JP2012190624A - Fuel cell unit - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a fuel cell unit which has two electrolyte membrane/electrode structures, can be positioned and retained easily and correctly, and has an effectively-improved assembly workability with simple and compact structure.SOLUTION: In a fuel cell unit 12 configuring a fuel cell 10, a first electrolyte membrane/electrode structure 14a in which a frame 28 is provided on its outer periphery, a first separator 16, a second electrolyte membrane/electrode structure 14b in which a frame 28 is provided on its outer periphery, a second separator 18 and a third separator 20 are laminated successively, and they are held integrally by a unit holding mechanism 21. Outer peripheries of the second separator 18 and the third separator 20 are bonded each other.

Description

  The present invention relates to a fuel cell unit having a first electrolyte membrane / electrode structure and a second electrolyte membrane / electrode structure provided with a pair of electrodes on both sides of the electrolyte membrane, a first separator, a second separator, and a third separator. About.

  For example, in a polymer electrolyte fuel cell, an electrolyte membrane / electrode structure (MEA) in which an anode electrode and a cathode electrode are disposed on both sides of an electrolyte membrane made of a polymer ion exchange membrane is sandwiched by separators. ing. This fuel cell is usually used as, for example, an in-vehicle fuel cell stack by being stacked in a predetermined number.

  In a fuel cell, normally, several tens to several hundreds of fuel cells are stacked to constitute a fuel cell stack. At that time, it is necessary to accurately position the fuel cell itself and the fuel cells. For example, a solid polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell disclosed in Patent Document 1 is known.

  As shown in FIG. 10, this fuel cell has a structure in which a fuel cell 1 in which a fuel electrode 1B and an oxidant electrode 1C are disposed on both surfaces of an electrolyte layer 1A is sandwiched between separators 2A and 2B. A battery 3 is provided. In the separators 2A and 2B, a holding pin insertion side holding hole 4a and a retaining ring insertion side holding hole 4b are formed, and in the electrolyte layer 1A, a hole 5 is formed coaxially.

  The holding pin 6 is inserted toward the holding pin insertion side holding hole 4a, the hole portion 5 and the retaining ring insertion side holding hole 4b, and a retaining ring 7 is attached to the distal end portion of the unit cell 3. Are integrally held.

JP 2000-12067 A

  By the way, in the above unit cell 3, when the separators 2A and 2B are overlapped with the fuel cell 1 interposed therebetween, the electrolyte layer 1A is particularly thin. For this reason, the operation of coaxially aligning the hole 5 formed in the electrolyte layer 1A with the holding pin insertion side holding hole 4a and the retaining ring insertion side holding hole 4b becomes complicated.

  In particular, when unit cells including a plurality of, for example, two fuel cells 1 are integrated by the holding pins 6, the positions of the holes 5 formed in each electrolyte layer 1 </ b> A of each fuel cell 1. There is a problem that the alignment work becomes considerably complicated.

  The present invention solves this type of problem, and can easily and reliably position and hold a fuel cell unit having two electrolyte membrane / electrode structures, thereby effectively improving assembly workability. An object of the present invention is to provide a fuel cell unit capable of satisfying the requirements.

  A fuel cell unit according to the present invention includes a first electrolyte membrane / electrode structure and a second electrolyte membrane / electrode structure in which a pair of electrodes are provided on both sides of an electrolyte membrane, and a frame-shaped frame member is provided on an outer peripheral portion; The first electrolyte membrane / electrode structure and the second electrolyte membrane / electrode structure are disposed between the first electrolyte membrane / electrode structure and one reactive gas is allowed to flow through a surface facing the first electrolyte membrane / electrode structure. A first separator in which a reaction gas flow path is formed and a second reaction gas flow path for allowing the other reaction gas to flow through a surface facing the second electrolyte membrane / electrode structure; and the second electrolyte membrane A second separator disposed on the opposite side of the electrode structure from the first separator and having the first reaction gas flow path formed on a surface facing the second electrolyte membrane / electrode structure; Allow the cooling medium to circulate over the separator A third separator that forms a rejection medium flow path, the first electrolyte membrane / electrode structure, the first separator, the second electrolyte membrane / electrode structure, the second separator, and the third separator are stacked in this order. And a unit holding mechanism for holding them integrally.

