JP2017076512A - Method for manufacturing thermally insulative member of fuel cell stack - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make possible to manufacture a separator member making a thermally insulative member simply and economically.SOLUTION: A fuel cell stack 10 comprises a power generation cell 12 having a resin frame-attached electrolyte membrane-electrode structure 28, and a first separator 30 and a second separator 32 holding the resin frame-attached electrolyte membrane-electrode structure therebetween. A method for manufacturing the second thermally insulative member 82a comprises the steps of: press-molding a separator for forming a power generation cell 12; cutting the outer periphery of the press molded separator by a laser beam machine; and plating, with gold, both faces of the separator with the outer periphery cut.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

  The present invention provides a heat insulating member for a fuel cell stack, including a power generation cell having an electrolyte / electrode structure in which electrodes are disposed on both sides of an electrolyte membrane and a separator, and a laminate in which a plurality of the power generation cells are stacked. Regarding the method.

  For example, a polymer electrolyte fuel cell has an electrolyte membrane / electrode structure (MEA) in which an anode electrode is disposed on one surface of an electrolyte membrane made of a polymer ion exchange membrane and a cathode electrode is disposed on the other surface. It has. The electrolyte membrane / electrode structure constitutes a power generation cell by being sandwiched between separators (bipolar plates). A fuel cell is usually incorporated in a fuel cell vehicle (fuel cell electric vehicle or the like) as a vehicle fuel cell stack, for example, by stacking a predetermined number of power generation cells.

  In the fuel cell stack, there is a power generation cell in which a temperature drop is likely to be caused by heat radiation to the outside as compared with other power generation cells. For example, a power generation cell (hereinafter also referred to as an end power generation cell) arranged at the end in the stacking direction has a large amount of heat released from a power extraction terminal plate (current collector plate), end plate, etc. Has become prominent.

  In view of this, for example, a fuel cell stack disclosed in Patent Document 1 has been proposed for the purpose of reliably preventing a temperature drop of the end power generation cells with a simple configuration. In this fuel cell stack, a recess is formed in the insulating member, and a heat insulating member and a terminal plate are accommodated in the recess. The heat insulating member includes a metal plate obtained by cutting the outer periphery of the separator constituting the power generation cell into a frame shape.

JP 2013-149595 A

  By the way, when manufacturing said metal plate, the method of wire-cutting the outer peripheral part of a separator is normally employ | adopted using a wire electric discharge machine. However, at the time of wire cutting in water, so-called contamination, in which cutting waste adheres to the metal plate, may occur and product quality may deteriorate. In addition, there is a problem that the processing time tends to be long and the manufacturing cost of the metal plate increases.

  An object of the present invention is to solve this type of problem, and to provide a method of manufacturing a heat insulating member for a fuel cell stack, which can easily and economically manufacture a separator member constituting the heat insulating member. To do.

  The fuel cell stack to which the heat insulating member manufacturing method according to the present invention is applied includes a power generation cell having an electrolyte / electrode structure in which electrodes are disposed on both sides of an electrolyte membrane, and a metal separator. A heat insulating member including a separator member and a terminal plate are accommodated in the recess of the insulator at both ends in the stacking direction of the stacked body in which a plurality of power generation cells are stacked, and an end plate is disposed outside the stacking direction of the insulator. ing.

  This heat insulation member manufacturing method has the process of press-molding the metal separator which comprises a power generation cell. Furthermore, it has the process of cut | disconnecting the outer periphery of the press-molded metal separator with a laser processing machine, and the process of giving a gold plating process to both surfaces of the said metal separator from which the said outer periphery was cut | disconnected.

  Moreover, in this heat insulating member manufacturing method, it is preferable that the gold plating treatment includes a gold plating pretreatment in which a surface treatment is performed on both surfaces of a metal separator whose outer periphery is cut.

  According to the present invention, since the outer periphery of the metal separator is laser-cut, for example, a cutting process that is shorter and more economical than that in the case of wire cutting is performed. Moreover, burrs that are likely to occur during laser cutting are removed during the gold plating process. Therefore, a dedicated deburring process is not required. Thereby, it becomes possible to manufacture the separator member which comprises a heat insulation member easily and economically.

