JP2942545B1 - Fuel cell - Google Patents

Abstract

Kind Code: A1 A fuel capable of applying a uniform and stable contact pressure to cells over time, extending the life of a battery, easily managing dimensions, and reducing costs. Provide batteries. A power generation reaction section H includes an anode electrode, a cathode electrode, and an electrolyte plate interposed between the two electrodes.
A sealing portion S that is stacked on the power generation reaction portion via a gas passage forming member and seals a fuel gas and an oxidizing gas supplied to the power generation reaction portion; and a fuel gas of the power generation reaction portion. In the fuel cell including the partition plate 3 for separating the oxidizing gas, the member of the power generation reaction section H and the member of the seal section S are formed of the same member, and the members of the seal section are laminated. The arrangement was formed differently from the stack arrangement of the members of the power generation reaction section.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an improvement in a fuel cell, and in particular, a seal for sealing a fuel gas and an oxidizing gas supplied to a power generation reaction section is provided by a frame, a seal support, and a seal electrode. The present invention relates to a fuel cell formed of a laminate.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As shown in FIG. 11, a unit cell of a fuel cell of this type, which is conventionally generally used, includes a separator 30, an electrolyte plate 9 and an anode 7 and a cathode 7 opposed to each other on both sides thereof. And 8. In addition, at the time of power generation, the unit cells 50 are usually stacked vertically as shown in FIG. Here, in the unit cell 50, the portion that performs power generation is a portion sandwiched between the anode 7 and the cathode 8, and this is referred to as a power generation reaction section. On the other hand, the separator 30 includes an anode-side frame 1, a cathode-side frame 2, a partition plate 3, an anode-side corrugated plate 11, an anode-side current collector 12, a cathode-side corrugated plate 13, and a cathode-side current collector 14. . The partition plate 3 has a function of separating the anode side and the cathode side.

[0003] Further, an electrolyte plate is extended to a portion of the anode side frame 1 and the cathode side frame 2, and seals a fuel gas and an oxidizing gas (these are used as reaction gases). A part having this function is called a seal part.

Here, the difference in height between the reaction part and the seal part is called a step as shown in FIG. Surface pressure is applied to the cells of the fuel cell configured as described above in order to favorably generate a power generation reaction and maintain a sealing function. In the power generation state of the fuel cell, as shown in FIG. 12 (a), when the step is negative, the contact state of the reaction part is poor, so that good cell performance cannot be obtained. Conversely, when the step is positive as shown in FIG. 12B, an appropriate surface pressure is not applied to the seal portion, so that the reaction gas leaks and interferes with the power generation.

In any case, if there is a step, a non-uniform surface pressure difference is generated between the seal portion and the reaction portion. The surface pressure difference breaks the electrolyte plate, which is a ceramic body, leaks a reaction gas and greatly increases the battery life. Adverse effects. Therefore, when manufacturing the cell, the height of the reaction part and the seal part must be precisely adjusted to make the step zero.

[0006] However, in the case of this type of fuel cell, another major problem remains even if the step is reduced to zero. That is,
The problem is creep of the anode. This is the anode 7
Since the thickness decreases over time due to creep and sintering, if the seal does not deform to a state where the step is equivalent to zero by absorbing the change in thickness, the surface pressure of the reaction part decreases over time and the contact This is a problem that the state deteriorates, the internal resistance increases, and the performance deteriorates. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 13, there is a risk that an uneven surface pressure difference between the seal portion and the reaction portion occurs, and the electrolyte plate is broken. for that reason,
It is indispensable to apply a uniform and stable contact pressure over time to the cell to prolong the life of the battery.

Therefore, in order to stabilize the surface pressure following the creep, attempts have been made to insert the anode-side seal support 16 and the cathode-side seal support 17 shown in FIG. Have been. For example, JP-A-7-
In Japanese Patent No. 192736, a problem of creep is intended to be solved by using a metal porous plate as a seal portion support material. In Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-153473, the height of the seal portion is made higher than that of the reaction portion to make the seal portion flexible so as to solve the problem of steps and creep due to cell manufacturing accuracy.

[0008]

Considering the cell structure of the fuel cell, the following three problems must be solved in order to apply a uniform and stable surface pressure over time to the reaction part and the seal part. Conceivable. That is, (1) the seal portion structure can follow the creep of the anode. (2) The step due to the manufacturing accuracy of the reaction part and the seal part can be eliminated. (3) It is possible to prevent cracking of the electrolyte plate due to uneven surface pressure difference.

