JP2017174530A - Fuel battery - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To ensure insulation when binding a fuel battery stack to a stack case via an interposed layer.SOLUTION: An insulator layer for insulating a fuel battery stack from a stack case is arranged in a gap between a stack outer wall surface and a case inner wall surface. The insulator layer has a protruding portion which protrudes from the case inner wall surface side to the stack outer wall surface side, and which has a bellows structure with a variable protrusion degree. The protruding portion is provided over a stacking direction of cells of the fuel battery in such a manner that its top comes into contact with the stack outer wall surface. An interposed layer for binding the fuel battery stack to the stack case is arranged inside the protruding portion so as to bind the fuel battery stack to the stack case with the top of the protruding portion interposed between the two.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a fuel cell.

  The fuel cell includes a fuel cell stack in which a plurality of fuel cells are stacked, and the fuel cell stack is accommodated in a stack case. In order to ensure vibration resistance and impact resistance for the contained fuel cell stack, a method of constraining the fuel cell stack to the stack case by interposing an intervening layer having a buffering property between the fuel cell stack and the stack case Has been proposed (for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2003-203670 A

  In the above-described method, the first layer having insulating characteristics is set to the fuel cell stack side, and a second layer as an intervening layer that performs a buffer function by foaming a foamable material is laminated on the first layer. This is excellent in that the impact applied to the fuel cell stack is reduced along the direction intersecting with the stacking direction of the fuel cells (hereinafter referred to as the cell stacking direction). By the way, the first layer that is in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the fuel cell constituting the fuel cell stack (hereinafter referred to as the cell outer peripheral surface) is pressed toward the stack outer peripheral surface by foaming of the foamable material, The foaming state of the foamable material is not uniform at each part in the direction, and the degree of foaming may be larger than other parts in the cell stacking direction. In addition, since the outer diameter shape of the fuel cells varies within a manufacturing tolerance range, the fuel cell stack in which the fuel cells are stacked may have irregularities in the arrangement of the fuel cells in the cell stacking direction. Therefore, even if the first layer is flexible so as to conform to the unevenness of the array of fuel cells, the first layer is affected by the foaming state of the foamable material and the variation in the outer diameter of the cell. It has been pointed out that local growth may occur. Since the elongation of the insulating first layer may cause a decrease in insulation, it has been required to ensure insulation when the fuel cell stack is constrained to the stack case by the intervening layer.

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is to solve at least a part of the problems described above, and the invention can be implemented as the following forms.

(1) According to one aspect of the present invention, a fuel cell is provided. The fuel cell includes a fuel cell stack in which fuel cells are stacked, a stack case that houses the fuel cell stack so as to cover an outer periphery of the stack, a stack outer wall surface of the fuel cell stack, and a case inner wall surface of the stack case. An insulating layer disposed between the fuel cell stack and the stack case; and an insulating layer disposed between the insulating layer and a case inner wall surface of the stack case. And an intervening layer that constrains the fuel cell stack to the stack case. The insulating layer protrudes from the case inner wall surface side to the stack outer wall surface side and has a convex portion that can change the degree of protrusion, and the top of the convex portion is in contact with the stack outer wall surface. In the stacking direction of the fuel cells, the intervening layer is located inside the convex portion and the top of the convex portion is interposed to restrain the fuel cell stack to the stack case. To do.

  In the fuel cell of this embodiment, the convex portion provided in the insulating layer has a bellows structure that can change the degree of protrusion from the outer wall surface side of the stack, so the fuel cell stack is made into a stack case by the intervening layer with the top interposed In the process of restraining, the convex portion itself can be deformed in the stacking direction of the fuel cells so that the bellows shape extends or shrinks in accordance with the unevenness in the stacking direction of the fuel cells on the outer wall surface of the stack. To do. Therefore, according to the fuel cell of this embodiment, since the local elongation hardly occurs at the top of the convex portion in contact with the outer wall surface of the stack, and the fuel cell stack can be restrained by the intervening layer. In this case, insulation can be ensured.

  Note that the present invention can be realized in various modes. For example, it is realizable with forms, such as a manufacturing method of a fuel cell.

