JP5078228B2 - Fuel cell water recovery mechanism - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a polymer electrolyte fuel cell (hereinafter referred to as a fuel cell), and more specifically, water staying in an anode electrode without receiving external power supply and in any posture. The present invention relates to a water recovery mechanism for recovering water.

  Unless otherwise specified below, in this specification, a power generation unit that generates power using the supplied fuel is referred to as a fuel cell, and the power generation unit and the fuel unit that stores and supplies the fuel are combined. Indicated as a battery system.

In particular, in a fuel cell system in which hydrogen-rich gas is introduced into the anode electrode of a fuel cell and power is generated by a membrane electrode assembly (hereinafter referred to as MEA), the condensation of water vapor contained in the hydrogen-rich gas or the cathode electrode According to the reverse diffusion of the generated water, the water or aqueous solution (hereinafter referred to as anode electrode stagnant water) retained in the gas flow path of the anode block the gas flow path, resulting in a decrease in output or power generation stoppage. There was a problem. In contrast, conventionally, the anode electrode stagnant water has been discharged by tilting the entire fuel cell (see, for example, Patent Document 1). Further, a mechanism having a water permeable membrane type dehumidifier that introduces compressed air into the gas flow path to remove the anode electrode stagnant water has been devised (for example, see Patent Document 2).
JP 2004-207106 A JP 2004-71348 A

  However, the mechanism of Patent Document 1 needs to keep the fuel cell in a certain posture during operation of the fuel cell system, and is not particularly suitable for a small portable fuel cell system whose posture always changes during operation. Further, in the mechanism of Patent Document 2, there is no decrease in the function of discharging anode stagnant water due to the change in posture, but a water permeable membrane type dehumidifier having an air compression function is required as an auxiliary device. The overall volume and weight are large, which is particularly unsuitable for small portable fuel cell systems. Moreover, it is disadvantageous from the viewpoint of the volume energy density of the whole fuel cell system by mounting the auxiliary machine that is driven by supplying electric power.

Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and the features of the water recovery mechanism of the fuel cell of the present invention 1 are characterized in that an electrolyte composed of a resin having proton conductivity and a catalyst layer disposed on both surfaces of the electrolyte are provided. Generating a hydrogen-rich gas connected to the power generation unit and introduced into the power generation unit, and a power generation unit composed of an anode electrode and a cathode electrode each consisting of a gas diffusion layer and a current collector layer A hydrogen generation unit that is provided in the anode electrode, a discharge port that discharges the accumulated water that is generated and stays in the anode electrode, a pipe body that is introduced into the anode electrode from the discharge port, and The gist of the invention is to have a posture absorbing structure that holds the end of the tubular body in the anode pole so as to be always in contact with the stagnant water in a vertically downward direction.

The fuel cell water recovery mechanism according to the second aspect of the present invention is characterized in that the fuel cell water recovery mechanism according to the first aspect of the present invention is characterized in that the end portion of the tubular body has the anode electrode. The movable structure has a movable structure that freely moves in the interior of the tube, and the movable structure is a rotating structure in which a distal end portion of the tubular body moves freely in the anode electrode around the discharge port.

Further, the feature of the water recovery mechanism of the fuel cell according to the third aspect of the present invention is the water recovery mechanism of the fuel cell according to the characteristic of the second aspect of the present invention, wherein the rotating structure is introduced into the anode electrode from the discharge port. The gist of the present invention is to include the tubular body including a bent portion and a rotating shaft portion, and a rotating shaft holding portion that is installed in the discharge port and holds the rotating shaft portion.

A feature of the water recovery mechanism of the fuel cell according to the fourth aspect of the present invention is the water recovery mechanism of the fuel cell according to the characteristic of the third aspect of the present invention, wherein the rotating shaft holding portion is a bearing, and the discharge port and the The gist is to have a gas sealing material between the bearings.

The feature of the fuel cell water recovery mechanism of the present invention 5 is the fuel cell water recovery mechanism described in the feature of the present invention 3, wherein the tubular body has a weight at the bent portion. To do.