However, the above-mentioned Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-192
In the device disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 736, even if the problem (1) can be solved, since the constituent parts of the reaction part and the seal part are different, the dimensional accuracy between the parts finally becomes the manufacturing accuracy of the cell. And the accuracy is inevitably reduced. For this reason, it is necessary to require dimensional accuracy between the components, and as a result, the yield of the components employed is reduced.

Further, in order to control the level difference, further press working of a part or insertion of a new part not only changes the pressing state of the reaction part and the seal part but adversely affects the cell. However, this also increases the manufacturing cost and is not suitable for mass production.

Further, even with the one disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 7-153473, even if the problems (1) and (2) can be solved, cracking of the electrolyte plate due to the difference in surface pressure between the reaction part and the seal part occurs. There is plenty of risk. When a plurality of cells are stacked, the pressing state of each cell varies, or a vertical surface pressure difference occurs due to the weight of the stacked body due to high stacking, which further increases the risk of breaking the electrolyte plate. Therefore, the reliability has not been completely solved.

The present invention has been made in view of the foregoing, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a cell with a uniform and stable contact pressure with time, and to extend the life of a battery.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a fuel cell of this type which can be easily dimensionally controlled and reduced in cost.

[0013]

That is, the present invention provides a power generation reaction section comprising an anode, a cathode, and an electrolyte plate interposed between these electrodes, and a power generation reaction section laminated on the power generation reaction section via a gas passage forming member. And a seal portion for sealing the fuel gas and the oxidant gas supplied to the power generation reaction portion, and a partition plate for separating the fuel gas and the oxidant gas of the power generation reaction portion, wherein the seal portion is provided. ,flame,
In a fuel cell formed of a laminate of a seal portion support material and a seal portion electrode, the member of the power generation reaction portion,
The member of the seal portion is formed of the same member, and the stacking arrangement of the member of the seal portion is formed differently from the stacking arrangement of the members of the power generation reaction portion , and the reaction
Part, the same as the frame of the seal part in contact with the electrolyte plate
The intended purpose is achieved by interposing a spacer formed of a material having a large thickness .

The present invention also provides an anode, a cathode and
The power generation system consisting of the electrolyte plate interposed between these two electrodes
And the power generation reaction section via a gas passage forming member.
Layered and fuel gas supplied to the power generation reaction section
A sealing portion for sealing the gas and the oxidizing gas;
A partition plate for separating fuel gas and oxidizer gas
The seal part includes a frame, a seal part supporting material,
In a fuel cell formed of a laminate of seal electrodes,
And a member of the power generation reaction section, and a member of the seal section.
Are formed of the same member, and
The stacking arrangement of the materials is different from the stacking arrangement of the members of the power generation reaction section.
And seal the frame of the seal part.
The blank material used for blanking is placed in the
It is designed to be inserted as a socket.

An anode, a cathode, and both
A power generation reaction part consisting of an electrolyte plate interposed between the poles,
The power generation reaction section is stacked and disposed via a gas passage forming member.
And the fuel gas supplied to the power generation
A seal portion for sealing the agent gas, and a fuel
A partition plate for separating the feed gas and the oxidizing gas,
The seal part is a frame, a seal part support material and a seal part.
In a fuel cell formed of a stack of electrodes,
The member of the power generation reaction section and the member of the seal section are the same.
Formed of a member, and lamination of the member of the seal portion.
The arrangement is different from the stack arrangement of the members of the power generation reaction section.
And an electrolyte plate among the constituent parts of the seal portion.
The unit and the frame in contact with
It is a configuration of a cell.

The present invention also provides an anode, a cathode and
The power generation system consisting of the electrolyte plate interposed between these two electrodes
And the power generation reaction section via a gas passage forming member.
Layered and fuel gas supplied to the power generation reaction section
A sealing portion for sealing the gas and the oxidizing gas;
A partition plate for separating fuel gas and oxidizer gas
The seal part includes a frame, a seal part supporting material,
In a fuel cell formed of a laminate of seal electrodes,
And a member of the power generation reaction section, and a member of the seal section.
Are formed of the same member, and
The stacking arrangement of the materials is different from the stacking arrangement of the members of the power generation reaction section.
And the sealing part
Occurs when pressing a frame in contact with the electrolyte plate
Punching blank material to make current collector plate to support electrodes
It is intended to be used.

