JP6717182B2 - Fuel cell stack inspection device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a fuel cell stack inspection device.

The fuel cell stack includes a plurality of fuel cell units, which are power generation units, stacked on each other. Since the fuel cells are always laminated in the fuel cell stack, an inspection method for inspecting the fuel cells by adopting a laminated form has been proposed (for example, Patent Document 1).

JP, 2014-203730, A

The above-mentioned patent documents propose an inspection method in a form in which an intermediate plate capable of supplying gas/refrigerant is incorporated between fuel cells, and an inspection method in a stack form in which fuel cells are stacked. However, whichever inspection method is used, it is premised that all the fuel cells are unfastened and the cells are taken out after the inspection.Therefore, it is necessary to make all the fuel cells into a stack again after the inspection. There is room. For these reasons, there has been a demand for an inspection method in which the fuel cell stack is in the form of a stack that does not require unfastening of all the fuel cells after the inspection of the fuel cell stack.

The present invention has been made to solve at least a part of the problems described above, and can be realized as the following modes. For example, as one aspect of the present disclosure, a fuel cell stack inspection device is provided. The inspection device at least inspects the power generation performance of a fuel cell stack in which a plurality of fuel cells are stacked. This inspection device is a first plate and a second plate that are opposed to each other with a distance of at least the stacking direction length of the fuel cell stack, and are located on the side of a manifold plate that the fuel cell stack has at one end side of the stack. The first plate, the second plate located on the end plate side of the other end of the fuel cell stack, the plurality of first shafts penetrating the first plate and contacting the manifold plate; A plurality of second shafts that penetrate the second plate and come into contact with the end plates are used to press the fuel cell stack along the cell stacking direction of the fuel battery cells, and to keep the fuel cell stack pressed. And a pressing mechanism that moves relative to the first plate and the second plate in a direction orthogonal to the cell stacking direction. Here, the first plate includes a plurality of notches cut out from a plate end portion along the orthogonal direction as first shaft notches through which the plurality of first shafts penetrate, and the second plate is a plate end. A plurality of notches cut out along the same direction as the first shaft notches from the portion are provided as second shaft notches through which the plurality of second shafts penetrate. Further, the first shaft notch and the second shaft notch are provided in one direction so that the first shaft and the second shaft pass through, respectively, and the first shaft notch is provided in the manifold plate. The manifold holes for the gas and the cooling refrigerant are provided at positions that do not overlap with each other when viewed from the cell stacking direction, and the first plate faces the gas, cooling refrigerant, and the manifold holes provided on the manifold plate. At the position where the gas and the cooling refrigerant flow, when the inspection is performed, the first plate is the manifold plate of the fuel cell stack, and the second plate is the end plate of the fuel cell stack. Are closely attached to each other.

(1) According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided an inspection device for a fuel cell stack. This fuel cell stack inspection device is a fuel cell stack inspection device in which a plurality of fuel battery cells are stacked, and is a first plate and a second plate that face each other across a stack housing area that houses the fuel cell stack. A first plate located on the side of a manifold plate that the fuel cell stack has on one end side of the stack; and a second plate located on the side of an end plate that the fuel cell stack has on the other end side of the stack; The fuel cell stack is constructed by using a plurality of first shafts that penetrate the first plate and contact the manifold plate and a plurality of second shafts that penetrate the second plate and contact the end plate. Pressing along the cell stacking direction and moving relative to the first plate and the second plate in the orthogonal direction orthogonal to the cell stacking direction while pressing the fuel cell stack. And a mechanism. The first plate is provided with a plurality of notches cut out along the orthogonal direction orthogonal to the cell stacking direction from the plate end portion as the first shaft notches through which the plurality of first shafts penetrate. The plate includes a plurality of notches cut out along the same direction as the first shaft notches from a plate end portion as second shaft notches through which the plurality of second shafts penetrate, and the first shaft notches include the manifold. It is provided at a position where the manifold holes for the gas and the cooling refrigerant included in the plate do not overlap with each other when viewed in the cell stacking direction.

In the fuel cell stack inspection device of this aspect, the fuel cell stack accommodated in the stack accommodating region is arranged in the cell stacking direction by the plurality of first shafts penetrating the first plate and the plurality of second shafts penetrating the second plate. By pressing along, the fuel cells in the stack accommodation area are fastened to form a stack. Therefore, the inspection device for a fuel cell stack in this form enables inspection of gas leak and power generation performance of the fuel cell stack in the stack form. The first shaft cutouts through which the plurality of first shafts penetrate do not overlap with the manifold holes of the manifold plate of the fuel cell stack when viewed in the cell stacking direction. It can be supplied to the manifold hole of, and does not interfere with the inspection of the fuel cell stack.

