JPH0449224B2 - - Google Patents

Info

Publication number
JPH0449224B2
JPH0449224B2 JP60144761A JP14476185A JPH0449224B2 JP H0449224 B2 JPH0449224 B2 JP H0449224B2 JP 60144761 A JP60144761 A JP 60144761A JP 14476185 A JP14476185 A JP 14476185A JP H0449224 B2 JPH0449224 B2 JP H0449224B2
Authority
JP
Japan
Prior art keywords
gas
fuel cell
membrane
electrode
electrode end
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
JP60144761A
Other languages
Japanese (ja)
Other versions
JPS628456A (en
Inventor
Keizaburo Kawashima
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Hitachi Ltd
Original Assignee
Hitachi Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Hitachi Ltd filed Critical Hitachi Ltd
Priority to JP60144761A priority Critical patent/JPS628456A/en
Publication of JPS628456A publication Critical patent/JPS628456A/en
Publication of JPH0449224B2 publication Critical patent/JPH0449224B2/ja
Granted legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • HELECTRICITY
    • H01ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01MPROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M8/00Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M8/02Details
    • H01M8/0271Sealing or supporting means around electrodes, matrices or membranes
    • YGENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02EREDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
    • Y02E60/00Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
    • Y02E60/30Hydrogen technology
    • Y02E60/50Fuel cells

Landscapes

  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
  • Sustainable Development (AREA)
  • Sustainable Energy (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
  • Electrochemistry (AREA)
  • General Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Fuel Cell (AREA)

Description

【発明の詳細な説明】 〔発明の利用分野〕 本発明は燃料電池に関するものである。[Detailed description of the invention] [Field of application of the invention] The present invention relates to fuel cells.

〔発明の背景〕[Background of the invention]

第3図には燃料電池の従来例が示されている。
同図に示されているように燃料電池は一対のガス
拡散電極である多孔質の燃料極1、酸化剤極2お
よびこれらの間に挾持された電解質層3を有する
単位電池4が、気密板5を介して複数個積層され
ている。そして燃料極1および酸化剤極2は夫々
第4図に示されているように、一方の面に燃料ガ
スおよび酸化剤ガスの流路を形成するガス流路6
を持ち、他方の面は平担に形成されている溝付多
孔質基板1a,2aと、この多孔質基板1a,2
aの平担面に塗布等により形成される触媒層1
b,2bとから形成される。また燃料ガスおよび
酸化剤ガスのガス流路6は互にその方向が交差す
るように積重ねられる。従つて一つのガス流路を
流れる燃料ガスとその上または下方のガス流路6
を流れる酸化剤ガスとが互い混合しないように、
夫々のガス流路6と平行な電極端部7をガスシー
ルすることが必要である。
FIG. 3 shows a conventional example of a fuel cell.
As shown in the figure, in a fuel cell, a unit cell 4 has a porous fuel electrode 1, which is a pair of gas diffusion electrodes, an oxidizer electrode 2, and an electrolyte layer 3 sandwiched between them. A plurality of them are stacked with 5 interposed therebetween. As shown in FIG. 4, each of the fuel electrode 1 and the oxidizer electrode 2 has a gas flow path 6 on one side that forms a flow path for the fuel gas and the oxidant gas.
Grooved porous substrates 1a, 2a, the other surface of which is flat, and the porous substrates 1a, 2
Catalyst layer 1 formed by coating etc. on the flat surface of a.
b, 2b. Further, the gas flow paths 6 for fuel gas and oxidant gas are stacked so that their directions intersect with each other. Therefore, the fuel gas flowing through one gas flow path and the gas flow path 6 above or below it.
so that the oxidant gas flowing through the
It is necessary to gas-seal the electrode ends 7 parallel to the respective gas channels 6.