[0017]

That is, in the fuel cell formed as described above, the same member is used for the parts of the seal part and the reaction part, and only the stacking arrangement is changed, so that the seal part and the reaction part have the same height. In other words, no step is formed, so that a uniform and stable contact pressure with time can be applied to the cell, and thus the life of the battery can be prolonged, and the dimensions of the manufactured parts can be further improved. The fuel cell can be easily managed and cost can be reduced.

[0019]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS [Embodiment 1] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view on the anode side as an example of a configuration of a main part (a seal part-reaction part boundary part) of a cell structure of a fuel cell according to the present invention. is there. That is, the partition plate 3, the anode-side frame 1, the seal lower anode 21, and the anode-side seal support 16 are disposed in the seal portion, and the anode 7 and the anode-side corrugated plate (gas flow passage) are disposed in the reaction portion. Forming member) 11
And an anode-side spacer 22.

What is important here is that the lower anode 21 and the anode 7 of the seal portion and the support 16 of the anode-side seal portion and the corrugated plate 11 on the anode side respectively have a structure as shown in FIGS. Those cut out from the same production lot are used.
Is of the same thickness as the anode side frame 1,
It is said that it is arranged. At this time, as shown in FIG. 4, if the blank material generated when cutting the press-forming material of the anode-side frame 1 is used as it is as the anode-side spacer 22, the frame and the spacer are the same. It can be arranged from the production lot.

2 to 4, 32 to 35 indicate reaction gas supply / discharge holes, 32 is an anode gas inlet manifold, 33 is a cathode gas inlet manifold, 34 is an anode gas outlet manifold, and 35 is an anode gas outlet manifold. : A cathode gas outlet manifold. Gas is supplied to the reaction section through these supply / discharge holes.

At this time, looking at the stacking arrangement of the constituent members, the sealing portions are stacked in the following order as viewed from the partition plate 3. That is, the sealing member (I) the anode-side sealing member supporting member 16 The sealing member (II) the lower anode 21 of the sealing member The sealing member (III) the anode-side frame 1 This is the next order. That is, the reaction part constituting member (I) anode side spacer 22 The reaction part constituting member (II) anode side corrugated plate 11 The reaction part constituting member (III) anode 7.

Here, as described above, the seal member (I) and the reaction member (II), the seal member (II) and the reaction member (III), and the seal member (III) The same component is used for the reaction part constituent member (I) without changing the thickness of the material. Therefore, the unit cell is configured by using the same member for the configuration of the seal part and the reaction part, and changing only the lamination arrangement.
By adopting such a configuration, all the problems described so far can be solved.

First, by inserting the lower seal portion anode 21 on the anode side, it is understood that (1) the seal portion structure can follow the creep of the anode. Further, since the same member is used for the reaction part and the seal part, and the unit cell is configured by changing the lamination arrangement, (2) it is possible to eliminate a step due to the manufacturing accuracy of the reaction part and the seal part.

In particular, as shown in FIGS.
The anode 7 and the lower part 21 of the sealing part, the anode-side corrugated plate 11 and the anode-side sealing part supporting material 16, and the anode-side spacer 22 and the anode-side frame 1 are cut out from the same production lot and placed in the reaction part and the sealing part, respectively. With such a configuration, the step accuracy of the unit cell can be increased only by managing the dimensional accuracy of each component, so that the dimensional control of the cell is facilitated. further,
Since the manufactured parts can be effectively used and the cell is configured without the necessity of newly manufacturing another part, the cost can be reduced.

Since cells having such high dimensional accuracy can be mass-produced, high reliability can be obtained for uniforming the pressed state of each cell even when a plurality of cells are stacked. Furthermore, according to the configuration of the present invention, not only creep,
Since the behavior of thermal expansion and thermal deformation during power generation and when the temperature of the battery rises and falls becomes equal between the seal portion and the reaction portion, (3) it is possible to prevent the electrolyte plate from cracking due to uneven surface pressure difference. It has an excellent effect.

Although this embodiment shows an example of cutting out and arranging as shown in FIG. 3, if the laminating positions are the same, as shown in FIG. The above-described effects can be obtained even if the arrangement angle is variously changed in a plane. Further, in this embodiment, the case of the internal manifold system in which the gas is supplied from the inside of the cell and the case of the parallel flow system in which the anode gas and the cathode gas flow in parallel are shown, but this is not deviated from the scope of the present invention. It goes without saying that the same effects as those of the present invention can be obtained by using a gas supply system other than the above.

