Ventilation apparatus for fuel cell and manufacturing method for fuel cell

Abstract

To provide a ventilation apparatus capable of sufficiently taking in outside air into a fuel cell case.SOLUTION: A ventilation apparatus for a fuel cell includes a fuel cell case accommodating a stacked body formed by stacking a plurality of power generation cells, and a ventilation unit attached to the fuel cell case so as to cover an opening that is provided in the fuel cell case and that communicates with an internal space of the fuel cell case. The ventilation unit includes: a filter disposed facing the opening; a frame-shaped holding member attached to the fuel cell case while holding a peripheral portion of the filter; and a cover attached to the holding member so as to cover an inside of the peripheral portion of the filter. The cover is attached to the holding member with a gap over an entire circumference of the cover between a peripheral portion of the cover and the holding member.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a fuel cell ventilation device that ventilates the internal space of a fuel cell case, and a method for manufacturing a fuel cell. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, one such device is known in which a filter is disposed to cover an opening on the front surface of a fuel cell case, and a cover member is attached to the front surface of the fuel cell case via a pressing member (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In the device described in Patent Document 1, a slit-shaped communication hole is provided in the cover member, and outside air is taken into the fuel cell case via the communication hole and the filter. In addition, to protect the filter, the front surface of the filter is covered with a cover member, and the communication hole of the cover member is provided opposite the pressing member. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2022-126924 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, in a configuration such as that of the device described in Patent Document 1 above, which simply provides a slit-shaped communication hole in a position that does not face the filter of the cover member as an outside air intake, the opening area of ​​the communication hole cannot be made large, making it difficult to sufficiently take in outside air into the fuel cell case. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] A fuel cell ventilation device according to one aspect of the present invention includes a fuel cell case that houses a stack formed by stacking a plurality of power generation cells, and a ventilation unit that is attached to the fuel cell case so as to cover an opening that is provided in the fuel cell case and communicates with the internal space of the fuel cell case. The ventilation unit has a filter arranged facing the opening, a frame-shaped holding member that is attached to the fuel cell case while holding the peripheral edge of the filter, and a cover that is attached to the holding member so as to cover the inside of the peripheral edge of the filter. The cover is attached to the holding member with a gap between the peripheral edge of the cover and the holding member around the entire circumference of the peripheral edge of the cover.

[0006] Another aspect of the present invention is a method for manufacturing a fuel cell by attaching a ventilation unit to a fuel cell case so as to cover an opening that is provided in the fuel cell case and communicates with an internal space of the fuel cell case, the method including the steps of attaching a peripheral portion of a filter that faces the opening to a frame-shaped holding member, attaching a cover to the holding member so as to cover the inside of the peripheral portion of the filter, and attaching the holding member to the fuel cell case. The step of attaching the cover includes attaching the cover to the fuel cell case with a gap between the peripheral portion of the cover and the holding member around the entire circumference of the peripheral portion of the cover. Effect of the Invention

[0007] According to the present invention, it is possible to sufficiently take in outside air into the fuel cell case. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view showing a schematic overall configuration of a fuel cell stack provided with a fuel cell ventilation device according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line II-II in FIG. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a front view of the fuel cell stack in a state where the ventilation unit is removed from FIG. 1 . [Figure 4]FIG. 2 is a front view of a ventilation unit of an upper ventilation device provided in the fuel cell stack of FIG. 1. [Diagram 5] 2 is an exploded perspective view of a ventilation unit of an upper ventilation device provided in the fuel cell stack of FIG. 1; [Figure 6A] 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 4. [Figure 6B] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. 4 . [Figure 7] An enlarged view of part VII in FIG. [Figure 8] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the flow of air and fuel gas in a ventilation device according to an embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figs. 1 to 8. A fuel cell ventilation device according to an embodiment of the present invention can be applied to, for example, various mobile objects equipped with a fuel cell. Below, an example will be described in which a fuel cell ventilation device is applied to a fuel cell vehicle that runs using power generated by a fuel cell. A fuel cell vehicle has, as the main component of the fuel cell, a fuel cell stack configured by stacking a plurality of power generation cells. The fuel cell ventilation device according to this embodiment is provided in the fuel cell stack.

