Fuel cell

Abstract

A fuel cell includes a cell stack, first and second end plates, first and second terminal plates, and first and second insulating plates. The first end plate is disposed at one end of the cell stack in a stacking direction. The second end plate is disposed at the other end of the cell stack in the stacking direction. The first end plate, the first terminal plate, and the first insulating plate overlap in a thickness direction. The second end plate, the second terminal plate, and the second insulating plate overlap in the thickness direction. The first and second terminal plates each include a terminal that protrudes outward from an outer edge thereof. The first and second insulating plates each include a support portion that protrudes outward in a manner that extends along a single face in the thickness direction of the terminal.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This disclosure relates to fuel cells. Background Technology

[0002] As shown in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2007-149392, a fuel cell includes a battery stack, a first end plate and a second end plate, a first terminal block and a second terminal block, and a first insulating plate and a second insulating plate.

[0003] A fuel cell stack is formed by stacking multiple individual cells along its thickness direction. A first end plate is disposed at one end of the individual cells in the stack along the stacking direction. A second end plate is disposed at the other end of the individual cells in the stack along the stacking direction. A first terminal block is disposed between the first end plate and the aforementioned end of the stack along the stacking direction. A second terminal block is disposed between the second end plate and the aforementioned end of the stack along the stacking direction. A first insulating plate is disposed between the first terminal block and the first end plate. A second insulating plate is disposed between the second terminal block and the second end plate. The first end plate, the first terminal block, and the first insulating plate in the fuel cell overlap in the thickness direction. The second end plate, the second terminal block, and the second insulating plate in the fuel cell overlap in the thickness direction.

[0004] Each cell in the battery stack has a membrane electrode gas diffusion layer junction. In each cell, power generation is based on the reaction of fuel gas such as hydrogen with oxidizing gas such as air within the membrane electrode gas diffusion layer junction. A first terminal block and a second terminal block, formed of a conductive material such as metal, are used to collect power from each cell in the battery stack. Each of the first and second terminal blocks has terminals protruding outward from its outer edge. A bolt is considered to secure the wires used to extract power from the battery stack to the terminals. A first insulating plate is used to insulate the first terminal block from the first end plate. A second insulating plate is used to insulate the second terminal block from the second end plate. Both the first and second insulating plates are formed of an insulating material such as resin. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The problem that the invention aims to solve

[0006] In fuel cells, it is desirable to reduce the thickness of the terminal block for weight reduction. However, if the terminal block is thinned, the terminals also become thinner, thus reducing their rigidity. This reduced rigidity can cause the terminals to deform when wire bolts are tightened to them.

[0007] Solution for solving the problem

[0008] A fuel cell according to one embodiment of this disclosure includes: a battery stack; a first end plate and a second end plate; a first terminal block and a second terminal block; and a first insulating plate and a second insulating plate. The battery stack is formed by stacking a plurality of individual cells along the thickness direction. The first end plate is disposed at one end of the stacking direction of the individual cells in the battery stack, and the second end plate is disposed at the other end of the stacking direction in the battery stack. The first terminal block is disposed between the first end plate and the one end of the battery stack, and the second terminal block is disposed between the second end plate and the other end of the battery stack. The first insulating plate is disposed between the first terminal block and the first end plate, and the second insulating plate is disposed between the second terminal block and the second end plate. The first end plate, the first terminal block, and the first insulating plate overlap in the thickness direction, and the second end plate, the second terminal block, and the second insulating plate overlap in the thickness direction. The first terminal block and the second terminal block each have terminals protruding outward from their outer edges. The terminals are fastened with wire bolts. Support portions protruding in a manner extending unilaterally along the thickness direction of the terminals are formed on the first insulating plate and the second insulating plate. Attached Figure Description

[0009] Figure 1 This is a 3D diagram representing a fuel cell.

[0010] Figure 2 It means from Figure 1 A cross-sectional view of the terminals and surrounding area of ​​the first terminal block in the fuel cell described above, viewed in the direction of arrow II-II.

[0011] Figure 3 This is a cross-sectional view showing another example of bolt fastening of a wire relative to the terminal block.

[0012] Figure 4 This is a cross-sectional view showing another example of bolt fastening of a wire relative to the terminal block.

[0013] Figure 5 This is a cross-sectional view showing another example of bolt fastening of a wire relative to the terminal block.