この場合のガスシールの対象となるガス漏れ経
路は、第5図に矢印で示されているようにガス流
路6から電極端部7を通つて外部に漏れる経路A
と、電極端部7と気密板5との接触界面から外部
へ漏れる経路Bとがある。この電極端部7のガス
シールとしては、従来、例えば特開昭58−166668
号公報に記載されているように電極端部7の細孔
径を電極基板1a,2aの他の部分より小さく
し、電解液を保持させてウエツトシールとしたも
のや、特開昭59−68171号公報のように電極端部
7にシール材を含浸させたり、塗布したもの等が
提案されていた。しかしこのうち前者の場合は差
圧の変動による電解液の移動や減少などにより、
安定なガスシールが得られず、後者の場合はピン
ホールの発生などで均一で安定したシール材被膜
の形成が困難で、シール処理に多大の工数を必要
とする等の欠点があつた。
In this case, the gas leakage path to be sealed is a path A that leaks from the gas flow path 6 to the outside through the electrode end 7 as indicated by the arrow in FIG.
and a path B that leaks to the outside from the contact interface between the electrode end 7 and the airtight plate 5. As a gas seal for this electrode end 7, conventional methods include, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 58-166668.
As described in Japanese Patent Publication No. 59-68171, the pore diameter of the electrode end portion 7 is made smaller than that of the other parts of the electrode substrates 1a and 2a, and the electrolyte is retained to form a wet seal. It has been proposed that the electrode end 7 be impregnated with or coated with a sealing material. However, in the former case, due to movement or reduction of electrolyte due to fluctuations in differential pressure,
A stable gas seal cannot be obtained, and in the latter case, it is difficult to form a uniform and stable sealing material film due to the occurrence of pinholes, and the sealing process requires a large number of steps.

〔発明の目的〕[Purpose of the invention]

本発明は以上の点に鑑みなされたものであり、
電極端部のガスシールの信頼性および耐久性を向
上することを可能とした燃料電池を提供すること
を目的とするものである。
The present invention has been made in view of the above points,
The object of the present invention is to provide a fuel cell in which the reliability and durability of the gas seal at the electrode end can be improved.

〔発明の概要〕[Summary of the invention]

すなわち本発明は一対のガス拡散電極およびこ
れらの間に配置された電解質層を有する単位電池
が気密板を介して複数個積層されると共に、前記
ガス拡散電極には夫々ガスが流通するガス流路が
設けられ、かつこのガス流路と平行な電極端部に
は前記ガスが漏洩するのを防止するガスシールが
設けられている燃料電池において、前記ガスシー
ルを、ふつ素樹脂繊維の多孔質マツトの一部を融
着形成した膜と、この膜の両側に位置し、かつ電
解液を含浸した前記多孔質マツトとからなる被覆
材で形成したことを特徴とするものであり、これ
によつてガスシールは、ふつ素樹脂繊維の多孔質
マツトの一部を融着形成した膜と、この膜の両側
に位置し、かつ電解液を含浸した多孔質マツトと
からなる被覆材で形成されるようになる。
That is, in the present invention, a plurality of unit cells having a pair of gas diffusion electrodes and an electrolyte layer disposed between them are stacked with airtight plates interposed therebetween, and each of the gas diffusion electrodes has a gas flow path through which gas flows. In a fuel cell in which a gas seal is provided at the end of the electrode parallel to the gas flow path to prevent the gas from leaking, the gas seal is made of a porous mat made of fluorine resin fiber. It is characterized by being formed of a covering material consisting of a membrane formed by fusing a part of the membrane, and the porous mats located on both sides of the membrane and impregnated with an electrolytic solution. The gas seal is made of a covering material consisting of a membrane formed by fusing a part of a porous mat of fluorine resin fibers, and porous mats located on both sides of this membrane and impregnated with an electrolyte. become.

