JP4998845B2 - Current collecting member affixing device and manufacturing method of fuel cell body manufactured using the same - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a current collector member affixing device for affixing a current collector member that electrically connects each cell to each cell in a cylindrical fuel cell.

In order to exhibit a predetermined power generation capability in a fuel cell, a plurality of cells are electrically connected in series and / or in parallel to form a stack. In addition, in the case of a cylindrical solid fuel cell, it is difficult to directly connect cylindrical ceramic cells due to shape problems, so it is common to connect between cells via a current collecting member Has been done. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1.)
However, the operation of attaching the current collecting member to the cell is often performed manually, and it is difficult to attach the current collecting member to a predetermined position of the cylindrical cell, and it takes a lot of time to attach the current collecting member. Needed.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-25999

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems. The object of the present invention is to attach a current collecting member to a cylindrical fuel battery cell at an opposite position with high accuracy without being affected by the shape of the cell. It is to attach.

In order to achieve the above object, a current collector member affixing device according to the present invention includes a reference surface, a guide rod provided perpendicular to the reference surface, and a cylindrical fuel cell having a longitudinal direction parallel to the reference surface. The current collecting member is fixed so that the cell fixing means for fixing so that the current collecting member and the current collecting member and the fixed fuel cell are coaxially arranged in a direction perpendicular to the reference plane For fixing the current collecting member so that the first current collecting member fixing means and the fuel cell fixed to the current collecting member are arranged coaxially with respect to a direction perpendicular to the reference plane A second current collecting member fixing means, wherein the cell fixing means is movable in a direction perpendicular to the reference plane while being held by the guide rod , and the first current collecting member fixing means is the reference current A second current collector provided between a surface and the cell fixing means Securing means is provided at a position opposite to the first current collecting member fixing means so as to sandwich the cell fixing means while being held by the guide rod, the further the second current collecting member fixing means the reference It is movable in a direction perpendicular to the surface.

In a preferred aspect of the present invention, the first fixing means and / or the second fixing means is provided with a rubber magnet for fixing the current collecting member.

In a preferred aspect of the present invention, the first fixing means and / or the second fixing means is provided with a guide indicating a fixing position of the current collecting member.

In a preferred aspect of the present invention, the first fixing means and / or the second fixing means is provided with a low repulsion elastic body.

In a preferred aspect of the present invention, the first current collecting member fixing means also serves as a reference surface.

The method of manufacturing a fuel cell body according to the present invention includes a step of fixing a cylindrical fuel cell, and a step of moving the fixed current collecting member in a direction perpendicular to the major axis direction of the cylindrical fuel cell. And a step of attaching a current collecting member to the cylindrical fuel cell.

By using the current collecting member pasting device of the present invention, a fuel cell body in which a current collecting member is attached to a fuel cell can be produced with high accuracy and productivity, and the productivity of the fuel cell stack is improved. be able to.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described more specifically with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a cylindrical solid oxide fuel cell. In the fuel cell 1, the electrolyte 3 is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical air electrode 2, and the fuel electrode 4 is further formed on the outer peripheral surface of the electrolyte 3. On the outer peripheral surface of the air electrode 2, an interconnector 5 for taking out electricity from the air electrode 2 is further formed continuously in the cell axial direction. At this time, the air electrode is formed of a perovskite oxide such as porous LaCoO 3, LaMnO 3, or LaFeO 3. The perovskite oxide may be further doped with Sr, Ca or the like at the La site. Moreover, those composite materials may be sufficient. The electrolyte is formed of rare earth stabilized zirconia such as YSZ or SSZ. The fuel electrode is formed of porous Ni and YSZ cermets. The interconnector is formed of LaCrO3 or the like doped with Sr or Ca.

FIG. 2 is a front view showing an embodiment of a fuel cell unit 6 in which a current collecting member 7 is affixed to a cylindrical fuel cell 1 manufactured using the current collector affixing device of the present invention. A current collecting member 7 is bonded to each of the fuel electrode 4 and the interconnector 5 of the cylindrical fuel cell 1. The current collecting member bonded to the fuel electrode side is attached to the side opposite to the current collecting member bonded to the interconnector side by about 180 °. With such a configuration, the fuel cell bodies can be stacked with high accuracy when stacked, and the stack productivity can be improved. As a method for adhering the current collecting member, various methods can be used such as a method in which a paste in which Ni fine particles are dispersed is applied and adhered to a cell or current collecting member, or a method in which the paste is adhered with a double-sided tape.

