JP5169480B2 - Separator manufacturing equipment for polymer electrolyte fuel cells - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an apparatus for manufacturing a separator used in a polymer electrolyte fuel cell used in automobiles, small-scale power generation systems, and the like that use electric power as a drive source.

  Due to the growing awareness of environmental conservation, the transition from current internal combustion engines using fossil fuels to electrically driven vehicles using solid polymer fuel cells using hydrogen and distributed cogeneration systems is being studied worldwide. Yes. In order to make these new technologies widely available to the general public, it is necessary to promote technological development related to cost reduction and high reliability, including fuel supply systems.

  In recent years, the development of fuel cells for automobiles has begun to progress rapidly with the successful development of solid polymer materials. Unlike conventional alkaline fuel cells, phosphoric acid fuel cells, molten carbonate fuel cells, solid electrolyte fuel cells, etc., solid polymer fuel cells use a hydrogen ion permselective organic membrane as the electrolyte. In addition to pure hydrogen, the fuel cell uses hydrogen gas, etc. obtained by reforming alcohol, and takes out electric power by electrochemically controlling the reaction with oxygen in the air. System. Solid polymer membranes function well even when they are thin, and the electrolyte is fixed in the membrane, so it functions as an electrolyte if the dew point in the battery is controlled, so fluidity such as aqueous electrolytes and molten salt electrolytes Another characteristic is that the battery itself can be designed in a compact and simplified manner.

  The polymer electrolyte fuel cell is actually a single cell with a sandwich structure consisting of a separator having a hydrogen flow path, a fuel electrode, a solid polymer membrane, an air (oxygen) electrode, and a separator having an air (oxygen) flow path. A stack in which the single cells are stacked is used. Therefore, both surfaces of the separator have independent flow paths, one side being hydrogen and the other side being a flow path for air and generated water. As a constituent material of a polymer electrolyte fuel cell that operates in the region below the boiling point of the cooling aqueous solution, the temperature is not so high, and it is possible to sufficiently exhibit corrosion resistance and durability in that environment, Furthermore, carbon-based materials have been used by cutting to form an arbitrary flow path shape, but stainless steel and titanium have been used with the aim of reducing costs and downsizing, that is, reducing the thickness of separators. Technological development related to the application of

The separator needs to uniformly supply hydrogen and air as fuel to the entire surface of the solid polymer film in order to increase the reaction efficiency, and a flow path shape as fine as possible is formed. The width of the flow path is usually 1 mm or less, the flow path pattern becomes fine, and processing accuracy on the order of several microns is required.
In view of this, the inventors of the present invention have a polymer electrolyte fuel cell having a pair of upper and lower reduction rolls on the surface of which a concavo-convex shape similar to the shape of the convex and concave portions of the separator is applied in Patent Document 1. Disclosed is a separator manufacturing apparatus. By using this processing method, it can be applied to low-cost, high-endurance polymer electrolyte fuel cells, and can be stably molded without cracking or breaking. Uniform molding is possible.

  However, since the separator process is a strong process that forms an uneven part that becomes a flow path pattern only in the center part of the plate surface, even in the molding method described above, the strain amount in the strong process part and the non-process part after the process is reduced. There is a problem of a shape defect that causes a difference and generates a residual stress, resulting in twisting and local undulation. Since hundreds of separators used in fuel cells are stacked and used, the twists and local undulations are harmful to the separator laminating process, and the surface of the plating used to reduce contact resistance on the separator surface is used. The workability and material transportability in the separator manufacturing process such as the reforming process are impaired.

  In Patent Document 2, an uneven micro shape is added in advance to a metal plate material to form a pre-shaped material, and the residual stress in the pressed product is adjusted by crushing the micro shape when the pre-shaped material is press-molded. Then, a spring back control method for a press-processed product, characterized by controlling the spring back of the press-processed product, is disclosed. Further, in Patent Document 3, in a method of manufacturing a light-shielding panel for automobiles, a roll bond base plate on which at least two or more panels are formed is integrated with a single-sided expansion tube in the entire central portion except for the peripheral portion of the base plate. After removing a plurality of panel parts from the central expansion tube part to obtain each panel part whose entire surface forms a single-sided expansion tube part, and crushing the peripheral expansion tube part with a press, further two-dimensional or three-dimensional A method of bending and end bending is disclosed. In these means, since the uneven portion is provided on the entire surface of the material and crushed, it is not possible to secure a fine flow path shape formed in the center portion of the plate surface, and selectively uneven the portion where the residual stress causing the shape defect is generated. There is a problem that indentation remains on the entire surface because the part cannot be applied.