  In this fuel cell unit, the frame-shaped frame member is a resin member, and the unit holding mechanism includes a caulking pin member formed integrally with one of the frame-shaped frame members, and the other frame-shaped frame member. Preferably, the first separator, the second separator, and the third separator are each formed with a hole portion into which the caulking pin member is integrally inserted.

  Furthermore, in this fuel cell unit, it is preferable that the outer peripheral portions of the second separator and the third separator are joined together.

  In the fuel cell unit according to the present invention, the first electrolyte membrane / electrode structure, the first separator, the second electrolyte membrane / electrode structure, the second separator, and the third separator are stacked in this order, It is integrally held by the mechanism.

  At that time, the first electrolyte membrane / electrode structure and the second electrolyte membrane / electrode structure are provided with a frame-shaped frame member on the outer peripheral portion, so that the positioning operation of the entire fuel cell unit is easily simplified. Therefore, each fuel cell unit can be handled, the manufacturing process of the fuel cell stack in which a plurality of the fuel cell units are stacked is simplified, and the assembly workability of the fuel cell unit and the fuel cell stack is improved. Improves well.

It is a principal part disassembled perspective explanatory drawing of the fuel cell unit which comprises the fuel cell which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is the II-II sectional view taken on the line of the said fuel cell in FIG. It is front explanatory drawing of the 3rd separator which comprises the said fuel cell. It is front explanatory drawing of the 1st separator which comprises the said fuel cell. It is front explanatory drawing of the 2nd separator which comprises the said fuel cell. It is front explanatory drawing of the 1st electrolyte membrane and electrode structure which comprises the said fuel cell. It is front explanatory drawing of the 2nd electrolyte membrane and electrode structure which comprises the said fuel cell. It is the VIII-VIII sectional view taken on the line of the said fuel cell in FIG. It is the IX-IX sectional view taken on the line of the said fuel cell in FIG. 2 is an exploded explanatory view of a fuel cell disclosed in Patent Document 1. FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a fuel cell 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a fuel cell unit 12, and the plurality of fuel cell units 12 are in a horizontal direction (arrow A direction) or a gravitational direction (arrow C direction). Are stacked to form a stack.

  The fuel cell unit 12 is laminated in the order of a first electrolyte membrane / electrode structure (MEA) 14a, a first separator 16, a second electrolyte membrane / electrode structure (MEA) 14b, a second separator 18 and a third separator 20. In addition, these are integrally held by the unit holding mechanism 21.

  The 1st separator 16, the 2nd separator 18, and the 3rd separator 20 are comprised by the metal plate which gave the surface treatment for anticorrosion to the metal surface, for example, a steel plate, a stainless steel plate, an aluminum plate, a plating treatment steel plate. The 1st separator 16, the 2nd separator 18, and the 3rd separator 20 have cross-sectional uneven | corrugated shape by pressing a metal thin plate into a waveform.

  The outer peripheral portion of the second separator 18 and the outer peripheral portion of the third separator 20 are joined by a joining means such as welding, adhesion, brazing, or caulking, and the cooling medium flow path 52 (described later) is hermetically sealed. Is done. The first separator 16, the second separator 18, and the third separator 20 may be carbon separators instead of metal separators.

  The first electrolyte membrane / electrode structure 14a and the second electrolyte membrane / electrode structure 14b include, for example, a solid polymer electrolyte membrane 22 in which a perfluorosulfonic acid thin film is impregnated with water, and the solid polymer electrolyte membrane 22. Are provided with an anode side electrode 24 and a cathode side electrode 26 (see FIG. 2).

