JP3474886B2 - Fuel cell - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [0001] BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a fuel gas and an oxidizing gas.
And a fuel cell that generates power. [0002] 2. Description of the Related Art Fuel cells use the chemical energy of the supplied gas.
Is a device that directly converts energy into electrical energy.
Currently, fuels of phosphoric acid type, molten carbonate type, solid electrolyte type, etc.
Batteries are being actively researched and high power generation efficiency is expected
Have been. The basic unit of power generation for these fuel cells is electrolytic
Cathode and anode on both sides of a porous matrix
It is a single cell of the configuration. [0003] However, one single cell
Output voltage (V) and current density (mA /
cm^Two) Is limited, so use batteries that are in practical use.
Can achieve the desired output by stacking multiple single cells.
Voltage and current are obtained. In particular, single cell
Since the output voltage is about 0.6 V, for example, 120 V
In order to obtain the output voltage, about 200 single cells are stacked
Need to be Generally, a fuel cell electrically connects each single cell.
Good electron conductivity for each single cell.
The separator is inserted to form a stack.
Therefore, when 200 single cells are stacked,
Including the thickness of the pareta, the height of the stack is about 2m
become. As a result, the stack is raised in the stacking direction.
Installation of the fuel cell due to space constraints in the height direction
Becomes difficult. [0004] Therefore, a compact star having a low height in the stacking direction is used.
(In other words, a small number of single cells are stacked)
And electrically connecting these stacks in series.
To obtain the same output voltage as the conventional stack.
available. However, oxidizer gas and fuel
It is necessary to provide a manifold for supplying and discharging gas and gas piping.
The problem of high manufacturing costs
You. [0005] In view of the above problems, the present invention selects an installation location.
Production cost is low, and large voltage can be taken out
It is an object of the present invention to provide a fuel cell that can be used. [0006] The present invention solves the above-mentioned problems.
The cathode and anode on both sides of the electrolyte matrix.
And a cell withTheOxidant gas and fuel in the cell
Separator for supplying gas,Alternately stacking multiple
In a fuel cell comprisingSaidFor cell layer between each separator
Is divided into cells, which are divided into cells.
The cell segment is composed of the cathode and the anode of the next cell segment.
Connected in series by electrical connection, and
The separator,ThisLow potential placed on the separator
Provided in the area corresponding to the side cell divisionFrom carbon
ComposedNon-conductive parts provided in conductive parts and other areas
Department and,And the low-potential-side cell segment of each cell layer
The high-potential side cell division of another cell layer
Or, connected to the low-potential-side cell division body via the conductive portion.
All cell divisions of all cell layers are connected in series
It is characterized by having a configuration. [0007] According to the above construction, the cell layer between the separators is provided.
Consists of a plurality of cell divisions electrically connected in series.
So that, as in the past, just one single cell
Compared to the case of configuring cell layers, the output obtained in each cell layer
The force voltage can be increased several times. Moreover, all
Since all the cell divisions of the layer are connected in series,
All cell divisions that make up the battery are electrically connected in series
Will be done. Therefore, the number of stacked cells is small.
Nevertheless, a large voltage can be taken out. The result
As a result, the height of the stack in the stacking direction can be suppressed.
Therefore, the range of choice of the installation location of the fuel cell is expanded. [0008] In addition, a large voltage is taken out by one stack
Multiple stacks as before.
No need to connect. Therefore, for each stack
Since there is no need to provide
Cheap. [0009] FIG. 1 shows a phosphoric acid type fuel according to one embodiment of the present invention.
It is a schematic sectional perspective view which shows a part of battery. This fuel cell
The pond has cathodes 2 on both upper and lower surfaces of the electrolyte matrix 1.
A cell with an anode 3 and a bipolar plate
Are laminated alternately, but in FIG.
Layers 41, 42, 43 and fuel gas passages 31
And the oxidizing gas passage 21 are formed at right angles to each other.
A plurality of polar plates 51, 52 and 53 are alternately laminated.
Only the structure shown is shown. In FIG. 1, solid arrows indicate fuel gas.
The broken arrows indicate the flow of the reaction air. Said
Fuel gas IN side and fuel gas OUT side of the fuel cell
The fuel gas supply manifold and the fuel gas exhaust
Manifolds (both not shown) are gas sealers
It is attached via a hook (not shown). As well
At the side of the reaction air IN side and the reaction air OUT side
Are the reaction air supply manifold and the reaction air discharge manifold.