It is a perspective explanatory view of the fuel cell stack to which the heat insulation member manufacturing method concerning a 1st embodiment of the present invention is applied. FIG. 2 is a partially exploded schematic perspective view of the fuel cell stack. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the fuel cell stack taken along line III-III in FIG. 2. It is a disassembled perspective explanatory drawing of the electric power generation cell which comprises the said fuel cell stack. It is a schematic perspective explanatory drawing of the press apparatus used for the said heat insulation member manufacturing method. It is a perspective explanatory drawing of the shaping | molding plate press-processed by the said press apparatus. It is a schematic perspective explanatory drawing of the laser cutter used for the said heat insulation member manufacturing method. It is a perspective explanatory view of a corrugated plate whose outer periphery is cut into a frame shape by the laser cutter. It is a schematic perspective explanatory drawing of the plating tank for gold plating used for the said heat insulation member manufacturing method. It is a perspective explanatory view of the 2nd heat insulation member manufactured by the heat insulation member manufacturing method concerning a 2nd embodiment of the present invention. It is a perspective explanatory drawing of the shaping | molding plate press-processed by the said press apparatus.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the fuel cell stack 10 to which the heat insulating member manufacturing method according to the first embodiment of the present invention is applied has a plurality of power generation cells 12 in the horizontal direction (arrow A direction) or the direction of gravity. A stacked body 14 stacked in the direction of arrow C is provided. The fuel cell stack 10 is mounted on a fuel cell vehicle such as a fuel cell electric vehicle (not shown), for example.

  A terminal plate 16a, an insulator (insulating plate) 18a, and an end plate 20a are sequentially disposed at one end in the stacking direction (arrow A direction) of the stacked body 14 (see FIG. 2). At the other end in the stacking direction of the stacked body 14, a terminal plate 16b, an insulator (insulating plate) 18b, and an end plate 20b are sequentially disposed outward.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the end plates 20 a and 20 b have a horizontally long (or vertically long) rectangular shape, and a connecting bar 24 is disposed between each side. Each connecting bar 24 is fixed at both ends to the inner surfaces of the end plates 20a and 20b via bolts 26, and applies a tightening load in the stacking direction (arrow A direction) to the plurality of stacked power generation cells 12. Note that the fuel cell stack 10 may include a housing having end plates 20a and 20b as end plates, and the stacked body 14 may be accommodated in the housing.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the power generation cell 12 has a resin frame-attached electrolyte membrane / electrode structure 28 sandwiched between a first separator 30 and a second separator 32. The first separator 30 and the second separator 32 are formed by, for example, pressing a corrugated cross section of a steel plate, a stainless steel plate, an aluminum plate, a plated steel plate, or a metal thin plate having a metal surface subjected to a surface treatment for anticorrosion. Is done.

  One end edge of the power generation cell 12 in the arrow B direction (horizontal direction in FIG. 4), which is the long side direction, communicates with each other in the arrow A direction (stacking direction), and the oxidant gas inlet communication hole 34a, cooling medium An inlet communication hole 36a and a fuel gas outlet communication hole 38b are provided. The oxidant gas inlet communication hole 34a, the cooling medium inlet communication hole 36a, and the fuel gas outlet communication hole 38b are arranged in the direction of arrow C, and the oxidant gas inlet communication hole 34a is formed of an oxidant gas such as oxygen. Supply the contained gas. The cooling medium inlet communication hole 36a supplies a cooling medium, and the fuel gas outlet communication hole 38b discharges a fuel gas, for example, a hydrogen-containing gas.

  A fuel gas inlet communication hole 38a, a coolant outlet communication hole 36b, and an oxidant gas outlet communication hole 34b communicate with each other in the arrow A direction at the other end edge of the power generation cell 12 in the arrow B direction. Are provided in an array. The fuel gas inlet communication hole 38a supplies fuel gas, the cooling medium outlet communication hole 36b discharges the cooling medium, and the oxidant gas outlet communication hole 34b discharges the oxidant gas.