[0010] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a schematic overall configuration of a fuel cell stack 100 in which a ventilation device for a fuel cell according to this embodiment is provided. For convenience, the three mutually orthogonal axial directions shown in the figure are defined below as the front-rear direction, the left-right direction, and the up-down direction, and the configuration of each part will be described according to these definitions. The downward direction in the up-down direction corresponds to the direction of gravity. The front-rear direction and the left-right direction correspond to the front-rear direction and the left-right direction of a vehicle, for example. The fuel cell stack 100 is provided, for example, at the front of the vehicle so that the wind blows against the front surface of the fuel cell stack 100.

[0011] As shown in FIG. 1, the fuel cell stack 100 includes a cell stack (stack) 110, substantially rectangular end plates 120 arranged at both left and right ends of the cell stack 110, and a case (fuel cell case) 130 surrounding the cell stack 110. The case 130 has four substantially rectangular side walls, namely, a top wall 131 facing upward, a front wall 132 facing forward, a bottom wall 133 facing downward, and a rear wall 134 facing rearward, and the fuel cell stack 100 as a whole has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape. Part A of FIG. 1 shows a cutaway view of the top wall 131 of the case 130. As shown in part A of FIG. 1, the cell stack 110 is configured by stacking a plurality of power generation cells 111 (for convenience, only a single power generation cell 111 is shown) in the front-rear direction, and the whole has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape.

[0012] The power generating cell 111 has an electrode assembly 112 having an assembly including an electrolyte membrane and an electrode, and separators 113 arranged on both the left and right sides of the electrode assembly 112 to sandwich the electrode assembly 112. The electrode assemblies 112 and the separators 113 are arranged alternately in the left-right direction. The left separator 113 also functions as the separator 113 for the power generating cell 111 adjacent to the left, and the right separator also functions as the separator 113 for the power generating cell 111 adjacent to the right. The separator 113 has a pair of left and right metal thin plates with a corrugated cross section, and is integrally formed by joining the outer peripheries of the pair of thin plates. A cooling flow path through which a cooling medium (e.g., water) flows is formed inside the pair of thin plates, and the power generating surface of the power generating cell 111 is cooled by the flow of the cooling medium.

[0013] The separator 113 on the left side of the electrode assembly 112 is, for example, an anode side separator (anode separator), and an anode flow path through which a fuel gas containing hydrogen flows is formed between the anode separator 113 and the electrode assembly 112. The separator 113 on the right side of the electrode assembly 112 is, for example, a cathode side separator (cathode separator), and a cathode flow path through which an oxidant gas containing oxygen flows is formed between the cathode separator 113 and the electrode assembly 112.

[0014] The electrode assembly 112 has a membrane electrode assembly and a resin frame that supports the periphery of the membrane electrode assembly. The membrane electrode assembly has an electrolyte membrane, an anode electrode provided on the left side of the electrolyte membrane, and a cathode electrode provided on the right side of the electrolyte membrane. The electrolyte membrane is, for example, a solid polymer electrolyte membrane. The anode electrode is an electrode catalyst layer formed on the left side of the electrolyte membrane and serves as a reaction field for the electrode reaction, and a gas diffusion layer that diffuses and supplies the fuel gas is provided on the left side of the electrode catalyst layer. The cathode electrode is an electrode catalyst layer formed on the right side of the electrolyte membrane and serves as a reaction field for the electrode reaction, and a gas diffusion layer that diffuses and supplies the oxidant gas is provided on the right side of the electrode catalyst layer.