Holds (both not shown) are each gas seal packing
It is attached via a ring (not shown). The gas
Seal packing is made of polytetrafluoroethylene (P
Fluorine resin and fluorine rubber such as TFE) are mainly used
Have been. The operating temperature of the phosphoric acid fuel cell is 20
It is desirable to be around 0 ° C.
And the problem of corrosion and corrosion will increase,
Since the power voltage drops and the conversion efficiency to electric power deteriorates,
Cools batteries so that all cells can operate over a range of temperatures
It is necessary to cool the fuel cell by the reaction air
Done by air supplied through the supply manifold
It is. The above-mentioned bipolar plates 51, 52, 53
As shown in FIG. 1, each of the cell layers 41, 42, 43 between
The fuel air is divided approximately equally into four parts in the flow direction of the reaction air.
Strip extending in the flow direction (ie, from the front to the back of the drawing)
Cells 41a, 41b, 41c, 41d, 42a, 42
b ・ 42c ・ 42d 、 43a ・ 43b ・ 43c ・ 43d
(Hereinafter, divided into a plurality as described above)
Each of the cells 41a to 43d is referred to as a “cell divided body 41a to 43d”.
d "). 41a, 42a and 43a are low potential.
Side cell division bodies, 41d, 42d and 43d
2 shows a cell division body on the position side. The cell division body 4 on the low potential side
1a, 42a, 43a, and the cell division body 41 on the high potential side
d, 42d, 43d are on the left of each cell layer 41, 42, 43.
Either right end (ie, reaction air supply side or reaction air
(The discharge side) and the cell division body 41 on the low potential side
a, 42a, 43a and cell division body 41d, 4 on the high potential side
2d and 43d are provided at the ends opposite to the left and right for each layer.
Have been. The cell division bodies 41a to 43d are made of carbonized carbon.
Carbohydrate on both upper and lower surfaces of electrolyte matrix 1 made of iodine
Cathode 2 made of paper and carbon paper
Anodes 3 each comprising
Between the electrode 1 and each electrode 2 ・ 3
Kneaded with tetrafluoroethylene (PTFE)
The cathode catalyst layer 22 and the anode catalyst layer 32
It is interposed. In addition, each of the cell division bodies 41a to 43d
The electrolyte matrix 1 is composed of a cathode 2 and an adjacent cell division body.
Car for electrically connecting the anodes 41a to 43d
Bent to the same shape as Bon Paper,
Both ends of the box 1 are covers of the adjacent cell division bodies 41a to 43d.
It extends between the sword 2 and the anode 3. This
With such a configuration, each of the cell divided bodies 41a to 43d
Indicates that the adjacent cell divided bodies 41a to 43d are sealed with gas.
Has been done. In addition, at both ends of each cell layer 41, 42, 43
Provided low-potential-side cell division bodies 41a, 42a, and 43
a, and the cell division bodies 41d, 42d, and 43d on the high potential side
Of the battery on the side of the battery (that is,
On the other hand, the electrolyte matrix 1 is composed of the cathode 2 and the anode 2
And extends to the side of the battery.
Is substantially equal to the length of one side in the length direction of the cell division body.
The fuel gas and the reaction air are sealed by the new sealing member 6.
Have been. The low potential side cell division bodies 41a and 42a
43a is the cell division body 41a, 42a, 43a
Cathode 2 and adjacent cell divisions 41b, 42b, 43b
Electricity by carbon paper sharing the anode 3
Are serially connected. Similarly, other cell splits
Also, the cathode 2 of this cell divided body and the adjacent cell divided body
Electricity is provided by carbon paper sharing the anode 3.
Are connected in series. With such a configuration,
All the cell division bodies 41a to 41 of the cell layers 41, 42, and 43
3d are electrically connected in series. The above-mentioned bipolar plates 51, 52, 53
The bipolar plates 51, 52, 53
Of each of the cell division bodies 41a to 43d arranged on the upper surface of
Multiple fuel gas passages 31 for supplying fuel gas to the tank 3
While the bipolar plates 51, 52, 53
The lower surfaces of the bipolar plates 51, 52, 53
Of the cell division bodies 41a to 43d arranged on the lower surface of
Multiple reaction air passages 21 for supplying reaction air to the nozzle 2
Have been. The fuel gas passage 31 and the reaction air passage
21 are formed so as to be orthogonal to each other.
