JP5167006B2 - Aging method and apparatus for polymer electrolyte fuel cell - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an aging method and apparatus for a polymer electrolyte fuel cell for aging a polymer electrolyte fuel cell having an electrolyte membrane / electrode structure in which a pair of electrodes are disposed on both sides of an electrolyte membrane.

  A fuel cell supplies a fuel gas (mainly hydrogen-containing gas) and an oxidant gas (mainly oxygen-containing gas) to the anode-side electrode and the cathode-side electrode and causes them to react electrochemically. It is a system that obtains electrical energy.

  For example, in a polymer electrolyte fuel cell, an electrolyte membrane / electrode structure (MEA) provided with an anode electrode and a cathode electrode on both sides of an electrolyte membrane made of a polymer ion exchange membrane is sandwiched by separators. Has a cell. This type of power generation cell is normally used as a fuel cell stack mounted on a vehicle such as an automobile, for example, by laminating a predetermined number of electrolyte membrane / electrode structures and separators.

  In this type of polymer electrolyte fuel cell, the initial power generation performance is low because the water content of the electrolyte membrane immediately after assembly is not sufficient. Therefore, usually, the aging operation of the fuel cell is performed in order to obtain a desired power generation performance after the assembly of the fuel cell.

  For example, in the method of operating a fuel cell disclosed in Patent Document 1, the utilization rate of consumed gas is set so that flooding occurs in the fuel cell when the fuel cell is preliminarily operated (aging operation). It is characterized by improving.

  However, in the above operating method, since rapid flooding is involved, the control for suppressing the deterioration of the battery performance becomes complicated, and in particular, the performance of the electrolyte membrane constituting the MEA may be adversely affected.

  Further, when a hydrocarbon material, for example, is used as the electrolyte membrane constituting the MEA instead of the fluorine-based material, the hydrophobicity is higher than that of the fluorine-based material, and water sufficiently penetrates into the electrolyte membrane. There is a problem that it takes time to make it happen.

  Therefore, in the solid polymer fuel cell aging device disclosed in Patent Document 2, a loader that consumes a load current from the polymer electrolyte fuel cell during preliminary operation, the polymer electrolyte fuel cell, Control means connected between the loader and periodically changing the magnitude of the load current with time.

  Thereby, since the magnitude | size of load current is fluctuate | varied periodically with progress of time, the penetration | invasion promotion effect of the water to MEA increases, and it is supposed that the time required for an aging driving | operation can be shortened.

JP 2003-217622 A JP 2007-66666 A

  In the above-mentioned Patent Document 2, the cathode gas is supplied to the cathode, the anode gas is supplied to the anode, and a load current whose magnitude varies periodically with the passage of time from the fuel cell stack to the loader is supplied. Aging operation has started.

  However, the MEA that is used for the first time after assembly cannot generate power with a high current density. For this reason, it is necessary to gradually increase the amount of applied current from a low current density or shorten the holding time during load application to return to OCV (open circuit voltage).

  As a result, a considerable time is required until the power generation performance of the fuel cell is saturated, and there is a problem that it takes time for the aging operation. Moreover, during the aging operation, the cathode gas and the anode gas are consumed, and there is a problem that the amount of hydrogen used is excessive and extremely uneconomical.

  The present invention solves this type of problem, and is a solid polymer type capable of performing aging treatment well in a short time and preventing potential difference between a pair of electrodes as much as possible. It is an object of the present invention to provide a fuel cell aging method and apparatus.

  The present invention relates to an aging method for a polymer electrolyte fuel cell for aging a polymer electrolyte fuel cell having an electrolyte membrane / electrode structure in which a pair of electrodes are disposed on both sides of an electrolyte membrane.

This aging method circulates warm water on one electrode side of the electrolyte membrane / electrode structure, and when aging is performed by circulating air on the other electrode side of the electrolyte membrane / electrode structure , By flowing the heated cooling medium through the cooling medium flow path provided in the polymer electrolyte fuel cell, the water flowing to the one electrode side is heated to obtain the warm water .

In addition, this aging method performs aging by flowing hot water to one electrode side of the electrolyte membrane / electrode structure and flowing air to the other electrode side of the electrolyte membrane / electrode structure. At this time, the heated cooling medium is circulated through the cooling refrigerant fluid provided in the polymer electrolyte fuel cell, and the heated cooling medium is circulated as the hot water to the one electrode side.