The feature of the water recovery mechanism of the fuel cell according to the sixth aspect of the invention is the water recovery mechanism of the fuel cell according to the feature of the third aspect of the invention, in which the tubular body is coaxial with the rotation axis of the rotary shaft portion. The gist is to have a rotating weight that is installed and whose center of gravity is offset from the rotation axis.

The feature of the water recovery mechanism of the fuel cell according to the seventh aspect of the present invention is the water recovery mechanism of the fuel cell according to the characteristic of the sixth aspect of the present invention, wherein the rotating weight has a fan shape.

Further, the feature of the water recovery mechanism of the fuel cell of the present invention 8 is that of the fuel cell described in the feature of the present invention 2. A water recovery mechanism for a pond, wherein the rotating structure is bent to the anode electrode from the discharge port. The gist of the present invention is that the curved portion has elasticity and includes the tubular body including a weight.

The fuel cell water recovery mechanism according to the ninth aspect of the present invention is characterized by the fuel cell water recovery mechanism according to the eighth aspect of the present invention, in which the bent portion is made of an elastic material.

A feature of the fuel cell water recovery mechanism of the present invention 10 is the fuel cell water recovery mechanism described in the feature of the present invention 8, wherein the bent portion has a bellows structure .

A feature of the fuel cell water recovery mechanism of the present invention 11 is the fuel cell water recovery mechanism according to any of the features of the present invention 2 to 10, wherein the tube inside the anode electrode is covered. The gist of the invention is that it has a restraining body, and the inside of the anode electrode has a restraining body for restraining the direction of movement of the restrained body.

  According to the polymer electrolyte fuel cell system of the present invention, water retention in the anode electrode is eliminated, and continuous operation time and output are improved.

  The water recovery mechanism uses the hydrogen gas pressure generated from a passive hydrogen generation mechanism that does not require external power input. Therefore, the fuel recovery mechanism is more fuel than conventional water recovery mechanisms that require auxiliary equipment such as pumps and blowers. Improvement of the volume energy density of the whole battery is realized.

  In addition, it is a mechanism that pushes and collects water by gas pressure, and the end of the tube that collects water can always be positioned downward regardless of the posture of the fuel cell system. Since it is the structure which can always contact the water which stayed, water can be collect | recovered irrespective of the attitude | position of a fuel cell, and the said effect can be acquired.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of a water recovery mechanism of a fuel cell system according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Constituent elements represented by the same reference numerals in the drawings are common to the drawings and indicate the same constituent elements.

  FIG. 1 shows a configuration diagram of a water recovery mechanism for a fuel cell according to the present invention, which is a basic example of the present invention. In FIG. 1, the polymer electrolyte fuel cell 101 is composed of two parts: a power generation cell 102 and an anode electrode stagnant water recovery unit 103 described later.

  First, the power generation cell 102 shown in FIG. 1 will be described. The power generation cell 102 includes a cathode holding plate 104, a cathode current collector plate 105, an MEA 106, an anode current collector plate 107, and an anode chamber 108.

  The anode chamber 108 is provided with a hydrogen rich gas inlet (not shown) and connected to the fuel section.

  The fuel section described above is configured to generate hydrogen by mixing a hydrogen generating substance (not shown) and a hydrogen generation promoting substance (not shown). The combination of the hydrogen generating substance and the hydrogen generation promoting substance is preferably sodium borohydride and malic acid aqueous solution, but any hydrogen generating substance can be applied as long as it is a hydrolyzed metal hydride. Is applicable to all hydrogen generating catalysts such as organic acids and inorganic acids or ruthenium. Furthermore, any combination of hydrogen generators and hydrogen generation accelerators can be used as long as they generate hydrogen by mixing, such as sodium borohydride aqueous solution and malic acid powder as hydrogen generation accelerator. It is. The reaction used for the hydrogen generating part may be a combination of a metal and a basic or acidic aqueous solution. Furthermore, in the hydrogen generator, a methanol reforming type that reforms alcohol, ether, and ketones to obtain hydrogen, and a hydrocarbon reforming type that reforms hydrocarbons such as gasoline, kerosene, and natural gas to obtain hydrogen. Any structure that generates hydrogen can be applied.