In addition, according to Patent Document 4, a part of the present inventor gives a concavo-convex shape to a metal plate with upper and lower rolls having a concavo-convex shape on the entire circumference, and then rolls a part of the concavo-convex plate with a subsequent roll. Alternatively, a method for producing a solid oxide fuel cell separator by pressing and crushing is disclosed.
However, in the method disclosed in Patent Document 4, when a high-strength titanium plate is molded, warping and twisting of the separator may increase. In addition, when rolling a part of the concavo-convex plate with a subsequent roll, the manufacturing object is limited to a parallel type separator in which the circumferential direction of the roll and the flow channel are parallel, and the press is performed in a subsequent process. In the case of crushing, there is a problem that residual stress is generated at the time of press molding, and warping and twisting are increased.

JP 2002-190305 A JP 2006-35245 A JP 2000-247143 A JP 2006-75900 A

In the separator manufacturing apparatus for a polymer electrolyte fuel cell, characterized in that it has a pair of upper and lower rolling rolls on the surface that have an unevenness similar to the shape of the convex and concave portions of the separator. Since it is a strong process that forms uneven parts that become the flow path pattern only, a difference in strain occurs between the hard processed part and the non-processed part after processing, resulting in residual stress, resulting in torsion and local undulation There is a problem of poor shape.
In view of the above problems, the present invention provides an apparatus for manufacturing a fuel cell separator that is applicable to a low-cost, high-endurance polymer electrolyte fuel cell and that has very little twisting and undulation after processing and is excellent in hermeticity. The purpose is to do.

In order to solve the problem, the gist of the present invention is as follows.
(1) The first concavo-convex portions (11a, 11b) are formed in a rectangular region having a length L (mm) in the rolling direction and a width W (mm) in the axial direction in the center portion in the axial direction of the pair of upper and lower rolls. ), And in the axial direction, outside the first concavo-convex portions (11a, 11b) and in the vicinity of the corner portions of the first concavo-convex portions (11a, 11b), the embossed concavo-convex portions (12a -1, 12a-2, 12a-3, 12a-4, 12b-1, 12b-2, 12b-3, 12b-4) and a pair of upper and lower roll axial direction center portions In addition, there are second uneven portions (63a, 63b) each having a shape equivalent to the first uneven portion at a position corresponding to the first uneven portion, and the periphery of the second uneven portion is the one step. Of the separator formed by the embossed uneven parts of the eye-rolling roll Nbosu concavo-convex portions for a polymer electrolyte fuel cell separator manufacturing apparatus characterized by having a roll train having two-stage reduction roll of smooth surface to crush.

  (2) A set of embossed concavo-convex portions (12a-1 and 12a-2, 12a-3 and 12a-4, 12b-1 and 12b-) present on one axial side of the first-stage rolling roll in the rolling direction. 2, 12b-3 and 12b-4) total lengths a (mm) from the front end to the rear end satisfy a ≧ L, respectively, and the polymer electrolyte fuel cell separator according to (1) manufacturing device.

  (3) In the first-stage rolling roll, the embossed shape present inside the first uneven portion (11a, 11b) along the rolling direction from the corner portion of the first uneven portion (11a, 11b). The lengths b (mm) of the concavo-convex portions (12a-1, 12a-2, 12a-3, 12a-4, 12b-1, 12b-2, 12b-3, 12b-4) are respectively L / 4 ≧ b The apparatus for producing a separator for a polymer electrolyte fuel cell according to (1) or (2), wherein ≧ L / 8 is satisfied.

