JPH08190921A - Solid electrolyte fuel cell - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To enhance sealing capability. CONSTITUTION: In an inner manifold type solid electrolyte fuel cell, sealing grooves 11A, 11B surrounding manifold grooves 6A, 6C, and gas distributing grooves 7a, 7B are formed on the facing surfaces of current collecting plates 1 and a separator 3, and heat resistant insulating members 12 are fit to the insides of the sealing grooves 11A, 11B, then melt sealing materials 13 are placed between the heat resistant insulating member 12 and sealing grooves 11A, 11B. The melt sealing material whose viscosity is decreased is collected in the sealing groove, and flow out to the outside is prevented. Positioning accuracy of the member is enhanced.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an internal manifold type solid oxide fuel cell.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An exploded view of a conventional internal manifold type solid oxide fuel cell is shown in FIG. In this conventional example, two unit cells D are stacked, 1 is a current collector plate (a bipolar plate with a groove) made of a metal member, 2 is a power generation cell forming a power generation part, and 3 is a separator (a groove made of a metal member). The unit cell D is configured by sandwiching the power generation cell 2 between the current collector plate 1 and the separator 3.

At one of the four corners of the current collector plate 1, the power generation cell 2 and the separator 3 facing each other, an inlet gas hole 5A and an outlet gas hole 5B for supplying / discharging the hydrogen-based fuel gas A are provided. In addition, an inlet gas hole 5C and an outlet gas hole 5D for supplying and discharging the oxygen-based air gas B are provided at the other opposing position. The inlet manifold grooves 6A and 6C communicating with the inlet gas holes 5A and 5C and the outlet gas hole 5B are formed on the surface of the current collector plate 1 facing the power generating cell 2 and both surfaces of the separator 3, respectively. Outlet manifold grooves 6B and 6D communicating with 5D are formed. Then, between the inlet manifold grooves 6A and 6C and the outlet manifold grooves 6B and 6D, which are parallel to the diagonal line, the power generation cell 2
A plurality of gas distribution grooves 7A and 7B for distributing / supplying the fuel gas A or the air gas B are formed in different planes in directions intersecting with each other. The power generation cell 2 is configured by providing a positive electrode flat plate (air electrode) and a negative electrode flat plate (fuel electrode) on the front and back surfaces of an electrolyte ceramic thin film (solid electrolyte layer).
Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 4, the peripheral sealing portion between the current collector plate 1 and the power generating cell 2 and the peripheral sealing portion between the separator 3 and the power generating cell 2 are melt-sealing materials 8 made of a glass material by a melt sealing method. Were filled in the gap between the collector plate 1 and the power generation cell 2 and the gap between the separator 3 and the power generation cell 2, respectively.

With the above structure, usually at a high temperature of 1000 ° C.,
In each of the upper and lower unit cells D, the fuel gas A is passed from the inlet gas hole 5A through the inlet manifold groove 6A through the gas distribution groove 7A, and the fuel gas A is flown onto the negative electrode to exit from the outlet manifold groove 6B. The air gas B is discharged to the outlet gas hole 5B, and the air gas B is caused to flow from the inlet gas hole 5C through the inlet manifold groove 6C through the gas distribution groove 7B onto the positive electrode to exit from the outlet manifold groove 6D. Electric power is obtained by discharging to the gas hole 5D for use.

[0005]

However, in the above structure, the glass material used as the melt seal material 8 has a significantly reduced viscosity at a high temperature in which a battery is used, and the seal material 8 flows out to impair the sealing property. However, there is a problem in that a satisfactory sealing property cannot be obtained due to a slight deviation of the sealing portion during stacking.

An object of the present invention is to solve the above problems and provide a solid oxide fuel cell having a high sealing property.

[0007]

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a front surface and a back surface of a solid electrolyte layer between separators interposed between a pair of current collector plates and between current collector plates and separators. A power generating cell having an electrode plate disposed therein is provided, the power collecting cell is connected to the gas inlet and the gas outlet by facing the power generating cell to the current collecting plate and the separator, and the power generating cell is communicated between these manifold grooves. In a solid oxide fuel cell in which a plurality of gas distribution grooves for supplying and distributing gas to and from are formed, a groove for sealing surrounding the manifold groove and the gas distribution groove is formed on the facing surface of the current collector plate and the separator, and A heat resistant insulating member is fitted in the groove, and a melt seal material is interposed between the heat resistant insulating member and the inner surface of the sealing groove.

