JP3293309B2 - Solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell which is used in the energy sector for directly converting chemical energy of fuel into electric energy.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A power generation system using a solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell is being developed as being applicable to automobiles, trains, ships, spacecraft, deep sea power generation facilities, terrestrial power generation facilities, and the like.

As shown in FIGS. 7 to 9, a solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell proposed so far has an electrolyte membrane 1 having a platinum electrode catalyst supported on both surfaces thereof and an oxygen electrode 2 and a fuel electrode. The cell C, which is sandwiched between the two gas diffusion electrodes of the electrode 3 and stacked, is laminated via a separator 4 so as to form a stack.
Is formed, and the oxidizing gas O ₂ is supplied and discharged to the oxygen electrode 2 side,
In order to supply and discharge the fuel gas H ₂ to the fuel electrode 3 side, the flow path holes 6 and 7 for supplying and discharging the oxidizing gas are provided around the central part except for the electrode reaction part. Gas supply and discharge passage holes 8 and 9 are provided so that the oxidizing gas and the fuel gas can flow through the respective gas passages 5 with the separator 4 interposed therebetween, as shown in FIG. As described above, the stack is sandwiched between the end plates 10 and 11, and a predetermined tightening force is applied to the holes 13 provided at the four corners through the tightening bolts 12.

In a conventional solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell,
The gas supplied from the outside may be supplied after being humidified. However, there is a gas provided with a humidifying unit 14 as shown in FIG. In addition, since the reaction of the fuel cell is an exothermic reaction, as shown in FIG. 7, one cooling unit 15 is provided for every several cells.

The flow of the gas supplied to the fuel electrode 3 side and the oxygen electrode 2 side of each cell C and the flow of the cooling water supplied to the cooling section 15 are shown in FIGS. 9 (a), 9 (b) and 9 (c). As shown in the figure, after both the fuel gas and the oxidizing gas are supplied from separate inlets of the end plate 10 and humidified by the humidifying unit 14, the humidified gas flows through the power generation cell unit 16 and then exits from the end plate 10. The cooling water is supplied from the inlet of the end plate 10 to cool the power generation cell unit 16, and then is discharged from the outlet of the end plate 10 to the outside via the humidifying unit 14. It is.

In the figure, 17 is a center bus (+ pole), 18
Is a rubber pad and 19 is a porous fiber support.

[0007]

However, the above-mentioned conventional solid polymer electrolyte fuel cells have the potential to be reduced in size and weight because the current density can be made very large. Need to increase the voltage.
To do this, the number of cell stages must be increased,
Since the voltage per cell stage is 0.7 to 0.8 V, the length of the power generation cell section 16 shown in FIGS. 9A, 9B, and 9C tends to be long. When the length of the power generation cell section 16 becomes longer, the supply and discharge of the gas are performed as shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B by the flow holes 6 and 7 for supplying and discharging the oxidizing gas and the flow for supplying and discharging the fuel gas. Due to the configuration including only the passage holes 8 and 9, the supply of gas to each cell and the discharge of the remaining gas, and the discharge of water generated on the oxygen electrode 2 side are difficult to be performed properly, and the characteristics of the cell are reduced. The cooling may not be performed uniformly, and the cell characteristics may be deteriorated due to uneven temperature distribution. In particular, if the generated water is not discharged efficiently,
The concentration overvoltage, that is, the difficulty in replenishing and removing reactants and reaction products at the electrodes and disturbing the reaction of the electrodes, increases, and the cell voltage decreases. In addition, when the present invention is applied to a vehicle, a ship, or the like having a severe fluctuation, acceleration, inclination, or the like, the distribution of generated water may differ from cell to cell, and the generated water may accumulate in some cells. In such a case, the voltage of the cell in which the generated water stays decreases, and the flow of the gas is hindered by the generated water, so that the output distribution in the stack may become uneven.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a method for supplying gas or moisture and reducing gas and humidity even when the output is increased by increasing the number of cell stages or when conditions such as vibration, acceleration, and inclination are severe in automobiles and ships.
The purpose of the present invention is to make it possible to appropriately discharge generated water, and to easily maintain the temperature of the entire cell uniformly to improve the characteristics of the cell.

