizontal directions, and a lattice-like flow channel groove 4 is formed as a whole. The introduction part 2 is formed with belt-like convex parts 5, 6 and 7, which are arranged in parallel in the width direction. The belt-like convex portions 5 to 7 have a function of preventing the fuel gas flowing into the introduction portion 2 from the fuel gas introduction port 1 from flowing down vertically and guiding the fuel gas in the lateral direction. Yes.

Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2003-77497 (FIG. 3)

  By the way, as a separator, it may replace with a carbon separator and the metal separator comprised with a thin plate-shaped metal plate may be used. In this metal separator, when the reaction gas flow path and the buffer part are formed on one surface by press working, the cooling medium flow path determined by the shape of the reaction gas flow path and the buffer part is formed on the other surface. (Or another reaction gas flow path) and a buffer shape portion are formed.

  For this reason, when the above-described separator of Patent Document 1 is applied to a metal separator, a buffer-shaped portion corresponding to the introduction portion 2 is formed in the cooling medium passage or other reaction gas passage on the back side of the metal separator. End up. Therefore, in the buffer-shaped portion on the back side, there is a problem that a region where the reaction gas or the cooling medium hardly flows is likely to occur, and water stays in this region.

  The present invention solves this type of problem, and allows desired fluids such as reaction gas and cooling medium to flow smoothly and reliably on both sides of the metal separator, enabling efficient power generation. An object of the present invention is to provide a simple fuel cell.

  In the present invention, an electrolyte / electrode structure in which a pair of electrodes are provided on both sides of an electrolyte and a metal separator are laminated, and the electrode / surface structure and one metal separator are disposed along the electrode surface. An internal manifold type fuel cell in which a reaction gas flow path for supplying a reaction gas is formed and a reaction gas communication hole penetrating in the stacking direction and communicating with the inlet side or the outlet side of the reaction gas flow path is formed It is about.

  The metal separator is provided with an attachment portion between the reaction gas passage and the reaction gas communication hole, and is provided with a detachable passage member at the attachment portion, and the passage member includes the reaction gas passage and the reaction It has a channel groove that communicates with the gas communication hole.

  The reaction gas channel includes a fuel gas channel and an oxidant gas channel, and the channel groove depth of the fuel gas channel is set shallower than the channel groove depth of the oxidant gas channel. The reaction gas communication hole has a fuel gas communication hole and an oxidant gas communication hole, and the flow path of the flow member on the fuel gas side attached between the fuel gas flow path and the fuel gas communication hole The groove depth is preferably set to be shallower than the channel groove depth of the channel member on the oxidant gas side attached between the oxidant gas channel and the oxidant gas communication hole.

  Further, the reaction gas communication hole has a reaction gas inlet communication hole and a reaction gas outlet communication hole, and a first flow path member disposed between the reaction gas inlet communication hole and the reaction gas flow path, It is preferable that the second flow path member disposed between the reaction gas outlet communication hole and the reaction gas flow path have the same shape and are reversed and attached in the same plane.

  Furthermore, the present invention includes a unit cell in which an electrolyte / electrode structure provided with a pair of electrodes on both sides of an electrolyte and a metal separator are stacked, and an electrode is interposed between one or two or more of the unit cells. An internal manifold type in which a cooling medium flow path for supplying a cooling medium along the surface is formed and a cooling medium communication hole penetrating in the stacking direction and communicating with the inlet side or the outlet side of the cooling medium flow path is formed This relates to a fuel cell.

  The metal separator includes an attachment portion between the cooling medium flow path and the cooling medium communication hole, and includes a flow passage member that is detachable from the attachment portion, and the flow path member includes the cooling medium flow path and the cooling medium. A channel groove communicating with the medium communication hole is provided.

  Moreover, it is preferable that the uneven | corrugated site | part for positioning an attachment part and a flow-path member mutually is provided.

  According to the present invention, the metal separator is provided with the attachment portion between the reaction gas channel and the reaction gas communication hole, and the reaction gas channel and the reaction gas communication hole are communicated with the attachment portion. A channel member having a channel groove is configured to be detachable. The metal separator is provided with a mounting portion between the cooling medium flow channel and the cooling medium communication hole, and the mounting portion has a flow channel groove that communicates the cooling medium flow channel and the cooling medium communication hole. The flow path member is configured to be detachable.

