JP4010935B2 - Polymer electrolyte fuel cell - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a polymer electrolyte fuel cell for constituting a fuel cell .
[0002]
[Prior art]
As shown in FIG. 1, the conventional general fuel cell structure has a fuel electrode composed of a fuel electrode catalyst layer and a porous support layer on both sides of an electrolyte membrane, an air electrode catalyst layer, and a porous support layer. Are joined by an air electrode, and are integrated as an MEA, and are sandwiched by a separator that also serves as a hydrogen or oxygen reactive gas supply passage disposed outside the MEA (for example, References) 1).
[0003]
[Patent Document 1]
Ikeda Hironosuke, “All about Fuel Cells”, 3rd edition, Nippon Jitsugyo Publishing Co., Ltd., April 20, 2002, p.126-127
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
The separator constituting the conventional general fuel cell has a large number of grooves in a block-like base material made of carbon-based material or metal-based material in order to serve as a reaction gas supply passage and an electrode. The structure is provided. Therefore, the following problems are pointed out.
(1) Since the base material of a separator is a block shape, weight is heavy.
(2) Man-hours related to the design for providing grooves in the separator and the manufacture of molds are required, resulting in high costs.
(3) The thickness for securing the strength of the separator is a portion that does not contribute to power generation, which causes a decrease in power generation efficiency per unit volume of the assembled cell.
Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and provides a cell for a solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell that is light and low in cost, improves power generation efficiency per unit volume, and is flexible. is there.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
Polymer electrolyte fuel cell according to claim 1 of the present invention constitutes an MEA by bonding and the oxygen electrode and the hydrogen electrode to both surfaces of the electrolyte membrane, the separator is disposed so as to sandwich the MEA A polymer electrolyte fuel cell, wherein the separator is flat and flexible , and the MEA sandwiched between the separators is deformed into a wave shape, and the cell is wound. To do .
[0006]
In the polymer electrolyte fuel cell according to claim 2 of the present invention, an MEA is formed by joining an oxygen electrode and a hydrogen electrode on both surfaces of an electrolyte membrane, and a separator is disposed so as to sandwich the MEA. A cell for a polymer electrolyte fuel cell, wherein the separator is flat and flexible, and the MEA sandwiched between the separators is deformed in a wave shape, and the cells are folded and stacked. It is characterized by that.
[0007]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. The embodiments described below are preferable specific examples of the present invention, and thus various technically preferable limitations are given. However, the scope of the present invention particularly limits the present invention in the following description. As long as there is no description of the effect, it is not restricted to these aspects.
[0008]
FIG. 2 is a partial sectional view showing an example of a polymer electrolyte fuel cell according to the present invention. Like the MEA that constitutes a conventional general fuel cell, the MEA 7 is configured by joining the oxygen electrode 2 and the hydrogen electrode 3 to both surfaces of the electrolyte membrane 1. The thickness of the MEA 7 is about 40 to 100 μm, and is flexible enough to be deformed when pressed by human force. This is held in a wave shape and sandwiched between flat separators 4 having flexibility on both sides. For the separator 4, for example, a flexible member having good conductivity such as a structure in which a thin plate of stainless steel is plated with gold may be used as appropriate. The cell 10 assembled in the above-described structure also has flexibility. Further, in this cell 10, a space is formed between the separator 4 and the oxygen electrode 2 and the hydrogen electrode 3 of the MEA 7 sandwiched between the separators 4. An electromotive reaction is caused by supplying oxygen and hydrogen, and an electromotive force is taken out by using the separator 4 as an electrode. The air flow path 5 and the hydrogen flow path 6 may be hollow or may be filled with conductive fibers such as carbon. When the conductive fiber is filled, even if the MEA 7 and the separator are not in contact, the electromotive force generated in the MEA 7 is transmitted to the separator through the conductive fiber.
[0009]
In addition, when the above-described flexible cell 10 is used, even if the space for placing the cell 10 is limited, it can be spirally wound as shown in FIG. As shown, it can be handled in various shapes, such as folding like a twist. Further, the large cell 10 can be appropriately cut at the cutting portion 8 as shown in FIG.
[0010]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, since the polymer electrolyte fuel cell of the present invention has a flat separator as compared with a conventional general fuel cell, a thin and light cell can be formed. Further, by maintaining the MEA in a waveform, the contact area between each reaction gas flowing through the flow path and the MEA is increased. As a result, the reaction area is increased and the cell is thinned, thereby generating power generation efficiency per unit volume. Will improve. In addition, in terms of application, it is possible to take advantage of the flexible characteristics of the cells realized by adopting a flexible material for the separator, such as spiraling, folding, cutting, etc. Therefore, it is possible to appropriately cope with the required power. Furthermore, in terms of cost, since the separator is a flat plate, man-hours related to design and manufacture are reduced, and the cost can be reduced.
[Brief description of the drawings]
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 126 is a diagram described in FIG.
FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view showing an embodiment of a polymer electrolyte fuel cell according to the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram showing a first application example using a polymer electrolyte fuel cell according to the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram showing a second application example using the polymer electrolyte fuel cell according to the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a conceptual diagram showing a third application example using the polymer electrolyte fuel cell according to the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Electrolyte membrane 2 Oxygen electrode 3 Hydrogen electrode 4 Separator 5 Air flow path 6 Hydrogen flow path 7 MEA
8 Cutting section 10 cells

Claims (2)

An MEA is formed by joining an oxygen electrode and a hydrogen electrode on both surfaces of an electrolyte membrane, and a separator is disposed so as to sandwich the MEA. The separator is a flat and flexible cell. has a gender, and, said MEA sandwiched by separators are deformed into a wave shape, a polymer electrolyte fuel cell, characterized in that turning the cell winding. An MEA is formed by joining an oxygen electrode and a hydrogen electrode on both surfaces of an electrolyte membrane, and a separator is disposed so as to sandwich the MEA. The separator is flat and flexible. And a MEA sandwiched between the separators is deformed in a wave shape, and the cells are folded and stacked.

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