JP6754199B2 - Fuel cell stack - Google Patents

Description

The present invention includes a power generation cell having an electrolyte membrane / electrode structure in which electrodes are arranged on both sides of the electrolyte membrane and a separator, and insulation is provided at both ends in the stacking direction of the laminate in which the plurality of the power generation cells are laminated. It relates to a fuel cell stack in which a plate, a refrigerant plate and an end plate are sequentially arranged outward.

Generally, a polymer electrolyte fuel cell employs a solid polymer electrolyte membrane made of a polymer ion exchange membrane. A fuel cell is provided with an electrolyte membrane / electrode structure (MEA) in which an anode electrode is arranged on one surface of a solid polymer electrolyte membrane and a cathode electrode is arranged on the other surface of the solid polymer electrolyte membrane. There is. The anode electrode and the cathode electrode each have a catalyst layer (electrode catalyst layer) and a gas diffusion layer (porous carbon).

In the fuel cell stack, a fuel gas flow path for flowing fuel gas through the anode electrode and an oxidant gas flow path for flowing oxidant gas through the cathode electrode are provided in the plane of the separator. Further, between the separators of the power generation cells adjacent to each other, a cooling medium flow path for flowing a cooling medium is provided along the surface direction of the separator.

Further, an internal manifold type fuel provided with a fuel gas communication hole for passing fuel gas through the stacking direction, an oxidant gas communication hole for passing oxidant gas, and a cooling medium communication hole for passing a cooling medium. A battery stack is used. The fuel gas communication hole (fluid communication hole) has a fuel gas supply communication hole and a fuel gas discharge communication hole, and the oxidant gas communication hole (fluid communication hole) has an oxidant gas supply communication hole and an oxidant gas discharge communication hole. It has a hole. The cooling medium communication hole (fluid communication hole) has a cooling medium supply communication hole and a cooling medium discharge communication hole.

In the above fuel cell stack, at least one end plate is provided with a fluid manifold that supplies or discharges a fuel gas, an oxidant gas, or a fluid that is a cooling medium, which is connected to each fluid communication hole. For example, the fuel cell disclosed in Patent Document 1 includes a cell having a membrane-electrode assembly in which electrodes are arranged on both sides of an electrolyte membrane and separators arranged at both ends of the membrane-electrode assembly. .. The separator has a flow groove for supplying a fluid to the electrode, and also has a flow path leading from the flow groove to the outside.

A pair of terminals are arranged at both ends of the cell laminated body in which the cells are stacked in the stacking direction, and a pair of pressure plates are arranged outside the terminals. The pressure plate is provided with a conduit member having an entrance / exit hole leading to the flow passage, a pipe portion through which the entrance / exit hole is inserted, and a flange portion on the cell laminated body side.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2005-259427

In the above fuel cell, an accommodating portion for accommodating the conduit member is formed in the terminal. For this reason, there is a problem that the processing work of the terminal becomes complicated and the manufacturing cost rises.

An object of the present invention is to solve this kind of problem, and to provide a fuel cell stack capable of having a reliable sealing function with a simple and economical configuration.

The fuel cell stack according to the present invention includes a power generation cell having an electrolyte membrane / electrode structure in which electrodes are arranged on both sides of the electrolyte membrane and a separator, and is provided with a laminate in which a plurality of the power generation cells are laminated. There is. Insulating plates, refrigerant plates having cooling medium passages through which cooling media flow along the plate surface direction, and end plates are sequentially arranged at both ends of the laminated body in the stacking direction toward the outside. One end plate is provided with a fluid manifold that communicates with a fluid communication hole that allows at least a fluid such as an oxidant gas, a fuel gas, or a cooling medium to flow in the stacking direction.

The fuel cell stack includes a fluid pipe member having an internal flow path that communicates with the fluid manifold. The end plate is formed with an opening for passing the fluid pipe member, while the outer periphery of the refrigerant plate is formed with a notch for passing the fluid pipe member. A seal member that goes around the fluid communication hole is interposed between the end of the fluid pipe member that comes into direct contact with the insulating plate and the insulating plate.