FIG. 3 is a view showing a fuel cell stack 8 in which a plurality of cylindrical fuel cell bodies 6 are bundled. (A) is a side view of the fuel cell stack 8, and (b) is a front view of the fuel cell stack 8. The fuel cell stack 8 is formed by alternately stacking a plurality of fuel cell bodies 6 and current collector plates 9 arranged in parallel with the interconnector facing upward, and collecting current collectors and current collectors with paste in which, for example, Ni fine particles are dispersed. It can be prepared by fixing it by adhering it to a plate and carrying out reduction firing at about 1000 ° C.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the overall configuration of the current collecting member pasting apparatus according to the present invention.
A first current collecting member fixing means 44 and a guide rod 42 are fixed to a base 41 serving as a reference surface. The guide rod 42 is installed perpendicular to the reference plane. Furthermore, the cell fixing means 45 and the second current collecting member fixing means 46 are arranged so as to contact the guide rod 42 via Y-type guide rollers 454 and 465. The cell fixing means 45 and the second current collecting member fixing means 46 can be moved in the vertical direction along the guide rod 42. Further, the cell fixing means 45 and the second current collecting member fixing means 46 can be detached from the guide rod 42. A spring 43 is further inserted into the guide rod 42. The cell fixing means 45 is designed to be able to stop at a predetermined position of the guide rod 42 when a spring stopper 456 provided on the cell fixing means 45 comes into contact with the spring 43.
In addition, since the fixed position of the cell and the fixed position of the current collecting member are designed to be arranged coaxially in parallel with the guide rod, it is accurately positioned at a position facing the cylindrical fuel cell. A current collecting member can be attached.
Further, the adhesive force between the cell and the current collecting member is designed to be larger than the adhesive force between the first and second current collecting member fixing means and the current collecting member. A cell fixed to the current collecting member fixing means and the cell fixing means by making the adhesive force between the cell and the current collecting member larger than the adhesive force between the current collecting member fixing means and the current collecting member. When the current collecting member fixing means and the cell fixing means are separated after contacting each other, the cell (cell body) to which the current collecting member is bonded is fixed to the cell fixing means, and the current collecting member fixing means And the current collecting member are reliably separated. For example, it is possible to employ a combination in which Ni foam is used for the current collecting member, Ni double-sided tape is used for bonding the current collecting member and the cell, and a rubber magnet having a thickness of about 1 mm is used for the current collecting member fixing means.
When the cell 1 is fixed to the cell fixing means 45, for example, if the interconnector is fixed so as to face upward, the current collecting member 7 fixed to the first current collecting member fixing means 44 becomes the fuel electrode side, the second The current collecting member 7 fixed to the current collecting member fixing means 46 is attached to the interconnector side, and the fuel cell body shown in FIG. 2 is produced. In addition, when the interconnector is fixed so as to face sideways, a current collecting member can be attached to a position facing the fuel electrode of the cell.