  Further, the generation of hydrogen in the fuel part (not shown) can be applied to any structure that is controlled by the difference in state such as the pressure and temperature between the fuel part and the anode chamber 108. For example, a threshold value is provided for the internal pressure of the anode chamber 108, and if the pressure is equal to or higher than the threshold value, the above-described hydrogen generating substance and hydrogen generation promoting substance are not mixed, and as an operation control in which hydrogen is not generated, conversely below the threshold value. If the pressure is such that the hydrogen generation substance and the hydrogen generation promoting substance are mixed, the operation control is performed. With the above control, when sufficient hydrogen is present in the anode chamber 108 during power generation, the supply of hydrogen is stopped, and when the hydrogen in the anode chamber 108 is consumed by the MEA 106 as described later, the anode chamber 108 The internal pressure is reduced, and the fuel portion is intermittently driven to generate hydrogen. Preferably, the operation is passively controlled only by the differential pressure between the fuel portion and the anode chamber 108 without using external power for the control.

  Hydrogen-rich gas introduced from an inlet (not shown) installed in the anode chamber 108 is extracted from the anode side catalyst layer of the MEA 106 by the reaction of (Formula 1). On the other hand, protons pass through the MEA and move to the cathode catalyst layer.

H ₂ → 2H ⁺ + 2e ⁻ (Formula 1) As described above, the electrons separated in the anode side catalyst layer are taken out to the outside using the anode current collector plate 107, and electric power is obtained. Protons that have passed through the MEA and moved to the cathode side generate water by the reaction of (Formula 2) on the cathode side catalyst layer. In (Formula 2), electrons are supplied from the cathode current collector plate 105, and oxygen is supplied from the outside.

2H ⁺ + 2e ⁻ + O ₂ → 2H ₂ O (Formula 2)
A gas diffusion layer such as carbon paper (not shown) may be provided between the MEA 106 and the cathode current collector plate 105 described above or between the MEA 106 and the anode current collector plate 107.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the power generation cell 102 described above is fixed by overlapping the cathode holding plate to the anode chamber 108, and in particular, it is necessary to reduce hydrogen-rich gas leakage from the anode chamber 108. As a method for fixing the power generation cell 102, the outer periphery of the power generation cell 102 is preferably fixed with a screw to fix the power generation cell 102. The spring force of the leaf spring, the magnetic force of the magnet, the adhesive force of the adhesive, etc. Any method that can reduce the leakage of hydrogen-rich gas from the anode chamber is applicable. Further, a gasket (not shown) may be arranged at a portion where it is necessary to prevent hydrogen-rich gas leakage, such as between the anode chamber 108 and the anode current collector plate 107 or between the anode current collector plate 107 and the MEA 106. . Silicone rubber is preferably used as the material for the gasket, but any material can be used as long as it has excellent gas sealing properties such as butyl rubber and nitrile rubber.

  The configuration of the power generation cell 102 described above is common in the following drawings.

  Next, the anode stagnant water recovery unit 103 in FIG. 1 will be described. The anode pole stagnant water recovery unit 103 includes a tube body 109, a bearing 111, a bearing fixture 110, a rotary weight 112, and a recovery container 113.

  Part of the water produced on the cathode side catalyst layer described in (Formula 2) is back-diffused in the solid polymer film that is the base material of the MEA 106 and condensed in the anode chamber 108 to stay in the anode pole. It becomes water. Further, when the hydrogen-rich gas introduced from the inlet not shown is a humid gas, water vapor contained in the hydrogen-rich gas is condensed in the anode chamber 108 to become anode electrode stagnant water.