[0015] At the anode electrode, the fuel gas (hydrogen) supplied via the anode flow channel and the gas diffusion layer is ionized by the action of a catalyst and passes through the electrolyte membrane to move to the cathode electrode side. The electrons generated at this time pass through an external circuit and are extracted as electrical energy. At the cathode electrode, the oxidant gas (oxygen) supplied via the cathode flow channel and the gas diffusion layer reacts with the hydrogen ions guided from the anode electrode and the electrons that have moved from the anode electrode to generate water. The generated water provides an appropriate humidity to the electrolyte membrane, and excess water is discharged to the outside of the electrode assembly 112.

[0016] The right end plate 120 has through holes 121-126 that penetrate the end plate 120 in the left-right direction. The through holes 121-123 are arranged at the rear end of the end plate 120 with their positions shifted in the up-down direction, and the through holes 124-126 are arranged at the front end of the end plate 120 with their positions shifted in the up-down direction. The left end plate 120 is closed. A fuel gas is supplied to the inside of the cell stack 110 through the through hole 121, an oxidant gas is supplied through the through hole 124, and a cooling medium is supplied through the through hole 125. From the cell stack 110, the cooling medium is discharged to the outside of the fuel cell stack 100 through the through hole 122, the oxidant exhaust gas is supplied through the through hole 123, and the fuel exhaust gas is supplied through the through hole 126.

[0017] Although not shown in the drawings, the cell stack 110 is supported from the inner wall of the case 130 via a plurality of support members made of a resin material. The support members are provided, for example, at the center in the front-rear direction of the top wall 131 and the bottom wall 133 and at the center in the up-down direction of the front wall 132 and the rear wall 134, and extend in the left-right direction. For this reason, a gap (internal space) SP is provided between the cell stack 110 and the inner wall of the case 130, except for the places where the support members are provided, as shown in FIG. 2. The support members can also be provided at the intersections of the side walls of the case 130, such as the intersections of the top wall 131 and the front wall 132 and the intersections of the front wall 132 and the bottom wall 133.

[0018] Incidentally, a small amount of fuel gas may leak from the cell stack 110 of the fuel cell stack 100, for example, from the stacking surface of the power generating cells. The leaked fuel gas accumulates in the internal space SP of the case 130, and it is therefore necessary to exhaust the fuel gas accumulated in the internal space SP to the outside. In this embodiment, the internal space SP is ventilated via a ventilation device, thereby exhausting the fuel gas in the internal space SP to the outside of the case 130. The configuration of the ventilation device will be described below.

[0019] The ventilation devices 1 of this embodiment are provided at the upper and lower parts of the front wall 132 of the case 130. The upper ventilation device 1 may be called the upper ventilation device 1A, and the lower ventilation device 1 may be called the lower ventilation device 1B. The ventilation device 1 has a ventilation unit 10 that is detachably attached to the front surface of the front wall 132. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line II-II in FIG. 1 showing the attached state of the ventilation unit 10 (ventilation unit 10 of the upper ventilation device 1A), and FIG. 3 is a front view of the fuel cell stack 100 with the ventilation unit 10 removed. Although not shown, the ventilation unit 10 of the lower ventilation device 1B is attached in the same manner as the ventilation unit 10 of the upper ventilation device 1A.

[0020] As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the front surface of the front wall 132 is provided with approximately rectangular recesses 135 elongated in the left-right direction at the top and bottom, and a recess 136 elongated in the left-right direction is provided inside the recess 135. That is, the front surface of the front wall 132 is provided with stepped recesses 135, 136. The vertical length of the upper recesses 135, 136 and the vertical length of the lower recesses 135, 136 are equal to each other. On the other hand, the horizontal length of the upper recesses 135, 136 is longer than the horizontal length of the lower recesses 135, 136, for example, about twice as long as the lower recesses 135, 136. The front wall 132 is provided with a bottomed screw hole 138 around the recess 135.

[0021] A plurality of communication holes 137 penetrating the front wall 132 in the front-rear direction are opened in the bottom surface of the recess 136. Specifically, as shown in Fig. 3, the upper recess 136 is provided with upper and lower pairs of substantially rectangular communication holes 137 arranged in four rows in the left-right direction, and the lower recess 136 is provided with upper and lower pairs of substantially rectangular communication holes 137 arranged in two rows in the left-right direction. All of the plurality of communication holes 137 have the same shape. The shape and number of the communication holes 137 are not limited to those described above.

