JP5286828B2 - Fuel cell manufacturing apparatus, fuel cell manufacturing method, and metal separator - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a fuel cell manufacturing apparatus, a fuel cell manufacturing method, and a metal separator.

  In a fuel cell in which hydrogen and oxygen are supplied to both surfaces of a membrane electrode assembly (MEA) to generate an electromotive force, the membrane electrode assembly and a metal separator are laminated to form a fuel cell stack. . The metal separator is previously formed with a channel groove for circulating fuel gas and cooling water by press molding.

  There is known a method of positioning a stacking position by a positioning member provided on a stacking jig on which a membrane electrode assembly and a metal separator are stacked.

As the positioning member, an end plate extending from the stacking jig in the stacking direction is used. The end plates are used as guide members, and the end surfaces of the metal separators are aligned to perform lamination (see Patent Document 1).
JP 2003-86232 A

  However, in the case of laminating metal separators having warpage caused by press molding, it is difficult to accurately perform positioning with reference to the end face of the metal separator due to warpage of each metal separator.

  Further, during the pressurizing step for forming the fuel cell stack, the warpage of each metal separator is corrected, but there is a possibility that the position may be shifted by this correcting operation.

  When the stacking position of the membrane electrode assembly and the metal separator is shifted, the pressure applied to the seal may vary, or the contact resistance of the metal separator may vary. It is necessary to position and stack with accuracy.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to improve the positioning accuracy of the stacking position of the warped metal separator, prevent the metal separator from being displaced by the pressurizing step, and stabilize the performance of the fuel cell. It is providing the manufacturing apparatus of this, a manufacturing method of a fuel cell, and a metal separator.

The present invention extends from the mounting surface along the stacking direction in which the membrane electrode assembly and the metal separator having warpage caused by press molding are stacked, and the stacking direction in which the membrane electrode assembly and the metal separator are stacked. And at least one end side of the metal separator, and a restricting member with which the engaging part is engageable. At least the engaging part of the metal separator is stacked in a state of being engaged with the restricting member. Laminating jig, and
It is an apparatus for manufacturing a fuel cell having a press die that pressurizes the stacked membrane electrode assembly and the metal separator in the stacking direction while guiding the engaging portion along the regulating member. And as for the said press type | mold, the 1st movable type | mold provided movably in the direction orthogonal to the said mounting surface, and the pressing surface which presses the laminated | stacked said membrane electrode assembly and the said metal separator are mentioned above. A second movable mold that is tiltable with respect to the mounting surface; and the first movable mold and the second movable mold are provided between the first movable mold and the second movable mold. An adjusting means for adjusting and moving the second movable mold in a state inclined with respect to the first movable mold in a direction parallel to the placement surface by moving toward the placement surface of the first movable mold. And having.

The present invention also relates to a membrane electrode assembly and a regulating member in which a metal separator having warpage caused by press molding is provided at least on an engagement portion provided on at least one end of the metal separator. Laminating in a combined state;
Pressurizing the stacked membrane electrode assembly and the metal separator in the stacking direction with a press die while guiding the engaging portion along the regulating member. The step of pressurizing the membrane electrode assembly and the metal separator with the press die is performed by moving the first movable die of the press die in a direction toward the placement surface, thereby stacking the membrane electrode junctions stacked. A second movable mold of the press mold in which the pressing surface is inclined with respect to the body and the metal separator by an adjusting means provided between the first movable mold and the second movable mold A step of adjusting and moving the pressing surface in a direction parallel to the placement surface.

Further, the present invention is Ru is used in the production method of the fuel cell described above, a metal separator having a warp caused by press molding, provided on at least one end side, the positioning and laminating direction at the time of laminating It is a metal separator having an engaging portion used as a guide when pressurizing.

  According to the present invention, the metal separator is laminated in a state where the engaging portion provided on at least one end of the metal separator having warpage caused by press molding is engaged with the regulating member provided on the lamination jig. Since the pressurizing step is performed while guiding the metal separator along the regulating member, the positioning accuracy of the stacking position of the metal separator having warpage can be improved.

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

  FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing the overall configuration of the fuel cell 700, and FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing a single cell 710. 3 is a schematic view of a fuel cell manufacturing apparatus 500 according to the present embodiment, FIGS. 4A and 4B are a schematic perspective view and a plan view of a stacking jig 550 (lower mold), and FIG. ) And (B) are a schematic perspective view and a plan view of a metal palator 200 having warpage caused by press forming according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 6 is a metal separator 200 for explaining a position where the engaging portion 231 is provided. 7A and 7B are a schematic perspective view and a plan view for explaining the process of laminating the metal separator 200 (battery element) on the laminating jig 550 (lower mold), and FIG. FIG. 9 to FIG. 11 schematically illustrate a pressurizing step by the fuel cell manufacturing apparatus 500, wherein the metal separator 200 (battery element) is stacked on the stacking jig 550 (lower mold). Figure for, Figure 12 is a metal separator 00 is a diagram for explaining a range of the positional deviation that occurs (battery element). 13 (A) and 13 (B) show the proportionality of the present invention, and are diagrams for schematically explaining the pressurization process by the proportional fuel cell manufacturing apparatus 900, and FIG. It is a figure for demonstrating the position shift of the metal separator 200 (battery element) which arises by the pressurization process of the manufacturing apparatus 900 of. Note that the warp of the metal separator 200 is exaggerated for easy understanding.

  In the present embodiment, the fuel cell manufacturing apparatus 500 of the present invention is applied to manufacture of the fuel cell stack 750 constituting the fuel cell 700 (see FIG. 1).

  Referring to FIGS. 3 to 5, the fuel cell manufacturing apparatus 500 will be briefly described. The metal separator 200 having the warpage caused by the membrane electrode assembly 30 and press molding (hereinafter also simply referred to as “metal separator 200”). ) And a stacking direction (hereinafter simply referred to as “stacking direction”) in which the membrane electrode assembly 30 and the metal separator 200 are stacked, and at least the metal separator 200. A column-shaped restricting member 551 that can be engaged with a notch-shaped engaging portion 231 provided on at least one end of the metal separator, and at least the engaging portion 231 of the metal separator is engaged with the restricting member 551. The lower mold 550 (corresponding to a stacking jig) to be stacked in a state, the stacked membrane electrode assembly 30 and the metal separator 200, and the engaging portion 231 are regulated. While guided along the timber 551, having an upper die 530 (corresponding to a press-type) for pressing in the lamination direction.

  The metal separator 200 has a rectangular shape, and an engagement portion 231 is provided at the center position 235 of the end side on the long side. Further, another engaging portion 232 is provided at the center position 236 of the end side on the short side. The engaging part 231 is engaged with the restricting member 551, and the other engaging part 232 is engaged with the other restricting member 552.

  The metal separator 200 has a warp caused by press molding for forming a flow channel (see FIG. 5). The engaging portions 231 and 232 may be provided at least on the metal separator 200, but can also be provided on the membrane electrode assembly 30. In the following description, it is assumed that the engaging portions 231 and 232 are provided on both the metal separator 200 and the membrane electrode assembly 30.

  In the specification, both the metal separator 200 and the membrane electrode assembly 30 are collectively referred to as a “battery element 270”. Further, the state in which the battery elements 270 are stacked will be referred to as “stacked body 100”, and the state after pressurizing the stacked body 100 will be described as “fuel cell stack 750 (hereinafter simply referred to as“ stack 750 ”)”. . In the stacking step of stacking the battery elements 270, the metal separator 200 is placed on the mounting surface 554 in a state where the engaging portions 231 and 232 provided on the metal separator 200 are engaged with the regulating members 551 and 552, respectively. Laminate. The metal separator 200 and the membrane electrode assembly 30 are laminated to form a single cell 710 that serves as a unit battery, and a stack 750. In the pressurizing step of pressurizing the laminate 100, the stack 750 is formed by pressurizing with the upper mold 530 in a state where the engaging portions 231 and 232 are engaged with the regulating members 551 and 552.

  The X, Y, and Z axes shown in the figure indicate the short side direction, the long side direction, and the stacking direction of the battery element 270, respectively. Details will be described below.

  The fuel cell 700, the stack 750, and the single cell 710 will be described with reference to FIGS.

  Referring to FIG. 1, a fuel cell 700 has a stack 750 composed of a plurality of single cells 710 (see FIG. 2). A pair of end plates 720 are provided at both ends of the stack 750 in the stacking direction. A current collecting plate 740, which is a terminal member for taking out the electric power generated by the stack 750, is disposed between the stack 750 and the end plate 720. The end plate 720 is fastened by a fastening member such as a stack 750, a current collector plate 740, and a tie rod 730 that penetrates the end plate 720. A surface pressure is uniformly applied to the stack 750 by a load applied by fastening.

  Referring to FIG. 2, unit cell 710 is configured by sandwiching membrane electrode assembly 30 with metal separator 200. The membrane electrode assembly 30 includes an electrolyte membrane 40, a fuel electrode 50, and an air electrode 60. The electrolyte membrane 40 is sandwiched between the fuel electrode 50 and the air electrode 60. The fuel electrode 50 and the air electrode 60 have catalyst layers 51 and 61 and gas diffusion layers 52 and 62, respectively, and one side of the catalyst layers 51 and 61 is disposed in contact with the electrolyte membrane 40.

  The metal separator 200 includes a fuel electrode side metal separator 210 that contacts the fuel electrode 50 and an air electrode side metal separator 220 that contacts the air electrode 60. The metal separators 210 and 220 sandwich the membrane electrode assembly 30. The metal separators 210 and 220 have a function of allowing fuel gas and air to uniformly contact and flow over the entire surface of the electrolyte membrane 40. In the metal separators 210 and 220, a channel groove (groove portion) that constitutes a fluid channel for allowing the fuel gas and air to spread throughout is formed in advance by press molding. For the metal separators 210 and 220, for example, thin aluminum or stainless steel is used. Generally, the flow channel is provided with a depth several times that of a thin plate. Therefore, the metal separator 200 may be warped by press molding (see FIG. 5). A flow path F through which fuel gas flows between the metal separator 210 and the fuel electrode 50, a flow path O through which air flows between the metal separator 220 and the air electrode 60, and a space between the metal separator 210 and the metal separator 220. Is formed with a flow path W through which cooling water flows.

  Referring to FIG. 2, the following electrochemical reaction proceeds in single cell 710. First, hydrogen contained in the fuel gas supplied to the fuel electrode 50 is oxidized by the catalyst particles to become protons and electrons. The produced protons reach the catalyst layer 61 of the air electrode 60 through the electrolyte contained in the catalyst layer 51 of the fuel electrode 50 and the electrolyte membrane 40 in contact with the catalyst layer 51 of the fuel electrode 50. Further, the electrons generated in the catalyst layer 51 of the fuel electrode 50 pass through the catalyst layer 51 of the fuel electrode 50, the gas diffusion layer 52 of the fuel electrode 50, the fuel electrode side metal separator 210, and the external circuit, and then the catalyst of the air electrode 60. Layer 61 is reached. The protons and electrons that have reached the catalyst layer 61 of the air electrode 60 react with oxygen contained in the oxidant gas supplied to the air electrode 60 to generate water. Through such an electrochemical reaction, the fuel cell can extract electricity to the outside.

  Next, referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the fuel cell manufacturing apparatus 500 according to this embodiment includes a lower mold 550 on which the battery elements 270 are stacked, and an upper mold 530 that pressurizes the battery elements 270 in the stacking direction. And have.

  The lower mold 550 includes a placement surface 554 on which the battery element 270 is placed, restriction members 551 and 552 that can be engaged with the engagement portions 231 and 232 provided on the battery element 270, and the stacking direction. And a guide member 553 that extends from the mounting surface 554 and supports the second movable die 520 of the upper die 530 in a tiltable and movable manner. For example, the restricting members 551 and 552 are provided at positions where they can engage with the engaging portions 231 and 232, respectively (see also FIG. 5). For example, the restriction member 551 has a rectangular shape with a cross section of a plane parallel to the placement surface 554 of about 2 cm in the X-axis direction and about 1 cm in the Y-axis direction.

