Manufacturing apparatus and manufacturing method for fuel battery cell

Abstract

To provide a technique for stably manufacturing a fuel battery cell having an excellent quality when manufacturing the fuel battery cell by using an adhesive agent containing a thermoplastic resin material.SOLUTION: A manufacturing apparatus for a fuel battery cell comprises: conveying means 4 of conveying a laminate body 40 in which a constituent element of the fuel battery cell is laminated via an adhesive layer 52 containing a thermoplastic resin material; heating means 20 of heating the laminate body 40 when the laminate body 40 conveyed by the conveying means 4 is located in a predetermined heating zone 17; cooling means 20 of cooling the laminate body 40 when the laminate body 40 conveyed by the conveying means 4 passes through the heating zone 17 and is located in a predetermined cooling zone 18; and pressurizing means 30 of continuously pressurizing the laminate body 40 from when the laminate body 40 is heated in the heating zone 17 to when it is cooled in the cooling zone 18.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present specification relates to a fuel cell manufacturing apparatus and manufacturing method. [Background technology]

[0002] A fuel cell is manufactured by integrating a laminate, in which an MEA and a gas diffusion layer are sandwiched between a pair of separators, by hot pressing and cold pressing using an adhesive containing a thermoplastic resin material (Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2020-13734 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the method disclosed in Patent Document 1, a laminate is placed in a predetermined heated press mold and hot-pressed under predetermined conditions. The laminate is then removed from the mold and placed again in a cooled press mold for cold pressing. The inventors have found that this method can cause misalignment of cell components in the final fuel cell obtained after hot pressing. They have also found that the fuel cell can suffer from problems such as the inclusion of air bubbles in the adhesive layer containing a thermoplastic resin material, misalignment of the adhesive layer, and increased non-uniformity in the thickness of the adhesive layer, ultimately resulting in an increase in the overall thickness of the cell.

[0005] The present specification provides a technology for stably producing high-quality fuel cell units when manufacturing fuel cell units using an adhesive containing a thermoplastic resin material. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The technology disclosed in this specification is embodied in a manufacturing apparatus (hereinafter simply referred to as the manufacturing apparatus) for a fuel cell (hereinafter simply referred to as a cell). The manufacturing apparatus includes a conveying means for conveying a stack in which components of the fuel cell are stacked via an adhesive layer containing a thermoplastic resin material, a heating means for heating the stack when the stack conveyed by the conveying means is located in a predetermined heating zone, a cooling means for cooling the stack when the stack conveyed by the conveying means is located in a predetermined cooling zone after passing through the heating zone, and a pressurizing means for continuously pressurizing the stack from when the stack is heated in the heating zone until when it is cooled in the cooling zone.

[0007] According to this manufacturing apparatus, it is possible to apply pressure to the laminate, which continues to be pressed from the time the laminate is heated in the heating zone until it is cooled in the cooling zone.

[0008] The inventors have found that when the load is released from a heated and pressurized laminate, deformation, movement, or peeling of the separator, which is a component of the fuel cell, may occur, such as warping of the separator or expansion of the gas diffusion layer. Furthermore, these may result in air bubbles being trapped in the molten or softened thermoplastic resin material or unintended movement of the thermoplastic resin material. It has also been found that when a laminate in such a state is subsequently cooled and pressurized, the various quality degradations described above may occur in the fuel cell.

[0009] According to this manufacturing apparatus, the laminate continues to be pressurized even between the heating zone and the cooling zone. This suppresses the above-mentioned phenomenon that occurs when the load is released after heating and pressurization. As a result, misalignment of the cell components, inclusion of air bubbles in the adhesive layer, misalignment of the adhesive layer, and increased non-uniformity in the thickness of the adhesive layer in the final fuel cell are suppressed. Therefore, according to this manufacturing apparatus, fuel cells can be stably manufactured that are bonded with good adhesion by the adhesive layer, suppress misalignment of the cell components and inclusion of air bubbles in the adhesive layer, and have a uniform adhesive layer thickness.

[0010] The technology disclosed in this specification is also embodied in a method for manufacturing a fuel cell (hereinafter simply referred to as the manufacturing method). The manufacturing method includes a hot-pressing step in which a laminate including an adhesive layer containing a thermoplastic resin material is heated and pressurized, and a cold-pressing step in which the laminate after the hot-pressing step is cooled and pressurized. In the manufacturing method, the laminate after the hot-pressing step is supplied to the cold-pressing step in a state in which a predetermined load is maintained at least on the adhesive layer.

