JP5472011B2 - Fuel cell - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a fuel cell, and more particularly to a technique for discharging moisture in the fuel cell.

  A fuel cell, for example, a polymer electrolyte fuel cell, causes an electrochemical reaction by supplying a reaction gas (a fuel gas and an oxidizing gas) to a pair of electrodes (anode and cathode) arranged with an electrolyte membrane interposed therebetween, respectively. The chemical energy of the substance is converted into electrical energy.

  Conventionally, in a fuel cell, a gas flow path layer formed using a metal lath or expanded metal is provided between a power generator layer including an electrolyte membrane and a pair of electrodes and a separator, thereby improving the diffusibility of the reaction gas. And a technique for improving the power generation efficiency of the fuel cell is known (for example, Patent Document 1 below).

JP 2007-21040 A JP 2008-287955 A

  However, the conventional technology does not sufficiently consider the influence of the moisture contained in the reaction gas on the performance of the fuel cell, such as generated water generated by power generation, and there is room for improvement in the performance of the fuel cell. there were. Such a problem is a problem common to fuel cells generally including a gas flow path layer between a power generation layer and a separator.

  The present invention has been made to solve at least a part of the above-described conventional problems, and an object thereof is to improve the drainage of moisture contained in the reaction gas flowing through the fuel cell.

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is to solve at least a part of the problems described above, and the following configuration is adopted.

[Application 1: Fuel cell]
A fuel cell,
A power generation layer provided with an electrolyte membrane;
A pair of separators arranged with the power generation layer interposed therebetween;
A flow path that is disposed between the power generation layer and at least one of the pair of separators and allows a reaction gas supplied for power generation reaction in the power generation layer to flow in a gas flow direction along the membrane surface of the electrolyte membrane. A gas flow path layer forming the gas flow path layer,
A corrugated element having a corrugated cross section in which a first convex portion projecting toward the power generating layer side and a second convex portion projecting toward the separator are arranged in the flow channel forming region is used for forming the flow channel. A plurality of corrugated element containing portions that repeatedly have the corrugated elements as elements, and are provided continuously along the gas flow direction,
Each of the corrugated element-containing portions includes a power generator that forms a lateral region along the repetition of the corrugated element of the first convex portion in the repeated corrugated element on the side of the power generator layer. A layer-side channel, a side region along the repetition of the corrugated element of the second convex portion in the corrugated element, a separator-side channel that forms the channel on the separator side,
Two of the corrugated element containing portions adjacent to each other in the gas flow direction are such that one corrugated element containing portion makes the volume of the power generator layer side flow path larger than the volume of the separator side flow path, The corrugated element containing part makes the volume of the power generator layer side flow path smaller than the volume of the separator side flow path, and overlaps the separator side flow path along the gas flow direction.

  In the fuel cell having the above-described configuration, the reaction gas used for the power generation reaction in the power generation body layer flows through the flow path of the gas flow path layer in which a plurality of waveform element containing portions are provided along the gas flow direction. Since the corrugated element-containing portion repeatedly has a corrugated element having a corrugated cross section in which the first convex portion projecting toward the power generator layer and the second convex portion projecting toward the separator are arranged in the flow path forming region. The reaction gas flow paths are formed in the following manner by a plurality of corrugated element containing portions.

  Each of the waveform element-containing portions has a side region along the repetition of the first convex portion in the repeated waveform element as a power generator layer side flow path on the power generator layer side, and the second convex in this waveform element. A side region along the repetition of the part is defined as a separator-side flow path on the separator side. That is, the power generation layer side flow path forms a reaction gas flow path on the power generation body layer side, and the separator side flow path forms a reaction gas flow path on the separator side. And since the former is convex on the power generator layer side and the latter is convex on the separator side, the first convex portion and the second convex portion in the repeated wave element are The separator-side flow path is partitioned by a convex inclined portion that extends from the first convex portion to the second convex portion or vice versa.

  In this way, a plurality of corrugated element-containing portions that form a flow path are connected in series along the gas flow direction, and two corrugated element-containing portions that are adjacent along the gas flow direction flow through the separator-side flow path. Overlapping along the direction. For this reason, the separator side flow path becomes a reaction gas flow path on the separator side in the continuous arrangement range of the waveform element containing portion in the gas flow direction, that is, the range of the gas flow path layer, and the reaction gas flows through the separator side flow path. It will flow in the gas flow direction on the separator side. In this case, if the separator-side flow path overlaps along the gas flow direction, it overlaps along the gas flow direction even in the power generator layer-side flow path. Since the reaction gas flow path is on the power generator layer side in the continuous range (the range of the gas flow path layer), the reaction gas flows in the gas flow direction on the power generator layer side flow path on the power generation layer side. become.

  In the fuel cell having the above-described configuration in which the reaction gas is allowed to flow in this way, two corrugated element-containing portions adjacent to each other in the gas flow direction are continuously arranged so that the separator-side flow path overlaps in the gas flow direction. Not only for the one corrugated element containing part of the two corrugated element containing parts that are adjacent along the gas flow direction, the volume of the power generator layer side flow path is made larger than the volume of the separator side flow path, About the other waveform element containing part, the volume of the electric power generation body layer side flow path was made smaller than the volume of the separator side flow path. For this reason, the volume of the power generator layer-side flow path is larger than the volume of the separator-side flow path, that is, the one corrugated element-containing portion whose volume of the separator-side flow path is smaller than the volume of the power generator layer-side flow path, and vice versa. Thus, the reaction gas passes through the other corrugated element-containing portion in which the volume of the separator-side channel is larger than the volume of the power generator layer-side channel as follows.

  One corrugated element-containing portion whose volume of the separator-side flow path is smaller than the volume of the power generator layer-side flow path is the separator-side flow path of the other corrugated element-containing portion adjacent to the separator-side flow path as described above. Overlay on. In addition, the one corrugated element-containing part partitions its separator-side flow path and the power generator layer-side flow path with a convex sloped part extending between the first convex part and the second convex part. Therefore, the own power generator layer-side flow channel is also overlaid on the separator-side flow channel of the other corrugated element-containing portion. Therefore, the reactive gas that passes through the power generator layer side flow path of one waveform element containing portion is in a range in which the power generator layer side flow path overlaps the separator side flow path of the other waveform element containing portion. It passes through the separator-side flow path of the containing part. Since this occurs with respect to the two corrugated element containing portions adjacent to each other in the gas flow direction, according to the fuel cell having the above-described configuration, the water in the power generation layer, for example, the generated water generated by the power generation reaction or the reaction gas itself The contained water is transported by the reaction gas to the separator-side flow path of the other corrugated element-containing part through the power generator layer-side flow path of one corrugated element-containing part, so that the water drainage can be improved. .