It is explanatory drawing which shows the schematic structure by seeing the fuel cell of embodiment from the front. It is explanatory drawing which decomposes | disassembles and shows schematic structure of a fuel cell. It is explanatory drawing which shows the whole structure of a 1st insulating layer by a perspective view. It is explanatory drawing which expands and shows the cross-section part A of FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the manufacture procedure in the manufacturing method of this embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which shows typically the case main body with the insulating layer adhere | attached seeing from the X-axis direction along a cell lamination direction, and the Y-axis direction which cross | intersects a cell lamination direction. It is explanatory drawing which shows typically the mode of stack integration and positioning seeing from the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction. It is explanatory drawing which shows typically the relationship between the assembled fuel cell stack and a 1st insulating layer seeing from an X-axis direction. It is explanatory drawing which shows typically the relationship between the assembled fuel cell stack and a 1st insulating layer seeing from a Y-axis direction. It is explanatory drawing which shows the schematic structure of a resin injection | pouring apparatus, and the mode of a connection with a bag body. It is explanatory drawing which shows typically the behavior of the convex part insulation layer after inject | pouring the mixed solution of an epoxy resin solution and a hardening | curing agent solution into a bag body, and the mode of formation of an intervening layer from a Y-axis direction. It is explanatory drawing which shows typically the behavior of the convex site | part insulating layer for every site | part of the enlarged view site | part of FIG. 11 after injection | pouring of mixed solution, and the mode of formation of an intervening layer on a YZ plane. It is explanatory drawing which expands and shows the 1st insulating layer of 2nd Embodiment according to FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows the 1st insulating layer of 3rd Embodiment following the enlarged part of FIG.

  FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a fuel cell 100 according to an embodiment when viewed from the front, and FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an exploded schematic configuration of the fuel cell 100. In the XYZ axes in each figure, the X axis is an axis along the stacking direction of the fuel cells 122, the Y axis indicates the horizontal direction, and the Z axis indicates the vertical direction. In FIG. 1, the stack case 110 is hatched as an integrated product. Each drawing including FIG. 1 does not represent the actual dimensional ratio of the parts constituting the fuel cell 100, but merely shows the arrangement and positional relationship of the parts.

  The fuel cell 100 includes a stack case 110, a fuel cell stack 120, a first insulating layer 140, a second insulating layer 145, and an intervening layer 150. The stack case 110 is a case made of metal such as aluminum, and includes a case main body 111 and a lid body 112. The case main body 111 has a case shape with an open front and rear end. The case main body 111 accommodates a fuel cell stack 120, which will be described later, covering the outer periphery of the stack, and in the stacking direction of the fuel cells 122 (hereinafter appropriately referred to as the cell stacking direction). Enables stack integration along the line. The lid 112 is fixed to the opening at the front and rear ends of the case body 111 using bolts (not shown) after the fuel cell stack 120 is accommodated.

  The fuel cell stack 120 has a stack structure in which a plurality of fuel cells 122 are stacked between two end plates 121. The plurality of fuel cells 122 are fastened through fastening shafts (not shown) inserted into through holes 137 opened in the corner portions of the end plate 121 and the fuel cells 122.

  The end plate 121 and the fuel battery cell 122 are both rectangular, and in addition to the above-described through holes 137, the gas inflow holes 131, the gas outflow holes 132, the air inflow holes 133, the air outflow holes 134, the cooling A water inflow hole 135 and a cooling water outflow hole 136 are provided. The gas inflow hole 131 forms a flow path for guiding fuel gas, for example, hydrogen gas, to each fuel cell 122, and the gas outflow hole 132 forms a flow path for guiding unconsumed hydrogen gas to the outside. To do. The air inflow hole 133 forms a flow path for guiding air, which is an oxygen-containing gas, to each of the fuel cells 122, and the air outflow hole 134 forms a flow path for guiding excess air to the outside. These inflow holes and outflow holes extend along the rectangular short side so that the gas inflow hole 131 and the gas outflow hole 132 are diagonal and the air inflow hole 133 and the air outflow hole 134 are diagonal in the YZ plane. And is continuous along the X-axis direction, that is, the cell stacking direction. The cooling water inflow hole 135 forms a flow path for guiding the refrigerant to each fuel cell 122, and the cooling water outflow hole 136 forms a flow path for guiding the refrigerant to the outside. The cooling water inflow hole and the outflow hole are formed along the long rectangular side so as to face each other, and are continuous along the X-axis direction (cell stacking direction). Since the internal configuration of the fuel battery cell 122 is the same as the existing configuration, the description of the cell configuration is omitted.

