JP6003812B2 - Manufacturing method of fuel cell - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a fuel cell.

  A fuel cell has a stack shape in which a plurality of battery cells are stacked, and a method of stacking battery cells along an inclined end plate has been proposed (for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2010-212139 A

  According to the above cell stacking method, although the manufacturing efficiency can be improved, the battery cell in the stack form pressed in the stacking direction for cell fastening because it lacks consideration for the posture of the battery cell in the stacking process. There is concern about the misalignment. In addition to this, it is also demanded that the manufacturing method of the fuel cell be simplified and the cost can be reduced.

In order to achieve at least a part of the problems described above, the present invention can be implemented as the following forms.
A method of manufacturing a fuel cell comprising a plurality of rectangular battery cells stacked between opposing first and second end plates,
The one side of the rectangular shape is the bottom surface of the battery cell at the lower end side, the other side facing the one side of the rectangular shape is the cell upper end side of the battery cell, the one side of the rectangular shape and the other side The other side is the side of the side of the battery cell, the bottom reference seat that extends in the cell stacking direction as a reference for the bottom side of the battery cell, and the reference for the one side of the battery cell in the cell stacking direction A first step of setting the first end plate occupying one end of the fuel cell on a pallet having a side reference seat extending;
The plurality of battery cells are placed on the pallet in an inclined posture in which the cell upper end side of the battery cell is separated from the first end plate from the cell lower end side and the battery cell is inclined with respect to the bottom surface reference seat of the pallet. A second step of sequentially stacking and setting, and setting the second end plate occupying the other end of the fuel cell to the pallet;
And a third step of stacking by pressing in the cell stacking direction from the set second plate side.

  (1) According to one form of this invention, the manufacturing method of a fuel cell is provided. This method of manufacturing a fuel cell is a method of manufacturing a fuel cell including a plurality of battery cells stacked, and serves as a reference on the bottom surface side of the battery cell, and one of the battery cell and a bottom reference seat extending in the cell stacking direction. A first step of setting a first end plate occupying one end of the fuel cell on a pallet having a side reference seat extending in the cell stacking direction as a reference on the side of the battery cell; The plurality of battery cells are sequentially stacked and set on the pallet in an inclined posture that is separated from the first end plate from the lower end side and inclined with respect to the bottom surface reference seat of the pallet, and the other end of the fuel cell A second step of setting the second end plate occupying the portion on the pallet, and a step of stacking by pressing in the cell stacking direction from the set second plate side And a step. In the fuel cell manufacturing method of the above aspect, by setting the first end plate on the pallet, the bottom surface reference seat and the side surface reference seat respectively extend in the cell stacking direction from the end surface of the first end plate. When sequentially laminating a plurality of battery cells on the pallet based on these reference seats, each battery cell has an inclined posture in which the cell upper end side is inclined from the bottom end reference seat away from the first end plate from the cell lower end side. To do. For this reason, in the subsequent pressing along the cell stacking direction, the battery cell in the inclined posture inclined with respect to the bottom surface reference seat receives the pressing, and the cell upper end side is directed to the first end plate side. Since the battery cells are stacked on one end plate, it is possible to suppress the positional deviation of the battery cells due to the battery cells taking a posture away from the first end plate on the cell lower end side than the cell upper end side.

  (2) In the method of manufacturing a fuel cell according to the above aspect, in the second step, a jig having an angle defining surface that defines an inclination angle with respect to the bottom surface reference seat when the battery cell takes the inclined posture is used. The battery cell is set as the inclined posture on the angle defining surface while moving the jig along the bottom surface reference seat. If it carries out like this, it will become easy to make each battery cell into the inclination attitude | position which inclined with respect to the bottom face reference seat, and the said attitude | position maintenance.

  (3) In the method of manufacturing a fuel cell according to the above aspect, in the second step, the pallet is inclined around the end plate side when the battery cell is set in the inclined posture using the jig. I am letting. In this way, each battery cell can be stacked in an inclined posture inclined with respect to the bottom surface reference seat while guiding each battery cell on the angle-defining surface of the jig, so that the inclined posture of the battery cell can be maintained more reliably, and the battery cell The positional deviation of the battery cell resulting from taking the attitude | position which left | separated from the 1st end plate from the cell upper end side at the cell lower end side can be suppressed more effectively.

  Note that the present invention can be realized in various forms, for example, in the form of a fuel cell manufacturing apparatus or the like.