  In addition, since it should just be the said structure in two adjacent waveform element containing parts, for example, in three adjacent waveform element containing parts, it should just be the said structure in two adjacent waveform element containing parts. The same applies to four or more adjacent waveform element containing portions.

  The fuel cell described above can be configured as follows. For example, when the two corrugated element-containing portions adjacent to each other in the gas flow direction are viewed from the gas flow direction, the separator-side flow path of the one corrugated element-containing portion is the other corrugated portion. It can be arranged so that it may be adjacent so that it may be located inside the separator side channel which an element content part has. In this way, the separator-side flow paths of the two adjacent corrugated element-containing portions can be easily and reliably overlapped, and the separator of the other corrugated-element-containing section from the power generator layer-side flow path of the one corrugated element-containing section. It is possible to easily and reliably drain water into the side channel.

  In this case, when connecting the two corrugated element containing portions adjacent to each other in the gas flow direction, the convex portion slope extending between the first convex portion and the second convex portion in the corrugated element. It can be made to join in a part. If it carries out like this, the 1st convex part and 2nd convex part of two adjacent waveform element containing parts can be made so that the top surface of each convex part may become horizontal with respect to the flow direction of a reactive gas. Therefore, the existing expanded metal which presses so that the 1st convex part of one waveform element containing part of the two adjacent waveform element containing parts and the 2nd convex part of the other waveform element containing part may become the same surface. Compared to the molding method, there are the following advantages.

  In the existing expanded metal molding method, since the first convex portion of one corrugated element-containing portion and the second convex portion of the other corrugated element-containing portion are pressed to be on the same surface, the top of the convex portion The surface and the flow path are stepped. Therefore, in order to make the top surface of the convex portion horizontal with respect to the flow direction of the reaction gas, it is necessary to press the top surface of the step-shaped convex portion to be horizontal again after the above pressing. On the other hand, in the fuel cell of the above aspect, the adjacent two corrugated element containing portions are joined at the convex inclined portion, and the top surface of each convex portion is horizontal with respect to the flow direction of the reaction gas. Therefore, the roll press machine has a press blade suitable for two adjacent corrugated element containing portions in a roll shape only by progressively pressing with a press machine having a press blade suitable for two corrugated element containing portions adjacent to each other. Therefore, it is possible to improve the productivity and to reduce the cost.

  Moreover, about the said one waveform element containing part of the two said waveform element containing parts adjacent along the said gas flow direction, let this be the top surface of a said 1st convex part in the said gas flow direction. The width of the power generation layer side flow path is made larger than the volume of the separator side flow path after the width along the line is narrowed and the width along the repetition of the waveform elements is reduced. The top surface of the first convex portion has a narrow width along the gas flow direction and a wide width along the repetition of the corrugated element, and the volume of the power generator layer side flow path is set to the separator side. It can be made smaller than the volume of the flow path. In this way, the arrangement of the top surfaces of the first convex portions in the two corrugated element containing portions adjacent to each other in the gas flow direction is made to be the same as the top surface and the corrugated element that are wide along the gas flow direction on the power generator layer side. It is possible to arrange a wide top surface along the repetition.

  In this case, the two corrugated element containing portions adjacent to each other in the gas flow direction have a predetermined contact width when the top surface of the first convex portion comes into contact with the surface of the power generation layer. The following can be achieved. This has the following advantages. Since the first convex portion abuts the top surface thereof against the power generation layer, the larger the abutting width (contact width) with which the top surface abuts against the power generation layer, the more the top surface abuts. It becomes difficult for the reaction gas to diffuse from the periphery of the range into the power generation layer. For this reason, water easily stays in the power generation layer in the range, and concentration overvoltage due to water is likely to occur. From the viewpoint of avoiding this concentration overvoltage, the contact width (contact) where the top surface contacts the power generation layer. It is desirable to increase the gas diffusivity by narrowing the (width). From such circumstances, if the contact width that can ensure gas diffusion from the surroundings to the power generator layer in the range where the top surface abuts is the above-described predetermined contact width, the power generator layer in the range where the top surface abuts Therefore, in addition to the improvement in drainage described above, the increase in concentration overvoltage due to water can be suppressed to maintain the battery performance and thus improve the capacity.

  The present invention can also be applied as a gas flow path forming member that forms a flow path of a reactive gas used for a power generation reaction of a fuel cell along the membrane surface of an electrolyte membrane of a power generation layer.

2 is an explanatory diagram showing a schematic configuration of a fuel cell stack 100 of the present embodiment together with a schematic configuration of a fuel cell 20. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a schematic structure of a gas flow path layer 40. FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows the 1st flow path structure 140 and the 2nd flow path structure 240 which adjoin, seeing from a gas upstream side. It is explanatory drawing which shows the mode of the continuous connection of the 1st flow path structure 140 and the 2nd flow path structure 240 which are adjacent. 4 is an explanatory view schematically showing a state of contact of the top surface of a convex portion on the surface of a power generation body layer 35. FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows typically the mode of manufacture of the gas flow path layer 40 using the press work apparatus. It is explanatory drawing which shows an upper and lower press blade structure schematically. It is explanatory drawing which shows the mode of the press molding of the 1st flow path structure 140 and the 2nd flow path structure 240 with the meshing | engagement of a press blade. It is explanatory drawing which shows schematic structure of 40 A of gas flow path layers of a modification. It is explanatory drawing which shows schematic structure of the gas flow path layer 40B of another modification. It is explanatory drawing which shows the 1st flow path structure 140 and the 2nd flow path structure 240 which are adjacent in the gas flow path layer 40B seeing from a gas upstream side. It is explanatory drawing which shows typically a mode that the gas flow path layer 40 is manufactured for every multi-row using the press processing apparatus 300 which has a multi-row blade group.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an explanatory view showing a schematic configuration of a fuel cell stack 100 of this embodiment together with a schematic configuration of a fuel cell 20. As shown in the figure, the fuel cell stack 100 includes a plurality of polymer electrolyte fuel cells 20 stacked, terminals and insulators (not shown) arranged at both ends, and sandwiched between end plates 95 and 96. Composed. In this fuel cell stack 100, hydrogen gas as fuel gas and air as oxidant gas are supplied to the fuel cell 20 from the hydrogen supply manifold 95a and air supply manifold 95b, and the exhaust gas is supplied from the hydrogen discharge manifold 95c and air discharge manifold 95d. Discharged. Further, the cooling water is supplied from the cooling water supply manifold 95e to the fuel cell 20, and the waste water is discharged from the cooling water discharge manifold 95f.

  The fuel cell 20 is configured by laminating gas flow path layers 40 and 60 and separators 70 and 80 on both surfaces of a power generation layer 35. The power generation body layer 35 is configured by bonding gas diffusion layers 33a and 33b to both surfaces of an MEA (Membrane Electrode Assembly) 34 as an electrolyte membrane / electrode assembly. The MEA 34 includes a cathode electrode 32 a and an anode electrode 32 b on the surface of the electrolyte membrane 31. The electrolyte membrane 31 is a thin film of a solid polymer material that exhibits good proton conductivity in a wet state. In this embodiment, Nafion (registered trademark) is used for the electrolyte membrane 31. The cathode electrode 32a and the anode electrode 32b are electrodes in which a catalyst is supported on a carrier having conductivity. In this embodiment, carbon particles supporting a platinum catalyst, a polymer electrolyte constituting the electrolyte membrane 31, and With the same electrolyte.

  The gas diffusion layers 33a and 33b can be formed of a conductive member having gas permeability, such as carbon paper or carbon cloth, a metal mesh, or a foam metal. In this embodiment, carbon paper is used for the gas diffusion layers 33a and 33b. The gas diffusion layers 33a and 33b diffuse the oxidizing gas or the fuel gas and supply it to the entire surface of the cathode electrode 32a or the anode electrode 32b. The gas diffusion layers 33a and 33b have a smaller porosity than gas flow path layers 40 and 60 described later, and have a current collecting function and a protection function for the MEA 34 in addition to the gas diffusion function. The gas diffusion layers 33a and 33b may have a function of adjusting the moisture content of the MEA 34.

  The power generator layer 35 is integrally formed with a seal gasket 36 disposed on the outer periphery thereof. The seal gasket 36 includes a hydrogen supply manifold 30a, an air supply manifold 30b, a hydrogen discharge manifold 30c, an air discharge manifold 30d, a cooling water supply manifold 30e, and a cooling water discharge manifold 30f. The seal gasket 36 is formed with convex portions surrounding each manifold and the outer peripheral portion of the power generation layer 35 in the thickness direction, and the portions are separators laminated on both sides of the seal gasket 36. 70 and 80, and functions as a seal that suppresses leakage of fluid (fuel gas, oxidizing gas, cooling water) from the inside of the manifold and the power generation layer 35.

  The gas flow path layers 40 and 60 form a gas flow path for supplying gas to the power generation body layer 35. The gas flow path layer 40 is disposed between the anode electrode 32b side of the power generation body layer 35 and the separator 70 (flow path forming region), and receives the fuel gas (here, hydrogen gas) supplied via the separator 70. The fuel gas is supplied to the anode electrode 32b side of the power generation body layer 35 while flowing in a flow from one side of the electrode surface of the MEA 34 toward the other side. Similarly, the gas flow path layer 60 supplies an oxidizing gas (here, air) to the cathode electrode 32a side of the power generation layer 35. The gas flow path layers 40 and 60 are formed of a metal having corrosion resistance and conductivity, for example, stainless steel, titanium, titanium alloy or the like. In this embodiment, stainless steel is used. The detailed structure of the gas flow path layers 40 and 60 will be described later. In the present embodiment, the gas flow path layers 40 and 60 are provided on both sides of the power generation body layer 35. However, the power supply layer 35 may be provided only on one side.

  Separator 70,80 is a member which functions as a reaction gas partition, and has the same configuration. Hereinafter, the separator 70 will be described. The separator 70 is formed of a gas impermeable conductive member, such as a member made of compressed carbon or stainless steel. In this example, stainless steel was used. In the separator 70, a flat cathode side separator 71 provided on the cathode electrode 32a side, a flat anode side separator 73 provided on the anode electrode 32b side, and an intermediate separator 72 disposed therebetween are integrated. Composed. The cathode separator 71 includes a hydrogen supply manifold 71a, an air supply manifold 71b, a hydrogen discharge manifold 71c, an air discharge manifold 71d, a cooling water supply manifold 71e, a cooling water discharge manifold 71f, and air communication holes 75 and 76. The air supplied to the air supply manifold 71b passes through the air communication hole 72b and the air communication hole 75 of the intermediate separator 72, and the gas flow path layer 60 of another fuel cell 20 (facing the cathode separator 71). (Not shown). The exhaust gas is discharged to the air discharge manifold 71d through the air communication hole 76 and the communication hole (not shown) of the intermediate separator 72.

  Similarly, the hydrogen supplied to the hydrogen supply manifold 71a is guided to the gas flow path layer 40 through the hydrogen communication hole 72a of the intermediate separator 72 and the communication hole (not shown) of the anode side separator 73, and the gas flow path After flowing through the layer 40, it is discharged to the hydrogen discharge manifold 71c through the communication holes (not shown) of the intermediate separator 72 and the anode side separator 73. The intermediate separator 72 is formed with a plurality of cutouts along the long side direction of a substantially rectangular outline, and both ends of the cutouts communicate with the cooling water discharge manifold 71f and the cooling water supply manifold 71e, respectively. The separator 70 is not limited to the three-layer structure described above. For example, the cathode side separator 71 and the anode side separator 73 may have a two-layer structure, and a shape corresponding to the communication hole formed in the intermediate separator 72 may be formed inside the cathode side separator 71 and / or the anode side separator 73. Good.

  Next, the gas flow path layers 40 and 60 will be described. In the present embodiment, since the gas flow path layer 40 and the gas flow path layer 60 have the same structure, the structure of the gas flow path layer 40 will be described below. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a schematic structure of the gas flow path layer 40. In FIG. 2, the upper side of the gas flow path layer 40 is the separator 70 side in the fuel cell 20, and the lower side is the power generator layer 35 side. As shown in the figure, the gas flow path layer 40 includes a first flow path structure 140 and a second flow path structure 240 for forming a gas flow path, and a gas flow direction (gas flows P1 and P2 in the drawing). A plurality are provided along the line. The first flow path constituting body 140 has an intersecting direction in which a first convex portion 141 convex toward the power generation body layer 35 and a second convex portion 142 convex toward the separator 70 intersect the directions of the gas flows P1 and P2. (Hereinafter, this crossing direction is referred to as a gas crossing direction.) Waveform elements WSE having a waveform cross section arranged along the crossing direction are used as flow path forming elements, and the waveform element WSE is repeatedly provided along the gas crossing direction. This waveform element WSE arranges the 1st convex part 141 and the 2nd convex part 142 in a flow-path formation area. The first flow path constituting body 140 makes the first convex portion 141 along the gas crossing direction by bringing the first convex portion 141 into contact with the power generation body layer 35 and bringing the second convex portion 142 into contact with the separator 70. This side region is referred to as a first gas flow path 143, and the side region of the second protrusion 142 along the gas crossing direction is referred to as a second gas flow path 144. The first gas channel 143 is a power generator layer side channel opened on the power generator layer 35 side, and the second gas channel 144 is a separator side channel opened on the separator 70 side. Are partitioned by a convex slope 145. In the present embodiment, the first flow path structure 140 is repeatedly provided with the first convex portion 141 and the second convex portion 142 at the same pitch.

