JP2012119171A - Solid polymer fuel cell - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a solid polymer fuel cell in which an electrical short circuit between separators due to water leaking from peripheral edges of a solid polymer electrolyte can be easily prevented at a low cost.SOLUTION: The solid polymer fuel cell comprises: a cell surrounding seal material 131 which is disposed between adjacent separators 120 of a stack 100 and surrounds a seal material 130 for gas circulation sections and a cell 110 so that the seal material 130 for gas circulation sections and peripheral edges of a solid polymer electrolyte 113 of the cell 110 are positioned inside the cell surrounding seal material 131; and an insulating seal material 132 which is disposed on both surfaces of the separators 120 at least between the seal material 130 for gas circulation sections and the cell surrounding seal material 131 and has insulating properties.

Description

  The present invention relates to a polymer electrolyte fuel cell.

  The polymer electrolyte fuel cell includes a fuel electrode having conductivity and gas permeability and a cell sandwiching a solid polymer electrolyte having proton conductivity at an oxidation electrode, and a fuel gas circulation part formed on one surface and the other. And a separator having conductivity, the fuel gas circulation part of the separator is opposed to the fuel electrode of the cell, and the oxidation gas circulation part of the separator is made to be the oxidation electrode of the cell. A stack in which a plurality of cells and separators are alternately stacked so as to face each other, and a fuel gas containing hydrogen gas circulates in the fuel gas circulation part of the separator of the stack, and an oxidizing gas containing oxygen gas When flowing in the oxidizing gas distribution part of the separator of the stack, hydrogen gas in the fuel gas and oxygen gas in the oxidizing gas are electrochemically reacted in the cell. And response, which both generates the water, and is capable of generating electric power.

JP 2008-078104 A JP 2009-181713 A

  By the way, in the stack of polymer electrolyte fuel cells as described above, in order to prevent leakage of fuel gas and oxidizing gas, the separators of adjacent separators are surrounded so as to surround the gas circulation part of the surface of the separator. A gas sealing material is disposed therebetween.

  More specifically, as shown in FIG. 7, the cell 10 includes the solid polymer electrolyte 13 in the fuel electrode such that the periphery of the solid polymer electrolyte 13 protrudes from the peripheral edges of the fuel electrode 11 and the oxidation electrode 12. 11 and the oxidation electrode 12 are opposed to each other. The opposing separator 20 sandwiches and supports the fuel electrode 11 and the oxidation electrode 12 of the cell 10 in the gas circulation part, and the solid polymer electrolyte 13. The peripheral edge protruding is sandwiched and supported via a sealing material 30.

  In such a polymer electrolyte fuel cell, when the water 3 is generated in the cell 10 along with the power generation operation, the water 3 leaks from the peripheral edge of the solid polymer electrolyte 13 and is opposed to the water. It may be interposed between the separators 20. At this time, if impurities such as metal ions are mixed in the water 3 interposed between the separators 20, there is a problem that the separators 20 are electrically short-circuited and the power generation performance is deteriorated. there were.

  In view of the above, the present invention provides a solid polymer fuel cell that can easily prevent electrical short circuit between separators due to water leaking from the peripheral edge of the solid polymer electrolyte at low cost. The purpose is to do.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the solid polymer fuel cell according to the first invention is a cell in which a solid polymer electrolyte is sandwiched between a fuel electrode and an oxidation electrode, and a fuel gas circulation part is formed on one surface. A separator having an oxidant gas circulation part formed on the other surface thereof, the fuel gas circulation part of the separator facing the fuel electrode of the cell, and the oxidant gas circulation part of the separator A plurality of the cells and the separators are alternately stacked so as to face the oxidation electrode of the cell, and between the adjacent separators so as to surround the gas circulation part on the surface of the separator. In a polymer electrolyte fuel cell including a stack in which a gas flow portion sealing material is disposed, the gas flow portion seal disposed between the separators adjacent to the stack. And the gas-circulating portion sealing material and the cell-enclosing sealing material surrounding the cell so that the peripheral edge of the solid polymer electrolyte of the cell is located inside, the one surface and the other of the separator An insulating sealing material having insulating properties disposed between at least the gas circulation portion sealing material and the cell surrounding sealing material on at least one surface side of the surface.

  The polymer electrolyte fuel cell according to a second aspect of the present invention is the first aspect of the invention, wherein the gas circulation portion sealing material between the separators adjacent to each other in the stack and the cell surrounding sealing material are between Water removal gas supply means for supplying the water removal gas to the stack so as to circulate the water removal gas, the gas circulation portion sealing material between the separators adjacent to the stack, and the cell surrounding Water removal gas recovery means for recovering the water removal gas flowing between the sealing material and the water together with the water from the stack is provided.