  For this reason, flow grooves having a desired shape can be easily and surely provided on the front and back of the metal separator formed into a corrugated plate shape, and various fluids such as reaction gas and cooling medium are uniformly distributed. It becomes possible to do. In this way, in particular, the accumulated water can be discharged satisfactorily from the reaction gas flow path, and stable power generation performance can be achieved, and durability can be improved and efficient power generation can be performed satisfactorily.

  FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of main parts of a fuel cell 10 according to a first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the fuel cell 10 taken along line II-II in FIG.

  The fuel cell 10 comprises a unit cell by laminating an electrolyte membrane / electrode structure (electrolyte / electrode structure) 12 and first and second metal separators 14 and 16 in the horizontal direction (arrow A direction). In general, a plurality of the fuel cells 10 are stacked.

  The electrolyte membrane / electrode structure 12 includes, for example, a solid polymer electrolyte membrane 18 in which a thin film of perfluorosulfonic acid is impregnated with water, and a cathode side electrode 20 and an anode side electrode 22 that sandwich the solid polymer electrolyte membrane 18. With.

  The cathode side electrode 20 and the anode side electrode 22 are uniformly coated on the surface of the gas diffusion layer with a gas diffusion layer (not shown) made of carbon paper or the like and porous carbon particles carrying a platinum alloy supported on the surface. An electrode catalyst layer (not shown). The electrode catalyst layers are formed on both surfaces of the solid polymer electrolyte membrane 18.

  As shown in FIG. 1, an oxidant for supplying an oxidant gas, for example, an oxygen-containing gas, to one end edge of the fuel cell 10 in the direction of arrow B and communicating with each other in the direction of arrow A that is the stacking direction. Gas inlet communication hole (reaction gas communication hole) 30a, cooling medium inlet communication hole 32a for supplying a cooling medium, and fuel gas outlet communication hole (reaction gas communication hole for discharging a hydrogen-containing gas, for example) ) 34b are arranged in the direction of arrow C (vertical direction).

  A fuel gas inlet communication hole (reactive gas communication hole) 34a for supplying fuel gas is communicated with the other end edge of the fuel cell 10 in the direction of arrow B in the direction of arrow A to discharge the cooling medium. The cooling medium outlet communication holes 32b and the oxidant gas outlet communication holes (reaction gas communication holes) 30b for discharging the oxidant gas are arranged in the direction of arrow C.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, an oxidant gas flow path (reactive gas flow path) 36 is provided on the surface 14 a of the first metal separator 14 facing the electrolyte membrane / electrode structure 12. The oxidant gas flow channel 36 alternately has a plurality of oxidant gas flow channel grooves 36a and convex portions 36b extending in the direction of arrow B.

  Between the both ends of the oxidant gas flow path 36 and the oxidant gas inlet communication hole 30a and the oxidant gas outlet communication hole 30b, first and second attachment portions 38a and 38b are provided. The first and second attachment portions 38a and 38b constitute a flat surface, and the first and second flow passage members 40a and 40b are detachable from the first and second attachment portions 38a and 38b ( (See FIG. 1).

  The first and second flow path members 40a and 40b are formed by pressing a metal plate, and the first flow path groove 42a communicating the oxidant gas flow path 36 and the oxidant gas inlet communication hole 30a A second flow path groove 42b that communicates the oxidant gas flow path 36 and the oxidant gas outlet communication hole 30b is provided. The first and second flow path members 40a and 40b have the same shape, and are reversed and attached to the first and second attachment portions 38a and 38b in the same plane.

  As shown in FIG. 4, a fuel gas channel (reactive gas channel) 44 is provided on the surface 16 a of the second metal separator 16 facing the electrolyte membrane / electrode structure 12. Similar to the oxidant gas flow path 36, the fuel gas flow path 44 has a plurality of fuel gas flow path grooves 44a and convex portions 44b extending in the direction of arrow B alternately.

  First and second attachment portions 46a and 46b are provided between both ends of the fuel gas flow path 44 and the fuel gas inlet communication hole 34a and the fuel gas outlet communication hole 34b. The first and second attachment portions 46a and 46b form a flat surface, and the first and second flow passage members 48a and 48b are detachable from the first and second attachment portions 46a and 46b.

  The first and second flow path members 48a and 48b are formed by pressing a metal plate, the first flow path groove 50a communicating the fuel gas flow path 44 and the fuel gas inlet communication hole 34a, and the fuel gas A second flow path groove 50b that communicates the flow path 44 and the fuel gas outlet communication hole 34b is provided. The first and second flow path members 48a and 48b have the same shape, and are reversed and attached to the first and second attachment portions 46a and 46b in the same plane.