  The upper mold 530 is mounted with a first movable mold 510 provided so as to be movable in a direction orthogonal to the mounting surface 554 (the direction of the arrow p in FIG. 3) and a pressing surface 523 that presses the stacked body 100. The second movable mold 520 provided so as to be tiltable with respect to the surface 554, and provided between the first movable mold 510 and the second movable mold 520, and the pressing surface 523 is mounted by the warp of the metal separator 200. The second movable mold 520 tilted with respect to the mounting surface 554 is adjusted and moved in a direction in which the pressing surface 523 is parallel to the mounting surface 554 by moving toward the mounting surface 554 of the first movable mold 510. And adjusting means 535 for adjusting. In the pressurizing step, the first movable mold 510 is moved closer to the stacked body 100, so that the second movable mold 510 and the second movable mold 520 are contacted with each other via the contact surfaces 511 and 521. The movable mold 520 is pressed to pressurize the laminate 100. The adjusting means 535 includes, for example, a tapered portion 512 having an inclined cross section provided on the contact surface 511 of the first movable die 510 and a tapered portion 512 provided on the contact surface 521 of the second movable die 520. It is comprised from the chamfering part 522 of a shape corresponding to.

  Next, referring to FIG. 5, the metal separator 200 having a warp according to the present embodiment is freely engageable with a flow channel groove (not shown in the drawing) formed in advance by press molding and the regulating members 551 and 552. Engaging portions 231 and 232. The metal separator 200 has a rectangular shape having a long side and a short side. When the metal separator 200 is press-molded to form the flow channel groove, the entire metal warp may be warped due to the elasticity of the metal separator 200. This warpage is likely to occur along the length direction from the center of each end of the metal separator 200. When the metal separator 200 is warped, a gap is generated when the metal separator 200 is stacked on the lower mold 550, and it is difficult to accurately perform positioning. Further, when pressurized by the upper mold 530, the metal separator 200 may move due to warping.

  Each of the engaging portions 231 and 232 is formed in a notch shape, and can be brought into contact with the restricting members 551 and 552 and engaged therewith. The size of the cutout is not particularly limited, but it is desirable to provide the cutout with such a size that a gap g is formed between the regulating members 551 and 552 (see FIG. 8). By forming the appropriate gap g, the metal separators 200 can be smoothly stacked while being engaged with the regulating members 551 and 552. The engagement portions 231 and 232 are provided at the center position 235 of the long side and the center position 236 of the short side among the ends forming the outer peripheral edge of the metal separator 200.

  With reference to FIG. 6, the engaging portion 231 places the metal separator 200 on the flat surface 150 (for example, the placement surface 554), for example, among the edges forming the outer peripheral edge of the metal separator 200. The dimension d1 that is sometimes separated from the flat surface 150 by warping is smaller than any of the other edges (hereinafter, referred to as “the center position of the edge having a smaller distance d1”). Provide. In the above position, the warpage amount d2 (represented by the dimension d1 spaced from the flat surface 150) of the metal separator 200 is smaller than that of the other portions, so that the stacking position can be easily positioned. It is possible to prevent the stacking position from being displaced.

  Further, for example, the engaging portion 231 has a center position of an end side where the metal separator 200 and the flat surface 150 come into contact with each other when the metal separator 200 is placed on the flat surface 150 (hereinafter referred to as “the center of the contacting end side”). It is written as “Position”.) The warpage amount d2 of each metal separator 200 may vary. Due to the variation in the warpage amount d2, the stacking positions of the metal separators 200 may be shifted. The center position of the edge side where the metal separator 200 contacts the flat surface 150 is a portion where the variation in the warping amount d2 is small compared to other portions. Therefore, as shown in the figure, even when the metal separators 240 having different warpage amounts d2 are stacked, the positioning accuracy of the stacking position during stacking can be improved and the stacking position can be prevented from being displaced. Further, as will be described later, when the stack 750 is formed by pressurizing the stacked body 100 by engaging the engaging portion 231 with the restricting member 551, at least in the direction along the end side where the engaging portion 231 is provided. It is possible to prevent the metal separator 200 from moving.