In addition, in the fuel cell stack inspection device of this aspect, the fuel cell stack is pressed by the pressing mechanism using the fuel cell stack with the plurality of first shafts and second shafts even after the inspection is completed, so that the fuel cell stack is stacked in the cell stacking direction. It is possible to remain in the form of the stack fastened to. The plurality of first shafts and the second shafts having the stack shape are respectively located in the first shaft notch and the second shaft notch cut out from the plate end portion in a direction orthogonal to the cell stacking direction. Therefore, by moving the pressing mechanism pressing the fuel cell stack in the stack accommodating area along the notch relative to the first plate and the second plate, the plurality of first shafts and the second shafts are moved. The shafts allow the fuel cell stacks to be separated from the plate end side while keeping the stack form. As a result, according to the fuel cell stack inspection device of this aspect, it is not necessary to release the fastening of all the fuel battery cells after the inspection of the fuel cell stack.

Further, the inspection device for a fuel cell stack of this aspect also has the following effects. In the inspection of the fuel cell stack in the stack form, if there is a defective inspection, it is necessary to replace the defective fuel cell unit. In the fuel cell stack inspection apparatus of this aspect, when there is an inspection failure, the fastening of the fuel cell in the fuel cell stack is released by releasing the pressing by the first shaft and the second shaft. Then, after the defective fuel cell unit is replaced, the fuel cell stack is fastened again by pressing with the first shaft and the second shaft so that the fuel cell stack can be put into a stack state. As a result, according to the fuel cell stack inspection apparatus of this embodiment, the defective cells can be easily and promptly replaced, and at this time, it is not necessary to remove the fuel cell cells that are not defective.

The present invention can be realized in various modes. For example, the present invention can be implemented in the form of a fuel cell stack manufacturing apparatus, a fuel cell stack inspection method, or the like.

It is an explanatory view showing a schematic structure of a fuel cell stack inspection device of this embodiment in perspective. It is explanatory drawing which shows the schematic structure of a fuel cell stack inspection apparatus from a side view. FIG. 3 is an explanatory view showing a schematic plan view of a manifold plate of the fuel cell stack from the X-axis direction along line 3-3 in FIG. 2. FIG. 4 is an explanatory view showing the first plate in a plan view from the X-axis direction along line 4-4 in FIG. 2. FIG. 5 is an explanatory view showing a schematic plan view of an end plate of the fuel cell stack from the −X axis direction along line 5-5 in FIG. 2. FIG. 6 is an explanatory view showing the second plate in a plan view from the −X axis direction along line 6-6 in FIG. 2. It is explanatory drawing which shows the mode of the pre-inspection 1st process performed with respect to the fuel cell stack which has been laminated|stacked in the stack accommodation area. It is explanatory drawing which shows the mode of the pre-inspection 2nd process performed with respect to the fuel cell stack already laminated|stacked in a stack accommodation area. It is explanatory drawing which shows a mode of the inspection process performed with respect to the fuel cell stack which has been stacked in the stack accommodation area. It is explanatory drawing which shows the mode of conveyance of the fuel cell stack from a stack accommodation area to the following process.

FIG. 1 is an explanatory view showing a schematic configuration of a fuel cell stack inspection device 100 of the present embodiment in a perspective view. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a schematic configuration of the fuel cell stack inspection device 100 as viewed from the side. In addition, in these figures and each figure after FIG. 3, the cell stacking direction is expressed as the X axis, the cell width direction is expressed as the Y axis, and the cell height direction is expressed as the Z axis, and the fuel cell stack FCS is expressed as the X axis in the XY plane. Shown as being stacked along. Then, when indicating the movement and arrangement of the constituent members, the XYZ axis notation is used as necessary.

The fuel cell stack inspection device 100 is an inspection device used for inspecting a fuel cell stack FCS in which a plurality of fuel battery cells FC are stacked, and includes a device base 110, a first plate 200, a second plate 300, and a first plate auxiliary. The jig 230 and the second plate auxiliary jig 320 are provided. The device base 110 is a plate body that forms a stack housing area 130 that houses the fuel cell stack FCS together with a first plate 200 and a second plate 300, which will be described later. The fuel cell stack FCS is formed through cell stacking in the stack housing area 130, and a plurality of fuel cell cells FC are stacked between the manifold plate FCm and the end plate FCe with the current collecting plate FCt interposed.