  For example, a fuel gas flow path 40 extending in the direction of arrow B is formed on the surface 30a of the first separator 30 facing the electrolyte membrane / electrode structure 28 with a resin frame. The fuel gas passage 40 communicates with the fuel gas inlet communication hole 38a and the fuel gas outlet communication hole 38b. The fuel gas flow path 40 has a plurality of straight flow path grooves (or wavy flow path grooves) extending in the direction of arrow B. Between the fuel gas inlet communication hole 38a and the fuel gas flow path 40, an inlet buffer portion 41a having a plurality of embossed portions is provided. Between the fuel gas outlet communication hole 38b and the fuel gas flow path 40, an outlet buffer part 41b having a plurality of embossed parts is provided.

  On the surface 32a of the second separator 32 facing the electrolyte membrane / electrode structure 28 with a resin frame, for example, an oxidant gas flow path 42 extending in the arrow B direction is provided. The oxidant gas passage 42 communicates with the oxidant gas inlet communication hole 34a and the oxidant gas outlet communication hole 34b. The oxidant gas flow channel 42 has a plurality of linear flow channel grooves (or wavy flow channel grooves) extending in the arrow B direction. Between the oxidant gas inlet communication hole 34a and the oxidant gas flow path 42, an inlet buffer part 43a having a plurality of embossed parts is provided. Between the oxidant gas outlet communication hole 34b and the oxidant gas flow path 42, an outlet buffer part 43b having a plurality of embossed parts is provided.

  A cooling medium flow path 44 communicating with the cooling medium inlet communication hole 36a and the cooling medium outlet communication hole 36b is formed between the surface 30b of the first separator 30 and the surface 32b of the second separator 32 adjacent to each other. . The cooling medium flow path 44 is formed by overlapping the back surface shape of the first separator 30 in which the fuel gas flow path 40 is formed and the back surface shape of the second separator 32 in which the oxidant gas flow path 42 is formed.

  The first seal member 46 is integrated with the surfaces 30 a and 30 b of the first separator 30 around the outer peripheral end of the first separator 30. The second seal member 48 is integrated with the surfaces 32 a and 32 b of the second separator 32 around the outer peripheral end portion of the second separator 32.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the first seal member 46 is provided on the surface 30 a side, and is a first convex seal that abuts on a resin frame member 56 (described later) constituting the electrolyte membrane / electrode structure 28 with a resin frame. 46a. The first seal member 46 includes a second convex seal 46b and a third convex seal 46c that are provided on the surface 30b side and are double seals that contact the second seal member 48 of the adjacent second separator 32. The second seal member 48 includes a fourth convex seal 48 a that is provided on the surface 32 a side and abuts against the first seal member 46. In place of the fourth convex seal 48a, a convex seal (not shown) may be provided on the first seal member 46.

  For the first seal member 46 and the second seal member 48, for example, EPDM, NBR, fluorine rubber, silicone rubber, fluorosilicone rubber, butyl rubber, natural rubber, styrene rubber, chloroprene or acrylic rubber or the like, cushion material Alternatively, an elastic seal member such as a packing material is used.

  The electrolyte membrane / electrode structure 28 with a resin frame includes an electrolyte membrane / electrode structure 28a which is a step MEA. The electrolyte membrane / electrode structure 28a includes, for example, a solid polymer electrolyte membrane (cation exchange membrane) 50 that is a thin film of perfluorosulfonic acid containing moisture, and an anode electrode 52 that sandwiches the solid polymer electrolyte membrane 50. And a cathode electrode 54.

  The solid polymer electrolyte membrane 50 may use an HC (hydrocarbon) electrolyte in addition to the fluorine electrolyte. Instead of the electrolyte membrane / electrode structure 28 with a resin frame, an electrolyte membrane / electrode structure (MEA) without a resin frame member 56 described later may be used.