  The polymer electrolyte fuel cell according to a third aspect of the present invention is the solid polymer fuel cell according to the first aspect, wherein the gas circulation portion sealing material between the separators adjacent to each other in the stack and the cell surrounding sealing material. Impurity-removing water supply means for supplying the impurity-removing water to the stack so that the impurity-removing water is circulated, the gas circulation part sealing material between the separators adjacent to the stack, and the cell-enclosing sealing material It is characterized by comprising impurity removal water recovery means for recovering the impurity removal water circulated from the stack from the stack and impurity removal means for removing impurities from the impurity removal water.

  According to the polymer electrolyte fuel cell according to the present invention, the peripheral edge of the solid polymer electrolyte of the cell is surrounded by the cell surrounding sealing material, and between the gas circulation portion sealing material and the cell surrounding sealing material. Since the surface of the separator is insulated with an insulating sealing material, water generated in the cell along with power generation and leaking from the peripheral edge of the solid polymer electrolyte leaks to the outside of the cell enclosing sealing material. In addition, there is no electrical contact with the surface of the separator, so even if impurities such as metal ions are mixed in the water, it is possible to prevent electrical shorting between the separators. It is possible to easily prevent the power generation performance from being lowered at a low cost.

It is a schematic block diagram of the separator of 1st embodiment of the polymer electrolyte fuel cell which concerns on this invention. FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line II-II in FIG. 1. It is a schematic block diagram of the separator of 2nd embodiment of the polymer electrolyte fuel cell which concerns on this invention. FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line IV-IV in FIG. 3. It is a schematic block diagram of the principal part of 2nd embodiment of the polymer electrolyte fuel cell which concerns on this invention. It is a schematic block diagram of the separator of 3rd embodiment of the polymer electrolyte fuel cell which concerns on this invention. FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along the line IIV-IIV in FIG. 6. It is a schematic block diagram of the principal part of 3rd embodiment of the polymer electrolyte fuel cell which concerns on this invention. It is an extraction expanded sectional view of the principal part of the stack of an example of the conventional polymer electrolyte fuel cell.

  Embodiments of a polymer electrolyte fuel cell according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the following embodiments described with reference to the drawings.

[First embodiment]
A first embodiment of a polymer electrolyte fuel cell according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the solid polymer fuel cell according to this embodiment includes a cell 110 in which a solid polymer electrolyte 113 is sandwiched between a fuel electrode 111 and an oxide electrode 112 having conductivity and gas permeability, A separator 120 having a fuel gas flow part 121 formed on one surface and an oxidant gas flow part 122 formed on the other surface. The fuel gas flow part 121 of the separator 120 is connected to the fuel electrode 111 of the cell 110. A plurality of cells 110 and separators 120 are alternately stacked so that the oxidizing gas circulation part 122 of the separator 120 faces the oxidation electrode 112 of the cell 110 and the gas circulation part 121 on the surface of the separator 120. , 122 is disposed between the adjacent separators 120 so as to enclose the periphery of the gas circulation part sealing material 130 made of a polymer material. In the polymer electrolyte fuel cell provided with the tack 100, the gas circulation portion sealing material 130 and the peripheral edge of the solid polymer electrolyte 113 of the cell 110 are located on the inner side, between the separators 120 adjacent to each other in the stack 100. The cell surrounding sealing material 131 made of a polymer material surrounding the gas circulation portion sealing material 130 and the cell 110 so that the gas surrounding portion sealing material 130 and the cell surrounding sealing material 110 are interposed between the sealing material 130 and the cell surrounding sealing material 110. And an insulating sealing material 132 made of an insulating polymer material disposed on both surfaces of the separator 120.

  In the cell 110, the solid polymer electrolyte 113 is larger than the fuel electrode 111 and the oxidation electrode 112 so that the periphery of the solid polymer electrolyte 113 protrudes from the peripheral edges of the fuel electrode 111 and the oxidation electrode 112. It has become.

  The separator 120 is disposed so as to face the fuel electrode 111 and the oxidizing electrode 112 of the cell 110 with the fuel gas circulation part 121 and the oxidizing gas circulation part 122 interposed therebetween, and the separator 120 supports the separator 120. The protruding peripheral edge of the solid polymer electrolyte 113 is sandwiched and supported via the gas circulation portion sealing material 130.