  Since the end plate 121 and the fuel cell 122 are rectangular, even when the fuel cell stack 120 is present, the outer shape of the stack when the fuel cell stack 120 is viewed along the YZ plane, that is, the cell stacking direction, is also rectangular. . The fuel cell 100 includes a first corner 125 of the four corners of the fuel cell stack 120, and a second corner 126 that is diagonally related to the first corner 125 in the YZ plane. In addition, a first insulating layer 140 with an intervening layer 150 is provided, and a second insulating layer 145 is provided at each other corner.

  The first insulating layer 140 is disposed in the gap 113 between the stack case 110 and the fuel cell stack 120 at the first and second corners, and includes an intervening layer 150. FIG. 3 is an explanatory view showing the overall configuration of the first insulating layer 140 in perspective, and FIG. 4 is an explanatory view showing an enlarged cross section A of FIG. The first insulating layer 140 is disposed between the outer wall surface of the fuel cell stack 120 and the inside of the case body 111 in the stack case 110 so as to provide insulation between the fuel cell stack 120 and the stack case 110 (specifically, the case body 111). It is arrange | positioned in the clearance gap 113 between wall surfaces 110s, and is provided with the convex site | part insulating layer 142 in the case side insulating layer 141 continuously. The stack outer wall surface includes the first stack side surface 125a and the second stack side surface 125b that form the first corner portion 125, and the third stack side surface 126a and the fourth stack side surface that form the second corner portion 126. This is the stack side surface 126b. The case-side insulating layer 141 has a bent shape that follows the corner bend of the case body 111 corresponding to the first corner portion 125 or the second corner portion 126, and both end portions thereof are the stacked portions 141e. The stacked portion 141e is bonded and overlapped with an end portion of a second insulating layer 145 described later, and the stack case 110 surrounds the entire outer peripheral side wall of the fuel cell stack 120 with the first insulating layer 140 and the second insulating layer 145. Insulate against.

  The convex part insulating layer 142 has a bellows-like protruding shape that protrudes from the case-side insulating layer 141 and can change the degree of the protrusion, and is bent away from the intervening layer 150. In the fuel cell 100 in which the first insulating layer 140 is disposed in the gap 113, the convex portion insulating layer 142 protrudes from the case inner wall surface 110s side to the above-described stack outer wall surface side and protrudes from the convex top 143. Extends in the cell stacking direction in contact with the outer wall surface of the stack. Since the convex portion insulating layer 142 has a bellows structure, as shown in FIG. 4, the protruding height 140h from the case-side insulating layer 141, in other words, the protruding height from the case inner wall surface 110s of the stack case 110 is shown. It can be modified to extend or contract so that 140h changes. The case-side insulating layer 141 that protrudes the convex portion insulating layer 142 in this way is bonded to the case inner wall surface 110 s including a bent portion that follows the corner bending of the case body 111. The state of deformation of the convex part insulating layer 142 and the state of shape deformation will be described later.

  The intervening layer 150 is disposed between the first insulating layer 140 and the case inner wall surface 110 s and constrains the fuel cell stack 120 to the stack case 110 with the first insulating layer 140 interposed therebetween. In order to achieve such stack restraint, the intervening layer 150 is located inside the convex portion insulating layer 142 in the first insulating layer 140 as shown in the enlarged views of FIGS. The fuel cell stack 120 is constrained to the stack case 110 with the convex top 143 interposed. As shown in FIG. 4, the intervening layer 150 is filled and formed in a bottomed and hollow bag body 152. Since the bag body 152 is in a state in which the bottom wall 152d is adhered to the flat wall surface 143u of the convex top 143, the intervening layer 150 is filled in the bag body 152 and has the convex top 143 as described above. The fuel cell stack 120 is restrained and held by the stack case 110 with the intervening therebetween.

