JP2009136983A - Conveying device of separator for fuel cell, and conveying method of the same - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To convey a plate-like member with a flow passage by generating a prescribed suction force with less air injection amount. <P>SOLUTION: A conveying device for a plate-like member includes a head 32 opposed to a plate-like member 10 with a flow passage, and an injection port 34 provided in the head, for injecting air for maintaining the plate-like member 10 in a non-contact state, wherein air 38 injected from the injection port is injected along a flow passage 12 of the plate-like member 10 maintained in a non-contact state. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

The present invention relates to a method for transporting a fuel cell separator having a flow path formed on a surface thereof.

A fuel cell that generates electricity by a chemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen has attracted attention as an energy source. A fuel cell has a membrane-electrode assembly in which an anode electrode is joined to one surface of an electrolyte membrane and a cathode electrode to the other surface, and a fuel cell having a structure in which both sides of the membrane-electrode assembly are sandwiched between separators (hereinafter referred to as a unit cell). In general, the fuel cell stack is used by stacking a plurality of unit cells.

  The manufacturing process of the fuel cell stack includes a separator molding process, a separator surface treatment process, a process of assembling a fuel cell as a unit cell, and a process of stacking a plurality of unit cells to form a stack. In these steps, there are a plurality of steps of conveying a separator made of a flat plate or a unit cell.

  As a technique for conveying a flat plate, techniques shown in the following patent documents are known.

  In Patent Document 1, in order to take out a fuel cell separator, a structure of a take-out device is disclosed in which an adsorbing groove is provided on an adsorbing surface facing the separator, and an adsorbing force is generated by sucking air from the adsorbing groove.

Patent Document 2 discloses a configuration of a transport device that generates a suction force by ejecting air and transports flat members such as a circuit board, a wafer, and a liquid crystal plate in a non-contact state.
JP2002-370245 JP-A-11-223521

  In the prior art shown in Patent Document 2, since the flat plate member is conveyed in a non-contact state, there are no problems such as contamination of the flat plate member or damage. However, the flow path formed on the surface of the plate member acts as a resistance against the ejected air. As a result, there has been a problem that the flow rate of air becomes slow, and even if the same air flow rate is ejected, suction force is hardly generated.

  Therefore, the present invention generates a predetermined suction force with a small air ejection amount in a transport method in which a suction force is generated by transporting air to a fuel cell separator having a flow path formed on the surface thereof. The purpose is to let you.

  A head that faces the plate-like member in which the flow path is formed, and a jet nozzle that is provided in the head and that ejects air to maintain the plate-like member in a non-contact manner at a predetermined distance from the head. The plate-like member conveying apparatus is characterized in that the air jetted from the nozzle is jetted along a flow path of the plate-like member maintained in a non-contact manner.

  In addition, the flow of air ejected from the ejection port in the direction of the flow path of the plate-shaped member is larger than the flow of air ejected in the plane direction of the plate-shaped member and perpendicular to the flow path direction. Is also suitable.

  In addition, it is also preferable that the jet port jets only in a predetermined direction within 45 degrees with respect to the flow path, where the flow direction of the jetted air is the surface direction of the plate-like member.

  In addition, it is also preferable that the ejection port ejects air only in the flow path direction of the plate-like member.

  The plate member is also preferably a fuel cell separator.

  It is also preferable that the plate-like member is a unit cell composed of a membrane-electrode assembly and a pair of fuel cell separators sandwiching the membrane-electrode assembly.

  It is also preferable that a lateral displacement prevention guide is provided that moves so as to restrict the horizontal movement of the separator when the plate-like member is maintained in a non-contact manner at a predetermined distance from the head.

  Moreover, it is also suitable that it is an apparatus which laminates the conveyed unit cell.

  It is also preferable that the jet port protrudes into a flow path formed in the plate member.