It is explanatory drawing which shows roughly the fuel cell 10 as embodiment of this invention by planar view. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a schematic configuration of a cell stacking pallet 100 used in a manufacturing procedure of a fuel cell 10 FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a schematic cross section of the cell stack pallet 100 taken along line 3-3 in FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows a mode that the battery cell 12S is laminated | stacked sequentially. It is explanatory drawing which shows the mode of cell lamination | stacking when the battery cell 12S of an inclination posture falls to the 1st end plate 14 side for some reason. It is explanatory drawing which shows the mode of the completion of lamination | stacking of the battery cell 12S, and the mode of the press of the battery cell 12S by the piston Ps after that. It is explanatory drawing which shows the mode of mounting | wearing of the casing 16 after the battery cell 12S is pressed by piston Ps. It is explanatory drawing which shows the mode of the battery cell 12S which tends to apply downward force which makes a cell face the cell bottom reference rail 112 side.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing a fuel cell 10 as an embodiment of the present invention in plan view.

  As shown in the figure, the fuel cell 10 includes a battery cell stack 12 that is sandwiched between a first end plate 14 and a second end plate 15 that face each other, and the battery cell stack 12 is casing together with both the above end plates. 16 to accommodate. The battery cell stack 12 is configured by stacking battery cells 12S. The battery cell 12S includes a membrane electrode assembly (MEA) in which both electrodes of an anode and a cathode are joined to both sides of an electrolyte membrane, and supplies hydrogen gas (fuel gas) to the anode and to the cathode. Power is generated by supplying air (oxygen-containing gas).

  The casing 16 has a substantially U-shape with both ends and upper ends opened, and the battery cell stack 12 from the second end plate 15 side in a situation where the plurality of battery cells 12S are pressed from the second end plate 15 side. Are fixed to the first end plate 14 and the second end plate 15 using washers 17 and bolts 18. After the casing 16 is fixed, the pressure of the battery cell is released and the fuel cell 10 is operated. The overall length of the casing 16 is shorter than the height of the unloaded battery cell stack 12. Therefore, the fastening of the casing 16 causes the fastening force to act on the fuel cell 10, specifically, the battery cell stack 12 along the stacking direction, and the stacked state of the battery cell stack 12 is maintained.

  The fuel cell 10 includes a hydrogen gas supply system that supplies hydrogen gas to each battery cell 12S constituting the battery cell stack 12 and an air supply system that supplies air. However, the fuel cell 10 is not directly related to the gist of the present invention. The description is omitted.

  Next, a manufacturing procedure of the fuel cell 10 having the above-described configuration will be described. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a schematic configuration of the cell stacking pallet 100 used in the manufacturing procedure of the fuel cell 10, and FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the cell stacking pallet 100 taken along line 3-3 in FIG. It is explanatory drawing shown in relation to.

  The cell stacking pallet 100 includes a base 110, a cell bottom reference rail 112, a cell side reference rail 114, a cell tilt jig 120, and a base tilt mechanism 130. The cell tilt jig 120 is slidable along the upper surface of two rows of cell bottom reference rails 112, which will be described later, and a tilt reference tilted at a predetermined angle, for example, about 85 to 88 ° with respect to the cell bottom reference rails 112. A surface 121 is provided. The base tilting mechanism 130 is configured to lift the other end side of the base 110 and tilt the cell stacking pallet 100 together with the base 110.

  The base 110 includes a plate set recess 113 on one end side, and cell bottom reference rails 112 arranged vertically in two rows with respect to the plate lower end side end surface reference surface 113k of the plate set recess 113. The cell bottom reference rail 112 extends in the cell stacking direction in the battery cell stack 12. Further, the base 110 is provided with a rail holding leg 116 erected from one end face, and holds the cell side reference rail 114 perpendicular to the plate lower end side end face reference plane 113k with each holding leg. Even in the cell side reference rail 114, it extends in the cell stacking direction in the battery cell stack 12. In addition, the base 110 includes a plate upper end restricting piece 117 on the upper surface of the rail holding leg 116 on the plate set recess 113 side, and the plate upper end side end face reference surface 117k of the restricting piece is connected to the plate lower end side end face reference face 113k. It is the same. Therefore, when the first end plate 14 occupying one end of the fuel cell 10 is inserted and set from the lower end into the plate set recess 113 of the base 110, the first end plate 14 is the battery cell stacking end surface. At the end surfaces, the postures are defined by the upper and lower plate lower end side end surface reference surfaces 113k and the plate upper end side end surface reference surface 117k, and then two rows of cell bottom reference rails 112 vertically from the battery cell stack end surface to the cell bottom surface side. The cell side reference rail 114 is extended vertically on the cell side surface side. In this case, the first end plate 14 is fixed to the base 110 by a clamping device (not shown) in order to maintain the posture. Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the plate upper end regulating piece 117 supports the plate on the upper end side end surface reference surface 117k at the periphery of the first end plate 14 so as not to interfere with the battery cell 12S. As shown in the figure, the outer end of the first end plate 14 is larger than the battery cell 12S. The battery cell 12S uses the cell bottom reference rail 112 as a reference for the cell bottom, and the cell side reference rail 114 as a cell. The side surfaces are laminated as described later. Since the second end plate 15 is covered with the casing 16 together with the stacked battery cells 12S, the outer shape of the second end plate 15 is the same as that of the battery cells 12S, and is thickened in preparation for fixing the casing.