  The cathode electrode 54 has a smaller planar dimension (outer dimension) than the solid polymer electrolyte membrane 50 and the anode electrode 52. Instead of the above configuration, the anode electrode 52 may be configured to have a smaller planar dimension than the solid polymer electrolyte membrane 50 and the cathode electrode 54. Moreover, the anode electrode 52, the cathode electrode 54, and the solid polymer electrolyte membrane 50 may be set to the same planar dimension.

  The anode electrode 52 includes a first electrode catalyst layer 52a bonded to one surface 50a of the solid polymer electrolyte membrane 50, and a first gas diffusion layer 52b stacked on the first electrode catalyst layer 52a. The first electrode catalyst layer 52a and the first gas diffusion layer 52b have the same external dimensions and are set to the same external dimensions as (or less than) the solid polymer electrolyte membrane 50.

  The cathode electrode 54 includes a second electrode catalyst layer 54a bonded to the surface 50b of the solid polymer electrolyte membrane 50, and a second gas diffusion layer 54b laminated on the second electrode catalyst layer 54a. The second electrode catalyst layer 54 a and the second gas diffusion layer 54 b have the same (or different) outer dimensions, and are set to be smaller than the outer dimensions of the solid polymer electrolyte membrane 50.

  The first electrode catalyst layer 52a is formed, for example, by uniformly applying porous carbon particles having a platinum alloy supported on the surface thereof to the surface of the first gas diffusion layer 52b. The second electrode catalyst layer 54a is formed, for example, by uniformly applying porous carbon particles having a platinum alloy supported on the surface thereof to the surface of the second gas diffusion layer 54b. The first gas diffusion layer 52b and the second gas diffusion layer 54b are made of carbon paper, carbon cloth, or the like. The first electrode catalyst layer 52 a and the second electrode catalyst layer 54 a are formed on both surfaces 50 a and 50 b of the solid polymer electrolyte membrane 50.

  The resin membrane-attached electrolyte membrane / electrode structure 28 includes a frame-shaped resin frame member 56 that goes around the outer periphery of the solid polymer electrolyte membrane 50 and is joined to the anode electrode 52 and the cathode electrode 54. The resin frame member 56 includes, for example, PPS (polyphenylene sulfide), PPA (polyphthalamide), PEN (polyethylene naphthalate), PES (polyethersulfone), LCP (liquid crystal polymer), PVDF (polyvinylidene fluoride), Silicone resin, fluororesin, or m-PPE (modified polyphenylene ether resin), PET (polyethylene terephthalate), PBT (polybutylene terephthalate), or modified polyolefin.

  The resin frame member 56 includes a thin-walled inner bulging portion 56a to which the outer peripheral edge portion of the solid polymer electrolyte membrane 50 is bonded and a thin-walled outer bulge in which the first convex seal 46a of the first seal member 46 abuts. And a protruding portion 56b.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the power generation cells 12 are arranged as end power generation cells 12 </ b> A and 12 </ b> B at both ends in the stacking direction of the stacked body 14. The end power generation cell 12A is disposed on the terminal plate 16a side, while the end power generation cell 12B is disposed on the terminal plate 16b side.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the terminal plates 16a and 16b are made of an electrically conductive material, and are made of a metal such as copper, aluminum or stainless steel, for example. Terminal portions 64a and 64b extending outward in the stacking direction are provided at substantially the center of the terminal plates 16a and 16b.

  The terminal portion 64a is inserted into the insulating cylinder 66a, passes through the hole 68a of the insulator 18a and the hole 70a of the end plate 20a, and protrudes outside the end plate 20a. The terminal portion 64b is inserted into the insulating cylinder 66b, passes through the hole 68b of the insulator 18b and the hole 70b of the end plate 20b, and protrudes outside the end plate 20b.

  The insulators 18a and 18b are formed of an insulating material such as polycarbonate (PC) or phenol resin. In the central portions of the insulators 18a and 18b, recesses 72a and 72b that open toward the laminated body 14 are formed, and the recesses 72a and 72b communicate with the holes 68a and 68b.