[Embodiment 2] FIG. 6 shows an example in which an expanded metal connecting portion 31 is formed, and a frame and a reaction portion spacer are formed as one body. As described above, the handleability can be improved by integrally molding, and the effect of reducing the manufacturing cost and the effect of reducing the deviation of the plate thickness and further improving the step difference accuracy can be expected by using the same plate material.

[Embodiment 3] FIG. 7 shows a modification of the above-described embodiment 1, in which a plate material to be inserted as an anode-side spacer is punched to form an anode-side current collector plate 12. Also in this case, since the cells can be configured without changing the thickness of the material, the management of the steps becomes easy.

Embodiment 4 FIG. 8 shows an embodiment of the present invention in a ribbed electrode. As can be understood from this drawing, the ribbed electrode is a gas flow passage 43 provided in the electrode.
Is very effective in reducing the number of parts. On the other hand, this has a disadvantage that the gas flow path is formed in the electrode, so that the thickness of the electrode is increased, the creep deformation and the like are increased, and the uniformity of the pressure over time is easily impaired.

In this embodiment, the electrode 41 with the rib on the anode side and the lower anode 21 of the seal portion are cut out from the same production lot and arranged, and the anode side spacer 22 is inserted in the same manner as described above, thereby forming the seal portion and the reaction portion. Can be configured with high accuracy, and the dimensional change over time becomes the same, so that uniformity of pressing is maintained and there is an effect that the battery performance is maintained for a long period of time.

[Embodiment 5] FIG. 9 shows an example in which the partition plate 3 has a configuration in which it serves both as an anode corrugated plate and a cathode corrugated plate. In this example, similarly to the fourth embodiment, a plate material to be inserted as a spacer is punched and inserted as an anode-side current collector 12 and a cathode-side current collector 14, respectively. The height of the sealing portion and the height of the reaction portion can be accurately adjusted by arranging.

[Embodiment 6] FIG. 10 shows that the anode current collector plate 12 is formed by punching a material having the same thickness as the anode frame 1, and the anode corrugated plate 11 and the anode seal support 16 are the same. It is cut out from the production lot and arranged. With such a configuration, the height of the seal portion and the height to the current collector can be accurately adjusted. Further, by extending the anode 7 to the seal portion as shown in this figure, the seal portion and the reaction portion can be substantially composed of the same component, so that a uniform surface pressure can be applied.

In the first to fourth and sixth embodiments, the case of the anode side is shown. However, the same effect can be obtained not only by the anode side but also by the case of the cathode side. Various modifications will be conceivable, such as combining the embodiments 1 to 4 and 6 on the anode side and the cathode side, or applying the embodiment to only one of the sides.

As described above, in the cell structure of the fuel cell formed as described above, the same member is used for the parts of the seal part and the reaction part, and only the stack arrangement is changed. In addition, it is possible to apply a uniform and stable surface pressure over time to the cell, which makes it possible to extend the life of the battery. The fuel cell that can be reduced in cost can be obtained by making it easy.

[0036]

As described above, according to the present invention, a stable surface pressure can be uniformly and temporally applied to the cell, the life of the battery can be prolonged, and the dimensional control can be performed. It is possible to obtain a fuel cell of this type which is easy and can be reduced in cost.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional side view showing one embodiment of a main part of a fuel cell of the present invention.

FIGS. 2A and 2B are a plan view and a cross-sectional view showing a state in which an anode and a lower part of a seal portion of the fuel cell of the present invention are cut out from the same production lot.

FIGS. 3A and 3B are a plan view and a cross-sectional view showing a state where an anode-side corrugated sheet and an anode-side seal portion support member of the fuel cell of the present invention are cut out from the same production lot.

FIG. 4 is a plan view and a sectional view showing a state where a blank material of the fuel cell of the present invention is cut out from a frame.

5A and 5B are a plan view and a cross-sectional view showing that the angle of arrangement of the seal portion support member and the corrugated plate in the fuel cell of the present invention is changed in a plane.