  The second insulating layer 145 has a bent shape following the corner bend of the case body 111 corresponding to the two corners excluding the first corner 125 and the second corner 126 in the fuel cell stack 120. Insulation between the fuel cell stack 120 and the stack case 110 is performed in cooperation with the first insulating layer 140. Even in the second insulating layer 145, it is bonded to the case inner wall surface 110s including the bent portion.

  The first insulating layer 140 and the second insulating layer 145 provided with the intervening layer 150 and the intervening layer 150 in the convex portion insulating layer 142 are formed of a fuel cell in the stacking direction of the fuel cells 122 as shown in FIGS. The length matches the overall length of the stack 120, more specifically, the length is approximately the same as the stack length of the fuel cells 122 excluding the end plate 121 in the fuel cell stack 120. Therefore, the 1st insulating layer 140 is provided with the convex part insulating layer 142 of the bellows structure which can change the grade of protrusion over the cell lamination direction with the intervening layer 150. FIG.

  The first insulating layer 140 and the second insulating layer 145 continuously including the case-side insulating layer 141 and the convex portion insulating layer 142 are molded products using an insulating resin such as polyurethane, for example. The intervening layer 150 is made of an epoxy-based resin material and a curing agent for curing the resin material, and is not filled in the bag body 152 when the fuel cell stack 120 is not accommodated. The bag body 152 is a molded product formed into a bottomed and hollow bag shape using an epoxy resin material, and has a resin inlet 152h at one end as shown in FIG. In each drawing including FIG. 4, the bag body 152 is shown as a bag body having a rectangular frame-shaped cross section. However, the bag body 152 has a shape deformed so that the protruding portion insulating layer 142 changes the protruding height 140 h. In this case, the convex portion insulating layer 142 where the shape deformation has occurred is formed to have a height following the shape deformation. For example, the bag body 152 may be formed so that the portion excluding the bottom wall 152d bonded to the flat wall surface 143u of the convex top 143 can be expanded and contracted. Alternatively, even if it is assumed that the convex portion insulating layer 142 is deformed until the protrusion height 140h becomes the largest, the bag body 152 is formed so as to have a rectangular frame-shaped cross section. In this way, when the projecting portion insulating layer 142 is deformed with a small protrusion height 140h, the bag body 152 has a so-called barrel-shaped cross-sectional shape in which the side wall following the bottom wall 152d is curved outward. The height can be changed following the shape deformation of the part insulating layer 142.

  After the first insulating layer 140 is attached to the stack case 110 and the fuel cell stack 120 is accommodated, the intervening layer 150 is injected and filled into the bag body 152 in liquid form. The intervening layer 150 is cured inside the bag body 152 after filling, and exhibits the restraining function and impact mitigating function of the fuel cell stack 120. The filling and filling of the intervening layer 150, the height displacement of the bag body 152, and the like will be described later.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a manufacturing procedure in the manufacturing method of the present embodiment. As shown in the drawing, in the manufacturing method of the present embodiment, first, the stack case 110 and the fuel cell stack 120 which are necessary parts for the fuel cell 100, the first insulating layer 140 (see FIGS. 2 and 3), the second insulation. A layer 145 (see FIG. 2) is prepared (step S100). Each part can be brought in from the respective production line, or may be procured from a parts manufacturer. In this case, the fuel cell stack 120 is a stack in which the fuel cells 122 have been fastened and fixed in the cell stacking direction and the fuel cells 122 are stacked at a predetermined pressure. Further, the stack case 110 is in a state where the two first insulating layers 140 and the two second insulating layers 145 are bonded to the case inner wall surface 110 s of the case body 111. FIG. 6 is an explanatory view schematically showing the case main body 111 with the insulating layer bonded as viewed from the X-axis direction along the cell stacking direction and the Y-axis direction intersecting the cell stacking direction. In the stack case 110 as the pre-assembly part, the two-component mixed curing type resin material that forms the intervening layer 150 is not injected into the bag body 152 in the first insulating layer 140. Further, the convex portion insulating layer 142 is in a state where the degree of deformation is the minimum and the protruding height 140h shown in FIG. Therefore, the first insulating layer 140 keeps the convex top 143 close to the case-side insulating layer 141 side, so that it is easy to insert and insert the fuel cell stack 120 along the cell stacking direction.