  The first step of making the head face the surface on which the flow path of the plate-like member is formed, and air is ejected along the flow path of the plate-like member facing from the jet port that ejects air provided in the head, A second step of maintaining the plate-like member in a non-contact manner at a predetermined distance from the head; and a third step of moving the head to reduce the amount of air ejected from the jet port and placing the plate-like member in a predetermined location. And a method for conveying a plate-like member.

  In the third step, it is also preferable to position the plate member by a lateral displacement prevention guide that moves so as to restrict the horizontal movement of the plate member provided in the head.

  The plate-shaped member is a unit cell composed of a membrane-electrode assembly and a pair of fuel cell separators sandwiching the membrane-electrode assembly. The third step is to stack the unit cell by moving the head. It is also preferable that the unit cell be stacked on the unit cell.

A plate-like member in which the flow path is formed can be transported by generating a predetermined suction force with a small amount of air ejection.

  Hereinafter, a first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. The following embodiment is an embodiment in which a separator for a fuel cell is adopted as a plate-like member in which a flow path is formed.

  FIG. 1 shows a top plan view of a fuel cell separator 10 having a flow path formed on the surface of the present embodiment, and a head 32 of a transport device facing the separator.

  A fuel cell separator 10 (hereinafter referred to as a separator) in FIG. 1 is formed by press-molding stainless steel, and a gas flow channel 12 for flowing a reaction gas on one surface and a coolant on the other surface in the central portion of the separator 10. A cooling channel (not shown). In FIG. 1, the surface of the separator 10 on which the gas flow path 12 is formed is placed upward so as to face the head 32. In the outer peripheral portion of the gas flow path 12 of the separator 10, there are a fuel gas manifold 16 that supplies and discharges fuel gas to the gas flow path 12, and an oxidant gas manifold 18 that supplies and discharges oxidant gas to the gas flow path 12. And a coolant manifold 20 for supplying and discharging coolant to and from the cooling flow path.

  The separator 10 is an A4 size rectangular separator composed of a long side 22 and a short side 24, and is provided with grooves constituting a plurality of gas flow paths 12 in parallel with the long side 22. In the present embodiment, the width of the gas flow path 12 is 0.5 mm, and the depth of the gas flow path 12 is 0.5 mm.

In this embodiment, a metal separator formed by press molding stainless steel is used, but a metal separator made of aluminum or a carbon separator made of carbon resin may be used. Further, the surface of the separator facing the head may be a surface on which a cooling channel is formed.
The head 32 of the separator transport device includes an ejection port 34 that ejects air to the separator 10. When transporting the separator 10, the head 32 is opposed so that the ejection port 34 is located at the center of the separator 10 in the long side direction. In the present embodiment, the head 32 is configured to cover the entire surface of the region where the flow path of the separator 10 is formed. The air ejected from the ejection port 34 located at the center in the long side direction of the separator 10 is ejected in the arrow direction toward the short side 24 of the separator 10 in the planar direction of the separator 10. Thereby, the flow direction of the separator 10 and the flow direction of the ejected air coincide.

  In addition, the head 32 has one lateral shift prevention guide 40 for each side that regulates the horizontal movement of the separator 10 that is maintained in a non-contact manner vertically downward from the head 32 with a gap of a predetermined distance. A total of four are provided. Of the four sides constituting the separator 10, a set of long side 22 and short side 24 is provided with a fixed lateral displacement prevention guide (fixed guide) 42. A lateral shift prevention guide (movable guide) that moves so as to restrict horizontal movement for fixing and positioning the separator 10 to a lateral displacement prevention guide 42 fixed to the remaining pair of long sides 22 and short sides 24. ) 44 is provided. The position of the separator 10 can be regulated while the separator 10 is being conveyed by the head 32 by the lateral shift prevention guide 44 that moves so as to regulate the movement in the horizontal direction. A head having four lateral displacement prevention guides (movable guides) that move so as to restrict horizontal movement is also suitable from the viewpoint of separator position restriction.