[0022] Among the regions inside the recess 135, the region where the pair of upper and lower communication holes 137 are provided is defined as an opening region AR1, and the region where the communication holes 137 are not provided is defined as a blocking region AR2. The opening regions AR1 and the blocking regions AR2 are alternately arranged in the left-right direction. Therefore, the upper recess 135 is provided with four opening regions AR1 and three blocking regions AR2 between them, and the lower recess 135 is provided with two opening regions AR1 and one blocking region AR2 between them. Among the regions inside the recess 135, blocking regions AR2 are also provided in the regions along the periphery of the recess 135, that is, to the right of the right-end opening region AR1, to the left of the left-end opening region AR1, and above and below the opening region AR1.

[0023] The ventilation unit 10 of the upper ventilation device 1A and the ventilation unit 10 of the lower ventilation device 1B have the same configuration, except that they are different in left-right dimensions. Therefore, the configuration of the ventilation unit 10 of the upper ventilation device 1A will be mainly described below. Fig. 4 is a front view (viewed from the front) of the ventilation unit 10 of the upper ventilation device 1A, and Fig. 5 is an exploded perspective view. In Fig. 4, the position of the communication hole 137 when the ventilation unit 10 is attached to the front wall 132 of the case 130 is indicated by a two-dot chain line.

[0024] 4 and 5, the ventilation unit 10 has a holding member 2 having a substantially rectangular frame shape, a filter 3 having a substantially rectangular plate shape attached to the rear surface of the holding member 2, and a cover 4 having a substantially rectangular plate shape attached to the front surface of the holding member 2. The holding member 2 and the cover 4 are made of resin and formed by resin molding. The filter 3 is made of a material that allows gases such as fuel gas and air to pass through but does not allow foreign matter such as dust to pass through.

[0025] The holding member 2 has a substantially flat base portion 20 and a plurality of fixing portions 21 protruding upward or downward from the peripheral edge of the base portion 20. The fixing portions 21 are each provided with a circular through-hole 21a that penetrates the fixing portions 21 in the front-rear direction.

[0026] 6A is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 4, and FIG. 6B is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. 4. As shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, a substantially rectangular recess 22 corresponding to the outer shape of the filter 3 is provided on the rear surface of the base portion 20. The edge of the filter 3 is fitted into the recess 22. In this state, the filter 3 is joined to the base portion 20 by adhesion or welding. At this time, the rear surface of the filter 3 protrudes rearward beyond the rear surface of the base portion 20. A recess 23 is further provided on the rear surface of the base portion 20 so as to surround the outer peripheral edge of the filter 3 over the entire circumference of the base portion 20. As shown in FIG. 2, a seal material 24 is fitted into the recess 23.

[0027] 2, the outer peripheral edge of the filter 3 joined to the holding member 2 is fitted into a recess 136 of the front wall 132. The outer peripheral edge of the base portion 20 is fitted into a recess 135 in front of the recess 136. In this state, the bolt 5 inserted into the through hole 21a of the fixing portion 21 is screwed into the screw hole 138, whereby the holding member 2 is fixed to the case 130 via the filter 3. A sealant 25 such as a gasket is provided between the circumferential surface of the recess 135 and the outer peripheral edge of the base portion 20.

[0028] As shown in Fig. 5, the base portion 20 is provided with four generally rectangular window portions 26 penetrating the base portion 20 in the front-rear direction and arranged at equal intervals in the left-right direction. As shown by the two-dot chain line in Fig. 4, when the ventilation unit 10 is attached to the front wall 132, a pair of upper and lower communication holes 137 (area AR1 in Fig. 3) are located inside the window portions 26. As shown in Fig. 5, a generally rectangular wall portion 27 of a predetermined height is provided on the front surface of the base portion 20 so as to surround the four window portions 26 and protrude forward.

