JP2009076395A - Tube type fuel battery cell, and tube type fuel cell equipped with tube type fuel battery cell - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a tube type fuel battery cell which is improved in reliability of sealing and current collection and has a good productivity, and a tube type fuel cell having the tube type fuel battery cell. <P>SOLUTION: The tube type fuel battery cell 10 is provided with a tube body 1 which has conductivity and is made of hollow shape and has one or a plurality of gas permeation parts in which gas can be circulated from the inner circumference side to the outer circumference side and a membrane electrode assembly 3 which is formed on the outer circumference side of the gas permeation part 2 of the tube body 1. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a tube-type fuel cell that can improve the reliability of sealing and current collection and has good productivity, and a tube-type fuel cell including the tube-type fuel cell.

  A fuel cell has a membrane electrode assembly (hereinafter referred to as “MEA”) including an electrolyte layer (hereinafter referred to as “electrolyte membrane”) and electrodes (anode and cathode) respectively disposed on both sides of the electrolyte membrane. The electric energy generated by the electrochemical reaction in (1) is taken out to the outside through current collectors arranged on both sides of the MEA. Among fuel cells, a polymer electrolyte fuel cell (hereinafter referred to as “PEFC”) used in a home cogeneration system or an automobile can be operated in a low temperature region. In addition, PEFC has attracted attention as a power source and portable power source for electric vehicles because it exhibits high energy conversion efficiency, has a short start-up time, and is compact and lightweight.

  Recently, for the purpose of improving the amount of power generation per unit volume, etc., research on a fuel cell in which a single cell is a columnar shape (hereinafter referred to as “tube type fuel cell”) has been advanced. A single cell of a tube type fuel cell (hereinafter sometimes referred to as a “tube type fuel cell”) is generally disposed on a hollow electrolyte membrane and on an inner peripheral surface side and an outer peripheral surface side of the electrolyte membrane, respectively. A hollow MEA including a hollow catalyst layer. For example, an electrochemical reaction is caused by supplying a hydrogen-containing gas to the inner peripheral surface side of the MEA and an oxygen-containing gas to the outer peripheral surface side, and the electric energy generated by the electrochemical reaction is It is taken out to the outside through current collectors arranged on the inner peripheral surface side and the outer peripheral surface side, respectively. That is, in the tube type fuel cell, one reaction gas (for example, hydrogen-containing gas) is provided on the inner peripheral surface side of the hollow MEA provided in each tube type fuel cell, and the other reaction gas (for example, the hydrogen gas is provided on the outer peripheral surface side). Since the electric energy is taken out by supplying the oxygen-containing gas), the reaction gases supplied to the outer peripheral surfaces of the two adjacent tubular fuel cells can be made the same. Therefore, according to the tube type fuel cell, a separator having gas shielding performance in the conventional flat plate type fuel cell is not required, and it becomes easy to improve the power generation amount per unit volume.

  As a technique related to a tube-type fuel cell, for example, in Patent Document 1, coarse particles are added to and mixed with a raw material for a base tube of a fuel cell to make the shrinkage nonuniform during sintering and to increase the porosity of the base tube. A technology related to a fuel cell base tube with improved gas permeability and a solid oxide fuel cell in which a fuel side electrode, an electrolyte, an air side electrode and the like are laminated on the base tube is disclosed.

Patent Document 2 discloses that the oxidant gas and the fuel gas are electrochemically supplied by supplying the oxidant gas and the fuel gas to a cell tube formed with a single cell membrane on the outer peripheral surface. A technique related to a cylindrical solid oxide fuel cell module that is made to react to obtain electric power is disclosed. Patent Document 3 discloses that a solid electrolyte body and an interconnector are respectively provided on the outer peripheral surface of a porous cathode tube. A solid oxide fuel cell having a cylindrical shape and alternately stacked adjacent to each other in the lengthwise direction of the cathode tube, and an anode spaced apart from the interconnector and stacked in a cylindrical shape on the surface of the solid electrolyte body Techniques related to this are disclosed. Furthermore, in Patent Document 4, a tubular solid electrolyte membrane, an outer catalyst electrode layer formed on the outer peripheral surface of the solid electrolyte membrane, an inner catalyst electrode layer formed on the inner peripheral surface of the solid electrolyte membrane, Disclosed is a technique related to a membrane electrode assembly for a tube type fuel cell having an outer current collector disposed on the outer peripheral surface of the outer catalyst electrode layer and an inner current collector disposed on the inner peripheral surface of the inner catalyst electrode layer. Patent Document 5 discloses a technique related to a fuel cell in which electrodes are provided on the inner and outer peripheral surfaces of a tubular electrolyte.
JP 2000-106192 A JP 2001-043886 A JP 7-2111334 A JP 2006-004742 A JP 2003-297372 A

