WO2005124909A1

WO2005124909A1 - Elastic body gasket such as fuel cell plate, fuel cell plate formed integrally with elastic body gasket, and method of manufacturing the gasket and the plate

Info

Publication number: WO2005124909A1
Application number: PCT/JP2004/008635
Authority: WO
Inventors: Shinya Muroi; Yutaka Kikuchi
Original assignee: Kokoku Intech Co., Ltd.
Priority date: 2004-06-18
Filing date: 2004-06-18
Publication date: 2005-12-29

Abstract

An elastic body gasket put on the surface of a plate such as a fuel cell plate, a fuel cell plate formed integrally with the elastic body gasket, and a method of manufacturing the gasket and the plate. The elastic body gasket, wherein a large number of gas and cooling water passage grooves (2) are formed at the center thereof, gas and cooling water lead-in and lead-out manifold holes (3) and (4) are formed on both outer sides of the passage grooves (2), lead-in parts and discharge parts are formed between the manifold holes (3) and (4) and the passage grooves (2), and flat plates capable of forming tunnel-structure passages are fitted to the lead-in parts and the discharge parts. The flat plates can be tightly fixed and the leakage of fluid from the fitting parts of the flat plates to the outside can be completely sealed, a productivity can be increased, and the consumed amount of a raw material can be reduced to reduce cost.

Description

Specification

Elastic gasket such as fuel cell plate, fuel cell plate integral with elastic gasket, and method of manufacturing the same

Technical field

The present invention relates to an elastic gasket of a fuel cell plate for a solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell, a fuel cell plate integrally formed with the elastic gasket, and a method of manufacturing the same. It can be used for equipment that alternately laminates a plate with a flow path and a soft film, has a gasket in each layer, and has a manifold hole that supplies fluid to the flow path in each layer. Things.

Background art

[0002] Conventionally, a plate such as a gas plate and a cooling plate of a solid polymer electrolyte battery has a general configuration shown in Fig. 7 (a), for example. That is, a gas or cooling water passage groove 2a is provided at the center of the plate la, and gas and cooling gas introduction manifold holes 3a provided on both sides and gas passages for leading out the gas and cooling water manifold holes 4a are provided. A cooling water introduction part 5a and a cooling water introduction part 6a are provided in communication with the passage grooves 2a, respectively.

By the way, when a fuel cell is formed by laminating plates la having such a configuration, as shown in FIGS. 7 (b) and 7 (c), sealing materials 8a, A plate la such as a gas plate or a cooling plate is arranged on the upper and lower surfaces with the 8a interposed. During use as a fuel cell, the soft film 7a of the naf ion membrane and the sealing materials 8a, 8a on both sides of the naf ion membrane are formed by the gas or cooling water flowing through the passage groove 2a of the plate la and the inlet 5a and the outlet 6a. At the location of 5a and the lead-out portion 6a, it falls downward, and thus a gap G is formed between the upper plate la and the gas or cooling water in the passage groove 2a may leak.

[0004] The invention disclosed in Patent Document 1 has been developed as a measure to prevent this leakage.

According to the present invention, as shown in FIGS. 8 (a) and 8 (b), a recess 9a is formed in a gas or cooling water introduction portion 5a and a discharge portion 6a opened in a plate la, and the recess 9a is formed. Plates 10a, 10a that can be shielded By forming holes 11a and 11a of the tunnel structure at locations corresponding to the introduction portion 5a and the lead-out portion 6a which are fitted and fixed and communicate with the respective manifold holes 3a and 3b, as shown in FIG. 10 (c). This makes it possible to avoid the inconvenience of leakage of gas and cooling water due to the downward drip of the soft film 7a of the naphthion film and the double-sided sealing materials 8a, 8a.

[0006] However, despite the shielding of the flat plates 10a, 10a, there is an invention of Patent Document 2 which ensures airtightness for a gas manifold integrated type separator of a fuel cell having a flat plate.

[0007] The basis of the invention of Patent Document 2 is that a portion of the plate la except for the gas and cooling water passage grooves is coated with a resin to form a coating layer. As shown in FIG. 9, in addition to the coating layer 12a, a convex-shaped resin-made reinforcing rib 13a that covers an end portion of the flat plate 10a parallel to the gas flow direction is provided. .

Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-35726

Patent Document 2: JP-A-2000-133289

Disclosure of the invention

Problems to be solved by the invention

[0008] Of Patent Documents 1 and 2 described above, in Patent Document 2 of the latter, in the case shown in FIGS. 9 (a) and 9 (b), a coating other than the flow grooves of the plate la is coated with resin. The layer 12a covers the flat plate 10a, and the convex-shaped reinforcing ribs 13a cover the ends parallel to the gas flow direction of the flat plate 10a, and the convex-shaped reinforcing ribs 13a are illustrated in FIG. As shown in Fig. 9 (b), the structure is provided over the outer periphery of the flow groove, so the leakage effect is excellent, but the coating covers a wider area than necessary, so the amount of raw material used is large and the cost is high. If gaskets cannot be provided at low cost, there is a problem.

[0009] In addition, in the cases shown in FIGS. 9 (c) and 9 (d), since there is no coating layer, even if the production cost of the gasket is low, the reinforcing rib 13a in the form of a convex portion does not Gas and cooling water pass through the gap S between the contact part between the end of the flat plate 10a fitted to the plate la and the fitting part of the plate la. The inconvenience of leakage from the outer end of the reinforcing rib 13a in the outward P direction cannot be avoided. [0010] In the case of leakage further inward in the Q direction, the reinforcing ribs 13a leak into the closed space R shown in Fig. 9 (d), which is not preferable.

[0011] The present invention has been made in view of the points described above, and has been made to make the airtightness of various plates more effective. To provide an elastic gasket such as a fuel cell plate that can be expected to improve the productivity and reduce the amount of raw materials used to reduce the cost by reducing the leakage of fluid into the gasket. It is an object of the present invention to provide a fuel cell plate having a structure and a method for manufacturing the same.

Means for solving the problem

[0012] The present invention can solve the problem by providing the following configuration.

[0013] (1) A large number of gas and cooling water passage grooves are provided at the center, and manifold holes for introducing and discharging gas and cooling water are provided on both outer sides of the passage grooves. A fuel cell or the like configured by providing an introduction portion and a discharge portion between the manifold hole and the passage groove, and attaching a flat plate capable of forming a tunnel-structured passage to each of the introduction portion and the discharge portion. An elastic gasket attached to the surface of the plate, wherein the annular gasket surrounds the outer periphery of the manifold hole and the outer periphery of the flat plate while surrounding the outer periphery of the passage groove. An elastic gasket, such as a fuel cell plate, comprising: a main seal portion that reaches the annular seal portion through a position.

[0014] (2) A large number of gas and cooling water passage grooves are provided at the center, and manifold holes for introducing and discharging gas and cooling water are provided on both outer sides of the passage grooves. A fuel cell or the like configured by providing an introduction portion and a discharge portion between the manifold hole and the passage groove, and attaching a flat plate capable of forming a tunnel-structured passage to each of the introduction portion and the discharge portion. An elastic gasket attached to the surface of the plate, wherein the annular gasket surrounds the outer periphery of the manifold hole and the outer periphery of the flat plate while surrounding the outer periphery of the passage groove. A seat portion comprising a main seal portion which reaches the annular seal portion through a position and which covers the flat plate portion is provided from the end face of the annular seal portion toward the flat plate portion of the main seal portion. Elastic body such as fuel cell plate Basket.

(3) The plate is made of a metal mainly composed of stainless steel, carbon graphite, resin matrix. An elastic gasket such as a fuel cell plate according to the above (1) or (2), which is a tas-molded carbon.

(4) The flat plate is made of polyimide, polyether sulfide, polysulfone, polyethylene naphthalate, polyamide, or polyetherimide, such as the fuel cell plate described in (1) or (2) above. Elastic gasket.

(5) A large number of gas and cooling water passage grooves are provided at the center, and manifold holes for introduction and discharge of gas and cooling water are provided on both outer sides of the passage grooves. A fuel cell or the like configured by providing an introduction portion and a discharge portion between the manifold hole and the passage groove, and attaching a flat plate capable of forming a tunnel-structured passage to each of the introduction portion and the discharge portion. An annular seal portion surrounding the outer periphery of the manifold hole, and an annular seal portion surrounding the outer periphery of the passage groove and passing through positions outside both end surfaces of the flat plate on the surface of the plate. A fuel cell plate integrally formed with an elastic gasket, wherein the fuel cell plate is formed by applying an elastic gasket comprising a main seal portion that reaches the fuel gasket.

(6) A large number of gas and cooling water passage grooves are provided at the center, and manifold holes for introducing and discharging gas and cooling water are provided on both outer sides of the passage grooves. An inlet and an outlet are provided between the manifold hole and the passage groove, and the fuel cell plate is formed by attaching a flat plate capable of forming a tunnel-structured passage to each of the inlet and the outlet. An annular seal portion surrounding the outer periphery of the manifold hole, and a main seal reaching the annular seal portion via outer positions from both end surfaces of the flat plate while surrounding the outer periphery of the passage groove on the surface of the plate. And an elastic gasket comprising a sheet portion that covers the flat plate portion and is provided from the end face of the annular seal portion toward the flat plate portion of the main seal portion. Fuel cell with integrated elastic gasket Rate.

[0019] (7) The elastic gasket is a millable rubber made of FKM, EPDM, IIR, NBR, or SIR, and the fuel cell unit has an integral structure with the elastic gasket according to the above (5) or (6). rate.

(8) A fuel cell plate excluding the flat plate according to (5) or (6) is formed in advance, housed in a mold, and the flat plate is mounted and fixed. 6) Unvulcanized rubber is placed in a rubber molding die in which the parts corresponding to the annular seal part and the main seal part described in A method for producing an elastic gasket and a plate for a fuel cell, which is integrated with an elastic gasket, comprising injecting a rubber material, heating and pressing, and vulcanizing.

The invention's effect

According to the present invention, not only the manifold hole through which gas or cooling water passes but also the manifold hole through which gas or cooling water passes, as well as the gasket of the various plates to be laminated for a fuel cell, particularly a solid polymer electrolyte battery, Alternatively, since the sealing effect of the inlet and outlet connecting to the cooling water passage groove and the manifold hole is sealed by a completely continuous gasket structure with a convex seal structure, leakage of gas and cooling water etc. In addition, it is possible to avoid the inconvenience of the plate, and to seal the inlet and outlet parts at positions away from the ends of the flat plate, so that the gas is transferred to other areas from the gap S of the flat plate structure. It is possible to completely prevent the risk of intrusion of cooling water and cooling water, further minimize the sealing area and sealing location, use less raw material, and is easy to manufacture, so it is suitable for low-cost mass production.

Brief Description of Drawings

FIG. 1 is an enlarged perspective view of a main part showing one embodiment of the present invention.

[Fig.2] Enlarged slope view of main part showing plate mounting structure

FIG. 3 is an explanatory view of a section taken along line III-III in FIG.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of a main part showing another embodiment of the present invention.

[Fig.5] V-V cross section of Fig.4

[Fig. 6] (a) and (b) are enlarged sectional views showing two examples of various seal parts

[FIG. 7] (a) is an explanatory plan view showing a general configuration of a fuel cell plate showing a conventional example, (b) is a cross-sectional explanatory diagram of a single unit configuration, and (c) is a state in which the structure has been deformed to a defective deformation structure in use Sectional view showing

[FIG. 8] (a) is an explanatory plan view showing a state in which the flat plate of FIG. 7 is provided, and (b) is a cross-sectional view taken along line Vlllb-Vlllb of (a).

[FIG. 9] (a) is a cross-sectional explanatory view of a conventional fuel cell plate in which a coating layer and a reinforcing rib are provided on a flat plate, (b) is a partial plan explanatory view of (a), (c) Is a cross-sectional explanatory view of a conventional fuel cell plate in which reinforcing ribs are provided on a flat plate, and (d) is a partial plan view of (c).