  In the metal separator 200, the engaging portion 231 is placed at the center position 235 of the long side corresponding to the center position of the end side with the small distance d1 described above and the center position of the contacting end side. And is engaged with the regulating member 551. Further, another engaging portion 232 is provided at the center position 236 of the end side on the short side, and is engaged with another regulating member 552. Therefore, it is possible to further improve the function of preventing the movement of the metal separator 200 caused by the positioning accuracy of the stacking position and the pressurization process (see FIG. 5). Similarly, the engagement portions 231 and 232 can be provided also in the membrane electrode assembly 30.

  Next, the operation will be described.

  Referring to FIGS. 7A and 7B, in the stacking process, the battery element 270 (membrane electrode assembly 30, metal separator 200) is provided on the long side end side and the short side end side. The joint portions 231 and 232 are brought into contact with and engaged with the regulating members 551 and 552. The engaging portions 231 and 232 are stacked on the mounting surface 554 along the stacking direction (the direction of arrow a in the figure) in a state where the engaging portions 231 and 232 are engaged with the regulating members 551 and 552. Since the battery element 270 can be laminated along the regulating members 551 and 552, the lamination position can be easily positioned and the positioning accuracy can be improved. By repeating the same procedure, the battery elements 270 are stacked to form the stacked body 100 in which the ends of the battery elements 270 are aligned. Since the membrane electrode assembly 30 is formed flexibly, the membrane electrode assembly 30 is laminated in a state along the warp of the metal separator 200.

  Referring to FIG. 8, battery element 270 stacked on mounting surface 554 is stacked with a predetermined gap g between each engaging portion 231, 232 and restricting members 551, 552. Even in the case where the battery element 270 is displaced, in the direction along the edge where the engaging portions 231 and 232 and the regulating members 551 and 552 are engaged, the gap g Misalignment can be limited (see FIG. 12).

  Referring to FIG. 9, in the pressurizing step, stack 100 is formed by pressurizing laminate 100 with first movable mold 510 and second movable mold 520.

The second movable mold 520 is disposed on the stacked body 100 so as to be movable and tiltable while being supported by the guide member 553.
Referring to FIG. 10, first movable mold 510 is moved closer in the stacking direction, and second movable mold 520 disposed on stacked body 100 is pressed to pressurize stacked body 100. A surface pressure is applied to the laminate 100 via the pressing surface 523 of the second movable mold 520. As the first movable die 510 moves closer in the stacking direction, the tapered portion 512 is pressed against the chamfered portion 522. The second movable mold 520 adjusts and moves in the direction in which the pressing surface 523 is parallel to the placement surface 554. Since the second movable mold 520 pressurizes the stacked body 100 while adjusting and moving, the surface pressure can be applied while correcting the warp of the battery element 270. In order to pressurize the laminated body 100 in a state in which the engaging portions 231 and 232 are engaged with and guided by the regulating members 551 and 552, the battery element 270 is arranged in the direction along the edge where the engaging portions 231 and 232 are provided. It can be prevented from moving.

Referring to FIG. 11, since the warp of each battery element 270 is corrected by the first movable mold 510 and the second movable mold 520, the stack 750 is formed by applying a uniform surface pressure to the stacked body 100. can do. After the stack 750 is formed, the fuel cell 700 can be configured as shown in FIG. 1 and electricity can be taken out to the outside.
Referring to FIG. 12, in the fuel cell manufacturing apparatus 500, for example, even when the stack 100 is moved or the stack position is shifted during the stacking process or the pressurizing process, the fuel cell manufacturing apparatus 500 is engaged. In the direction along each edge, the displacement can be limited within the range of the gap g formed between the engaging portions 231 and 232 and the restricting members 551 and 552 (the position indicated by the dotted line in the figure). An example of the battery element 250 after shifting is shown).