  Following the part preparation, the fuel cell stack 120 is assembled and positioned in the case body 111 (step S110). FIG. 7 is an explanatory view schematically showing the state of stack incorporation / positioning as seen from the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction. FIG. 8 shows the relationship between the assembled fuel cell stack 120 and the first insulating layer 140. FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram schematically illustrating the relationship between the assembled fuel cell stack 120 and the first insulating layer 140 as viewed from the Y-axis direction. The black triangles in these drawings indicate the state of ensuring the reference for the fuel cell stack 120. The same applies to the black triangle in each figure in FIG. 9 shows a cross section taken along line 9-9 in FIG. 8. In FIG. 7 and subsequent drawings including FIG. 9, hatching of the case main body 111 and the like is omitted as appropriate for convenience of illustration.

  In assembling the fuel cell stack 120, the case main body 111, to which the first insulating layer 140 and the second insulating layer 145 are bonded, is placed on the work table ST that is horizontally flattened, and the work table is fixed by a fixing jig (not shown). Fix to ST. Next, the fuel cell stack 120 is inserted horizontally from the one opening side of the case body 111, and the fuel cell stack 120 is assembled and accommodated in the case body 111 of the stack case 110. When the stack is assembled, the fuel cell stack 120 is horizontally held by the posture securing jig 200 so as to be positioned at the center position of the case body 111 and incorporated. In addition, the protruding portion insulating layer 142 of the first insulating layer 140 bonded to the case main body 111 has a protrusion height 140 h of almost the lowest level (min), and the protrusion height 140 h is a fuel at the center position of the case main body 111. It is shorter than the gap 113 between the battery stack 120 and the case body 111. Therefore, the fuel cell stack 120 has a built-in space Sp between the outer surface of each stack such as the first stack side surface 125a and the top surface of the convex top 143 of the convex portion insulating layer 142, The case body 111 is horizontally incorporated at the center position. As shown in the enlarged view of FIG. 9, even if the outer diameter of the fuel cell 122 varies within the tolerance and the stack outer wall surface of the fuel cell stack 120 is uneven, the embedded space Sp is secured. The protrusion height 140h (min value) of the convex part insulating layer 142 is adjusted.

  After the stack is accommodated, the fuel cell stack 120 is horizontally held by the posture securing jig 200 and positioned and held at the center position of the case main body 111. Further, the fuel cell stack 120 is positioned and held with respect to the case body 111 also in the cell stacking direction. The posture securing jig 200 maintains the positioning posture by holding the fuel cell stack 120 in a portion that does not interfere with the location where the convex portion insulating layer 142 of the first insulating layer 140 on the diagonal is disposed. Thus, a gap 113 is formed between the fuel cell stack 120 and the case body 111 of the stack case 110 so as to surround the fuel cell stack 120, and the dimension of the gap 113 is the same on each side of the fuel cell stack 120. It is made a size. After the positioning and holding of the fuel cell stack 120 or before assembly of the stack, an injection fitting 222 is attached to the resin injection port 152h of the bag body 152 (see FIG. 10). The injection fitting 222 may be attached prior to resin injection described later.

  Next, the fuel cell stack 120 is restrained and held by the intervening layer 150 (step S120). As preparation for this restraint / holding, each bag body 152 is connected to the resin injection device 230 via an injection fitting 222 already attached to the resin injection port 152h of the bag body 152. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing a schematic configuration of the resin injecting device 230 and a state of connection with the bag body 152. The resin injecting device 230 separately accommodates the epoxy resin solution and the curing agent solution thereof in the two-liquid mixed type curing type resin material forming the intervening layer 150 in the first liquid tank 231 and the second liquid tank 232. Compressed air is sent from the air intake pipe 203 connected to each liquid tank to each liquid tank by the regulator 234. The above solutions in the respective liquid tanks receive the air pressure, flow into the terminal pipe 236 through the mixing supply pipe 235, flow in, and are injected and supplied to the bag body 152 through the injection fitting 222. Since the end pipe 236 is provided with a pressure gauge 237 and a flow rate adjusting valve (not shown), the resin injecting device 230 is provided with an epoxy resin solution and a curing agent solution in a two-component mixed curing type resin material. The mixed solution is injected into each bag 152 at a specified pressure at a specified pressure. After injection of the mixed solution, the injection fitting 222 and the terminal pipe 236 are removed from the resin injection port 152h, and the resin injection port 152h is closed with a lid (not shown).

  FIG. 11 schematically shows the behavior of the convex part insulating layer 142 after the mixed solution of the epoxy resin solution and the curing agent solution is injected into the bag body 152 and the state of the formation of the interposition layer 150 as seen from the Y-axis direction. FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram of the behavior of the convex part insulating layer 142 and the formation of the intervening layer 150 for each part of the magnified part of FIG. It is explanatory drawing shown in.

  As shown in the drawing, at the portion where the injected mixed solution spreads as the mixed solution is injected, the convex top 143 of the convex portion insulating layer 142 receives the first pressure of the fuel cell stack 120 due to the injection pressure of the mixed solution. It is pushed to the side of the stack side surface 125 a, specifically, to the side of the cell outer wall surface of each fuel cell 122 constituting the fuel cell stack 120. Accordingly, the convex top 143 contacts the stack side surface by the convex portion insulating layer 142 extending toward the first stack side surface 125a until the built-in space Sp disappears, and this contact is the convex portion. This is caused by an increase in the protruding height 140h accompanying a change in shape due to the extension of the bellows structure of the insulating layer 142. More specifically, a reference portion where the cell outer wall surface of the fuel battery cell 122 is substantially aligned, a displacement large portion where the cell outer wall surface falls because the cell outer wall surface is lower in the Z-axis direction than the reference portion, The protrusion height 140h is the protrusion height 140hb at the reference portion and the protrusion height 140hb at the reference portion, and the protrusion height is 140hb at the reference portion, because the cell outer wall surface is higher than the reference portion along the Z-axis direction. The height is 140 hu (> 140 hb), and the protrusion height is 140 hd (<140 hb) at a portion with a small displacement. As shown in FIG. 12, such a change in the protruding height 140 h occurs with a change in the shape of the convex part insulating layer 142 due to the extension of the bellows structure of the convex part insulating layer 142. The behavior of the convex part insulating layer 142 also occurs in the convex part insulating layer 142 facing the second stack side face 125b, the third stack side face 126a, and the fourth stack side face 126b. The convex top 143 contacts the side surfaces of the above-described stacks.

  With the bottom wall 152d adhered to the flat wall surface 143u of the convex top 143 (see FIG. 4), the bag body 152 changes the height following the change in the protruding height 140h of the convex part insulating layer 142 described above, Store the injected mixed solution. For example, in any of the above-described reference portion (projection height 140hb), large displacement portion (projection height 140hu> 140hb), and small displacement portion (projection height 140hd <140hb), the bag body 152 is attached to the bottom wall 152d. The following side wall has a barrel-shaped cross-sectional shape that curves outward, but the degree of lateral curvature of the side wall depends on the large displacement part (projection height 140hu> 140hb), the reference part (protrusion height 140hb), and the small displacement part (projection) By decreasing the height in the order of 140 hd <140 hb), the height corresponds to the protrusion height 140 h of each part. Alternatively, the bag body 152 expands and contracts the portion excluding the bottom wall 152d bonded to the flat wall surface 143u, and has a height corresponding to the protrusion height 140h of each portion described above. In this embodiment, both ends of the case body 111 are closed with the jig lid 202 before the mixed solution is injected so that the bag 152 does not move in the cell stacking direction due to the injection of the mixed solution.

  By the curing after the injection of the mixed solution described above, the injected mixed solution is cured while maintaining the shape shown in FIG. 12, and by this curing, the intervening layer 150 is formed in the convex portion insulating layer 142. It is formed. The intervening layer 150 formed in this manner is formed in each part of the fuel cell stack 120 in the cell stacking direction, and has a shape suitable for the unevenness of the first stack side surface 125a at the part, and the fuel cell stack 120 is attached to the stack case 110. Restrain and hold. In other words, the intervening layer 150 restrains and holds the fuel cell stack 120 on the stack case 110 by interposing the convex top 143 of the convex portion insulating layer 142 that has undergone shape deformation.