Next, the usage method of the current collection member sticking apparatus of this invention is demonstrated.
The Ni current collecting member 7 is fixed to the first current collecting member fixing means 44 and the second current collecting member fixing means 46. The Ni current collecting member 7 is attached with an adhesive material for adhering to the cell on the surface opposite to the surface fixed to the current collecting member fixing means. As the adhesive material, an appropriate material such as Ni paste, paper double-sided tape, Ni double-sided pressure-sensitive adhesive sheet can be used. The cell 7 is fixed to the cell fixing means 45. At this time, it is preferable to fix so that the interconnector of the cell faces directly above or directly below. A cell fixing means 45 fixing the cell 7 is attached to the guide rod 42 and moved downward, and is stopped at a predetermined position by a spring 43. Next, the second current collecting member fixing means 46 attached with the Ni current collecting member 7 is attached to the guide rod 42 and moved downward, and the upper surface of the cell 7 fixed to the cell fixing means 45 and the second The Ni current collecting member 7 fixed to the current collecting member fixing means 46 is brought into contact. Further, when the second current collecting member fixing means 46 is pushed downward, the spring 43 contracts, and the cell fixing means 45 and the second current collecting member fixing means 46 are pushed downward. When the lower surface of the cell 1 and the Ni current collector 7 fixed to the first current collector fixing means 44 are brought into contact with each other and then the spring 43 is returned to a predetermined position, the current collector 7 is placed on the lower surface of the cell 1. Will be attached. Further, when the second current collecting member fixing means 46 is removed from the guide rod 42, the current collecting member 7 is attached to the upper surface of the cell 1. That is, the cell body 6 is fixed to the cell fixing means 45.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an embodiment of the configuration of the first current collecting member fixing means in the present invention. (A) is a side view, (b) is the top view which looked at (a) from the A direction.
Guide rods 52 are arranged perpendicularly to the base 51 at the four corners of the base 51 of the current collecting member sticking device, and springs 53 having the same material and length are provided in each guide lot. A first current collecting member fixing means 54 is disposed on the base 51. The first current collecting member fixing means 54 is configured by fixing a base 543 of the first current collecting member fixing means, a low-rebound foam 542, and a rubber magnet 541 for fixing the current collecting member in order on the base 51. .
As the current collecting member, for example, a metal material such as foam or felt-like Ni is often used. Therefore, the current collecting member can be fixed by a magnetic force by using a rubber magnet for the fixing portion. It is preferable to select a rubber magnet having appropriate physical properties so that the adhesive force between the rubber magnet and the current collecting member by magnetic force is smaller than the adhesive force between the cell and the current collecting member.
Further, since the cell has a structure in which ceramic materials are stacked asymmetrically in multiple layers, warpage occurs in the cylindrical axis direction. (For example, in the case of a cell having a diameter of 16 mm and a length of 660 mm, the warpage is about ± 2 mm.) However, it is preferable because the Ni current collecting member can be pasted smoothly following the shape.
It is preferable that the first current collecting member fixing means is provided with a guide indicating a mounting position of the current collecting member. In the embodiment of FIG. 5, a guide board 545 having a hole at the attachment position of the current collector and a guide board fixing pin for defining the installation position of the guide board 545 are provided. For the guide board, a material thinner than the current collecting member, for example, a stainless steel plate having a thickness of 0.5 t can be used.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing another embodiment of the configuration of the first current collecting member fixing means in the present invention. (A) is a side view, (b) is the top view which looked at (a) from the A direction.
As in FIG. 5, guide rods 62 are arranged perpendicularly to the base 61 at the four corners of the base 61 of the current collecting member pasting apparatus, and springs 63 having the same material and length are provided in each guide lot. A first current collector fixing means 64 is disposed on the base 61. The first current collecting member fixing means 64 is configured by fixing a base 643 of the first current collecting member fixing means, a low resilience foam 642, and a rubber magnet 641 for fixing the current collecting member in order on the base 61. .
In the embodiment of FIG. 6, the guide indicating the attachment position of the current collecting member is the guide line 646 processed on the surface of the rubber magnet 641. As a method of providing the guide line 646, an appropriate method can be used. For example, a line may be written with a white marker or the like on the rubber magnet, or the rubber magnet may be grooved.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an embodiment of the configuration of the cell fixing means in the present invention. (A) is a side view, (b) is a plan view of (a) seen from the A direction, and (c) is a plan view of (a) seen from the B direction. The cell fixing means 75 holds and fixes both ends of the cell 1 with an upper cell holding frame 751 that holds the cell from above and a lower cell holding frame 752 that holds the cell from below. A pair of holding frames that hold and fix both ends of the cell are connected by a holding frame connecting base 753 and integrated.
A spring stopper 756 having a hole into which a guide rod can be inserted and a Y-type guide roller fixing shaft 755 having a Y-type guide roller 754 are further attached to the lower cell holding member 752. Since the Y-type guide roller is attached in contact with the guide rod so as to be rotatable with respect to the fixed axis, the cell fixing means 75 is movable in the vertical direction with the plane position fixed. That is, the cell fixing means is movable in a direction perpendicular to the long axis direction of the cell.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged view showing details of the cell fixing means of FIG. The upper cell holding frame 851 and the lower cell holding frame 852 are provided with V-shaped grooves for holding cells, and cell holding elastic bodies 857 are provided in the V-shaped grooves. The cell holding elastic body is provided for the purpose of preventing breakage of the cell by fixing the cell, and can be composed of, for example, a silicon rubber sheet. Further, the upper cell holding frame 851 and the lower cell holding frame 852 are fixed by a holding frame fixing portion 858.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an embodiment of the configuration of the second current collecting member fixing means in the present invention. (A) is a side view, (b) is a plan view of (a) seen from the A direction, and (c) is a plan view of (a) seen from the B direction.
The second current collecting member fixing means 96 is provided with a low resilience foam 962 and a rubber magnet 961 on a base 963 of the second current collecting member fixing means. Further, a Y-type guide roller 965 and a Y-type guide roller fixing shaft 966 for moving the second current collecting member fixing means 96 along the guide rod are fixed to the base 963 via the Y-type guide roller fixing plate 967. Has been.
Similarly to the first current collector member fixing means, the second current collector member fixing means is preferably provided with a guide indicating the mounting position of the current collector member.
Further, by providing a level 968 on the base 963 of the second current collecting member fixing means, it is possible to confirm whether or not the second current collecting member fixing means is kept horizontal.