  Next, the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an AA cross section of FIG. The head 32 is provided with an air introduction path 36 for introducing air from an air inflow generator (not shown) into the ejection port 34. The air inflow generator is, for example, an air compressor. The air supplied from the air introduction path 36 to the jet outlet 34 is jetted in the surface direction of the facing separator 10 and in the same direction as the gas flow path direction.

  The air ejected from the ejection port flows in the direction of the respective short sides 24 (the left-right direction in FIG. 2) from the central portion of the AA cross section of the separator 10. The head 32 includes a pair of space portions 35 at positions sandwiching the ejection port 34. The space 35 is a recess formed in the head 32 and is open to the opposing separator 10.

  When the distance between the head 32 and the separator 10 is greater than the predetermined distance d, a negative pressure is generated between the space 35 and the separator 10 by Bernoulli's theorem and ejector effect due to the flow velocity of the air ejected from the ejection port 34. Will occur. In addition, between the space part 35 and the separator 10, the suction force of the part with the fastest air flow velocity becomes the largest.

  On the other hand, when the head 32 and the separator 10 are closer than the predetermined distance d, the internal pressure of the space portion 35 increases due to the flow velocity of air, and a repulsive force is generated between the head 32 and the separator 10.

  Due to the action of the negative pressure and the repulsive force, when the air is supplied at a constant flow rate from the ejection port 34, the separator 10 is maintained in a non-contact manner in a vertically downward direction by a predetermined distance from the head 32. In the present embodiment, the predetermined distance d is 0. The distance is about several mm. In the present embodiment, since the separator 10 is maintained in non-contact with the head 32, dirt does not adhere to the separator surface or damage to the separator surface does not occur.

  Next, the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a BB cross section of FIG. 1, and is a diagram illustrating a relationship between the ejection port 34 and a groove forming a gas flow path. In the present embodiment, the groove 12 formed in the separator 10 and the jet outlet 34 for jetting gas are provided in a one-to-one relationship. In addition, for example, arbitrary structures, such as a structure provided with a jet nozzle in the ratio of one piece with respect to two groove | channels which comprise a gas flow path, are employable.

  FIG. 4 shows a configuration of a modification in which the shape of the ejection port 34 of the first embodiment is different from the BB cross-sectional view of FIG. In the second embodiment, the ejection port 34 projects into the gas flow path 12. Air can be directly jetted in the gas flow channel direction from the projecting jet port 34 into the groove forming the gas flow channel 12. For this reason, air can be ejected with less resistance in the gas flow path direction with respect to the first embodiment, so that the flow velocity increases. Therefore, a constant negative pressure can be generated with a smaller amount of air ejection.

  Here, the relationship between the air ejection direction and the flow path direction will be described with reference to FIG. When the air ejection direction and the flow path direction of the separator 10 are the same as in the first embodiment (curve A in FIG. 5), and when the air ejection direction and the flow path direction of the separator 10 are orthogonal to each other (Curve B in FIG. 5) was compared.

  In FIG. 5, the flow rate of air ejected from the ejection port 34 is plotted on the horizontal axis, and the suction force between the head 32 and the separator 10 generated from the ejected air is plotted on the vertical axis. When the curve A and the curve B are compared, it can be seen that the curve A generates a predetermined suction force with a smaller air flow rate. This is because, when the air ejection direction and the separator flow path direction are matched, the unevenness of the flow path 12 formed on the surface of the separator does not become a resistance to the air flow compared to the case where the air flow direction is made orthogonal. It is. That is, when the flow path direction of the separator and the gas ejection direction are the same, the flow velocity does not decrease and a suction force is likely to be generated.

  A second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 6A is a side sectional view of the separator 10 and the head 32, and FIG. 6B is an upper plan view of the separator 10 and the head 32. FIG. In the second embodiment, the head portion facing the separator 10 has a round shape and covers a part of the region where the gas flow path 12 is formed. Hereinafter, a configuration different from the first embodiment will be described.