  According to the present invention, there is provided a separator manufacturing apparatus for a polymer electrolyte fuel cell characterized by having a pair of upper and lower rolling rolls on the surface having a concave and convex process similar to the shape of the convex and concave portions of the separator. It is possible to provide an apparatus for manufacturing a fuel cell separator that can be applied to a highly durable solid polymer fuel cell and that has very little twisting and undulation after processing and is excellent in hermeticity.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a view showing a twisted form of the separator 23. It is said that shape defects such as torsion and waviness of plate molded products are generally caused by residual stress distribution after molding. As shown in FIG. 2, when the uneven portion 21 having the separator shape is molded into the inside of the plate, the material flows into the corner portions 24 at the four corners, so that a compression residual stress occurs due to shrinkage flange deformation.

  Therefore, the residual stress of the peripheral flat portion was measured for various conventional separators that do not have an embossed uneven portion described below in the vicinity of the corner portion. In order to simulate the state immediately after the molding, the molded product in which the twist occurred was pressed and the surroundings were kept flat by a metal fitting, and the residual stress was measured and investigated with a micro focus X-ray stress measuring device. FIG. 3 is an example of measurement of the residual stress distribution, measured in the rolling direction on two sides of the flat portion (upper and lower peripheral portions of the uneven portion 21 in FIG. 3) parallel to the rolling direction (left and right direction on the paper). did. The A measurement line and the B measurement line in FIG. 3 indicate the measurement points, and are located at a position approximately 5 mm away from the end of the uneven portion 21 in the direction perpendicular to the rolling direction. From this measurement survey, the residual stress distribution data of the peripheral flat part was obtained, and the presence of compressive residual stress due to the flange deformation was observed near the corner part.

Based on the results of the investigation, the inventors have formed an embossed uneven portion 22 (see FIG. 5) in a region where residual stress exists to relieve the residual stress and reduce shape defects such as torsion and waviness. Inspired. FIG. 5 shows an example of the shape of a separator molded by the first-stage reduction roll.
The formed separator 23 is formed with a groove composed of a continuous uneven portion 21 serving as a flow path for hydrogen or air (oxygen), and several hundred sheets are laminated via a solid polymer film or a seal plate to form hydrogen or air ( Since it serves as a fuel electrode for supplying (oxygen) to the solid polymer membrane, it is necessary to maintain hermeticity.

  FIG. 4 shows an example of the structure of the fuel cell stack. A single cell is formed by laminating a solid polymer film 41 coated with an electrode catalyst on both sides in a laminated structure of a separator 23, a seal plate 43, and a carbon fiber current collector 42 as an electrode. A fuel cell stack is configured by repeatedly stacking the A cycles in the figure. The material of the seal plate may be any material that has moderate elasticity and does not decompose or plastically deform below the boiling point of the cooling water. Silicone resin, butadiene rubber resin, fluorine resin, etc. can be applied, and the groove Gas is sealed by tightening a sealing plate slightly thicker than the height. Since the seal plate has an appropriate elasticity, it can follow a minute deformation of the separator and the like, and can maintain a certain degree of hermeticity. However, the embossed uneven portions 22-1, 22-2, 22- 3 and 22-4 (see FIG. 5) are present in the vicinity of the corner portion of the rectangular region having the concavo-convex portion 21 serving as the flow passage of the concavo-convex portion hydrogen or air (oxygen), Have difficulty. Therefore, the embossed uneven portions 22-1, 22-2, 22-3, and 22-4 are not crushed by rolling in advance so that the peripheral flat portion is in close contact with the seal plate. There is a need to.

  From the above, as shown in FIG. 6, the upper and lower rolling rolls 61a and 61b in the first stage form the uneven portions serving as gas flow paths in the quadrangular region of the separator, and the outer side in the width direction of this region. The embossed concavo-convex portions 22-1, 22-2, 22-3, 22-4 are formed in the vicinity of the four corner portions, respectively, to relieve the residual stress, and further, the second-stage reduction roll 62a 62b, the periphery of the concavo-convex portions including the embossed concavo-convex portions 22-1, 22-2, 22-3, 22-4 of the separator is uniformly rolled (crushed) to obtain a predetermined product shape. I found out.

