Fuel cell manufacturing method

JP2026132526APending Publication Date: 2026-08-18TOYOTA BOSHOKU KK
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Patent Information

Application Number
JP2025017488
Authority / Receiving Office
JP · JP
Patent Type
Applications
Current Assignee / Owner
Filing Date
2025-02-05
Publication Date
2026-08-18

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

【0009】 この点、上記方法によれば、圧縮工程で破壊されたマイクロカプセルから流出する接着剤により、積層方向で隣り合う2つの燃料電池セルのうちの一方の燃料電池セルの第1セパレータの外面に突設されたシール部材の先端部が他方の燃料電池セルの第2セパレータの外面に接着される。すなわち、複数の燃料電池セルを積層する積層工程の後に、圧縮工程を行うことで、複数の燃料電池セル同士が接着剤によって一斉に接着される。つまり、積層工程では複数の燃料電池セル同士が接着剤によって接着されないので、複数の燃料電池セルが積層工程においてずれて積層されても当該ずれを容易に修正できる。したがって、積層工程における複数の燃料電池セルの積層精度を確保した後に、圧縮工程を行うことで、積層された複数の燃料電池セル同士を接着剤によって一斉に接着することができる。よって、複数の燃料電池セルの積層精度を確保しつつシール部材による冷却流路のシール性を向上することができる。

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Abstract

The present invention provides a fuel cell manufacturing method that can improve the sealing performance of the cooling channel by a sealing member while ensuring the stacking accuracy of multiple fuel cell cells. [Solution] The method for manufacturing a fuel cell comprises: a placement step of placing an adhesive sheet 36 containing a plurality of microcapsules encapsulating adhesive onto a sealing member 34 of one of two adjacent fuel cell cells 12 in the thickness direction Z; a stacking step of stacking the other fuel cell cell 12 from the second separator 22 side on top of the adhesive sheet 36 placed on the sealing member 34 of the one fuel cell cell 12 in the placement step; and a compression step of compressing the one fuel cell cell 12 and the other fuel cell cell 12, which are stacked with the adhesive sheet 36 in between, together with the adhesive sheet 36 in the thickness direction Z using a pair of end plates 14 to destroy the microcapsules.
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Description

Technical Field

[0006] , ,

[0005] , ,

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a fuel cell.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, as a fuel cell, for example, the one shown in Patent Document 1 is known. Such a fuel cell includes a cell stack in which a plurality of fuel cells are stacked, and a pair of end plates disposed at both ends of the cell stack in the cell stacking direction. A fuel cell is composed of a membrane electrode assembly, a pair of separators sandwiching the membrane electrode assembly, a gasket, and the like.

[0003] The gasket is adhered to the separator and is formed between two adjacent fuel cells in the cell stacking direction. The gasket seals the refrigerant flowing through the refrigerant flow path formed between two adjacent fuel cells in the cell stacking direction.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] By the way, in the fuel cell as described above, the gasket is adhered by an adhesive between two adjacent fuel cells in the cell stacking direction. Therefore, in the fuel cell as described above, even if the fuel cell is deformed so as to warp along with the expansion of the membrane electrode assembly due to power generation, the sealing performance of the refrigerant by the gasket can be ensured.