  The head 32 according to the second embodiment includes a guide support portion 46 that supports the lateral displacement prevention guide 40 and a round portion 48 that faces the separator 10. The round part 48 is provided with a jet outlet 34 for jetting air at the center thereof, and covers a part of the region where the flow path 12 of the separator 10 is formed. When transporting the separator 10, the head 32 is opposed to the separator 10 so that the jet port 34 is located at the center of the separator 10. Air supplied from an air inflow generator (not shown) is ejected from the ejection port 34. The air ejected from the ejection port 34 is ejected from the ejection port 34 in a cross shape from the center of the round portion 48 in the flow path direction of the separator 10 and in the direction orthogonal to the flow path of the separator 10. Here, the flow of air ejected in the direction of the flow path of the separator is made larger than the flow of air ejected in the direction orthogonal to the flow path of the separator. Thereby, the air ejected in the flow direction of the separator having a large air flow does not receive resistance due to the unevenness of the flow path of the separator. Therefore, the flow velocity does not decrease and suction force is likely to be generated. In the present embodiment, it is also preferable that the flow of air ejected from the ejection port 34 is only in the gas flow path direction.

  A third embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 7A is a side sectional view of the separator 10 and the head 32, and FIG. 7B is an upper plan view of the separator 10 and the head 32. FIG. 3rd Embodiment is a structure from which FIG. 6 of 2nd Embodiment differs only in the flow direction of the air ejected from the jet nozzle 34. FIG.

  In the present embodiment, the flow direction of the air ejected from the ejection port 34 is the surface direction of the separator 10 and a direction of 45 degrees with respect to the flow path of the separator. When the flow direction of the air from the jet port 34 is larger than 45 degrees, the resistance due to the unevenness of the flow path of the separator 10 is increased, so that the flow velocity is reduced and the suction force is hardly generated. In addition, it is preferable that the flow direction of the air ejected from the ejection port is 0 degree or more and 45 degrees or less with respect to the flow path direction of the separator 10. This is because when the flow direction of the air ejected from the ejection port 34 is greater than 45 degrees with respect to the flow path direction of the separator, the suction force generated for the same flow rate is significantly reduced.

  A fourth embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 8 showing the fourth embodiment is a configuration including four guide support portions 46 that support the lateral displacement prevention guide 40 and four round portions 48 that face the separator 10. In the present embodiment, the flow of air ejected from the ejection port 34 of the round portion 48 is set to be 45 degrees with respect to the flow path formed on the surface of the separator 10. With the configuration including four round portions, it is easy to suck the separator located on the uppermost surface of the separators that are stacked in a plurality. That is, the separator located on the uppermost surface and the separator located below the upper surface are in close contact with each other. One or two of the four round portions that generate the suction force suck the separator first. As a result, the separator located on the uppermost surface is inclined and air can easily enter between the adhered separators, thereby facilitating suction.

  Next, FIG. 9 shows an overall view of a fuel cell separator transport device 30 including any one of the heads 32 of the first to fourth embodiments. In FIG. 9, the separator to be conveyed is a fuel cell separator including another fuel cell separator and a membrane-electrode assembly sandwiched between two fuel cell separators. That is, in the present embodiment, a transport device 30 that transports a unit battery 50 including a membrane-electrode assembly and two separators sandwiching the membrane-electrode assembly will be described.

  In FIG. 10, the unit batteries 50 are sequentially sent to the transport device 30 by the belt conveyor 54. The transport device 30 includes a head 32 and an arm 52 that can move the head in the vertical and horizontal directions. The transported unit battery 50 is placed on a table 56.

  The transport device 30 moves the arm 52 closer to the unit battery 50 transported to a predetermined position by the belt conveyor 54 so that the head 32 faces the unit battery 50. Here, a cooling channel as a separator channel is provided on the surface of the unit battery 50. The unit battery 50 may be a module in which a plurality of unit batteries are modularized.