[0011] According to this manufacturing method, the release of the load on the adhesive layer is suppressed after the pressure pressing step and before the cooling pressing step. Suppressing the release of the load on the adhesive layer suppresses deformation and movement of the separator and gas diffusion layer, which are the objects to be joined by the adhesive layer, and also suppresses the entrapment and movement of air bubbles in the thermoplastic material. Therefore, the adhesive layer bonds the cell components with good adhesion, suppressing misalignment of the cell components and the inclusion of air bubbles in the adhesive layer, allowing for the stable production of fuel cell cells with a uniform adhesive layer thickness. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0012] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an outline of a fuel cell manufacturing device. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a part of a laminate to be supplied to the manufacturing apparatus shown in FIG. [Figure 3]2 is a cross-sectional view showing a part of a laminate to be supplied to the manufacturing apparatus shown in FIG. 1 in a state where the laminate is clamped by a jig. [Figure 4] 1A to 1C are diagrams illustrating a manufacturing process of a fuel cell. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing another aspect of the manufacturing apparatus. [Figure 6] 10A and 10B are diagrams showing another state of the laminate when pressure is applied. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0013] The fuel cell manufacturing apparatus disclosed in this specification can include the following embodiments in addition to the above-described manufacturing apparatus.

[0014] In another embodiment of the manufacturing apparatus, the manufacturing apparatus includes a double belt press apparatus having a pair of upper and lower belts constituting the conveying means, a heating press unit constituting a part of the heating means and the pressurizing means, and a cooling press unit constituting another part of the cooling means and the pressurizing means. With this manufacturing apparatus, the laminate is efficiently pressurized from the time when the laminate is heated in the heating zone until when the laminate is cooled in the cooling zone.

[0015] Another embodiment of the manufacturing apparatus includes a continuous roller press apparatus having a pair of upper and lower roller conveyors constituting the conveying means, the pair of upper and lower roller conveyors having a heating press section constituting a part of the heating means and the pressurizing means, and a cooling press section constituting another part of the cooling means and the pressurizing means. With this manufacturing apparatus, the laminate is efficiently pressed from the time it is heated in the heating zone until it is cooled in the cooling zone.

[0016] In another embodiment of the manufacturing apparatus, the pressure applying means includes a jig capable of clamping the laminate in the stacking direction of the laminate and applying pressure to the adhesive layer, the jig having a pair of plates clamping the laminate and including a positioning member that suppresses misalignment of the pair of plates in a direction perpendicular to the stacking direction of the laminate. The inclusion of such a jig facilitates the application of pressure to the laminate. It also facilitates maintaining the load on the laminate. Furthermore, the jig suppresses misalignment of the pair of plates, thereby suppressing misalignment of cell components in the laminate.

[0017] In addition to the manufacturing methods described above, the fuel cell manufacturing method disclosed in this specification can include embodiments that are carried out using the manufacturing apparatuses of the various embodiments described above.

[0018] The manufacturing apparatus and manufacturing method disclosed in this specification will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings as appropriate. Fig. 1 shows an overview of the manufacturing apparatus, Fig. 2 shows a stack supplied to the manufacturing apparatus, Fig. 3 shows the stack supplied to the manufacturing apparatus clamped by a jig, and Fig. 4 shows the manufacturing process of a fuel cell.

[0019] The manufacturing apparatus 2 is not particularly limited, but can be used to manufacture fuel cells as a driving power source for a moving body such as a vehicle or as a stationary power source, for example. The type of fuel cell is not particularly limited, but from the viewpoint of operating temperature, a polymer electrolyte fuel cell (PEFC) can be used.

[0020] 1, the manufacturing apparatus 2 is a double-belt press type manufacturing apparatus. The manufacturing apparatus 2 includes a double-belt unit 4 as a conveying means, a heating press unit 20 that pressurizes and heats the laminate 40, and a cooling press unit 30 that similarly pressurizes and cools the laminate 40. The laminate 40 will be described later.

[0021] Various known double belt press devices can be used for the double belt section 4. The double belt section 4 includes a pair of upper and lower belts 6 consisting of an upper belt 8 and a lower belt 10. The upper belt 8 is disposed between a pair of upper drums 12. The lower belt 10 is disposed between a pair of lower drums 14. The upper belt 8 and the lower belt 10 are each a metal belt such as stainless steel.

