JP2017147178A - Manufacturing method of fuel battery - Google Patents

Abstract

An object of the present invention is to reduce the time required for disposing an intervening layer between a fuel cell stack and a stack case. An intervening layer interposed between a fuel cell stack and a stack case is an intervening layer having an unfoamed foam layer and a heat generating portion that generates heat when energized. When manufacturing the battery, the fuel cell stack is assembled in the stack case and placed at a predetermined position, and the foam layer is unfoamed in the gap between the stack and case, and the intervening layer is placed across the stacking direction of the fuel cells. Then, the heating portion of the disposed intervening layer is energized to cause the foam layer to foam by the heat generated by the heating portion, and the intervening layer is in contact with the outer wall surface of the stack and the inner wall surface of the case. [Selection] Figure 1

Description

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

  The fuel cell includes a fuel cell stack in which a plurality of fuel cells are stacked, and the fuel cell stack is accommodated in a stack case. In order to ensure vibration resistance and impact resistance for the accommodated fuel cell stack, a method has been proposed in which an insulating member having a buffer characteristic is disposed as an intervening layer between the fuel cell stack and the stack case ( For example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2003-203670 A

  In the above method, the intervening layer has a laminated structure, the fuel cell stack side is a first layer having low friction characteristics and insulating characteristics, and a second layer using a foamable material is laminated on the first layer. This is excellent in that the impact applied to the fuel cell stack is mitigated along the direction intersecting the fuel cell stacking direction (hereinafter referred to as the cell stacking direction). By the way, foaming of the foamable material occurs by applying heat to the material. However, since the fuel cell stack has already been accommodated in the stack case, heat is usually applied from the outside of the stack case. For this reason, it takes time to transmit a necessary amount of heat to the foamable material to foam the foamed material and to arrange the intervening layer between the fuel cell stack and the stack case. For these reasons, it has been requested to reduce the time required for disposing the intervening layer between the fuel cell stack and the stack case.

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is to solve at least a part of the problems described above, and the invention can be implemented as the following forms.

(1) According to one form of this invention, the manufacturing method of a fuel cell is provided. This method of manufacturing a fuel cell is a method of manufacturing a fuel cell in which a fuel cell stack in which fuel cells are stacked is accommodated in a stack case with an intervening layer interposed, and the fuel cell stack is incorporated in the stack case and accommodated In a state where the fuel cell stack is disposed at a predetermined position of the stack case, an unfoamed foam is formed in a gap between the stack outer wall surface of the fuel cell stack and the case inner wall surface of the stack case. A step of disposing an intervening layer having a layer and a heat generating portion that generates heat upon energization in a state in which the foamed layer is unfoamed over the stacking direction of the fuel cells, and the disposed interposition Energizing the heat generating portion of the layer to foam the foam layer by heat generated from the heat generating portion, and the intervening layer is in contact with the outer wall surface of the stack and the inner wall surface of the case Equipped with a.

  In the fuel cell manufacturing method of this embodiment, the intervening layer can be inserted into the gap between the fuel cell stack disposed in the stack case and the stack case without hindrance. Then, the energization of the heat generating part embedded in the foam layer of the intervening layer disposed in the stacking direction of the fuel cells (cell stacking direction) causes the foam layer to directly adhere to each part in the cell stacking direction. When heated, it foams quickly. Therefore, according to the manufacturing method of the fuel cell of this embodiment, the time required for disposing the intervening layer between the fuel cell stack and the stack case can be shortened.

  Note that the present invention can be realized in various modes. For example, it is realizable with forms, such as a manufacturing method of a fuel cell.