[0008]

According to the above construction, the melt seal material is melted at a high temperature to form a melt seal portion, and the gas can be effectively sealed. Further, even when the melt seal material is significantly reduced in viscosity, the melt seal material can be retained in the sealing groove to ensure the sealing property and does not flow out to the outside. Furthermore, the collector electrode, the separator, and the power generation cell can be accurately positioned, and the positional deviation during manufacturing can be eliminated.

[0009]

EXAMPLE An example of a solid oxide fuel cell according to the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. In addition,
The same members as those in the related art are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted.

Sealing grooves 11A and 11B are formed around the manifold plates 6A to 6D and the fuel gas distribution grooves 7A and 7B around the surfaces of the current collector plate 1 and the separator 3 facing the power generating cell 2, respectively. Seal groove 11A,
A heat resistant insulating material 12 is fitted in each of 11B. Then, the outer side of the power generation cell 2 is cut along the heat resistant insulating material 12, and each end face is in contact with the inner side surface of the heat resistant insulating material 12. Further, these sealing grooves 11A, 1
A melt seal material 13 made of a glass material is filled and sealed in the gap between the inner surface side and the bottom surface side of 1B and the heat resistant insulating material 12. Further, a gap 14 is formed on the outer surface side of the sealing grooves 11A and 11B to allow thermal expansion. The heat-resistant insulating material 12 is made of an inorganic material such as ceramics or refractory.

In the above structure, the melt seal material 13 is melted at a high temperature of about 1000 ° C. in which the fuel cell is used to form a melt seal portion, and the manifold grooves 6A to 6D are formed.
It is possible to effectively prevent the fuel gas A and the air gas B from being leaked to the gas distribution grooves 7A and 7B from leaking.
Even if the viscosity of the melt seal material 13 is significantly reduced, the melt seal material 13 is accumulated at the bottom of the sealing groove 11B due to its own weight and is retained at the bottom of the horizontal sealing groove 11B due to the capillary phenomenon to improve the sealing property. Secure and never leak out.

[0012]

As described above, according to the present invention, the melt seal material is melted at a high temperature to form the melt seal portion, and the gas can be effectively sealed. Further, even when the melt seal material is significantly reduced in viscosity, the melt seal material can be retained in the sealing groove to ensure the sealing property and does not flow out to the outside. Furthermore, the collector electrode, the separator, and the power generation cell can be accurately positioned, and the positional deviation during manufacturing can be eliminated.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partially enlarged sectional view showing an embodiment of a solid oxide fuel cell according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing the solid oxide fuel cell device.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing a conventional solid oxide fuel cell.

FIG. 4 is a partially enlarged sectional view showing the solid oxide fuel cell device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 A Fuel gas B Air gas D Single cell 1 Current collector plate 2 Power generation cell 3 Separator 5A to 5D Gas hole 6A to 6D Manifold groove 7A, 7B Gas distribution groove 8 Melt seal material 11A, 11B Seal groove 12 Heat resistant insulation material 13 Melt seal material

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Hiroshi Tatsumi 5-3-3 Nishikujo 5-chome, Konohana-ku, Osaka City, Osaka Prefecture Hitachi Shipbuilding Co., Ltd.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A power generating cell having electrode plates arranged on the front and back surfaces of a solid electrolyte layer is provided between separators interposed between a pair of current collector plates, and between the current collector plates and separators. And a solid electrolyte in which a plurality of gas distribution grooves are formed facing the power generation cell to the separator and communicating with the gas inlet and the gas outlet, respectively, and a plurality of gas distribution grooves communicating between the manifold grooves to distribute gas to the power generation cell. In a fuel cell, a groove for sealing surrounding a manifold groove and a gas distribution groove is formed on the facing surface of the current collector and the separator, and a heat resistant insulating member is fitted in the groove for sealing, and the heat resistant insulating member is also formed. A solid electrolyte fuel cell, characterized in that a melt seal material is interposed between the seal groove and the inner surface of the sealing groove.