As described above, the internal pressure of the anode chamber 108 repeats positive pressure and negative pressure intermittently at the threshold value. Normally, an anode chamber 108 and the collection container 113 is the same pressure V ₀ because it is connected via a tube 109. When water condenses in the anode chamber 106 and closes the tip of the tube body 109, the internal pressure of the recovery container 113 is maintained at V ₀ , while the internal pressure of the anode chamber 108 is supplied with hydrogen to become a positive pressure V ₁ , A differential pressure is generated in the internal pressure of the chamber 108 and the recovery container 113 (V ₁ > V ₀ ).
. Accordingly, the anode electrode staying water inside the anode chamber 108 moves to the recovery container 113 through the pipe body 109.

  The pipe body 109 is bent vertically downward inside the anode chamber 108 and has a structure capable of collecting even a small amount of anode pole accumulated water. On the other hand, the collection container side end of the tube body 109 is not bent like the above-mentioned anode chamber end, and the backflow of water is prevented until the water level of the collection container becomes the same height as the collection container side end of the tube body 109. Structure. Any material can be applied to the tube body 109 as long as it is excellent in chemical resistance and durability, but stainless steel is particularly preferable.

  Further, the hole formed in the tube body 109 may be formed in a cylindrical shape, and may have a structure having an opening shape of the same size at any part of the tube body, or the opening diameter is inclined toward the tip. It may be a conical structure with. Furthermore, it may be a needle-shaped structure in which the diameter of the hole is narrowed at an arbitrary part of the tube tip.

  Further, the cross section of the distal end portion of the tube body 109 may be parallel to the anode chamber and the inner wall of the recovery container, or may be cut obliquely.

  The bearing 111 has a structure in which a pipe body 109 is passed and is fixed to the anode chamber 108 by a bearing fixture 110. By adopting the above structure, the tube body 109 is rotatable inside the anode chamber 108, and the anode chamber side end of the tube body 109 is always vertically downward depending on the weight of the bent portion, regardless of the posture of the fuel cell 101. The anode electrode staying water can be recovered. The bearing 111 can be applied to any bearing that allows the tube body 109 to rotate freely with low friction, but is preferably a small-diameter ball bearing that is structurally suitable for downsizing and prevents gas leakage to the outside. In order to prevent this, a shield-type structure provided with a labyrinth seal or the like is preferable. Further, a gas leak material may be installed in order to prevent leakage of hydrogen rich gas between the anode chamber 108 and the bearing 111 or between the bearing 111 and the pipe body 109.

  On the other hand, the recovery container 113 and the tube body 109 in FIG. 1 are fixed, and are rotatable with respect to the power generation cell 102 in synchronization with the bent portion of the tube body 109.

  The rotary weight 112 is fixed to the tube body 109, and acts as a rotational force enhancement mechanism that enhances the rotational force of the bent portion of the tube body 109. Any shape can be applied to the rotating weight 112 as long as it has an eccentric center of gravity with respect to the rotation axis of the tube body 109. However, in order to generate a smoother rotation, it is preferable to use the shape shown in FIG. It is characterized by such a fan shape. Any connection method can be applied to the connection between the rotary weight 112 and the tube body 109 as long as they are fixed and no rotational deviation occurs. However, the connection is preferably performed by fitting, welding, or the like.

  The anode pole accumulated water accumulated in the recovery container 113 may be circulated to the fuel part by a circulation mechanism installed in the recovery container. The above circulation mechanism can be applied to any structure that discharges anode stagnant water from the recovery container 113 and moves it to the fuel part. Preferably, the circulation mechanism is externally provided by a differential pressure between the internal pressure of the recovery container 113 and the fuel part. It is a mechanism that operates passively without the need for power supply.

  FIG. 2 shows a first modification of the water recovery mechanism of the fuel cell of the present invention. In FIG. 2, components having the same configuration, function, and operation as those shown in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted to avoid duplication.

  The fuel cell 101 shown in FIG. 2 is characterized in that, unlike the fuel cell 101 of FIG. 1, the collection container 113 includes a bearing 202 and a bearing fixture 201 that fixes the bearing 202. The tube body 109 is passed through the bearing 202. With the above structure, the recovery container 113 is always stationary with respect to the power generation cell 102 regardless of the posture of the fuel cell 101. Therefore, the power generation cell 102 and the recovery container 113 can be fixed on the same plane, and the installation of a circulation mechanism that connects the recovery container 113 to a fuel unit (not shown) is facilitated.

