JP2008234920A - Manufacturing method of fuel cell stack, and manufacturing device of fuel cell stack - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a manufacturing method of a fuel cell stack and a manufacturing device of the fuel cell stack, capable of reducing facility cost and manufacturing cost, and without lowering output density. <P>SOLUTION: In the manufacturing method of a fuel cell stack, a laminate 4 is structured by laminating a plurality of fuel cell structuring members 2, and the laminate 4 is fastened from a lamination direction. To the laminate 4 inclining to a direction perpendicular to the lamination direction, after the laminate 4 is inclined by applying force with a predetermined compensation volume H to a compensation direction which is the reverse direction of the inclined direction above, the laminate 4 inclined toward the compensation direction is retained by pressurizing from the lamination direction. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a fuel cell stack manufacturing method and a fuel cell stack manufacturing apparatus.

  A fuel cell is generally formed as a fuel cell stack in which a laminated body in which a plurality of membrane electrode assemblies having electrodes provided on both surfaces of an electrolyte membrane and a separator are stacked and sandwiched between end plates is fastened and fixed from the outside. The When assembling a fuel cell stack, an inclination may occur with respect to the stacking direction due to accumulation of thickness variation of each component, and an inclination of the entire stack may occur. When the joints of the gas paths and cooling water paths of a plurality of stacks are fastened in this state, the seal failure due to the inclination of the fastening surface, the required clearance between the stacks is increased, or each end is forcedly fastened. There is a risk of variations in the surface pressure of the cells. As a technique for avoiding such a problem, a method of arranging a part having a plate-type tilt adjustment mechanism that overlaps a stacked body has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

However, this method has a problem in that the number of stack components increases, the equipment configuration / process becomes complicated and the cost increases, and the output density deteriorates due to an increase in non-power generation parts.
JP 2005-166386 A

  The present invention has been made to solve the problems associated with the above-described prior art, and provides a fuel cell stack manufacturing method and a fuel cell stack manufacturing apparatus that can reduce equipment costs and manufacturing costs and do not reduce output density. The purpose is to do.

  A method of manufacturing a fuel cell stack according to the present invention that achieves the above object is a method of manufacturing a fuel cell stack in which a plurality of fuel cell components are stacked to form a stack, and the stack is fastened from the stacking direction. Then, with respect to the stacked body inclined in a direction perpendicular to the stacking direction, a force is applied in a correction direction that is opposite to the tilting direction to tilt the stack with a predetermined correction amount, and then the correction direction. It is characterized in that the laminated body inclined to is pressed from the laminating direction and held.

  A fuel cell stack manufacturing apparatus according to the present invention that achieves the above object is a fuel cell stack manufacturing apparatus in which a plurality of fuel cell components are stacked to form a stack, and the stack is fastened from the stacking direction. The fuel cell component member is stacked and extends so as to be able to contact the side surface in the stacking direction of the stacked body, and one end thereof is rotatable in a direction perpendicular to the stacking direction with respect to the mounting table. A positioning jig to be connected, and a slide mechanism provided on the opposite side of the stack of the stacked body, movable in a direction perpendicular to the stacking direction, and connected to the other end of the positioning jig, It is characterized by having.

  In the method of manufacturing a fuel cell stack according to the present invention configured as described above, the stack is tilted by applying a force in a direction opposite to the tilting direction. In doing so, the amount of inclination is reduced. Since the fuel cell stack manufactured in this way does not newly add components that do not contribute to power generation, there is no need for equipment configurations and processes for new members, and equipment costs and manufacturing costs can be reduced. Also, the power density does not decrease.

  In the fuel cell stack manufacturing apparatus according to the present invention configured as described above, the other end of the positioning jig whose one end is rotatably connected to the mounting table is connected to the slide mechanism. By driving, the positioning jig is inclined, and the stacked body stacked on the mounting table can be inclined. Therefore, since the inclination of the fuel cell stack can be corrected without adding new components that do not contribute to power generation, there is no need for equipment configurations and processes for new members, and equipment costs and manufacturing costs can be reduced. Does not drop.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  1 is a plan view showing the fuel cell stack held by the manufacturing apparatus, FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the fuel cell stack manufacturing apparatus according to this embodiment, and FIG. 3 is III-III in FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line IV-IV in FIG. 2, FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a positioning jig of the manufacturing apparatus, and FIG. 6 is a positioning jig of the manufacturing apparatus. It is a perspective view which shows another example.