The first plate 200 and the second plate 300 are plates that face each other with the stack accommodating area 130 in between, and the first plate 200 is located on the side of the manifold plate FCm that the fuel cell FC has at one end of the stack. The second plate 300 is located on the end plate FCe side that the fuel cell stack FCS has on the other end side of the stack, and is fixed to the device base 110. The fuel cell stack inspection device 100 includes plate holding shafts 120 extending horizontally from the corners of the second plate 300 along the X axis. The first plate 200 is movable along the plate holding shaft 120, and moves along the X axis during cell fastening. The movement of the first plate 200 along the X axis will be described later.

The first plate auxiliary jig 230 includes a plurality of stopper shafts 210, more specifically, five stopper shafts 210 and a first plate pressing shaft 220 as described later. The stopper shaft 210 penetrates the first plate 200 and extends in the X-axis direction toward the fuel cell stack FCS, and before the fuel cell stack FCS is fastened, as shown in FIG. 2, before the manifold plate FCm. To position. When the fuel cell stack FCS is fastened, the first plate auxiliary jig 230 pushes the fuel cell stack FCS along the X axis until it comes into contact with the manifold plate FCm of the fuel cell stack FCS. It functions as a stopper when pressed along the cell stacking direction. The first plate pressing shaft 220 corresponds to the first shaft.

The first plate pressing shaft 220 extends in the X-axis direction toward the first plate 200 and is positioned in contact with the first plate 200 before the fuel cell stack FCS is fastened, as shown in FIG. .. Then, when the fuel cell stack FCS is fastened, the first plate pressing shaft 220 is pressed by the first plate auxiliary jig 230 along the X axis until the first plate 200 contacts the manifold plate FCm of the fuel cell stack FCS. Will be issued. That is, the first plate 200 secures a gap between the manifold plate FCm and the first plate 200 as so-called play when stacking the fuel cells FC, and forms the stack accommodating area 130 together with the second plate 300. .. The fuel cell stack inspection device 100 includes a stack holding seat 112 on the device base 110 in the stack accommodation area 130. The fuel cell FC, the manifold plate FCm, the end plate FCe, and the current collector plate FCt, which form the fuel cell stack FCS, are stacked along the X-axis direction while being horizontally held by the stack holding seat 112. , A fuel cell stack FCS. The first plate 200 can move along the X-axis direction without interfering with the stack holding seat 112.

The second plate auxiliary jig 320 includes a plurality of pressing shafts 310, specifically, three pressing shafts 310 as described later. The pressing shaft 310 penetrates the second plate 300 and advances and retreats in the X-axis direction toward the fuel cell stack FCS. Before the fuel cell stack FCS is fastened, as shown in FIG. Located in front. Then, when the fuel cell stack FCS is fastened, the pressing shaft 310 is pushed out along the X axis by the second plate auxiliary jig 320 until it comes into contact with the end plate FCe of the fuel cell stack FCS. Press along the cell stacking direction. Fastening of the fuel cell stack FCS by pushing the push shaft 310 is performed so as to obtain fastening force when the fuel cell stack FCS is mounted in a fuel cell vehicle. The pressing shaft 310 corresponds to the second shaft.

The first plate auxiliary jig 230 and the second plate auxiliary jig 320 having the above-mentioned configurations are held by holding jigs (not shown) with the shafts already described. This holding jig is provided with an XYZ axis three-dimensional drive mechanism, and both the above auxiliary jigs are vertically moved with respect to the apparatus base 110 while being held, and are horizontally conveyed in the XY plane. The first plate auxiliary jig 230 and the second plate auxiliary jig 320 form a pressing mechanism together with the above holding jig.

Next, the relationship between the first plate 200 and the manifold plate FCm and the relationship between the second plate 300 and the end plate FCe will be described. FIG. 3 is an explanatory view showing a schematic plan view of the manifold plate FCm of the fuel cell stack FCS along the line 3-3 in FIG. 2 from the X-axis direction. FIG. 4 is an explanatory view showing the first plate 200 in a plan view from the X-axis direction along line 4-4 in FIG. FIG. 5 is an explanatory view showing an outline of the end plate FCe of the fuel cell stack FCS in a plan view from the −X axis direction along line 5-5 in FIG. 2. FIG. 6 is an explanatory view showing the second plate 300 in a plan view from the −X axis direction along line 6-6 in FIG. 2.