  In order to increase the power generation area in a fuel cell having a tube-type fuel cell as disclosed in Patent Documents 4 and 5, the following methods can be considered, but each has a problem. First, when the diameter of one tubular fuel cell is increased, the electrode integration rate is deteriorated. Further, when the length of one tubular fuel cell is increased, the thickness of the internal current collector is restricted. Furthermore, in the case where one tubular fuel cell has a complicated shape with irregularities on the surface, molding is difficult and the sealing becomes complicated. Therefore, if the number of tube-type fuel cells provided in the tube-type fuel cell is increased, the number of end portions of the tube-type fuel cell increases, and the workability is remarkably deteriorated when the end portions are individually processed. Become. Further, when the end portions are processed together by bundling tube-type fuel cells or the like, a complicated shape is formed by gathering a plurality of cylinders, so that particularly reliability of sealing and current collection is lowered.

  On the other hand, in the tubular fuel cells as disclosed in Patent Documents 1 to 3, a plurality of power generation sites exist on the outer peripheral surface side of the tubular body having gas permeability as a whole, and the power generation area is reduced. If the power generation site is increased to increase the size, the number of locations that require sealing increases, and the seal reliability decreases. In addition, since the structure is complicated, productivity is not good.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a tube-type fuel cell that can improve the reliability of sealing and current collection and has high productivity, and a tube-type fuel cell including the tube-type fuel cell.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention takes the following means. That is,
A first aspect of the present invention is a tubular body having conductivity, a hollow shape, and having one or a plurality of gas permeable portions capable of gas flow from the inner peripheral surface side to the outer peripheral surface side, And a membrane electrode assembly formed on the outer peripheral surface side of the gas permeable portion.

  Here, “gas” means a hydrogen-containing gas, an oxygen-containing gas, or the like that is indispensable when the fuel cell is operated. In addition, the “membrane electrode assembly formed on the outer peripheral surface side of the gas permeable portion” means that the membrane electrode assembly is provided in a form that completely covers the gas permeable portion from the outer peripheral surface side. Furthermore, the “membrane electrode assembly” includes a solid polymer membrane containing a proton conducting polymer, and catalyst layers (an anode catalyst layer and a cathode formed on one side and the other side of the solid polymer membrane, respectively). MEA provided with a catalyst layer).

  In the tube-type fuel cell of the first aspect of the present invention, the tube body preferably has one or a plurality of bent portions.

  In the tubular fuel cell according to the first aspect of the present invention, it is preferable that a tube expansion process is performed on an end portion of the tubular body.

  Here, the “tube expansion process” means a process in which the inner diameter and the outer diameter of the tube body are expanded toward the end at the end portion of the tube body.

  The second aspect of the present invention is a tube type fuel cell comprising the tube type fuel cell of the first aspect of the present invention.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a tube-type fuel cell that can be easily sealed and collected by providing a membrane electrode assembly in a gas permeable portion of a tubular body having conductivity and having a hollow shape. Obtainable. Therefore, according to the first aspect of the present invention, it is possible to obtain a tube-type fuel cell that can improve the reliability of sealing and current collection. Furthermore, the tube-type fuel cell according to the first aspect of the present invention has a simple configuration and therefore has high productivity.