  The fuel cell stack manufacturing apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment creates a laminate 4 in which a plurality of membrane electrode assemblies and electrodes 2A provided with electrodes on both sides of an electrolyte membrane and a separator 2A are laminated and both sides are held by an end plate 2B. This is an apparatus capable of correcting the inclination of the stacked body 4 with respect to the stacking direction.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the manufacturing apparatus 1 can be rotated with respect to the mounting table 6 on which the fuel cell constituent member 2 including the membrane electrode assembly, the separator 2 </ b> A, and the end plate 2 </ b> B is stacked. The long positioning jig 7 to be connected and the stacked body 4 are provided on the side opposite to the mounting table 6 and can be moved in one direction perpendicular to the stacking direction. 6 is connected to the slide mechanism 8, the controller 9 that controls the slide mechanism 8, and the pressurizing means 10 that pressurizes the stacked body 4.

  The fuel cell component 2 has a rectangular shape when viewed from the stacking direction.

  The mounting table 6 can mount the fuel cell constituent member 2 having a rectangular shape, and rotates one end of the positioning jig 7 corresponding to the outer sides of the two opposing sides of the fuel cell constituent member 2 mounted. A rotation support portion 12 is provided to support the rotation. The rotation support unit 12 can be rotated by the positioning jig 7 being pin-connected to the mounting table 6. For example, the positioning jig 7 is fixedly coupled to the mounting table 6, and the positioning jig 7 is elastically deformed. May be rotatable. Two rotation support portions 12 are provided on each side.

  The positioning jig 7 is a beam-shaped member extending in one direction, and one end of the positioning jig 7 is connected to the mounting table 6 so as to be rotatable in one direction perpendicular to the stacking direction. In the positioning jig 7, a contact surface 13 that is one side surface along the extending direction can contact a side surface in the stacking direction of the stacked body 4. The contact surface 13 is processed to be smooth, and the surface hardness is preferably equal to or close to the hardness of the separator 2A (fuel cell component 2) in contact. Therefore, for example, when the separator 2A is made of stainless steel, the positioning jig 7 is preferably made of stainless steel, and the contact surface 13 is surface polished, Teflon coated, DLC (diamond-like carbon) coating, ion nitriding treatment, Or it is processed smoothly by these combinations etc., and frictional resistance is formed low. Further, when the separator 2A is made of resin, the positioning jig 7 arranges a resin material on the contact surface 13 of, for example, a stainless steel beam for maintaining strength, and the contact surface 13 is subjected to surface polishing, Teflon. It is smoothly formed by coating, DLC (diamond-like carbon) coating, ion nitriding treatment, or a combination thereof. The material of the separator 2A is not limited to stainless steel, and other metals and materials may be used.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the cross section of the positioning jig 7 in the extending direction is a rectangular shape having the contact surface 13 as one side, but the contact surface 13 may be curved as shown in FIG. 6. Good.

  A through hole 15 is provided at the tip (the other end) of the positioning jig 7 on the slide mechanism 8 side.

  The slide mechanism 8 is provided with a slide portion 16 that slides in one direction perpendicular to the stacking direction (inclination direction of the positioning jig 7). The slide jig 16 faces the rotation support portion 12 and faces the positioning jig 7. The connection part 17 to which the front-end | tip is connected is provided. The connection portion 17 is provided with a connection hole 19 to which the connection pin 18 can be attached and detached. By inserting the connection pin 18 into the connection hole 19 while being inserted into the through hole 15 of the positioning jig 7, 7 can be rotatably connected to the connecting portion 17.

  The slide portion 16 is formed with a hole portion 20 penetrating in the stacking direction at the center thereof. In the present embodiment, the slide portion 16 is slidable by a ball screw 21 provided on the side of the slide portion 16 in the stacking direction, but a pinion gear or the like may be used. On the side of the slide portion 16 opposite to the ball screw 21, a guide rod 22 is provided that slidably penetrates the slide portion 16 and holds the posture of the slide portion 16.