  The groove depth between the fuel gas channel 44 on the fuel gas side and the first and second channel grooves 50a, 50b is the same as the oxidant gas channel 36 on the oxidant gas side and the first and second channel grooves. It is set shallower than the groove depth with 42a and 42b.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the cooling medium that communicates the cooling medium inlet communication hole 32 a and the cooling medium outlet communication hole 32 b with the surface 14 b of the first metal separator 14 and the surface 16 b of the second metal separator 16. The flow path 52 is integrally formed. The cooling medium flow path 52 alternately has a plurality of cooling medium flow path grooves 52a and protrusions 52b extending in the arrow B direction (see FIG. 1).

  First and second attachment portions 54a and 54b are provided between both ends of the cooling medium flow path 52 and the cooling medium inlet communication hole 32a and the cooling medium outlet communication hole 32b. The first and second attachment portions 54a and 54b are provided on the back side of the first and second attachment portions 38a and 38b of the first metal separator 14 and the first and second attachment portions 46a and 46b of the second metal separator 16. It corresponds and constitutes a flat surface. First and second flow path members 56a and 56b are detachably attached to the first and second attachment portions 54a and 54b (see FIGS. 1 and 5).

  The first and second flow path members 56a and 56b are formed by pressing a metal plate. The first flow path groove 58a that connects the cooling medium flow path 52 and the cooling medium inlet communication hole 32a, and the cooling medium. A second flow path groove 58b that communicates the flow path 52 and the cooling medium outlet communication hole 32b is provided. The first and second flow path members 56a and 56b have the same shape and are reversed and attached to the first and second attachment portions 54a and 54b in the same plane (see FIG. 1).

  A first seal member 60 is integrally formed on the surfaces 14 a and 14 b of the first metal separator 14 around the outer peripheral end of the first metal separator 14. A second seal member 62 is integrally formed on the surfaces 16 a and 16 b of the second metal separator 16 around the outer peripheral end of the second metal separator 16.

  The operation of the fuel cell 10 configured as described above will be described below.

  As shown in FIG. 1, an oxidant gas such as an oxygen-containing gas is supplied to the oxidant gas inlet communication hole 30a, and a fuel gas such as a hydrogen-containing gas is supplied to the fuel gas inlet communication hole 34a. Further, a cooling medium such as pure water or ethylene glycol is supplied to the cooling medium inlet communication hole 32a.

  The oxidant gas is introduced into the oxidant gas flow path 36 of the first metal separator 14 from the oxidant gas inlet communication hole 30a. In the oxidant gas flow path 36, the oxidant gas is introduced into the first flow path groove 42a of the first flow path member 40a and then dispersed in the plurality of oxidant gas flow path grooves 36a. Therefore, the oxidant gas moves along the cathode side electrode 20 of the electrolyte membrane / electrode structure 12.

  On the other hand, the fuel gas is introduced into the fuel gas passage 44 of the second metal separator 16 from the fuel gas inlet communication hole 34a. In the fuel gas channel 44, as shown in FIG. 4, after the fuel gas is introduced into the first channel groove 50a of the first channel member 48a, the fuel gas channel 44 is dispersed into the plurality of fuel gas channel grooves 44a. As a result, the fuel gas moves along the anode electrode 22 of the electrolyte membrane / electrode structure 12.

  Therefore, in the electrolyte membrane / electrode structure 12, the oxidant gas supplied to the cathode side electrode 20 and the fuel gas supplied to the anode side electrode 22 are consumed by an electrochemical reaction in the electrode catalyst layer to generate power. Is done.

  Next, the oxidant gas consumed by being supplied to the cathode side electrode 20 is discharged from the second flow path groove 42b of the second flow path member 40b to the oxidant gas outlet communication hole 30b (see FIG. 1). Similarly, the fuel gas consumed by being supplied to the anode electrode 22 is discharged from the second flow channel groove 50b of the second flow channel member 48b to the fuel gas outlet communication hole 34b (see FIG. 4).

  On the other hand, the cooling medium supplied to the cooling medium inlet communication hole 32a is introduced into the cooling medium flow path 48 formed between the first and second metal separators 14 and 16 (see FIG. 1). In the cooling medium flow path 48, after the cooling medium is introduced into the first flow path groove 58a of the first flow path member 56a, it is dispersed into the plurality of cooling medium flow path grooves 52a.