  The anode side electrode 24 and the cathode side electrode 26 are uniformly coated on the surface of the gas diffusion layer with a gas diffusion layer (not shown) made of carbon paper or the like and porous carbon particles carrying a platinum alloy on the surface. And an electrode catalyst layer (not shown) formed. The electrode catalyst layers are formed on both surfaces of the solid polymer electrolyte membrane 22.

  The solid polymer electrolyte membrane 22 is set to have a larger surface area than the anode side electrode 24 and the cathode side electrode 26. A resin frame portion (frame-shaped frame member) 28 is integrally formed on the outer peripheral edge portion of the solid polymer electrolyte membrane 22 by, for example, injection molding. As the resin material, engineering plastics, super engineering plastics, etc. are adopted in addition to general-purpose plastics.

  As shown in FIG. 1, an oxidant gas inlet communication hole for supplying an oxidant gas, for example, an oxygen-containing gas, communicates with each other in the arrow A direction at one end edge of the frame part 28 in the arrow B direction. 30a, a cooling medium outlet communication hole 34b for discharging the cooling medium and a fuel gas outlet communication hole 32b for discharging a fuel gas, for example, a hydrogen-containing gas, are arranged in the direction of arrow C (vertical direction). .

  The other end edge of the frame portion 28 in the direction of arrow B communicates with each other in the direction of arrow A, a fuel gas inlet communication hole 32a for supplying fuel gas, and a cooling medium inlet communication hole for supplying a cooling medium. 34a and an oxidizing gas outlet communication hole 30b for discharging the oxidizing gas are arranged in the direction of arrow C.

  The outer peripheries of the first separator 16, the second separator 18, and the third separator 20 are an oxidant gas inlet communication hole 30a, a cooling medium inlet communication hole 34a, a fuel gas outlet communication hole 32b, a fuel gas inlet communication hole 32a, and a cooling medium. They are disposed inside the outlet communication hole 34b and the oxidant gas outlet communication hole 30b (hereinafter also simply referred to as a fluid communication hole).

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, an oxidant gas inlet communication hole 30a and an oxidant gas outlet communication hole 30b are communicated with the surface 20a of the third separator 20 facing the first electrolyte membrane / electrode structure 14a. A first oxidant gas flow path 36 is formed. The first oxidant gas flow channel 36 has a plurality of wave-shaped flow channel grooves extending in the direction of arrow B, and has a plurality of embossments near the inlet and the outlet of the first oxidant gas flow channel 36, respectively. An inlet buffer unit 38 and an outlet buffer unit 40 are provided. The inlet buffer section 38 and the outlet buffer section 40 have a function of uniformly distributing the oxidant gas in the plane from the oxidant gas inlet communication hole 30a.

  At both ends of the third separator 20 in the direction of arrow B, protrusions 42a and 42b projecting corresponding to the oxidant gas inlet communication hole 30a and the oxidant gas outlet communication hole 30b are provided. The protrusion 42a is formed with an undulating inlet channel 44a that connects the oxidant gas inlet communication hole 30a to the first oxidant gas channel 36, while the oxidant gas outlet communication hole 30b is formed in the protrusion 42b. Is formed in a wave shape in the outlet channel 44b communicating with the first oxidant gas channel 36.

  Protruding portions 46a and 46b projecting outward are formed on opposite sides in the center of both end portions in the arrow B direction of the third separator 20. The protrusion 46a is formed with a knock hole 48a and a pair of holes 50a constituting the unit holding mechanism 21 on both sides of the knock hole 48a. The protrusion 46b is formed with a knock hole 48b and a pair of holes 50b that are located on both sides of the knock hole 48b and that constitute the unit holding mechanism 21.