[0006] However, when manufacturing fuel cells as described above, it is necessary to sequentially stack multiple fuel cell cells while bonding gaskets with adhesive between two adjacent fuel cell cells in the cell stacking direction. As a result, there is a risk that the stacked fuel cell cells may be misaligned when bonding, which makes it difficult to stack multiple fuel cell cells with precision. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The following describes the means and effects of solving the above problems. A fuel cell manufacturing method that solves the above problems comprises a fuel cell cell stack formed by stacking a plurality of plate-shaped fuel cell cells, each having a power generation section and a first separator and a second separator sandwiching the power generation section, and a pair of end plates that sandwich the fuel cell cell stack from both sides in the stacking direction of the fuel cell, wherein a cooling channel through which a cooling medium flows is formed between the first separator of one of the two adjacent fuel cell cells in the stacking direction and the second separator of the other fuel cell cell, and a seal for the cooling channel is provided on the outer surface of the first separator in one of the fuel cell cells. The gist of the invention is that a seal member is provided, and an adhesive sheet containing a plurality of microcapsules encapsulating adhesive is placed on the seal member of one of the fuel cell cells; a stacking step is to stack the other fuel cell cell from the second separator side on top of the adhesive sheet placed on the seal member of the one of the fuel cell cells in the stacking step; and a compression step is to compress the one of the fuel cell cells and the other fuel cell cell, which are stacked with the adhesive sheet in between in the stacking step, together with the adhesive sheet by a pair of end plates in the stacking direction to destroy the microcapsules.

[0008] Normally, two adjacent fuel cell cells in the stacking direction deform by bending due to the expansion of their power generation sections during power generation. This deformation may cause the tip of the sealing member protruding from the outer surface of the first separator of one of the two adjacent fuel cell cells to separate from the outer surface of the second separator of the other fuel cell. For this reason, it is conceivable to improve the sealing performance of the cooling channel by bonding the tip of the sealing member protruding from the outer surface of the first separator of one of the two adjacent fuel cell cells to the outer surface of the second separator of the other fuel cell with an adhesive. However, if this is done, it is necessary to apply adhesive to the tip of the sealing member of the fuel cell and bond the fuel cell cells together each time another fuel cell is stacked on top of a fuel cell. This raises the problem that the fuel cell cells may be bonded misaligned, making it difficult to stack multiple fuel cell cells with precision.

[0009] In this regard, according to the above method, the adhesive released from the microcapsules destroyed in the compression step causes the tip of a sealing member protruding from the outer surface of the first separator of one of two adjacent fuel cell cells in the stacking direction to adhere to the outer surface of the second separator of the other fuel cell. In other words, by performing the compression step after the stacking step in which multiple fuel cell cells are stacked, multiple fuel cell cells are simultaneously bonded to each other by the adhesive. That is, since multiple fuel cell cells are not bonded to each other by the adhesive during the stacking step, any misalignment during the stacking step can be easily corrected. Therefore, by performing the compression step after ensuring the stacking accuracy of multiple fuel cell cells in the stacking step, multiple stacked fuel cell cells can be simultaneously bonded to each other by the adhesive. Thus, it is possible to improve the sealing performance of the cooling channel by the sealing member while ensuring the stacking accuracy of multiple fuel cell cells. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0010] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a fuel cell according to one embodiment. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view showing a fuel cell cell. [Figure 3] Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the irregularities that constitute the first channel of the first separator and the second channel of the second separator. [Figure 4] Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a portion of the fuel cell stack. [Figure 5] Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a portion of the adhesive sheet. [Figure 6] Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view showing the state when multiple fuel cell cells are stacked. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0011] One embodiment will be described below with reference to the drawings. <Fuel cell 11> As shown in Figure 1, the fuel cell 11 comprises a fuel cell cell stack 13 formed by stacking multiple rectangular plate-shaped fuel cell cells 12 that generate electricity in the thickness direction Z, and a pair of end plates 14 that sandwich the fuel cell cell stack 13 from both sides in the thickness direction Z of the fuel cell cells 12. In this example, the thickness direction Z of the fuel cell cells 12 coincides with the stacking direction of the fuel cell cells 12.

[0012] The pair of end plates 14 are fastened together at their outer edges by a plurality of bolts 15 and a plurality of nuts 16, thereby pressing the fuel cell cell stack 13 in the thickness direction Z of the fuel cell cell 12. Between the pair of end plates 14 and the fuel cell cell stack 13, there are interposed terminal plates (not shown) for collecting current and insulating plates (not shown) for insulation.

