JP2011150853A - Solid polymer fuel cell - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable to inhibit intensive detention of water in the vicinity of a lower end part of an electrolyte film and inhibiting degradation of the electrolyte film due to swelling as much as possible, in a simple and economical structure. <P>SOLUTION: The fuel cell 10 is structured by pinching an electrolyte film/electrode structure 12 with a first separator 14 and a second separator 16. The electrolyte film/electrode structure 12 is provided with a solid polymer electrolyte film 26, a cathode-side electrode 28, and an anode-side electrode 30. The first separator 14 is fitted with an oxidant gas flow channel 34, while, the second separator 16 is fitted with a fuel gas flow channel 40. A lower-end position of the fuel gas flow channel 40 and that of the oxidant gas flow channel 34 are to be set at positions different in a gravity direction. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a polymer electrolyte fuel cell in which an electrolyte membrane / electrode structure having a pair of electrodes disposed on both sides of an electrolyte membrane and a separator are laminated.

  For example, in a polymer electrolyte fuel cell, an electrolyte membrane / electrode structure (MEA) in which an anode side electrode and a cathode side electrode are disposed on both sides of an electrolyte membrane made of a polymer ion exchange membrane is provided by a pair of separators. The power generation unit is sandwiched. This type of fuel cell is usually used as, for example, an in-vehicle fuel cell stack by stacking a predetermined number (for example, several hundreds) of power generation units.

  In the above fuel cell, the fuel gas (for example, a gas mainly containing hydrogen) supplied to the anode side electrode via the fuel gas flow path and the cathode side electrode supplied to the cathode side electrode via the oxidant gas flow path. Electric power is obtained by an electrochemical reaction with an oxidant gas (for example, a gas containing mainly oxygen or air).

  For this reason, at the time of power generation of the fuel cell, water is generated in the cathode side electrode, while the water permeates through the anode side electrode by back diffusion. Therefore, in the oxidant gas flow channel and the fuel gas flow channel, particularly, the condensed water tends to stay on the downstream side of each, and the electrolyte membrane remarkably swells in the region where the electrode portion and the water retention portion overlap, usually at the electrode end. As a result, the cross leak of the fuel gas to the cathode side electrode increases, and the electrolyte membrane may be deteriorated.

  Thus, for example, a fuel cell disclosed in Patent Document 1 is known. The fuel cell includes a membrane having an electrolyte membrane, a cathode electrode joined to one surface of the electrolyte membrane and supplied with air, and an anode electrode joined to the other surface of the electrolyte membrane and supplied with fuel. An electrode assembly, and a separator made of a conductive material forming a pair that sandwiches the membrane electrode assembly so as to form an air chamber on the cathode electrode side and a fuel chamber on the anode electrode side. Yes.

  Further, at least one outlet of the air chamber and the fuel chamber is provided with a throttle portion having a reduced communication area. For example, in the air chamber, the flow rate of air at the outlet increases, and water droplets in the air chamber are suitably eliminated.Therefore, in the cell, the supply of air to the cathode electrode is hardly hindered even under different operating conditions. It is said that the entire cathode electrode reacts appropriately and the cell voltage is stabilized.

JP 2007-234352 A

  However, in Patent Document 1 described above, since the throttle part is provided at the outlet of at least one of the air chamber and the fuel chamber, the pressure loss increases at the throttle part, and the efficiency of the fuel cell system decreases. In addition, there is a problem that the configuration becomes complicated and the manufacturing cost increases.

  The present invention solves this type of problem, and can prevent water from concentrating and staying in the vicinity of the end of the electrode power generation unit with a simple and economical configuration. It is an object of the present invention to provide a polymer electrolyte fuel cell capable of preventing deterioration due to swelling of an electrolyte membrane corresponding to the vicinity of an end as much as possible.

  In the present invention, an electrolyte membrane / electrode structure in which an anode side electrode and a cathode side electrode are disposed on both sides of an electrolyte membrane and a separator are laminated, and a gravity is interposed between the anode side electrode and one separator. A solid polymer type in which a fuel gas flow path for flowing fuel gas in the direction is formed, and an oxidant gas for flowing oxidant gas in the direction of gravity is formed between the cathode side electrode and the other separator The present invention relates to a fuel cell.