FIG. 6 is a plan view and a cross-sectional view illustrating a frame, a reaction space, and an expanded metal connection portion of the fuel cell according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a longitudinal sectional side view showing a main part of another embodiment of the fuel cell of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a longitudinal sectional side view showing a main part of another embodiment of the fuel cell of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a vertical sectional side view showing a main part of another embodiment of the fuel cell of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a longitudinal sectional side view showing a main part of another embodiment of the fuel cell of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a longitudinal sectional side view showing a unit cell configuration of a conventional fuel cell.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram showing a state of a step and a surface pressure of a unit cell of a fuel cell.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram showing a change in surface pressure over time of a fuel cell.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... anode side frame, 2 ... cathode side frame, 3
... Partition plate, 7 ... Anode (electrode), 8 ... Cathode (electrode), 9 ... Electrolyte plate, 11 ... Anode side corrugated plate, 12 ... Anode side current collector plate, 13 ... Cathode side corrugated plate, 14 ... Cathode side collector Electroplate, 15: manifold, 16: anode-side seal support, 17: cathode-side seal support, 21
... Anode at lower part of seal part, 22 ... Anode side spacer,
23: cathode at lower part of seal portion, 30: separator, 31
... Expanded metal joint, 32 ... Anode inlet manifold, 33 ... Cathode inlet manifold, 3
4 ... Anode outlet manifold, 35 ... Cathode outlet manifold, 41 ... Anode-side ribbed electrode, 43 ... Gas flow path section, 50 ... Unit cell.

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Tadashi Takashima 3-1-1, Sachimachi, Hitachi-shi, Ibaraki Pref. Hitachi, Ltd. Hitachi Plant (56) References 63-28251 (JP, U) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁶ , DB name) H01M 8/00-8/24

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] 1. An anode, a cathode and both electrodes.
A power generation reaction section consisting of an electrolyte plate interposed between
Laminated and arranged in the power generation reaction section via a gas passage forming member
At the same time, fuel gas and oxidizer gas supplied to the power generation
A sealing portion for sealing the gas, and a fuel gas of the power generation reaction portion.
A partition plate for separating the oxidizing gas from the gas.
The frame consists of a frame, a seal support, and a seal electrode.
In the fuel cell formed of the laminate of the above, the member of the power generation reaction section and the member of the seal section are the same.
And the product of the members of the seal portion
The layer arrangement is different from the layer arrangement of the members of the power generation reaction section.
And contact the electrolyte plate with the reaction part.
A space formed of the same thickness as the seal frame
A fuel cell characterized by interposing a heat sink
pond. 2. An anode, a cathode and both electrodes.
A power generation reaction section consisting of an electrolyte plate interposed between
Laminated and arranged in the power generation reaction section via a gas passage forming member
At the same time, fuel gas and oxidizer gas supplied to the power generation
A sealing portion for sealing the gas, and a fuel gas of the power generation reaction portion.
A partition plate for separating the oxidizing gas from the gas.
The frame consists of a frame, a seal support, and a seal electrode.
In the fuel cell formed of the laminate of the above, the member of the power generation reaction section and the member of the seal section are the same.
And the product of the members of the seal portion
The layer arrangement is different from the layer arrangement of the members of the power generation reaction section.
Press-forming the frame of the seal part
The blank material is used as a spacer in the power generation reaction section.
A fuel cell, wherein the fuel cell is inserted. 3. An anode, a cathode and both electrodes.
A power generation reaction section consisting of an electrolyte plate interposed between
Laminated and arranged in the power generation reaction section via a gas passage forming member
At the same time, fuel gas and oxidizer gas supplied to the power generation
A sealing portion for sealing the gas, and a fuel gas of the power generation reaction portion.
A partition plate for separating the oxidizing gas from the gas.
The frame consists of a frame, a seal support, and a seal electrode.
In the fuel cell formed of the laminate of the above, the member of the power generation reaction section and the member of the seal section are the same.
And the product of the members of the seal portion
The layer arrangement is different from the layer arrangement of the members of the power generation reaction section.
And an electrolyte among the constituent parts of the seal portion.
The frame in contact with the plate and the reaction section spacer are
A fuel cell, comprising a plurality of cells. 4. An anode, a cathode and both electrodes.
A power generation reaction section consisting of an electrolyte plate interposed between
Laminated and arranged in the power generation reaction section via a gas passage forming member
At the same time, fuel gas and oxidizer gas supplied to the power generation
A sealing portion for sealing the gas, and a fuel gas of the power generation reaction portion.
A partition plate for separating the oxidizing gas from the gas.
The frame consists of a frame, a seal support, and a seal electrode.
In the fuel cell formed of the laminate of the above, the member of the power generation reaction section and the member of the seal section are the same.
And the product of the members of the seal portion
The layer arrangement is different from the layer arrangement of the members of the power generation reaction section.
And an electrolyte among the constituent parts of the seal portion.
Blanks generated when pressing a frame in contact with a plate
Punched material is used as a current collector to support the electrodes
A fuel cell characterized in that: