JP2022148696A - Cell characteristic evaluation device - Google Patents

Abstract

To evaluate the characteristics of a cell in a state where there is no distortion in a cell characteristic evaluation device that evaluates the characteristics of the cell by sandwiching the cell and a current collector that abuts on both sides of the cell with a gas flow pipe and a cell support pipe.SOLUTION: A cell characteristic evaluation device includes at least respective ones of a pair of gas flow pipe 21 and a pair of cell support pipes 22 sandwiching a cell 11 and a current collector 12, and a cell support portion 30 positioned between the cell characteristic evaluation device and the current collector 12. The cell support portion 30 extends over the end portion 21a of the gas flow pipe 21 on the side of the current collector and the end portion 22a of the cell support pipe 22 on the side of the current collector in a state that allows gas to flow into the cell 11 from the gas flow pipe 21 and allows gas to flow out from the cell 11 to a gas conduit 23, and a current collector side surface 30a that contacts the current collector of the cell support portion 30 is a flat surface.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

The present invention relates to a cell characteristic evaluation device.

In a cell characteristic evaluation device for evaluating the characteristics of a cell used in an electrochemical reaction such as a fuel cell, a cell unit having a current collecting unit abutting on both sides of the cell and a current collecting unit are positioned separately on both sides of the cell unit. A pair of evaluation cylinders sandwiching the cell part is provided, and each of the pair of evaluation cylinders has a gas flow pipe for one of gas supply to the cell and gas discharge from the cell, and a gas flow pipe on the outside. and a cell support tube forming a gas flow path for supplying gas to the cell and discharging gas from the cell between the cell support tube and the gas flow tube.

Non-Patent Document 1, for example, discloses this type of cell characteristic evaluation device. Non-Patent Document 1 includes porcelain tubes for gas input and porcelain tubes.

B. Kuzin, M. Perfiliev, V. Gorelov, S. Beresnev and Ju. Kleschev, "ELECTROCHEMISTRY OF FUEL CELLS WITH H＋ ELECTROLYTE BASED ON BaCeO3", "THE FIFTH INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON SOLID OXIDE FUEL CELLS V", The Electrochemical Society, Inc, March 1997, Proceeding Volume 97-18, P348-357

Conventionally, there has been a tendency for positional deviation to occur between the end of the gas flow tube on the side of the current collector and the end of the cell support tube on the side of the current collector in the direction in which the cell part is sandwiched. Since a cell deforming operation force is generated due to the cell part being sandwiched between the and the cell support tube, the characteristic evaluation is performed for the cell in a distorted state such as bending. Even if a load adjustment spring that elastically supports the gas flow pipe and the cell support pipe in the sandwiching direction of the cell portion and adjusts the load that sandwiches the cell portion of the gas flow pipe and the cell support pipe is provided, The misalignment between the current collector side end and the current collector side end of the cell support tube cannot be completely eliminated, and proper evaluation of cell characteristics cannot be obtained. Depending on the magnitude of the positional deviation between the end of the gas flow tube on the side of the current collector and the end of the cell support tube on the side of the current collector, the cell may crack and break.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a cell characteristic evaluation apparatus capable of evaluating cell characteristics without strain and without damaging the cell.

The cell characteristic evaluation device according to the present invention includes:
A cell used for an electrochemical reaction having at least an electrode layer, a counter electrode layer, and an electrolyte layer disposed between the electrode layer and the counter electrode layer; and current collectors in contact with both surfaces of the cell. A pair of evaluation cylinder portions are provided on both sides of the cell portion to sandwich the cell portion. a gas flow pipe for performing one of gas discharge and surrounding the gas flow pipe from the outside, and between the gas flow pipe and the gas flow pipe, the other of gas supply to the cell and gas discharge from the cell and a cell support tube forming a gas flow path for performing gas flow between the gas flow tube and the cell between at least one of the pair of evaluation tube portions and the current collector. and the end of the gas flow tube on the side of the current collector and the cell support tube in a state that allows gas flow between the cell and the gas flow path. and the end of the current collecting portion side of the cell support portion, and the side surface of the current collecting portion of the cell support portion that contacts the current collecting portion is a flat surface.