  In this polymer electrolyte fuel cell, the lower end position of the fuel gas passage and the lower end position of the oxidant gas passage are set at different positions in the direction of gravity.

  In the electrolyte membrane / electrode structure, the lower end position of the catalyst application region constituting the electrode is set at a position spaced above the lower end position of the fuel gas passage and the lower end position of the oxidant gas passage. Is preferred.

  According to the present invention, since the lower end position of the fuel gas flow path and the lower end position of the oxidant gas flow path are different in the direction of gravity, the respective water retention positions are shifted in the direction of gravity. Accordingly, water can be prevented from concentrating and staying in the vicinity of the end of the electrode power generation unit, and the deterioration due to swelling of the electrolyte membrane can be prevented as much as possible with a simple and economical configuration. become.

It is a principal part disassembled perspective explanatory drawing of the fuel cell which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the fuel cell taken along line II-II in FIG. 1. It is front explanatory drawing of the electrolyte membrane and electrode structure which comprises the said fuel cell. It is front explanatory drawing of the 2nd separator which comprises the said fuel cell. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a relationship between a catalyst application region of the electrolyte membrane / electrode structure, an oxidant gas flow channel, and a fuel gas flow channel. It is a principal part disassembled perspective explanatory drawing of the fuel cell which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the fuel cell 10 according to the first embodiment of the present invention is configured by sandwiching an electrolyte membrane / electrode structure 12 between a first separator 14 and a second separator 16.

  An oxidant gas inlet communication hole 20a for supplying an oxidant gas, for example, an oxygen-containing gas, communicates with each other in the arrow A direction at the upper edge of the long side direction (arrow C direction) of the fuel cell 10. And a fuel gas inlet communication hole 22a for supplying a fuel gas, for example, a hydrogen-containing gas.

  The lower end edge of the long side direction (arrow C direction) of the fuel cell 10 communicates with each other in the direction of arrow A to discharge the fuel gas outlet communication hole 22b for discharging the fuel gas and the oxidant gas. The oxidant gas outlet communication hole 20b is provided.

  At one edge of the fuel cell 10 in the short side direction (arrow B direction), there is provided a cooling medium inlet communication hole 24a that communicates with each other in the direction of arrow A and supplies a cooling medium. A cooling medium outlet communication hole 24b for discharging the cooling medium is provided at the other end edge in the short side direction.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the electrolyte membrane / electrode structure 12 includes, for example, a solid polymer electrolyte membrane 26 in which a perfluorosulfonic acid thin film is impregnated with water, and the solid polymer electrolyte membrane 26. The cathode side electrode 28 and the anode side electrode 30 are provided. The anode side electrode 30 constitutes a so-called stepped MEA having a smaller surface area than the cathode side electrode 28.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the cathode side electrode 28 has a gas diffusion layer 28a made of carbon paper or the like, and porous carbon particles having a platinum alloy supported on the surface are uniformly applied to the surface of the gas diffusion layer 28a. The electrode catalyst layer 28b is formed. The anode-side electrode 30 includes a gas diffusion layer 30a made of carbon paper and the like, and an electrode catalyst layer formed by uniformly applying porous carbon particles carrying a platinum alloy on the surface of the gas diffusion layer 30a. 30b.

  The electrode catalyst layers 28 b and 30 b are formed on both surfaces of the solid polymer electrolyte membrane 26. One of the electrode catalyst layers 28b and 30b is formed in a predetermined catalyst application region H on both surfaces of the solid polymer electrolyte membrane 26 as described later (see FIG. 3). That is, the lower end positions of the electrode catalyst layers 28b and 30b are shifted from each other in the gravitational direction, one is formed in the catalyst coating region H, and the other is formed outside (downward) the catalyst coating region H. Specifically, the electrode catalyst layer 30b constituting the anode side electrode 30 is formed outside the catalyst application region H, and the electrode catalyst layer 28b constituting the cathode side electrode 28 is formed within the catalyst application region H. It is preferable.