[0009]

According to the present invention, in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a polymer electrolyte membrane having a platinum electrode catalyst supported on its surface is sandwiched between both oxygen and fuel gas diffusion electrodes. On the side, an oxidizing gas is supplied, and on the fuel electrode side, fuel cells are supplied and discharged, respectively, and a plurality of cells are stacked in layers via a separator. In the polymer electrolyte fuel cell, a supply port for supplying and discharging an oxidizing gas from the outside to the separator on the oxygen electrode side of the cell, a supply flow path hole communicating with the supply port, and a discharge port and the discharge port And a supply port for supplying and discharging fuel gas from the outside to the separator on the fuel electrode side, and a discharge port hole for supplying and discharging fuel gas from the outside to the separator on the fuel electrode side. A supply flow passage hole communicating with An outlet and a discharge passage hole communicating with the discharge port are provided, respectively, to communicate with a gas passage for fuel gas in the electrode portion, and to supply and discharge cooling water for cooling the cell to the separator on the oxygen electrode side. Provide supply and discharge ports,
A line with a flow control valve is connected to the outlet of the oxidizing gas provided on the oxygen electrode side separator of each cell, an ejector is attached to the line, and the flow control valve is connected to a cell voltage detection value or cell. The controller is adjusted based on the water level detection value of the generated water in the cell, and the generated water in the cell is discharged by passing compressed air through an ejector.

A hydrogen cylinder or a reformer is connected to a line connected to a fuel gas supply port provided on a fuel electrode side separator of each cell, and a flow control valve provided on the line is connected to a cell voltage detection value. The fuel can be supplied by adjusting the controller based on the above.

Further, the controller which uses the fluctuation, acceleration, inclination, vibration, and voltage of each cell as a control signal may adjust the flow rate control valve to perform optimal control of all cells constituting the stack. Good.

[0012]

When the generated water accumulates and the flow of gas is hindered, the voltage of the cell decreases. Therefore, the voltage of the cell is detected, or the level of the generated water in the cell is detected to generate the generated water. If the water is positively discharged, the generated water can be discharged efficiently, and voltage drop and uneven output distribution can be prevented. In addition, the temperature of the cell can be controlled by cooling water supplied from the outside of the cell, and when an inert gas is supplied to the flow path of the cooling water at a high pressure, leakage of the oxidizing gas and the fuel gas from the cell can be prevented. This can be prevented.

When a high-concentration fuel gas is supplied from the outside to the fuel electrode side of the cell whose voltage has decreased, the amount of fuel gas of the cell whose concentration has decreased can be adjusted. By adjusting the amount of gas and cooling water on the outlet side for all cells of the stack for each cell or for each cell group by a command from the controller based on the voltage and the like for each cell,
The cell performance and the characteristics of the entire stack can be controlled so as to be the best.

[0014]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIGS. 1 to 5 show an embodiment of the present invention, which is similar to the conventional system shown in FIG.
, A humidifying unit 14 and a cooling unit 15,
In a configuration in which gas is passed through the humidifying unit 14 and then distributed to the power generation cell unit 16 and discharged, the electrolyte membrane 1
Are shown as having the same size as the oxygen electrode 2 and the fuel electrode 3 as the gas diffusion electrodes, and forming the gas passages by forming these electrodes made of metal and directly providing irregularities.

That is, a solid polymer electrolyte membrane 1 having a platinum electrode catalyst supported on its surface is sandwiched between an oxygen electrode 2 and a fuel electrode 3 having the same size. A gas passage 5a is formed, and a large number of rows of irregularities extending in a direction perpendicular to the gas passage 5a are formed on the back side of the fuel electrode 3 to form a gas passage 5b, and an oxidant gas is formed on the oxygen electrode 2 side. One cell C for supplying and discharging O ₂ and fuel gas H ₂ to and from the fuel electrode 3 respectively is provided with an oxygen electrode-side separator 4a and a fuel electrode-side separator 4b each having a recess formed in the center of one surface. So that the peripheral portions of the separators 4a and 4b are sealed with an insulating material and a sealing material interposed therebetween, and the separators 4a and 4b have gas passages 5a and 5b formed in the electrodes 2 and 3, respectively. Headers 20 at both ends a, 20b and 20c, 20d are formed respectively, and a supply passage hole 21 and a discharge passage hole 22 for supplying and discharging an oxidizing gas from the outside to the header portions 20a and 20b are formed in the oxygen electrode side separator 4a in FIG. 2B, the fuel electrode side separator 4b is provided with a supply passage hole 23 and a discharge passage hole 24 through which fuel gas can be supplied and discharged from the outside to the header portions 20c and 20d, as shown in FIG. Provide as shown.