[0029] A plurality of protrusions 29 of a predetermined height protruding forward are provided on the front surface of the base portion 20 on the inner side of the wall portion 27 and in the vicinity of the wall portion 27. Specifically, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the base portion 20 has a substantially rectangular window frame portion 28 (first window frame portion 281) that surrounds the entirety of the plurality of window portions 26, and a window frame portion 28 (second window frame portion 282) that crosses the inner side of the first window frame portion 281 and divides the first window frame portion 281 into the plurality of window portions 26. A pair of upper and lower protrusions 29 is provided on the second window frame portion 282, and a pair of upper and lower protrusions 29 is provided on the first window frame portion 281 at the left end and the first window frame portion 281 at the right end. These protrusions 29 are located above the upper end of the window portion 26 or below the lower end of the window portion 26. 6A, the height of the protrusion 29 is the same as or slightly lower than the height of the wall 27. When the ventilation unit 10 is attached to the front wall 132, the protrusion 29 is located in the closed area AR2 in FIG.

[0030] Fig. 7 is an enlarged view of part VII in Fig. 5. As shown in Fig. 7, the protrusion 29 has a large diameter portion 291 of a substantially cylindrical shape protruding forward from the front surface of the base portion 20, a small diameter portion 292 of a substantially cylindrical shape protruding forward from the center of a front end surface 291a of the large diameter portion 291, and an arc portion 293 protruding forward in a substantially arc shape from the front end of the small diameter portion 292. The diameter of the small diameter portion 292 is smaller than the diameters of the large diameter portion 291 and the arc portion 293. The length of the small diameter portion 292 in the front-rear direction is the same as or almost the same as the plate thickness of the cover 4.

[0031] 4, the left-right length of cover 4 is shorter than the left-right length of the inner peripheral surface of wall portion 27, and the up-down length of cover 4 is shorter than the up-down length of the inner peripheral surface of wall portion 27. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, a plurality of substantially circular through holes 41 are opened in the upper and lower ends of cover 4 corresponding to the positions of protrusions 29. The diameter of through hole 41 is smaller than the diameters of large diameter portion 291 and arc portion 293 of protrusion 29 shown in FIG. 7, and is equal to or approximately equal to the diameter of small diameter portion 292.

[0032] As shown in FIG. 6A, the protrusion 29 is fitted into the through hole 41 of the cover 4. More specifically, the arc portion 293 passes through the through hole 41 while being elastically deformed, and the through hole 41 is fitted into the outer circumferential surface of the small diameter portion 292. This regulates the position of the cover 4 in the up-down and left-right directions relative to the holding member 2. In addition, the rear surface of the cover 4 abuts against the front end surface 291a of the large diameter portion 291, thereby regulating the position of the cover 4 in the front-rear direction relative to the holding member 2. That is, the protrusion 29 is fitted into the through hole 41, so that the cover 4 is positioned in the front-rear direction, left-right direction, and up-down direction. After being fitted into the through hole 41, the protrusion 29 is joined to the cover 4 by, for example, welding.

[0033] 6B, when the cover 4 is attached to the protrusion 29, a gap (gap CL) is provided around the entire periphery of the periphery of the cover 4 between the base 20 of the holding member 2 and the cover 4 and between the wall 27 and the cover 4. Therefore, with the front surface of the filter 3 covered by the cover 4, air can flow from the front of the cover 4 to the filter 3 through the gap CL and the window 26.

[0034] As shown in Figs. 5 and 6A, a plurality of elongated through holes (slit holes 42) extending in the vertical direction between the upper and lower through holes 41 are opened in the center of the cover 4 (other than the right and left ends). When the ventilation unit 10 is attached to the front wall 132, the slit holes 42 are located in the blocked area AR2 in Fig. 3. As shown in Fig. 4, the left-right width of the slit holes 42 is shorter than the left-right width of the second window frame portion 282 of the holding member 2. This allows air to flow from the front of the cover 4 to the filter 3 through the slit holes 42 and the window portion 26.