  Furthermore, in this aging method, it is preferable to circulate hot water in the polymer electrolyte fuel cell.

Further, the aging process is, after short-circuiting by a short circuit between the pair of electrodes, is Rukoto by circulating hot water and air preferable.

Further, the aging process, stop the flow of pre-Symbol hot water, after the purging process by air is performed on the pair of electrode side, it is preferable to open the short circuit.

  Furthermore, in this aging method, it is preferable that the warm water is pure water of 30 ° C to 55 ° C.

  The present invention also relates to an aging apparatus for a polymer electrolyte fuel cell for aging a polymer electrolyte fuel cell having an electrolyte membrane / electrode structure in which a pair of electrodes are disposed on both sides of the electrolyte membrane. is there.

  This aging device includes a hot water circulation system that circulates and circulates hot water only to one electrode side of the electrolyte membrane / electrode structure, and an air circulation system that circulates and circulates air to the other electrode side of the electrolyte membrane / electrode structure. A cooling medium that obtains the hot water by heating the water flowing through the one electrode side by circulating the heated cooling medium through a cooling medium flow path provided in the polymer electrolyte fuel cell With circulatory system.

  Further, the aging device branches from the cooling medium circulation system, the cooling medium circulation system circulating the circulating cooling medium in the cooling medium flow path provided in the polymer electrolyte fuel cell, and the cooling medium circulation system. A hot water circulation system that circulates and circulates the heated cooling medium as hot water only to one electrode side of the electrolyte membrane / electrode structure, and air that circulates and circulates air to the other electrode side of the electrolyte membrane / electrode structure. With circulatory system.

  Furthermore, this aging device preferably includes a short circuit that short-circuits the pair of electrodes.

  In the present invention, since warm water is circulated to one electrode side of the electrolyte membrane / electrode structure, water can be efficiently and rapidly introduced into the electrolyte membrane. Thereby, the resistance overvoltage can be effectively reduced. Moreover, the reaction region on the catalyst surface is effectively expanded by swelling the electrolyte components in the electrolyte membrane and the electrode.

  Furthermore, since air is circulated to the other electrode side of the electrolyte membrane / electrode structure, the thermal mass is reduced well compared with the case where hot water is supplied to both electrodes, which is efficient. In addition, since air is circulated to the other electrode side where hot water does not flow, it is possible to effectively suppress the occurrence of a potential difference between the electrodes.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic explanatory view of an aging device 12 for carrying out an aging method of a polymer electrolyte fuel cell 10 according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

  The fuel cell 10 includes, for example, an electrolyte membrane / electrode structure 20 in which a hydrocarbon-based solid polymer electrolyte membrane 14 is sandwiched between an anode-side electrode 16 and a cathode-side electrode 18, and the electrolyte membrane / electrode structure 20 is A unit cell is configured by being sandwiched between the anode side separator 22a and the cathode side separator 22b. The anode side separator 22a and the cathode side separator 22b are made of carbon plates or metal plates, and are provided with a seal member (not shown). The solid polymer electrolyte membrane 14 may be a fluorine-based membrane such as perfluorocarbon, for example.

  A fuel gas flow path 24 is formed between the electrolyte membrane / electrode structure 20 and the anode side separator 22a, and an oxidant is provided between the electrolyte membrane / electrode structure 20 and the cathode side separator 22b. A gas flow path 26 is formed. A cooling medium flow path 28 is formed between the anode side separator 22a and the cathode side separator 22b.

  The fuel cell 10 includes a fuel gas inlet communication hole 30a for supplying a fuel gas such as a hydrogen-containing gas to one end side, and an oxidant gas inlet communication for supplying an oxidant gas such as air (oxygen-containing gas). A hole 32a, a fuel gas outlet communication hole 30b for discharging the fuel gas, and an oxidant gas outlet communication hole 32b for discharging the oxidant gas are formed. At the other end of the fuel cell 10, a cooling medium inlet communication hole 34a for supplying a cooling medium and a cooling medium outlet communication hole 34b for discharging the cooling medium are formed.

  The aging device 12 includes a warm water circulation system 36 for circulating and circulating warm water (for example, heated pure water) only on one electrode side of the electrolyte membrane / electrode structure 20, for example, the cathode side electrode 18 side, An air circulation system 38 for circulating air through the other electrode side of the electrolyte membrane / electrode structure 20, for example, the anode side electrode 16 side, and a cooling medium heated by the cooling medium flow path 28 are circulated and distributed. And a cooling medium circulation system 40.