〔発明の実施例〕[Embodiments of the invention]

以下、図示した実施例に基づいて本発明を説明
する。第1図および第2図には本発明の一実施例
が示されている。なお従来と同じ部品には同じ符
号を付したので説明を省略する。本実施例ではガ
スシールを、ふつ素樹脂繊維の多孔質マツト8a
の一部を融着形成した膜8bと、この膜8bの両
側に位置し、かつ電解液を含浸した多孔質マツト
8aとからなる被覆材8で形成した。このように
することによりガスシールは、ふつ素樹脂繊維の
多孔質マツト8aの一部を融着形成した膜8b
と、この膜8bの両側に位置し、かつ電解液を含
浸した多孔質マツト8aとからなる被覆材8で形
成されるようになつて、電極端部7のガスシール
の信頼性および耐久性を向上することを可能とし
た燃料電池を得ることができる。
The present invention will be explained below based on the illustrated embodiments. An embodiment of the invention is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG. Note that parts that are the same as those in the conventional system are given the same reference numerals, and therefore their explanations will be omitted. In this embodiment, the gas seal is made of porous mat 8a made of fluororesin fiber.
The coating material 8 was formed of a membrane 8b formed by fusion-bonding a part of the membrane 8b, and porous mats 8a located on both sides of the membrane 8b and impregnated with an electrolytic solution. By doing so, the gas seal is formed by a membrane 8b formed by fusing a part of the porous mat 8a made of fluororesin fiber.
The coating material 8 consists of a porous mat 8a located on both sides of the membrane 8b and impregnated with an electrolytic solution, thereby improving the reliability and durability of the gas seal at the electrode end 7. It is possible to obtain a fuel cell that can be improved.

すなわち酸化剤極2のガス流路6と平行な電極
端部7を被覆材8で被覆したが、電極端部端面9
と対向する部分をふつ素樹脂の膜8bで、電極端
部7の上,下面と対向する部分をふつ素樹脂繊維
の多孔質マツト8aで覆うようにした。この膜8
bと多孔質マツト8aとは一体に形成し、多孔質
マツト8aには電解液を含浸した。このようにす
ることにより電極端部7の上、下面に配置され、
電解液が含浸された多孔質マツト8aは、その一
方の面は気密板5と酸化剤極2との間に挾持さ
れ、他方の面は酸化剤極2と燃料極1との間に電
解質層3と共に挾持されるようになる。被覆材8
は上述のようにふつ素樹脂繊維の多孔質マツト8
aの幅方向中央部を圧着加熱し、繊維を融着した
適当な幅の連続した膜8bと、この膜8bの両側
の多孔質マツト8aとを一体に形成したが、この
ような形状の被覆材8は熱可塑性樹脂であるふつ
素樹脂のうち溶融温度が低く、加圧加熱により膜
8bが形成できるテトラフルオロエチレン・パー
フルオロアルキルビニールエーテル共重合体やテ
トラフルオロエチレン・ヘキサフルオロプロピレ
ン共重合体などの繊維の不織布を用いて、ロール
ヒータ等で加圧加熱すれば容易に得ることができ
る。また、この撥水性の強いふつ素樹脂繊維の多
孔質マツト8aは、アルコールに浸漬処理した後
にアルコール分を揮発させることによつて、親水
性マツトに変えることができる。
That is, although the electrode end 7 of the oxidizer electrode 2 parallel to the gas flow path 6 was covered with the coating material 8, the end face 9 of the electrode end
The portion facing the electrode end portion 7 is covered with a fluorine resin film 8b, and the portion facing the upper and lower surfaces of the electrode end portion 7 is covered with a porous mat 8a of fluorine resin fiber. This film 8
b and the porous mat 8a were integrally formed, and the porous mat 8a was impregnated with an electrolytic solution. By doing this, it is arranged on the upper and lower surfaces of the electrode end part 7,
The porous mat 8a impregnated with electrolyte is sandwiched between the airtight plate 5 and the oxidizer electrode 2 on one side, and the electrolyte layer is sandwiched between the oxidizer electrode 2 and the fuel electrode 1 on the other side. It comes to be held together with 3. Covering material 8
As mentioned above, the porous mat made of fluororesin fiber 8
A continuous membrane 8b of an appropriate width with fibers fused by pressing and heating the central part in the width direction of a and porous mats 8a on both sides of this membrane 8b were integrally formed. Material 8 is a tetrafluoroethylene/perfluoroalkyl vinyl ether copolymer or a tetrafluoroethylene/hexafluoropropylene copolymer which has a low melting temperature among fluororesins that are thermoplastic resins and can form the film 8b by pressure heating. It can be easily obtained by using a non-woven fabric made of fibers such as and heating under pressure with a roll heater or the like. Further, the porous mat 8a made of fluororesin fibers having strong water repellency can be converted into a hydrophilic mat by immersing it in alcohol and then volatilizing the alcohol content.