  The separator 120 is formed such that a fuel gas supply manifold 123 for supplying a fuel gas containing hydrogen gas communicates with the fuel gas circulation part 121 on the inner side, and the separator 120 is circulated through the fuel gas circulation part 121. A fuel gas discharge manifold 124 for discharging the fuel gas is formed so as to communicate with the fuel gas circulation part 121 on the inner side, and an oxidation gas supply manifold 125 for supplying an oxidation gas containing oxygen gas is formed by the oxidation gas circulation part 122. And an oxidizing gas discharge manifold 126 for discharging the oxidizing gas flowing through the oxidizing gas circulation part 122 is formed so as to communicate with the oxidizing gas circulation part 122 on the inner side. A temperature control water supply manifold 127 for supplying water is shaped so as to communicate with an internal temperature control water distribution section (not shown). And a temperature-controlled water discharge manifold 128 for discharging the temperature-controlled water flowing through the temperature-controlled water circulation part is formed to communicate with the temperature-controlled water circulation part, and surrounds the periphery of the manifolds 123 to 128 As described above, manifold sealing materials 133 to 138 are disposed between adjacent ones (known structure).

  The insulating sealing material 132 has portions of the gas circulation portions 121 and 122 and the manifolds 123 to 128 with respect to the surface of the plate-like separator 120 on which the gas circulation portions 121 and 122 and the manifolds 123 to 128 are formed. By forming and positioning an insulating polymer material so as to remove the film, it can be easily provided at low cost.

  As in the case of the manifold sealing materials 133 to 138, the cell surrounding sealing material 131 is formed on the one or the other surface of the separator 120 provided with the insulating sealing material 132. And by arranging with the cell 110, it can be easily provided at low cost.

  In such a polymer electrolyte fuel cell according to this embodiment, temperature-controlled water adjusted to the operating temperature is supplied to the stack 100, and the temperature-controlled water circulation is supplied via the temperature-controlled water supply manifold 127. By circulating the temperature-controlled water in the section, the stack 100 is maintained at the operating temperature, and when the fuel gas containing hydrogen gas and the oxidizing gas containing oxygen gas are supplied to the stack 100, the fuel gas is removed from the separator. The fuel gas is supplied to the fuel electrode 111 of the cell 110 through the fuel gas circulation part 121 via the fuel gas supply manifold 123 of 120 and the oxidizing gas is supplied to the oxidizing gas supply manifold 125 of the separator 120. Through the oxidizing gas circulation part 122 and supplied to the oxidation electrode 112 of the cell 110. , And oxygen gas of the fuel hydrogen gas and the oxidizing gas in the gas is electrochemically react in the cell 110, the power is generated, the water 3 is generated.

  The used fuel gas that has flowed through the fuel gas flow part 121 is discharged to the outside of the stack 100 through the fuel gas discharge manifold 124, and the used oxidizing gas that has flowed through the oxidizing gas flow part 122 is The exhaust gas is discharged to the outside of the stack 100 through the oxidizing gas discharge manifold 126. Further, the temperature-controlled water that has circulated in the temperature-controlled water distribution unit is discharged from the temperature-controlled water discharge manifold 128 to the outside of the stack 100.

  When the power generation operation is performed as described above, the water 3 generated in the cell 110 may leak from the peripheral edge of the solid polymer electrolyte 113. However, the peripheral edge of the solid polymer electrolyte 113 is surrounded by the cell surrounding sealing material 131 and the surface of the separator 120 between the gas circulation portion sealing material 130 and the cell surrounding sealing material 110. Since the top is insulated by the insulating sealing material 132, the water 3 leaked from the peripheral edge of the solid polymer electrolyte 113 does not leak to the outside of the cell enclosing sealing material 110, and the separator There is no electrical contact with the surface of 120.

  For this reason, even if impurities such as metal ions are mixed in the water 3, it is possible to prevent the separators 120 from being electrically short-circuited, and to prevent a decrease in power generation performance.

  Therefore, according to this embodiment, an electrical short circuit between the separators 120 due to the water 3 leaking from the peripheral edge of the solid polymer electrolyte 113 can be easily prevented at low cost.