The separators 4a and 4b sandwiching the one cell C are provided with a plurality of oxidant gas supply passage holes 6.
And a plurality of fuel gas supply passage holes 8 and a plurality of discharge passage holes 9 are respectively provided so as to penetrate in the stacking direction, and the oxygen electrode side is provided. In the separator 4a, the oxidant gas supply / discharge passage holes 6, 7 communicate with the header portions 20a, 20b. In the fuel electrode side separator 4b, the fuel gas supply / discharge passage holes 8, 9 are connected to the header portion. It communicates with 20c and 20d.

Further, in the oxygen electrode side separator 4a and the fuel electrode side separator 4b, a cooling water passage hole 25 is provided so as to penetrate in the laminating direction, and a cooling water passage hole 26 for cell cooling is provided.

Reference numeral 27 denotes an oxidant gas supply port, 28 denotes an oxidant gas discharge port, 29 denotes a fuel gas supply port, 30 denotes a fuel gas discharge port, 31 denotes a cooling water supply port, and 32 denotes a cooling water supply port. The same reference numerals as in FIGS. 7 to 9 denote the same water outlets.

The solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell of the present invention comprises:
The cells having the above-described configuration are stacked in multiple layers in the horizontal direction to form a stack.
By using 8, the generated water can be positively removed for each cell, or the vibration, acceleration, inclination, vibration,
It is possible to control gas or water by cell voltage or the like, or to adjust the amount of fuel gas by using the fuel gas supply port 29 to each cell. It is possible to control the fuel gas for each cell group or for the entire stack.

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment in which generated water is positively removed from each cell. A discharge line 34 having a flow control valve 33 in the middle is connected to the discharge port 28 of the oxidizing gas. Then, an ejector 35 is attached to the tip, and the air compressed by the compressor 36 is discharged from the ejector 35.
The generated water is positively discharged from the oxygen electrode 2 side by a suction effect caused by passing through, and the air that has driven the ejector 35 is subjected to a moisture separator 37 to remove the moisture, and then the oxidizing gas is removed. To be supplied directly to the cell C, or to be released to the atmosphere.
The flow control valve 33 is operated by a controller 38 based on a detected value e of a voltage for each cell and a detected value f of a water level for each cell, and is adjusted by a command from the controller 38.

Therefore, when trying to eliminate the water generated on the oxygen electrode 2 side, the cell voltage and the water level of each cell are monitored, and the cause of the cell whose voltage has dropped extremely is determined by the controller. The determination was made at 38, and when the reason was that the generated water was not sufficiently removed and when the water level was higher than a certain level, it was communicated to the outlet 28 of the oxidizing gas of the cell. Flow control valve 33
Is opened, and the ejector 35 is driven by supplying and passing compressed air to the ejector 35 to discharge the generated water. As a result, the generated water in the cell is discharged well, so that the gas flow is prevented from being hindered by the generated water, and the fuel utilization and the oxidant utilization in the cell can be increased. .

Next, when performing the optimal control of all the cells constituting one stack, the controller 38 sends a control signal to the controller 38 for shaking a, acceleration b, inclination c, vibration d, a voltage detection value e for each cell, And the like, and the discharge amount of gas or water is controlled by a command from the controller 38 using feedforward control or various optimum control techniques. In this case, optimal control is difficult if the entire stack is controlled. However, gas or water is controlled for each cell as shown in FIG. 3A, or several cells are grouped as shown in FIG. By doing so, optimal control of the entire stack can be performed.