According to this configuration, the cell portion is sandwiched from both sides by the gas flow pipe and the cell support pipe of the pair of evaluation cylinder portions, and the cell portion is held in a state in which the cell support portion is in flat contact with the current collector. Since the cell portion is opposed to the sandwiching of the cell portion by the gas flow pipe and the cell support pipe while supporting, no operating force is generated to deform the cell, and the cell characteristics can be evaluated in a state in which the cell is not distorted. Also, cell damage can be prevented.

In the present invention,
It is preferable that the cell support portion is supported by the cell support tube by being integrally formed with the cell support tube.

According to this configuration, since the cell supporting portion is formed integrally with the cell supporting tube having an outer diameter larger than the outer diameter of the gas flow pipe, the cell supporting portion can be easily formed integrally.

In the present invention,
It is preferable that the cell support portion is detachably supported by the cell support tube.

According to this configuration, since the cell support portion can be attached and detached between the cell support tube and the cell support portion located outside the gas flow pipe, the cell support portion can be attached and detached when inspecting the cell support portion. easy to do

In the present invention,
The cell support portion is preferably made of metal.

According to this configuration, the electrical information introduced from the cell to the current collector is transmitted to the cell support by electrical conduction between the cell supporting portion and the current collecting portion, and the electrical information is extracted from the current collecting portion. Compared to connecting a cable to the current collector, electrical information can be taken out from the current collector even if it is connected to the cell support portion located closer to the gas flow tube than the current collector.

In the present invention,
It is preferable that the cell is a cell using a plate-like metal as a support.

According to this configuration, the characteristics of the cell can be evaluated in a state in which the cell supporting portion is in contact with the current collecting portion on a flat surface in response to the plastic deformation of the plate-shaped metal serving as the support, and the cell is not distorted. It can be carried out. In particular, it is suitable when the thickness of the plate-shaped metal support is thin. For example, the thickness is preferably 1 mm or less, more preferably 0.5 mm or less, and further preferably 0.3 mm or less. preferable. Moreover, the lower limit of the thickness should just be the thickness which can comprise a cell.

In the present invention,
It is preferred that the cell is a solid oxide cell.

According to this configuration, even in a high temperature range (for example, 500° C. to 1000° C.) in which the solid oxide cell operates, the cell supporting portion maintains a state of flat contact with the current collecting portion, and is not distorted. Cell characterization can be performed.

It is a schematic diagram showing the whole cell characteristic evaluation device. It is an enlarged view of a cell support part. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a cell; FIG. 4 is a plan view of a cell support; FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VV of FIG. 4; FIG. 10 is a plan view of a cell support comprising another embodiment; FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of a cell support comprising another embodiment;

An embodiment, which is an example of the present invention, will be described below with reference to the drawings.

[Overall Configuration of Cell Characteristic Evaluation Device]
A cell characteristic evaluation apparatus 1 evaluates characteristics of a cell 11 (see FIG. 3) that constitutes a fuel cell. As shown in FIG. 1, a cell characteristic evaluation apparatus 1 includes a pedestal 3 and an upper support 4, and between the pedestal 3 and the upper support 4, a cell unit 10 having a cell 11 to be evaluated. On the other hand, a pair of upper and lower evaluation cylinders 20 are provided separately on the upper side and the lower side of the cell section 10 and sandwich the cell section 10 from above and below. A cell support portion 30 is provided between the lower evaluation cylinder portion 20 of the pair of upper and lower evaluation cylinder portions 20 and the cell portion 10 .