  Further, by adopting a configuration in which the tube body has one or a plurality of bent portions, for example, it is possible to produce one long tube-type fuel cell within a limited volume, and one tube-type fuel cell. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the number of tube-type fuel cells (the number of end portions of the tube-type fuel cells) provided in the tube-type fuel cell. Therefore, according to the first aspect of the present invention, even when the power generation area is increased, the reliability of the seal and the current collection can be improved, and a tubular fuel cell having high productivity can be obtained.

  Moreover, the tube-type fuel cell in which the gas which distribute | circulates the hollow part of a pipe body easily enters / exits the hollow part of a pipe body can be obtained by performing the pipe expansion process to the edge part of a pipe body.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, by providing the tube type fuel cell of the first aspect of the present invention, it is possible to improve the reliability of the seal and the current collection and obtain a tube type fuel cell with good productivity. .

  Hereinafter, the tubular fuel cell of the present invention and the tubular fuel cell of the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the drawings.

<Tube type fuel cell>
FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically showing a part of a tubular fuel cell according to the present invention. Fig.1 (a) is the figure which looked at the tubular fuel cell of this invention from the direction perpendicular | vertical with respect to a longitudinal direction. FIG. 1B is a cross-sectional view taken along the line II ′ in FIG. 1A, and the back / front direction is the longitudinal direction of the tubular fuel cell. FIG.1 (c) is the figure which expanded and showed the part shown by c in FIG.1 (b). FIG. 2 is a conceptual view of a part of a tubular body provided in the tubular fuel cell of the present invention as seen from a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. FIG. 3 is a perspective view schematically showing an enlarged end portion of the tubular body. FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view schematically showing only one end portion in the longitudinal direction of the MEA disposed in the tubular body. 1 to 4, components having the same configuration are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted as appropriate.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a tubular fuel cell 10 of the present invention (hereinafter simply referred to as “fuel cell 10”) includes a tube 1 and an MEA 3 disposed on the outer peripheral surface side of the tube 1. I have.

  The tube body 1 has conductivity, and has a hollow shape having a hollow portion 5 as shown in FIG. Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the tube body 1 includes a plurality of gas permeable portions 2, 2,... That allow gas to flow from the inner peripheral surface side to the outer peripheral surface side of the tube body 1. The gas permeation | transmission part 2 specifically means the part provided with two or more fine holes of the grade which can distribute | circulate the gas from the inner peripheral surface side of the pipe body 1 to the outer peripheral surface side, for example. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 3, the tube 1 may be subjected to a tube expansion process in which the inner diameter and the outer diameter of the tube 1 are expanded toward the end of the tube 1. By setting it as this form, the gas which distribute | circulates the hollow part 5 of the pipe body 1 becomes easy to enter / exit the hollow part 5 of the pipe body 1. FIG. The material of the tube 1 that can be used in the present invention is not particularly limited as long as it can withstand the environment during operation of the fuel cell 10 and has good conductivity. Specifically, for example, a corrosion-resistant material such as carbon, stainless steel, or titanium, or a metal subjected to a corrosion-resistant surface treatment such as gold plating can be used.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 1C, the MEA 3 is disposed on the electrolyte membrane 6, the anode catalyst layer 7 a disposed on the inner peripheral surface side of the electrolyte membrane 6, and the outer peripheral surface side of the electrolyte membrane 6. Cathode catalyst layer 7b. The electrolyte membrane 6 is a solid polymer membrane containing a proton conducting polymer that exhibits proton conducting performance when kept in a water-containing state in a temperature environment of about 80 ° C. Specifically, it is preferable to have a polymer having at least one of a sulfonic acid group, a phosphonic acid group, and a phosphoric acid group with a fluorine-containing polymer as a skeleton. More specifically, for example, Nafion (“Nafion” or “Nafion” is a registered trademark of DuPont, USA) can be used. In addition, a polymer having a hydrocarbon skeleton such as polyolefin may be included. In addition, the anode catalyst layer 7a and the cathode catalyst layer 7b are metal particles that function as a catalyst when an electrochemical reaction is generated during the operation of the fuel cell 10 (for example, platinum black particles or alloys thereof in addition to platinum) Hereinafter referred to simply as “catalyst”) and a proton conducting polymer.