  A cooling medium flow path 52 that connects the cooling medium inlet communication hole 34 a and the cooling medium outlet communication hole 34 b is formed on the surface 20 b of the third separator 20. The cooling medium flow path 52 has a back surface shape of the first oxidant gas flow path 36.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the surface 16a of the first separator 16 facing the first electrolyte membrane / electrode structure 14a has a fuel gas inlet communication hole 32a and a fuel gas outlet communication hole 32b as shown in FIG. A first fuel gas channel 54 that communicates is formed. The first fuel gas channel 54 has a plurality of wave-shaped channel grooves extending in the direction of arrow B. In the vicinity of the inlet and outlet of the first fuel gas channel 54, an inlet buffer 56 and an outlet buffer 58 are provided.

  At both ends of the first separator 16 in the direction of arrow B, protrusions 58a and 58b projecting corresponding to the fuel gas inlet communication hole 32a and the fuel gas outlet communication hole 32b, and the oxidant gas inlet communication hole 30a and the oxidant gas outlet. Protrusions 60a and 60b projecting corresponding to the communication holes 30b are provided. In the surface 16a, the protrusion 58a is formed with an inlet channel 62a that communicates the fuel gas inlet communication hole 32a with the first fuel gas channel 54, while the protrusion 58b has a fuel gas outlet communication hole. An outlet channel 62b that communicates 32b with the first fuel gas channel 54 is formed in a wave shape.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the surface 16b of the first separator 16 facing the second electrolyte membrane / electrode structure 14b is connected to an oxidant gas inlet communication hole 30a and an oxidant gas outlet communication hole 30b. An oxidant gas flow path 64 is formed. The second oxidant gas channel 64 has a plurality of undulating channel grooves extending in the direction of arrow B, and an inlet buffer 66 and an outlet are provided near the inlet and outlet of the second oxidant gas channel 64. A buffer unit 68 is provided.

  On the surface 16b, the protrusion 60a has an oxidant gas inlet communication hole 30a formed in a wave shape in the inlet flow path 70a communicating with the second oxidant gas flow path 64, while the protrusion 60b has an oxidant gas An outlet channel 70b that communicates the outlet communication hole 30b with the second oxidant gas channel 64 is formed in a wave shape.

  Protruding portions 72a and 72b protruding outward are formed at opposite sides at the center of both end portions in the arrow B direction of the first separator 16. As shown in FIG. 4, the projecting portion 72a is formed with a knock hole 74a and a pair of hole portions 76a located on both sides of the knock hole 74a. The projecting portion 72b is formed with a knock hole 74b and a pair of hole portions 76b located on both sides of the knock hole 74b.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the second fuel gas that connects the fuel gas inlet communication hole 32a and the fuel gas outlet communication hole 32b to the surface 18a of the second separator 18 facing the second electrolyte membrane / electrode structure 14b. A channel 78 is formed. The second fuel gas channel 78 has a plurality of wavy channel grooves extending in the direction of arrow B. In the vicinity of the inlet and outlet of the second fuel gas channel 78, an inlet buffer portion 80 and an outlet buffer portion 82 are provided.

  At both ends of the second separator 18 in the direction of arrow B, protrusions 84a and 84b projecting corresponding to the fuel gas inlet communication hole 32a and the fuel gas outlet communication hole 32b, and the cooling medium inlet communication hole 34a and the cooling medium outlet communication hole. Projection portions 86a and 86b projecting corresponding to 34b are provided.

  On the surface 18a, the protrusion 84a is formed with a wave-like inlet passage 88a that connects the fuel gas inlet communication hole 32a to the second fuel gas passage 78, while the protrusion 84b has a fuel gas outlet communication hole. An outlet channel 88 b that communicates 32 b with the second fuel gas channel 78 is formed in a wave shape.

  As shown in FIG. 1, on the surface 18b, the protrusion 86a is formed with an inlet channel 90a that communicates the cooling medium inlet communication hole 34a with the cooling medium channel 52, while the protrusion 86b includes An outlet channel 90b that communicates the cooling medium outlet communication hole 34b with the cooling medium channel 52 is formed in a wave shape.