  Therefore, the cooling medium is cooled over the entire power generation surface (electrode surface) of the electrolyte membrane / electrode structure 12 and then discharged from the second flow path groove 58b of the second flow path member 56b to the cooling medium outlet communication hole 32b. .

  In this case, in the first embodiment, for example, as shown in FIG. 4, first and second attachment portions 46 a and 46 b are provided on the surface 16 a of the second metal separator 16. The first and second attachment portions 46a and 46b have first and second flow channel grooves 50a and 50b communicating with the fuel gas flow channel 44, the fuel gas inlet communication hole 34a, and the fuel gas outlet communication hole 34b. The first and second flow path members 48a and 48b having the above are attached.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 1, the surface 16ab of the second metal separator 16 is provided with first and second mounting portions 54a and 54b, and the first and second mounting portions 54a and 54b are provided with first The first and second flow path members 56a and 56b are attached. The first and second flow path members 56a and 56b have first and second flow path grooves 58a and 58b that communicate the cooling medium flow path 52 with the cooling medium inlet communication hole 32a and the cooling medium outlet communication hole 32b. is doing.

  For this reason, the first and second flow grooves 50a and 50b and the first and second flows having desired shapes are respectively formed on both the front and back surfaces 16a and 16b of the second metal separator 16 formed into a corrugated plate shape. The road grooves 58a and 58b can be provided easily and reliably. Accordingly, the fuel gas can be uniformly and satisfactorily distributed along the fuel gas flow path 44 on the surface 16a side, and the cooling medium can be uniformly distributed along the cooling medium flow path 52 on the surface 16b side. Can be distributed well.

  Moreover, particularly in the fuel gas flow path 44, the first and second flow path members 48a and 48b can be attached to prevent the remaining water from remaining in the surface 16a. For this reason, it is possible to satisfactorily discharge the accumulated water to the fuel gas outlet communication hole 34b, to have stable power generation performance, and to improve durability and efficiently perform efficient power generation. can get.

  Further, the first and second flow path members 48a and 48b have first and second flow path grooves 50a and 50b having the same structure and the same shape, that is, the same length. Therefore, the channel groove length connecting each fuel gas channel groove 44a and the first and second channel grooves 50a, 50b is set to the same length, and the pressure loss due to the difference in the channel groove length is reduced. The influence can be avoided, and the fuel gas can be favorably distributed to each fuel gas passage groove 44a.

  Furthermore, the first and second flow path members 48a and 48b are first and second flow paths that continuously communicate the fuel gas flow path groove 44a with the fuel gas inlet communication hole 34a and the fuel gas outlet communication hole 34b. Grooves 50a and 50b are provided. For this reason, there is an advantage that fuel gas distribution and water discharge are effectively improved as compared with conventional embossing and the like.

  In addition, by attaching the first and second flow path members 48a and 48b to the first and second attachment portions 46a and 46b, the pressure loss of the fuel gas can be increased. Thereby, the fuel gas distribution from the fuel gas inlet communication hole 34a to the fuel gas flow channel groove 44a is further improved.

  The first metal separator 14 can obtain the same effects as those of the second metal separator 16, and will not be described in detail.

  FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of a main part of a fuel cell 70 according to the second embodiment of the present invention. Note that the same components as those of the fuel cell 10 according to the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted. Similarly, in the third to fifth embodiments described below, detailed description thereof is omitted.

  In the fuel cell 70, the first and second flow path members 72a and 72b are detachably attached to the first and second attachment portions 38a and 38b provided on the first metal separator 14. The first and second flow path members 72a and 72b include a first flow path groove 74a that connects the oxidant gas flow path 36 and the oxidant gas inlet communication hole 30a, and the oxidant gas flow path 36 and the oxidant gas. And a second flow path groove 74b communicating with the outlet communication hole 30b. Although not shown in the figure, the first and second flow path members identical to the first and second flow path members 72a and 72b are detachably attached to the second metal separator 16.

  In the second embodiment configured as described above, for example, in the first metal separator 14, the oxidant gas flow channel groove 36 a, the oxidant gas inlet communication hole 30 a, and the oxidant gas outlet communication hole 30 b are formed in a desired manner. The first and second flow channel grooves 74a and 74b having a flow channel shape can be continuously communicated. Thereby, in 2nd Embodiment, the effect similar to said 1st Embodiment is acquired.

  FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of main parts of a fuel cell 80 according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

  The first metal separator 14 constituting the fuel cell 80 includes an uneven portion 82 for positioning the first and second attachment portions 38a and 38b and the first and second flow path members 40a and 40b. The uneven portions 82 are provided on the first and second attachment portions 38a and 38b, and are provided on the upper and lower convex portions 84 that bulge toward the surface 14a, and the first and second flow path members 40a and 40b. And a concave portion 86 corresponding to the convex portion 84. In the concavo-convex portion 82, the convex portion 84 is fitted into the concave portion 86, whereby the first and second flow path members 40a and 40b are positioned on the first and second attachment portions 38a and 38b.

  The first and second flow path members 56a and 56b attached to the first metal separator 14 and the first and second flow path members 48a and 48b attached to the surface 16a of the second metal separator 16 and the surface 16b are attached. The first and second flow path members 56a and 56b are positioned through an uneven portion 82 configured in the same manner as described above.

  Thereby, in 3rd Embodiment, 1st flow path member 40a, 48a and 56a and 2nd flow path member 40b, 48b and 56b are the 1st and 2nd metal separators 14 and 16 via the uneven | corrugated | grooved part 82. FIG. Therefore, it is possible to accurately and easily attach to desired portions of the surfaces 14a, 14b, 16a and 16b, and the operability is further simplified. In addition, the uneven | corrugated | grooved part 82 can be provided in arbitrary positions and arbitrary number, and the recessed part 86 and the convex part 84 may be provided in any member.

  FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of main parts of a fuel cell 90 according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention.

  In the fuel cell 90, an electrolyte membrane / electrode structure (electrolyte / electrode structure) 92 and first and second metal separators 94 and 96 are stacked in the direction of arrow A. An oxidant gas inlet communication hole 30a, a cooling medium inlet communication hole 32a, and a fuel gas inlet communication hole 34a are provided in one end edge of the fuel cell 90 in the arrow C direction (vertical direction) in the arrow A direction. A fuel gas outlet communication hole 34b, a coolant outlet communication hole 32b, and an oxidant gas outlet communication hole 30b are provided in the other end edge of the fuel cell 90 in the arrow C direction so as to communicate in the arrow A direction.

  The surface 94a of the first metal separator 94 is provided with an oxidant gas flow path 36 extending vertically downward, and the surface 94b is provided with a cooling medium flow path 48 downwardly. . The surface 96a of the second metal separator 96 is provided with the fuel gas flow path 44 in the vertically downward direction, and the surface 96b is provided with the cooling medium flow path 52 in the vertically downward direction. The oxidant gas flowing through the oxidant gas flow path 36 and the fuel gas flowing through the fuel gas flow path 44 constitute a parallel flow.

  In this case, in the fourth embodiment, the groove depths of the fuel gas channel groove 44a and the first and second channel grooves 50a, 50b on the fuel gas side where the viscosity is relatively low and the flow rate is small are the oxidant gas. It is set to be shallower than the groove depth between the side oxidizing gas channel groove 36a and the first and second channel grooves 42a, 42b. The fuel gas and the oxidant gas are set as parallel flows that flow downward in the vertical direction.

  As a result, the fuel gas and the oxidant gas both drop in pressure from the fuel gas inlet communication hole 34a and the oxidant gas inlet communication hole 30a toward the fuel gas outlet communication hole 34b and the oxidant gas outlet communication hole 30b. It is possible to effectively reduce the pressure difference between the electrodes when the two are combined. Therefore, the fuel gas and the oxidant gas are hermetically sealed and do not coexist with each other, the burden on the solid polymer electrolyte membrane 18 is reduced, and the durability of the solid polymer electrolyte membrane 18 is improved satisfactorily. There is an effect of doing.

  FIG. 9 is an explanatory cross-sectional view of a main part of a fuel cell 100 according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention.

  The fuel cell 100 includes a first metal separator 14, an electrolyte membrane / electrode structure 12, a third metal separator 102, an electrolyte membrane / electrode structure 12, and a second metal separator 16 as a unit 104, and the unit 104 is in the direction of arrow A. It is constructed by laminating.

  In the fuel cell 100 configured as described above, unlike the first to fourth embodiments in which the cooling medium flow path 52 is provided between the electrolyte membrane / electrode structures 12, the two electrolyte membrane / electrode assemblies are provided. The cooling medium flow path 52 is provided every twelve. A so-called thinning cooling structure is adopted. Therefore, the fuel cell 100 can be shortened in size in the stacking direction at once, and the fuel cell 100 as a whole can be easily reduced in size and weight.