[Structure of cell part]
As shown in FIG. 2 , the cell unit 10 includes a cell 11 to be evaluated, and current collectors 12 abutting on both surfaces of the cell 11 . As shown in FIG. 3, the cell 11 includes an electrolyte layer 11a, an air electrode (electrode layer) 11b formed on one side of the electrolyte layer 11a, and a fuel electrode formed on the other side of the electrolyte layer 11a. It is provided with a (counter electrode layer) 11c and a plate-like metal cell support 11d that is brought into contact with the fuel electrode 11c and that can be electrically connected to the fuel electrode 11c. For example, in this embodiment, a solid oxide fuel cell using a metal plate with a thickness of 0.3 mm as the cell support 11d is used. The cell support 11d is provided with a plurality of through holes 11e that allow fuel to be introduced into the fuel electrode 11c and fuel to be discharged from the fuel electrode 11c. In this embodiment, the cell 11 is provided in the cell section 10 with the air electrode side facing upward and the fuel electrode side facing downward. The current collector 12 has electrical conductivity. The current collector 12 is made of an appropriate member such as a porous body or foam, and enables fuel to be introduced into the cells 11 and fuel to be discharged from the cells 11 . In the present embodiment, the cell 11 including the cell support 11d is used as the cell subject to characteristic evaluation, but the cell subject to characteristic evaluation is not limited to this. It may be a cell having

[Structure of upper evaluation cylinder]
As shown in FIG. 1, the upper evaluation cylinder portion 20 of the pair of upper and lower evaluation cylinder portions 20 is a gas flow pipe 21 for supplying gas to the cell 11, and is positioned outside the gas flow pipe 21. It has a cell support tube 22 for As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the cell support tube 22 supports the cell 11 and provides gas communication between the cell support tube 22 and the gas communication tube 21 for discharging the gas from the cell 11 . It is configured to form a flow path 23 . The cell 11 is supported by the cell support tube 22 by pressing the outer periphery of the cell support 11d through an annular sealing material 24 provided between the end 22a of the cell support tube 22 on the cell portion side and the cell 11. is done in The sealing material 24 prevents air leakage from between the cell support tube 22 and the cells 11 . The sealing material 24 is supported by the cell support tube 22 .

As shown in FIG. 1, a gas inlet 25 is provided at the top of the gas flow tube 21 . A gas outlet 26 is provided at the top of the cell support tube 22 . As shown in FIG. 2 , a gas supply port 27 is opened toward the cell section 10 at the end portion 21 a of the gas flow tube 21 on the current collector side. A gas recovery port 28 is opened toward the cell portion 10 at the end portion 22 a of the cell support tube 22 on the side of the current collecting portion. An end portion 21a of the gas flow pipe 21 is pressed against the outer circumference of the current collector portion 12 .

In the evaluation tube 20 above, air (oxygen) is supplied to the gas flow pipe 21 from the gas inlet 25, and the supplied air is supplied from the gas supply port 27 through the gas flow pipe 21 through the current collector 12. It is introduced into the air electrode 11 b in the cell 11 . The air discharged from the air electrode 11b is recovered in the gas flow path 23 via the current collector 12 and the gas recovery port 28, and the recovered air is sent to the outside of the cell support tube 22 from the gas outlet 26 by the cell support tube 22. Ejected. Electrical information introduced from the air electrode 11b to the current collector 12 is taken out by a cable (not shown) connected to the current collector 12 .

[Structure of lower evaluation cylinder]
As shown in FIG. 1 , the lower evaluation cylinder portion 20 of the pair of upper and lower evaluation cylinder portions 20 includes, like the upper evaluation cylinder portion 20 , a gas flow pipe 21 for supplying gas to the cell 11 , and a cell support tube 22 located outside the gas flow tube 21 . As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the cell support tube 22 supports the cell 11 and provides gas communication between the cell support tube 22 and the gas communication tube 21 for discharging the gas from the cell 11 . It is configured to form a flow path 23 . The cell 11 is supported by the cell support tube 22 via a cell support portion 30 and an annular seal member 29 provided between the end portion 22 a of the cell support tube 22 on the side of the current collector and the cell 11 . The sealing member 29 prevents fuel leakage from between the cell support portion 30 and the cell 11 . The sealing material 29 is supported by the cell supporting portion 30 .

As shown in FIG. 1, a gas inlet 25 is provided at the bottom of the gas conduit 21 . A gas outlet 26 is provided at the bottom of the cell support tube 22 . As shown in FIG. 2 , a gas supply port 27 is opened toward the cell support portion 30 at the end portion 21 a of the gas flow tube 21 on the side of the current collector portion. A gas recovery port 28 is opened toward the cell support portion 30 at the end portion 22a of the cell support tube 22 on the side of the current collector portion.