The feed gas and the reaction air flow orthogonally in the battery. Also,
Each of the bipolar plates 51, 52, and 53 includes a cell layer.
Cell division bodies 41d and 42 on the high potential side of 41, 42 and 43
d and 43d, and the cell division bodies 41a and 42a on the low potential side
43a is the higher potential side of the other cell layers 41, 42, 43
Cell division bodies 41d, 42d, 43d or the low potential side
The cell division bodies 41a, 42a and 43a are brought into electrical contact with each other.
Electrical contact with the conductive portions 51b, 52b, 53b
Composed of non-conductive portions 51a, 52a and 53a for preventing
Have been. The bipolar plates 51, 52, 53
Of the conductive portions 51b, 52b, 53b
It is composed of coated plastic etc.
The non-conductive portions 51a, 52a, and 53a are made of ceramic or plastic.
It is composed of a plastic or the like. The bipolar pre
Cells on the lower potential side disposed on the upper surfaces of the gates 51, 52, 53
Areas corresponding to the divided bodies 41a, 42a, and 43a (ie,
Provided at any end of each cell layer 41, 42, 43
The size of the main surface of the cell segment on the low potential side or high potential side
(Corresponding areas) are provided with conductive portions 51b, 52b and 53b.
The other regions are non-conductive portions 51a, 52a, and 5a.
3a is provided. Hereinafter, the fuel cell configured as described above will be described.
The flow of the current flowing through will be described with reference to the schematic diagram of FIG.
You. First, from the fuel gas supply manifold to the fuel gas passage
The fuel gas is supplied to the anode 3 of the cell division body 41a through the
Is supplied, the reaction shown in the following equation occurs, and hydrogen is consumed
Is done. H_Two--- → 2H⁺+ 2e^- Next, the reaction air supply manifold 21 is connected to the reaction air supply manifold.
Reaction air is supplied to the cathode 2 of the cell divided body 41a through the
When supplied, the reaction shown in the following equation occurs, and oxygen is consumed.
Generates steam. 1/2 O_Two+ 2H⁺+ 2e^-−− → H_TwoO Therefore, as a whole, the reaction represented by the following formula is performed.
You. H_Two+ 1/2 O_Two−− → H_TwoO In this case, the proton generated by the electrode reaction of the anode 3
(H⁺) Is an electrolyte matrix 1 impregnated with phosphoric acid.
Since it moves in the direction of the cathode 2 through the layer,
As shown, current flows from the anode 3 to the cathode 2
You. The same applies to the other cell division bodies 41b to 43d.
As shown by the solid arrows, the anode 3
The current flows to. Here, the cathode of the cell division body 41a
2 is an adjacent cell divided body 41b via carbon paper.
It is electrically connected to the anode 3 in series. Also,
The cathode 2 of the cell division body 41b is also connected to the adjacent cell division body 41c.
It is connected in series with the anode 3 and further has a cell division body 4
The cathode 2 of 1c is also the anode 3 of the adjacent cell division body 41d.
And are connected in series. As a result, bipolar play
All the cell division bodies 41a of the cell layer 41 between the cells 51 and 52
41b 41c 41d are electrically connected in series
Therefore, the high voltage is supplied from the cell division body 41a on the low potential side.
A current flows through the lower cell division body 41d. Like this
In addition, all the cell divided bodies 42a, 42b, 4 of the cell layer 42
2c and 42d are also electrically connected in series.
From the cell division body 42a on the potential side to the cell division body 4 on the high potential side
A current flows through 2d. Furthermore, all the cells of the cell layer 43
Split bodies 43a, 43b, 43c and 43d are also electrically connected in series.
Since the connection is made, the cell division body 43a on the low potential side
A current flows through the cell division body 43d on the high potential side. Place
The cell division 41d on the high potential side of the cell layer 41 and the cell
Cell segment 42a on the low potential side of the cell layer 42 and the cell layer 4
2 low potential of the cell division body 42d on the high potential side and the cell layer 43
The cell division body 43a on the side is a bipolar plate 52
Electrically connected via 53 conductive portions 52b and 53b
Have been. Therefore, each of the cell layers 41, 42, 43
Make sure that all the cell division bodies 41a to 43d are connected in series.
And the cell division body 41a is directly changed to the cell division body 43d.