[Second Embodiment]
A second embodiment of the polymer electrolyte fuel cell according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. However, for the same parts as the first embodiment described above, the same reference numerals as those used in the description of the first embodiment described above are used, so that the first embodiment described above is used. A description overlapping with the description is omitted.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, the polymer electrolyte fuel cell according to the present embodiment is a polymer electrolyte fuel cell including a stack 200 in which a plurality of the cells 110 and separators 220 are alternately stacked. A cell surrounding sealing material 131 and the insulating sealing material 132; and further, between the gas circulation portion sealing material 130 between the adjacent separators 220 of the stack 200 and the cell surrounding sealing material 131. Between the tank 241, the blower 242, etc., which are the water removal gas supply means for supplying the water removal gas 21 to the stack 200 so that the water removal gas 21 circulates, and the separator 220 adjacent to the stack 200. The water removal gas 21 circulated between the gas circulation portion sealing material 130 and the cell surrounding sealing material 131 is stacked together with water 3. 00 is a water removing gas recovery means for recovering from the tank 241, and a gas-liquid separator 243 and the like.

  The separator 220 includes a water-removing gas supply manifold 221 that passes between one surface side and the other surface side between the gas circulation portion sealing material 130 and the cell surrounding sealing material 131 and the water. A plurality of gas removal manifolds 222 for removal are formed, and a plurality of the cells 110 are alternately stacked as the stack 200, whereby the water removal gas supply manifolds 221 communicate with each other and the water removal gas discharge manifold 222 is formed. They communicate with each other.

  The stack 200 is connected to the water removal gas supply manifold 221 of the separator 220 through a blower 242 and a tank 241 that stores therein a water removal gas 21 made of an inert gas such as nitrogen gas. The tank 241 is connected to the water removal gas discharge manifold 222 of the separator 220 via a gas-liquid separator 243. In FIG. 5, reference numeral 243a denotes a drain valve.

  In such a polymer electrolyte fuel cell according to this embodiment, the stack 200 generates power and water 3 is generated in the cell 110 by operating in the same manner as in the above-described embodiment. .

  When the blower 242 is operated together with the power generation operation, the water removal gas 21 in the tank 241 is supplied to the stack 200, and the water removal gas supply manifold 221 of the separator 200 is Through the gas-circulating portion sealing material 130 and the cell-enclosing sealing material 131 between the separators 200 adjacent to each other. The water 3 leaked between the gas circulation portion sealing material 130 and the cell surrounding sealing material 131 is washed away from the peripheral edge of the solid polymer electrolyte 113, and the water 3 and the water removal gas discharge manifold 222 are passed through together with the water 3. The water 3 is discharged to the outside of the stack 200 and separated by the gas-liquid separator 243, and then returned to the tank 241. That.

  That is, in this embodiment, the gas 21 is circulated between the gas circulation part sealing material 130 and the cell surrounding sealing material 131 between the separators 200 adjacent to each other, thereby The water 3 interposed between the sealing material 130 and the cell surrounding sealing material 131 can be discharged to the outside of the stack 300.

  Therefore, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to obtain the same effect as in the case of the first embodiment described above, and more reliably prevent an electrical short circuit than in the case of the first embodiment described above. Can be prevented.

[Third embodiment]
A third embodiment of the polymer electrolyte fuel cell according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. However, parts similar to those in the first and second embodiments described above are denoted by the same reference numerals as those used in the description of the first and second embodiments described above, whereby the first and second embodiments described above are used. Description overlapping with that in the second embodiment is omitted.

  As shown in FIGS. 6 to 8, the polymer electrolyte fuel cell according to this embodiment includes a stack 300 in which a plurality of the cells 110 and separators 320 are alternately stacked. In addition to the cell surrounding sealing material 131 and the insulating sealing material 132, the cell surrounding sealing material 131 between the separators 320 adjacent to each other in the stack 300 and the cell surrounding sealing material 131. The impurity removal water supply means supplies the impurity removal water 31 to the stack 300 so that the impurity removal water 31 is circulated, and the gas circulation portion sealing material 130 between the separators 320 adjacent to each other in the stack 300 The impurity-removing water 31 that has circulated between the cell-enclosing sealing material 131 is not recovered from the stack 300. As an object removing water collecting means, reservoir 351 includes a like pump 352, an impurity remover 353 is an impurity removing means for removing impurities from within the impurity removal water 31.

  The separator 320 includes an impurity removal water supply manifold 321 penetrating between one surface side and the other surface side between the gas circulation portion sealing material 130 and the cell surrounding sealing material 131 and the impurity removal. A plurality of water discharge manifolds 322 are formed, and a plurality of the cells 110 are alternately stacked as the stack 300, whereby the impurity removal water supply manifolds 321 communicate with each other and the impurity removal water discharge manifolds 322 communicate with each other. It is like that.