In order to realize this molding method, a solid portion having a flat portion at the periphery and a portion excluding the periphery having a concavo-convex portion serving as a gas flow path in a rectangular region having a length L (mm) and a width W (mm). In the molecular fuel cell separator manufacturing apparatus, each of the pair of upper and lower rolls in the axial center portion is formed in a rectangular region having a length L (mm) in the rolling direction and a width W (mm) in the axial direction. Embossed irregularities having first irregularities 11a and 11b, and only at four locations near the corners of the first irregularities 11a and 11b outside the first irregularities 11a and 11b in the axial direction. First-stage rolling rolls having portions 12a-1, 12a-2, 12a-3, 12a-4, 12b-1, 12b-2, 12b-3, 12b-4, and a pair of upper and lower roll axially central portions In a position corresponding to the first uneven portion, Each has second concavo-convex portions 63a and 63b having the same shape as the first concavo-convex portion, and the periphery of the second concavo-convex portion is formed by an embossed concavo-convex portion of the first-stage reduction roll. The roll row | line | column consisting of the 2nd stage | paragraph rolling roll which consists of a smooth surface for rolling and crushing the embossed uneven | corrugated | grooved part 22-1, 22-2, 22-3, 22-4 of a separator was comprised (the said ( Invention according to 1)).
Here, the vicinity of the corner refers to a region within ± L / 4 (mm) in the rolling direction from the corner of the quadrangular region having the first uneven portions 11a and 11b.

  FIG. 5 shows an example of the shape of a separator molded by the first-stage reduction roll. In consideration of the region where the residual stress indicated by the measurement result of FIG. 3 exists, a set of embossed uneven portions (for example, 22-1 and 22-2) present on one side parallel to the rolling direction (up and down direction on the paper surface) Total length a (mm) from the front end to the rear end (that is, from the front end of the embossed uneven portion 22-1 on the front side in the rolling direction of the separator to the rear end of the embossed uneven portion 22-2 on the rear side. The length) is preferably larger than the length L of one side of the concavo-convex portion 21 parallel to the rolling direction in order to surely relieve the compressive residual stress.

  For this reason, in the pair of upper and lower first-stage rolling rolls, a pair of embossed uneven portions 12a-1 and 12a-2, 12a-3 and 12a-4, 12b existing on one side in the axial direction in the rolling direction. It is preferable that the total lengths a (mm) from the front end to the rear end of -1 and 12b-2 and 12b-3 and 12b-4 satisfy a ≧ L. (Invention pertaining to (2))

  In addition, after crushing the embossed concave and convex portions 22-1, 22-2, 22-3, and 22-4 of the separator with the second-stage reduction rolls 62a and 62b, indentations exist and the surface becomes rough and the appearance is impaired. It is. Since the indentation may impair the sealing performance of the fuel cell stack, the embossed uneven portions 22-1, 22-2, 22-3, and 22-4 formed in the separator should be minimized as much as possible. That is, the embossed uneven portions 12a-1, 12a-2, 12a-3, 12a-4, 12b-1, 12b-2, 12b-3, and 12b-4 provided on the first-stage reduction roll are as much as possible. Better to minimize.

  As shown in FIG. 5, when b (mm) is the length of the embossed uneven portion (for example, 22-1) existing inside the uneven portion 21 along the rolling direction from the corner portion of the uneven portion 21 of the separator, From the residual stress measurement result of FIG. 3, it is recognized that the residual stress in the vicinity of the corner portion exists up to the vicinity of L / 4 ≧ b ≧ L / 8.

  Accordingly, in the first-stage rolling roll, the embossed uneven portions 12a-1 and 12a-2 that exist inside the first uneven portions 11a and 11b along the rolling direction from the corner portions of the first uneven portions 11a and 11b. , 12a-3, 12a-4, 12b-1, 12b-2, 12b-3, 12b-4 have a length b (mm) of at least L / 8 to surely relieve the compressive residual stress. Preferably, the length b (mm) is preferably L / 4 or less in order to minimize the indentation region in the separator (the invention according to (3) above).