  The fuel cell 10 is manufactured by the following procedure using the cell stack pallet 100. FIG. 4 is an explanatory view showing a state in which the battery cells 12S are sequentially stacked, and FIG. 5 is an explanatory view showing a state of cell stacking when the inclined battery cell 12S falls to the first end plate 14 side for some reason. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which the battery cells 12S are stacked and a state in which the battery cells 12S are pressed by the piston Ps thereafter.

  In stacking the battery cells 12S on the first end plate 14, first, as shown in FIG. 4, the cell tilting jig 120 is slid to the first end plate 14, and then the base tilting mechanism 130 is used. The cell stacking pallet 100 is inclined about the first end plate 14 side. In this case, the cell tilting jig 120 is slid until the lower end of the tilt reference surface 121 leaves a distance corresponding to the thickness of the battery cell 12 </ b> S from the end surface of the first end plate 14. Next, the battery cell 12S is set on the cell stacking pallet 100 from above the cell tilting jig 120. At this time, since the battery cell 12S is guided by the tilt reference surface 121 and carried to the cell bottom reference rail 112, the cell upper end side is separated from the first end plate 14 and tilted with respect to the cell bottom reference rail 112. Set. When the battery cell 12S is set in an inclined posture in this manner, the cell tilting jig 120 is retracted and slid so as to move away from the first end plate 14 by an amount corresponding to the thickness of the battery cell 12S. Thereby, the next battery cell 12S can be set.

  Thereafter, the new battery cell 12S is set in an inclined posture, and the retraction slide of the cell inclination jig 120 and the new battery cell 12S in the inclined posture are repeated for the remaining number of battery cells 12S. When the last battery cell 12S is set in an inclined posture, the second end plate 15 is also set in an inclined posture, and cell stacking is completed. In the completed state of cell stacking, each battery cell 12S and the second end plate 15 take an inclined posture in which the cell upper end side is separated from the first end plate 14 and is inclined with respect to the cell bottom reference rail 112.

  By the way, during the above-described setting of the battery cell 12S in the inclined posture, the force toward the first end plate 14 may be applied to the battery cell 12S set in the inclined posture for some reason. In this case, as shown in FIG. 5, the battery cell 12 </ b> S (three battery cells 12 </ b> S initially stacked in FIG. 5) that has received such a force is inclined so that the cell upper end side is away from the first end plate 14. Therefore, the cell is stacked on the first end plate 14 so that the upper end side of the cell faces the first end plate 14 side. The behavior of the battery cell 12S at this time is the same as that of a cell press described later, and does not cause any particular trouble, and the subsequent battery cell 12S is repeatedly set in the above-described inclined posture.

  After the cell stacking is completed, as shown in FIG. 6, the base tilting mechanism 130 is returned to the original position, the cell stacking pallet 100 is returned to the horizontal state, and then stacking is performed through cell pressing. FIG. 7 is an explanatory view showing a state of mounting of the casing 16 after the battery cell 12S is pressed by the piston Ps.

  As shown in FIGS. 6-7, the cell lamination | stacking pallet 100 is provided with piston Ps which penetrates the cell inclination jig | tool 120 and advances / retreats. Then, the cell stacking pallet 100 presses the battery cell 12S that has been set in the tilted posture from the side of the second end plate 15 that has been set in the tilted posture in the cell stacking direction by the piston Ps. In response to this pressing, each of the battery cells 12S and the second end plate 15 that have been in the inclined posture are stacked on the first end plate 14 such that the cell upper end side faces the first end plate 14, It is stacked together with the first end plate 14. Thereby, the battery cell stack 12 is obtained. Note that the first end plate 14 is supported by a casing mounting device (not shown) during pressing by the piston Ps and resists the piston pressing force.