  In the stack 300, a water storage tank 351 having a temperature controller 351 a for storing the impurity removal water 31 inside the impurity removal water supply manifold 321 of the separator 320 and controlling the temperature of the impurity removal water 31 is provided with a pump 352. The water storage tank 351 is connected to the impurity removal water discharge manifold 322 of the separator 220 via an impurity remover 353 having an ion exchange resin for removing metal ions as impurities.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 8, a valve 362 is provided between the impurity removal water 31 outlet of the stack 300 and the impurity remover 353. The discharge port of the impurity removal water 31 of the stack 300 and the valve 362 are connected (bypassed) via the valve 363 between the impurity remover 353 and the water storage tank 351.

  The water tank 351 is provided with a conductivity meter 361 that is a conductivity measuring means for measuring the conductivity of the impurity removing water 31 in the water tank 351. The conductivity meter 361 is electrically connected to an input unit of a control device 360 that is a control means. The output unit of the control device 360 is electrically connected to the valves 362 and 363, and the control device 360 controls the opening and closing of the valves 362 and 363 based on information from the conductivity meter 361. (Details will be described later).

  In such a polymer electrolyte fuel cell according to this embodiment, the stack 300 generates power and water 3 is generated in the cell 110 by operating in the same manner as in the above-described embodiment. .

  When the control device 360 is operated together with the power generation operation, the control device 360 initially controls the opening and closing of the valves 362 and 363 so that the valve 362 is closed and the valve 363 is opened. Do. In addition, when the temperature controller 351a of the water storage tank 351 is operated to adjust the temperature of the impurity removal water 31 to substantially the same temperature as the temperature control water, and the pump 352 is operated, the water storage tank 351 The impurity-removing water 31 is fed to the stack 300, and the gas-flow-portion sealant 130 and the cell between the separators 300 adjacent to each other through the impurity-removing water supply manifold 321 of the separator 300. By circulating between the sealing material 131 for enveloping, it is generated along with the power generation operation, and from the peripheral edge of the solid polymer electrolyte 113 of the cell 110, the sealing material 130 for the gas circulation part and the cell enclosing Together with the water 3 leaked between the sealing material 131 and the impurities such as metal ions, the impurities are removed via the water draining manifold 322 for removing impurities. Is discharged to the outside of the stack 300, it is returned to the tank 241.

  As the impurity removal water 31 is circulated in the stack 300 in this way, the impurity concentration (metal ion concentration) in the impurity removal water 31 in the water tank 351 increases, that is, the impurities When the conductivity of the removal water 31 rises and exceeds the upper threshold, the control device 360 opens the valve 362 and closes the valve 363 based on information from the conductivity meter 361. Open / close control of the valves 362 and 363 is performed.

  Accordingly, the impurity removing water 31 discharged to the outside from the stack 300 flows through the impurity remover 353 and is removed from the impurities, and then returned to the water storage tank 351.

  Then, when the impurity concentration (metal ion concentration) in the impurity removing water 31 in the water storage tank 351 is lowered, that is, when the conductivity of the impurity removing water 31 decreases and becomes less than the lower limit threshold, the control device 360 controls the opening and closing of the valves 362 and 363 so that the valve 362 is closed again and the valve 363 is opened again based on the information from the conductivity meter 361.

  Thereby, the impurity removal water 31 discharged to the outside from the stack 300 is bypassed and returned to the water storage tank 351 without passing through the impurity remover 353.

  Hereinafter, by repeating the above-described operation, the solid height of the cell 110 is interposed between the gas circulation portion sealing material 130 and the cell surrounding sealing material 131 between the separators 300 adjacent to each other in the stack 300. Impurities such as metal ions existing between the gas circulation part sealing material 130 and the cell surrounding sealing material 131 together with the water 3 leaked from the molecular electrolyte 113 are discharged to the outside of the stack 300.

  That is, in this embodiment, the gas removal portion 31 is circulated between the gas circulation portion sealing material 130 and the cell surrounding sealing material 131 between the separators 200 adjacent to each other, thereby the gas circulation. Thus, impurities such as metal ions existing between the part sealing material 130 and the cell surrounding sealing material 131 can be discharged to the outside of the stack 300.

  Therefore, according to the present embodiment, the same effects as those of the first and second embodiments described above can be obtained.

[Other Embodiments]
In the above-described embodiment, the case where the insulating sealing material 132 is provided on the entire portion of the separators 120, 220, and 320 excluding the gas circulation portions 121 and 122 and the manifolds 123 to 128 has been described. As another embodiment, for example, an insulating sealing material may be provided only between the sealing material for the gas circulation part of the separator and the sealing material for the cell surrounding.