[0014] Figure 6 This is a cross-sectional view showing another example of bolt fastening of a wire relative to the terminal block. Detailed Implementation

[0015] The following reference Figure 1 and Figure 2 This will illustrate one implementation method of a fuel cell.

[0016] Figure 1The fuel cell shown includes a battery stack 11, a first end plate 12A and a second end plate 12B, a first terminal block 13A and a second terminal block 13B, and a first insulating plate 14A and a second insulating plate 14B.

[0017] The battery stack 11 is formed by stacking multiple individual cells 15 along the thickness direction. A first end plate 12A is disposed at one end of the stacking direction of the individual cells 15 in the battery stack 11. A second end plate 12B is disposed at the other end of the stacking direction of the individual cells 15 in the battery stack 11. A first terminal plate 13A is disposed between the first end plate 12A and the aforementioned end of the battery stack 11. A second terminal plate 13B is disposed between the second end plate 12B and the aforementioned other end of the battery stack 11. A first insulating plate 14A is disposed between the first terminal plate 13A and the first end plate 12A. A second insulating plate 14B is disposed between the second terminal plate 13B and the second end plate 12B. The first end plate 12A, the first terminal plate 13A, and the first insulating plate 14A overlap in the thickness direction. The second end plate 12B, the second terminal plate 13B, and the second insulating plate 14B overlap in the thickness direction.

[0018] Fuel gas such as hydrogen, oxidizing gas such as air, and refrigerant such as cooling water flow within the battery stack 11. Each individual cell 15 in the battery stack 11 has a membrane electrode gas diffusion layer junction. In each individual cell 15, fuel gas flows toward the anode side of the membrane electrode gas diffusion layer junction, and oxidizing gas flows toward the cathode side. Power generation is achieved based on the reaction between the fuel gas and the oxidizing gas in the membrane electrode gas diffusion layer junction. Refrigerant flows between each individual cell 15 to cool the individual cells 15 that generate heat during power generation.

[0019] Terminal blocks 13A and 13B are used to collect current from each individual cell 15 in the battery stack 11, and are formed of conductive materials such as metal. Terminal blocks 13A and 13B each have a feature that protrudes outward from their outer edge, i.e., to... Figure 1 The terminal 23 protrudes from the top. Insulating plate 14A insulates the terminal block 13A from the end plate 12A. Insulating plate 14B insulates the terminal block 13B from the end plate 12B. Insulating plates 14A and 14B are formed of an insulating material such as resin. Furthermore, each of the insulating plates 14A and 14B has a support portion 24 protruding from one side along the thickness direction of the terminal 23. The support portion 24 extends outward from the outer edge of the insulating plates 14A and 14B, i.e. Figure 1 The top protrudes.

[0020] like Figure 2 As shown, a wire 28 for extracting power from the battery stack 11 is secured to the bolt at terminal 23. The construction of securing the wire 28 to the bolt at terminal 23 will be described in detail below. Additionally, refer to the following... Figure 2The construction of the bolt securing the wire 28 to the terminal 23 of the first terminal block 13A will be described, but the construction of the bolt securing the wire 28 to the terminal 23 of the second terminal block 13B is the same. Therefore, the description of the construction of the bolt securing the wire 28 to the terminal 23 of the second terminal block 13B will be omitted.

[0021] like Figure 2 As shown, a through hole 25 extending along the thickness direction is formed in terminal 23. On one side of terminal 23 in the thickness direction, i.e. Figure 2 The right surface of the terminal 23 is provided with a support portion 24 for the first insulating plate 14A. A threaded insert 26 for bolt fastening is embedded in the support portion 24. The threaded insert 26 is located at a position corresponding to the through hole 25 of the terminal 23. The threaded insert 26 is in contact with the aforementioned one side of the terminal 23.

[0022] Bolt 27 passes through the through hole 25 of terminal 23. Bolt 27 passes through the through hole 25 from one side of terminal 23 opposite to the aforementioned single side and is screwed into the aforementioned threaded insert 26. By screwing bolt 27 into threaded insert 26 as described above with wire 28 positioned between the head 27a of bolt 27 and terminal 23, wire 28 is clamped between the head 27a of bolt 27 and terminal 23. Thus, wire 28 is bolted to terminal 23.

[0023] Next, the effects of the fuel cell in this embodiment will be explained.