このように本実施例によればガス流路6からの
電極端部7を通るガスの漏洩は連続した膜8bで
シールされ、差圧に影響されず優れたガスシール
効果が得られる。また、電極端部7と気密板5と
の接触界面からのガスの漏洩は、多孔質マツト8
aに含浸した電解液によつて形成される液シール
でシールされる。そしてまた、接触界面に弾力性
にすぐれた多孔質マツト8aを用いることによ
り、界面の表面状態に影響されることがなく、積
層後の締付によつてそのシール性を更に向上する
ことができる。すなわち電極端部端面9は連続し
た膜8bで被覆されると共に、電極端部7と気密
板5との接触界面は弾力性に富むふつ素樹脂繊維
の多孔質マツト8aに含浸した電解液により形成
される液シールでシールされるようになつて、従
来のガスシールよりも信頼性が高く、耐久性にす
ぐれたガスシールとなる。そして使用材料が耐
酸,耐熱性にすぐれたふつ素樹脂なので、一旦構
造物として形成すればその性状の変化がなく、耐
久性にすぐれたものとなる。
As described above, according to this embodiment, leakage of gas from the gas flow path 6 through the electrode end 7 is sealed by the continuous membrane 8b, and an excellent gas sealing effect can be obtained without being affected by differential pressure. Further, gas leakage from the contact interface between the electrode end 7 and the airtight plate 5 is prevented by the porous mat 8.
A is sealed with a liquid seal formed by an electrolytic solution impregnated in a. Furthermore, by using the porous mat 8a with excellent elasticity at the contact interface, it is not affected by the surface condition of the interface, and the sealing performance can be further improved by tightening after lamination. . That is, the end face 9 of the electrode end portion is covered with a continuous film 8b, and the contact interface between the electrode end portion 7 and the airtight plate 5 is formed by an electrolytic solution impregnated into a porous mat 8a made of highly elastic fluororesin fibers. The gas seal is now sealed with a liquid seal, which is more reliable and durable than conventional gas seals. Since the material used is a fluororesin with excellent acid and heat resistance, once it is formed into a structure, its properties do not change and it has excellent durability.

なお本実施例では酸化剤極2のガス流路6と平
行な電極端部7を被覆材8で被覆した場合につい
て説明したが、燃料極1のガス流路6と平行な電
極端部7にも被覆材8を設けることは云うまでも
ない。
In this embodiment, a case has been described in which the electrode end 7 of the oxidizer electrode 2 parallel to the gas flow path 6 is covered with the coating material 8; Needless to say, the covering material 8 is also provided.

〔発明の効果〕〔Effect of the invention〕

上述のように本発明は電極端部のガスシールの
信頼性および耐久性が向上するようになつて、電
極端部のガスシールの信頼性および耐久性を向上
するようになつて、電極端部のガスシールの信頼
性および耐久性を向上することを可能として燃料
電池を得ることができる。
As described above, the present invention improves the reliability and durability of the gas seal at the electrode end. It is possible to improve the reliability and durability of the gas seal in the fuel cell.

【図面の簡単な説明】[Brief explanation of the drawing]