[0022] The pair of belts 6 define a conveying zone 16 for the laminate 40 in the longitudinal direction. The area where the upper belt 8 and the lower belt 10 of the pair of belts 6 face each other includes a heating zone 17 and a cooling zone 18 for the laminate 40. The cooling zone 18 is provided downstream of the heating zone 17 in the conveying direction.

[0023] The heating press section 20 and the cooling press section 30 are each part of a double belt press device. The heating press section 20 is arranged in the heating zone 17 of the manufacturing apparatus 2. It can be said that the heating press section 20 defines the heating zone 17. The heating press section 20 has a heating press device that can pressurize and heat the laminate 40 sandwiched between the pair of belts 6 at a predetermined pressure and temperature. A person skilled in the art can appropriately configure the heating press section 20 based on a known double belt press device. The heating press section 20 is an example of part of the heating means and pressing means disclosed in this specification.

[0024] The cooling press section 30 is disposed in the cooling zone 18 of the manufacturing apparatus 2. It can be said that the cooling press section 30 defines the cooling zone 18. The cooling press section 30 has a cooling press device that can pressurize and cool the laminate 40 sandwiched between the pair of belts 6 in the cooling zone 18 at a predetermined pressure and temperature. Such a cooling press section 30 can be appropriately configured by a person skilled in the art based on a known double belt press device. Note that cooling in this specification includes active cooling as well as natural cooling and air blowing. The cooling press section 30 is one example of another part of the cooling means and pressurizing means disclosed in this specification.

[0025] 1, the hot press section 20 and the cold press section 30 are disposed adjacent to each other in the conveying zone 16. For example, the cold press section 30 is disposed downstream of the hot press section 20, separated from the hot press section 20 by a distance of, for example, less than half, 40% or less, 30% or less, 20% or less, or 10% or less of the length of the laminate 40 along the conveying direction. In this manner, the laminate 40 is hot pressed in the heating zone 17, and then cold pressed in the cooling zone 18 with the load from the hot press section 20 substantially remaining.

[0026] Downstream of the cooling zone 18, the lower belt 10 transports the laminate 40 further downstream.

[0027] Here, the laminate 40 will be described. The laminate 40 is a laminate before bonding fuel cell units (hereinafter also simply referred to as cells) to be manufactured by the manufacturing apparatus 2. As shown in Fig. 2, the laminate 40 includes an electrolyte membrane 42, an anode catalyst layer 44a, a cathode catalyst layer 44b, gas diffusion layers 46a, 46b, a resin sheet 50, and a pair of separators 54a, 54b.

[0028] The electrolyte membrane 42 is a solid polymer electrolyte membrane. The anode catalyst layer 44a and the cathode catalyst layer 44b are laminated on both sides of the electrolyte membrane 42. The gas diffusion layers 46a and 46b are porous bodies that can diffuse hydrogen to the anode catalyst layer 44a and oxygen to the cathode catalyst layer 44b, respectively. These components together make up the MEGA 48. The MEGA 48 is integrated with a resin sheet 50. The MEGA 48 is held in place by sealing openings in the resin sheet 50 with an appropriate sealant (not shown) to prevent communication between the gas diffusion layers 46a and 46b.

[0029] The resin sheet 50 has a frame shape with an opening in its center that can hold the MEGA 48. As shown in Fig. 2, the resin sheet 50 has, for example, a three-layer structure. The resin sheet 50 has adhesive layers 52 containing a thermoplastic resin material on the surfaces of both sides of a core layer 50a. The core layer 50a is made of a resin that has a higher melting point than the thermoplastic resin material contained in the adhesive layer 52 and that does not soften at the temperature when the laminate 40 is heated.

[0030] The thermoplastic resin material contained in the adhesive layer 52 is a so-called hot melt adhesive. The adhesive layers 52 are similarly formed in a frame shape on both sides of the core layer 50a, which is formed in a frame shape. The adhesive layers 52 are formed in areas where bonding between the resin sheet 50 and the separators 54a, 54b is required. The adhesive layers 52 are bonded to the separators 54a, 54b by heating and cooling, thereby integrating the MEGA 46 with the separators 54a, 54b.

[0031] Hot melt adhesives are solid at room temperature, melt or soften when heated, and solidify again when cooled to form a bond. Examples of hot melt adhesives include adhesives whose main component is a thermoplastic resin such as a polyester or modified olefin. The hot melt adhesive used in adhesive layer 52 can be appropriately selected from various known hot melt adhesives, taking into account factors such as the melting point.