  FIG. 3 shows a second modification of the water recovery mechanism of the fuel cell of the present invention. 3, components having the same configuration, function, and operation as those shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted to avoid duplication.

  The fuel cell 101 shown in FIG. 3 is different from the fuel cell 101 described in at least one of FIGS. 1 and 2, and is not collected in the anode chamber 108 but in the tube body 109 having a bent portion in the anode chamber 108. A tube 203 having a bent portion is used for any of the containers 113. The bent portion on the collection container 113 side of the tubular body 203 may be bent in an arbitrary direction, but is preferably bent in a direction different from the bent direction on the anode chamber 108 side by 180 degrees. . With the above configuration, since the bent portion on the anode chamber 108 side always rotates vertically downward, the bending direction on the collection vessel 113 side is always arranged vertically upward, and the anode pole stagnant water collected in the collection vessel 113 is Can be prevented from flowing back into the anode chamber 108 again.

  FIG. 4 shows a third modification of the fuel cell water recovery mechanism of the present invention. 4, components having the same configuration, function, and operation as those shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted to avoid duplication.

  The fuel cell 101 shown in FIG. 4 is different from the fuel cell 101 described in at least one of FIGS. 1 to 3 in that a weight having a weight at the end of the tube body 109 as an alternative to the rotating weight 112 as a rotational force enhancement mechanism 401 is provided. With the above configuration, it is possible to reduce the size of the rotational force increasing mechanism, and to facilitate the size reduction and layout of the fuel cell 101 as a whole.

  FIG. 5 shows a fourth modification of the water recovery mechanism of the fuel cell of the present invention. 5, components having the same configuration, function, and operation as those shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 are indicated by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted to avoid duplication.

  In the fuel cell 101 described in at least one of FIGS. 1 to 4, one tube body 109 has a bent portion at the anode chamber side end, whereas the fuel cell 101 shown in FIG. It is characterized by including straight tubular bodies 501 and 502 and a tubular body fixture 503. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, when the tubular body 109 formed by bending a straight tubular body is used, particularly when the entire fuel cell 101 is small, the tubular body is crushed during bending, for example, the tubular body 109 and the bearing 111 Although the gas sealing performance is lowered during the period, further improvement in gas sealing performance can be expected with the configuration shown in FIG.

  An enlarged perspective view of this member is shown in FIG. In FIG. 11, the straight tube bodies 501 and 502 and the tube fixture 503 in FIG. 5 correspond to the straight tube bodies 1102 and 1103 and the tube fixture 1104, respectively, and the whole is shown as a tube composite member 1101. Holes are opened from two surfaces of the tube fixture 1104, and the two holes penetrate through the tube fixture 1104. Any shape can be applied as the hole shape, but a cylindrical hole is desirable particularly considering the ease of processing. The connection of the straight tubular bodies 1102 and 1103 to the tubular body fixture 1104 can be applied by any method that does not cause leakage of the anode electrode staying water passing through the inside, such as adhesion and driving, but preferably by welding. It is connected.

  The end of the straight tube 502 on the collection container 113 side may have a straight shape as shown in FIG. 5, bend as shown in FIG. 3, or be the same as the tube composite member 1101. The shape may also be Further, the straight tube 502 and the recovery container 113 are connected through a bearing as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, and the straight tube 502 can be rotated in any of the anode chamber 108 and the recovery container 113. It may be a simple structure.

  FIG. 6 shows a fifth modification of the water recovery mechanism of the fuel cell of the present invention. In FIG. 6, components having the same configuration, function, and operation as those shown in FIGS. 1 to 5 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted to avoid duplication.

  In the fuel cell 101 shown in FIG. 6, tracks 604 a and 604 b are formed on the inner wall of the anode chamber 108. Axle bearings 601a and 601b are installed at the anode chamber 108 side end of the tube body 109, and an axle 602 and wheels 603 are provided as shown in FIG. The wheel 603 is configured to be rotatable along the anode chamber wall by tracks 604a and 604b installed on the inner wall of the anode chamber. With the above configuration, the tube body 109 can have a function of assisting rotation in the anode chamber 108.