  Here, the amount of air ejected from the head 32 toward the unit battery 50 will be described. Consider a case where the mass per unit cell 50 of the present embodiment is 100 g, and the flow rate is set so as to generate a suction force (acceleration 2 G) at 300 g. In this case, the amount of air supplied to the head 32 from an air inflow generator (not shown) is about 50 L per minute. A suction force is generated between the head 32 and the unit battery 50 in a state where a flow rate of about 50 L per minute is ejected to the unit battery 50, and the unit battery 50 is maintained in a non-contact manner. In addition, it is preferable to change the flow rate of air according to the flow rate of the separator to convey.

In a state where the unit battery 50 is maintained in a non-contact state, a fixed guide 42 provided on the head 32 for preventing lateral displacement and a movable guide 44 that moves so as to restrict the movement in the horizontal direction. The unit battery 50 is positioned. Accordingly, the unit battery 50 can be transported to a predetermined location by moving the head 32 of the transport device to the predetermined location. In addition, since positioning is completed while the unit battery 50 is maintained in a non-contact manner, the time required for conveyance can be shortened compared to positioning after the unit battery 50 is placed on the table 56. .
Next, in a state where the unit battery 50 is maintained in a non-contact state, the arm 52 is moved, and the head 32 is moved onto the table 56 on which the unit batteries 50 are stacked. After the head 32 moves onto the table 56, the operation of an air inflow generator (not shown) is stopped, and the ejection of air from the ejection port 34 is stopped. Since no suction force is generated, the unit battery 50 is placed on a predetermined position on the table 56 or on the uppermost unit battery 50 stacked while being guided by the lateral displacement prevention guide 40. When a fuel cell stack is created by the separator transport device, it is preferable that the lateral displacement prevention guide is in contact with the outer periphery of the unit cell at at least three points for positioning. Thereby, a fuel cell stack can be easily made without shifting in a state where the unit cells 50 are stacked. It is also preferable to place the fuel cell stack by reducing the amount of ejection instead of stopping the ejection of air from the ejection port. Further, since positioning is performed by the lateral displacement prevention guide, positioning by image processing is unnecessary, and the equipment cost is reduced.

  The above embodiment is merely an example of the application form of the present invention, and is not limited to this. For example, in the above-described embodiment, an embodiment in which the plate-like member is a fuel cell separator is shown, but any plate-like member in which a flow path is formed may be used. For example, it is also suitable to carry a heat radiation fin in which a flow path is formed, a circuit board in which a flow path is formed, or the like. Moreover, the case where the flow path formed in the plate-shaped member is one and the case where the several flow path is not formed in parallel may be sufficient.

  In the above-described embodiment, the flow path is provided so as to be parallel to the long side of the A4 size separator. However, the flow path may be parallel to the short side, and the flow path may be formed obliquely with respect to the long side. You may do it. Further, the lateral displacement prevention guide of the present embodiment is provided so as to restrict horizontal movement during conveyance, but a configuration in which a certain play is provided between the separator and the lateral displacement prevention guide is also suitable.

  Further, the flow path of the separator according to the above embodiment has, for example, a configuration in which a linear fuel gas flow path is connected between a pair of fuel gas manifolds that supply and discharge fuel gas. A road configuration may be used. That is, a pair of fuel gas manifolds for supplying and discharging fuel gas has a plurality of linear gas flow paths parallel to the long side of the separator and a serpentine type flow path structure having at least one turn portion serving as a turn-up portion It may be.