FIG. 4 shows an example in which the amount of hydrogen as a fuel gas can be adjusted for each cell. The hydrogen is supplied to the fuel electrode 3 side through a line 39 to a fuel gas supply port 29 of each cell. The cylinder 40 or the reformer 41 is connected, the detected value e of the voltage of each cell is inputted to the controller 38, and the voltage of each cell is monitored. That is, the gas from which CO has been removed by the CO removing device 42 from the hydrogen gas from the hydrogen cylinder 40 or the reformed gas from the reformer 41 is selectively supplied to increase the fuel concentration.

In the case where the load fluctuation width and fluctuation speed for power and the like are large, there is a possibility that a large difference in fuel temperature occurs between the cells near and far from the end plate 10 shown in FIG. By selectively supplying a high-concentration fuel to the cell having a low fuel concentration and a low voltage as shown in FIG. 4, the load responsiveness can be improved. At this time, it is possible to keep the moisture in the cell optimal by combining the water discharging method shown in FIG. 1, and the platinum catalyst carried on the solid polymer electrolyte membrane 1 is poisoned by CO. However, if O ₂ gas is supplied instead of hydrogen gas from the hydrogen cylinder 40 supplied from the fuel gas supply port 29 or reformed gas from the reformer 41, CO ₂ can be converted to CO _2. As a result, the cells poisoned by CO can be rapidly recovered. In FIG. 4, when a humidifier 44 is provided in the middle of the line 39 connected to the fuel gas supply port 29, it becomes possible to humidify and supply hydrogen gas or reformed gas, and to adjust the moisture in the cell. be able to.

As shown in FIG. 4, the supply amount of the fuel gas supplied from the outside to the fuel electrode side of each cell is controlled by a control signal,
Optimum control can be performed by signals such as acceleration b, inclination c, vibration d, and cell voltage detection value e. FIG. 5 shows an example thereof. In this case, as shown in FIG.
The control can be performed for each cell group as shown in (b) or for the entire stack as shown in (c).

FIG. 6 shows another embodiment of the present invention, in which the oxygen electrode 2 and the fuel electrode 3 are made of metal, and are provided with irregularities for directly forming a gas passage. Instead, it is difficult to provide a single porous plate made of carbon or the like and provide irregularities for directly forming gas passages on the porous plates. Therefore, irregularities are provided on the surfaces of the separators 4a and 4b to form the gas passages 5a and 5b. The other configuration is the same as that of the above embodiment.

Even in the case of this embodiment, control can be performed as shown in FIGS. 1, 3 to 5.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, the case where the gas is supplied from the outside and humidification is performed before the gas is supplied to the cell has been described as an example. Although the case where the humidified gas may be supplied to the cell in the above case and the case where the oxidizing gas and the fuel gas are flowed so as to have a cross flow have been shown, the flow direction of the gas is set to be a counter flow, a parallel flow. Although the case where the gas passage and the gas supply / discharge passage hole may be provided and the case where the electrolyte membrane 1 is made the same size as the gas diffusion electrodes 2 and 3 are shown, the electrolyte membrane 1 has the same size as the separators 4a and 4b. As an example, the separator having the oxygen electrode side separator 4a and the fuel electrode side separator 4b and having recesses formed on the surface side of each of the separators 4a and 4b in correspondence with the electrodes is shown. Separation A portion for disposing the oxygen electrode 2 and the fuel electrode 3 may be formed in the center of both sides of the fuel cell, a gas passage may be formed, a supply port 31 for supplying and discharging cell cooling water, a discharge port 32, It is needless to say that the cooling water passage hole 26 is provided on the fuel electrode side separator, and various changes can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention.

[0030]