Further, in this fuel cell stack, it is preferable that the fluid pipe member has a flange portion, and the flange portion is positioned on the insulating plate via a knock pin.

According to the present invention, the fluid pipe member directly contacts the insulating plate through the opening of the end plate and the notch of the refrigerant plate, and also contacts the sealing member that goes around the fluid communication hole of the insulating plate. There is. Therefore, the fluid pipe member needs only be provided with the seal member only between the fluid pipe member and the insulating plate, and the seal structure is satisfactorily simplified. Moreover, it is only necessary to provide an opening in the end plate and a notch in the refrigerant plate, and the manufacturing cost does not increase.

This makes it possible to have a reliable sealing function with a simple and economical configuration.

It is an exploded schematic perspective view of the fuel cell stack which concerns on embodiment of this invention. FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the fuel cell stack taken along line II-II in FIG. 1. It is an exploded perspective explanatory view of the power generation cell which constitutes the fuel cell stack. It is an exploded perspective view of the main part on one end plate side which constitutes the fuel cell stack. It is an exploded perspective view which looked at the main part shown in FIG. 4 from the opposite side. FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line VI-VI of the main part in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 1, the fuel cell stack 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention is a laminated body 14 in which a plurality of power generation cells 12 are laminated in a horizontal direction (arrow A direction) or a vertical direction (arrow C direction). Be prepared. The fuel cell stack 10 is mounted on a fuel cell electric vehicle (not shown) as, for example, an in-vehicle fuel cell stack.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, at one end of the laminated body 14 in the stacking direction (arrow A direction), a terminal plate 16a, an insulating member 18a, a temperature control plate (refrigerant plate) 20a, and The end plates 22a are sequentially arranged. At the other end of the laminated body 14 in the laminating direction, a terminal plate 16b, an insulating member 18b, a temperature control plate (refrigerant plate) 20b, a resin plate 24 for laminating adjustment, and an end plate 22b are arranged outward in the laminating direction. They are sequentially arranged.

The fuel cell stack 10 is integrally held by, for example, a box-shaped casing (not shown) including rectangular end plates 22a and 22b as end plates. The fuel cell stack 10 may be integrally tightened and held by, for example, a plurality of tie rods (not shown) extending in the direction of arrow A.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the power generation cell 12 is provided with an anode separator 30, an electrolyte membrane / electrode structure (MEA) 32, and a cathode separator 34. The anode separator 30 and the cathode separator 34 are made of, for example, a vertically long metal plate such as a steel plate, a stainless steel plate, an aluminum plate, or a plated steel plate.

As the anode separator 30 and the cathode separator 34, a carbon separator may be used instead of the metal separator. Further, the power generation cell 12 may be configured by laminating a first separator, a first MEA, a second separator, a second MEA, and a third separator. Further, the power generation cell 12 may have three or more MEAs and five or more separators.

As shown in FIG. 3, one end edge of the power generation cell 12 in the long side direction (arrow B direction) (horizontal direction) is individually communicated in the arrow A direction, which is the stacking direction, to communicate with the oxidant gas inlet. The hole 36a and the fuel gas outlet communication hole 38b are provided. The oxidant gas inlet communication hole 36a supplies an oxidant gas, for example, an oxygen-containing gas. The fuel gas outlet communication hole 38b discharges a fuel gas, for example, a hydrogen-containing gas.

The other end edge of the power generation cell 12 in the long side direction (direction of arrow B) is individually communicated in the direction of arrow A, and the fuel gas inlet communication hole 38a for supplying fuel gas and the oxidation for discharging the oxidant gas. The agent gas outlet communication hole 36b is provided.