  The same applies to the second flow path component 240. The second flow path component 240 includes a first convex portion 241 that protrudes toward the power generation body layer 35 and a second convex portion 242 that protrudes toward the separator 70. And the waveform element WSE of the waveform cross section arranged along the gas crossing direction is used as an element for forming a flow path, and the waveform element WSE is repeatedly provided along the gas crossing direction. The second flow path constituting body 240 has the first convex portion 241 along the gas crossing direction by bringing the first convex portion 241 into contact with the power generation body layer 35 and bringing the second convex portion 242 into contact with the separator 70. A side region of 241 is a first gas flow path 243, and a side region of the second convex part 242 along the gas crossing direction is a second gas flow path 244. Even in the second flow path structure 240, the first gas flow path 243 is a power generation layer side flow path opened on the power generation body layer 35 side, and the second gas flow path 244 is on the separator 70 side. The separator-side flow channel opened at the step is formed, and both convex portions are formed at the same pitch.

  As shown in FIG. 2, since the first flow path structure 140 is wide in the direction of the gas flows P1 and P2, the top surface of the first convex portion 141 extends along the direction of the gas flows P1 and P2. The top surface is wide and narrow along the gas crossing direction, and the volume of the first gas channel 143 that is the power generator layer side channel is larger than the volume of the second gas channel 144 that is the separator side channel. ing. In the second flow path structure 240 that is connected to the first flow path structure 140, the width in the direction of the gas flows P1 and P2 is narrowed. The top surface is narrow along the direction of the flows P1 and P2 and wide along the gas crossing direction, and the volume of the first gas channel 243 that is the power generator layer side channel is the second channel that is the separator side channel. The volume is smaller than the volume of the gas flow path 244.

  Adjacent first flow path component 140 and second flow path component 240 are joined at convex sloped portions 145 and 245 extending between the first convex portion and the second convex portion. In detail, the convex part inclination part 145 of the 1st flow path structure 140 and the convex part inclination part 245 of the 2nd flow path structure 240 are connected along the locus | trajectory, and the direction of gas flow P1, P2 Continuing along. Since the first flow path structure 140 and the second flow path structure 240 are alternately arranged in the direction of the gas flows P1 and P2, one second flow path structure 240 is upstream of the gas flows P1 and P2. Adjacent to the first flow path constituting body 140 on the side and the downstream side, as described above, the projections are joined at the locus by the respective convex inclined portions 145 and 245. FIG. 3 is an explanatory view showing the first flow path structure 140 and the second flow path structure 240 adjacent to each other as seen from the gas upstream side. In the figure, the upstream flow path structure is indicated by a solid line, and the downstream flow path structure is indicated by a wavy line.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the first flow path structure 140 and the second flow path structure 240 are arranged such that the second gas flow path 144 is positioned inside the second gas flow path 244 when viewed from the gas upstream side. Are adjacent to each other so as to overlap in the gas flow direction, and so that the first gas flow path 243 is positioned inside the first gas flow path 143 and overlaps in the gas flow direction. Yes. Since such overlapping of the flow paths is repeated, the flow path where the second gas flow path 144 and the second gas flow path 244 overlap (separator-side flow path), and the first gas flow path 143 and the first gas flow path 243. The flow paths (power generation body layer side flow paths) that overlap with each other are connected along the gas flows P1 and P2 in the gas flow path layer 40.

  As described above, when the two flow path components are arranged in series, in the present embodiment, the second flow path structure 240 (the second flow path structure 240_1 on the most upstream side) is connected to the first flow stream on the upstream side. The convex slope 145 and the convex slope 245 of the road structure 140_1 are joined (FIG. 3A), and the convex slope 245 is on the right side of the first convex 241. Further, the second flow path constituting body 240_1 joins the convex inclined portion 145 and the convex inclined portion 245 of the first flow path constituting body 140_2 on the downstream side thereof (FIG. 3B), and the convex inclined portion is formed. The part 245 is on the left side of the first convex part 241. Such joining is maintained up to the second flow path component 240_6 as shown in FIG. 2, and vice versa from the second flow path structure 240_7. By doing so, the state in which the first flow path structure 140 and the second flow path structure 240 adjacent to each other are different from each other with the second flow path structure 240_7 as a boundary. For this reason, in this embodiment, the second gas channel 144 and the second gas channel 244 overlap each other (the separator side channel), and the first gas channel 143 and the first gas channel 243 overlap each other. The flow path (power generation layer side flow path) is bent and connected as shown in FIG. Then, the gas flow path layer 40 is incorporated in the fuel cell 20 as shown in FIG. 2, and hydrogen gas flows as the gas flows P1 and P2 of the bent paths. The gas flow path layer 60 has the same configuration as that of the gas flow path layer 40 described above, and flows air as the gas flows P1 and P2 of the bent path.

  Here, the above-described overlapping of the flow paths and the state of gas flow will be described. FIG. 4 is an explanatory view showing a state in which the first flow path structure 140 and the second flow path structure 240 adjacent to each other are connected. As shown in the figure, the first flow path structure 140 is configured such that the volume of the first gas flow path 143 opened on the power generation body layer 35 side is larger than that of the second gas flow path 144 opened on the separator 70 side. The second gas flow path 144 is overlapped with the second gas flow path 244 of the second flow path structure 240, and the first gas flow path 143 is overlapped with the first gas flow path 243 of the second flow path structure 240. .

  Since the volumes of these gas flow paths are adjusted as described above, the first gas flow path 143 of the first flow path structure 140 is the second flow path structure 240 as shown in the figure. The second gas flow path 244 also overlaps part of the flow path. Since the second gas flow path 244 has a large volume, it overlaps with the upstream second gas flow path 144 and also with the downstream first gas flow path 143. The second gas flow path 144 of the first flow path structure 140 is a second gas flow path of the second flow path structure 240 that partially overlaps the first gas flow path 143 of the first flow path structure 140. It overlaps with 244. That is, the gas flow path layer 40 forms a power generator layer side flow path by connecting the first gas flow path 143 and the first gas flow path 243, and connects the second gas flow path 144 and the second gas flow path 244. Thus, separator-side flow paths are formed, and gas flows through these flow paths along the gas flows P1 and P2.