[0032] The separators 54a and 54b sandwich the MEGA 48 and supply a predetermined gas to the gas diffusion layers 46a and 46b, respectively. The separators 54a and 54b are made of, for example, a metal material such as aluminum or stainless steel, or a carbon-based composite material. The separators 54a and 54b have a corrugated shape that allows them to supply gas to the gas diffusion layers 46a and 46b that face each other.

[0033] As shown in FIG. 2, the laminate 40 may further include a gasket 56 on the side of the separator 54a that does not face the resin sheet 50. The gasket 56 seals between the cells in the fuel cell stack. The gasket 56 is made of an elastic material such as a resin or an elastomer. The gasket 56 is an example of an elastic material used to apply pressure to the adhesive layer disclosed in this specification.

[0034] 2 and 3 has a rectangular planar shape as a whole. In the stack 40, gas flow paths are formed by separators 54a and 54b along the long sides thereof so that hydrogen and oxygen can flow opposite each other.

[0035] As shown in FIG. 3 , the laminate 40 is supplied to the manufacturing apparatus 2 while being restrained by a jig 60 that clamps the laminate 40. The jig 60 includes an upper plate 60a and a lower plate 60b. The upper plate 60a abuts against the upper belt 8, allowing a load to be applied to the laminate 40 from the separator 54a side. The lower plate 60b abuts against the lower belt 10, allowing a load to be applied to the laminate 40 from the separator 54b side. The upper plate 60a and the lower plate 60b each have a planar shape larger than the outer edge of the laminate 40.

[0036] The upper plate 60a and the lower plate 60b are provided with pressure applying portions 62 required for bonding the separators 54a, 54b of the laminate 40 to the adhesive layer 52 of the resin sheet 50. The pressure applying portions 62 are convex portions that protrude toward the laminate 40. The form of the pressure applying portions 62 is not particularly limited, and for example, as shown in FIG. 3, the pressure applying portions 62a, 62b may be provided facing each other.

[0037] The pressure applying portion 62 may be formed of, for example, a metal material similar to that of the upper plate 60a and the lower plate 60b, or may be formed of an elastic body such as a resin material or an elastomer material. Note that, at the location where the gasket 56 is disposed, the adhesive layer 52 may be sandwiched between the upper plate 60a and the lower plate 60b and pressurized without forming the pressure applying portion 62. Furthermore, a pressure applying portion 62 that presses the gasket 56 may be separately provided, if necessary.

[0038] Furthermore, the jig 60 includes a restraining member 64 that can restrain the upper plate 60a and the lower plate 60b from the hot-pressing process to the cold-pressing process of the laminate 40. The restraining member 64 is provided at one or more locations on the outer periphery of the laminate 40 of the jig 60. For example, as shown in FIG. 3, when the upper plate 60a and the lower plate 60b are made of a magnetic metal material such as stainless steel, the restraining member 64 can be a magnetic restraining material such as a magnet. The restraining member 64, which is a magnet, is fixed to the lower plate 60b so as to be attracted and fixed to the upper plate 60a. As a result, once the upper plate 60a and the lower plate 60b are mutually restrained, the release of the load on the laminate 40 is suppressed between them.

[0039] Furthermore, the jig 60 includes a positioning member 66 for positioning the upper plate 60a and the lower plate 60b. The positioning member 66 fixes the relative positions of the upper plate 60a and the lower plate 60b at predetermined positions in a direction perpendicular to the stacking direction of the stack 40 (hereinafter referred to as the lateral direction). This prevents the upper plate 60a and the lower plate 60b from shifting in the lateral direction during the hot pressing process and the cold pressing process, and a predetermined load is applied to a predetermined region of the stack 40. Furthermore, lateral shifts of the separators 54a, 54b, gas diffusion layers 46a, 46b, and other cell components of the stack 40 are also prevented.

[0040] The form of the positioning member 66 is not particularly limited, but an example is a positioning pin fixed to the lower plate 60b as shown in Fig. 3. The positioning member 66 extends in the thickness direction of the laminate 40 toward the upper plate 60a, and is fitted into a positioning hole 67 formed in the upper plate 60a.