[0013] <Fuel cell cell 12> As shown in Figure 2, the fuel cell cell 12 includes a rectangular plate-shaped support frame 18 that supports a rectangular sheet-shaped power generation unit 17, a pair of rectangular sheet-shaped gas diffusion layers 19 that sandwich the power generation unit 17, and a pair of rectangular plate-shaped metal separators 20 that sandwich the support frame 18 in the state in which the power generation unit 17 sandwiched between the pair of gas diffusion layers 19 is supported.

[0014] Of the pair of separators 20, one positioned on the cathode side is designated as the first separator 21, and the other positioned on the anode side is designated as the second separator 22. The power generation unit 17 is supported while housed in a rectangular opening 23 formed in the center of the support frame 18. The power generation unit 17 is composed of a membrane electrode assembly (MEA).

[0015] In the following explanation, the long side direction, short side direction, and thickness direction of the fuel cell cell 12 will be referred to as the long side direction X, the short side direction Y, and the thickness direction Z, respectively, as the direction in which the long side extends. The long side direction X, the short side direction Y, and the thickness direction Z are mutually orthogonal directions.

[0016] <Flow path configuration in fuel cell cell 12> As shown in Figure 2, at one end of the fuel cell cell 12 in the long side direction X, a fuel gas supply port 24 for supplying fuel gas, a cooling medium discharge port 25 for discharging cooling medium, and an oxidizer gas discharge port 26 for discharging oxidizer gas are formed. The fuel gas supply port 24, the cooling medium discharge port 25, and the oxidizer gas discharge port 26 are arranged in this order from one side to the other in the short side direction Y of the fuel cell cell 12.

[0017] At the other end of the fuel cell cell 12 in the long side direction X, an oxidant gas supply port 27 for supplying oxidant gas, a cooling medium supply port 28 for supplying a cooling medium, and a fuel gas discharge port 29 for discharging fuel gas are formed. The oxidant gas supply port 27, the cooling medium supply port 28, and the fuel gas discharge port 29 are arranged in this order from one side to the other in the short side direction Y of the fuel cell cell 12.

[0018] Fuel gas is supplied to the fuel gas supply hole 24, for example, fuel gas containing hydrogen. Fuel gas is discharged from the fuel gas discharge hole 29. Oxidant gas is supplied to the oxidant gas supply hole 27, for example, oxidant gas containing oxygen. Oxidant gas is discharged from the oxidant gas discharge hole 26. A cooling medium, such as cooling water, is supplied to the cooling medium supply hole 28. The cooling medium is discharged from the cooling medium discharge hole 25.

[0019] The fuel gas supply hole 24 and the oxidant gas supply hole 27 are arranged so as to face each other in the long side direction X. The oxidant gas discharge hole 26 and the fuel gas discharge hole 29 are arranged so as to face each other in the long side direction X. The cooling medium discharge hole 25 and the cooling medium supply hole 28 are arranged so as to face each other in the long side direction X.

[0020] The fuel gas supply hole 24, the fuel gas discharge hole 29, the oxidant gas supply hole 27, the oxidant gas discharge hole 26, the cooling medium supply hole 28, and the cooling medium discharge hole 25 in the fuel cell 12 each form a manifold extending in the thickness direction Z in the fuel cell stack 13.

[0021] <Separator 20> As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a plurality of first flow paths 30 that communicate the oxidant gas supply hole 27 and the oxidant gas discharge hole 26 are formed on the surface of the first separator 21 on the power generation unit 17 side. Each first flow path 30 allows the oxidant gas to flow and supplies the oxidant gas to one surface of the power generation unit 17 between the oxidant gas supply hole 27 and the oxidant gas discharge hole 26. Each first flow path 30 is constituted by the concave and convex portions that are integrally formed on the front and back surfaces by pressing the first separator 21. The concave and convex portions constituting each first flow path 30 of the first separator 21 in the present embodiment have a trapezoidal shape in a cross-sectional view.