It is explanatory drawing which shows the schematic structure of the fuel cell obtained by the manufacturing method of the embodiment when viewed from the front. It is explanatory drawing which decomposes | disassembles and shows schematic structure of a fuel cell. It is explanatory drawing which shows the whole structure of an intervening layer by a perspective view. It is a flowchart which shows the manufacture procedure in the manufacturing method of this embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which shows the mode of stack integration and positioning typically. It is explanatory drawing which shows the mode of insertion of an intervening layer by planar view from the X-axis direction along a cell lamination direction. It is explanatory drawing which shows the mode of insertion of an intervening layer by side view from the Y-axis direction which cross | intersects a lamination direction. It is explanatory drawing which shows the state of a connection with an electrical heating apparatus and the 1st-4th intervening layer in relation to the mode of electrical heating. It is explanatory drawing which shows the state of restraint and holding | maintenance of the fuel cell stack by an intervening layer by planar view from the X-axis direction along a cell lamination direction. It is explanatory drawing which shows the state of restraint and holding | maintenance of the fuel cell stack by the intervening layer of the fuel cell obtained with the manufacturing method of 2nd Embodiment planarly seen from the X-axis direction along a cell lamination direction.

  FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a schematic configuration of a fuel cell 100 obtained by the manufacturing method of the embodiment when viewed from the front, and FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing an exploded schematic configuration of the fuel cell 100. In the XYZ axes in each figure, the X axis is an axis along the stacking direction of the fuel cells 122, the Y axis indicates the horizontal direction, and the Z axis indicates the vertical direction. In FIG. 1, the stack case 110 is hatched as an integrated product. Each drawing including FIG. 1 does not represent the actual dimensional ratio of the parts constituting the fuel cell 100, but merely shows the arrangement and positional relationship of the parts.

  The fuel cell 100 includes a stack case 110, a fuel cell stack 120, and first to fourth intervening layers 141A to 141D. The stack case 110 is a case made of metal such as aluminum, and includes a case main body 111 and a lid body 112. The case main body 111 surrounds the stack outer wall surface of the fuel cell stack 120 along the stacking direction of the fuel cells 122 in the fuel cell stack 120, which will be described later (hereinafter appropriately referred to as the cell stacking direction), and the fuel along the cell stacking direction. The battery stack 120 has a case shape with an open front and rear end that allows the battery stack 120 to be assembled. The lid 112 is fixed to the opening at the front and rear ends of the case body 111 using bolts (not shown) after the fuel cell stack 120 is accommodated.

  The fuel cell stack 120 has a stack structure in which a plurality of fuel cells 122 are stacked between two end plates 121. The plurality of fuel cells 122 are fastened through fastening shafts (not shown) inserted into through holes 137 opened in the corner portions of the end plate 121 and the fuel cells 122.

  The end plate 121 and the fuel battery cell 122 are both rectangular, and in addition to the above-described through holes 137, the gas inflow holes 131, the gas outflow holes 132, the air inflow holes 133, the air outflow holes 134, the cooling A water inflow hole 135 and a cooling water outflow hole 136 are provided. The gas inflow hole 131 forms a flow path for guiding fuel gas, for example, hydrogen gas, to each fuel cell 122, and the gas outflow hole 132 forms a flow path for guiding unconsumed hydrogen gas to the outside. To do. The air inflow hole 133 forms a flow path for guiding air, which is an oxygen-containing gas, to each of the fuel cells 122, and the air outflow hole 134 forms a flow path for guiding excess air to the outside. These inflow holes and outflow holes extend along the rectangular short side so that the gas inflow hole 131 and the gas outflow hole 132 are diagonal and the air inflow hole 133 and the air outflow hole 134 are diagonal in the YZ plane. And is continuous along the X-axis direction, that is, the cell stacking direction. The cooling water inflow hole 135 forms a flow path for guiding the refrigerant to each fuel cell 122, and the cooling water outflow hole 136 forms a flow path for guiding the refrigerant to the outside. The cooling water inflow hole and the outflow hole are formed along the long rectangular side so as to face each other, and are continuous along the X-axis direction (cell stacking direction). Since the internal configuration of the fuel battery cell 122 is the same as the existing configuration, the description of the cell configuration is omitted.

  Since the end plate 121 and the fuel cell 122 are rectangular, even when the fuel cell stack 120 is present, the outer shape of the stack when the fuel cell stack 120 is viewed along the YZ plane, that is, the cell stacking direction, is also rectangular. . The fuel cell 100 includes a first stack side surface 125a along the Y axis and a second stack side surface 125b along the Z axis of the first corner portion 125 of the four corner portions of the fuel cell stack 120. And a third stack along the Y-axis of the second corner portion 126 that is diagonally related to the first corner portion 125 in the YZ plane, and includes the first intervening layer 141A and the second intervening layer 141B. A third intervening layer 141C and a fourth intervening layer 141D are provided on the side surface 126a and the fourth stack side surface 126b along the Z-axis.