[0041] Next, the steps of manufacturing a cell from the laminate 40 will be described with reference to Fig. 4. The laminate preparation step S10 is a step of preparing the laminate 40 in which separators 54a, 54b are laminated on a resin sheet 50 that holds the MEGA 48. Note that the laminate preparation step S10 may be a step of preparing the laminate 40 by manufacturing the laminate 40, or a step of preparing a laminate 40 that has been manufactured in advance.

[0042] In this embodiment, the upper plate 60a and the lower plate 60b are configured so that the load on the stack 40 can be easily maintained by the restraining member 64, and furthermore, the positioning member 66 prevents the plates 60a, 60b from shifting relative to each other.

[0043] The prepared laminate 40 is clamped by a jig 60 and supplied to the conveying zone 16 of the manufacturing apparatus 2. The laminate 40 is supplied onto the lower belt 10 of the manufacturing apparatus 2 and reaches the heating zone 17.

[0044] The hot pressing step S20 is a step of heating and pressing the laminate 40 that has reached the heating zone 17. The laminate 40 is heated at a predetermined pressure and a predetermined temperature by the hot pressing unit 20 between the pair of belts 6. The heating time in the hot pressing step S20 is determined by the time required for the laminate 40 to stagnate in and / or pass through the hot pressing unit 20 by the pair of belts 6. The temperature, pressure, and heating time in the hot pressing step S20 are determined appropriately depending on the properties of the hot melt adhesive used for the adhesive layer 52, etc.

[0045] The laminate 40 that has passed through the hot press section 20 immediately reaches the cooling zone 18 while being sandwiched between a pair of belts 6 together with the jig 60 .

[0046] The cooling press step S30 is a step of cooling and pressurizing the laminate 40 that has reached the cooling zone 18. The laminate 40 is cooled at a predetermined pressure and a predetermined temperature by the cooling press section 30 between the pair of belts 6. The cooling time in the cooling press step S30 is determined by the time required for the laminate to stagnate in and / or pass through the cooling press section 30 by the pair of belts 6. The temperature, pressure, and cooling time in the cooling press step S30 are determined appropriately depending on the properties of the hot melt adhesive used in the adhesive layer 52, etc.

[0047] In this embodiment, the hot press section 20 and the cold press section 30, in other words, the heating zone 17 and the cooling zone 18, are spaced apart by a distance shorter than the length of the laminate 40 in the conveying direction. Therefore, the laminate 40 is pressed by the cold press section 30 while the pressurized state of the hot press section 20 is maintained.

[0048] The laminate 40 that has passed through the cooling press section 30 is transported between the pair of belts 6, and further transported for a predetermined distance by the lower belt 10, and then removed from the manufacturing apparatus 2. Furthermore, the cell is removed from the jig 60.

[0049] According to the embodiment described above, the laminate 40 is cooled and pressurized without the pressure of the hot pressing step S20 being removed. Because the load is not completely released after the hot pressing step S20 and before the cooling pressing step S30, the occurrence of phenomena that may occur due to the release of the load is suppressed. That is, warping of the separators 54a, 54b, which are components of the laminate 40, and swelling of the gas diffusion layers 46a, 46b are suppressed. Therefore, before the cooling pressing step S30, separation between the separator 54a and the gas diffusion layer 46a, etc. and misalignment with each other are suppressed.

[0050] As a result, even if the hot melt adhesive of the adhesive layer 52 is in a molten or softened state due to heating, the incorporation of air bubbles is suppressed before the cooling press step S30. Furthermore, before the cooling press step S30, the thickness of the adhesive layer 52 is prevented from becoming uneven due to unintended movement of the hot melt adhesive.

[0051] In this way, the laminate 40 in the heat pressing step S20, in which the load is not completely released but a predetermined load is maintained, is supplied to the cooling pressing step S30, where it is cooled and pressurized. As a result, the adhesive layer 52 is bonded to the cell components, such as the separator 54a and the gas diffusion layer 46a, with good adhesion, and misalignment of the cell components is suppressed. The inclusion of air bubbles in the adhesive layer 52 is suppressed, resulting in a cell with a uniform adhesive layer 52 thickness. As a result, the cell is prevented from having an unintended increase in overall thickness.