  Since the gas flow path layer 40 forms a gas flow path as described above with the adjacent first flow path structure 140 and the second flow path structure 240, the surface of the power generation body layer 35 is as follows. The top surfaces of the first convex portion 141 and the first convex portion 241 are brought into contact with each other. FIG. 5 is an explanatory view schematically showing a state of contact of the top surface of the convex portion on the surface of the power generation layer 35. As shown in the figure, the first flow path component 140 has its first convex portion 141 arranged in a so-called vertically long direction with respect to the directions of the gas flows P1 and P2, and the second flow channel component 240 has its first convex shape. The part 241 is arranged so-called horizontally long with respect to the directions of the gas flows P1 and P2. Therefore, on the surface of the power generation layer 35, the vertically long convex portion contact portion 141TS in which the top surface of the first convex portion 141 is in contact and the horizontally long convex portion contact in which the top surface of the first convex portion 241 is in contact. The contact portion 241TS is aligned in the gas crossing direction that crosses the directions of the gas flows P1 and P2.

  Next, a method for manufacturing the gas flow path layer 40 and the gas flow path layer 60 will be described by taking the gas flow path layer 40 as an example. FIG. 6 is an explanatory view schematically showing a state of manufacturing the gas flow path layer 40 using the press working apparatus 300.

  As shown in FIG. 6, when manufacturing the gas flow path layer 40, a plate-like base material 150 (for example, a stainless steel plate) is prepared and sent to the press working apparatus 300. The press working apparatus 300 performs the press working with the lower blade group and the upper blade group while feeding the base material 150 toward the press table 330 at a predetermined pitch by the driven roller 310 and the driving roller 320, and the gas flow path layer 40. Manufacturing.

  As described above, the gas flow path layer 40 has the first slanted portion 145 and the second slanted portion 145 of the first flow path constituting body 140 and the first flow passage constituting body 140 in connection with the first flow path constituting body 140 and the second flow path constituting body 240. Since the convex portion inclined portion 245 of the two-channel constituent body 240 is joined, the first convex portion 141 and the first convex portion 241 on one end side of both convex portion inclined portions are positioned on the same surface, and the second end The two convex portions 142 and the second convex portions 242 are also positioned on the same surface. In order to press-mold them so that the first flow path structure 140 and the second flow path structure 240 are continuously provided from the plate-like base material 150, the following press blade of the press working apparatus 300 is used. It has a configuration. FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing the upper and lower press blade configurations, and FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing press molding of the first flow path structure 140 and the second flow path structure 240 together with the engagement of the press blades. is there.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the press working apparatus 300 includes a first lower blade 340 and a first upper blade 360 for molding the first flow path structure 140 so as to face each other, and the second flow path structure. 240, a second lower blade 350 for molding and a second upper blade 370 are provided facing each other vertically. The press working apparatus 300 includes a first lower blade 340 and a second lower blade 350, and a first upper blade 360 and a second upper blade 370 arranged side by side in the equipment feed direction as illustrated in the upper and lower blades. On the other hand, the upper blade is moved in the vertical direction while moving in the left-right direction, and the gas flow path layer 40 is press-molded. However, in the figure, for convenience of explanation, the upper blade and the lower blade are separated. It is shown.

  The first lower blade 340 includes the convex portions 341 and the concave portions 342 alternately arranged at a predetermined pitch so as to intersect the feeding direction of the base material 150. The first upper blade 360 is provided with the convex portions 361 and the concave portions 362 alternately arranged at a predetermined pitch so as to intersect with the feeding direction of the base material 150, so that the convex portions 361 become the center position of the concave portion 342. It is located above the first lower blade 340. The first lower blade 340 and the first upper blade 360 are configured to be able to reciprocate in the left-right direction by an actuator (not shown) while maintaining this vertical positional relationship, and the first upper blade 360 is moved up and down by an actuator (not shown). Is done. The widths of the first lower blade 340 and the first upper blade 360 in the base material feeding direction are the widths of the first flow path constituting body 140 along the gas flow direction. In this case, if slits are formed in the base material 150 at portions other than the portions corresponding to the convex portion inclined portions 145 and the convex portion inclined portions 245, the first lower blade 340 and the first upper blade 360 are sheared blades. However, if the gas flow path layer 40 is press-molded from the base material 150 without slits, the convex portions 341 and the convex portions 361 may be provided with shear blades.

  The second lower blade 350 and the second upper blade 370 are also provided with the same unevenness as the first lower blade 340 and the first upper blade 360 described above, and the width in the substrate feeding direction is in the gas flow direction. The width of the second flow path component 240 is set. The same applies to the presence or absence of a shearing blade.

  When the gas flow path layer 40 is press-molded, the base material 150 is set in the press working apparatus 300, and the base material 150 is positioned between the first lower blade 340 and the first upper blade 360. Send it out. Next, the first upper blade 360 is lowered toward the second upper blade 360 and the second upper blade 370 is lowered toward the first upper blade 360, so that the first lower blade 340 and the first upper blade 360 are engaged. By the engagement of the second lower blade 350 and the second upper blade 370, an uneven shape that follows the upper blade and the lower blade is formed on the base 150 at the end side. That is, in the meshing of the first lower blade 340 and the first upper blade 360, as shown in FIG. 8A, the first convex portion 141 is formed by being pushed by the convex portion 361 that meshes with the concave portion 342, and the concave portion 362 is formed. The second convex portion 142 is formed side by side with the first convex portion 141 by being pushed by the convex portion 341 that meshes with the first convex portion 141. As a result, the first flow path component 140 having the waveform elements WSE in which the first convex portions 141 and the second convex portions 142 are alternately arranged at the pitches of the concave portions and the convex portions is press-molded. Further, in the meshing of the second lower blade 350 and the second upper blade 370, as shown in FIG. 8B, the first convex portion 241 is formed by being pushed by the convex portion 371 meshing with the concave portion 352, and the concave portion 372 is formed. The second convex portion 242 is formed side by side with the first convex portion 241 by being pushed by the convex portion 351 that meshes with the first convex portion 241. As a result, the second flow path component 240 having the waveform elements WSE in which the first convex portions 241 and the second convex portions 242 are alternately arranged at the pitches of the concave portions and the convex portions is repeatedly formed in the first flow path structure 140. It is press-molded side by side.

  Next, the upper and lower blades are returned to their original positions, and the base material 150 is placed at a predetermined pitch (corresponding to the sum of the width of the first flow path structure 140 and the width of the second flow path structure 240 in the base material feed direction). Move in the substrate feed direction. In parallel with this, the lower blades and the upper blades are moved in the left-right direction by the pitch of the waveform element WSE, and then the lower blades and the upper blades are engaged (pressed) again. Thus, the first flow path structure 140 and the second flow path structure 240 are newly connected and press-molded. If this process is repeated, the gas flow path layer 40 shown in FIG. 2 is formed. In this case, as described above, in order to make the state of the continuous arrangement of the first flow path structure 140 and the second flow path structure 240 adjacent to each other, the second boundary serving as the boundary of the state of the continuous arrangement is changed. What is necessary is just to change the mode of the movement of each said lower blade and each upper blade after the shaping | molding of the flow-path structure 240 in the left-right direction.