[Structure of cell support part]
As shown in FIG. 2, the cell supporting portion 30 communicates with the gas in a state where it extends over the end portion 22a of the cell support tube 22 on the side of the current collector and the end portion 21a of the gas flow tube 21 on the side of the current collecting portion. It is provided between the current collector 12 and the flow tube 21 and the cell support tube 22 . In other words, the cell support portion 30 blocks the gas supply port 27 of the gas flow pipe 21 and the gas recovery port 28 of the cell support pipe 22 so that the end portion 21a of the gas flow pipe 21 on the side of the current collector and the cell support pipe are closed. 22 and the end 22a on the side of the current collector. The end portion 21 a of the gas flow pipe 21 abuts on the lower surface of the cell support portion 30 . As shown in FIGS. 2, 4, and 5, the current collector side surface 30a of the cell support 30, which contacts the current collector 12, is flat so as to be in surface contact with the current collector 12. As shown in FIGS. The cell portion 10 is supported by a cell support portion 30 that is in surface contact with the current collector portion 12 on a flat surface, and is sandwiched between the gas flow pipe 21 and the cell support pipe 22 of the pair of evaluation cylinder portions 20 .

The cell support portion 30 is configured to allow gas to flow from the gas conduit 21 to the cell 11 and to allow gas to flow from the cell 11 to the gas conduit 23 .

Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 , fuel from the gas flow pipe 21 to the current collector 12 is supplied to a portion of the cell support portion 30 corresponding to the gas supply port 27 of the gas flow pipe 21 . A first through hole 31 is provided to form a flow path for introducing (hydrogen). The first through holes 31 are provided at a plurality of locations of the cell support portion 30 . More specifically, in the cell supporting portion 30, a first installation location corresponding to the center of the gas flow pipe 21, a plurality of second installation locations radially aligned around the first installation location, and the second installation locations A first through hole 31 is provided at each of a plurality of third installation locations radially aligned around the first installation location at a location located radially outside of the gas flow pipe 21 . In the cell supporting portion 30 , a channel is formed in a portion corresponding to the gas recovery port 28 of the cell supporting tube 22 to enable recovery of fuel (hydrogen) from the current collecting portion 12 to the gas flow channel 23 . 2 through holes 32 are provided. The second through holes 32 are provided at a plurality of locations of the cell support portion 30 . More specifically, the second through-holes 32 are formed in a plurality of radially arranged positions centering on the first installation location at a portion of the cell support portion 30 located radially outward of the gas flow pipe 21 from the third installation location. It is provided at the fourth installation location. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the current collector side surface 30a of the cell supporting portion 30 has a plurality of first through-holes 31 and a plurality of second through-holes 32. A communication groove 33 is formed to communicate with a part of the second through-holes 32 and allow the fuel to flow from the first through-holes 31 to the second through-holes 32 . The two communication grooves 33 are formed so as to intersect at the first installation location.

The cell support portion 30 is made of metal. That is, the cell supporting portion 30 can be electrically connected to the current collecting portion 12, and the electrical information introduced into the current collecting portion 12 from the fuel electrode 11c of the cell 11 via the cell support 11d is transferred to the cell supporting portion 30. transmitted. In this embodiment, the cell support portion 30 is made of stainless steel.

As shown in FIG. 2, the cell supporting portion 30 is supported by the cell supporting tube 22 by integral formation with the cell supporting tube 22 .