  An oxidant gas inlet communication hole 34a, a cooling medium inlet communication hole 36a, and a fuel gas outlet communication hole 38b are provided at one end edge of the insulator 18a and the end plate 20a in the arrow B direction. A fuel gas inlet communication hole 38a, a cooling medium outlet communication hole 36b, and an oxidant gas outlet communication hole 34b are provided at the other edges in the arrow B direction of the insulator 18a and the end plate 20a.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the terminal plate 16a and the heat insulating member 78a are accommodated in the concave portion 72a, while the terminal plate 16b and the heat insulating member 78b are accommodated in the concave portion 72b. In the heat insulating member 78a, a second heat insulating member 82a is disposed between the pair of first heat insulating members 80a. For example, the first heat insulating member 80a is formed of a porous carbon plate having a flat shape, and the second heat insulating member 82a is formed of a metal plate having a corrugated cross section.

  The first heat insulating member 80a may be made of the same material as that of the second heat insulating member 82a. Furthermore, the heat insulating member 78a includes one first heat insulating member 80a and one second heat insulating member 82a, and a resin spacer is interposed between the terminal plate 16a and the bottom of the recess 72a of the insulator 18a. You may disguise.

  Moreover, the heat insulation member 78b is comprised similarly to said heat insulation member 78a, replaces a with the same referential mark, and attaches b to the same component, The detailed description is abbreviate | omitted.

  Next, a method for manufacturing the second heat insulating member 82a constituting the heat insulating member 78a (heat insulating member manufacturing method) will be described below.

  First, as shown in FIG. 5, a press device 90 is prepared. The press device 90 includes a lower die 92 and an upper die 94, and the upper die 94 can move forward and backward with respect to the lower die 92 along a guide bar 96. A rod 98 a extending from the cylinder 98 is connected to the upper mold 94, and the upper mold 94 is moved under the action of the cylinder 98.

  On the lower mold 92, a mounting table 92s on which the rectangular metal plate 100 is mounted is provided. Under the action of the cylinder 98, the upper die 94 is lowered and clamped to the lower die 92. For this reason, the metal plate 100 is press-molded to produce the molded plate 102 (see FIG. 6). The forming plate 102 is a metal plate constituting the first separator 30 (or the second separator 32), and a plurality of groove portions 104 and a plurality of hole portions 106 are press-formed. A plurality of embossed portions (buffer portions) 108 are press-formed between the groove portion 104 and the hole portion 106.

  The groove 104 constitutes, for example, a part of the fuel gas passage 40 and the cooling medium passage 44 on the back surface. The holes 106 constitute an oxidant gas inlet communication hole 34a, a cooling medium inlet communication hole 36a, a fuel gas outlet communication hole 38b, a fuel gas inlet communication hole 38a, a cooling medium outlet communication hole 36b, and an oxidant gas outlet communication hole 34b. To do. One embossed portion 108 constitutes an inlet buffer portion 41a, and the other embossed portion 108 constitutes an outlet buffer portion 41b. In other words, the molding plate 102 constitutes the first separator 30 (or the second separator 32) by performing a seal molding process or the like.

  In the heat insulating member manufacturing method, the forming plate 102 is installed in the laser cutter 110 as shown in FIG. The laser cutter 110 includes a laser head 112, and the laser head 112 is movable along the rail 114 in the X axis direction and the Y axis direction. The laser head 112 is movable in the Z-axis direction.

  By irradiating the forming plate 102 with a laser beam from the laser head 112, the outer periphery of the forming plate 102 is cut into a frame shape to obtain a corrugated plate 116 (see FIG. 8). Specifically, both ends in the longitudinal direction (arrow B direction) of the corrugated plate 116 are formed by cutting both longitudinal edges of the plurality of grooves 104. On the other hand, both ends of the corrugated plate 116 in the short direction (arrow C direction) are formed by cutting the convex portion side or the concave portion side of the groove portion 104 at both ends of the arrow C direction. Thus, the corrugated plate 116 does not have a flat surface, and the corrugated plate 116 cannot be formed by press-cutting the forming plate 102. This is because the press mold pressing portion cannot be provided.