Each of the above-described embodiments shows an example of the present invention, and in a solid oxide fuel cell that takes a form in which a current collecting member is attached between each cell, such as a cylindrical type and a flat tube type, Various embodiments can be employed without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

It is a figure which shows an example of a fuel cell. It is a figure which shows an example of a fuel battery cell body. It is a figure which shows an example of a fuel cell stack. It is a figure which shows one Example of the current collection member sticking apparatus of this invention. It is a figure which shows one Example of a structure of the 1st current collection member fixing means in this invention. It is a figure which shows the other Example of a structure of the 1st current collection member fixing means in this invention. It is a figure which shows one Example of a structure of the cell fixing means in this invention. It is an enlarged view which shows one Example of a structure of the cell fixing means in this invention. It is a figure which shows one Example of a structure of the 2nd current collection member fixing means in this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Cell 2 ... Air electrode 3 ... Solid electrolyte 4 ... Fuel electrode 5 ... Interconnector 6 ... Cell body 7 ... Current collecting member 8 ... Stack 9 ... Current collecting plate 40 ... Current collecting member sticking jig 41 ... Base 42 ... Guide Rod 43 ... Spring 44, 54, 64 ... First current collecting member fixing means 541, 641 ... Rubber magnet 542, 642 ... Low-rebound foam 543, 643 ... Base of first current collecting member fixing means 545 ... Current collection Member sticking position guide board 544 ... Guide board fixing pin 646 ... Current collecting member sticking position guideline 45, 75 ... Cell fixing means 751, 851 ... Upper cell holding frame 752, 852 ... Lower cell holding frame 753 ... Holding frame connecting base 454, 754 ... Y type guide roller 755 ... Y type guide roller fixed shaft 456, 756 ... Spring strike Par 857 ... Cell holding elastic body 858 ... Holding frame fixing portion 46, 96 ... Second current collecting member fixing means 961 ... Rubber magnet 962 ... Low rebound foam 963 ... Base of second current collecting member fixing means 964 ... Guide board Fixing pin 465, 965 ... Y-type guide roller 966 ... Y-type guide roller fixing shaft 967 ... Y-type guide roller fixing plate 968 ... Level

Claims (6)

A reference plane,
A guide rod provided perpendicular to the reference plane;
Cell fixing means for fixing a cylindrical fuel cell so that its longitudinal direction is parallel to the reference plane ;
A first current collecting member fixing means for fixing the current collecting member so that the current collecting member and the fixed fuel cell are arranged coaxially with respect to a direction perpendicular to the reference plane;
A second current collecting member fixing means for fixing the current collecting member so that the current collecting member and the fixed fuel cell are arranged coaxially with respect to a direction perpendicular to the reference plane; ,
The cell fixing means is movable in a direction perpendicular to the reference plane while being held by the guide rod ,
The first current collecting member fixing means is provided between the reference surface and the cell fixing means,
The second current collecting member fixing means is provided at a position facing the first current collecting member fixing means so as to sandwich the cell fixing means while being held by the guide rod ,
Further, the second current collecting member fixing means is movable in a direction perpendicular to the reference plane. The current collector member affixing device according to claim 1, wherein a magnet for fixing the current collector member is provided on the first fixing means and / or the second fixing means. The current collecting member pasting device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the first fixing means and / or the second fixing means is provided with means for indicating a fixing position of the current collecting member. . The current collecting member attaching device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the first fixing means and / or the second fixing means is provided with a low-rebound elastic body. . The current collector member affixing device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the first current collector member fixing means also serves as the reference surface. A step of fixing the cylindrical fuel cell, a step of moving the fixed current collecting member in a direction perpendicular to the long axis direction of the cylindrical fuel cell, and a current collector on the cylindrical fuel cell A method of manufacturing a fuel cell unit produced using the current collector member affixing device according to claim 1, further comprising: a member affixing step .

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