As shown in FIG. 3, the manifold plate FCm is provided with a fuel gas/air and cooling water (cooling refrigerant) supply manifold hole M1 at the right side plate end in the Y-axis direction, and the fuel plate is provided at the left side plate end in the Y-axis direction. A gas discharge manifold hole M2 and an air discharge manifold hole M3 are provided, and a cooling water discharge manifold hole M4 is provided near the supply manifold hole M1. Then, the manifold plate FCm surrounds and seals each manifold hole with gaskets G1 to G4. Therefore, if a plate (not shown) having fuel gas air and cooling water supply/discharge openings is pressed against the manifold plate FCm at the same position as the above-mentioned manifold holes on the YZ plane, the fuel cell stack FCS will receive fuel gas. Air and cooling water can be supplied and discharged through the plate.

As shown in FIG. 4, the first plate 200 located on the manifold plate FCm side is provided with three notches 202, and each notch 202 extends from the plate end in the Z-axis direction to the cell stacking direction in the X-axis direction. Is cut out in the orthogonal direction orthogonal to, that is, along the Z axis. Two stopper shafts 210 are inserted in the notches 202 at both ends in the Y-axis direction shown in FIG. 4, and one stopper shaft 210 is inserted in the center 202. Therefore, each notch 202 becomes a first shaft notch through which the plurality of stopper shafts 210 penetrate the first plate 200. As shown in FIG. 4, each notch 202 has a cell stack with the supply manifold hole M1, the fuel gas exhaust manifold hole M2, the air exhaust manifold hole M3, and the cooling water exhaust manifold hole M4 of FIG. 3 which the manifold plate FCm has. They are provided at positions that do not overlap with each other when viewed from the direction (X-axis direction).

Further, the first plate 200 is connected to a supply port 231 to which the fuel gas/air and cooling water supply pipes are connected, a gas discharge port 232 to which the fuel gas discharge pipe is connected, and an air discharge pipe. An air discharge port 233 and a cooling water discharge port 234 to which a cooling water discharge pipe is connected are provided. The supply port 231 is connected to the supply manifold hole M1, the gas discharge port 232 is connected to the fuel gas discharge manifold hole M2, the air discharge port 233 is connected to the air discharge manifold hole M3, and the cooling water discharge port 234 is connected to the cooling water discharge manifold hole M4. , And they are provided at positions overlapping with each other when viewed in the cell stacking direction (X-axis direction).

As shown in FIG. 5, the end plate FCe is pressed by the fastening point TP when the fuel cell stack FCS shown in FIG. 1 is housed in a casing (not shown) and is mounted in, for example, a fuel cell vehicle. Position. As shown in FIG. 6, the second plate 300 located on the end plate FCe side is provided with three notches 302, and each notch 302 is a notch of the first plate 200 from the plate end portion in the Z-axis direction. It is cut out in the same direction as 202, that is, along the Z axis. A pressing shaft 310 extending from the second plate auxiliary jig 320 is inserted in each notch 302 shown in FIG. 6, and the shaft insertion position is made to overlap the fastening point TP of the end plate FCe. Therefore, each notch 302 becomes a second shaft notch through which the plurality of pressing shafts 310 penetrate the second plate 300.

Next, the inspection of the fuel cell stack FCS using the above fuel cell stack inspection device 100 will be described. FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a state of the first step before inspection performed on the fuel cell stacks FCS stacked in the stack accommodation area 130. FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing a state of the second step before inspection performed on the fuel cell stacks FCS stacked in the stack accommodation area 130. FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing a state of an inspection process performed on the fuel cell stacks FCS stacked in the stack accommodation area 130. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing how the fuel cell stack FCS is transported from the stack accommodation area 130 to the next step.