  The surface 18b is a back surface shape of the second fuel gas channel 78 on the surface 18a side. The surface 18b and the surface 20b of the third separator 20 are overlapped to form the cooling medium flow path 52. An inlet buffer unit 92 and an outlet buffer unit 94 are provided in the vicinity of the inlet and outlet of the cooling medium flow path 52.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 5, outwardly projecting portions 96 a and 96 b are formed on opposite sides at the center of both ends in the arrow B direction of the second separator 18. The projecting portion 96a is formed with a knock hole 98a and a pair of hole portions 100a located on both sides of the knock hole 98a. The protrusion 96b is formed with a knock hole 98b and a pair of holes 100b located on both sides of the knock hole 98b.

  A first seal member 102 is integrally formed on the frame portion 28 of the first electrolyte membrane / electrode structure 14a. As the first seal member 102, for example, a seal material such as EPDM, NBR, fluorine rubber, silicone rubber, fluorosilicone rubber, butyl rubber, natural rubber, styrene rubber, chloroplane or acrylic rubber, a cushion material, or a packing material is used. It is done. In addition, the same material is used for the 2nd seal member demonstrated below.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the first seal member 102 has a first seal portion 102 a that slidably contacts around the outer peripheral edge of the third separator 20 on the surface on the third separator 20 side.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 6, the surface of the first seal member 102 on the side of the first separator 16 has a second seal portion 102b that slidably contacts the periphery of the outer peripheral portion of the first separator 16; A third seal portion 102c that is located outside the outer peripheral portion of the first separator 16 and that is in sliding contact with the frame portion 28 of the adjacent second electrolyte membrane / electrode structure 14b is provided.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the third seal portion 102c is formed so as to be detoured outward at the center on both ends in the direction of arrow C of the first electrolyte membrane / electrode structure 14a. Knock holes 104a and 104b are formed through the opposite side between the detour portion of the third seal portion 102c and the second seal portion 102b.

  On both sides of the knock hole 104a, a caulking pin member 106a that constitutes the unit holding mechanism 21 is provided between the bypass portion of the third seal portion 102c and the second seal portion 102b. On both sides of the knock hole 104b, a caulking pin member 106b that constitutes the unit holding mechanism 21 is provided between the bypass portion of the third seal portion 102c and the second seal portion 102b. The caulking pin members 106a and 106b are integrally formed with the frame portion 28 and project toward the second electrolyte membrane / electrode structure 14b (see FIG. 1).

  On each long side of the first electrolytic membrane / electrode structure 14a, resin guide members 108a are integrally formed with the frame portion 28 on both sides of the knock holes 104a, 104b. The resin guide member 108a can be configured separately from the frame portion 28. A concave relief portion 112 that is spaced inward from the outer peripheral end portion 110a is formed at the outer peripheral end portion 110a of the resin guide member 108a.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 7, a second seal member 114 is integrally formed on the frame portion 28 of the second electrolyte membrane / electrode structure 14b. The second seal member 114 has a first seal portion 114a that circulates around the outer peripheral edge of the second separator 18 on the surface on the second separator 18 side, and an outer periphery of the second separator 18 outward. A second seal portion 114b that is positioned and circumscribes the frame portion 28 of the adjacent first electrolyte membrane / electrode structure 14a.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the second seal portion 114b is formed so as to be detoured outward at the center of both ends in the arrow B direction of the frame portion 28, and the detour portion and the first seal portion of the second seal portion 114b. A knock member 116 is integrally formed with the frame portion 28 between the frame member 114a and the frame 114a.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the knock member 116 includes an outer bulging portion 118 a that bulges toward the first separator 16, and the outer bulging portion 118 a includes the knock hole 74 a of the first separator 16 and the first electrolyte. The membrane electrode assembly 14a is inserted into the knock hole 104a and the knock hole 48a of the third separator 20 integrally. A hole 118c is formed on the inner peripheral side of the outer bulging portion 118a via a stepped portion 118b.