  After completion of restraint / holding of the fuel cell stack 120 by the intervening layer 150 after the above curing, various jigs such as the posture securing jig 200 used for positioning the fuel cell stack 120 are removed, and the fuel cell stack 120 is stacked. It fixes to case 110 (process S130). Even if the various jigs are removed, the fuel cell stack 120 sandwiches the two intervening layers 150 located across the first corner 125 and the second corner 126 diagonal to the first corner 125. It has been restrained by the two intervening layers 150 located at, and remains located at the center position of the case main body 111. In fixing the stack after removing the jig, after fixing the lid 112 (see FIG. 2) to the opening of the case body 111, a so-called thrust bolt is pushed in from the lid 112, so the fuel cell stack 120 is pushed by the thrust bolt. The pressing force is received from both sides in the cell stacking direction and fixed to the stack case 110. Thereafter, the procedure from step S100 described above is repeated.

  As described above, in the fuel cell 100 of the present embodiment, the convex portion provided in the first insulating layer 140 in the first corner 125 of the fuel cell stack 120 and the second corner 126 opposite thereto. The insulating layer 142 has a bellows structure and can be deformed so that the protruding height 140h changes, and the fuel cell stack 120 is formed by interposing the convex top 143 with the intervening layer 150 located in the convex portion insulating layer 142. Restrain the stack case 110. In the fuel cell 100 of the present embodiment, in the process of holding the stack by the intervening layer 150, the convex portion insulating layer 142 having the bellows structure, itself, the bellows shape being the first stack side surface 125a or the second stack side surface 125b, The third stack side surface 126a and the fourth stack side surface 126b can be deformed in the cell stacking direction so as to extend or contract in accordance with the irregularities in the cell stacking direction on the stack outer wall surface (see FIG. 12). . Therefore, according to the fuel cell 100 of this embodiment, the convex top 143 of the convex part insulating layer 142 in contact with the outer wall surface of the stack is less likely to cause local elongation in the stack restraint process, and the first corner The fuel cell stack 120 can be constrained from the outside by the two intervening layers 150 sandwiching the portion 125 and the two intervening layers 150 sandwiching the second corner portion 126. It can be secured.

  The fuel cell 100 obtained by the manufacturing method of the present embodiment has the first corner portion 125 and the intervening layer 150 sandwiching each of the second corner portion 126 opposite to the first corner portion 125, so that the fuel cell unit at the time of impact. The fuel cell stack 120 is constrained from the outside by the intervening layer 150 while the intervening layer 150 exerts a reaction force against the force that the 122 is about to shift. Therefore, according to the fuel cell 100 of the present embodiment, even when an external force acts on the fuel cell stack 120 from the direction intersecting the cell stacking direction, the intervening layer 150 disposed on the same direction as the direction of the external force acts. The reaction force can be exerted to prevent the fuel cell 122 from being displaced along the direction of the external force.

  FIG. 13 is an explanatory view showing the first insulating layer 140A of the second embodiment in an enlarged manner according to FIG. The first insulating layer 140A is provided with a bellows structure that bends the convex portion insulating layer 142 so as to approach the intervening layer 150 and protrudes from the case-side insulating layer 141. However, the first insulating layer 140A is the first in that the protruding degree can be changed. Common with the insulating layer 140. Therefore, even when the first insulating layer 140A is used in place of the first insulating layer 140, the above-described effects can be obtained.

  FIG. 14 is an explanatory view showing the first insulating layer 140B of the third embodiment following the enlarged portion of FIG. The first insulating layer 140B is provided with a so-called barrel structure that protrudes from the case-side insulating layer 141 in a form in which the convex portion insulating layer 142 is curved with respect to the intervening layer 150. However, the degree of protrusion can be changed. Common to the first insulating layer 140. Therefore, even when the first insulating layer 140B is used instead of the first insulating layer 140, the above-described effects can be obtained.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, examples, and modifications, and can be realized with various configurations without departing from the spirit thereof. For example, the technical features in the embodiments, examples, and modifications corresponding to the technical features in each embodiment described in the summary section of the invention are to solve some or all of the above-described problems, or In order to achieve part or all of the above-described effects, replacement or combination can be performed as appropriate. Further, if the technical feature is not described as essential in the present specification, it can be deleted as appropriate.