A pair of cooling medium inlets are individually communicated in the arrow A direction at positions close to the oxidant gas inlet communication hole 36a side at both end edges of the power generation cell 12 in the short side direction (arrow C direction). Communication holes 40a1 and 40a2 are provided at the top and bottom. The cooling medium inlet communication holes 40a1 and 40a2 are divided and formed independently of each other by supplying the cooling medium and providing the rib portion 41a in the intermediate portion in the longitudinal direction of the horizontally long rectangular opening.

A pair of cooling medium outlets communicate with each other at both end edges in the short side direction of the power generation cell 12 at positions close to the fuel gas inlet communication hole 38a side in the direction of arrow A to discharge the cooling medium. Holes 40b1 and 40b2 are provided at the top and bottom. The cooling medium outlet communication holes 40b1 and 40b2 are divided and formed independently of each other by providing the rib portions 41b at the intermediate portion in the longitudinal direction of the horizontally elongated rectangular opening.

The rib portion 41a is removed to make the cooling medium inlet communication holes 40a1 and 40a2 a single cooling medium inlet communication hole, while the rib portion 41b is removed to make the cooling medium outlet communication holes 40b1 and 40b2 a single cooling medium. It may be a medium outlet communication hole. Further, the fuel gas inlet communication hole 38a and the fuel gas outlet communication hole 38b may be interchanged with each other.

A fuel gas flow path 42 that communicates the fuel gas inlet communication hole 38a and the fuel gas outlet communication hole 38b is formed on the surface 30a of the anode separator 30 toward the electrolyte membrane / electrode structure 32. The fuel gas flow path 42 has a plurality of wavy flow path grooves (or linear flow path grooves) extending in the direction of arrow B.

The fuel gas inlet communication hole 38a and the fuel gas flow path 42 communicate with each other through a plurality of inlet connection flow paths 44a, while the fuel gas outlet communication hole 38b and the fuel gas flow path 42 communicate with each other through a plurality of inlet connection flow paths 44a. It communicates via road 44b. The inlet connecting flow path 44a and the outlet connecting flow path 44b are covered with a lid body 46a and a lid body 46b.

A part of the cooling medium flow path 48 that communicates the pair of cooling medium inlet communication holes 40a1 and 40a2 and the pair of cooling medium outlet communication holes 40b1 and 40b2 is formed on the surface 30b of the anode separator 30, respectively.

An oxidant gas flow path 50 that communicates the oxidant gas inlet communication hole 36a and the oxidant gas outlet communication hole 36b is formed on the surface 34a of the cathode separator 34 toward the electrolyte membrane / electrode structure 32. The oxidant gas flow path 50 has a plurality of wavy flow path grooves (or linear flow path grooves) extending in the direction of arrow B. A part of the cooling medium flow path 48 is formed on the surface 34b of the cathode separator 34.

The first sealing member 52 is integrally molded on the surfaces 30a and 30b of the anode separator 30 by orbiting the outer peripheral edge portion of the anode separator 30. A second seal member 54 is integrally formed on the surfaces 34a and 34b of the cathode separator 34 by orbiting the outer peripheral edge portion of the cathode separator 34.

The first sealing member 52 and the second sealing member 54 include, for example, a sealing material such as EPDM, NBR, fluororubber, silicone rubber, fluorosilicone rubber, butyl rubber, natural rubber, styrene rubber, chloroplane or acrylic rubber, and a cushioning material. Alternatively, an elastic sealing member such as a packing material is used.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the electrolyte membrane / electrode structure 32 includes, for example, a solid polymer electrolyte membrane (cation exchange membrane) 60 which is a thin film of perfluorosulfonic acid containing water. The solid polymer electrolyte membrane 60 is sandwiched between the anode electrode 62 and the cathode electrode 64.

The anode electrode 62 constitutes a step MEA having a plane dimension smaller than that of the cathode electrode 64, but conversely, the anode electrode 62 may have a plane dimension larger than that of the cathode electrode 64. Further, the anode electrode 62 and the cathode electrode 64 may be set to have the same plane dimensions.