[0035] Among the methods for manufacturing a fuel cell, the method for manufacturing the ventilation device 1 is as follows. First, as shown in FIG. 6A, the peripheral portion of the filter 3 is fitted into the recess 22 on the rear surface of the holding member 2, and the filter 3 is further joined to the holding member 2 by welding or the like (filter mounting step). Next, the cover 4 is attached to the holding member 2 so as to cover the inside of the peripheral portion of the filter 3 (cover mounting step). That is, the through hole 41 of the cover 4 is fitted into the protrusion 29 on the front surface of the holding member 2, and the cover 4 is further joined to the holding member 2 by welding or the like. In the cover mounting step, the cover 4 is attached to the holding member 2 with a gap being provided between the peripheral portion of the cover 4 and the holding member 2 over the entire circumference of the peripheral portion of the cover 4. This allows the ventilation unit 10 to be assembled. Next, as shown in FIG. 2, the ventilation unit 10 is fitted into the recesses 135, 136 on the front surface of the case 130, and the bolts 5 are fastened to the screw holes 138 to attach the holding member 2 to the case 130 (holding member mounting step). This results in the ventilation unit 10 being fixed to the case 130, and the ventilator 1 being manufactured.

[0036] The main operation of the ventilation device for the fuel cell configured as above will be described. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of the flow of air and fuel gas in the ventilation device according to this embodiment. When the ventilation unit 10 is attached to the case 130, as shown in FIG. 8, a gap CL is provided between the holding member 2 and the cover 4 along the entire periphery of the periphery of the cover 4. When the vehicle is traveling, as shown by the arrow A in FIG. 8, the traveling wind is taken into the internal space SP of the case 130 through the gap CL, the window portion 26 of the holding member 2, the filter 3, and the communication hole 137 of the front wall 132. The traveling wind is taken into the internal space SP not only through the gap CL but also through the slit hole 42 of the cover 4 shown in FIG. 6A.

[0037] On the other hand, the fuel gas leaking from the cell stack 110 into the internal space SP is discharged to the outside of the case 130 through the communication hole 137 in the front wall 132, the filter 3, the window portion 26 of the holding member 2, and the gap CL, as shown by the arrow B in Fig. 8. This allows ventilation of the internal space SP0 of the case 130. In this embodiment, the gap CL through which the air and fuel gas pass is provided around the entire periphery of the periphery of the cover 4, so that the flow path area of ​​the air and fuel gas in the ventilation unit 10 is increased. This allows the flow rate of the air taken into the internal space SP and the flow rate of the fuel gas discharged from the internal space SP to be increased, and the internal space SP can be sufficiently ventilated.

[0038] The front surface of the filter 3 is covered by the cover 4 except for the portion where the slit hole 42 is provided. Meanwhile, in the portion where the slit hole 42 is provided, the front surface of the filter 3 is covered by the second window frame portion 282 as shown in FIG. 6A. This makes it possible to prevent raindrops and foreign objects from colliding with the filter 3 while the vehicle is traveling. It is also possible to prevent washing water from colliding with the filter 3 during high-pressure washing of the vehicle. This makes it possible to protect the filter 3 and improves the durability of the ventilation unit 10. When cleaning or replacing the filter 3, the bolt 5 (FIG. 8) is loosened and the ventilation unit 10 is removed from the case 130. This makes it easy to clean or replace the filter 3.

[0039] According to this embodiment, the following advantageous effects can be obtained. (1) The ventilation device 1 includes a case 130 that houses a cell stack 110 formed by stacking a plurality of power generating cells 111, and a ventilation unit 10 that is attached to the case 130 so as to cover a communication hole 137 that is provided in the case 130 and communicates with an internal space SP of the case 130 (FIGS. 1 and 2). The ventilation unit 10 includes a filter 3 that is disposed facing the communication hole 137, a frame-shaped holding member 2 that is attached to the case 130 while holding a peripheral portion of the filter 3, and a cover 4 that is attached to the holding member so as to cover the inside of the peripheral portion of the filter 3 (FIG. 2). The cover 4 is attached to the holding member 2 with a gap (air gap CL) between the peripheral portion of the cover 4 and the holding member 2 over the entire circumference of the peripheral portion of the cover 4 (FIGS. 5 and 6B).