  The first to fourth intervening layers 141A to 141D are disposed in the gap 113 between the stack case 110 and the fuel cell stack 120 and have the same configuration. Therefore, hereinafter, the first to fourth intervening layers 141A to 141D are collectively referred to as an intervening layer 141. FIG. 3 is an explanatory view showing the overall structure of the intervening layer 141 in perspective. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 1, the intervening layer 141 has a three-layer structure, and is an elongated intervening layer in which a foam layer 144 is laminated between the first layer 142 and the second layer 143. A heating wire 145 is embedded in the layer 144. The first layer 142 and the second layer 143 are thin sheet sheets of an insulating resin such as polyurethane, for example. Since the fuel battery cell 122 is generally configured as a frame made of a thermoplastic resin such as polypropylene, and the case body 111 of the stack case 110 is a metal case such as aluminum, the first layer 142 and the second layer 143 are: Depending on the property of the material, the material can be peeled even after the contact state in contact with the end surface of the fuel battery cell 122 and the inner wall surface of the case body 111 is continued.

  The foam layer 144 is formed using a foam material such as a foamable epoxy resin, and is unfoamed before the interposition layer 141 is disposed, and foams at the time of assembly described later. After foaming, the foamed layer 144 becomes a shock-relieving foam layer, and even the intervening layer 141 having the foamed layer 144 becomes an impact-relieving intervening layer. The intervening layer 141 is interposed between the stack case 110 and the fuel cell stack 120 to restrain the fuel cell stack 120 from the outside.

  The foam layer 144 has a length that matches the overall length of the fuel cell stack 120 in the stacking direction of the fuel cells 122 shown in FIG. 2, more specifically, the stack length of the fuel cells 122 excluding the end plate 121 in the fuel cell stack 120. The first layer 142 and the second layer 143 have the same dimensions as the foam layer 144. Therefore, the intervening layer 141 has the foam layer 144 over the entire length of the fuel cell stack 120 in the cell stacking direction, and is disposed together with the foam layer 144 in the gap 113 between the stack case 110 and the fuel cell stack 120. It will be.

  The heating wire 145 is a heating wire that generates heat when energized by a nichrome wire or the like, corresponds to a heating portion in the present invention, and is embedded in the foam layer 144 along the cell stacking direction. As shown in FIG. 3, the heating wire 145 of the present embodiment is folded from one end side of the intervening layer 141 to the other end side and embedded in the foamed layer 144, and one end side of the intervening layer is used as the connection terminal 146. . Thus, in order to obtain the intervening layer 141 in which the heating wire 145 is embedded in the foam layer 144, a mold forming technique using a hollow container may be used. For example, a hollow container having a rectangular cross-sectional shape that is a rectangular cross-section before foaming of the foam layer 144 is prepared, and the heating wire 145 is set in the container to be bent and bent, and then a foamable epoxy resin is set. Is molded in an unfoamed state. Thereby, the intervening layer 141 in which the foam layer 144 is not foamed is obtained.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a manufacturing procedure in the manufacturing method of the present embodiment. As shown in the drawing, in the manufacturing method of the present embodiment, first, the stack case 110 and the fuel cell stack 120, which are parts necessary for the fuel cell 100, the first to fourth intervening layers 141A to 141D (FIGS. 2 and 3). Reference) is prepared (step S100). Each part can be brought in from the respective production line, or may be procured from a parts manufacturer. In this case, the fuel cell stack 120 is a stack in which the fuel cells 122 have been fastened and fixed in the cell stacking direction and the fuel cells 122 are stacked at a predetermined pressure. Following the part preparation, the fuel cell stack 120 is assembled and positioned in the case body 111 (step S110). FIG. 5 is an explanatory view schematically showing how the stack is assembled and positioned.