In the anode electrode 62 and the cathode electrode 64, a gas diffusion layer made of carbon paper or the like (not shown) and porous carbon particles having a platinum alloy supported on the surface are uniformly applied to the surface of the gas diffusion layer. It has an electrode catalyst layer (not shown) to be formed. The electrode catalyst layer is formed on both sides of the solid polymer electrolyte membrane 60.

As shown in FIG. 1, power extraction terminals 66a and 66b extending outward in the stacking direction are provided at positions separated from the in-plane center of the terminal plates 16a and 16b (may be in-plane center). The power extraction terminals 66a and 66b are preferably set at positions closer to the cooling medium outlet communication holes 40b1 and 40b2 than the cooling medium inlet communication holes 40a1 and 40a2 of the cooling medium flow path 48.

The insulating members 18a and 18b are made of an insulating material such as polycarbonate (PC) or phenol resin. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a rectangular recess 68a is provided in the center of the surface of the insulating member 18a facing the terminal plate 16a, and the hole 70a communicates with the recess 68a. The power extraction terminal 66a of the terminal plate 16a is exposed to the outside through the hole 70a of the insulating member 18a, the hole 72a of the temperature control plate 20a, and the hole 74a of the end plate 22a.

A rectangular recess 68b is provided in the center of the surface of the insulating member 18b facing the terminal plate 16b, and the hole 70b communicates with the recess 68b. The power extraction terminal 66b of the terminal plate 16b is inserted into the hole 76h of the non-conductive resin spacer 76 arranged on the bottom surface of the recess 68b of the insulating member 18b. The power extraction terminal 66b is further exposed from the hole 70b of the insulating member 18b to the outside through the hole 72b of the temperature control plate 20b, the hole 78 of the resin plate 24, and the hole 74b of the end plate 22b.

As shown in FIG. 1, a pair of cooling medium inlet communication holes 40a1 and 40a2 are formed in the insulating members 18a and 18b, the temperature control plates 20a and 20b, the resin plate 24 and the end plate 22b, respectively. A pair of cooling medium outlet communication holes 40b1 and 40b2 are formed in the insulating members 18a and 18b, the temperature control plates 20a and 20b, the resin plate 24 and the end plate 22b, respectively.

The insulating member 18a is formed with an oxidant gas inlet communication hole 36a, an oxidizer gas outlet communication hole 36b, a fuel gas inlet communication hole 38a, and a fuel gas outlet communication hole 38b. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the conductive heat insulating member 82a and the terminal plate 16a are housed in the recess 68a of the insulating member 18a.

In the conductive heat insulating member 82a, for example, one second heat insulating member 86a is sandwiched between two first heat insulating members 84a. The first heat insulating member 84a is made of, for example, a carbon plate, while the second heat insulating member 86a, for example, has an uneven cross section of a metal plate to form an air chamber between them.

The conductive heat insulating member 82b, the terminal plate 16b, and the resin spacer 76 are housed in the recess 68b of the heat insulating member 18b. The conductive heat insulating member 82b includes, for example, one first heat insulating member 84b and one second heat insulating member 86b.

The conductive heat insulating members 82a and 82b may be any members as long as they retain pores and have electrical conductivity, and may be a foamed metal having electrical conductivity, a honeycomb-shaped metal (honeycomb member), or porous carbon (for example, a porous carbon). , Carbon paper) may be used.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, notches 88a, 88b, 90a and 90b are formed at the four corners of the temperature control plate 20a. The cutouts 88a, 88b, 90a and 90b correspond to the oxidant gas inlet communication hole 36a, the oxidizer gas outlet communication hole 36b, the fuel gas inlet communication hole 38a and the fuel gas outlet communication hole 38b. At the four corners of the temperature control plate 20a, rib members may be provided so as to go around the notches 88a, 88b, 90a and 90b and connect the outer circumferences.