  When stacking is performed in this way, the base 110 of the cell stacking pallet 100, the cell bottom reference rail 112, the cell side reference rail 114, the rail holding leg 116, and the plate upper end restricting piece 117 while the pressing force is applied by the piston Ps. Is removed from the battery cell stack 12. In this case, the battery cell stack 12 in which the battery cells 12S are stacked is sandwiched between the first end plate 14 and the second end plate 15 and is compressed by the piston pressing force as shown in FIG. , Retained. In this cell holding state, a casing mounting device (not shown) carries a substantially U-shaped casing 16 having both ends and an upper end opened from the second end plate 15 side, and the casing end surface is brought into contact with the end surface of the first end plate 14. Make contact. Next, the first end plate 14 and the casing 16 and the second end plate 15 and the casing 16 are fixed using a washer 17 and a bolt 18. As a result, the fuel cell 10 in which the battery cell stack 12 is covered in three directions with the casing 16 is obtained. In this case, after fixing the casing, the piston Ps retreats to its original position, and the cell tilting jig 120 retreats from the battery cell stack 12 together with the piston Ps in preparation for the next cell stacking.

  As described above, in the method of manufacturing the fuel cell 10 according to the present embodiment, when the plurality of battery cells 12S are sequentially stacked on the cell stacking pallet 100, each battery cell 12S has the first end plate 14 at the cell upper end side. It is set as the inclination attitude | position which left | separated from the cell bottom reference rail 112, and was inclined (refer FIG. 4). For this reason, in the subsequent pressing along the cell stacking direction (see FIG. 6), the battery cell 12S in the inclined posture inclined with respect to the cell bottom reference rail 112 receives the pressure, and the upper end side of the cell is the first end plate. The first end plate 14 is laminated so as to face the 14 side. Since the behavior of each battery cell 12S in such cell stacking is such that the cell upper end side swings from the cell lower end side, the battery cell 12S includes a cell bottom surface while taking such behavior. A downward force that is directed toward the reference rail 112 is not exerted. If the battery cell 12S is stacked on the first end plate 14 with such a downward force applied, the battery cell 12S is stacked with the downward force applied to the sealing material exposed on the end surface of the battery cell 12S. There is a concern that the battery cell 12S may be displaced due to the downward force.

  FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing a state of the battery cell 12S that is easily subjected to a downward force that causes the cell to face the cell bottom reference rail 112 side. As shown in the figure, when the battery cell 12S is in the inclined posture that is separated from the first end plate 14 on the cell lower end side and is inclined with respect to the cell bottom reference rail 112, the battery cell 12S starts from the cell upper end side. Since the lower end side swings, the battery cell 12S is likely to be applied with a downward force that causes the cell to face the cell bottom reference rail 112 side. On the other hand, in the manufacturing method of the fuel cell 10 of the present embodiment, as described above, the battery cell 12S does not exert a downward force that causes the cell to face the cell bottom reference rail 112 side. The positional deviation of the battery cell 12S resulting from the battery cell 12S taking the attitude | position which left | separated from the 1st end plate 14 by the cell lower end side can be suppressed. In other words, according to the manufacturing method of the fuel cell 10 of the present embodiment, the battery cell stack 12 in which the battery cells 12S are stacked without misalignment, and thus the fuel cell 10 can be easily manufactured.

  In the method of manufacturing the fuel cell 10 according to the present embodiment, when the battery cell 12S is set in an inclined posture in which the upper end side of the cell is separated from the first end plate 14 and inclined with respect to the cell bottom reference rail 112, the above-described cell inclination angle is set. The cell tilting jig 120 provided with the tilt reference surface 121 tilted in conformity with the above was used. Then, the battery cell 12S is set in an inclined posture on the inclined reference surface 121 while moving the cell inclination jig 120 along the cell bottom reference rail 112. Therefore, according to the manufacturing method of the fuel cell 10 of the present embodiment, each battery cell 12S can be set in an inclined posture inclined with respect to the cell bottom reference rail 112, and the inclined posture can be easily maintained. The reproducibility of the cell set in an inclined posture is increased.

  In the method of manufacturing the fuel cell 10 according to the present embodiment, the cell stacking pallet 100 is tilted about the first end plate 14 side when the battery cell 12S is set in the tilted attitude described above using the cell tilting jig 120. I let you. Therefore, according to the manufacturing method of the fuel cell 10 of the present embodiment, each battery cell 12S is inclined with respect to the cell bottom reference rail 112 while being guided or supported by the reference inclination surface 121 of the cell inclination jig 120. Since the battery cell 12S can be stacked in the inclined posture, the battery cell 12S is more reliably maintained in the inclined posture, and the battery cell is caused by the battery cell 12S taking a posture away from the first end plate 14 on the cell lower end side. The 12S position shift can be more effectively suppressed.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be realized with various configurations without departing from the spirit of the present invention. For example, the technical features of the embodiments corresponding to the technical features in each embodiment described in the summary section of the invention are intended to solve part or all of the above-described problems, or part of the above-described effects. Or, in order to achieve the whole, it is possible to replace or combine as appropriate. Further, if the technical feature is not described as essential in the present specification, it can be deleted as appropriate.