  As described above, the fuel cell 20 according to the present embodiment provides gas flow through the gas flow path layer 40 on the anode side and the gas flow path layer 60 on the cathode side when supplying hydrogen gas and air to the power generation layer 35. Form a road. The gas flow path layer 40 has a waveform in which a first convex portion 141 that is convex toward the power generator layer 35 and a second convex portion 142 that is convex toward the separator 70 are arranged along an intersecting direction intersecting the gas flow direction. The first flow path constituting body 140 that repeatedly has the corrugated element WSE in the cross-section along the gas crossing direction, the first convex portion 241 that protrudes toward the power generation body layer 35, and the second convex portion 242 that protrudes toward the separator 70. And the second flow path component 240 having the waveform elements WSE of the waveform cross section arranged in the gas crossing direction repeatedly in the gas crossing direction in the gas flow direction, The gas flow path and the gas flow path on the separator 70 side are formed as shown in FIGS. The same applies to the gas flow path layer 60.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the first flow path structure 140 is a flow path in which the first gas flow path 143 partitioned from the first convex part 141 by the convex sloped part 145 is opened to the power generator layer 35 side. The second gas flow channel 144 partitioned from the second convex portion 142 by the convex inclined portion 145 is defined as a flow channel opened to the separator 70 side. In addition, the first flow path structure 140 makes the volume of the first gas flow path 143 opened to the power generation body layer 35 side larger than the second gas flow path 144 opened to the separator 70 side. The second flow path component 240 adjacent to the first flow path structure 140 has the first gas flow path 243 partitioned from the first convex portion 241 by the convex inclined portion 245 on the power generation body layer 35 side. The flow path is an open flow path, and the second gas flow path 244 partitioned from the second convex portion 242 by the convex slope portion 245 is a flow path opened to the separator 70 side. In addition, the second flow path structure 240 opens the volume of the first gas flow path 143 opened to the power generation body layer 35 side to the separator 70 side, contrary to the first flow path structure 140. It is made smaller than the second gas flow path 144.

  In the fuel cell 20 of the present embodiment, the volume of the flow path is adjusted as described above when connecting the first flow path structure 140 and the second flow path structure 240 adjacent to each other for gas flow path formation. After that, as shown in FIG. 4, the second gas flow path 144 of the first flow path structure 140 is overlapped with the second gas flow path 244 of the second flow path structure 240. In addition, the first gas flow path 143 of the first flow path structure 140 is overlapped with the first gas flow path 243 of the second flow path structure 240 and the second gas of the first flow path structure 140 is overlapped. The second gas flow path 244 that overlaps the flow path 144 also overlaps in part of the flow path. Since such superposition of the flow paths is repeated in the adjacent flow path structure, in the fuel cell 20 of the present embodiment, the reaction gas (hydrogen gas) is the first gas flow path 143 of the first flow path structure 140. Gas passing through the first gas flow path 143 passes through the first gas flow path 243 of the second flow path structure 240 following the flow path, and the second flow It also passes through the second gas flow path 244 of the path structure 240. The second gas channel 244 overlaps the upstream second gas channel 144 and also the downstream first gas channel 143. Therefore, the gas that flows on the surface of the power generation layer 35 in the first gas flow path 143 that is the power generation layer side flow path is directly downstream of the first gas flow path 143 and the first gas flow in the power generation layer side flow path. The gas passes through the path 243 and merges with the gas flowing through the second gas channel 144 that is the separator-side channel. Conversely, the gas that has flowed through the second gas flow path 144 that is the separator-side flow path passes through the second gas flow path 144 and the second gas flow path 244 of the separator-side flow path as they are, and the power generator. The gas flows through the first gas channel 143 that is the layer side channel. That is, the gas flow path layer 40 includes a power generator layer side flow path formed by the connection of the first gas flow path 143 and the first gas flow path 243, and the second gas flow path 144 and the second gas flow path 244. In flowing the gas in the separator-side flow path formed by the connection, the gas flows along the gas flows P1 and P2 while causing the gas to merge and split. The same applies to the gas flow path layer 60.

  Since such a merging and splitting of gas occurs in the first flow path structure 140 and the second flow path structure 240 that are adjacent to each other in the gas flow direction, water in the power generation body layer 35, for example, generated water generated by a power generation reaction The water contained in the gas itself passes through the first gas flow path 143 of the first flow path structure 140 that is the power generation layer side flow path, and the second flow path structure 240 that is the separator side flow path. The two gas flow paths 244 are carried by the gas. Therefore, according to the fuel cell 20 of the present embodiment, the water drainage can be improved. The gas that passes through the first gas flow path 243 of the second flow path structure 240 that is the power generator layer side flow path passes through the first gas flow path 143 of the downstream first flow path structure 140 as it is. Therefore, a situation in which the amount of gas carried to the power generation layer 35 is reduced does not occur.

  In addition, in the fuel cell 20 of the present embodiment, when the first flow path structure 140 and the second flow path structure 240 are connected, the first flow path structure 140 has the first flow path structure 140 as viewed from the gas flow direction. As shown in FIG. 3, the second gas flow path 144 of the separator side flow path is located inside the second gas flow path 244 of the separator side flow path included in the second flow path constituting body 240. Therefore, according to the fuel cell 20 of the present embodiment, the separator-side flow paths (second gas flow path 144 and second gas flow path 244) of the adjacent first flow path structure 140 and second flow path structure 240. Can be easily and reliably overlapped. In addition, the first gas flow path 143 that is the power generation body layer side flow path of the first flow path structure 140 is reliably overlapped with the second gas flow path 244 that is the separator flow path of the second flow path structure 240. The water can be drained easily and reliably.

  Further, in the fuel cell 20 according to the present embodiment, when the first flow path structure 140 and the second flow path structure 240 are connected in series, the first portion between the first and second convex portions of the waveform element WSE. The convex portion inclined portion 145 of the flow path constituting body 140 and the convex portion inclined portion 245 of the second flow path constituting body 240 are joined together at this convex portion inclined portion. Therefore, according to the fuel cell 20 of the present embodiment, the first convex portion 141 and the first convex portion 241 of each of the adjacent first flow path constituting body 140 and the second flow path constituting body 240 are arranged in the first The top surfaces of the two convex portions 142 and the second convex portions 242 can be horizontal with respect to the flow direction of the reaction gas. As a result, according to the fuel cell 20 of the present embodiment, as described with reference to FIGS. 6 to 8, the gas flow path layer 40 and the gas flow path can be easily formed only by simple forward press molding using the press working apparatus 300. The layer 60 can be manufactured, and productivity can be improved and cost can be reduced.