  The knock member 116 has an inner bulging portion 118d that bulges on the opposite side to the outer bulging portion 118a. The inner bulging portion 118d is disposed on the stepped portion 118b of the knock member 116 of the adjacent second electrolyte membrane / electrode structure 14b.

  As shown in FIG. 7, a resin guide member 108b is integrally formed on the frame portion 28 of the second electrolyte membrane / electrode structure 14b. The resin guide member 108b is provided with an outer peripheral end portion 110b, and the outer peripheral end portion 110b is exposed outward from the escape portion 112 provided in the resin guide member 108a of the first electrolyte membrane / electrode structure 14a. ing.

  On both sides of the knock member 116, a pair of hole portions 120a constituting the unit holding mechanism 21 are formed between the bypass portion of the second seal portion 114b and the first seal portion 114a. On both sides of the knock member 116, a pair of hole portions 120b constituting the unit holding mechanism 21 are formed between the bypass portion of the second seal portion 114b and the first seal portion 114a.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the caulking pin member 106 a provided in the frame portion 28 of the first electrolyte membrane / electrode structure 14 a includes the hole 76 a of the first separator 16 and the second electrolyte membrane / electrode structure 14 b. The hole 120a, the hole 100a of the second separator 18 and the hole 50a of the third separator 20 are inserted integrally. A large-diameter head 122 is formed at the tip of the caulking pin member 106a by pressing a welding tip (not shown) while being heated to a predetermined temperature.

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

  As shown in FIG. 1, an oxidant gas such as an oxygen-containing gas supplied to the oxidant gas inlet communication hole 30 a passes through a first inlet channel 44 formed in a protrusion 42 a of the third separator 20. The oxidant gas flow path 36 is supplied. Similarly, the oxidant gas is supplied to the second oxidant gas flow path 64 via the inlet flow path 70 a formed in the protrusion 60 a of the first separator 16.

  The oxidant gas that has flowed through the first oxidant gas flow path 36 is discharged from the outlet flow path 44b formed in the protrusion 42b of the third separator 20 to the oxidant gas outlet communication hole 30b. Similarly, the oxidant gas flowing through the second oxidant gas flow path 64 is discharged from the outlet flow path 70b formed in the protrusion 60b of the first separator 16 to the oxidant gas outlet communication hole 30b.

  On the other hand, the fuel gas such as the hydrogen-containing gas supplied to the fuel gas inlet communication hole 32a is supplied to the first fuel gas channel 54 from the inlet channel 62a formed in the protrusion 58a of the first separator 16. . Similarly, the fuel gas is supplied to the second fuel gas channel 78 from the inlet channel 88 a formed in the protrusion 84 a of the second separator 18.

  The fuel gas flowing through the first fuel gas channel 54 is discharged from the outlet channel 62b formed in the protrusion 58b of the first separator 16 to the fuel gas outlet communication hole 32b. Similarly, the fuel gas flowing through the second fuel gas channel 78 is discharged from the outlet channel 88b formed in the protrusion 84b of the second separator 18 to the fuel gas outlet communication hole 32b.

  In addition, the cooling medium such as pure water, ethylene glycol, or oil supplied to the cooling medium inlet communication hole 34 a is supplied to the cooling medium flow path 52 from the inlet flow path 90 a formed in the protrusion 86 a of the second separator 18. Is done. This cooling medium flows through the cooling medium flow path 52, and then is discharged from the outlet flow path 90b formed in the protrusion 86b to the cooling medium outlet communication hole 34b.

  In this case, in the first embodiment, as shown in FIG. 9, the fuel cell unit 12 includes the first electrolyte membrane / electrode structure 14a, the first separator 16, the second electrolyte membrane / electrode structure 14b, the second The separator 18 and the third separator 20 are stacked in this order, and these are integrally held by the unit holding mechanism 21.