[0022] The recessed portion 31 on the power generation section 17 side of the uneven surface of the first separator 21 constitutes the first flow path 30. The multiple recessed portions 31 that constitute the multiple first flow paths 30 extend in parallel at regular intervals. Protruding portions 32 are formed between the recessed portions 31 of the first separator 21. The uneven surface of the first separator 21 is such that the recessed portion 31 on one surface constitutes the protruding portion 32 on the other surface, and the protruding portion 32 on one surface constitutes the recessed portion 31 on the other surface.

[0023] The irregularities in the first separator 21 are arranged such that the recessed portion 31 and the convex portion 32 are alternately spaced at equal intervals in the direction in which the multiple first flow channels 30 are aligned. The multiple first flow channels 30 in the first separator 21 extend linearly, for example, in the long side direction X.

[0024] As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the second separator 22 has a plurality of second flow paths 33 on the side facing the power generation unit 17, which connect the fuel gas supply hole 24 and the fuel gas discharge hole 29. Fuel gas flows through each second flow path 33, and between the fuel gas supply hole 24 and the fuel gas discharge hole 29, the fuel gas is supplied to the other side of the power generation unit 17, which is the side opposite to the first separator 21. Each second flow path 33 is formed by a single set of irregularities on both sides of the second separator 22, which is created by press-forming the second separator 22. In this embodiment, the irregularities constituting each second flow path 33 of the second separator 22 have a trapezoidal shape in cross-sectional view.

[0025] The recessed portion 31 on the power generation section 17 side of the irregularities of the second separator 22 constitutes the second flow path 33. The multiple recessed portions 31 that constitute the multiple second flow paths 33 extend in parallel at regular intervals. Protruding portions 32 are formed between the recessed portions 31 of the second separator 22. The irregularities of the second separator 22 are such that the recessed portion 31 on one surface constitutes the protruding portion 32 on the other surface, and the protruding portion 32 on one surface constitutes the recessed portion 31 on the other surface.

[0026] The irregularities in the second separator 22 are arranged such that the recessed portion 31 and the convex portion 32 are alternately spaced at equal intervals in the direction in which the multiple second flow channels 33 are aligned. The multiple second flow channels 33 in the second separator 22 extend linearly, for example, in the long side direction X.

[0027] A rectangular frame-shaped sealing member 34 is provided projecting from the peripheral edge of the outer surface of the first separator 21 in the fuel cell cell 12, on the side opposite to the power generation unit 17. The sealing member 34 is positioned to surround the fuel gas supply hole 24, the fuel gas discharge hole 29, the oxidizer gas supply hole 27, the oxidizer gas discharge hole 26, the cooling medium supply hole 28, and the cooling medium discharge hole 25.

[0028] The first separator 21 has the same configuration as the second separator 22, except that it is provided with a sealing member 34. In the fuel cell cell 12, the first separator 21 and the second separator 22 are arranged in such a manner that one is reversed relative to the other. In this case, when viewed from the thickness direction Z, the fuel gas supply holes 24, fuel gas discharge holes 29, oxidizer gas supply holes 27, oxidizer gas discharge holes 26, cooling medium supply holes 28, and cooling medium discharge holes 25 of the first separator 21 and the second separator 22 overlap.

[0029] <Fuel cell stack 13> As shown in Figures 1, 2, and 4, in the fuel cell cell stack 13, a cooling channel 35 is formed between the first separator 21 of one of two adjacent fuel cell cells 12 in the thickness direction Z (stacking direction) and the second separator 22 of the other fuel cell cell 12, through which the cooling medium flows from the cooling medium supply hole 28 side to the cooling medium discharge hole 25 side. The cooling channel 35 is sealed by a sealing member 34.