  The stroke transmission structure such as the ball screw 21 and the pinion gear is connected to and driven by a rotating structure such as a servo motor 23 or a manual handle as a drive source. Further, the slide part 16 can be slid by connecting a telescopic structure such as a hydraulic cylinder.

  A controller 9 that controls the servomotor 23 is connected to the servomotor 23 that is a drive source.

  The pressurizing means 10 has a pressing portion 25 that can pass through the hole portion 20 of the slide portion 16 and approach the upper surface in the stacking direction of the stacked body 4 from the stacking direction. Driven by.

  A displacement meter 26 (tilt amount measuring device) that measures the displacement of the stacked body 4 in the tilt direction is provided in the tilt direction of the upper end of the stacked body 4 in the stacking direction. A displacement amount of the upper end portion of the laminate 4 measured by the displacement meter 26 is an inclination amount X. The displacement meter 26 is connected to the control unit 9 and can therefore drive the slide mechanism 8 in accordance with the measured amount of inclination X.

  Next, a method for manufacturing the fuel cell stack will be described.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a flow of a manufacturing method of a fuel cell stack, FIG. 8 is a plan view showing a case where a laminated body is installed in a manufacturing apparatus in a correction amount determining step, and FIG. 9 is a laminated body in a correction amount determining step. FIG. 10 is a plan view showing when the amount of inclination of the laminated body is measured in the correction amount determining step.

  First, the correction amount H is determined (correction amount determination step). The correction amount H is a value when the stacked body 4 is forcibly tilted in the correction direction opposite to the tilt direction.

  In the correction amount determination step, first, as shown in FIG. 8, the tip of the positioning jig 7 is connected to the slide portion 16 and is slid so that the extending direction of the positioning jig 7 is perpendicular to the surface of the mounting table 6. In a state where the portion 16 is held, the separator 2A, the end plate 2B, and the fuel cell constituent member 2 that is a membrane electrode assembly are stacked on the mounting table 6 to form the stacked body 4 (S1).

  Next, as shown in FIG. 9, a tie belt, a tie bolt, etc. (not shown) are driven so as to reproduce the fastening state of the finished product by driving the pressing means 10 and pressing the laminate 4 from the stacking direction by the pressing portion 25. The laminated body 4 is held from both sides in the stacking direction by the load holding member (S2). The holding load at this time may be lower than the required load when the fuel cell stack is completed. It should be noted that a hole or a space for accommodating the load holding member may be provided in the mounting table 6 or the slide portion 16 or the like.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 10, the pressing portion 25 is separated from the laminated body 4, the load of the pressing means 10 is removed, and the positioning jig 7 is released from the slide portion 16. Thereafter, the displacement meter 26 measures the amount of inclination X and the direction of inclination of the laminate 4 (the right direction in the figure, which may be the left direction in the figure) (S3). The inclination of the stacked body 4 is caused by a dimensional error of the fuel cell constituent member 2 constituting the stacked body 4. The measured signal is input to the control unit 9, and the control unit 9 calculates the correction amount H (S4). The correction amount H is a value when the stacked body 4 is forcibly tilted in the correction direction (the left direction in the figure, which may be the right direction in the figure) opposite to the inclination direction. The correction amount H is, for example, a value obtained by multiplying the tilt amount X by a coefficient A, and the value of the coefficient A is determined by experiment, analysis, experience, or the like. That is, the optimal correction amount H for the tilt amount X is determined in advance by experiment, analysis, experience, or the like so that the tilt of the fuel cell stack 30 that is finally completed is minimized.

  Here, for example, when the tilt amount X is 1 mm and the coefficient A is 2.5, the correction amount H is 2.5 mm. Note that the correction amount does not necessarily have to be proportional to the inclination amount, and may not be calculated by the control unit 9.

  In addition, in the manufacturing method, when the dimensional individual difference of the fuel cell constituent member 2 (for example, the separator 2A) is small, it is considered that the correction amount H is the same even if the individual laminate 4 is changed. The correction amount H calculated by the stacked body 4 can be used for other stacked bodies 4 to be worked on thereafter. Thereby, the work process (correction amount determination process) is omitted, and the cost can be reduced. However, when the individual difference of the inclination amount is large, the correction amount H is calculated for each stacked body to be worked.