  As shown in the drawing, the case main body 111 is placed on a work table ST that is horizontally flattened, and fixed to the work table ST with a fixing jig (not shown). Next, the fuel cell stack 120 is inserted horizontally from the one opening side of the case body 111, and the fuel cell stack 120 is assembled and accommodated in the case body 111 of the stack case 110. After the stack is accommodated, the fuel cell stack 120 is positioned and held in the case body 111 so that the fuel cell stack 120 is disposed at the center position of the case body 111 while the fuel cell stack 120 is held horizontally by the posture securing jig 200. . In the present embodiment, the center position of the case body 111 is a predetermined position of the fuel cell stack 120. Further, the fuel cell stack 120 is positioned and held with respect to the case body 111 also in the cell stacking direction. Thus, a gap 113 is formed between the fuel cell stack 120 and the case body 111 of the stack case 110 so as to surround the fuel cell stack 120, and the dimension of the gap 113 is the same on each side of the fuel cell stack 120. It is made a size. A black triangle in FIG. 5 indicates a state in which the reference of the fuel cell stack 120 is ensured. The same applies to the black triangle in each figure in FIG. Note that the posture securing jig 200 maintains the positioning posture by holding the fuel cell stack 120 at a portion that does not interfere with the locations where the first to fourth interposed layers 141A to 141D are disposed.

  Next, the first to fourth intervening layers 141A to 141D are sequentially inserted into the gap 113 between the fuel cell stack 120 and the case body 111 of the stack case 110 (step S120). As for the 1st-4th intervening layers 141A-141D inserted, the foaming layer 144 is an unfoamed state. 6 is an explanatory view showing the state of insertion of the intervening layer in plan view from the X-axis direction along the cell stacking direction, and FIG. 7 is a side view of the state of insertion of the intervening layer from the Y-axis direction intersecting the stacking direction. It is explanatory drawing shown. 7 shows a cross section taken along line 7-7 in FIG. 6. In FIG. 7 and subsequent figures, the hatching of the case main body 111 is omitted for convenience of illustration.

  In this intervening layer insertion, either the first layer 142 or the second layer 143 (see FIG. 1) is directed to the peripheral side surface (outer wall surface of the stack) of the fuel cell stack 120 and has been positioned by the posture securing jig 200. First to fourth intervening layers 141 </ b> A to 141 </ b> D are inserted into a gap 113 between the fuel cell stack 120 and the case body 111. The first intervening layer 141A is placed on the first stack side surface 125a of the fuel cell stack 120 after insertion, and the third intervening layer 141C is placed on the case body 111 so as to face the third stack side surface 126a after insertion. Is placed on the inner peripheral wall. The second intervening layer 141B and the fourth intervening layer 141D are horizontally mounted by a gripping jig (not shown) that grips both ends of the intervening layer of the elongated body so as to contact the second stack side surface 125b or the fourth stack side surface 126b. It is considered to be a proper posture. By such insertion of the intervening layer, the first to fourth intervening layers 141A to 141D secure a foaming space Sp in the gap 113 on the case body 111 side or on the third stack side surface 126a side. Will be disposed. The second intervening layer 141B, the fourth intervening layer 141D, and the third intervening layer 141C are made of the second stack side surface 125b and the fourth stack by an adhesive applied in the longitudinal direction. The side surface 126b or the third stack side surface 126a may be contacted and held on each stack side surface. Even if bonding is performed in this manner, the bonding locations by the adhesive are only scattered in the longitudinal direction. Therefore, the first layer 142 and the second layer are formed from the stack side surface of the fuel cell stack 120 and the inner peripheral wall of the case body 111. 143 can be peeled off.