It is a principal part disassembled perspective view of the fuel cell which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is the II-II sectional view taken on the line of the said fuel cell in FIG. It is the III-III sectional view taken on the line of the said fuel cell in FIG. It is front explanatory drawing of the 2nd metal separator which comprises the said fuel cell. It is a partial perspective explanatory view of the second metal separator. It is a principal part disassembled perspective view of the fuel cell which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a principal part disassembled perspective view of the fuel cell which concerns on the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is a principal part disassembled perspective view of the fuel cell which concerns on the 4th Embodiment of this invention. It is principal part sectional explanatory drawing of the fuel cell which concerns on the 5th Embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing of the separator for fuel cells currently disclosed by patent document 1. FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10, 70, 90, 100 ... Fuel cell 12 ... Electrolyte membrane and electrode structure 14, 16, 94, 96, 102 ... Separator 18 ... Solid polymer electrolyte membrane 20 ... Cathode side electrode 22 ... Anode side electrode 30a ... Oxidizing agent Gas inlet communication hole 30b ... Oxidant gas outlet communication hole 32a ... Cooling medium inlet communication hole 32b ... Cooling medium outlet communication hole 34a ... Fuel gas inlet communication hole 34b ... Fuel gas outlet communication hole 36 ... Oxidant gas flow path 36a ... Oxidation Agent gas flow path grooves 38a, 38b, 46a, 46b, 54a, 54b ... mounting portions 40a, 40b, 48a, 48b, 56a, 56b, 72a, 72b ... flow path members 42a, 42b, 50a, 50b, 58a, 58b, 74a, 74b ... flow channel 44 ... fuel gas flow channel 44a ... fuel gas flow channel 52a ... cooling medium flow channel

Claims (5)

An electrolyte / electrode structure provided with a pair of electrodes on both sides of the electrolyte and a metal separator are laminated, and a reactive gas is passed along the electrode surface between the electrolyte / electrode structure and one metal separator. An internal manifold type fuel cell in which a reaction gas flow path is formed and a reaction gas communication hole penetrating in the stacking direction and communicating with an inlet side or an outlet side of the reaction gas flow path is formed;
The metal separator is provided with an attachment portion between the reaction gas flow path and the reaction gas communication hole,
The attachment part is provided with a detachable flow path member,
The fuel cell according to claim 1, wherein the flow path member has a flow path groove that communicates the reaction gas flow path and the reaction gas communication hole. 2. The fuel cell according to claim 1, wherein the reaction gas channel includes a fuel gas channel and an oxidant gas channel, and a channel groove depth of the fuel gas channel is a flow rate of the oxidant gas channel. It is set shallower than the groove depth,
The reaction gas communication hole has a fuel gas communication hole and an oxidant gas communication hole,
The channel groove depth of the channel member on the fuel gas side attached between the fuel gas channel and the fuel gas communication hole is between the oxidant gas channel and the oxidant gas communication hole. A fuel cell, characterized in that the fuel cell is set to be shallower than a channel groove depth of the channel member on the oxidant gas side to be attached. 3. The fuel cell according to claim 1, wherein the reaction gas communication hole has a reaction gas inlet communication hole and a reaction gas outlet communication hole,
The first flow path member disposed between the reactive gas inlet communication hole and the reactive gas flow path, and the first flow path member disposed between the reactive gas outlet communication hole and the reactive gas flow path. 2. The fuel cell according to claim 2, wherein the two flow path members have the same shape and are reversed and attached in the same plane. A unit cell in which an electrolyte / electrode structure provided with a pair of electrodes on both sides of an electrolyte and a metal separator is provided, and a cooling medium is provided between the one or more unit cells along the electrode surface direction. An internal manifold type fuel cell in which a cooling medium flow path is formed, and a cooling medium communication hole penetrating in the stacking direction and communicating with the inlet side or the outlet side of the cooling medium flow path is formed. ,
The metal separator is provided with an attachment portion between the cooling medium flow path and the cooling medium communication hole,
The attachment part is provided with a detachable flow path member,
The fuel cell according to claim 1, wherein the flow path member has a flow path groove that communicates the cooling medium flow path and the cooling medium communication hole.   The fuel cell according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein an uneven portion for positioning the attachment portion and the flow path member with each other is provided.

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