On the surface 20as of the temperature control plate 20a facing the insulating member 18a, a cooling medium passage through which a temperature adjusting medium, for example, a cooling medium flows, is formed along the plate surface direction of the end plate 22a.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 5, the cooling medium passage communicates with the cooling medium inlet communication hole 40a1 arranged below and the cooling medium outlet communication hole 40b1 arranged above, and has a plurality of meandering first passages. 1 It has a cooling medium passage 92a. The cooling medium passage has a plurality of first cooling medium passages 94a that communicate with the cooling medium inlet communication hole 40a2 arranged below and the cooling medium outlet communication hole 40b2 arranged above and meander.

A cooling medium passage through which the cooling medium flows along the plate surface direction of the end plate 22b is formed on the surface 20bs of the temperature control plate 20b facing the insulating member 18b.

As shown in FIG. 1, the cooling medium passage communicates with the cooling medium inlet communication hole 40a1 arranged below and the cooling medium outlet communication hole 40b1 arranged above, and a plurality of second cooling media meandering. It has a passage 92b. The cooling medium passage has a plurality of second cooling medium passages 94b that communicate with the cooling medium inlet communication hole 40a2 arranged below and the cooling medium outlet communication hole 40b2 arranged above and meander.

At one diagonal position of the end plate (one end plate) 22a, an oxidant gas inlet opening 96a and an oxidant gas outlet opening 96a communicating with the oxidant gas inlet communication hole 36a and the oxidizer gas outlet communication hole 36b Part 96b is formed. At the other diagonal position of the end plate 22a, a fuel gas inlet opening 98a and a fuel gas outlet opening 98b communicating with the fuel gas inlet communication hole 38a and the fuel gas outlet communication hole 38b are formed.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the oxidant gas inlet opening 96a and the oxidant gas outlet opening 96b are provided with an oxidant gas supply manifold 100a and an oxidant gas discharge manifold 100b, which are fluid manifolds made of resin. Is provided. The fuel gas inlet opening 98a and the fuel gas outlet opening 98b are provided with a fuel gas supply manifold 102a and a fuel gas discharge manifold 102b, which are resin fluid manifolds.

An oxidant gas supply pipe member (fluid pipe member) 104a is inserted into the oxidant gas inlet opening 96a of the end plate 22a from the surface (inner surface) of the temperature control plate 20a. An oxidant gas discharge pipe member (fluid pipe member) 104b is inserted into the oxidant gas outlet opening 96b of the end plate 22a. A fuel gas supply pipe member (fluid pipe member) 106a and a fuel gas discharge pipe member (fluid pipe member) 106b are inserted into the fuel gas inlet opening 98a and the fuel gas outlet opening 98b of the end plate 22a.

As shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, the oxidant gas supply pipe member 104a is provided with a tubular portion 110a having an oxidant gas supply passage (internal passage) 108a communicating with the oxidant gas supply manifold 100a. The tubular portion 110a has a substantially square tubular shape corresponding to the oxidant gas inlet communication hole 36a and the oxidant gas inlet opening 96a, and has a sealing member 111a between the tubular portion 110a and the inner peripheral surface of the oxidant gas supply manifold 100a. Is intervened. A flange portion 112a is integrally provided at the end of the tubular portion 110a.

The flange portion 112a, which is an end portion of the oxidant gas supply pipe member 104a, comes into direct contact with the insulating member 18a. A seal member 114a that goes around the oxidant gas inlet communication hole 36a is interposed between the flange portion 112a and the insulating member 18a. The oxidant gas supply pipe member 104a is inserted into the notch 88a of the temperature control plate 20a and does not come into contact with the temperature control plate 20a.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the oxidant gas supply pipe member 104a has one or more pores 116a formed in the flange portion 112a. The insulating member 18a is provided with one or more knock pins 118a in the vicinity of the oxidant gas inlet communication hole 36a. By fitting the knock pin 118a into the pores 116a, the oxidant gas supply pipe member 104a is positioned on the insulating member 18a.