In the inspection of the fuel cell stack FCS, first, in a state where there is play in the stack accommodation area 130 as shown in FIG. 2, from the side of the second plate 300, the end plate FCe, the current collecting plate FCt, and the number of stacked sheets are stacked. The fuel cell FC, the current collecting plate FCt, and the manifold plate FCm are stacked in this order. In the first step before inspection of FIG. 7 subsequent to such cell stacking, the stopper shaft 210 penetrating the notch 202 of the first plate 200 is moved to the X-axis by the first plate auxiliary jig 230 as shown by an arrow A in the figure. The five stopper shafts 210 are brought into contact with the manifold plate FCm of the fuel cell stack FCS by squeezing out along the direction. Accordingly, the five stopper shafts 210 each function as a stopper when the fuel cell stack FCS is pressed along the cell stacking direction of the fuel cell FC. That is, the fuel cell stack FCS is supported in the cell stacking direction by the five stopper shafts 210 while being stacked and housed in the stack housing area 130.

In the second step before inspection in FIG. 8, as shown by the arrow B in the figure, the first plate 200 is pressed by the first plate auxiliary jig 230 toward the manifold plate FCm by the first plate pressing shaft 220, and the first plate is pressed. The plate 200 is brought into contact with the manifold plate FCm. Due to the contact between the manifold plate FCm and the first plate 200, the fuel cells FC and the like of the fuel cell stack FCS are stacked in the stack accommodating area 130 without play, and the first plate 200 of FIG. The supply port 231, the gas discharge port 232, the air discharge port 233, and the cooling water discharge port 234 are respectively the supply manifold hole M1, the fuel gas discharge manifold hole M2, the air discharge manifold hole M3, and the cooling water discharge manifold hole M4 of the manifold plate FCm. In the X-axis direction.

The contact of the first plate 200 with the manifold plate FCm is such that the gaskets G1 to G4 surrounding the above-mentioned manifold holes of the manifold plate FCm are compressed to exert a sealing function. Therefore, if fuel gas/air and cooling water supply/discharge pipes are connected to the respective manifold holes of the supply manifold hole M1 to the cooling water discharge manifold hole M4 of the first plate 200 shown in FIG. Fuel gas, air and cooling water can be supplied and discharged. The contact between the manifold plate FCm and the first plate 200 by the first plate pressing shaft 220 is performed because the gaskets G1 to G4 surrounding the manifold holes of the manifold plate FCm are compressed to exert a sealing function. , The stopper function of the fuel cell stack FCS along the X-axis direction is still performed by the five stopper shafts 210.

In the inspection step of FIG. 9, the pressing shaft 310 penetrating the notch 302 of the second plate 300 is pushed out along the X-axis direction by the second plate auxiliary jig 320 as shown by an arrow C in the figure, Each of the three pressing shafts 310 presses the end plate FCe of the fuel cell stack FCS along the X-axis direction. By this pressing, the fuel cell stack FCS is fastened with the prescribed fastening force as described above. As a result, the fuel cell stack inspection device 100 has a stack form in which the fuel cell stacks FCS that are stacked and housed in the stack housing area 130 are fastened with a predetermined fastening force when mounted on a vehicle, and the fuel cell stack FCS in this stack form is used. It enables inspection of gas leaks and power generation performance. After being fastened in this manner, the fuel gas/air and cooling water supply/discharge pipes P are connected to the respective manifold holes of the supply manifold hole M1 to the cooling water discharge manifold hole M4 of the first plate 200 shown in FIG. Fuel gas/air and cooling water are continuously supplied to and discharged from the cell stack FCS, and the fuel cell stack FCS is operated for power generation. Then, during this power generation operation, the power generation state of the fuel cell FC is inspected by the cell inspection device CM for each cell, and the leak of gas or cooling water is inspected.

Even if the cell power generation inspection and the leak inspection of the fuel cell stack FCS are completed, the fuel cell stack inspection device 100 continues the fastening by the five stopper shafts 210 and the three pressing shafts 310, so that the fuel cell stack FCS is The stack form is fastened in the X-axis direction (cell stacking direction). The five stopper shafts 210 and the three pressing shafts 310 that form the stack form a notch 202 cut in the first plate 200 and the second plate 300 along the Z-axis direction orthogonal to the cell stacking direction. Located in the notches 302, respectively. Therefore, in the fuel cell stack inspection device 100, the first plate auxiliary jig 230 and the second plate auxiliary jig 320 are held by a holding jig (not shown) in the Z-axis direction shown by the arrow D in FIG. Raise along the notch 302. Due to the raising of the auxiliary jig, the five stopper shafts 210 and the three pressing shafts 310 are retained by the first plate 200 and the first pressing plate 310 while the fuel cell stack FCS is kept in the stack form by these shafts as shown in FIG. The two plates 300 are separated from the plate upper end portion side. Then, the fuel cell stack inspection device 100 conveys the elevated first plate auxiliary jig 230 and second plate auxiliary jig 320 to the next process together with the fuel cell stack FCS in the stacked state. The first plate 200 and the second plate 300 may be moved along the notch 202 or the notch 302 relative to the fuel cell stack FCS in the stack accommodation area 130. Instead of raising, the first plate 200 and the second plate 300 may be lowered along with the device base 110 along the Z-axis direction.