  An example of a separator manufacturing apparatus according to the present invention is shown in FIG. This apparatus is composed of two roll rows, and the upper and lower rolls of each roll row are driven synchronously. The first rolls 61a and 61b have first concave and convex portions 11a and 11b similar to the shape of the concave and convex portions of the separator at the central portion in the axial direction of the roll, and outside the first concave and convex portions. Embossed uneven portions 12a-1, 12a-2 (not shown), 12a-3, in the vicinity of the corner portions of the portions 11a, 11b, that is, in the vicinity of the corner portion of the first uneven portion, on two sides parallel to the rolling direction. 12 a-4 (not shown), 12 b-1, 12 b-2 (not shown), 12 b-3 (not shown), 12 b-4 (not shown) 62b have second concavo-convex portions 63a and 63b having the same shape as the first concavo-convex portion at positions corresponding to the first concavo-convex portions, and the periphery of the second concavo-convex portions 63a and 63b Separate formed by embossed uneven portions of rolls 61a and 61b It consists smooth surface for crushing the embossed concavo-convex portion of the data.

  That is, the second-stage reduction rolls 62a and 62b are used for rolling and crushing the embossed uneven portions 22-1, 22-2, 22-3, and 22-4 existing around the corner portion of the separator, The second uneven portions 63a and 63b are arranged so that the uneven portion 21 of the separator is not crushed. The second concavo-convex portions 63a and 63b have a shape corresponding to the quadrangular region having the concavo-convex portions of the separator, that is, a size equivalent to the contour shape of the first concavo-convex portions 11a and 11b, and the depth of the concave portions. Is larger than the groove height of the first uneven portions 11a and 11b. Therefore, in the second rolling reduction roll, the region of the uneven portion 21 of the separator is not subjected to rolling, and the embossed uneven portions 22-1, 22-2, 22-2 of the separator are formed by the flat portions around the recessed portions 63a, 63b. Only 3, 22-4 are rolled and crushed.

In addition, the positions of the second uneven portions 63a and 63b of the second-stage rolling roll have axial and rolling direction (circumferential direction of the roll) positions so as to correspond to the positions of the uneven portions 11a and 11b of the first-stage roll. Needless to say, it is adjusted.
Further, the shape, arrangement, dimensions and the like of the unevenness of the separator shown in FIG. 5 have a relationship corresponding to the shape, arrangement, and dimensions of the unevenness of the upper and lower rolls shown in FIG. In this specification, the shape, arrangement, dimensions, and the like of the projections and depressions described in the separator or roll correspond to each other.

  The invention is illustrated below by means of examples.

Example 1
The separator shape tested in the present invention uses an austenitic stainless steel plate with a thickness of 0.15 mm, the outer shape of the separator is 400 mm long and 250 mm wide, and the size of the concavo-convex portion 21 is the length L in the rolling direction. The length W in the direction perpendicular to rolling is 320 mm and 150 mm. The channel grooves of the concavo-convex portion 21 are formed in parallel to the rolling direction, and the cross-sectional shape thereof is a rectangular repeated cross section with a groove depth of 0.6 mm and a groove width of 1.4 mm. The material of each reduction roll was manufactured using alloy tool steel for molds.

  FIG. 7 shows an enlarged portion of the embossed uneven portions 22-1, 22-2, 22-3, and 22-4 formed by the first-stage reduction roll according to the present invention. As shown in FIG. 7, the emboss 25 has a cylindrical shape, a diameter d of 1.4 mm, a depth h of 0.6 mm, a pitch length p of 2.8 mm, and in the rolling direction and the direction perpendicular to the rolling. It is arranged at equal intervals. As shown in FIG. 5, there are four embossed uneven portions 22-1, 22-2, 22-3, 22-4 in the vicinity of each corner portion of the uneven portion 21, and the length of the region in the direction perpendicular to the rolling direction is 50 mm. The length in the rolling direction is as shown in a (mm) and b (mm) in Table 1 (see Nos. 1 to 8 in Table 1). As a comparative example, a prototype of a conventional separator without an embossed uneven portion in the vicinity of the corner portion was also manufactured (see No. 9 in Table 1).