[0024] (1) The terminal blocks 13A and 13B that collect power from each individual cell 15 of the fuel cell are each provided with a terminal 23 protruding outward from its outer edge. Furthermore, an insulating plate 14A (14B) disposed between the terminal blocks 13A (13B) and the end plate 12A (12B) of the fuel cell has a support portion 24 that protrudes from one side along the thickness direction of the terminal 23. Thus, the terminal 23 is supported on one side by the support portion 24. Therefore, even if the terminal blocks 13A (13B) and the terminal 23 are thinned, deformation of the terminal 23 when the wire 28 is bolted to the terminal 23 can be suppressed by the support portion 24 of the insulating plate 14A (14B). Thus, the terminal 23 will not deform due to bolt tightening, and the insulating plates 14A and 14B can be thinned to reduce the weight of the fuel cell.

[0025] (2) When the wire 28 is bolted to the terminal 23, with the wire 28 positioned between the head 27a of the bolt 27 and the terminal 23, the bolt 27 is screwed into the threaded insert 26 while passing through the terminal 23. Thus, the wire 28 is bolted to the terminal 23. Since the threaded insert 26 is embedded in the support portion 24 of the insulating plate 14A (14B) and connected to the terminal 23 of the terminal block 13A (13B), the bolt tightening will not cause deformation or other effects to the support portion 24 of the insulating plate 14A (14B).

[0026] Furthermore, the above-described embodiments can be modified as follows. The above-described embodiments and the following modifications can be combined with each other within the scope of technical non-contradiction. In addition, the following describes a modified embodiment in which the first end plate 12A and the second end plate 12B are only end plates 12, the first terminal plate 13A and the second terminal plate 13B are only terminal plates 13, and the first insulating plate 14A and the second insulating plate 14B are only insulating plates 14.

[0027] like Figure 3 As shown, instead of embedding the threaded insert 26 in the insulating plate 14, the collar 29 can be embedded in the support portion 24 of the insulating plate 14 along the thickness direction. Furthermore, after passing the bolt 27 through the through hole 25 of the terminal 23 and the collar 29 of the support portion 24, the bolt 27 can be screwed into the nut 30 disposed on the side of the support portion 24 opposite to the terminal 23. In this case, since the nut 30 is in contact with the collar 29, the support portion 24 will not deform due to bolt tightening.

[0028] like Figure 4 As shown, it can also be Figure 3 The positions of bolt 27 and nut 30 are swapped.

[0029] like Figure 5 As shown, instead of embedding the threaded insert 26 in the insulating plate 14, a metal plate 31 can be disposed on the side of the support portion 24 of the insulating plate 14 opposite to the terminal 23. Furthermore, through holes 32 and 33 are formed in the support portion 24 and the metal plate 31 at positions corresponding to the through holes 25 of the terminal 23, respectively. After passing the bolt 27 through the through hole 25 of the terminal 23, the through hole 32 of the insulating plate 14, and the through hole 33 of the metal plate 31, the bolt 27 can be screwed into the nut 30 disposed on the side of the metal plate 31 opposite to the support portion 24. In this case, since the nut 30 is in contact with the metal plate 31, the support portion 24 will not deform due to bolt tightening.

[0030] like Figure 6 As shown, it can also be Figure 5The positions of bolt 27 and nut 30 are swapped.

Claims

1. A fuel cell, comprising: Battery stack; first end plate and second end plate; first terminal block and second terminal block; and first insulating plate and second insulating plate. The battery stack is formed by stacking multiple individual cells along the thickness direction. The first end plate is disposed at one end of the stacking direction of the single cell in the battery stack. The second end plate is disposed at the other end of the stacking direction in the battery stack. The first terminal block is disposed between the first end plate and one end of the battery stack. The second terminal block is disposed between the second end plate and the other end of the battery stack. The first insulating plate is disposed between the first wiring plate and the first end plate. The second insulating plate is disposed between the second terminal block and the second end plate, wherein, The first end plate, the first terminal plate, and the first insulating plate overlap in the thickness direction. The second end plate, the second terminal plate, and the second insulating plate overlap in the thickness direction. The first terminal block and the second terminal block each have terminals protruding outward from their outer edges. The terminal is used for fastening the wire bolts. The first insulating plate and the second insulating plate are respectively formed with a support portion that protrudes in a manner that extends on one side along the thickness direction of the terminal.

2. The fuel cell according to claim 1, wherein, A threaded insert for bolt fastening is embedded in the support portion of at least one of the first and second insulating plates.

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