  In FIG. 6, the tracks 604a and 604b described above are installed on a surface orthogonal to the surface on which the bearing 111 and the bearing fixture 110 are installed, but the tracks on the surface on which the bearing 111 and the bearing fixture 110 are installed. 604a and 604b may be arranged.

  Further, the restraining body for restraining the direction of movement of the tube body 109 may be a track and a wheel as shown in FIG. 6, or a magnet arranged continuously in the outer peripheral direction of the inner wall of the anode chamber 108. You may utilize the attractive force or repulsive force with the magnet installed in the pipe | tube 109 terminal.

  FIG. 7 shows a sixth modification of the fuel cell water recovery mechanism of the present invention. 7, components having the same configuration, function, and operation as those shown in FIGS. 1 to 6 are indicated by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted to avoid duplication.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the collection container 702 has a structure including a bearing 111 and a bearing fixture 110, and is disposed adjacent to the anode chamber 108. The shape of the sealing materials 701a and 701b can be applied to any structure as long as it prevents anode stagnant water collected in the collection container 702 from leaking from the bearing 111 and the bearing fixture 110 and does not hinder the rotation of the tube 109. For example, the shape shown in FIG. 7 may be used. Any material can be used as long as the material of the sealing material is excellent in chemical resistance and durability, but it is preferably made of rubber. Furthermore, an oil seal may be used for the purpose of reducing the friction of the sealing materials 701a and 701b. Furthermore, although the bearing 111 and the bearing fixture 110 are installed inside the collection container 702 in FIG. 7, they may be installed inside the anode chamber 108.

  With the above configuration, the volume of the anode electrode stagnant water recovery unit can be reduced, and the volume of the entire fuel cell 101 can be reduced.

  FIG. 8 shows a seventh modification of the fuel cell water recovery mechanism of the present invention. In FIG. 8, components having the same configuration, function, and operation as those shown in FIGS. 1 to 7 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted to avoid duplication.

  In FIG. 8, the anode current collector plate 107 and the anode chamber 108 of the power generation cell 102 are enlarged and displayed. In the modification shown in FIG. 8, the bearing 111 is embedded in the constituent member 801 of the anode chamber 108. The bearing 111 and the constituent member 801 of the anode chamber 108 may be fixed by adhesion, may be fixed by fitting, may be screwed, or may be welded. The structure is fixed by fitting. Sealed from the side of the recovery container 113 with the sealing materials 701a and 701b in order to prevent the hydrogen-rich gas or the anode pole accumulated water in the anode chamber 108 from being freely exchanged with the recovery container 803 via the bearing 111. However, it may be sealed from the anode chamber 108 side, for example, like the sealing materials 802a and 802b shown in FIG. Moreover, you may seal by shape like the sealing materials 802a and 802b shown in FIG. The shape of the sealing material is not limited to the shapes shown in 701a, 701b, 802a, and 802b, and any shape can be applied as long as it is a hydrogen rich gas or anode electrode stagnant water resistance.

  FIG. 9 shows an eighth modification of the fuel cell water recovery mechanism of the present invention. 9, components having the same configuration, function, and operation as those shown in FIGS. 1 to 8 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted to avoid duplication.

  Unlike the fuel cells shown in FIGS. 1 to 8, the fuel cell 101 shown in FIG. 9 does not use a bearing as a rotating structure, and has a bent portion 901 having a bellows structure. With the above structure, a rotating structure with a small number of parts can be realized, and a structure suitable for miniaturization of the anode electrode stagnant water recovery unit 103 and the fuel cell 101 can be achieved.