In the evaluation of the product, the torsion amount H (mm) is an evaluation item, and after fixing one corner portion of the separator as shown in FIG. 0.5 mm or less was marked as ◎, larger than 0.5 mm and 1.0 mm or smaller as ◯, and others (over 1.0 mm) as x.
No. which is a comparative example. In the separator No. 9, the embossed uneven portion was not formed in the vicinity of the corner portion of the uneven portion, and the residual stress in the vicinity of the corner portion was not relaxed. On the other hand, the example of the present invention was able to obtain a separator with excellent dimensional accuracy by reducing the amount of twist by reducing the residual stress at the corners.

  On the other hand, the gas tightness was confirmed by assembling a fuel cell stack using the separator of the present invention. FIG. 8 is an overview of the assembled fuel cell stack. A total of 200 single cells shown in FIG. 4 were stacked. For the solid polymer membrane 41, the carbon fiber current collector 42, and the seal plate 43, a fuel cell stack was prototyped using a perfluorosulfonic acid ion exchange membrane, porous carbon paper, and silicon resin, respectively. Each component is provided with an inflow port and an outflow port for hydrogen and air (oxygen) so that fuel gas can be supplied. Bolt holes were arranged for the purpose of positioning and total pressure on the four circumferences of each member, and the fuel cell stack was tightened using high tension bolts and rigid end plates (bolt holes and high tension bolts not shown) ). Actually, hydrogen and oxygen were supplied, and the leak rate was measured with a hydrogen concentration meter and oxygen concentration meter. As a result, leakage was not detected and good sealing performance was maintained. Excellent dimensional accuracy and embossed irregularities were sealed. It was confirmed that the separator was crushed to such an extent that it was not damaged.

(Example 2)
One embodiment of the present invention will be described below.
As for the separator shape tested in the present invention, a titanium plate equivalent to JIS standard H4600 with a thickness of 0.15 mm is used, the outer shape of the separator is 400 mm long and 250 mm wide, and the size of the uneven portion 21 is the length in the rolling direction. The length L is 320 mm, and the length W in the direction perpendicular to the rolling is 150 mm. The flow path grooves of the concavo-convex portion 21 are formed in parallel to the rolling direction, and the cross-sectional shape thereof is a rectangular repeated cross section with a groove depth of 0.5 mm and a groove width of 1.4 mm. The material of each reduction roll was manufactured using alloy tool steel for molds.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the emboss 25 has a cylindrical shape, a diameter d of 1.4 mm, a depth h of 0.5 mm, a pitch length p of 2.8 mm, and in the rolling direction and the direction perpendicular to the rolling direction. It is arranged at equal intervals. As shown in FIG. 5, there are four embossed uneven portions 22 in the vicinity of each corner portion of the uneven portion 21, the length in the direction perpendicular to the rolling direction of the region is 50 mm, and the length in the rolling direction is shown in Table 1 It is as showing to a (mm) and b (mm) (refer No. 1-8 of Table 2). As a comparative example, a prototype of a conventional separator having no embossed uneven portions in the vicinity of the corner portion was also manufactured (see No. 9 in Table 2).

The evaluation of the product uses the torsion amount H (mm) as an evaluation item in the same manner as in Example 1, and after fixing one corner portion of the separator as shown in FIG. (Mm), 0.5 mm or less was evaluated as ◎, 1.0 mm or less as ◯, and other (more than 1.0 mm) as ×.
No. which is a comparative example. In the separator No. 9, since the residual stress in the vicinity of the corner portion was not relaxed, the twist occurred remarkably, and the twist amount was 2.5 mm. On the other hand, the example of the present invention was able to obtain a separator with excellent dimensional accuracy by reducing the amount of twist by reducing the residual stress at the corners.