[0030] As shown in Figure 4, the sealing member 34 has a triangular shape in cross-section. The sealing member 34 is made of an elastic material such as rubber or elastomer. The tip of the sealing member 34, which protrudes from the outer surface of the first separator 21 of one of two fuel cell cells 12 that are adjacent in the thickness direction Z, is bonded to the outer surface of the second separator 22 of the other fuel cell cell 12 by an adhesive sheet 36.

[0031] As shown in Figures 4 and 5, the adhesive sheet 36 contains a plurality of microcapsules 38 encapsulating adhesive 37. That is, the adhesive sheet 36 has a rectangular frame-shaped base material 39 corresponding to the sealing member 34, and a plurality of microcapsules 38 supported on the base material 39 and encapsulating adhesive 37. The microcapsules 38 are designed to be ruptured and release the encapsulated adhesive when compressed with a pressure of a predetermined value N or higher.

[0032] <Method for manufacturing fuel cell 11> The fuel cell 11 is manufactured by going through a mounting process, a stacking process, and a compression process. As shown in Figure 6, in the placement process, first, an adhesive sheet 36 containing multiple microcapsules 38 encapsulating adhesive 37 is placed on the sealing member 34 of one fuel cell cell 12 placed on the end plate 14. Subsequently, in the lamination process, another fuel cell cell 12 is laminated from the second separator 22 side on top of the adhesive sheet 36 that was placed on the sealing member 34 of one fuel cell cell 12 in the placement process.

[0033] The one fuel cell 12 and the other fuel cell 12 described above are, respectively, one and the other of two adjacent fuel cell cells 12 in the thickness direction Z. In this case, the adhesive sheet 36 does not exhibit its adhesive function because the microcapsules 38 are not destroyed unless it is compressed with a pressure of a predetermined value N or higher. Therefore, if another fuel cell 12 is stacked on top of the adhesive sheet 36 placed on the sealing member 34 of one fuel cell 12 in a misaligned state, the misalignment of this other fuel cell 12 is corrected.

[0034] Similarly, a predetermined number of fuel cell cells 12 are stacked sequentially in the thickness direction Z, with adhesive sheets 36 in between. An end plate 14 is placed on top of the stacked fuel cell cells 12. As a result, the stacked fuel cell cells 12, with adhesive sheets 36 in between, are sandwiched between a pair of end plates 14 on both sides in the thickness direction Z.

[0035] Next, as shown in Figures 1 and 4, in the compression step, the outer edges of a pair of end plates 14 that sandwich the multiple fuel cell cells 12, which were stacked with adhesive sheets 36 in between during the stacking step, are fastened together with multiple bolts 15 and multiple nuts 16 so that they are brought closer to each other in the thickness direction Z. As a result, the pair of end plates 14 compress the multiple fuel cell cells 12 together with the multiple adhesive sheets 36 sandwiched between them in the thickness direction Z with a pressure of a predetermined value N or more.

[0036] As a result, the microcapsules 38 in each adhesive sheet 36 are destroyed, causing the adhesive 37 to leak out of the microcapsules 38. This leaked adhesive 37 simultaneously bonds the tip of the sealing member 34 of one of two adjacent fuel cell cells 12 in the thickness direction Z to the outer surface of the second separator 22 of the other fuel cell cell 12. This completes the production of the fuel cell 11.

[0037] <Operation of the Embodiment> As shown in Figures 1, 2, and 4, when oxidizer gas, fuel gas, and cooling medium are supplied to the fuel cell 11, power is generated in each fuel cell cell 12 that makes up the fuel cell cell stack 13. When power is generated by the fuel cell cells 12, oxidizer gas is supplied from the oxidizer gas supply port 27 and fuel gas is supplied from the fuel gas supply port 24.

[0038] When oxidant gas is supplied to the fuel cell cell 12 from each oxidant gas supply port 27, the oxidant gas is supplied to the cathode side of the power generation unit 17 while being diffused by the gas diffusion layer 19 as it flows through each first flow path 30 to the oxidant gas discharge port 26. The oxidant gas that has flowed to each oxidant gas discharge port 26 is discharged to the outside of the fuel cell cell stack 13.