In the fuel cell stack inspection apparatus 100 of the present embodiment described above, the fuel cell stack FCS accommodated in the stack accommodating area 130 is formed by stacking and fastening the manifold plate FCm, the current collecting plate FCt, and the fuel cell FC in a stack. The fuel cell stack FCS is inspected for gas leak and power generation performance in this stack mode. In the fuel cell stack inspection device 100 of the present embodiment, each notch 202 through which the five stopper shafts 210 penetrate is formed in each manifold hole of the supply manifold hole M1 to the cooling water discharge manifold hole M4 of the manifold plate FCm of the fuel cell stack FCS. And so as not to overlap when viewed from the cell stacking direction. Therefore, according to the fuel cell stack inspection apparatus 100 of the present embodiment, the gas/cooling water necessary for the fuel cell stack FCS in the power generation operation and the inspection during the time can be supplied and discharged from each of the above manifold holes without hindrance, and the stack type It does not interfere with the leak inspection of gas and cooling water of the fuel cell stack FCS.

The fuel cell stack inspection apparatus 100 of the present embodiment has a stack form in which the fuel cell stack FCS is fastened in the cell stacking direction by continuing the fastening with the five stopper shafts 210 and the three pressing shafts 310 even after the inspection is completed. Leave it alone. In addition, the fuel cell stack inspection device 100 of the present embodiment moves the five stopper shafts 210 and the three pressing shafts 310, which bring about the stack form, along the notches 202 or the notches 302, The fuel cell stack FCS in the stack form can be transported to the next process. As a result, according to the fuel cell stack inspection apparatus 100 of the present embodiment, after the gas/cooling water leak inspection of the fuel cell stack FCS and the power generation state inspection of the cell, the fastening and unfastening of the fuel cell FC is performed. All can be omitted.

The fuel cell stack inspection device 100 of this embodiment also has the following advantages. In the inspection of the fuel cell stack FCS in the stack form shown in FIG. 9, if there is a leak or power generation inspection failure, the fuel cell stack inspection device 100 causes the second plate auxiliary jig 320 to move the pressing shaft 310 in the X-axis direction. Then, the stack shaft is evacuated and the stack pressing by the pressing shaft 310 is released. Further, in the fuel cell stack inspection device 100, after the pressing shaft 310 is retracted, the first plate auxiliary jig 230 also retracts the stopper shaft 210 and the first plate 200 along the X-axis direction. As a result, the fastening of the fuel cell FC in the fuel cell stack FCS is released, so that the fuel cell FC that has failed the inspection can be removed and a new fuel cell FC can be incorporated into the fuel cell stack FCS and replaced. After this cell exchange, the fuel cell stack inspection device 100 again causes the first plate auxiliary jig 230 to push the stopper shaft 210 along the X-axis direction and the second plate auxiliary jig 320 to press the pressing shaft 310. Pushing out along the X-axis direction is sequentially executed in this order, and the fuel cell stack FCS is fastened into the stack state as described above. As a result, according to the fuel cell stack inspection device 100 of the present embodiment, the inspection defective cell can be replaced easily and promptly, and at this time, it is not necessary to remove the fuel cell FC that is not the inspection defective. As a result, it is possible to reduce the number of man-hours associated with defective inspection, and further reduce the cost. Note that when the stopper shaft 210 is re-protruded along the X-axis direction by the first plate auxiliary jig 230, the first plate 200 may also be re-protruded by the first plate auxiliary jig 230.