  After the correction amount H is determined, the fuel cell stack is formed while correcting the inclination of the stacked body 4 (stacking step).

  FIG. 11 is a plan view showing when the laminated body is tilted in the correction direction by the positioning jig in the laminating process, and FIG. 12 is a plan view showing when a load is applied to the laminated body tilted in the laminating process. 13 is a plan view showing the laminated body released from the positioning jig in the correction amount determining step.

  In the stacking step, first, the tip of the positioning jig 7 is connected to the slide portion 16, and the fuel is applied to the mounting table 6 in a state where the sliding portion 16 is held so that the positioning jig 7 is perpendicular to the surface of the mounting table 6. The battery constituent members 2 are laminated to form a laminate 4. When the laminate 4 is an individual that has actually measured the correction amount H in the correction amount determination step, the laminate 4 needs to be released from a load holding member such as a tie belt or a tie bolt.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 11, the control unit 9 controls the servo motor 23 to move the slide unit 16 (S5). The slide portion 16 moves in the direction (correction direction) opposite to the inclination direction of the stacked body 4 by the length of the correction amount H. Alternatively, the correction amount H may be defined as a correction value at the tilt amount measurement position (displacement meter mounting position). In this case, the slide is performed so that the stacked body 4 is tilted by the correction amount H at the tilt amount measurement position. The part 16 is moved. Thereby, the positioning jig 7 is inclined, the contact surface 13 presses the side surface of the laminated body 4, and the laminated body 4 is inclined to the side opposite to the initial inclination direction. At this time, since the stacked body 4 is not pressurized from the stacking direction, the stacked body 4 can be easily tilted with a small force. In order to hold the laminate 4 when the laminate 4 is tilted, a low load may be applied by the pressing means 10. Further, since the contact surface 13 has the same hardness as the separator 2A, the contact surface 13 is processed smoothly and can be tilted with a small force, both the separator 2A and the contact surface 13 are worn. Therefore, the life of the apparatus can be extended and damage to the fuel cell stack can be suppressed. In addition, since the separator 2A smoothly slides along the contact surface 13, it is possible to suppress variation in load for each stacked portion of the fuel cell stack.

  Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 12, the laminate 4 is pressed from the stacking direction by the pressing portion 25 of the pressing means 10. Next, the tip of the positioning jig 7 is released from the slide portion 16 and the positioning jig 7 is opened. Thereafter, the laminate 4 is held from both sides in the stacking direction by load holding members such as tie belts and tie bolts (not shown) (S6), and the laminate 4 is released from the pressurizing means 10 as shown in FIG. 13 (S7). ), The fuel cell stack 30 is completed.

  FIG. 14 is a plan view showing an actual measurement result of the inclination amount of the fuel cell stack. In addition, the broken line in a figure shows the fuel cell stack which did not correct | amend inclination amount, and a continuous line shows the fuel cell stack which corrected inclination amount.

  As shown in FIG. 14, in the fuel cell stack in which the inclination amount is not corrected, the inclination amount X1 is 1.6 mm, but in the fuel cell stack 30 manufactured by the manufacturing method according to the present embodiment, the inclination amount at the time of completion. X2 was improved to 0.25 mm, and the amount of inclination could be reduced by about 85%.

  Other methods for correcting the inclination of the fuel cell stack include, for example, using a tie rod bolt capable of adjusting the stroke, or sandwiching a plate capable of adjusting the inclination between the stacked bodies 4, but in these methods, In addition, since separate parts are required, the parts cost and assembly cost increase, and a device for adjusting the load and inclination is separately required, resulting in an increase in manufacturing cost. Further, in these methods, parts that do not contribute to power generation are added to the fuel cell stack, so that the output density as a fuel cell is reduced. Moreover, since the adjustment of the load and the adjustment of the inclination are performed after the load is applied to the fuel cell stack, the work increases and the manufacturing cost increases.

  However, according to this embodiment, since it is not necessary to provide a new component member in the fuel cell stack, it is possible to reduce the manufacturing cost and to prevent the output density from being lowered.

  In addition, since it is not necessary to perform an adjustment operation after applying a load for each fuel cell stack, it is possible to assemble continuously and reduce assembly costs.