[0052] Furthermore, according to the above embodiment, the heat pressing step S20 and the cooling pressing step S30 are performed while the laminate 40 is clamped by the jig 60. When pressure is applied in the heat pressing step S20, a constant load is maintained on the laminate 40 by the restraining member 64. This further suppresses separation or misalignment of the cell components, the inclusion of air bubbles in the adhesive layer 52, and uneven thickness of the adhesive layer 52 throughout the manufacturing process. The jig 60 may be useful when the heating zone 17 and the cooling zone 18 are separated by a distance greater than the length of the laminate 40 in the conveying direction. By using the jig 60, a constant load may be applied to the adhesive layer 52 of the laminate 40 by the jig 60 alone, from the heat pressing step S20 to the cooling pressing step S30.

[0053] Furthermore, according to the above embodiment, the stack 40 is held with the upper plate 60a and the lower plate 60b of the jig 60 fixed in position relative to each other by the positioning member 66. This prevents lateral positional deviation between the upper plate 60a and the lower plate 60b due to a speed difference between the pair of belts 6, and hence lateral positional deviation of the cell elements of the stack 40. As a result, positional deviation of the cell elements, inclusion of air bubbles in the adhesive layer 52, and uneven thickness of the adhesive layer 52 are further prevented.

[0054] In the above embodiment, a double belt press device is used as the manufacturing apparatus 2, but this is not limited thereto. Various known conveying means, heating means, cooling means, and pressurizing means can be combined as appropriate. Another manufacturing apparatus 102 can be, for example, a continuous roller press device. As shown in FIG. 5, this manufacturing apparatus 102 includes a roller conveyor 104 as a conveying means, which is composed of a pair of upper and lower rollers arranged continuously. The roller conveyor 104 defines a conveying zone 116, and can further define a heating zone 117 and a cooling zone 118.

[0055] The heating zone 117 is provided with a heat press section 120 consisting of an appropriate number of roller pairs that heats and presses the laminate 40. The cooling zone 118 is provided with a cold press section 130 consisting of an appropriate number of roller pairs that cools and presses the laminate 40. The heat press section 120 is an example of a part of the heating means and pressing means disclosed in this specification. The cold press section 130 is an example of a part of the cooling means and pressing means disclosed in this specification.

[0056] 5, pairs of rollers are arranged in succession in each of the hot press section 120 and the cold press section 130. The most downstream roll pair of the hot press section 120 and the most upstream roll pair of the cold press section 130 are also arranged in succession, so that the laminate 40 sandwiched between the jig 60 is continuously pressed by the roll pairs from the hot press section 120 to the cold press section 130.

[0057] Furthermore, the manufacturing apparatus 102 shown in FIG. 5 is provided with a preheating section 121, such as a halogen heater, that heats the laminate 40 from above and below in the stacking direction before the heating zone 117. By providing the preheating section 121, the hot melt adhesive can be reliably melted or softened in the heat press section 120. In this case, the laminate 40 is preferably clamped by a jig 60 to prevent movement of the cell components. As shown in FIG. 5, the preheating section 121 can also be provided as a part of the roller conveyor 104 to form the preheating zone 119. The preheating section 121 and the preheating zone 119 may be part of the heat press section 120 and the heating zone 117. Furthermore, the roll pair that constitutes the cooling press section 130 may pressurize the laminate 40 while cooling it by leaving it to cool or blowing air.

[0058] In the manufacturing apparatus 102 shown in FIG. 5, the laminate 40 is preferably provided in a state where it is clamped by a jig 60 or the like.

[0059] In the above embodiment, the hot press units 20, 120 and the cold press units 30, 130 are separated by a distance shorter than the length in the conveying direction of the laminate 40. Therefore, after the hot press step S20, up until the cold press step S30, the laminate 40 is supplied to the cold press step S30 in a state in which the load applied by pressurization in the hot press step S20 is substantially maintained. In other words, the laminate 40 continues to be pressurized from the time the laminate 40 is heated until the time it is cooled.

[0060] However, the manner in which the load is maintained on the laminate 40 is not limited to this. It is sufficient that a load is applied to the adhesive layer 52 of the laminate 40 after the hot pressing step S20 and before the cooling pressing step S30 to a degree that suppresses separation and misalignment of the cell components. Such a load can be set appropriately by a person skilled in the art. An independent pressurizing step may be provided after the hot pressing step S20 and before the cooling pressing step S30, in which the load in the hot pressing step S20 is maintained at least partially without being completely released. Furthermore, such a load may be achieved by a restraining member 64 on the jig 60, without using a pressurizing means such as a press device.