  In the above-described embodiment, the case where the insulating sealing material 132 is provided on both the one surface and the other surface of the separators 120, 220, and 320 has been described. As another embodiment, for example, The insulating seal may be provided only on one of the one surface and the other surface of the separator.

  In the second embodiment described above, the water removal gas 21 in the tank 241 is fed into the stack 200 by the blower 242 and the water removal gas 21 discharged from the stack 200 is supplied. The case where the water removal gas 21 is circulated and used by returning the water removal gas 21 into the tank 241 after separating the water 3 from the gas-liquid separator 243 is described as another embodiment. For example, the water removing gas in the cylinder is fed into the stack, and the water removing gas discharged from the stack is discharged out of the system as it is, so that the water removing gas is circulated and used. It is also possible to use only one-through without any problem.

  Further, in the second embodiment described above, the case where an inert gas such as nitrogen gas is used as the water removing gas has been described. However, as another embodiment, for example, a fuel gas such as hydrogen gas, It is also possible to use an oxidizing gas such as oxygen gas or air as the water removing gas.

  Since the solid polymer fuel cell according to the present invention can easily prevent electrical short circuit between separators due to water leaking from the peripheral edge of the solid polymer electrolyte at low cost, It can be used extremely beneficially.

3 Water 21 Water removal gas 31 Impurity removal water 100 Stack 110 Cell 111 Fuel electrode 112 Oxidation electrode 113 Solid polymer electrolyte 120 Separator 121 Fuel gas circulation part 122 Oxidation gas circulation part 123 Fuel gas supply manifold 124 Fuel gas discharge manifold 125 Oxidation Gas supply manifold 126 Oxidizing gas discharge manifold 127 Temperature-controlled water supply manifold 128 Temperature-controlled water discharge manifold 130 Gas-flow-portion seal material 131 Cell-enclosing seal material 132 Insulation seal material 133-138 Manifold seal material 200 Stack 220 Separator 221 Water Gas supply manifold for removal 222 Gas discharge manifold for water removal 241 Tank 242 Blower 243 Gas-liquid separator 243a Drain valve 300 Stack 320 Separate 321 Impurity removal water supply manifold 322 Impurity removal water discharge manifold 351 Reservoir 351a Temperature controller 352 Pump 353 Impurity remover 360 Controller 361 Conductivity meter 362, 363 Valve

Claims (3)

A cell having a solid polymer electrolyte sandwiched between a fuel electrode and an oxidation electrode, and a separator having a fuel gas circulation part formed on one surface and an oxidation gas circulation part formed on the other surface, A plurality of the cells and the separators are alternately stacked so that the fuel gas circulation part faces the fuel electrode of the cell and the oxidizing gas circulation part of the separator faces the oxidation electrode of the cell. In addition, in a polymer electrolyte fuel cell including a stack in which a gas flow portion sealing material is disposed between adjacent separators so as to surround the gas flow portion on the surface of the separator,
The gas circulation part sealing material and the cell, which are disposed between the separators adjacent to each other in the stack so that the gas polymer circulation member and the peripheral edge of the solid polymer electrolyte of the cell are positioned inside. A sealing material for enclosing the cell,
Insulating sealing material having insulating properties disposed between at least the sealing member for gas circulation part and the sealing material for cell surrounding on at least one of the one surface and the other surface of the separator And a polymer electrolyte fuel cell. The polymer electrolyte fuel cell according to claim 1, wherein
Water removal supplying the water removal gas to the stack so that the water removal gas is circulated between the gas circulation portion sealing material and the cell surrounding sealing material between the separators adjacent to each other in the stack. Gas supply means;
Water removal gas recovery means for recovering from the stack together with water the water removal gas that has flowed between the gas circulation portion sealing material between the separators adjacent to the stack and the cell surrounding sealing material; A polymer electrolyte fuel cell comprising: The polymer electrolyte fuel cell according to claim 1, wherein
Impurity removal water supply for supplying the impurity removal water to the stack so that the impurity removal water is circulated between the gas circulation portion sealing material between the separators adjacent to the stack and the cell surrounding sealing material. Means,
Impurity-removing water recovery means for recovering from the stack the impurity-removing water that has flowed between the gas-circulating portion sealing material between the separators adjacent to the stack and the cell-enclosing sealing material;
A solid polymer fuel cell, comprising: an impurity removing unit that removes impurities from the impurity removing water.

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