  Referring to FIG. 13A, when the pressurization process is performed by the fuel cell manufacturing apparatus 900 in proportion, the upper mold 910 is not provided with the adjusting means 535. It has become difficult to correct warpage. Further, each battery element 270 is not provided with the engaging portions 231 and 232 and is not configured to be engaged with the regulating members 551 and 552. Therefore, due to the warp of each battery element 270 during the pressurizing step, Movement is likely to occur.

  Referring to FIG. 13B, when battery element 270 is moved by upper mold 910, battery element 270 may be deformed by interference with support member 921 that supports upper mold 910. Further, when the stacking position is deviated, a surface pressure is not uniformly applied to the stacked body 100, and there is a possibility that contact resistance occurs between the battery elements 270.

  Referring to FIG. 14, in the proportional fuel cell manufacturing apparatus 900, the displacement of the battery element 270 cannot be restricted by the engaging portions 231 and 232 and the regulating members 551 and 552 as described above. Therefore, as shown in the figure, the battery elements 270 are displaced from each other (an example of the battery element 250 after being displaced by a dotted line in the figure). Since pressurization is performed in a state where the positional deviation has occurred, there is a risk that contact resistance will occur between the stacked battery elements 270.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the engaging members 231 and 232 provided on the metal separator 200 (battery element 270) having warpage caused by press forming are provided on the lower mold 550. Lamination is performed in a state of being engaged with 551 and 552. Therefore, the metal separator 200 can be laminated along the regulating members 551 and 552, so that the positioning accuracy of the metal separator 200 at the time of lamination can be improved and the displacement of the lamination position can be prevented. Furthermore, in order to pressurize the laminated body 100 in a state in which the engaging portions 231 and 232 are engaged and guided by the regulating members 551 and 552, at the end of the pressurizing step, at least the edges provided with the engaging portions 231 and 232 It is possible to prevent the metal separator 200 from moving in the direction along the line. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the deterioration of the performance of the fuel cell caused by the displacement of the stacking position. Furthermore, since the engaging portions 231 and 232 are also provided in the membrane electrode assembly 30 (battery element 270) and engaged with the regulating members 231 and 232, the positioning accuracy of the stack position of the membrane electrode assembly 30 is improved. It is also possible to prevent the misalignment of the stacking position.

  Since the engaging portions 231 and 232 having notches are abutted and engaged with the column-shaped regulating members 551 and 552 formed along the stacking direction from the mounting surface 554, the metal separator 200 is regulated. It can be laminated along the members 551 and 552. Therefore, it is possible to improve the positioning accuracy at the time of stacking and to prevent the positional shift of the stacking position.

  The second movable mold 520 that is tiltably and movably supported by the guide member 553 can be adjusted and moved by the adjusting means 535 in a direction in which the pressing surface 523 is parallel to the placement surface 554. Since the laminated body 100 can be pressurized while adjusting and moving the second movable mold 520 as the first movable mold 510 approaches and moves during the pressurizing step, the warp of the battery element 270 is corrected. The stack 750 can be formed by applying a uniform surface pressure to the stacked body 100.

  When the metal separator 200 is placed on the flat surface 150 (for example, the mounting surface 554), the center position of the end side where the dimension d1 that separates from the flat surface 150 due to warping is smaller than any of the other end sides. An engaging portion 231 is provided on the front side. Therefore, since the stacking position can be positioned at a part where the warpage amount d2 of the metal separator 200 is smaller than other parts, the positioning can be easily performed, and the stacking position can be prevented from being displaced. .

  Since the engagement portion 231 is provided at the center position of the end side where the metal separator 200 contacts the flat surface 150, the metal separator 200 is engaged at a portion where the variation in the warp amount d2 of each metal separator 200 is small compared to other portions. Lamination can be performed by engaging the portion 231 with the regulating member 551. Therefore, it is possible to improve the positioning accuracy of the stacking position at the time of stacking, and it is possible to prevent the stacking position from being shifted due to variations in the amount of warp d2 generated in each metal separator 200.