As described above, according to the solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell of the present invention, the electrolyte membrane is sandwiched between the gas diffusion electrodes of the oxygen electrode and the fuel electrode, and the oxidant gas is supplied and discharged to the oxygen electrode side. In a configuration in which the fuel gas is supplied and discharged to and from the fuel electrode side, a stack is formed by stacking the cells via a separator, and the supply and discharge flow of the oxidizing gas is supplied to the oxygen electrode. In addition to providing the passage hole, the separator on the oxygen electrode side of the cell, a supply port for supplying and discharging the oxidizing gas from the outside, a supply passage hole communicating with the supply port, and a discharge port and the discharge port. Discharge flow holes are provided to communicate with each other, and communicate with the gas passage for the oxidizing gas in the electrode portion, and the separator on the fuel electrode side has a supply port for supplying and discharging fuel gas from outside, and the supply port. Supply channel holes and discharge ports that communicate with each other A supply port and a discharge port for supplying and discharging cooling water for cooling the cell to the separator on the oxygen electrode side by providing a discharge flow path hole communicating with the fuel cell and a gas passage for the fuel gas in the electrode portion. Further, a line with a flow control valve is connected to the outlet of the oxidizing gas provided in the oxygen electrode side separator of each cell, an ejector is attached to the line, and the flow control valve is connected to the cell voltage. It is configured to adjust by the controller based on the detected value of the water level or the detected water level of the generated water in the cell, and to discharge the generated water in the cell by passing the compressed air through the ejector,
A line with a flow control valve is connected to a fuel gas supply port provided on the fuel electrode side separator of each of the above cells, a hydrogen cylinder or a reformer is connected to the line, and a flow control valve provided in the line Is controlled by a controller based on the detected value of the cell voltage so that fuel can be supplied, and the flow rate is controlled by a controller that uses the voltage of each cell as a control signal, including fluctuation, acceleration, inclination, vibration, and cell. Since the configuration is such that the valves are adjusted to perform optimal control of all cells constituting the stack, the following excellent effects can be obtained. (i) Since a discharge line is connected to the outlet of the oxidizing gas provided on the oxygen electrode side so that the generated water is positively discharged,
It is possible to prevent a situation in which the generated water is not discharged satisfactorily, the concentration overvoltage increases, the cell voltage decreases, or the flow of gas is hindered by the generated water, and the output distribution in the stack becomes uneven. (ii) The characteristics of each cell in the stack vary greatly depending on the fuel utilization rate.If the fuel concentration is uneven in each cell, the load responsiveness deteriorates. On the other hand, since the fuel gas can be supplied from the fuel gas supply port from the outside, the load responsiveness can be improved by selectively supplying the high-concentration fuel to the cell whose voltage is lowered. (iii) Since the cooling water supply port and discharge port are provided for each cell or group of cells in the separator, temperature control can be performed for each cell or group of cells, and fuel and oxidation By flowing an inert gas having a slightly higher pressure than the oxidizing gas, it is possible to prevent not only cooling of the cell but also leakage of the fuel gas and the oxidizing gas from the cell to the outside,
Further, by constantly checking the components of the inert gas, it is possible to detect that the fuel gas and the oxidizing gas have leaked from the cell. (iv) Since a large output can be obtained by increasing the number of cell stages and controlling the gas for each cell and each cell group as a whole stack, it is effective for improving the characteristics.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional side view of one cell showing an example of the present invention, in which generated water is discharged.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of FIG.
(B) is a view as seen from the arrow B.

FIG. 3 shows an example in which the cells of FIG. 1 are stacked in multiple stages to control the amount of gas and generated water on the oxygen electrode side, and (a) is a cut-away side view in the case where control is performed for each cell. (B) is a cut-away side view in the case where control is performed with some cells as a group.

4 is a cut-away side view showing an example in which high-concentration fuel is externally supplied to the fuel electrode side of the cell of FIG.

5A and 5B show control of the amount of fuel to the fuel electrode side by stacking cells in multiple stages. FIG. 5A is a cut-away side view when control is performed for each cell, and FIG. FIG. 3C is a cut-away side view when control is performed with cells as a group, and FIG. 3C is a cut-away side view when control is performed on the entire stack.

FIG. 6 is a cut-away side view of one cell showing another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a schematic sectional side view showing an example of a conventional solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell.

8 shows a front view of the cell in FIG. 7;
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an oxygen electrode side and a separator, and FIG. 2B is a diagram showing a fuel electrode side and a separator.