  The hot water circulation system 36 includes a tank 44 in which pure water 42 is stored, and a conductivity meter 46 is immersed in the pure water 42 and disposed in the tank 44. One end of the hot water supply pipe 48 and one end of the hot water discharge pipe 50 are arranged in the tank 44. A pump 52 is disposed in the hot water supply pipe 48, and the other end of the hot water supply pipe 48 is connected to the oxidant gas inlet communication hole 32 a of the fuel cell 10. The other end of the hot water discharge pipe 50 is connected to the oxidant gas outlet communication hole 32 b of the fuel cell 10.

  The air circulation system 38 includes a blower (or pump) 54, and the blower 54 is disposed in an air circulation pipe 56. Both ends of the air circulation pipe 56 are connected to the fuel gas inlet communication hole 30 a and the fuel gas outlet communication hole 30 b of the fuel cell 10. In the air circulation pipe 56, a heater 58 and a humidifier 60 are disposed on the downstream side of the blower 54.

  The cooling medium circulation system 40 includes a refrigerant circulation pump 62, and this pump 62 is disposed in the refrigerant circulation pipe 64. Both ends of the refrigerant circulation pipe 64 are connected to the cooling medium inlet communication hole 34 a and the cooling medium outlet communication hole 34 b of the fuel cell 10, and a heater 66 is disposed on the downstream side of the pump 62.

  The hot water supply pipe 48 is provided with valves 68a and 68b for opening and closing, and the hot water discharge pipe 50 is provided with valves 68c and 68d. Valves 68e and 68f are provided in the air circulation pipe 56, and the communication part between the hot water supply pipe 48 and the air circulation pipe 56 and the communication part between the hot water discharge pipe 50 and the air circulation pipe 56 are Valves 68g and 68h are disposed.

  The fuel cell 10 has a cell voltage terminal 70 for detecting a voltage for each unit cell or for each predetermined unit cell. Each cell voltage terminal 70 is provided with a first short circuit 72. The 1st short circuit 72 is comprised so that each cell voltage terminal 70 can be short-circuited integrally.

  The fuel cell 10 is provided with stack voltage terminals 74a and 74b at both ends in the stacking direction. The stack voltage terminals 74 a and 74 b can be short-circuited via the second short circuit 76. In addition, the 2nd short circuit 76 may be provided with resistance (not shown) as needed.

  The operation of the aging device 12 configured as described above will be described below along the flowchart shown in FIG. 2 in relation to the aging method according to the first embodiment.

  First, in the fuel cell 10, a predetermined number of unit cells are stacked, and a terminal plate, an insulating plate, and an end plate (not shown) are disposed at both ends in the stacking direction. The end plates are clamped and held by a tie rod (not shown), or are clamped and held in a stacking direction by a box-shaped casing to constitute a stack.

  The stacked fuel cell 10 is attached to the aging device 12. Specifically, the hot water circulation system 36 is connected to the oxidant gas inlet communication hole 32a and the oxidant gas outlet communication hole 32b of the fuel cell 10, and the air circulation system is connected to the fuel gas inlet communication hole 30a and the fuel gas outlet communication hole 30b. 38 is connected, and the cooling medium circulation system 40 is connected to the cooling medium inlet communication hole 34a and the cooling medium outlet communication hole 34b (step S1).

  Next, proceeding to step S2, the first short circuit 72 is connected and the cell voltage terminals 70 are integrally short-circuited, while the second short circuit 76 is connected and the stack voltage terminals 74a and 74b are short-circuited. The

  Therefore, the aging device 12 is driven and hot water aging is started (step S3). In this warm water aging, first, as shown in FIG. 3, the valves 68a to 68f are opened, while the valves 68g and 68h are closed.

  In this state, the cooling medium circulates in the refrigerant circulation pipe 64 under the action of the pump 62 that constitutes the cooling medium circulation system 40, and this cooling medium passes through a heater 66 at a predetermined temperature (hot water to be described later). For example, a temperature required for heating to 50 ° C.). The heated cooling medium is supplied from the cooling medium inlet communication hole 34a into the cooling medium flow path 28 in the fuel cell 10, and then returned to the refrigerant circulation pipe 64 from the cooling medium outlet communication hole 34b. Therefore, in the fuel cell 10, the cooling medium heated to a predetermined temperature circulates in each cooling medium flow path 28.