[0039] On the other hand, when fuel gas is supplied to the fuel cell cell 12 from each fuel gas supply port 24, the fuel gas is supplied to the anode side of the power generation unit 17 while being diffused by the gas diffusion layer 19 as it flows through each second flow path 33 to the fuel gas discharge port 29. The fuel gas that has flowed to each fuel gas discharge port 29 is discharged to the outside of the fuel cell cell stack 13.

[0040] In this case, each fuel cell cell 12 generates electricity based on an electrochemical reaction in the power generation unit 17 between the oxidizer gas supplied to the cathode side of the power generation unit 17 and the fuel gas supplied to the anode side of the power generation unit 17.

[0041] Each fuel cell 12 generates heat through the electrochemical reaction that produces electricity. However, a cooling medium is supplied from a cooling medium supply hole 28 to a cooling channel 35 formed between the first separator 21 of one of two adjacent fuel cell cells 12 in the fuel cell stack 13 and the second separator 22 of the other.

[0042] The cooling medium supplied from the cooling medium supply hole 28 to the cooling channel 35 flows through the cooling channel 35 from the cooling medium supply hole 28 to the cooling medium discharge hole 25. As a result, the fuel cell cell 12 is cooled by the cooling medium. The cooling medium that has flowed to each cooling medium discharge hole 25 is discharged to the outside of the fuel cell cell stack 13.

[0043] Furthermore, in the fuel cell 11, the tip of a sealing member 34 protruding from the outer surface of the first separator 21 of one of two adjacent fuel cell cells 12 in the thickness direction Z is bonded to the outer surface of the second separator 22 of the other fuel cell cell 12 by the adhesive 37 of the adhesive sheet 36.

[0044] Therefore, even if each fuel cell cell 12 in the fuel cell 11 deforms by bending due to the expansion of the power generation unit 17 caused by the heat generated during power generation, the tip of the sealing member 34 is prevented from separating from the outer surface of the second separator 22. As a result, the sealing performance of the cooling channel 35 by the sealing member 34 is ensured, eliminating the risk of the cooling medium flowing through the cooling channel 35 leaking to the outside.

[0045] <Effects of the Embodiment> According to the embodiments described in detail above, the following effects are achieved. (1) The manufacturing method of the fuel cell 11 includes a placement step of placing an adhesive sheet 36 containing a plurality of microcapsules 38 containing adhesive 37 on a sealing member 34 of one of two adjacent fuel cell cells 12 in the thickness direction Z; a stacking step of stacking the other fuel cell cell 12 from the second separator 22 side on top of the adhesive sheet 36 placed on the sealing member 34 of the one fuel cell cell 12 in the placement step; and a compression step of compressing the one fuel cell cell 12 and the other fuel cell cell 12 stacked with the adhesive sheet 36 in between in the stacking step together with the adhesive sheet 36 by a pair of end plates 14 in the thickness direction Z to destroy the microcapsules 38.

[0046] Normally, two adjacent fuel cell cells in the stacking direction (thickness direction Z) deform by bending due to the expansion of their power generation sections during power generation. This deformation may cause the tip of the sealing member protruding from the outer surface of the first separator of one of the two adjacent fuel cell cells to separate from the outer surface of the second separator of the other fuel cell. For this reason, it is conceivable to improve the sealing performance of the cooling channel by bonding the tip of the sealing member protruding from the outer surface of the first separator of one of the two adjacent fuel cell cells to the outer surface of the second separator of the other fuel cell with an adhesive. However, if this is done, it is necessary to apply adhesive to the tip of the sealing member of the fuel cell and bond the fuel cell cells together each time another fuel cell is stacked on top of one fuel cell. This raises the problem that the fuel cell cells may be bonded misaligned, making it difficult to stack multiple fuel cell cells with precision.