Explanation of reference numerals 1, la plate

2, 2a Passage groove

3, 3a Manifold hole for introduction

4, 4a Manifold hole for derivation

5, 5a Introduction

6, 6a Derivation unit

7a Flexible film

8a Seal material

9, 9a

10, 10a flat plate

11, 11 a Shit of Tonnenore structure

12a Coating layer

13a Reinforcing rib

A Annular seal for manifold hole

B Main seal part composed of surrounding seal part B1 and flat plate seal part B2

C Seal for flat plate

G gap

L Separated distance

S gap

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0024] Including a passage groove through which gas or cooling water that constitutes the polymer electrolyte fuel cell flows, and a seal at a plate-attached portion of a gas or cooling water introduction part and a discharge part that communicates with the manifold hole. The present invention relates to an elastic gasket that significantly improves the airtightness of various plates stacked in multiple stages, thereby providing a high quality fuel cell. Example

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the present invention, in which 1 is a gas or cooling water that can generate electric power by flowing a gas or cooling water constituting a polymer electrolyte fuel cell. For example, metal, carbon graphite, resin based on stainless steel Trix molded carbon. The basic configuration of the plate 1 is the same as that of FIG. 7, and details are not shown. However, 2 is a gas or cooling water circulation groove formed at substantially the center of the plate 1. 3 and 4 are manifold holes for gas or cooling water passing through the multi-stage layer, and 5 and 6 are gas or cooling water inlets or outlets passing through the manifold holes 3 and 4. Reference numeral 10 denotes a flat plate which is fitted and fixed to the inlet or outlet portions 5 and 6, and the flat plate 10 has a rectangular parallelepiped shape as shown in FIG. A hole 9 of a tunnel structure having a reduced height is formed in the lower part of the fitting portion of the flat plate 10 by drilling a recess 9 of the size and fitting and fixing the flat plate 10 in the recess 9. The flat plate 10 does not need to be particularly limited in terms of metal, resin, and other materials themselves, but a resin film is used in the embodiment. That is, polyimide, polyether sulfide, polysulfone, polyethylene naphthalate, polyamide, polyether imide and the like can be used as raw materials.

[0026] As shown in FIG. 2, a recess 9 having a size equal to the size of the rectangular flat plate 10 is formed on the side of the plate 1 facing the manifold holes 3 and 4 of the pre-formed plate 1, A flat plate 10 is placed and fixed in the recess 9 to form a tunnel-structured hole 11 in the gas and cooling water inlets and outlets 5 and 6 that communicate with the gas and cooling water manifold holes 3 and 4. Things.

1A is an annular seal portion provided on the outer periphery of the manifold holes 3 and 4 and presses and seals the front surface of the flat plate 10. B is formed while surrounding the outer periphery of the passage groove 2. One continuous main seal comprising an enclosing seal portion B1 to be formed and a flat plate seal portion B2 reaching an annular seal portion A for sealing the manifold holes 3 and 4 through positions outside the surfaces of both ends of the flat plate 10. The gasket can be integrally formed by the annular seal portion A and the main seal portion B.

[0028] In particular, the flat plate seal portion B2 is separated sufficiently outward from the gap S formed at the end of the flat plate 10 at the fitting position of the flat plate 10 on the plate 1 as shown in FIG. Provided at a location where the distance L is maintained, if leakage occurs with the gap S, even if leakage occurs, it is in the seal space surrounded by the annular seal part A for the manifold and the main seal part B Therefore, no other adverse effects occur.

The annular seal portion A and the main seal portion B have a convex cross-sectional structure as shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B or a convex shape having ribs on the left and right sides. be able to. Next, FIGS. 3 and 4 show a second embodiment in which a part of the configuration of the above embodiment is different.

[0031] The entire configuration is the same as that shown in Fig. 1, and therefore, the same reference numerals are given to the unchanged configurations, and detailed description will be omitted.

This embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that a sheet portion C that shields a part or the whole area of the flat plate 10 from the flat plate pressing portion of the annular seal portion A in the flat seal portion B2 of the main seal portion B is integrally formed. It is a feature.

[0033] With this configuration, the flat plate 10 is formed as shown in the sectional view taken along the line VV of Fig. 4 (Fig. 5).

The plate 10 is completely pressed and shielded, so that leakage of the fluid that is to leak from the gap S can be completely prevented, and inconveniences such as separation and separation of the flat plate 10 can be avoided.

The elastic gaskets constituting the annular seal portion A, the main seal portion B, and the flat sheet portion C used in the above embodiment have no particular problem as long as they are rubber or plastic having a sealing property. Is preferably a millable rubber of FKM, EPDM, IIR, NBR, SIR.