In the lower evaluation tube portion 20 , fuel (hydrogen) is supplied to the gas flow pipe 21 from the gas inlet 25 , and the supplied fuel passes through the gas flow pipe 21 from the gas supply port 27 to the first cell support portion 30 . It is introduced into the current collecting portion 12 of the cell portion 10 through the through hole 31, and is introduced from the current collecting portion 12 into the fuel electrode 11c through the cell support 11d. The fuel discharged from the fuel electrode 11c flows from the cell support 11d into the current collector 12, passes through the second through-hole 32 of the cell support 30, and the gas recovery port 28 from the current collector 12 to the gas flow path. 23 , and the recovered fuel is discharged outside the cell support tube 22 from a gas outlet 26 by the cell support tube 22 . Electrical information introduced from the fuel electrode 11c to the current collector 12 through the cell support 11d is taken out by a cable (not shown) connected to the current collector 12 through the first through hole 31 of the cell support 30. . The cell supporting portion 30 is made of metal and electrically connected to the current collecting portion 12. The current collecting portion 30 can also be connected to the cell supporting portion 30 with a cable for extracting electrical information introduced from the fuel electrode 11c to the current collecting portion 12. The electrical information introduced into section 12 can be retrieved.

[Adjustment of the load that sandwiches the cell part]
As shown in FIG. 1, in the upper evaluation cylinder portion 20, the gas flow pipe 21 is inserted through the through hole 40 provided in the upper part of the cell support pipe 22, and the gas flow pipe 21 and the cell support pipe 22 are connected. The gas flow pipe 21 and the cell support pipe 22 are configured to move relative to each other in the direction along which the cell portion 10 is sandwiched. A first load adjusting spring 41 is provided between the upper portion of the gas flow pipe 21 and the upper support 4 to elastically support the gas flow pipe 21 and adjust the load of the gas flow pipe 21 sandwiching the cell portion 10 . It is A second load adjusting spring 42 is provided between the upper portion of the cell support tube 22 and the upper support 4 to elastically support the cell support tube 22 and adjust the load of the cell support tube 22 sandwiching the cell portion 10 . .

As shown in FIG. 1 , in the lower evaluation tube portion 20 , the cell support tube 22 is supported by the pillar portion 3 a of the pedestal 3 . The gas flow pipe 21 is inserted through a through hole 43 provided in the lower portion of the cell support pipe 22, and the cell support pipe 22 extends along the direction in which the cell portion 10 is sandwiched between the gas flow pipe 21 and the cell support pipe 22. is configured to be able to move relative to A third load adjustment spring 44 is provided between the lower portion of the gas flow pipe 21 and the pedestal 3 to elastically support the gas flow pipe 21 and adjust the load of the gas flow pipe 21 sandwiching the cell portion 10 . there is

[Another embodiment]
(1) FIG. 6 is a plan view of a cell support portion 30 provided with another embodiment. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of cell support 30 comprising another embodiment. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, in the cell support portion 30 having another embodiment, the cell support portion 30 includes an introduction portion 30b for introducing the fuel from the gas flow pipe 21 into the current collector portion 12, and A recovery portion for recovering the fuel discharged from the cell portion 10 to the current collecting portion 12 into the gas passage 23 is composed of a porous body.

(2) In the above-described embodiment, an example was shown in which the cell 11 including the cell support 11d was used as the cell subject to characteristic evaluation. It may be a cell having a structure.

(3) In the above-described embodiment, the characteristics of the cells 11 constituting the fuel cell are evaluated using the cell support 11d having the through holes 11e in the metal plate. A plate-like molded product may be used for evaluation of characteristics of a cell used as a cell support.

(4) In the above-described embodiment, of the pair of evaluation cylinder portions 20, the upper evaluation cylinder portion 20 is configured on the air introduction side, and the lower evaluation cylinder portion 20 is configured on the fuel introduction side. , but not limited to this. For example, the upper evaluation cylinder portion 20 may be configured on the fuel introduction side, and the lower evaluation cylinder portion 20 may be configured on the air introduction side. Alternatively, the pair of evaluation cylinders 20 may be horizontally arranged with the cell part 10 interposed therebetween.

(5) In the above-described embodiment, the cell support portion 30 is positioned between the gas flow pipe 21 and the cell support pipe 22 and the current collector 12 at the evaluation cylinder portion 20 on the fuel introduction side of the pair of evaluation cylinder portions 20. Although the example provided only in between was shown, it is not restricted to this. Of the pair of evaluation cylinder portions 20 , the evaluation cylinder portion 20 on the air introduction side may be provided only between the gas flow pipe 21 and the cell support pipe 22 and the current collector portion 12 . Moreover, it may be provided between the gas flow pipe 21 and the cell support pipe 22 and the current collector 12 in both the evaluation cylinder portions 20 on the air introduction side and the fuel introduction side of the pair of evaluation cylinder portions 20 .