  The corrugated plate 116 is subjected to gold plating pretreatment. Specifically, a passive film is formed on the corrugated plate 116 after being washed with alkali, water, or acid. Further, a surface treatment such as buffing or blasting is applied to the outer peripheral edge, which is a plating region of the corrugated plate 116, and the passive film is removed. Further, the surface of the corrugated plate 116 is subjected to a fusing process using ferric chloride or the like as necessary.

  Next, the corrugated plate 116 is immersed in the plating bath 120 in the plating tank 118 as shown in FIG. The plating bath 120 is formed by adding gold after a chemical is dissolved in pure water. And the 2nd heat insulation member 82a by which the gold film was formed in the site | part from which the passive film was removed is manufactured to the corrugated plate 116 by performing an electrogold plating process. In addition, the 2nd heat insulation member 82b is manufactured similarly to said 2nd heat insulation member 82a.

  In this case, in the first embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7, the corrugated plate 116 is manufactured by laser cutting the outer periphery of the forming plate 102 by the laser cutter 110 (see FIG. 8). Since the laser cutting is performed in an atmosphere in the air, the corrugated plate 116 is not contaminated, and the quality can be easily improved. For this reason, for example, compared with the case where the outer periphery of the shaping | molding plate 102 is wire-cut, an economical cutting process is performed in a short time.

  Moreover, burrs that are likely to occur on the outer periphery of the forming plate 102 during laser cutting are removed during the gold plating process. Specifically, a surface treatment such as buffing or blasting is applied to the outer peripheral edge, which is the plating region of the corrugated plate 116, to remove the passive film. Therefore, a dedicated deburring process is not required on the outer peripheral edge of the corrugated plate 116. Thereby, the effect that it becomes possible to manufacture easily and economically the separator member which comprises the 2nd heat insulation member 82a in which a press cut is difficult is acquired.

  The operation of the fuel cell stack 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 34a of the end plate 20a. Fuel gas such as hydrogen-containing gas is supplied to the fuel gas inlet communication hole 38a of the end plate 20a. A cooling medium such as pure water, ethylene glycol, or oil is supplied to the cooling medium inlet communication hole 36a of the end plate 20a.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the oxidant gas is introduced into the oxidant gas flow path 42 of the second separator 32 from the oxidant gas inlet communication hole 34a. The oxidant gas moves in the direction of arrow B along the oxidant gas flow path 42 and is supplied to the cathode electrode 54 of the electrolyte membrane / electrode structure 28a.

  On the other hand, the fuel gas is introduced into the fuel gas flow path 40 of the first separator 30 from the fuel gas inlet communication hole 38a. The fuel gas moves in the direction of arrow B along the fuel gas flow path 40 and is supplied to the anode electrode 52 of the electrolyte membrane / electrode structure 28a.

  Therefore, in each electrolyte membrane / electrode structure 28a, the oxidant gas supplied to the cathode electrode 54 and the fuel gas supplied to the anode electrode 52 are in the second electrode catalyst layer 54a and the first electrode catalyst layer 52a. Then, it is consumed by an electrochemical reaction to generate electricity.

  Next, the oxidant gas consumed by being supplied to the cathode electrode 54 is discharged in the direction of arrow A along the oxidant gas outlet communication hole 34b. Similarly, the fuel gas consumed by being supplied to the anode electrode 52 is discharged in the direction of arrow A along the fuel gas outlet communication hole 38b.

  The cooling medium supplied to the cooling medium inlet communication hole 36 a is introduced into the cooling medium flow path 44 between the first separator 30 and the second separator 32 and then flows in the direction of arrow B. The cooling medium is discharged from the cooling medium outlet communication hole 36b after the electrolyte membrane / electrode structure 28a is cooled.

  FIG. 10 is an explanatory perspective view of the second heat insulating member 130 manufactured by the heat insulating member manufacturing method according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

  The second heat insulating member 130 is provided with a plurality of wavy groove portions 132 over the entire surface. Each wavy groove 132 has a wave shape and a concavo-convex shape in the thickness direction in a plan view of the second heat insulating member 130.