  The first separator 14 and the second separator 16 are made of, for example, a steel plate, a stainless steel plate, an aluminum plate, a plated steel plate, or a vertically long metal plate obtained by performing a surface treatment for corrosion prevention on the metal surface. The first separator 14 and the second separator 16 have a rectangular planar shape and a vertically long shape, and are formed into a concavo-convex shape by pressing a metal thin plate into a wave shape. In addition, you may comprise the 1st separator 14 and the 2nd separator 16 with a carbon separator instead of a metal separator, for example.

  As shown in FIG. 1, on the surface 14a of the first separator 14 facing the electrolyte membrane / electrode structure 12, an oxidant gas flow path that connects an oxidant gas inlet communication hole 20a and an oxidant gas outlet communication hole 20b. 34 is formed. The oxidant gas flow path 34 has a plurality of wave-shaped flow path grooves 34a extending in the direction of arrow C (the direction of gravity). An inlet buffer portion 36a and an outlet buffer portion 36b each having a plurality of embosses are provided in the vicinity of the inlet and the outlet of the oxidizing gas channel 34.

  A plurality of inlet connection passages 38a are formed between the inlet buffer portion 36a and the oxidant gas inlet communication hole 20a. A plurality of outlet connecting passages 38b are formed between the outlet buffer portion 36b and the oxidizing gas outlet communication hole 20b.

  As shown in FIG. 4, a fuel gas flow path 40 that connects the fuel gas inlet communication hole 22 a and the fuel gas outlet communication hole 22 b is formed on the surface 16 a of the second separator 16 facing the electrolyte membrane / electrode structure 12. Is done. The fuel gas channel 40 has a plurality of wave-like channel grooves 40a extending in the direction of arrow C, and an inlet buffer unit 42a having a plurality of embosses in the vicinity of the inlet and the outlet of the fuel gas channel 40, respectively. And an outlet buffer 42b. The flow direction of the fuel gas and the flow direction of the oxidant gas are set in the same direction.

  The second separator 16 includes a plurality of supply holes 44 a that communicate the fuel gas inlet communication hole 22 a and the fuel gas flow path 40, and a plurality of discharge hole parts that communicate the fuel gas outlet communication hole 22 b and the fuel gas flow path 40. 44b.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the lower end position 40b of the fuel gas flow path 40 and the lower end position 34b of the oxidant gas flow path 34 are different in the position in the gravity direction (arrow C direction). In the first embodiment, the lower end position 40 b of the fuel gas channel 40 is set to a position that protrudes by a distance h 1 below the lower end position 34 b of the oxidant gas channel 34. The lower end position 34 b of the oxidant gas flow path 34 is set to a position that protrudes by a distance h 2 below the lower end position of the catalyst application region H of the electrolyte membrane / electrode structure 12.

  Specifically, the upper end position of the catalyst application region H is set to the same position as the upper end positions of the oxidant gas passage 34 and the fuel gas passage 40. On the other hand, the lower end position of the catalyst application region H is set higher than the lower end position 34 b of the oxidant gas passage 34 and the lower end position 40 b of the fuel gas passage 40.

  As shown in FIG. 1, between the surface 14b of the first separator 14 and the surface 16b of the second separator 16, a cooling medium flow path 46 that communicates the cooling medium inlet communication hole 24a and the cooling medium outlet communication hole 24b. Is formed. The cooling medium flow path 46 has a back surface shape of the wavy flow path groove portions 34a and 40a, and a flow path groove portion (not shown) extending in the arrow B direction is provided by overlapping these.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, first seal members 50 are individually or integrally provided on the surfaces 14 a and 14 b of the first separator 14 around the outer peripheral edge of the first separator 14. . On the surfaces 16a and 16b of the second separator 16, second seal members 52 are provided individually or integrally around the outer peripheral edge of the second separator 16.