(6) In the above-described embodiment, an example in which the cell supporting portion 30 is supported on the cell supporting pipe 22 is shown, but it may be supported on the gas flow pipe 21 . In the above-described embodiment, the cell supporting portion 30 is supported by the cell supporting tube 22 by integrally forming the cell supporting portion 30 with the cell supporting tube 22 . configuration may be employed.

(7) In the above-described embodiment, an example in which the cell supporting portion 30 is made of stainless steel is shown, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, it may be made of various metal materials such as steel. Moreover, the cell supporting portion is not limited to being made of metal, and may employ a non-metallic cell support portion such as ceramics.

(8) In the above-described embodiment, the characteristics of the cells 11 constituting the fuel cell are evaluated. It may be something to do.

(9) In the above-described embodiment, the property evaluation of the cell 11 constituting the solid oxide fuel cell is shown as a solid oxide cell. may be

(10) Although an example in which gas is supplied to the cell 11 through the gas conduit 21 and gas is discharged from the cell 11 through the gas conduit 23, the present invention is not limited to this. The gas supply to the cell 11 may be performed through the gas flow path 23 and the gas discharge from the cell 11 may be performed through the gas flow pipe 21 .

The configurations disclosed in the above embodiments (including other embodiments, the same shall apply hereinafter) can be applied in combination with configurations disclosed in other embodiments unless there is a contradiction. The embodiments disclosed in this specification are examples, and the embodiments of the present invention are not limited thereto, and can be modified as appropriate without departing from the scope of the present invention.

The present invention relates to a pair of evaluation cells that are separated from each other on both sides of a cell unit that has a cell that is used for an electrochemical reaction such as a fuel cell and current collectors that are in contact with both sides of the cell, and sandwiches the cell unit. A cylindrical portion is provided, and each of the pair of evaluation cylindrical portions includes a gas flow pipe that performs one of gas supply to the cell and gas discharge from the cell, and a gas flow pipe that surrounds the gas flow pipe from the outside. and a cell support tube forming a gas flow path for performing the other of gas supply to the cell and gas discharge from the cell.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 10 cell support 11 cell 12 current collector 20 evaluation cylinder 21 gas flow tube 21a current collector side end 22 cell support tube 22a current collector side end 23 gas flow path 30 cell support 30a collector electric part side

Claims (6)

A cell used for an electrochemical reaction having at least an electrode layer, a counter electrode layer, and an electrolyte layer disposed between the electrode layer and the counter electrode layer; and current collectors in contact with both surfaces of the cell. A pair of evaluation cylinder portions are provided separately located on both sides of the cell portion with respect to the cell portion and sandwiching the cell portion,
Each of the pair of evaluation cylinders includes a gas flow pipe that either supplies gas to the cell or discharges gas from the cell, and surrounds the gas flow pipe from the outside, and the gas flow pipe. a cell support tube that forms a gas flow path that performs the other of gas supply to the cell and gas discharge from the cell between
Between at least one of the pair of evaluation cylinders and the current collector, gas can flow between the gas flow tube and the cell, and the gas can flow between the cell and the cell. a cell positioned over the end of the gas flow tube on the side of the current collector and the end of the cell support tube on the side of the current collector in a state in which gas can flow between the cell and the flow path a support is provided,
A cell characteristic evaluation device, wherein a side surface of the current collecting portion of the cell supporting portion that is in contact with the current collecting portion is a flat surface. 2. The cell characteristic evaluation device according to claim 1, wherein the cell supporting portion is supported by the cell supporting tube by integral formation with the cell supporting tube. 2. The cell characteristic evaluation device according to claim 1, wherein the cell supporting portion is detachably supported by the cell supporting tube. The cell characteristic evaluation device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the cell support portion is made of metal. 5. The cell characteristic evaluation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cell uses a plate-shaped metal as a support. 6. A cell characteristic evaluation apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein said cell is a solid oxide cell.

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