  In the fuel cell 10, since the outer peripheral surface side of the gas permeable portions 2, 2,... Is completely covered by the MEAs 3, 3,. It is possible to suppress the leakage of gas. In addition, from the viewpoint of further suppressing gas leakage, it is preferable to bond or thermocompression bond the longitudinal ends 9, 9,... (See FIG. 4) of the MEAs 3, 3,. On the other hand, a part of the tube 1 is exposed between one MEA 3 and the other MEA 3, that is, in a portion where the gas permeable portion 2 of the tube 1 is not present. Since the tubular body 1 has conductivity, when the fuel cell 10 is operated, the tubular body 1 can function as a current collector, and the exposed portion of the tubular body 1 can be used as the current extraction portions 4, 4,. . Therefore, the fuel cell 10 is easy to collect current. If the distance between one current extraction unit 4 and the other current extraction unit 4, that is, the length of one MEA 3 in the longitudinal direction is too long, the movement distance of electrons will increase, resulting in poor current collection efficiency. The amount of power generation per unit volume is low.

  In the description so far, as a form example of the tubular fuel cell of the present invention, like the fuel cell 10, the cross-sectional shape in the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the tube body 1 is substantially circular, and the tube Although the form which the body 1 does not have a bending part was illustrated, the tube-type fuel cell of this invention is not limited to this form. Another embodiment will be specifically described with reference to FIG.

  5 (a) and 5 (b) are diagrams schematically showing another embodiment of the tubular fuel cell according to the present invention. Components having the same configurations as those in FIGS. 1 and 2 are denoted by the same reference numerals as those used in FIGS. 1 and 2, and description thereof will be omitted as appropriate. Further, in FIGS. 5A and 5B, some symbols are omitted in order to prevent the drawings from becoming complicated.

  As shown in FIG. 5A, the tubular fuel cell according to the present invention has an MEA 3 on the outer peripheral surface side of a gas permeation portion (not shown because it is covered with the MEA 3) of the tubular body 21 having the bent portion 22. 3,... May be arranged like a tubular fuel cell 20. Moreover, as shown in FIG.5 (b), MEA3, 3 is provided in the outer peripheral surface side of the gas permeation | transmission part (it is not shown in figure because it is covered with MEA3) of the pipe 31 which has several bending parts 32, 32, .... ,... May be arranged as a tubular fuel cell 30. In this way, by adopting a configuration having a bent portion, for example, it is possible to produce one long tubular fuel cell within a limited volume, and a large power generation area with one tubular fuel cell. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the number of tube fuel cells (the number of end portions of the tube fuel cells) provided in the tube fuel cell. Therefore, even if the power generation area is increased, the reliability of the seal and current collection can be improved, and a tube-type fuel cell having good productivity can be obtained.

  On the other hand, the cross-sectional shape in the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the tubular body that can be used in the tubular fuel cell of the present invention is not limited to a substantially circular shape, but has a hollow portion that allows gas flow. I just need it. Specifically, for example, the cross-sectional shape in the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the tubular body may be a substantially polygonal shape or a substantially flat circular shape. Considering production efficiency and the like, it is preferable that the cross-sectional shape is a substantially circular shape. However, in the case of a tubular body having a bent portion, it may be preferable that the cross-sectional shape is a substantially flat circular shape.

<Method for producing tube type fuel cell>
Hereinafter, a method for producing the tubular fuel cell of the present invention will be described. For example, when the fuel battery cell 10 is manufactured, first, the tube body 1 is formed into a target shape, and then the MEAs 3, 3,... Arrange. The method of disposing the MEAs 3, 3,... On the tube 1 is not particularly limited, but the longitudinal ends 9, 9,... (See FIG. 4) of the MEAs 3, 3,. It is preferable to perform pressure bonding. By setting it as this form, the leakage of the gas which distribute | circulates the hollow part 5 can be suppressed.