  The first seal member 50 circulates around the outer periphery of the electrolyte membrane / electrode structure 12, and is a protrusion that communicates the oxidant gas inlet communication hole 20 a and the oxidant gas outlet communication hole 20 b with the oxidant gas flow path 34. Part 50a. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the second seal member 52 has a protrusion 52 a that abuts along the outer peripheral edge of the solid polymer electrolyte membrane 26 constituting the electrolyte membrane / electrode structure 12.

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

  First, as shown in FIG. 1, an oxidant gas such as an oxygen-containing gas is supplied to the oxidant gas inlet communication hole 20a, and a fuel gas such as a hydrogen-containing gas is supplied to the fuel gas inlet communication hole 22a. Supplied. Further, a cooling medium such as pure water, ethylene glycol, or oil is supplied to the cooling medium inlet communication hole 24a.

  Therefore, the oxidant gas is introduced from the oxidant gas inlet communication hole 20a through the inlet connection passage 38a of the first separator 14 into the oxidant gas flow path 34. This oxidant gas moves in the direction of arrow C (the direction of gravity) along the oxidant gas flow path 34 and is supplied to the cathode side electrode 28 of the electrolyte membrane / electrode structure 12.

  On the other hand, the fuel gas moves from the fuel gas inlet communication hole 22a to the surface 16a side of the second separator 16 through the supply hole 44a. As shown in FIG. 4, the fuel gas moves along the fuel gas flow path 40 in the direction of gravity (arrow C direction) and is supplied to the anode electrode 30 of the electrolyte membrane / electrode structure 12 (see FIG. 1). ).

  Therefore, in the electrolyte membrane / electrode structure 12, the oxidant gas supplied to the cathode side electrode 28 and the fuel gas supplied to the anode side electrode 30 are consumed by an electrochemical reaction in the electrode catalyst layer to generate power. Is done.

  Next, the oxidant gas supplied to and consumed by the cathode side electrode 28 of the electrolyte membrane / electrode structure 12 is discharged in the direction of arrow A along the oxidant gas outlet communication hole 20b. On the other hand, the fuel gas supplied to and consumed by the anode electrode 30 of the electrolyte membrane / electrode structure 12 is led to the surface 16b side of the second separator 16 through the discharge hole 44b. The fuel gas led out to the surface 16b side is discharged to the fuel gas outlet communication hole 22b.

  In addition, as shown in FIG. 1, the cooling medium supplied to the cooling medium inlet communication hole 24 a includes a first separator 14 constituting one fuel cell 10 and a second separator 16 constituting the other fuel cell 10. Are introduced into the cooling medium flow path 46 formed between the two. For this reason, the cooling medium supplied from the cooling medium inlet communication hole 24a to the cooling medium flow path 46 moves in the direction of arrow B to cool the fuel cell 10, and is then discharged to the cooling medium outlet communication hole 24b.

  In this case, in the first embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, the lower end position 40 b of the fuel gas flow path 40 protrudes by a distance h <b> 1 below the lower end position 34 b of the oxidant gas flow path 34. For this reason, each water retention part which is easy to be formed in the downstream of the oxidant gas flow path 34 and the fuel gas flow path 40 can be reliably prevented from overlapping at the same height position in the gravity direction.

  Therefore, in the electrolyte membrane / electrode structure 12, it is possible to prevent water from concentrating and staying in the vicinity of the end portion of the electrode power generation portion corresponding to each water retention portion. As a result, the solid polymer electrolyte membrane 26 does not swell significantly, and it is possible to reliably prevent a large amount of fuel gas from cross leaking to the cathode side electrode 28.

  For this reason, it becomes possible to prevent deterioration of the solid polymer electrolyte membrane 26 as much as possible with a simple and economical configuration. Therefore, the effect that the fall of the electric power generation performance of the fuel cell 10 can be suppressed is acquired.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 5, the lower end position 34 b of the oxidant gas flow path 34 protrudes below the lower end position of the catalyst application region H of the electrolyte membrane / electrode structure 12 by a distance h <b> 2. Thereby, since the lower end position 34b of the oxidant gas flow path 34 and the lower end position of the catalyst application area | region H shift | deviate, retention of water can be suppressed. Accordingly, it is possible to reliably prevent the water retention portion that is likely to be formed at the lower end position 34b of the oxidant gas flow path 34 from overlapping the catalyst application region H, and the solid swelling of the solid polymer electrolyte membrane 26 is excellent. Can be prevented.