  Next, the fuel cell stack 120 is restrained and held using the inserted first to fourth interposed layers 141A to 141D (step S130). As a preparation for the restraint / holding, the connection terminal 146 (see FIG. 3) of each intervening layer 141 is connected to the energization heating device 220 via the wiring 222. FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing the state of connection between the electric heating device 220 and the first to fourth intervening layers 141A to 141D in association with the state of electric heating. As shown in FIG. 8, the first intervening layer 141A and the second intervening layer 141B which are adjacent to each other with the first corner portion 125 interposed therebetween are connected to the heating wire 145 embedded in the foam layer 144 (see FIG. 3). They are connected in series and connected to the energization heating device 220 via the wiring 222. The third intervening layer 141C and the fourth intervening layer 141D that are adjacent to each other with the second corner 126 interposed therebetween are connected to the energizing heating device 220 and the wiring 222 by connecting the heating wire 145 in series. In this state, the fuel cell stack 120 remains positioned and held at the center position of the case main body 111 by the posture securing jig 200 described above.

  Before and after the above connection, the temperature sensor 230 is installed in the sensor installation hole Sh (see FIG. 2) of the case main body 111, and the temperature sensor 230 is connected to the energization heating device 220. The temperature sensor 230 makes the thermocouple sensing part contact the first intervening layer 141A, detects the temperature of the first intervening layer 141A, and outputs the detected temperature to the energization heating device 220. The temperature sensor 230 is configured to lift the sensing portion upward (+ Z-axis direction) in accordance with the foaming of the foam layer 144 so as not to hinder foaming of the foam layer 144 due to energization from the energization heating device 220. .

  The energization heating device 220 energizes the heating wire 145 of each intervening layer 141 connected via the wiring 222 and controls the energization current while referring to the temperature detected from the temperature sensor 230. The intervening layer 141 that is energized by the heating wire 145 restrains and holds the fuel cell stack 120 as follows by the foaming of the foam layer 144. FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing the state of restraint / holding of the fuel cell stack 120 by the intervening layer 141 in plan view from the X-axis direction along the cell stacking direction.

  As shown in the figure, the intervening layer 141 extends in the Z-axis direction in the figure until the foaming space Sp left on the case body 111 side disappears due to foaming of the foaming layer 144 accompanying energization of the heating wire 145. To do. In the case shown in the drawing, this extension occurs because the first layer 142 is already in contact with the outer wall surface of the fuel cell stack 120, so that the second layer 143 approaches the case body 111. In the case of the third intervening layer 141 </ b> C shown in FIG. 8, the second layer 143 extends so as to approach the fuel cell stack 120. The expansion of the intervening layer 141 due to the foaming of the foam layer 144 is brought about within a short time by the energization control by the energization heating device 220. Then, the heating wire 145 is energized after the gap 113 at the location where the intervening layer 141 is disposed is filled with the intervening layer 141 expanded as the foaming layer 144 expands and the foaming space Sp disappears, and then the fuel cell stack 120. This is continued until the intervening layer 141 in contact with the outer wall surface of the stack and the inner wall surface of the case body 111 exerts a predetermined force on the case body 111 and the fuel cell stack 120 due to the expansion accompanying the foaming of the foam layer 144. That is, since the foam layer 144 has known outer shape dimensions (the height in the Z-axis direction) of the non-foamed intervening layer 141, the spacing of the foaming space Sp, and the foaming state of the foam layer 144 per unit energization amount, The apparatus 220 performs energization control based on the temperature of the intervening layer 141 from the temperature sensor 230, so that the foam layer 144 foams until the intervening layer 141 exerts a predetermined force on the case body 111 and the fuel cell stack 120. become. The first to fourth intervening layers 141A to 141D are disposed in the gap 113 by the foaming of the foam layer 144 in the first to fourth intervening layers 141A to 141D. The fuel cell stack 120 is held at a predetermined position of the case main body 111 while constraining the fuel cell stack 120 from the outside in contact with the outer wall surface and the case inner wall surface of the case main body 111. The foam layer 144 foams so that the length in the cell stacking direction becomes longer. In the foaming process of the foam layer 144, a jig lid 202 or the like is attached to the opening end side of the case body 111 shown in FIG. Thus, the foam layer 144 can be prevented from extending in the cell stacking direction. Accordingly, the length of the foam layer 144 after foaming in the cell stacking direction can be kept the same length of the fuel cell 122 as in the case where the foam layer 144 is not foamed.