第1図は本発明の燃料電池の一実施例の電極端
部の縦断側面図、第2図は同じく一実施例の被覆
材の斜視図、第3図は従来の燃料電池の斜視図、
第4図は従来の燃料電池の単位電池の縦断側面面
図、第5図は従来の燃料電池の電極端部の縦断側
面図である。 1……燃料極(ガス拡散電極)、1a……溝付
き多孔質基板、1b……触媒層、2……酸化剤極
(ガス拡散電極)、2a……溝付き多孔質基板、2
b……触媒層、3……電解質層、4……単位電
池、5……気密板、6……ガス流路、7……電極
端部、8……被覆材、8a……多孔質マツト、8
b……膜、9……電極端部端面。
FIG. 1 is a longitudinal cross-sectional side view of an electrode end of an embodiment of a fuel cell according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a covering material of an embodiment, and FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a conventional fuel cell.
FIG. 4 is a vertical cross-sectional side view of a unit cell of a conventional fuel cell, and FIG. 5 is a vertical cross-sectional side view of an electrode end of a conventional fuel cell. 1... Fuel electrode (gas diffusion electrode), 1a... Grooved porous substrate, 1b... Catalyst layer, 2... Oxidizer electrode (gas diffusion electrode), 2a... Grooved porous substrate, 2
b... Catalyst layer, 3... Electrolyte layer, 4... Unit battery, 5... Airtight plate, 6... Gas flow path, 7... Electrode end, 8... Covering material, 8a... Porous mat , 8
b... Membrane, 9... Electrode end end surface.

Claims (1)

【特許請求の範囲】 1 一対のガス拡散電極およびこれらの間に配置
された電解質層を有する単位電池が気密板を介し
て複数個積層されると共に、前記ガス拡散電極に
は夫々ガスが流通するガス流路が設けられ、かつ
このガス流路と平行な電極端部には前記ガスが漏
洩するのを防止するガスシールが設けられている
燃料電池において、前記ガスシールを、ふつ素樹
脂繊維の多孔質マツトの一部を融着形成した膜
と、この膜の両側に位置し、かつ電解液を含浸し
た前記多孔質マツトとからなる被覆材で形成した
ことを特徴とする燃料電池。 2 前記被覆材が、その前記膜が前記電極端部の
側面を、その前記多孔質マツトが前記電極端部の
上,下面を覆うようにして前記電極端部に装着さ
れたものである特許請求の範囲第1項記載の燃料
電池。 3 前記被覆材が、その前記膜および多孔質マツ
トが一体に形成されたものである特許請求の範囲
第1項または第2項記載の燃料電池。 4 前記ふつ素樹脂繊維が、テトラフルオロエチ
レン・パーフルオロアルキルビニールエーテル共
重合体またはテトラフルオロエチレン・ヘキサフ
ルオロプロピレン共重合体で形成されたものであ
る特許請求の範囲第1項記載の燃料電池。
[Claims] 1. A plurality of unit batteries each having a pair of gas diffusion electrodes and an electrolyte layer disposed between them are stacked with airtight plates interposed therebetween, and gas flows through each of the gas diffusion electrodes. In a fuel cell in which a gas flow path is provided and a gas seal is provided at the end of the electrode parallel to the gas flow path to prevent the gas from leaking, the gas seal is made of fluorine resin fiber. 1. A fuel cell comprising a coating material comprising a membrane formed by fusing a part of a porous mat, and the porous mats located on both sides of the membrane and impregnated with an electrolyte. 2. A patent claim in which the covering material is attached to the electrode end such that the membrane covers the side surface of the electrode end, and the porous mat covers the upper and lower surfaces of the electrode end. 1. The fuel cell according to item 1. 3. The fuel cell according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the coating material is one in which the membrane and porous mat are integrally formed. 4. The fuel cell according to claim 1, wherein the fluororesin fiber is formed of a tetrafluoroethylene/perfluoroalkyl vinyl ether copolymer or a tetrafluoroethylene/hexafluoropropylene copolymer.
JP60144761A 1985-07-03 1985-07-03 Fuel cell Granted JPS628456A (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP60144761A JPS628456A (en) 1985-07-03 1985-07-03 Fuel cell

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP60144761A JPS628456A (en) 1985-07-03 1985-07-03 Fuel cell

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
JPS628456A JPS628456A (en) 1987-01-16
JPH0449224B2 true JPH0449224B2 (en) 1992-08-10

Family

ID=15369786

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
JP60144761A Granted JPS628456A (en) 1985-07-03 1985-07-03 Fuel cell

Country Status (1)

Country Link
JP (1) JPS628456A (en)

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
KR100646945B1 (en) * 2000-09-28 2006-11-17 한국전력공사 Electrode of Molten Carbonate Fuel Cell with Gas Crossover Protection

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
JPS628456A (en) 1987-01-16

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