[0061] In the above embodiment, the jig 60 is used to continuously apply pressure to the entire laminate 40, thereby maintaining at least a portion of the load applied to the adhesive layer 52 in the hot pressing step S20, but this is not limited to this. At least a portion of the load may be maintained only on the adhesive layer 52.

[0062] In the above embodiment, the manufacturing apparatuses 2 and 102 perform the heating press step S20 and one cooling press step S30, but this is not limited to this. The heating press step S20 and the cooling press step S30 may each include multiple sub-steps. It is preferable that a predetermined load is maintained between multiple sub-heating steps to an extent that deformation and movement of the cell components can be suppressed. It is also preferable that a load is maintained between multiple sub-cooling steps.

[0063] In the above embodiment, in the hot pressing step S20, the laminate 40 is heated and pressed at the same time, but this is not limited thereto. For example, as shown in FIG. 5, the laminate 40 may be preheated using a preheating unit 121 to melt or soften the adhesive layer 52. Furthermore, such preheating may replace heating during the hot pressing, and only pressure may be applied after heating. For example, in FIG. 5, the hot melt adhesive may be maintained in a state where it exhibits adhesive properties by preheating, and the downstream roller pair constituting the hot pressing unit 120 may press the laminate 40 without particularly heating it. Furthermore, the cooling pressing step S30 may be performed by pressing the laminate 40 while allowing it to cool naturally without any particular cooling.

[0064] In the above embodiment, the laminate 40 is supplied to the manufacturing apparatus 2 while being clamped by the jig 60, but this is not limiting. For example, as shown in Fig. 6, an elastic body such as a gasket 56 may be placed on the separator 54a, and the gasket 56 may be compressively deformed by a pair of belts 6, thereby applying pressure from the manufacturing apparatus 2 to the adhesive layer 52. Note that such an elastic body is not limited to the gasket 56, and may be a separate elastic body arranged for pressure application.

[0065] In the above embodiment, the restraining member 64 uses magnetic force, but this is not limited to this. For example, to prevent the load from being completely released after the hot pressing step S20, the upper plate 60a and the lower plate 60b of the jig 60 can be restrained using fastening members such as screws or elastic bodies such as springs on the jig 60. The restraining member 64 makes it possible to maintain the load on the adhesive layer 52 between the hot pressing step S20 and the cold pressing step S30.

[0066] In the above embodiments, a double belt press and a continuous roller press are described, but the manufacturing method disclosed herein is not limited to these. For example, a press mold that presses the laminate 40 and includes the adhesive layer 52 of the laminate 40 may be heated and then cooled without removing the laminate from the press mold. This also allows the adhesive layer 52 in the hot pressing step S20 to be supplied to the cold pressing step S30 while maintaining a predetermined load. The steps from the hot pressing step S20 to the cold pressing step S30 can be performed without using any special conveying means.

[0067] Alternatively, the manufacturing method disclosed in this specification may involve carrying out the hot pressing step S20, followed by, for example, partially releasing the pressure applied by the press mold, and then clamping the mold and carrying out the cold pressing step S30 again at a predetermined pressure.

[0068] In the above embodiment, the manufacturing apparatuses 2 and 102 perform the hot pressing step S20 and one cold pressing step S30, but this is not limited to this. Each of the hot pressing step S20 and the cold pressing step S30 can include one or more steps.