  Specifically, a caulking pin member 106a is integrally formed on the frame portion 28 of the first electrolyte membrane / electrode structure 14a. The caulking pin member 106a is integrated with the hole 76a of the first separator 16, the hole 120a of the second electrolyte membrane / electrode structure 14b, the hole 100a of the second separator 18, and the hole 50a of the third separator 20. After the insertion, the large-diameter head 122 is formed by a welding process.

  Thus, the first electrolyte membrane / electrode structure 14a, the first separator 16, the second electrolyte membrane / electrode structure 14b, the second separator 18 and the third separator 20 can be handled as an integral unit, and the fuel cell The handling workability of the unit 12 is improved satisfactorily. Therefore, the manufacturing process of the fuel cell 10 (fuel cell stack) in which a plurality of fuel cell units 12 are stacked is simplified, and the assembly workability of the fuel cell unit 12 and the fuel cell 10 is improved satisfactorily. An effect is obtained.

  In particular, the first electrolyte membrane / electrode structure 14a and the second electrolyte membrane / electrode structure 14b use a resin frame 28, and the positioning operation of the entire fuel cell unit 12 is easily simplified.

  Furthermore, the outer periphery of the second separator 18 and the third separator 20 is joined by welding or the like. For this reason, the cooling medium flow path 52 can be liquid-tightly configured inside the first separator 18 and the second separator 20, so that a seal for the refrigerant surface is not required, and the simplification of the seal structure is facilitated. It is done.

  In this embodiment, the caulking pin members 106a and 106b are integrally formed with the frame portion 28. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the caulking pin members 106a and 106b are separated from the frame portion 28. You may comprise.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Fuel cell 12 ... Fuel cell unit 14a, 14b ... Electrolyte membrane and electrode structure 16, 18, 20 ... Separator 21 ... Unit holding mechanism 22 ... Solid polymer electrolyte membrane 24 ... Anode side electrode 26 ... Cathode side electrode 28 ... Frame portion 30a ... Oxidant gas inlet communication hole 30b ... Oxidant gas outlet communication hole 32a ... Fuel gas inlet communication hole 32b ... Fuel gas outlet communication hole 34a ... Cooling medium inlet communication hole 34b ... Cooling medium outlet communication hole 36, 64 ... Oxidant gas flow paths 50a, 50b, 76a, 76b, 100a, 100b ... hole 52 ... cooling medium flow paths 54, 78 ... fuel gas flow paths 102, 114 ... sealing members 106a, 106b ... caulking pin members

Claims (3)

A first electrolyte membrane / electrode structure and a second electrolyte membrane / electrode structure in which a pair of electrodes are provided on both sides of the electrolyte membrane, and a frame-like frame member is provided on the outer periphery;
The first electrolyte membrane / electrode structure and the second electrolyte membrane / electrode structure are disposed between the first electrolyte membrane / electrode structure and one reactive gas is allowed to flow through a surface facing the first electrolyte membrane / electrode structure. A first separator in which one reactive gas flow path is formed and a second reactive gas flow path is formed to flow the other reactive gas on a surface facing the second electrolyte membrane / electrode structure;
A second separator disposed on the opposite side of the second electrolyte membrane / electrode structure from the first separator and having the first reactive gas flow path formed on a surface facing the second electrolyte membrane / electrode structure. When,
A third separator that forms a cooling medium flow path that circulates the cooling medium so as to overlap the second separator;
A unit holding mechanism for laminating the first electrolyte membrane / electrode structure, the first separator, the second electrolyte membrane / electrode structure, the second separator, and the third separator in this order and holding them together; ,
A fuel cell unit comprising: The fuel cell unit according to claim 1, wherein the frame-shaped frame member is a resin member,
The unit holding mechanism is a caulking pin member formed integrally with one of the frame-shaped frame members,
Holes formed in the other frame-shaped frame member, the first separator, the second separator, and the third separator, respectively, into which the caulking pin member is integrally inserted;
A fuel cell unit comprising:   3. The fuel cell unit according to claim 1, wherein the second separator and the third separator are integrally joined to each other at an outer peripheral portion thereof. 4.

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