It is a figure which shows the structure of the basic form example of the water collection | recovery mechanism of the fuel cell of this invention. It is a figure which shows the structure which added the rotation suppression mechanism of the collection container as the 1st modification of the water collection | recovery mechanism of the fuel cell of this invention. It is a figure which shows the structure which added the water backflow suppression mechanism in a collection container as the 2nd modification of the water collection | recovery mechanism of the fuel cell of this invention. It is a figure which shows the structure which added the anode chamber weight as a 3rd modification of the water collection | recovery mechanism of the fuel cell of this invention as a rotational force increase mechanism. It is the figure which added the modification of the connection structure of a tubular body as a 4th modification of the water collection | recovery mechanism of the fuel cell of this invention. It is a figure which shows the structure which added the restraint body and to-be-constrained body as a rotation assistance mechanism as a 5th modification of the water collection | recovery mechanism of the fuel cell of this invention. It is a figure which shows the modification of the structure inside a collection container as a 6th modification of the water collection | recovery mechanism of the fuel cell of this invention. It is a figure which shows the modification of the structure of an anode chamber interior as a 7th modification of the water collection | recovery mechanism of the fuel cell of this invention. It is a figure which shows the modification of the bending part of a tubular body as the 8th modification of the water collection | recovery mechanism of the fuel cell of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the shape of the rotary weight of the water collection | recovery mechanism of the fuel cell of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the pipe | tube composite member structure of the water collection | recovery mechanism of the fuel cell of this invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 101 Fuel cell 102 Power generation cell 103 Anode pole stagnant water recovery part 104 Cathode holding plate 105 Cathode current collecting plate 106 MEA
107 Anode current collector plate 108 Anode chamber 109 Tubing body 110 Bearing fixture 111 Bearing 112 Rotating weight 113 Recovery container

Claims (11)

A membrane electrode assembly comprising an electrolyte comprising a resin having proton conductivity and a catalyst layer disposed on both sides of the electrolyte;
A power generation unit composed of an anode electrode and a cathode electrode each composed of a gas diffusion layer and a current collector layer;
A hydrogen generation unit that is connected to the power generation unit and generates a hydrogen-rich gas to be introduced into the power generation unit;
A discharge port provided in the anode electrode for discharging the accumulated water generated and retained in the anode electrode;
A tubular body introduced into the anode electrode from the discharge port;
A fuel cell water recovery mechanism having a posture absorption structure for holding the end of the tubular body in the anode electrode so as to be always in contact with the accumulated water in a vertically downward direction. The posture absorbing structure has a movable structure in which a distal end portion of the tubular body freely moves inside the anode electrode,
2. The water recovery mechanism for a fuel cell according to claim 1, wherein the movable structure is a rotating structure in which a distal end portion of the tubular body is rotatable about the discharge port in the anode electrode. The rotating structure is
The tubular body including a bent portion and a rotating shaft portion introduced into the anode electrode from the discharge port;
The water recovery mechanism for a fuel cell according to claim 2, further comprising: a rotating shaft holding portion that is installed at the discharge port and holds the rotating shaft portion.   The water recovery mechanism for a fuel cell according to claim 3, wherein the rotating shaft holding portion is a bearing, and has a gas seal material between the discharge port and the bearing.   The water recovery mechanism for a fuel cell according to claim 3, wherein the tubular body has a weight at the bent portion.   4. The water recovery of a fuel cell according to claim 3, wherein the tubular body has a rotating weight that is installed coaxially with a rotating shaft of the rotating shaft portion and whose center of gravity is located at a position deviated from the rotating shaft. mechanism.   The fuel cell water recovery mechanism according to claim 6, wherein the rotary weight has a fan shape.   3. The fuel cell water recovery mechanism according to claim 2, wherein the rotating structure includes the tubular body including a weight having a bendable portion introduced into the anode electrode from the discharge port and having a weight.   The water recovery mechanism for a fuel cell according to claim 8, wherein the bent portion is made of an elastic material.   9. The fuel cell water recovery mechanism according to claim 8, wherein the bent portion has a bellows structure. The tube inside the anode electrode has a restrained body,
The fuel cell water recovery mechanism according to any one of claims 2 to 10, wherein the anode electrode includes a restraining body that restrains a direction of movement of the restrained body.

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