  Among the rectangular metal separators 200, the warp amount d2 of each metal separator 200 is small compared to other parts, and the variation of the warp quantity d2 is small compared to other parts. An engaging portion 231 is provided at the center position 235. Since the engaging portion 231 is engaged with the restricting member 551 to perform lamination, the lamination position at the time of lamination can be easily determined, positioning accuracy can be improved, and a deviation occurs in the lamination position. Can be prevented. Furthermore, since the other engaging part 232 is provided at the center position 236 of the end side on the short side and is engaged with the other regulating member 552, the metal separator 200 generated by the positioning accuracy of the stacking position and the pressurizing process. It is possible to further improve the function of preventing the movement of.

  A metal separator 200 that is used in a fuel cell and has a warp caused by press molding, and is provided on at least one end, and is used as a guide when positioning in the stacking and pressing in the stacking direction. The stack 750 can be formed using the metal separator 200 provided.

  The engaging portions 231 and 232 are formed in a cutout shape, but are not limited to this, and may be any shape that can be engaged with the regulating members 551 and 552. Further, the shape and material of the regulating members 551 and 552 are not particularly limited as long as they are formed to extend from the mounting surface 554 in the stacking direction and the engaging portions 231 and 232 are engageable. Good. However, in order to simplify the stacking operation, it is desirable to provide the engaging portions 231 and 232 and the regulating members 551 and 552 in shapes that can be engaged by abutting the engaging portions 231 and 232, respectively.

  The engaging portions 231 and 232 are provided at two places, the long side end side and the short side end side, and two restricting members 551 and 552 are provided corresponding to the two, but at least the engaging portions are provided. It is only necessary to provide one joining portion and at least one restricting member to engage the engaging portion. Further, a plurality of engaging portions may be provided on one end side and engaged with the restricting member.

  The engaging portions 231 and 232 are provided in both the metal separator 200 and the membrane electrode assembly 30, but it is only necessary to be provided in at least the metal separator 200. By providing the metal separator 200 with the engaging portions 231 and 232 and engaging with the restricting members 551 and 552, it is possible to prevent the metal separator 200 from moving and the displacement of the stacking position due to warping.

  The adjusting means 535 includes the tapered portion 512 and the chamfered portion 522, but is not limited to this, and the second movable type is obtained when the first movable die 510 moves closer to the stacked body 100. Any configuration that can adjust and move 520 is acceptable.

It is a schematic perspective view which shows the whole structure of a fuel cell. It is the schematic which shows a single cell. It is the schematic of the manufacturing apparatus of the fuel cell which concerns on this embodiment. 4A and 4B are a schematic perspective view and a plan view of a stacking jig (lower mold). 5A and 5B are a schematic perspective view and a plan view of a metal palator having warpage caused by press forming according to the present embodiment. It is a side view of the metal separator for demonstrating the position which provides an engaging part. FIGS. 7A and 7B are a schematic perspective view and a plan view for explaining a step of laminating a metal separator (battery element) on a laminating jig (lower mold). It is a top view which shows the state by which the metal separator (battery element) was laminated | stacked on the lamination jig | tool (lower mold). It is a figure for demonstrating typically the pressurization process by the manufacturing apparatus of a fuel cell. It is a figure for demonstrating typically the pressurization process by the manufacturing apparatus of a fuel cell. It is a figure for demonstrating typically the pressurization process by the manufacturing apparatus of a fuel cell. It is a figure for demonstrating the range of the position shift of a metal separator (battery element). FIGS. 13A and 13B show the proportionality, and are diagrams for schematically explaining the pressurizing process by the fuel cell manufacturing apparatus. It is a figure for demonstrating the position shift of the metal separator (battery element) which arises by the pressurization process of the manufacturing apparatus of a proportional fuel cell.