It is a top plan view of the separator of the first embodiment and the head facing the separator. It is AA sectional drawing of FIG. It is BB sectional drawing of FIG. It is a modification of 1st embodiment. It is a figure showing the relationship between the ejection direction of air, and the attraction | suction force between a separator and a head. It is the (A) sectional side view of the separator of 2nd embodiment, and a head, (b) Top plan view. It is the (A) sectional side view of the separator of 3rd embodiment, and a head, (b) Top plan view. It is an upper top view of the separator and head of a third embodiment. It is a general view of the separator conveying apparatus.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Separator for fuel cells (hereinafter referred to as separator), 12 Gas flow path, 16 Fuel gas manifold, 18 Oxidant gas manifold, 20 Coolant manifold, 22 Long side, 24 Short side, 30 Separator transport device, 32 Head, 34 Spout, 35 Space 36 Air introduction path, 38 Jetted air, 40 Lateral deviation prevention guide, 42 Fixed lateral deviation prevention guide, 44 Lateral deviation prevention guide that moves to regulate horizontal movement, 46 Guide Support part, 48 round part, 50 unit battery, 52 arm, 54 belt conveyor,
56 units

Claims (12)

A head facing the plate-like member in which the flow path is formed;
A jet port provided at the head, and jetting air to maintain the plate-like member in a non-contact manner at a predetermined distance from the head,
The air ejected from the ejection port is ejected along a flow path of the plate-like member that is maintained in a non-contact manner. In the conveyance apparatus of the plate-shaped member of Claim 1,
The flow of air ejected from the ejection port in the flow path direction of the plate-shaped member is larger than the flow of air ejected in the plane direction of the plate-shaped member and perpendicular to the flow path direction. A plate-shaped member conveying apparatus. In the conveyance apparatus of the plate-shaped member of Claim 1,
The ejection port is a plate-shaped member conveying device that ejects only in a predetermined direction within 45 degrees with respect to the flow path, in which the flow direction of the ejected air is the surface direction of the plate-shaped member. In the conveyance apparatus of the plate-shaped member of Claim 3,
The ejection port is a plate-like member transport device that ejects air only in the flow direction of the plate-like member. In the conveyance apparatus of the plate-shaped member as described in any one of Claim 1 to 4,
A plate-shaped member is a separator for a fuel cell. In the conveyance apparatus of the plate-shaped member as described in any one of Claim 1 to 4,
The plate-like member is a transport device for a plate-like member which is a unit cell composed of a membrane-electrode assembly and a pair of fuel cell separators sandwiching the membrane-electrode assembly. In the conveyance apparatus of the plate-shaped member as described in any one of Claims 1-6,
A plate-shaped member conveying device provided with a lateral displacement prevention guide that moves so as to restrict the horizontal movement of the separator when the plate-shaped member is maintained in a non-contact manner at a predetermined distance from the head.   The plate-shaped member conveyance device according to claim 7 is a plate-shaped member conveyance device which is a device for stacking the conveyed unit cells. In the conveyance apparatus of the plate-shaped member as described in any one of Claims 1-8,
The said jet nozzle is a conveying apparatus of the plate-shaped member which protrudes in the flow path formed in the plate-shaped member. A first step in which the head is opposed to the surface on which the flow path of the plate-like member is formed;
A second step of ejecting air along a flow path of a plate-like member facing from a jet outlet for jetting air provided in the head, and maintaining the plate-like member in a non-contact manner at a predetermined distance from the head;
A third step of moving the head, reducing the amount of air ejected from the ejection port, and placing the plate-like member in a predetermined place;
A method for conveying a plate-like member comprising: In the conveyance method of the plate-shaped member according to claim 10,
The method for conveying a plate-like member, wherein the third step includes a step of positioning the plate-like member by a lateral displacement prevention guide that moves so as to restrict the horizontal movement of the plate-like member provided in the head. In the conveyance method of the plate-shaped member according to claim 11,
The plate-like member is a unit cell composed of a membrane-electrode assembly and a pair of fuel cell separators sandwiching the membrane-electrode assembly,
The third step is a method for conveying a plate-shaped member, which is a step of moving the head and stacking unit cells on the stacked unit cells.

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