[0040] This increases the flow path area of ​​the ventilation unit 10 when outside air is taken into the internal space SP of the case 130, allowing a large flow rate of outside air to be taken into the internal space SP. As a result, the internal space SP can be sufficiently ventilated. In addition, since the front surface of the filter 3 is covered with the cover 4, it is possible to prevent raindrops and foreign objects from colliding with the filter 3 while the vehicle is running, and prevent washing water from colliding with the filter 3 during high-pressure washing of the vehicle, thereby suppressing damage to the filter 3.

[0041] (2) The holding member 2 has a first window frame portion 281 having a frame shape, and a second window frame portion 282 that cuts the first window frame portion 281 across the inside of the first window frame portion 281 (FIGS. 4 and 5). The cover 4 is provided with a slit hole 42 at a position facing the second window frame portion 282 (FIG. 5). This allows outside air to be taken into the internal space SP from the center of the cover 4 via the slit hole 42, making it possible to ventilate the internal space SP more efficiently. In addition, since the slit hole 42 faces the second window frame portion 282, it is also possible to prevent high-pressure cleaning water, etc., that flows in via the slit hole 42 from colliding with the filter 3.

[0042] (3) The holding member 2 has a protrusion 29 that protrudes toward the cover 4 (FIG. 5). The cover 4 is provided with a through hole 41 that fits into the protrusion 29 to be coupled thereto (FIG. 5). This allows the holding member 2 to support the cover 4 with a gap CL provided between the holding member 2 and the periphery of the cover 4. Also, by adjusting the length of the protrusion 29, the size of the gap CL can be easily set.

[0043] (4) The protrusion 29 has a large diameter portion 291 and a small diameter portion 292 configured in a stepped shape that regulates the position of the cover 4 relative to the holding member 2. This makes it possible to easily attach the cover 4 to the holding member 2. In addition, the position of the cover 4 relative to the holding member 2 can be precisely regulated.

[0044] (5) The method for manufacturing a fuel cell is a method for manufacturing a fuel cell by attaching a ventilation unit 10 to a case 130 so as to cover a communication hole 137 that is provided in the case 130 and communicates with an internal space SP of the case 130, the method including a filter attachment step of attaching a peripheral portion of a filter 3 that faces the communication hole 137 to a frame-shaped holding member 2, a cover attachment step of attaching a cover 4 to the holding member 2 so as to cover the inside of the peripheral portion of the filter 3, and a holding member attachment step of attaching the holding member 2 to the case 130. The cover attachment step includes attaching the cover 4 to the holding member 2 with a gap CL between the peripheral portion of the cover 4 and the holding member 2 around the entire circumference of the peripheral portion of the cover 4. This makes it possible to easily manufacture a ventilation device 1 that can take in a sufficient amount of outside air into the internal space SP of the case 130.

[0045] (6) The cover attachment process includes fitting and welding the protrusions 29 protruding from the holding member 2 into the through holes 41 provided in the cover 4. This makes it possible to attach the cover 4 to the holding member 2 easily and accurately.

[0046] In the above embodiment, the ventilation units 10 are attached to the upper and lower parts of the front wall 132 of the case 130, respectively, but the attachment positions of the ventilation units are not limited to those described above. In the above embodiment, the ventilation units 10 are attached to the case 130 so as to cover the communication holes 137 that communicate with the internal space SP of the case 130, but the shape of the opening may be any shape as long as it can be attached so as to cover the opening that communicates with the internal space.