  As in the first embodiment, the forming plate 134 is manufactured by pressing the metal plate using the press device 90 (see FIG. 11). A plurality of wavy groove portions 132, left and right embossed portions 108, and a plurality of hole portions 106 are press-formed on the forming plate 134. The forming plate 134 is a metal plate constituting a first separator (corresponding to the first separator 30) or a second separator (corresponding to the second separator 32). The first separator or the second separator has a corrugated fuel gas flow path (corrugated fuel gas flow path in plan view) or a corrugated oxidant gas flow path (corrugated oxidant in plan view) corresponding to the corrugated groove 132. Gas flow path) is provided.

  The molding plate 134 is cut into a frame shape by the laser cutter 110 to obtain a corrugated plate. At that time, both ends of the corrugated plate in the longitudinal direction (arrow B direction) are formed by cutting both longitudinal edges of the plural corrugated grooves 132. On the other hand, both ends of the corrugated plate in the short direction (arrow C direction) are formed by partially cutting the corrugated convex side of the corrugated groove 132 at both ends of the arrow C direction. The corrugated plate is subjected to an electrogold plating process in the plating tank 118, and the second heat insulating member 130 is manufactured.

  As described above, in the second embodiment, the separator member constituting the second heat insulating member 130 that is difficult to press-cut can be easily and economically manufactured. Similar effects can be obtained.

  In the first and second embodiments, a cell unit in which an electrolyte membrane / electrode structure with a resin frame is sandwiched between two separators is formed, and a cooling medium flow path is formed between each cell unit. Although each cell cooling structure is adopted, it is not limited to this. For example, a cell unit including three or more separators and two or more electrolyte membrane / electrode structures with a resin frame, and alternately stacking the separators and the electrolyte membrane / electrode structures with a resin frame may be configured. Good. At that time, a so-called thinning cooling structure is formed in which a cooling medium flow path is formed between the cell units.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Fuel cell stack 12 ... Power generation cell 14 ... Laminated body 16a, 16b ... Terminal plate 18a, 18b ... Insulator 20a, 20b ... End plate 28 ... Electrolyte membrane / electrode structure 28a with resin frame 30 ... Electrolyte membrane / electrode structure 30 32 ... Separator 34a ... Oxidant gas inlet communication hole 34b ... Oxidant gas outlet communication hole 36a ... Cooling medium inlet communication hole 36b ... Cooling medium outlet communication hole 38a ... Fuel gas inlet communication hole 38b ... Fuel gas outlet communication hole 40 ... Fuel gas flow path 42 ... Oxidant gas flow path 44 ... Cooling medium flow path 46, 48 ... Seal member 50 ... Solid polymer electrolyte membrane 52 ... Anode electrode 54 ... Cathode electrode 56 ... Resin frame member 56a ... Inner bulging portion 56b ... outside bulges 78a, 78b, 80a, 82a, 82b, 130 ... heat insulating member 90 ... pressing device 100 ... Metal plate 102, 134 ... Molding plate 110 ... Laser cutter 116 ... Wave plate 118 ... Plating tank 132 ... Wave groove

Claims (2)

A power generation cell having an electrolyte / electrode structure in which electrodes are disposed on both sides of the electrolyte membrane and a metal separator, and heat insulation including separator members at both ends in the stacking direction of the stack in which the plurality of power generation cells are stacked A member and a terminal plate are accommodated in a recess of an insulator, and an end plate is disposed on the outer side in the stacking direction of the insulator.
A step of press-molding the metal separator constituting the power generation cell;
Cutting the outer periphery of the press-formed metal separator with a laser processing machine;
A step of performing gold plating on both surfaces of the metal separator whose outer periphery has been cut;
A method for manufacturing a heat insulating member for a fuel cell stack, comprising:   2. The heat insulating member manufacturing method according to claim 1, wherein the gold plating treatment includes a gold plating pretreatment in which a surface treatment is performed on both surfaces of the metal separator whose outer periphery has been cut. Production method.

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