[0069] The present specification includes the following aspects. [1] A fuel cell manufacturing apparatus, a conveying means for conveying a stack in which the constituent elements of the fuel cell are stacked with an adhesive layer containing a thermoplastic resin material interposed therebetween; a heating means for heating the laminate when the laminate conveyed by the conveying means is positioned within a predetermined heating zone; a cooling means for cooling the laminate when the laminate conveyed by the conveying means is positioned in a predetermined cooling zone after passing through the heating zone; a pressurizing means for continuously applying pressure to the laminate from the time the laminate is heated in the heating zone until the time the laminate is cooled in the cooling zone; A manufacturing device comprising: [2] The manufacturing apparatus includes a double belt press device; The double belt press device is A pair of upper and lower belts constituting the conveying means; a heating press unit constituting a part of the heating means and the pressurizing means; a cooling press unit constituting another part of the cooling means and the pressurizing means, [1] The manufacturing apparatus according to the present invention. [3] The manufacturing apparatus includes a continuous roller press device; The continuous roller press device has a pair of upper and lower roller conveyors that constitute the conveying means, The manufacturing apparatus according to [1] or [2], wherein the pair of upper and lower roller conveyors has a heating press section that constitutes part of the heating means and the pressurizing means, and a cooling press section that constitutes another part of the cooling means and the pressurizing means. [4] The pressure applying means includes a jig that can hold the laminate in the stacking direction of the laminate and apply pressure to the adhesive layer, The manufacturing apparatus described in any one of [1] to [3], wherein the jig has a pair of plates that sandwich the laminate and is equipped with a positioning member that suppresses misalignment of the pair of plates in a direction perpendicular to the stacking direction of the laminate. [5] The manufacturing apparatus described in [4], wherein the jig is provided with a pressure section that presses the adhesive layer of the laminate. [6] The manufacturing apparatus according to [5], wherein the pressure applying unit includes an elastic body. [7] The manufacturing apparatus according to any one of [4] to [6], wherein the jig includes a restraining member capable of holding a load on the adhesive layer. [8] A method for manufacturing a fuel cell, comprising: a heat pressing step of applying heat and pressure to a laminate including an adhesive layer containing a thermoplastic resin material; a cooling press process in which the laminate after the hot pressing process is cooled and pressurized; Equipped with The laminate after the hot pressing step is supplied to the cold pressing step in a state in which a predetermined load is maintained at least on the adhesive layer.

[0070] Specific examples of the technology disclosed in this specification have been described in detail above, but these are merely examples and do not limit the scope of the claims. The technology described in the claims includes various modifications and variations of the specific examples exemplified above, such as a fuel cell control method. The technical elements described in this specification or in the drawings exhibit technical utility either alone or in various combinations, and are not limited to the combinations described in the claims at the time of filing. The technology exemplified in this specification or in the drawings can achieve multiple objectives simultaneously, and achieving one of these objectives itself has technical utility. [Explanation of symbols]

[0071] 2, 102 manufacturing equipment, 4 double belt section, 6 pair of belts, 8 upper belt, 10 lower belt, 12 pair of upper drums, 14 pair of lower drums, 16, 116 conveying zone, 17, 117 heating zone, 18, 118 cooling zone, 20, 120 heating press section, 30, 130 cooling press section, 40 laminate, 42 solid electrolyte membrane, 44a anode catalyst layer, 44b cathode catalyst layer, 46a gas diffusion layer, 46b gas diffusion layer, 48 MEGA, 50 resin sheet, 50a core layer, 52 adhesive layer, 54a, 54b separator, 56 gasket, 60 jig, 62 pressure section, 64 restraining member, 66 positioning member, 104 roller conveyor

Claims

1. A fuel cell manufacturing apparatus, a conveying means for conveying a stack in which the constituent elements of the fuel cell are stacked with an adhesive layer containing a thermoplastic resin material interposed therebetween; a heating means for heating the laminate when the laminate conveyed by the conveying means is positioned within a predetermined heating zone; a cooling means for cooling the laminate when the laminate conveyed by the conveying means is positioned in a predetermined cooling zone after passing through the heating zone; a pressurizing means for continuously pressing the laminate from the time the laminate is heated in the heating zone until the time the laminate is cooled in the cooling zone; A manufacturing device comprising:

2. The manufacturing apparatus includes a double belt press device, The double belt press device is A pair of upper and lower belts constituting the conveying means; a heating press unit constituting a part of the heating means and the pressurizing means; a cooling press unit constituting another part of the cooling means and the pressurizing means, The manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1 .

3. The manufacturing apparatus includes a continuous roller press device, The continuous roller press device has a pair of upper and lower roller conveyors that constitute the conveying means, The pair of upper and lower roller conveyors has a heating press section constituting a part of the heating means and the pressurizing means, and a cooling press section constituting another part of the cooling means and the pressurizing means. The manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1 .

4. the pressure applying means includes a jig that can hold the laminate in a stacking direction of the laminate and apply pressure to the adhesive layer, The manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the jig has a pair of plates that sandwich the laminate, and includes a positioning member that suppresses misalignment of the pair of plates in a direction perpendicular to the stacking direction of the laminate.

5. A method for manufacturing a fuel cell, comprising: a heat pressing step of applying heat and pressure to a laminate including an adhesive layer containing a thermoplastic resin material; a cooling press process in which the laminate after the hot pressing process is cooled and pressurized; Equipped with The laminate after the hot pressing step is supplied to the cold pressing step in a state in which a predetermined load is maintained at least on the adhesive layer.

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