  In the above embodiment, the cell stacking pallet 100 is tilted about the first end plate 14 side when the battery cell 12S is set in the tilted posture described above using the cell tilting jig 120. Not exclusively. For example, the battery cells 12S may be stacked and set in the above-described tilted posture using the cell tilting jig 120 while the cell stacking pallet 100 is in a horizontal state. In this case, the battery cell 12S can be set while the cell tilting jig 120 is slid from the first end plate 14 side, and the cell tilting jig 120 is set to the distance corresponding to the number of stacked battery cells 12S to the first end plate. The second end plate 15 and the battery cells 12S corresponding to the number of stacked layers may be stacked and set in the inclined posture from the cell tilting jig 120 side.

  Moreover, it is good also as embodiment which laminates | stacks by making the pallet inclination of the cell lamination pallet 100 reverse. In this embodiment, first, the cell stacking pallet 100 is inclined opposite to the pallet inclination shown in FIG. 4 so that the first end plate 14 side is up. In the cell stacking pallet 100 tilted in the opposite direction, the second end plate 15 is first set on the cell tilting jig 120 in the tilted posture, and then one battery cell 12S is set in the tilted posture. Next, in a state where the battery cell 12S is supported by the tilt reference surface 121 together with the second end plate 15, the cell tilt jig 120 is slid away from the first end plate 14, and this is repeated. According to this embodiment, since the battery cell 12S that has been set in an inclined posture is supported, the inclined posture of the battery cell 12S can be more reliably maintained.

  Further, in the above embodiment, the battery cell stack 12 is covered with the casing 16, but a fuel cell having a structure in which the first end plate 14 and the second end plate 15 are fastened by a fastening shaft may be used. In this case, the outer end shape of the second end plate 15 may be made larger than that of the battery cell 12 </ b> S, and the fastening shaft may be disposed between the first end plate 14 and the second end plate 15.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Fuel cell 12 ... Battery cell stack 12S ... Battery cell 14 ... 1st end plate 15 ... 2nd end plate 16 ... Casing 17 ... Washer 18 ... Bolt 100 ... Cell laminated pallet 110 ... Base 112 ... Cell bottom reference rail 113 ... Plate set recess 113k ... Plate lower end side end surface reference surface 114 ... Cell side surface reference rail 116 ... Rail holding leg 117 ... Plate upper end regulating piece 117k ... Plate upper end side end surface reference surface 120 ... Cell tilt jig 121 ... Inclination reference surface 130 ... Base tilt mechanism Ps ... Piston

Claims (3)

Between the first end plate and the second end plate opposite to a method for producing a fuel cell comprising by laminating multiple battery cells rectangular shape,
The one side of the rectangular shape is a bottom surface of the battery cell at the lower end side, the other side facing the one side of the rectangular shape is the cell upper end side of the battery cell, the one side of the rectangular shape and the other side sides other than the side to the side of the side surface of the battery cell becomes a pre-Symbol the bottom surface of one said side surface side of the bottom reference locus and the battery cell extending reference becomes cell stacking direction side reference battery cells the pallet having a side reference seat extending in the cell stacking direction, a first step of setting one of the first end plate, which accounts for the ends of the fuel cell,
In the cell tilt posture Le upper side the battery cell to the bottom reference locus of said pallet remote from said first end plate than the cell Le lower side is inclined obliquely of the battery cells, the plurality of battery cells while set sequentially stacked on the pallet and a second step of setting said second end plate, which accounts for the other end of the fuel cell to the pallet,
The third step in the method of manufacturing the fuel cell comprising the achieving stacked and pressed in the cell stacking direction from the side of the set already said second Endopu rate.   In the second step, a jig having an angle defining surface that defines an inclination angle with respect to the bottom reference seat when the battery cell takes the inclined posture is used, and the jig is moved along the bottom reference seat. However, the manufacturing method of the fuel cell according to claim 1, wherein the battery cell is set as the inclined posture on the angle defining surface. In the second step, when the battery cell is set in the inclined posture using the jig, the pallet is arranged such that the side of the second end plate is higher than the side of the first end plate. method for manufacturing a fuel cell according to claim 2 which is inclined to the center side of the end-plates.

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