  As a specific example of the method of disposing the MEAs 3, 3,... On the tube body 1, a plurality of MEAs formed in a flat plate shape are completely disposed on the outer peripheral surface side of the gas permeable portions 2, 2,. Can be formed by forming the hollow MEAs 3, 3,... On the outer peripheral surface side of the gas permeable portions 2, 2,. Further, the catalyst ink is spray-coated so as to completely cover the outer peripheral surface side of the gas permeable portions 2, 2,... To form the anode catalyst layers 7a, 7a,. .. Are formed by spray coating the electrolyte composition to be formed, and the cathode catalyst layers 7b, 7b,... A method of forming hollow MEAs 3, 3,... On the outer peripheral surface side of 2,. Further, the pipe body 1 and the catalyst ink and electrolyte composition adjusted to have a high viscosity are co-extruded through a die so that the MEA 3, 3,... A method of disposing can also be mentioned.

  Next, a specific example of a method of arranging the MEAs 3, 3,... On the outer peripheral surface side of the gas permeable portions 2, 2,... Of the tubular body 31 having the bent portions 32, 32,. To do. 6 (a) and 6 (b) show the tubular body 31 on the outer peripheral surface side of the tubular body 31 in order to distinguish it from the plate-like MEA 33a and MEA 33b (MEA 3 after being disposed on the outer peripheral surface side of the tubular body 31). 2 is a top view schematically showing a state in which the plate-like MEAs before being disposed are sandwiched between “MEA 33a” and “MEA 33b”. However, in FIG. 6A, for convenience of explanation, the MEA 33a is omitted so that the tubular body 31 can be seen. FIG. 6B is a view of the tubular body 31 and the MEAs 33 33 viewed from the direction of the arrow shown in FIG. 6 (a) and 6 (b), components having the same configurations as those in FIGS. 1 and 2 are denoted by the same reference numerals as those used in FIGS. 1 and 2, and description thereof will be omitted as appropriate. Moreover, in order to prevent the figure from becoming complicated, in FIG. 6A and FIG. 6B, some symbols are omitted.

  When the MEAs 3, 3,... Are arranged on the outer peripheral surface side of the tubular body 31 having the bent portions 32, 32,..., The tubular body 31 is connected to the MEA 33a, as shown in FIGS. And the MEA 33b, and the MEA 33a and the MEA 33b are cut at a portion indicated by a broken line in FIG. 6A (a portion indicated by an arrow in FIG. 6B), and the end of the cut MEA 33a is cut. By adhering the ends of the MEA 33b to each other efficiently, the outer peripheral surface side of the gas permeable portions 2, 2,... Of the pipe body 31 is completely covered with MEAs 3, 3,. Can be covered. When the MEAs 3, 3,... Are arranged on the outer peripheral surface side of the gas permeation portions 2, 2,... Of the tubular body 31 by this method, the bent portions 32 of the tubular body 31 according to the outer diameter of the tubular body 31. It is necessary to determine the curvature of 32,. When the curvature of the bent portions 32, 32,... Is too small with respect to the outer diameter of the tubular body 31, the length of the portion indicated by x in FIG. ,... Covering MEA 3, 3,. On the other hand, when the curvature of the bent portions 32, 32,... Is too large with respect to the outer diameter of the tubular body 31, the length of the portion indicated by x in FIG. ,... Cannot cover the gas permeable portions 2, 2,.

<Tube type fuel cell>
The tube type fuel cell of the present invention will be described below. FIG. 7 is a diagram schematically showing an example of a tubular fuel cell according to the present invention that includes a plurality of fuel cells 10. Components having the same configurations as those in FIGS. 1 and 2 are denoted by the same reference numerals as those used in FIGS. 1 and 2, and description thereof will be omitted as appropriate. Further, in FIG. 7, some symbols are omitted in order to prevent the figure from becoming complicated.

  As shown in FIG. 7, a tube type fuel cell 100 of the present invention (hereinafter simply referred to as “fuel cell 100”) has a plurality of fuel cells 10 arranged in parallel. ,... Are electrically connected by a conductive wire 101, and each MEA 3, 3,... (Cathode catalyst layers 7b, 7b,. ...) are electrically connected by a conductive wire 102.