  Further, in the fuel cell 20 of the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, the first flow path component 140 is arranged so that the first convex portion 141 is vertically long with respect to the directions of the gas flows P1 and P2. The second flow path constituting body 240 was disposed so that the first convex portion 241 was horizontally long with respect to the directions of the gas flows P1 and P2. Therefore, the surface of the power generation layer 35 has a vertically long convex shape contact portion 141TS in which the top surface of the first convex portion 141 contacts, and a horizontally long rectangular shape in which the top surface of the first convex portion 241 contacts. The convex contact portions 241TS can be arranged in a gas crossing direction that intersects the gas flows P1 and P2.

  In the fuel cell 20 of the present embodiment, the abutting width (contact width) at which the abutting portions abut on the power generation layer is determined in advance for the projecting portion abutting portion 141TS and the projecting portion abutting portion 241TS. It was made to become below a contact width. Therefore, there are the following advantages. In the convex part abutting part 141TS and the convex part abutting part 241TS, the range in which the first convex part 141 or the first convex part 241 abuts on the top surface of the power generation layer 35 is a rectangular range as described above. Therefore, as the contact width (width in the short dimension direction) of the convex contact part 141TS and the convex contact part 241TS becomes wider, the power generation of the convex contact part 141TS and the convex contact part 241TS. It becomes difficult for the reaction gas to diffuse into the body layer from its surroundings, and water tends to stay in the power generation body layer of the convex contact portion 141TS and the convex contact portion 241TS, and concentration overvoltage due to water tends to occur. However, since the above-described predetermined contact width is the contact width that can ensure gas diffusion to the power generation body layer at the above-described contact width of the convex contact portion 141TS and the convex contact portion 241TS. According to the fuel cell 20, it is possible to ensure the gas diffusion to the power generator layer by narrowing the contact width of the convex contact portion 141TS and the convex contact portion 241TS. For this reason, according to the fuel cell 20 of the present embodiment, in addition to the improvement in drainage described above, the increase in concentration overvoltage due to water can be suppressed to maintain the cell performance and thus improve the capacity. . In this case, the contact width that can ensure gas diffusion can be experimentally determined in advance depending on the gas diffusibility of the power generation layer 35, the gas supply status, and the like.

  Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to such embodiments, and can be implemented in various modes without departing from the scope of the present invention. FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing a schematic structure of a gas flow path layer 40A according to a modification. In the gas flow path layer 40A of this modification, the first flow path structure 140 and the second flow path structure 240 are the same as the above-described embodiment, but the first flow path structure 140 and the second flow structure are the same. It differs in the state of joining of the path structure 240. That is, this gas flow path layer 40A includes a second flow path structure 240 and a first flow path structure 140 that is joined upstream and downstream of the flow path layer 40A. 145 and the convex inclined portion 245 are joined. Therefore, the first protrusion 141 and the second protrusion 142 of the first flow path structure 140 are arranged in the gas flow direction in the first flow path structure 140 of each row, and the first gas flow path 143 and the first flow path 140 The two gas flow paths 144 are also arranged. In addition, with respect to the first and second convex portions 241 and 242, the first gas flow channel 243, and the second gas flow channel 244 of the second flow channel constituting body 240, the second flow passage constituting body 240 in each row is also provided. It will line up in the gas flow direction. Even in the gas flow path layer 40A of this modification, the gas that has passed through the first gas flow path 143 that is the power generation body layer side flow path is separated from the second gas flow path 244 that is the separator side flow path and the power generation body layer. Since the first gas flow path 243 that is the side flow path is passed, the effects described above can be achieved.

  FIG. 10 is an explanatory view showing a schematic structure of a gas flow path layer 40B of another modification, and FIG. 11 shows the adjacent first flow path structure 140 and second flow path structure 240 as viewed from the gas upstream side. It is explanatory drawing. In the gas flow path layer 40B of this modification, the first flow path structure 140 and the second flow path structure 240 are the same as those of the above-described embodiment, but the first flow path structure 140 and the second flow structure. The manner of joining the path structure 240 is also different. That is, as shown in FIG. 11, the first flow path constituting body 140 and the second flow path constituting body 240 are not formed by connecting the convex portion inclined portions 145 and the convex portion inclined portions 245 along the locus. The convex portion inclined portion 145 or the convex portion inclined portion 245 has a portion of the inclined portion that is adjacent to the portion of the adjacent first flow path constituting body 140 or the second flow path constituting body 240 so as to be offset in the left-right direction in FIG. It crosses and joins and it joins with the next channel composition object in the joined part. Even in the gas flow path layer 40B of this modification, the gas that has passed through the first gas flow path 143 that is the power generator layer side flow path is separated from the second gas flow path 244 that is the separator side flow path and the power generation body layer. The gas that has passed through the first gas channel 243 that is the side channel and has passed through the first gas channel 143 that is the separator side channel is the second gas channel 244 that is the separator side channel and the power generator layer side Since the first gas flow path 243 that is the flow path is passed, the above-described effects can be obtained.

  In addition, it can also be modified as follows. In the embodiment described above, the gas flow passage layer having the configuration as the embodiment of the present invention is provided on both sides (the cathode electrode 32a side and the anode electrode 32b side) of the power generation layer 35. The gas flow path layer may be used only on either the cathode electrode 32a side or the anode electrode 32b side.

  In the above embodiment, the gas flow path layer 40 and the gas flow path layer 60 are manufactured using the press working apparatus 300 having the upper blade and the lower blade. For example, in the gas flow path layer 40 shown in FIG. It is also possible to use a roll press apparatus having press blades for forming these flow path components on the upper and lower roll surfaces in the order of the first flow path component 140 and the second flow path component 240. Even this roll press apparatus can be manufactured by simply feeding and pressing the substrate 150 in order, so that the productivity can be improved and the cost can be reduced.

  In addition, the gas flow path layer 40 can be manufactured for each multi-row by using the multi-row first flow path structure 140 and the second flow path structure 240 as a unit. FIG. 12 is an explanatory view schematically showing a state in which the gas flow path layer 40 is manufactured for each multi-row using a press working apparatus 300 having a multi-row blade group. As shown in the figure, on the press stand 330, three rows of first upper blades 360 and second upper blades 370 are disposed above the substrate 150, and three rows of first lower blades 340 are disposed below the substrate 150. And the 2nd lower blade 350 is arrange | positioned. In this case, the relationship between the adjacent first upper blade 360 and the second upper blade 370 and the relationship between the first lower blade 340 and the second lower blade 350 are as described, and the first upper blade 360 arranged in three rows. The second upper blade 370, the first lower blade 340, and the second lower blade 350 form the first flow path structure 140_1 to 140_3 and the second flow path structure 240_1 to 240_3 in FIG. 2 with a single press. That is, the upper and lower blades of each row are arranged so as to be shifted in accordance with the pitch of the wave element WSE. If the press processing apparatus 300 of FIG. 12 is used, the gas flow path layer 40 can be manufactured for every multi-row by using the three lines of the first flow path structure 140 and the second flow path structure 240 as a unit. Similarly to the above, it is possible to improve productivity and to reduce costs.