  Further, the lower end positions of the electrode catalyst layers 28b and 30b are shifted from each other in the gravity direction, one is formed in the catalyst application region H, and the other is formed outside (downward) the catalyst application region H. Specifically, the electrode catalyst layer 30b constituting the anode side electrode 30 is formed outside the catalyst application region H, and the electrode catalyst layer 28b constituting the cathode side electrode 28 is formed within the catalyst application region H. Yes. For this reason, it becomes possible to effectively prevent water from concentrating on the front and back of the solid polymer electrolyte membrane 20.

  FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of a main part of a fuel cell 60 according to the second embodiment of the present invention. 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.

  The fuel cell 60 is configured by sandwiching an electrolyte membrane / electrode structure 62 between a first separator 64 and a second separator 66. The electrolyte membrane / electrode structure 62 sandwiches the solid polymer electrolyte membrane 26 between the cathode side electrode 28 and the anode side electrode 30. The cathode side electrode 28 and the anode side electrode 30 are set to have the same surface area, and the solid polymer electrolyte membrane 26 is set to have a larger surface area than the cathode side electrode 28 and the anode side electrode 30.

  The lower end position 40b of the fuel gas passage 40 and the lower end position 34b of the oxidant gas passage 34 are different in the position in the direction of gravity (arrow C direction). In the second embodiment, the lower end position 34b of the oxidant gas flow path 34 is configured to protrude below the lower end position 40b of the fuel gas flow path 40 by a distance h1.

  In the second embodiment, it is possible to reliably prevent the water retention portions that are likely to be formed on the downstream side of the oxidant gas passage 34 and the fuel gas passage 40 from overlapping at the same height position in the gravity direction. it can. For this reason, the solid polymer electrolyte membrane 26 does not swell significantly, the deterioration of the solid polymer electrolyte membrane 26 can be prevented as much as possible with a simple and economical configuration, etc. The same effect as in the embodiment can be obtained.

  In the first and second embodiments, the oxidant gas flow path 34 and the fuel gas flow path 40 are configured in a wave shape, but may be configured in a linear shape.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10, 60 ... Fuel cell 12, 62 ... Electrolyte membrane electrode assembly 14, 16, 64, 66 ... Separator 20a ... Oxidant gas inlet communication hole 20b ... Oxidant gas outlet communication hole 22a ... Fuel gas inlet communication hole 22b ... Fuel gas outlet communication hole 24a ... Cooling medium inlet communication hole 24b ... Cooling medium outlet communication hole 26 ... Solid polymer electrolyte membrane 28 ... Cathode side electrode 28a, 30a ... Gas diffusion layer 28b, 30b ... Electrode catalyst layer 30 ... Anode side electrode 34 ... Oxidant gas passage 34a, 40a ... Wave-like passage groove portions 34b, 40b ... Lower end position 36a, 42a ... Inlet buffer portion 36b, 42b ... Outlet buffer portion 40 ... Fuel gas passage 46 ... Cooling medium passage 50, 52 ... Seal member

Claims (2)

An electrolyte membrane / electrode structure in which an anode side electrode and a cathode side electrode are disposed on both sides of the electrolyte membrane, and a separator are laminated, and a fuel gas is interposed between the anode side electrode and one separator in the direction of gravity. A solid polymer fuel cell in which an oxidant gas for flowing an oxidant gas in the direction of gravity is formed between the cathode side electrode and the other separator. And
The solid polymer fuel cell, wherein a lower end position of the fuel gas flow path and a lower end position of the oxidant gas flow path are set at different positions in the gravity direction.   2. The polymer electrolyte fuel cell according to claim 1, wherein the electrolyte membrane / electrode structure is configured such that a lower end position of a catalyst application region constituting the electrode is a lower end position of the fuel gas passage and an oxidant gas passage. A polymer electrolyte fuel cell, characterized in that the polymer electrolyte fuel cell is set at a position spaced above the lower end position.

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