  During operation of the fuel cell 100, a hydrogen-containing gas (hereinafter referred to as “hydrogen”) is circulated through the hollow portion 5 of the fuel cell 10, and an oxygen-containing gas (hereinafter referred to as “air”) on the outer peripheral surface side of the MEA 3. .) Is supplied. The hydrogen flowing through the hollow portion 5 can escape from the inner peripheral surface side of the tube body 1 to the outer peripheral surface side of the tube body 1 through the holes of the gas permeable portions 2, 2,. The hydrogen that has come out from the holes of the gas permeation sections 2, 2,... To the outer peripheral surface side of the tube body 1 reaches the anode catalyst layer 7a, and protons and electrons are acted on by the action of the catalyst contained in the anode catalyst layer 7a. To separate. Protons generated in the anode catalyst layer 7a reach the cathode catalyst layer 7b through the proton conductive polymer contained in the anode catalyst layer 7a, the electrolyte membrane 6, and the cathode catalyst layer 7b. On the other hand, the electrons generated in the anode catalyst layer 7a are transmitted through the tube 1 from the anode catalyst layer 7a through the tube 1 having electrical conductivity, and are transmitted from the current extraction unit 4 to the conductor 101 and the conductor 102. It reaches the cathode catalyst layer 7b via the external circuit including it. The oxygen contained in the air reaching the cathode catalyst layer 7b and the protons and electrons moving from the anode catalyst layer 7a to the cathode catalyst layer 7b by being supplied to the outer peripheral surface side of the MEA 3 By reacting under the action of the catalyst contained in the cathode catalyst layer 7b, water is generated in the cathode catalyst layer 7b. In the fuel cell 100, electric energy is generated through such a process. Note that the hydrogen that was not used for the reaction in the anode catalyst layer 7a was discharged out of the fuel cell 100 cells and recovered through the hollow portion 5, and was not used for the reaction in the cathode catalyst layer 7b. Air is discharged out of the fuel cell 100.

  As described above, when the fuel cell 100 is operated, protons and electrons move, and thus heat is generated due to resistance and the like during the movement. In order to improve the performance of the fuel cell 100, the proton conductive polymer contained in the MEA 3 exhibits a proton conductive performance by being kept in a water-containing state in a temperature environment such as about 80 ° C. It is necessary to prevent an excessive temperature rise of the battery 100. From this point of view, the fuel cell 100 is provided with a cooling device (not shown) such as a cooling pipe through which a refrigerant is circulated.

  In the description of the tubular fuel cell of the present invention so far, the mode in which the MEA includes the electrolyte membrane, the anode catalyst layer, and the cathode catalyst layer has been described, but the present invention is not limited to such a mode, The gas diffusion layer may be provided on the inner peripheral surface side of the anode catalyst layer and / or the outer peripheral surface side of the cathode catalyst layer. The gas diffusion layer may be any material that can withstand the environment during operation of the tubular fuel cell, can diffuse the gas, and has conductivity, and specific examples of the diffusion layer that can be used in the present invention include: Examples thereof include carbon paper and carbon cloth.

  Further, in the description of the tubular fuel cell of the present invention so far, the embodiment in which the anode catalyst layer and the cathode catalyst layer on the outer peripheral surface side of the electrolyte membrane are provided on the inner peripheral surface side of the electrolyte membrane has been described. It is not limited to such a form, air is circulated through the hollow portion of the tube body, hydrogen is supplied to the outer peripheral surface side of the tube type fuel cell, and the cathode catalyst layer and the electrolyte are provided on the inner peripheral surface side of the electrolyte membrane. The anode catalyst layer may be provided on the outer peripheral surface side of the membrane.