In the fuel cell stack inspection device 100 of the present embodiment, the stopper shaft 210 that functions as a stopper at the time of fastening the fuel cell stack FCS is connected to each of the supply manifold hole M1 to the cooling water discharge manifold hole M4 of the manifold plate FCm. The stopper shafts 210 are arranged in the notches 202 that do not overlap with each other when viewed from the cell stacking direction, and the number of stopper shafts 210 is set to five. When the fuel cell stack FCS is mounted on a vehicle, the manifold plate FCm receives the fastening load at a number of load receiving points corresponding to the fastening points TP in the end plate FCe, but the fuel cell stack inspection device 100 of the present embodiment has five. Since the stopper shaft 210 receives the fastening load, the individual stopper shafts 210 can have a small diameter as the number of load receiving points increases. Therefore, the width of the cutout 202 can also be narrowed, and it is easy to prevent the cutout 202 from overlapping each manifold hole of the supply manifold hole M1 to the cooling water discharge manifold hole M4 of the manifold plate FCm when viewed in the cell stacking direction. Becomes

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, examples, and modified examples, and can be realized with various configurations without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, the technical features in the embodiments, examples, and modifications corresponding to the technical features in each mode described in the section of the summary of the invention are to solve some or all of the above problems, or In order to achieve some or all of the above effects, it is possible to appropriately replace or combine them. In addition, if the technical features are not described as essential in this specification, they can be appropriately deleted.

In the above-described embodiment, the first plate auxiliary jig 230 of the first plate auxiliary jig 230 moves the first plate 200 along the plate holding shaft 120, but the first plate 200 is independently moved by a toggle clamp or the like. May be moved and fixed along the plate holding shaft 120.

In the above-described embodiment, the fuel cell stack FCs and the fuel cell stacks FCm are horizontally held by the stack holding seats 112 of the device base 110 to stack the fuel cell stacks FCS. The fuel cell stack FCS may be fastened by inclining the auxiliary jig 320 so that the side thereof is on the lower side.

In the above-described embodiment, the fuel cell stack FCS is pressed by the pressing shaft 310 penetrating the second plate 300, but the fuel cell stack FCS may be pressed by the shaft penetrating the first plate 200. Further, the fuel cell stack FCS may be pressed by both the shaft that penetrates the first plate 200 and the shaft that penetrates the second plate 300.

100... Fuel cell stack inspection device 110... Device base 112... Stack holding seat 120... Plate holding shaft 130... Stack receiving area 200... First plate 202... Notch 210... Stopper shaft 220... First plate pressing shaft 230... First plate Auxiliary jig 231... Supply port 232... Gas exhaust port 233... Air exhaust port 234... Cooling water exhaust port 300... Second plate 302... Notch 310... Pressing shaft 320... Second plate auxiliary jig CM... Cell inspection device FC... Fuel cell FCS... Fuel cell stack FCe... End plate FCm... Manifold plate FCt... Current collecting plate G1... Gasket M1... Supply manifold hole M2... Fuel gas exhaust manifold hole M3... Air exhaust manifold hole M4... Cooling water exhaust manifold hole P … Supply and discharge pipe TP… Fastening point

Claims (1)

An inspection device for inspecting at least power generation performance of a fuel cell stack in which a plurality of fuel battery cells are laminated,
A first plate and a second plate that are opposed to each other with a distance of at least the stacking direction length of the fuel cell stack, and the first plate is located on the side of a manifold plate that the fuel cell stack has at one end side of the stack; A second plate located on the side of an end plate that the fuel cell stack has on the other end side of the stack;
The fuel cell stack is formed by using a plurality of first shafts that penetrate the first plate and contact the manifold plate and a plurality of second shafts that penetrate the second plate and contact the end plate. While pressing along the cell stacking direction of the cells, while pressing the fuel cell stack, the fuel cell stack moves relative to the first plate and the second plate in the orthogonal direction orthogonal to the cell stacking direction. Equipped with a pressing mechanism,
The first plate is
A plurality of notches cut out from the plate end along the orthogonal direction are provided as first shaft notches through which the plurality of first shafts penetrate,
The second plate is
A plurality of notches cut from the plate end along the same direction as the first shaft notches as second shaft notches through which the plurality of second shafts penetrate,
The first shaft notch and the second shaft notch are arranged in one direction so that the first shaft and the second shaft pass through, respectively,
The first shaft notch is provided at a position where it does not overlap with a manifold hole for gas and cooling refrigerant included in the manifold plate when viewed from the cell stacking direction ,
The first plate includes an opening through which the gas and the cooling refrigerant are provided at a position facing the gas and the cooling refrigerant and the manifold hole provided in the manifold plate, and the first plate is provided when the inspection is performed. A device for inspecting a fuel cell stack , wherein the second plate is in close contact with the manifold plate of the fuel cell stack, and the second plate is in close contact with the end plate of the fuel cell stack.

Images