  On the other hand, the pure water (room temperature water in the tank 44) 42 stored in the tank 44 is connected to the oxidant gas inlet via the hot water supply pipe 48 under the driving action of the pump 52 constituting the hot water circulation system 36. It is introduced into the hole 32a. The pure water 42 is circulated through each oxidant gas flow path 26 in the fuel cell 10 and then returned to the tank 44 from the oxidant gas outlet communication hole 32 b through the hot water discharge pipe 50.

  Further, air is circulated and supplied to the air circulation pipe 56 under the action of the blower 54 constituting the air circulation system 38. The air is heated to a predetermined temperature, for example, 50 ° C. via the heater 58, and is 100% humidified via the humidifier 60, and then each air in the fuel cell 10 from the fuel gas inlet communication hole 30a. The fuel gas passage 24 is circulated.

  The air discharged from each fuel gas passage 24 through the fuel gas outlet communication hole 30 b is returned to the air circulation pipe 56 and circulated and supplied to the fuel gas passage 24 under the action of the blower 54.

  At that time, the pure water 42 circulated and supplied to the oxidant gas flow path 26 is heated by the cooling medium circulated and supplied to the cooling medium flow path 28. For this reason, the pure water 42 is heated to 50 ° C., for example, and is circulated and supplied to the oxidant gas flow path 26 as hot water. Therefore, since warm water is directly supplied to the cathode side electrode 18 of each electrolyte membrane / electrode structure 20, pure water can be efficiently and rapidly introduced into the solid polymer electrolyte membrane 14.

  The temperature of the hot water is set to, for example, 50 ° C., but the temperature of the hot water is preferably 30 ° C. because the tightening load of the fuel cell 10 increases as the temperature of the hot water increases. It is set within a range of ˜55 ° C.

  When the warm water temperature is less than 30 ° C., the effect of warm water cannot be obtained, and water cannot be rapidly and efficiently introduced into the solid polymer electrolyte membrane 14. On the other hand, when the hot water temperature exceeds 55 ° C., the tightening load of the fuel cell 10 exceeds the allowable load due to the expansion of the unit cell.

  Therefore, when the hot water aging process is performed for a predetermined time, for example, the aging operation is completed (YES in step S4). If the conductivity of the hot water detected by the conductivity meter 46 is equal to or higher than a predetermined value during the hot water aging, the hot water in the tank 44 is replaced.

  After completion of aging, the process proceeds to step S5, where air purge is performed. First, in FIG. 3, the driving of the pump 52 constituting the hot water circulation system 36 is stopped, and the driving of the pump 62 constituting the cooling medium circulation system 40 is stopped. Therefore, the circulation of the hot water and the cooling medium into the fuel cell 10 is stopped, while air is supplied to the fuel gas flow path 24 under the action of the blower 54 constituting the air circulation system 38, and the fuel gas The flow path 24 is purged with air.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 4, the valves 68a, 68d, 68e and 68f are closed, and the valves 68b, 68c, 68g and 68h are opened. Therefore, the air supplied to the air circulation pipe 56 under the action of the blower 54 constituting the air circulation system 38 passes through the hot water supply pipe 48 to the oxidant gas flow path 26 from the oxidant gas inlet communication hole 32a. Supplied.

  For this reason, each oxidant gas flow path 26 is purged with air, and the air discharged from the oxidant gas flow path 26 is returned to the air circulation pipe 56 from the oxidant gas outlet communication hole 32b, and again the oxidation gas flow. Circulatingly supplied to the agent gas passage 26. Thereby, after the air purge of the fuel gas passage 24 and the oxidant gas passage 26 is performed, the process proceeds to step S6, and the first and second short-circuit circuits 72 and 76 are disconnected.

  Then, the fuel cell 10 is removed from the aging device 12 (step S7), and the aging process of the fuel cell 10 is completed.

  In this case, in the first embodiment, since warm water is circulated to the cathode side electrode 18 side of each electrolyte membrane / electrode structure 20, water is introduced into the solid polymer electrolyte membrane 14 efficiently and quickly. Therefore, the resistance overvoltage can be effectively reduced. In addition, the solid polymer electrolyte membrane 14 and the electrolyte component in the electrode swell, thereby effectively expanding the reaction area on the catalyst surface.

  Further, hot water is supplied to the cathode side electrode 18 side, while air is supplied to the anode side electrode 16 side. Therefore, compared with the case where warm water is supplied to the anode-side electrode 16 and the cathode-side electrode 18, there is an advantage that the thermal mass is favorably reduced and efficient.