As shown in FIG. 4, the oxidant gas discharge pipe member 104b has an oxidant gas discharge passage (internal passage) 108b communicating with the oxidant gas discharge manifold 100b, similarly to the oxidant gas supply pipe member 104a described above. A tubular portion 110b is provided. The tubular portion 110b has a square tubular shape corresponding to the oxidant gas outlet communication hole 36b and the oxidant gas outlet opening 96b, and a flange portion 112b is integrally provided at the end of the tubular portion 110b. Be done.

The flange portion 112b, which is an end portion of the oxidant gas discharge pipe member 104b, comes into direct contact with the insulating member 18a. A seal member 114b that goes around the oxidant gas outlet communication hole 36b is interposed between the flange portion 112b and the insulating member 18a. The oxidant gas discharge pipe member 104b is inserted into the notch 88b of the temperature control plate 20a and does not come into contact with the temperature control plate 20a.

In the oxidant gas discharge pipe member 104b, one or more pores 116b are formed in the flange portion 112b. The insulating member 18a is provided with one or more knock pins 118b in the vicinity of the oxidant gas outlet communication hole 36b. By fitting the knock pin 118b into the pore 116b, the oxidant gas discharge pipe member 104b is positioned on the insulating member 18a.

The fuel gas supply pipe member 106a is configured in the same manner as the above-mentioned oxidant gas supply pipe member 104a, and the same components are designated by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted. The fuel gas supply pipe member 106a has a fuel gas supply passage (internal passage) 108c that communicates with the fuel gas supply manifold 102a.

The fuel gas discharge pipe member 106b is configured in the same manner as the above-mentioned oxidant gas discharge pipe member 104b, and the same components are designated by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted. The fuel gas discharge pipe member 106b has a fuel gas discharge passage (internal passage) 108d communicating with the fuel gas discharge manifold 102b.

As shown in FIG. 1, the end plate 22b is provided with a cooling medium supply manifold 120a communicating with the cooling medium inlet communication holes 40a1 and 40a2 and a cooling medium discharge manifold 120b communicating with the cooling medium outlet communication holes 40b1 and 40b2. Be done.

The operation of the fuel cell stack 10 thus configured will be described below.

First, as shown in FIGS. 1, 4 to 6, the oxidant gas such as the oxygen-containing gas is introduced from the oxidant gas supply manifold 100a of the end plate 22a to the oxidant gas supply passage 108a of the oxidant gas supply pipe member 104a. Is supplied to. The oxidant gas is supplied from the oxidant gas supply passage 108a to the oxidant gas inlet communication hole 36a of the insulating member 18a.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, fuel gas such as hydrogen-containing gas is supplied from the fuel gas supply manifold 102a of the end plate 22a to the fuel gas supply passage 108c of the fuel gas supply pipe member 106a. The fuel gas is supplied from the fuel gas supply passage 108c to the fuel gas inlet communication hole 38a of the insulating member 18a.

As shown in FIG. 1, cooling media such as pure water, ethylene glycol, and oil are supplied from the cooling medium supply manifold 120a of the end plate 22b to the cooling medium inlet communication holes 40a1 and 40a2.

As shown in FIG. 3, the oxidant gas is introduced into the oxidant gas flow path 50 of the cathode separator 34 from the oxidant gas inlet communication hole 36a. The oxidant gas flows in the direction of arrow B and is supplied to the cathode electrode 64 of the electrolyte membrane / electrode structure 32.

On the other hand, the fuel gas is introduced into the fuel gas flow path 42 of the anode separator 30 from the fuel gas inlet communication hole 38a. The fuel gas flows in the direction of arrow B along the fuel gas flow path 42 and is supplied to the anode electrode 62 of the electrolyte membrane / electrode structure 32.