  Further, in the adjacent first flow path structure 140 and second flow path structure 240, the first gas flow path 143 and the first gas flow path 243 overlap with each other through the flow path volume adjustment described above, and the second gas flow Since it is only necessary to ensure the overlap between the path 144 and the second gas flow path 244, for example, in the case of three adjacent flow path structures, the above-described structure may be used in two adjacent flow path structures. Specifically, the above-mentioned volume adjustment is made in two adjacent flow path components while the three gas flow channel structures have a large / medium / small relationship with respect to the first gas flow path, and the flow paths overlap with each other. What should I do? The same applies to four or more adjacent flow path components.

  In addition, the second gas channel 144 and the second gas channel 244, which are separator-side channels in the first channel component 140 and the second channel component 240, have hydrophilicity on the channel surfaces. It is preferable to do so. In this way, when gas flows to the second gas flow path 244 via the first gas flow path 143, a water film can be formed on the flow path surface, and this water film is formed in the second gas flow path 144 of each row. In addition, since it is connected to the second gas flow path 244, drainage is further enhanced. In this case, in order to impart hydrophilicity to the gas channel surface, hydrophilic treatment may be performed on the molding surface sides of the second gas channel 144 and the second gas channel 244 prior to press molding in FIG.

  In the above embodiments, the polymer electrolyte fuel cell has been described as an example, but the present invention can be applied to various fuel cells such as a direct methanol fuel cell and a phosphoric acid fuel cell.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 20 ... Fuel cell 30a ... Hydrogen supply manifold 30b ... Air supply manifold 30c ... Hydrogen discharge manifold 30d ... Air discharge manifold 30e ... Cooling water supply manifold 30f ... Cooling water discharge manifold 31 ... Electrolyte membrane 32a ... Cathode electrode 32b ... Anode electrode 33a ... Gas diffusion layer 34 ... MEA
35 ... Power generation layer 36 ... Seal gasket 40, 40A to 40B ... Gas passage layer 60 ... Gas passage layer 70 ... Separator 71 ... Cathode side separator 71a ... Hydrogen supply manifold 71b ... Air supply manifold 71c ... Hydrogen discharge manifold 71d ... Air discharge manifolds 71e to 71f ... Cooling water discharge manifold 72 ... Intermediate separator 72a ... Hydrogen communication hole 72b ... Air communication hole 73 ... Anode-side separator 75-76 ... Air communication hole 95 ... End plate 95a ... Hydrogen supply manifold 95b ... Air supply Manifold 95c ... Hydrogen discharge manifold 95d ... Air discharge manifold 95e to 95f ... Cooling water discharge manifold 100 ... Fuel cell stack 140 ... First flow path component 141 ... First convex portion 141TS ... Convex portion abutting portion 142 2nd convex part 143 ... 1st gas flow path 144 ... 2nd gas flow path 145 ... Convex part inclined part 150 ... Base material 240 ... 2nd flow path structure 241 ... 1st convex part 241TS ... Convex part contact part 242 ... 2nd convex part 243 ... 1st gas flow path 244 ... 2nd gas flow path 245 ... Convex part inclined part 300 ... Press processing apparatus 310 ... Driven roller 320 ... Drive roller 330 ... Press stand 340 ... 1st lower blade 341 ... Convex part 342 ... Concave part 350 ... Second lower blade 351 ... Convex part 352 ... Concave part 360 ... First upper blade 361 ... Convex part 362 ... Concave part 370 ... Second upper blade 371 ... Convex part 372 ... Concave element WSE ... Waveform element

Claims (5)

A fuel cell,
A power generation layer provided with an electrolyte membrane;
A pair of separators arranged with the power generation layer interposed therebetween;
A flow path that is disposed between the power generation layer and at least one of the pair of separators and allows a reaction gas supplied for power generation reaction in the power generation layer to flow in a gas flow direction along the membrane surface of the electrolyte membrane. A gas flow path layer forming the gas flow path layer,
A corrugated element having a corrugated cross section in which a first convex portion projecting toward the power generating layer side and a second convex portion projecting toward the separator are arranged in the flow channel forming region is used for forming the flow channel. A plurality of corrugated element containing portions that repeatedly have the corrugated elements as elements, and are provided continuously along the gas flow direction,
Each of the corrugated element-containing portions includes a power generator that forms a lateral region along the repetition of the corrugated element of the first convex portion in the repeated corrugated element on the side of the power generator layer. A layer-side channel, a side region along the repetition of the corrugated element of the second convex portion in the corrugated element, a separator-side channel that forms the channel on the separator side,
Two of the corrugated element containing portions adjacent to each other in the gas flow direction are such that one corrugated element containing portion makes the volume of the power generator layer side flow path larger than the volume of the separator side flow path, The corrugated element-containing portion makes the volume of the power generator layer side flow path smaller than the volume of the separator side flow path, and overlaps the separator side flow path along the gas flow direction.   The two corrugated element-containing portions adjacent to each other in the gas flow direction have the separator-side flow path of the one corrugated element-containing portion as the other corrugated element-containing portion when viewed from the gas flow direction. The fuel cell according to claim 1, wherein the fuel cells are adjacent to each other so as to be located inside the separator-side flow path of the portion.   The two corrugated element containing portions adjacent to each other in the gas flow direction are joined at a convex slope portion extending between the first convex portion and the second convex portion in the corrugated element. Item 3. The fuel cell according to Item 2.   Of the two corrugated element containing portions adjacent to each other in the gas flow direction, the one corrugated element containing portion has a wide width along the gas flow direction on the top surface of the first convex portion. After narrowing the width along the repetition of the corrugated element, the volume of the power generator layer side flow path is made larger than the volume of the separator side flow path, and the other corrugated element containing part is the first convex The top surface of the section is narrow in width along the gas flow direction and wide along the repetition of the waveform element, and the volume of the power generator layer side flow path is made smaller than the volume of the separator side flow path. The fuel cell according to any one of claims 1 to 3.   The two corrugated element containing portions adjacent to each other in the gas flow direction have a contact width when the top surface of the first convex portion is in contact with the surface of the power generation layer not more than a predetermined contact width. The fuel cell according to claim 4.

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