  At that time, the hot water circulated through the hot water circulation system 36 is pure water 42 at room temperature stored in the tank 44. The pure water 42 is heated to a predetermined temperature (for example, 50 ° C.) by a heated cooling medium that circulates through the cooling medium circulation system 40, thereby obtaining hot water. Therefore, in the fuel cell 10, humidified air is supplied to the fuel gas passage 24, hot water is supplied to the oxidant gas passage 26, and further, a cooling medium is supplied to the cooling medium passage 28. The pressure balance in the fuel cell 10 can be maintained satisfactorily.

  In addition, air is circulated on the anode side electrode 16 side where hot water does not flow. Thereby, for example, the potential difference generated when supplying an inert gas such as nitrogen or argon, hydrogen, or the like can be effectively suppressed between the anode side electrode 16 and the cathode side electrode 18. There is an advantage of becoming.

  Furthermore, in the first embodiment, a first short circuit 72 that short-circuits the cell voltage terminal 70 and a second short circuit 76 that short-circuits the stack voltage terminals 74a and 74b are provided. Therefore, there is an effect that the generation of a potential difference in the fuel cell 10 can be more reliably prevented and the corrosion potential can be prevented as much as possible.

  If necessary, only the first short circuit 72 may be used, or only the second short circuit 76 may be used. In the first embodiment, air is supplied to the anode side electrode 16 side, while hot water is supplied to the cathode side electrode 18 side. Conversely, hot water is supplied to the anode side electrode 16. In addition, air may be supplied to the cathode side electrode 18 side.

  FIG. 5 is a schematic explanatory diagram of an aging device 80 for carrying out the aging method of the polymer electrolyte fuel cell according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The same components as those of the aging device 12 according to the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted.

  The aging device 80 uses only a single pump 62 as a pump for driving the hot water circulation system 36 and the cooling medium circulation system 40. The hot water supply pipe 48 and the refrigerant circulation pipe 64 communicate with each other through a hot water supply bypass pipe 82, and the hot water discharge pipe 50 and the refrigerant circulation pipe 64 communicate with each other through a hot water discharge bypass pipe 84. The warm water supply bypass pipe 82 is provided with a valve 68i, and the hot water discharge bypass pipe 84 is provided with a valve 68j.

  In the hot water aging process by the aging device 80 configured as described above, only the valves 68g and 68h are closed as shown in FIG. Therefore, when the pump 62 is driven, the cooling medium heated via the heater 66 is circulated to the cooling medium flow path 28 via the refrigerant circulation pipe 64 and hot water is supplied from the hot water supply bypass pipe 82. Hot water (cooling medium) is supplied to the pipe 48.

  This hot water is supplied to the oxidant gas flow path 26 and supplied to the cathode side electrode 18 of the electrolyte membrane / electrode structure 20, and then passes from the hot water discharge pipe 50 to the refrigerant circulation pipe 64 through the hot water discharge bypass pipe 84. Returned. Thereby, hot water heated to a predetermined temperature is circulated and supplied to the oxidant gas flow path 26.

  On the other hand, in the air circulation system 38, under the action of the blower 54, the heated and humidified air supplied to the air circulation pipe 56 is circulated and supplied through the fuel gas passage 24. Therefore, the hot water aging process similar to that of the first embodiment is performed.

  At that time, in the second embodiment, the hot water and the cooling medium are respectively supplied to the hot water circulation system 36 and the cooling medium circulation system 40 through a single pump 62. Therefore, the effect of simplifying the configuration of the entire aging device 80 can be obtained.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 7, the air purge process of the oxidant gas flow channel 26 is performed by closing the valves 68e, 68f, 68i, and 68j, thereby allowing the oxidant gas flow channel 26 to pass through the air circulation system 38. Air purging is performed.