Therefore, in the electrolyte membrane / electrode structure 32, the oxidant gas supplied to the cathode electrode 64 and the fuel gas supplied to the anode electrode 62 are consumed by an electrochemical reaction in the electrode catalyst layer to generate power. It is said.

Next, the oxidant gas supplied to the cathode electrode 64 and partially consumed is discharged in the direction of arrow A along the oxidant gas outlet communication hole 36b. Similarly, the fuel gas supplied to the anode electrode 62 and partially consumed is discharged in the direction of arrow A along the fuel gas outlet communication hole 38b.

As shown in FIG. 4, the oxidant gas flowing into the oxidant gas outlet communication hole 36b of the insulating member 18a is introduced into the oxidant gas discharge passage 108b of the oxidant gas discharge pipe member 104b, and then the oxidant gas is discharged. It is discharged to the manifold 100b. The fuel gas that has flowed into the fuel gas outlet communication hole 38b of the insulating member 18a is introduced into the fuel gas discharge passage 108d of the fuel gas discharge pipe member 106b and then discharged to the fuel gas discharge manifold 102b.

Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the cooling medium supplied to the cooling medium inlet communication holes 40a1 and 40a2 is introduced into the cooling medium flow path 48 between the anode separator 30 and the cathode separator 34 adjacent to each other. The cooling media circulate in the direction of arrow C so as to be close to each other.

The cooling medium further flows in the arrow B direction (separator long side direction) to cool the electrolyte membrane / electrode structure 32. Next, the cooling media flow in the direction of arrow C so as to be separated from each other, and are discharged from the cooling medium outlet communication holes 40b1 and 40b2 to the cooling medium discharge manifold 120b.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 5, in the temperature control plate 20a, the cooling medium is introduced from the lower cooling medium inlet communication holes 40a1 and 40a2 to the first cooling medium passages 92a and 94a. The cooling medium flows upward while meandering along the first cooling medium passages 92a and 94a, and then is discharged to the upper cooling medium outlet communication holes 40b1 and 40b2.

In the temperature control plate 20b, as shown in FIG. 1, the cooling medium is introduced from the lower cooling medium inlet communication holes 40a1 and 40a2 into the second cooling medium passages 92b and 94b. The cooling medium flows upward while meandering along the second cooling medium passages 92b and 94b, and then is discharged to the upper cooling medium outlet communication holes 40b1 and 40b2.

In this case, in this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, the oxidant gas supply pipe member 104a passes through the oxidant gas inlet opening 96a of the end plate 22a and the notch 88a of the temperature control plate 20a. Is in direct contact with the insulating member 18a. At that time, a seal member 114a that goes around the oxidant gas inlet communication hole 36a is interposed at the contact portion between the oxidant gas supply pipe member 104a and the insulating member 18a.

Therefore, the oxidant gas supply pipe member 104a only needs to be provided with the seal member 114a only between the oxidant gas supply pipe member 104a and the insulating member 18a, and the seal structure is satisfactorily simplified. Moreover, the end plate 22a is provided with the oxidant gas inlet opening 96a, and the temperature control plate 20a is only required to be provided with the notch 88a, so that the manufacturing cost does not increase.

As a result, the oxidant gas supply pipe member 104a has an effect that it can have a reliable sealing function with a simple and economical configuration.

Further, pores 116a are formed in the flange portion 112a constituting the oxidant gas supply pipe member 104a, and knock pins 118a provided in the end plate 22a are fitted in the pores 116a. .. Therefore, the oxidant gas supply pipe member 104a can be easily and surely positioned on the end plate 22a. Moreover, the flange portion 112a is sandwiched between the end plate 22a and the insulating member 18a, and a pressing force is applied by elastic deformation of the sealing member 114a. As a result, it is not necessary to fix it with a bolt or the like, and the configuration can be simplified.