[0047] In the above embodiment, the holding member 2 has the first window frame portion 281 (frame portion) having a frame shape, and the second window frame portion 282 (crossing portion) that crosses the inside of the first window frame portion 281 and divides the first window frame portion, but the configurations of these frame portion and crossing portion are not limited to those described above. In the above embodiment, the slit hole 42 is provided in the cover 4 at a position facing the second window frame portion 282, but the shape of the opening is not limited to those described above.

[0048] In the above embodiment, the protrusion 29 protrudes from the holding member 2 toward the cover 4, but the configuration of the protrusion is not limited to the above. In the above embodiment, the protrusion 29 is fitted into the through hole 41 of the cover 4. That is, the through hole 41 is provided as a coupled portion so that the protrusion fits into and is coupled, but a coupled portion may be provided so that the protrusion engages and is coupled. In the above embodiment, the protrusion 29 is provided with the large diameter portion 291 and the small diameter portion 292 to position the cover 4, but the configuration of the stepped positioning portion that regulates the position of the cover relative to the holding member is not limited to the above.

[0049] In the above embodiment, an example has been described in which the ventilation device 1 is applied to a fuel cell mounted on a vehicle, but the ventilation device of the present invention can also be applied to fuel cells mounted on moving bodies other than vehicles, such as aircraft and ships, robots, and various industrial machines.

[0050] The above description is merely an example, and the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment and modifications, as long as the features of the present invention are not impaired. The above-mentioned embodiment and one or more modifications can be arbitrarily combined, and modifications can be combined with each other.

[0051] REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 ventilation device, 2 holding member, 3 filter, 4 cover, 10 ventilation unit, 29 protrusion, 41 through hole, 42 slit hole, 110 laminate, 111 power generating cell, 130 case, 281 first window frame portion, 282 second window frame portion, 291 large diameter portion, 292 small diameter portion

Claims

1. a fuel cell case that houses a stack formed by stacking a plurality of power generating cells; a ventilation unit attached to the fuel cell case so as to cover an opening provided in the fuel cell case and communicating with an internal space of the fuel cell case; The ventilation unit comprises: A filter disposed facing the opening; a frame-shaped holding member attached to the fuel cell case while holding a peripheral portion of the filter; a cover attached to the holding member so as to cover an inside of the peripheral portion of the filter, A ventilation device for a fuel cell, wherein the cover is attached to the holding member with a gap between the peripheral edge of the cover and the holding member along the entire circumference of the peripheral edge of the cover.

2. 2. The fuel cell ventilation device according to claim 1, The holding member has a frame portion having a frame shape and a crossing portion that crosses an inner side of the frame portion and divides the frame portion, A ventilation device for a fuel cell, wherein the cover has an opening at a position opposite the crossing portion.

3. 3. The fuel cell ventilation device according to claim 1, The holding member has a protrusion that protrudes toward the cover, The ventilation device for a fuel cell, wherein the cover has a coupled portion that is fitted or engaged with the protrusion to be coupled thereto.

4. 4. The fuel cell ventilation device according to claim 3, The ventilation device for a fuel cell, wherein the protrusion has a stepped positioning portion that regulates the position of the cover relative to the holding member.

5. A method for manufacturing a fuel cell, comprising the steps of: attaching a ventilation unit to a fuel cell case so as to cover an opening that is provided in a fuel cell case and communicates with an internal space of the fuel cell case, the ventilation unit comprising: A step of attaching a peripheral portion of a filter arranged facing the opening to a frame-shaped holding member; attaching a cover to the holding member so as to cover an inside of the peripheral portion of the filter; and attaching the holding member to the fuel cell case. A method for manufacturing a fuel cell, characterized in that the process of attaching the cover includes attaching the cover to the fuel cell case while leaving a gap between the peripheral edge of the cover and the retaining member around the entire circumference of the peripheral edge of the cover.

6. 6. The method for producing a fuel cell according to claim 5, A method for manufacturing a fuel cell, wherein the step of attaching the cover includes fitting or engaging a protrusion protruding from the holding member with a mating portion provided on the cover, and welding the protrusion or protrusion to the cover.

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