It is a schematic explanatory drawing of the aging apparatus for implementing the aging method of the polymer electrolyte fuel cell which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart explaining the said aging method. It is operation | movement explanatory drawing of warm water aging. It is operation | movement explanatory drawing of an air purge. It is a schematic explanatory drawing of the aging apparatus for implementing the aging method of the polymer electrolyte fuel cell which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is operation | movement explanatory drawing of warm water aging. It is operation | movement explanatory drawing of an air purge.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Fuel cell 12, 80 ... Aging apparatus 14 ... Solid polymer electrolyte membrane 16 ... Anode side electrode 18 ... Cathode side electrode 20 ... Electrolyte membrane and electrode structure 24 ... Fuel gas flow path 26 ... Oxidant gas flow path 28 ... Coolant flow path 30a ... Fuel gas inlet communication hole 30b ... Fuel gas outlet communication hole 32a ... Oxidant gas inlet communication hole 32b ... Oxidant gas outlet communication hole 34a ... Cooling medium inlet communication hole 34b ... Cooling medium outlet communication hole 36 ... Hot water circulation system 38 ... Air circulation system 40 ... Cooling medium circulation system 42 ... Pure water 44 ... Tank 46 ... Conductivity meter 48 ... Hot water supply pipe 50 ... Hot water discharge pipe 52, 62 ... Pump 54 ... Blower 56 ... Air circulation pipe 58 , 66 ... Heater 60 ... Humidifier 64 ... Refrigerant circulation piping 70 ... Cell voltage terminals 72, 76 ... Short circuit 74a, 74b ... Stack voltage terminal 82 ... Hot water supply via Pipe 84 ... Warm water discharge bypass pipe

Claims (9)

A solid polymer fuel cell aging method for aging a polymer electrolyte fuel cell having an electrolyte membrane / electrode structure in which a pair of electrodes are disposed on both sides of the electrolyte membrane,
While circulating hot water to one electrode side of the electrolyte membrane / electrode structure,
Wherein the other electrode side of the membrane electrode assembly, by flowing of air or to have it the aging,
The warm water is obtained by warming the water to be circulated to the one electrode side by circulating the warmed coolant through the coolant flow path provided in the polymer electrolyte fuel cell. A method for aging a polymer electrolyte fuel cell. A solid polymer fuel cell aging method for aging a polymer electrolyte fuel cell having an electrolyte membrane / electrode structure in which a pair of electrodes are disposed on both sides of the electrolyte membrane,
While circulating hot water to one electrode side of the electrolyte membrane / electrode structure,
When performing the aging by circulating air to the other electrode side of the electrolyte membrane / electrode structure,
While circulating the heated cooling medium through the cooling medium flow path provided in the polymer electrolyte fuel cell,
An aging method for a polymer electrolyte fuel cell, wherein the heated cooling medium is circulated as the hot water to the one electrode side. 3. The aging method according to claim 1, wherein the warm water is circulated in the polymer electrolyte fuel cell. 4. In the aging method according to any one of claims 1 to 3 after short-circuiting by a short circuit between the pair of electrodes, a polymer electrolyte fuel characterized by Rukoto allowed to flow the hot water and the air Battery aging method. The aging method according to claim 4 , wherein
Stop the flow of the previous SL hot water, after the purging process by air in the pair of electrode side is performed, a polymer electrolyte fuel cell process of aging, characterized in that for opening the short circuit. In the aging method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the hot water, a polymer electrolyte fuel cell process of aging, which is a pure water of 30 ° C. to 55 ° C.. An aging device for a polymer electrolyte fuel cell for aging a polymer electrolyte fuel cell having an electrolyte membrane / electrode structure in which a pair of electrodes are disposed on both sides of the electrolyte membrane,
A hot water circulation system for circulating and circulating hot water only on one electrode side of the electrolyte membrane / electrode structure;
An air circulation system for circulating air through the other electrode side of the electrolyte membrane / electrode structure;
A cooling medium that obtains the hot water by heating the water flowing through the one electrode side by circulating the circulating cooling medium through the cooling medium flow path provided in the polymer electrolyte fuel cell. The circulatory system,
An aging device for a polymer electrolyte fuel cell, comprising: An aging device for a polymer electrolyte fuel cell for aging a polymer electrolyte fuel cell having an electrolyte membrane / electrode structure in which a pair of electrodes are disposed on both sides of the electrolyte membrane,
A cooling medium circulation system for circulating and circulating a heated cooling medium in a cooling medium flow path provided in the polymer electrolyte fuel cell;
A hot water circulation system that branches from the cooling medium circulation system and circulates the heated cooling medium as hot water only on one electrode side of the electrolyte membrane / electrode structure;
An air circulation system for circulating air through the other electrode side of the electrolyte membrane / electrode structure;
An aging device for a polymer electrolyte fuel cell, comprising: 9. The aging device according to claim 7 , further comprising a short circuit for short-circuiting the pair of electrodes.

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