  In the embodiment described above, both sides of the first corner 125 of the four corners of the fuel cell stack 120 and the second corner that is diagonally related to the first corner 125 in the YZ plane. Although one intervening layer 150 is disposed on each side of 126, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the first insulating layer 140 is provided in place of the second insulating layer 145 at two corners other than the first corner 125 and the second corner 126, and the intervening layer 150 of the first insulating layer 140 is provided. Also, the fuel cell stack 120 may be restrained and held. Further, the first insulating layer 140 includes a plurality of convex portion insulating layers 142 and intervening layers 150 therein, and the first stack side surface 125a and the second stack side surface 125b of the fuel cell stack 120, and the first A plurality of intervening layers 150 may be disposed on the third stack side surface 126a and the fourth stack side surface 126b.

  In the above-described embodiment, the case main body 111 has a shape in which both ends are opened. However, the case main body 111 may have a shape in which only the side on which the fuel cell stack 120 is assembled is opened. Moreover, it is good also as the box-shaped case main body 111 with a bottom.

  In the embodiment described above, the fuel cell stack 120 is positioned at the center position of the case body 111 so that the gap 113 between the case body 111 and the fuel cell stack 120 is the same distance around the outer peripheral wall of the stack. However, the gap 113 may have different dimensions on the left and right or top and bottom in FIG. In this case, the intervening layer 150 may be disposed on the convex portion insulating layer 142 of the first insulating layer 140 having a different projecting height 140h before injection of the mixed solution.

  In the embodiment described above, a mixed solution of an epoxy resin solution and a curing agent solution is injected into the bag body 152, and the intervening layer 150 is formed by curing the mixed solution. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a so-called two-component mixed type foamable material may be injected into the bag body 152 and the intervening layer 150 may be formed by foaming the foamable material. Even in this case, in the process of holding the stack during the foaming property of the intervening layer 150 with foaming, the convex portion insulating layer 142 having the bellows structure itself, the bellows shape being the cell stacking direction on the outer wall surface of the stack Since it can be deformed in the cell stacking direction so as to extend or contract in accordance with the unevenness of the film, the effects described above can be obtained.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 ... Fuel cell 110 ... Stack case 110s ... Case inner wall surface 111 ... Case main body 112 ... Cover body 113 ... Gap 120 ... Fuel cell stack 121 ... End plate 122 ... Fuel cell 125 ... 1st corner | angular part 125a ... 1st Stack side surface 125b ... Second stack side surface 126 ... Second corner 126a ... Third stack side surface 126b ... Fourth stack side surface 131 ... Gas inflow hole 132 ... Gas outflow hole 133 ... Air inflow hole 134 ... Air outflow hole 135 ... Cooling water inflow hole 136 ... Cooling water outflow hole 137 ... Through hole 140, 140A, 140B ... First insulating layer 141 ... Case side insulating layer 141e ... Laminated portion 142 ... Convex part insulating layer 143 ... Convex top 143u ... Flat Wall 140h ... Projection height 140hb ... Projection height 140hd ... Projection height 140hu ... Projection height 45 ... second insulating layer 150 ... intervening layer 152 ... bag body 152d ... bottom wall 152h ... resin injection port 200 ... posture securing jig 202 ... jig lid 203 ... air intake pipe 222 ... injection fitting 230 ... resin injection device 231 ... first 1st liquid tank 232 ... 2nd liquid tank 234 ... Regulator 235 ... Mixing supply pipe 236 ... End piping 237 ... Pressure gauge ST ... Work table Sp ... Built-in space

Claims (1)

A fuel cell,
A fuel cell stack in which fuel cells are stacked; and
A stack case for accommodating the fuel cell stack covering the outer periphery of the stack;
An insulating layer disposed in a gap between a stack outer wall surface of the fuel cell stack and a case inner wall surface of the stack case, and providing insulation between the fuel cell stack and the stack case;
An interposition layer disposed between the insulating layer and a case inner wall surface of the stack case, and interposing the insulating layer to constrain the fuel cell stack to the stack case;
The insulating layer protrudes from the case inner wall surface side to the stack outer wall surface side and has a convex portion that can change the degree of protrusion, with the top of the convex portion in contact with the stack outer wall surface, Provided over the stacking direction of the fuel cells,
The intervening layer is located inside the convex part and interposes the top of the convex part to restrain the fuel cell stack to the stack case.

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