A flowing current flows. According to the above embodiment, all cells in each cell layer are
Since the polarizers are electrically connected in series,
Despite the output voltage per split body is about 0.6V
Output voltage of each cell layer is about 2.4V (0.6V × 4)
Can be increased at any time. For example, if the geometric area of the electrode is 2
00cm^TwoWhen using the cell division of, one cell division
The current per unit is 30 A (0.15 A / cm^Two× 200cm^Two)
To the extent that all cell polarizers in each cell layer are electrically
Because they are connected in series, the current flowing through the stack
30A. The output voltage of each cell layer is 72 W (3
0A × 2.4V). On the other hand, as in the prior art, only one
Single cell (electrode geometric area is 800cm ^Two) Constitutes the cell layer
In this case, the output voltage of the cell layer is only about 0.6 V.
No. The current flowing through the cell layer is 120 A (0.15 A /
cm^Two× 800cm^Two), And the battery output is 72 W (1
20 A × 0.6 V). Here, the output voltage 120
To form a stack of V, in the above embodiment, 50 sheets
In contrast to just stacking cell layers,
In a rack, it is necessary to stack 200 single cells.
Therefore, according to the present invention, the height in the stacking direction of the stack is
Can be suppressed to about 1/4. Since the battery has a DC output,
DC / DC converter to connect to
Data is being used. According to the above embodiment, in the stack
The current flowing through the DC / DC converter
The capacitance of the transistor in the switching element of the
can do. As a result, the DC / DC converter
Efficiency can be improved, and DC / DC converter
Data size can be reduced. [Other matters]   In the above embodiment, a phosphoric acid fuel cell was used.
However, solid electrolyte fuel cells, molten carbonate fuel cells, etc.
Of course, it is also possible to use.   Each cell layer was composed of four cell divisions.
Not limited, change the number of cell divisions according to the output voltage
It is also possible. Also, the output current is
Adjusted by changing the size (geometric area of current)
can do.   Fuel cell cooling methods are limited to air cooling.
Not water-cooled or liquid-cooled
It is also possible. [0021] According to the present invention described above, the distance between each separator is
Cell layer is divided into multiple cells electrically connected in series.
Because it is composed of the body, as in the past, just one
Compared to the case where the cell layer is composed of a single cell,
Output voltage can be increased several times. Moreover,
All cell divisions of all cell layers are connected in series.
Therefore, all cell divisions that make up the battery are electrically
Will be connected to the column. Therefore, the number of stacked cells
High voltage can be taken out despite the low
You. As a result, the height of the stack in the stacking direction can be suppressed.
The choice of where to install the fuel cell
You. In addition, a large voltage is taken out by one stack.
Multiple stacks as before.
No need to connect. Therefore, for each stack
Since there is no need to provide
Cheap.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional perspective view showing a part of a phosphoric acid type fuel cell according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically showing a current flow in the fuel cell of FIG. [Description of Signs] 1 Electrolyte matrix 2 Cathode 3 Anodes 41, 42, 43 Cell layers 41a to 43d Cell division bodies 51, 52, 53 Bipolar plates 51b, 52b, 53b Conducting part

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Eiji Tateyama 2-18-18 Keihanhondori Moriguchi City Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Kiyoshi Hori 2-18-18 Keihanhondori Moriguchi City Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd. (56) reference Patent Sho 61-121265 (JP, a) JP Akira 58-95890 (JP, a) JP flat 1-144570 (JP, a) (58 ) investigated the field (Int.Cl. ⁷ H01M 8/02 H01M 8/24

Claims (1)

(57) and Patent Claims 1. A cell which arranged the cathode and anode on both sides of the electrolyte matrix, stacking a plurality of the separators for supplying oxidant gas and the fuel gas in the cell, the alternating a fuel cell comprising Te, wherein the cell layer between the separators, cell division body formed by dividing a cell into a plurality is disposed, each cell divided body electrically to the anode of the cathode and the adjacent cell divided member They are connected in series by connecting and said separator is provided in a region corresponding to the low potential side cell divided member disposed on a person the separator, Carb
And the conductive portion consists of emissions, the non-conductive portion provided on the other area, made from the low potential side cell division of each cell layer and the high-potential-side cell division body, the other cells layer high A fuel cell, which is connected to a potential-side cell division body or a low-potential-side cell division body via the conductive portion, and in which all cell division bodies of all cell layers are connected in series.