Further, the elastic gasket can be formed specially from the plate 1 and both can be integrally formed. However, a fuel cell plate from which the flat plate 10 is removed is manufactured in advance, and this is formed into a gasket. The rubber material in an unvulcanized state is accommodated in a metal mold, and the flat plate 10 is placed and fixed at a predetermined position, and a part corresponding to a rubber seal portion is cut out in the metal mold. By injecting and heating and pressurizing and vulcanizing, a fuel cell plate integrally formed with the elastic gasket can be manufactured.

Claims

The scope of the claims

[1] A large number of gas and cooling water passage grooves are provided at the center, and manifold holes for introducing and discharging gas and cooling water are provided on both outer sides of the passage grooves. A plate for a fuel cell or the like constituted by providing an introduction portion and a discharge portion between the passage portion and the passage groove, and attaching a flat plate capable of forming a tunnel-structured passage to each of the introduction portion and the discharge portion. An elastic gasket attached to the surface of the flat plate, wherein the annular seal portion surrounds the outer periphery of the manifold hole, and is located outside the both end surfaces of the flat plate while surrounding the outer periphery of the passage groove. An elastic gasket, such as a fuel cell plate, comprising: a main seal portion that reaches the annular seal portion through the main seal portion.

[2] A large number of gas and cooling water passage grooves are provided in the center, and manifold holes for introducing and discharging gas and cooling water are provided on both outer sides of the passage grooves. A plate for a fuel cell or the like constituted by providing an introduction portion and a discharge portion between the passage portion and the passage groove, and attaching a flat plate capable of forming a tunnel-structured passage to each of the introduction portion and the discharge portion. An elastic gasket attached to the surface of the flat plate, wherein the annular seal portion surrounds the outer periphery of the manifold hole, and is located outside the both end surfaces of the flat plate while surrounding the outer periphery of the passage groove. And a sheet portion that covers the flat plate portion and that is a main seal portion that reaches the annular seal portion through the seal member. Elastic body gas such as fuel cell plate Socket.

[3] The elastic gasket such as a fuel cell plate according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the plate is made of a metal mainly composed of stainless steel, carbon graphite, or resin matrix molded carbon.

4. The elastic gasket such as a fuel cell plate according to claim 1, wherein the flat plate is made of polyimide, polyether sulfide, polysulfone, polyethylene naphthalate, polyamide, or polyetherimide.

[5] A large number of gas and cooling water passage grooves are provided at the center, and manifold holes for introducing and discharging gas and cooling water are provided on both outer sides of the passage grooves. An inlet and an outlet are provided between the fuel cell and the passage groove, and a press plate for a fuel cell or the like is formed by attaching a flat plate capable of forming a tunnel-structured passage to each of the inlet and the outlet. An annular seal portion surrounding the outer periphery of the manifold hole on the surface of the manifold; and a main seal reaching the annular seal portion via positions outside both end surfaces of the flat plate while surrounding the outer periphery of the passage groove. A fuel cell plate integrally formed with an elastic gasket, which is formed by attaching an elastic gasket comprising a seal portion.

[6] A large number of gas and cooling water passage grooves are provided at the center, and manifold holes for introducing and discharging gas and cooling water are provided on both outer sides of the passage grooves. Between the fuel cell plate and the passage groove, on the surface of the fuel cell plate configured by providing an introduction part and a discharge part, and attaching a flat plate capable of forming a tunnel-structured passage to each of the introduction part and the discharge part. An annular seal portion surrounding the outer periphery of the manifold hole, and a main seal portion that reaches the annular seal portion through positions outside both end surfaces of the flat plate while surrounding the outer periphery of the passage groove, And an elastic gasket formed by applying a sheet portion covering the flat plate portion from the end face of the annular seal portion toward the flat plate portion of the main seal portion. Fuel cell structure with structure Door.

7. The fuel cell plate according to claim 5, wherein the elastic gasket is a millable rubber made of FKM, EPDM, IIR, NBR, or SIR.

[8] A fuel cell plate from which the flat plate according to claim 5 or 6 is eliminated is formed in advance, accommodated in a mold, and the flat plate is mounted and fixed. An uncured rubber material is poured into a rubber mold with a notch at the part corresponding to the seal, and heated and pressed for vulcanization. Manufacturing method of battery plate.