Explanation of symbols

30 Membrane electrode assembly,
40 electrolyte membrane,
50 anode,
51, 61 catalyst layer,
52, 62 Gas diffusion layer,
60 air electrode,
100 laminates,
150 flat surface,
200 metal separator (metal separator with warpage),
210 Fuel electrode side metal separator (metal separator having warpage),
220 air electrode side metal separator (metal separator having warpage),
231 and 232 engaging portions,
235 The center position of the edge on the long side,
236 center position of the edge on the short side,
240 Metal separators with different warping amounts,
250 battery element after misalignment,
270 battery element (metal separator, membrane electrode assembly),
500 Fuel cell manufacturing equipment,
510 the first movable type,
511, 521 contact surface,
512 taper part (adjustment means),
520 second movable type,
522 chamfered portion (adjustment means),
523 pressing surface,
530 Upper mold (press mold),
535 adjustment means,
550 Lower mold (lamination jig),
551, 552 regulating member,
553 guide member,
554 placement surface,
700 fuel cell,
710 single cell,
720 end plate,
730 tie rods,
740 current collector,
750 stacks,
900 Proportional fuel cell manufacturing equipment,
910 Upper mold,
911 pressing surface,
920 Lower mold,
921 support member,
922 mounting surface,
a stacking direction,
d1, the distance from the flat surface,
d2 Warpage amount,
g gap,
p direction perpendicular to the mounting surface,
F the flow path through which the fuel gas flows,
O air flow path,
W Flow path through which cooling water flows.

Claims (9)

A mounting surface on which a membrane electrode assembly and a metal separator having a warp caused by press molding are stacked; and at least the metal extending from the mounting surface along a stacking direction in which the membrane electrode assembly and the metal separator are stacked A stacking jig that stacks in a state where at least the engaging portion of the metal separator is engaged with the restricting member, and a restricting member that is engageable with an engaging portion provided on at least one end of the separator. and,
The laminate the membrane electrode assembly and the metal separators, the engaging portion along the restricting member while the guide, have a press die for pressing the stacking direction,
The press die is
A first movable mold provided movably in a direction perpendicular to the mounting surface;
A second movable mold in which a pressing surface for pressing the laminated membrane electrode assembly and the metal separator is tiltable with respect to the mounting surface;
The second movable mold provided between the first movable mold and the second movable mold, wherein the pressing surface is inclined with respect to the placement surface by the warp of the metal separator. A fuel cell manufacturing apparatus comprising: adjusting means for adjusting and moving the pressing surface in a direction parallel to the mounting surface by movement toward the mounting surface of the first movable type . The regulating member has a column shape,
The fuel cell manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the engaging portion has a notch shape that engages with the regulating member. 3. The fuel cell manufacturing apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the stacking jig includes a guide member that extends from the placement surface along the stacking direction and supports the second movable mold so as to be tiltable and movable . The engagement portion has a dimension that is separated from the flat surface by the warp when the metal separator is placed on a flat surface, among other edges forming the outer peripheral edge of the metal separator. 4. The fuel cell manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the fuel cell manufacturing apparatus is provided at a center position of an end side smaller than any one of the above. The fuel cell manufacturing apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the engaging portion is provided at a center position of an end contacting the flat surface . 6. The fuel cell manufacturing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the metal separator has a rectangular shape, and the engaging portion is provided at a center position of an end side on a long side . The metal separator further includes another engaging portion provided at the center position of the end on the short side,
The fuel cell manufacturing apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein the stacking jig further includes another restricting member with which the other engaging portion is engageable .   The metal separator having a warp generated by the membrane electrode assembly and the press molding is laminated in a state where at least an engagement portion provided on at least one end of the metal separator is engaged with a regulating member provided on a lamination jig. Process,
  Pressurizing the laminated membrane electrode assembly and the metal separator in the stacking direction with a press die while guiding the engaging portion along the regulating member. ,
  The step of pressurizing the membrane electrode assembly and the metal separator with the press die is performed by moving the first movable die of the press die in a direction toward the placement surface, and stacking the membrane electrode assembly and The second movable mold of the press mold in which the pressing surface is inclined with respect to the metal separator is pressed by the adjusting means provided between the first movable mold and the second movable mold. A method of manufacturing a fuel cell, comprising a step of adjusting and moving a surface in a direction parallel to the mounting surface.   A metal separator having a warp caused by press molding, which is used in the method of manufacturing a fuel cell according to claim 8,
  A metal separator provided on at least one end side and having an engaging portion used as a guide when positioning in the stacking and pressing in the stacking direction.

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