  Further, in the description of the tube type fuel cell of the present invention so far, as shown in FIG. 7, the configuration in which the fuel cells 10, 10,... Are electrically connected in parallel has been described. The tube type fuel cell is not limited to such a configuration, and it is sufficient that the tube type fuel cell of the present invention is provided. Another embodiment of the tubular fuel cell of the present invention will be specifically described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram schematically showing a tubular fuel cell 200 in which the fuel cells 10 and 10 are electrically connected in series. FIG. 9 is a diagram schematically showing a form example of a portion where the fuel cells 10 and 10 are electrically connected. 8 and 9, components having the same configurations as those in FIGS. 1 and 2 are denoted by the same reference numerals as those used in FIGS. 1 and 2, and description thereof will be omitted as appropriate. In FIGS. 8 and 9, some symbols are omitted in order to prevent the drawings from becoming complicated.

  The tube type fuel cell of the present invention, like the fuel cell 200 shown in FIG. 8, has the current extraction parts 4, 4,... Of one fuel cell 10 and the MEAs 3, 3,. The cathode catalyst layers 7b, 7b,...) May be electrically connected in series with the conductive wire 201. In the example shown in FIG. 8, an example in which the two fuel cells 10 are connected is shown, but a plurality of fuel cells 10 may be connected in the same manner.

  Further, as an electrical connection method between one fuel cell 10 and another fuel cell 10, as shown in FIG. 9, the arrangement positions of MEAs 3 in one fuel cell 10 and another fuel cell 10. Are arranged so as to be shifted in the longitudinal direction of the fuel cell 10, and the current extraction part 4 of one fuel cell 10 and the MEA 3 (cathode catalyst layer 7 b) of another fuel cell 10 are arranged adjacent to each other. , They may be connected by the conductive component 301. The conductive part 301 is, for example, an S-shaped hook or a wire having conductivity such as metallicity, and the current extraction part 4 of one fuel cell 10 and the MEA 3 ( There is no particular limitation as long as it can be electrically connected to the cathode catalyst layer 7b).

  In the description of the tube type fuel cell of the present invention so far, only the mode in which the fuel cell 10 is provided has been described, but the present invention is not limited to such mode, and the bent portion as shown in FIG. The form with which the tube type fuel battery cell of another form of this invention is provided like the fuel battery cell 20 which has, the fuel battery cell 30, etc. may be sufficient.

1 is a diagram schematically showing a part of a tube-type fuel cell 10. (A) is the figure which looked at the tubular fuel cell 10 from the direction perpendicular | vertical with respect to a longitudinal direction. (B) is sectional drawing in the location shown by II 'to (a). (C) is the figure which expanded and showed the part shown by c in (b). It is the conceptual diagram which looked at a part of tubular body 1 from the direction perpendicular | vertical with respect to a longitudinal direction. 1 is an enlarged perspective view schematically showing an end portion of a tubular body 1. FIG. It is a perspective view which expands and schematically shows one edge part of the longitudinal direction of MEA3. (A) is a figure which shows the tube type fuel cell 20 roughly. (B) is a diagram schematically showing a tubular fuel cell 30. FIG. It is a figure which shows roughly the method of arrange | positioning MEA3, 3, ... in the pipe body 31. FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically showing a tubular fuel cell 100. FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically showing a tube fuel cell 200. FIG. It is a figure which shows roughly the connection method of the tube-type fuel battery cells.

Explanation of symbols

1, 21, 31 Tube 2 Gas permeation part 3, 33a, 33b Membrane electrode assembly (MEA)
4 Current extraction part 5 Hollow part 6 Electrolyte membrane 7a Anode catalyst layer 7b Cathode catalyst layer 9 End of MEA in the longitudinal direction 10, 20, 30 Tube type fuel cell 22, 32 Bent part 100, 200 Tube type fuel cell 101, 102, 201 Conductor 301 Conductive parts

Claims (4)

A tube having conductivity, a hollow shape, and having one or a plurality of gas permeable portions capable of gas flow from the inner peripheral surface side to the outer peripheral surface side;
A membrane electrode assembly formed on the outer peripheral surface side of the gas permeable portion of the tubular body;
A tube-type fuel cell, comprising: The tubular fuel cell according to claim 1, wherein the tubular body has one or a plurality of bent portions. The tube-type fuel cell according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a tube expansion process is applied to an end portion of the tubular body. A tube-type fuel cell comprising the tube-type fuel cell according to claim 1.

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