[0047] In this regard, according to the above method, the adhesive 37 that flows out from the microcapsules 38 destroyed in the compression step causes the tip of the sealing member 34, which protrudes from the outer surface of the first separator 21 of one of two adjacent fuel cell cells 12 in the stacking direction (thickness direction Z), to adhere to the outer surface of the second separator 22 of the other fuel cell cell 12. That is, by performing the compression step after the stacking step in which multiple fuel cell cells 12 are stacked, the multiple fuel cell cells 12 are simultaneously bonded to each other by the adhesive 37. In other words, since the multiple fuel cell cells 12 are not bonded to each other by the adhesive 37 in the stacking step, any misalignment of the multiple fuel cell cells 12 during the stacking step can be easily corrected. Therefore, by performing the compression step after ensuring the stacking accuracy of the multiple fuel cell cells 12 in the stacking step, the stacked multiple fuel cell cells 12 can be simultaneously bonded to each other by the adhesive 37. Thus, the sealing performance of the cooling channel 35 by the sealing member 34 can be improved while ensuring the stacking accuracy of the multiple fuel cell cells 12.

[0048] <Example of changes> The above embodiment can be implemented with the following modifications. Furthermore, the above embodiment and the following modifications can be combined with each other to the extent that they do not contradict each other technically.

[0049] The cross-sectional shape of the sealing member 34 is not limited to a triangular shape; it may also be a rectangular or other square shape. The microcapsules 38 may contain a two-component adhesive that is used by mixing the main component and the hardener. In this case, the multiple microcapsules 38 include microcapsules 38 containing only the main component and microcapsules 38 containing only the hardener.

[0050] The outer edges of the pair of end plates 14 may be connected not only by bolts 15 and nuts 16, but also, for example, by tension springs. [Explanation of symbols]

[0051] 11...fuel cell 12… Fuel cell 13…Fuel cell stack 14… End plate 15... Volts 16... Nut 17…Power Generation Department 18…Support slot 19…Gas diffusion layer 20... Separator 21...First separator 22...Second separator 23…Opening 24…Fuel gas supply port 25…Cooling medium discharge hole 26…Oxidizing gas exhaust port 27…Oxidizer gas supply port 28…Cooling medium supply hole 29…Fuel gas exhaust port 30…First channel 31...Concave part 32...Convex part 33…Second channel 34...Sealing material 35…Cooling channel 36…Adhesive sheet 37…Adhesive 38... Microcapsules 39...Base material X...Longer side direction Y...Short side direction Z...Thickness direction

Claims

[Claim 1] A method for manufacturing a fuel cell comprising a fuel cell cell stack formed by stacking a plurality of plate-shaped fuel cell cells, each having a power generation section and a first separator and a second separator sandwiching the power generation section, and a pair of end plates that sandwich the fuel cell cell stack from both sides in the stacking direction of the fuel cell cells, Between the first separator of one of the two fuel cell cells adjacent to each other in the stacking direction and the second separator of the other fuel cell cell, a cooling channel is formed through which a cooling medium flows. A sealing member for sealing the cooling channel is provided protruding from the outer surface of the first separator in one of the fuel cell cells. A placement step of placing an adhesive sheet containing a plurality of microcapsules encapsulating adhesive onto the sealing member of one of the fuel cell cells, The stacking step involves stacking the other fuel cell cell from the second separator side on top of the adhesive sheet placed on the sealing member of one of the fuel cell cells in the aforementioned placement step, A compression step is performed in which one of the fuel cell cells and the other fuel cell, which are laminated with the adhesive sheet sandwiched between them in the lamination step, are compressed together with the adhesive sheet by a pair of end plates in the lamination direction to destroy the microcapsules, A method for manufacturing a fuel cell, characterized by comprising the above.

Citation Information

Patent Citations

  • Fuel cell stack and manufacturing method therefor

    JP2015002022A