The oxidant gas discharge pipe member 104b, the fuel gas supply pipe member 106a, and the fuel gas discharge pipe member 106b can obtain the same effect as the above-mentioned oxidant gas supply pipe member 104a. Further, the configuration of the present invention can also be applied to the cooling medium supply manifold 120a and the cooling medium discharge manifold 120b side.

10 ... Fuel cell stack 12 ... Power generation cell 14 ... Laminated body 16a, 16b ... Terminal plates 18a, 18b ... Insulating members 20a, 20b ... Temperature control plates 22a, 22b ... End plates 24 ... Resin plate 30 ... Anodic separator 32 ... Electrolyte Membrane / electrode structure 34 ... Cathode separator 36a ... Oxidizing gas inlet communication hole 36b ... Oxidizing gas outlet communication hole 38a ... Fuel gas inlet communication hole 38b ... Fuel gas outlet communication hole 40a1, 40a2 ... Cooling medium inlet communication hole 40b1, 40b2 ... Cooling medium outlet communication hole 42 ... Fuel gas flow path 48 ... Cooling medium flow path 50 ... Oxidizing agent gas flow path 60 ... Solid polymer electrolyte membrane 62 ... Anodic electrode 64 ... Cathode electrodes 88a, 88b, 90a, 90b ... Cutting Notches 92a, 92b, 94a, 94b ... Cooling medium passage 96a ... Oxidizing gas inlet opening 96b ... Oxidizing gas outlet opening 98a ... Fuel gas inlet opening 98b ... Fuel gas outlet opening 100a ... Oxidizing gas supply manifold 100b ... Oxidizing agent gas discharge manifold 102a ... Fuel gas supply manifold 102b ... Fuel gas discharge manifold 104a ... Oxidizing agent gas supply pipe member 104b ... Oxidizing agent gas discharge pipe member 106a ... Fuel gas supply pipe member 106b ... Fuel gas discharge pipe member 108a ... Oxidizing gas supply passage 108b ... Oxidizing gas discharge passage 108c ... Fuel gas supply passage 108d ... Fuel gas discharge passage 110a, 110b ... Cylindrical portion 112a, 112b ... Flange portion 114a, 114b ... Seal member 116a, 116b ... Pore 118a, 118b ... Knock pin

Claims (5)

An insulating plate and plate surfaces are provided at both ends in the stacking direction of a laminate having a power generation cell having an electrolyte membrane / electrode structure in which electrodes are arranged on both sides of the electrolyte membrane and a separator, and the plurality of the power generation cells are laminated. Refrigerant plates and end plates in which a cooling medium passage through which the cooling medium flows along the direction are formed are sequentially arranged outward, and at least an oxidizing agent gas is provided on the outside of one end plate. or fluid is a fuel gas to a fuel cell stack fluid manifold is provided which communicates with the fluid passage for circulating in the stacking direction,
It has an internal flow path that communicates with the fluid manifold and includes a fluid pipe member that engages with the fluid manifold.
The end plate is formed with an opening through which the fluid pipe member is penetrated, while
A notch for passing the fluid pipe member is formed on the outer periphery of the refrigerant plate.
The end portion of the fluid pipe member has a portion that directly contacts the insulating plate.
A fuel characterized in that a seal member that goes around the fluid communication hole is interposed between a portion of the end portion of the fluid pipe member that does not directly contact the insulating plate and the insulating plate. Battery stack. The fuel cell stack according to claim 1, wherein the fluid pipe member has a flange portion, and the flange portion is positioned on the insulating plate via a knock pin. The fuel cell stack according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the cooling medium passage communicates with a cooling medium inlet communication hole and a cooling medium outlet communication hole among the fluid communication holes. The fuel cell stack according to claim 1, wherein the fluid pipe member has a flange portion.
A fuel cell stack characterized in that the flange portion is sandwiched between the end plate and the insulating plate. The fuel cell stack according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a seal member is arranged between the inner circumference of the fluid manifold and the outer circumference of the fluid pipe member. stack.

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