  Moreover, since the laminated body 4 is inclined in the correction direction in a non-load or low load state, the force for inclining can be reduced, the equipment can be simplified, and the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

  Further, in the manufacturing method according to the present embodiment, the positioning jig 7 is not separated while being connected to the mounting table 6, so that the number of work steps can be reduced and the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the claims. For example, two rotation support portions 12 are provided on each side, but if the fuel cell component 2 can be favorably pressed by the positioning jig 7, three or more rotation support portions 12 are provided on each side. There may be one or one.

It is a top view which shows the time of holding | maintaining a fuel cell stack with the manufacturing apparatus. It is a top view which shows the manufacturing apparatus of the fuel cell stack which concerns on this embodiment. It is sectional drawing which follows the III-III line of FIG. It is sectional drawing which follows the IV-IV line of FIG. It is a perspective view which shows the positioning jig of the manufacturing apparatus. It is a perspective view which shows the other example of the positioning jig of the manufacturing apparatus. It is a figure which shows the flow of the manufacturing method of a fuel cell stack. It is a top view which shows the time of installing a laminated body in a manufacturing apparatus in the correction amount determination process. It is a top view which shows the time of giving a load to the laminated body in the correction amount determination process. It is a top view which shows at the time of measuring the inclination amount of a laminated body in a correction amount determination process. It is a top view which shows the time of inclining a laminated body to a correction direction with a positioning jig in a lamination process. It is a top view which shows the time of giving a load to the laminated body inclined in the lamination process. It is a top view which shows the time of releasing a laminated body from the positioning jig in a correction amount determination process. It is a top view which shows the actual measurement result of the inclination amount of a fuel cell stack.

Explanation of symbols

1 Fuel cell stack manufacturing equipment,
2 fuel cell components,
2A separator,
2B end plate,
4 laminates,
6 mounting table,
7 Positioning jig,
8 Slide mechanism,
9 Control unit,
10 Pressurizing means,
12 rotation support part,
13 Abutment surface,
16 Slide part,
17 connecting part,
23 Servo motor,
25 pressing part,
26 Displacement meter (inclination measuring instrument),
30 Fuel cell stack,
H correction amount,
X Tilt amount.

Claims (7)

A method of manufacturing a fuel cell stack, comprising stacking a plurality of fuel cell constituent members to form a stack, and fastening the stack from the stacking direction,
The laminated body inclined in the direction perpendicular to the laminating direction is applied with a force in a correction direction that is opposite to the inclined direction and is inclined by a predetermined correction amount, and then inclined in the correction direction. A method of manufacturing a fuel cell stack, wherein the stacked body is pressed and held from the stacking direction.   The correction amount corresponds to the amount of inclination in the inclination direction of the stacked body measured when a plurality of fuel cell constituent members are stacked in advance to form a stacked body and the stacked body is pressed from the stacking direction. The method of manufacturing a fuel cell stack according to claim 1, wherein the fuel cell stack is determined.   The fuel cell stack manufacturing method according to claim 2, wherein the correction amount is determined in proportion to the inclination amount. A fuel cell stack manufacturing apparatus in which a plurality of fuel cell components are stacked to form a stack, and the stack is fastened from the stacking direction,
A mounting table on which the fuel cell components are stacked;
A positioning jig that extends so as to be able to contact the side surface in the stacking direction of the stack, and one end of which is rotatably connected to the mounting table in a direction perpendicular to the stacking direction
A slide mechanism that is provided on the opposite side of the stack of the stack, is movable in a direction perpendicular to the stacking direction, and is connected to the other end of the positioning jig;
An apparatus for manufacturing a fuel cell stack, comprising:   5. The fuel cell stack manufacturing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein a portion of the positioning jig that contacts the stacked body is processed smoothly.   6. The fuel cell stack manufacturing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the positioning jig is detachably connected to the slide mechanism. A tilt amount measuring device for measuring a tilt amount in a direction perpendicular to the stacking direction of the laminate;
A control unit that controls the slide mechanism based on a correction amount calculated from an inclination amount measured by the inclination amount measuring device;
The fuel cell stack manufacturing apparatus according to any one of claims 4 to 6, further comprising:

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