  On the other hand, the gas tightness was also confirmed by assembling a fuel cell stack using the separator of the present invention as in Example 1. The unit cell is configured to be stacked in a total of 200 stages. The solid polymer membrane 41, the carbon fiber current collector 42, and the seal plate 43 are made of perfluorosulfonic acid ion exchange membrane, porous carbon paper, and silicon resin, respectively. A battery stack was prototyped. Each component is provided with an inflow port and an outflow port for hydrogen and air (oxygen) so that fuel gas can be supplied. Bolt holes were arranged for the purpose of positioning and total pressure on the four circumferences of each member, and the fuel cell stack was tightened using high tension bolts and rigid end plates (bolt holes and high tension bolts not shown) ). Actually, hydrogen and oxygen were supplied, and the leak rate was measured with a hydrogen concentration meter and oxygen concentration meter. As a result, leakage was not detected and good sealing performance was maintained. Excellent dimensional accuracy and embossed irregularities were sealed. It was confirmed that the separator was crushed to such an extent that it was not damaged.

It is a general-view figure which shows the form of the twist of a separator. It is a figure which shows the top view of a separator. It is a figure which shows the example of a measurement of the residual stress distribution of a separator surrounding flat part. It is a conceptual diagram which shows the example of the structure of a fuel cell stack. It is a top view which shows the example of a shape of the separator shape-molded with the 1st-stage reduction roll of this invention. It is a general-view figure which shows the example of the separator manufacturing apparatus of this invention. It is the top view and sectional drawing which show the embossed uneven | corrugated | grooved part 12 shape | molded with the 1st-stage reduction roll of this invention. It is a general-view figure which shows a fuel cell stack.

Explanation of symbols

11a, 11b 1st uneven | corrugated | grooved part of a roll similar to the shape of a separator 12a-1, 12a-2, 12a-3, 12a-4, 12b-1, 12b-2, 12b-3, 12b-4 Emboss of a roll Concavity and convexity portion 21 Concavity and convexity portion of separator 22-1, 22-2, 22-3 and 22-4 Embossed concavity and convexity portion of separator 23 Separator 24 Corner portion of flow passage concavity and convexity portion 25 Emboss 41 Solid polymer film 42 Carbon fiber collection Electrical body (electrode)
43 Seal plate 61a, 61b First-stage reduction roll 62a, 62b Second-stage reduction roll 63a, 63b Second uneven part 83 Hydrogen (fuel gas) inlet 84 Air (oxygen) inlet 85 Hydrogen (fuel gas) exhaust Outlet 86 Air (oxygen) outlet 87 Upper mold 88 Lower mold

Claims (3)

  The first concavo-convex portions (11a, 11b) are respectively formed in square regions of the center portion in the axial direction of the pair of upper and lower rolls, each having a length L (mm) in the rolling direction and a width W (mm) in the axial direction. And embossed uneven portions (12a-1) at only four locations near the corners of the first uneven portions (11a, 11b) outside the first uneven portions (11a, 11b) in the width direction. 12a-2, 12a-3, 12a-4, 12b-1, 12b-2, 12b-3, 12b-4), and the axially central portion of the pair of upper and lower rolls. In addition, there are second uneven portions (63a, 63b) each having a shape equivalent to the first uneven portion at a position corresponding to the first uneven portion, and the periphery of the second uneven portion is the first step. Of the separator formed by the embossed uneven parts of the eye-rolling roll Nbosu concavo-convex portions for a polymer electrolyte fuel cell separator manufacturing apparatus characterized by having a roll train having two-stage reduction roll of smooth surface to crush.   A set of the embossed concavo-convex portions (12a-1 and 12a-2, 12a-3 and 12a-4, 12b-1 and 12b-2, present on one axial side of the first-stage rolling roll in the rolling direction, 2. The apparatus for producing a polymer electrolyte fuel cell separator according to claim 1, wherein the total lengths a (mm) from the front end to the rear end of 12b-3 and 12b-4 satisfy a ≧ L, respectively. .   In the first-stage rolling roll, the embossed uneven portions (inside the first uneven portions (11a, 11b) along the rolling direction from the corner portions of the first uneven portions (11a, 11b) ( 12a-1, 12a-2, 12a-3, 12a-4, 12b-1, 12b-2, 12b-3, 12b-4) have lengths b (mm) of L / 4 ≧ b ≧ L / 8. The separator for manufacturing a polymer electrolyte fuel cell according to claim 1, wherein:

Images