FIG. 9 shows an example of the flow of each gas and cooling water in the conventional example of FIG. 7;
(B) is a diagram showing the flow of the oxidizing gas, and (c) is a diagram showing the flow of the cooling water.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Electrolyte membrane 2 Oxygen electrode 3 Fuel electrode 4a Oxygen electrode side separator 4b Fuel electrode side separator 5a, 5b Gas passage 15 Cooling unit 21 Oxidant gas supply passage hole 22 Oxidant gas discharge passage hole 23 Fuel gas supply passage hole 24 fuel gas discharge passage hole 25, 26 cooling water passage hole 27 oxidizing gas supply port 28 oxidizing gas discharge port 29 fuel gas supply port 30 fuel gas discharge port 31 cooling water supply port 32 cooling water Outlet 33 Flow control valve 34 Line (discharge line) 35 Ejector 38 Controller 39 Line 40 Hydrogen cylinder 41 Reformer 43 Flow control valve C cell

Claims (5)

(57) [Claims] 1. A polymer electrolyte membrane having a platinum electrode catalyst supported on its surface is sandwiched between gas diffusion electrodes of an oxygen electrode and a fuel electrode. An oxidant gas is provided on the oxygen electrode side, and a fuel is provided on the fuel electrode side. In a solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell which is stacked as a stack with a cell provided to supply and discharge gas through a separator and provided with a cooling unit for every several cells, the separator on the oxygen electrode side of the cell A supply port for supplying and discharging the oxidizing gas from the outside, a supply flow path hole communicating with the supply port, and a discharge port and a discharge flow path hole communicating with the discharge port, respectively, to oxidize the electrode portion. A supply port for supplying and discharging the fuel gas from the outside, a supply flow passage hole communicating with the supply port, and a discharge port and the discharge port are connected to the gas passage for the agent gas and the separator on the fuel electrode side. Discharge passage holes are provided to communicate with each other A communication port and a discharge port for supplying and discharging cooling water for cooling the cell are provided on the separator on the oxygen electrode side, which is in communication with the gas passage for the fuel gas of the electrode portion, and further,
A line with a flow control valve is connected to the outlet of the oxidizing gas provided on the oxygen electrode side separator of each cell, an ejector is attached to the line, and the flow control valve is connected to a cell voltage detection value or cell. A solid polymer electrolyte type characterized by having a configuration in which the controller adjusts the generated water level in the cell based on the detected water level and discharges the generated water in the cell by passing compressed air through an ejector. Fuel cell. 2. A polymer electrolyte membrane having a platinum electrode catalyst supported on its surface is sandwiched between gas diffusion electrodes of an oxygen electrode and a fuel electrode. An oxidizing gas is provided on the oxygen electrode side, and a fuel is provided on the fuel electrode side. In a solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell which is stacked as a stack with a cell provided to supply and discharge gas through a separator and provided with a cooling unit for every several cells, the separator on the oxygen electrode side of the cell A supply port for supplying and discharging the oxidizing gas from the outside, a supply flow path hole communicating with the supply port, and a discharge port and a discharge flow path hole communicating with the discharge port, respectively, to oxidize the electrode portion. A supply port for supplying and discharging the fuel gas from the outside, a supply flow passage hole communicating with the supply port, and a discharge port and the discharge port are connected to the gas passage for the agent gas and the separator on the fuel electrode side. Discharge passage holes are provided to communicate with each other A communication port and a discharge port for supplying and discharging cooling water for cooling the cell are provided on the separator on the oxygen electrode side, which is in communication with the gas passage for the fuel gas of the electrode portion, and further,
A line with a flow control valve is connected to a fuel gas supply port provided on the fuel electrode side separator of each of the above cells, a hydrogen cylinder or a reformer is connected to the line, and a flow control valve provided in the line 2. The solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell according to claim 1, wherein the fuel cell is supplied by adjusting the temperature of the fuel cell by a controller based on the detected value of the cell voltage. 3. The flow control valve is adjusted by a controller that uses the oscillation, acceleration, inclination, vibration, and voltage of each cell as a control signal, and optimal control of all cells constituting the stack is performed. Solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell. 4. The solid according to claim 1, wherein the oxygen electrode and the fuel electrode are made of metal, and the gas passage is formed in the electrodes by directly providing gas passage forming irregularities on one surface of both electrodes. Polymer electrolyte fuel cell. 5. An unevenness for forming a gas passage is provided on a surface of a separator by using an oxygen electrode and a fuel electrode as one sheet of a carbon plate,
4. The solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell according to claim 1, wherein a gas passage is formed in the separator.