  After the restraint / holding of the fuel cell stack 120 by the first to fourth intervening layers 141A to 141D is completed, the posture securing jig 200 used for positioning the fuel cell stack 120, the second intervening layer 141B, Various jigs such as a holding jig used for horizontally holding the four intervening layers 141D are removed, and the fuel cell stack 120 is fixed to the stack case 110 (step S140). Even if the various jigs are removed, the fuel cell stack 120 is diagonal to the first intervening layer 141A and the second intervening layer 141B located across the first corner 125 and the first corner 125. The third intervening layer 141C and the fourth intervening layer 141D located across the second corner 126 are already constrained and remain in the center position of the case body 111. In fixing the stack after removing the jig, after fixing the lid 112 (see FIG. 2) to the opening of the case body 111, a so-called thrust bolt is pushed in from the lid 112, so the fuel cell stack 120 is pushed by the thrust bolt. The pressing force is received from both sides in the cell stacking direction and fixed to the stack case 110. Thereafter, the procedure from step S100 described above is repeated.

  As described above, according to the fuel cell 100 obtained by the manufacturing method of the present embodiment, the gap 113 between the fuel cell stack 120 positioned with respect to the case body 111 of the stack case 110 and the case body 111. In addition, the first to fourth intervening layers 141A to 141D can be inserted without any trouble (see FIG. 6), and the foaming of the foamed layer 144 accompanying energization to the heating wire 145 thereafter causes the outer wall surface of the fuel cell stack 120 to The gap 113 between the case body 111 and the inner wall surface of the case is filled with the first to fourth intervening layers 141 </ b> A to 141 </ b> D, and the fuel cell stack 120 can be constrained to the stack case 110. Therefore, according to the fuel cell 100 obtained by the manufacturing method of the present embodiment, the fuel cell stack 120 can be easily assembled and accommodated in the stack case 110 without any trouble. In addition, the foam layer 144 that the intervening layer 141 has over the entire length of the fuel cell stack 120 is directly heated at each site in the cell stacking direction by the heating wire 145 embedded in the foam layer 144 along the cell stacking direction. To foam quickly. From this point, according to the manufacturing method of this embodiment, the time required for disposing the intervening layer 141 in the gap 113 between the fuel cell stack 120 and the stack case 110 can be shortened.

  Since the fuel cell 100 obtained by the manufacturing method of the present embodiment has the foam layer 144, the first to fourth interpositions of the long body exhibiting a reaction force against the force to which the fuel cell 122 is displaced at the time of impact. The layers 141A to 141D are provided, and the fuel cell stack 120 is restrained from the outside by these intervening layers. Therefore, according to the fuel cell 100 obtained by the manufacturing method of the present embodiment, the fuel cell 122 is prevented from being displaced due to an external force that acts on the fuel cell stack 120 from a direction intersecting the cell stacking direction. Among the first to fourth intervening layers 141A to 141D of the elongated body, a reaction force is exhibited by the intervening layer disposed on the same direction side as the external force acting direction, and along the external force acting direction. Further, deviation of the fuel battery cell 122 can be prevented.

  The fuel cell 100 obtained by the manufacturing method of the present embodiment also has the following advantages. During the power generation operation of the fuel cell 100, some of the fuel cells 122 may be inconvenient for power generation, such as damage to the electrolyte membrane. Alternatively, in order to maintain the capacity of the fuel cell stack 120, it is necessary to check the power generation status of the fuel cells 122 regularly and irregularly. In such a case, the fuel cell stack 120 is removed from the fuel cell 100 and various maintenance inspections are performed. However, the fuel cell stack 120 is restrained and held with respect to the stack case 110 by the intervening layer 141. Even if the lid 112 is removed from the case body 111, it is difficult to remove the fuel cell stack 120 from the case body 111.

  The fuel cell 100 obtained by the manufacturing method of the present embodiment has a heating wire 145 of the foam layer 144 in the intervening layer 141 in a situation where the fuel cell stack 120 is restrained and held with respect to the stack case 110 by the intervening layer 141. In addition, current can be supplied from the electric heating device 220. In this case, the foamed layer 144 is already foamed when the fuel cell stack 120 is restrained and held (FIG. 9: after foaming), but the foamed layer 144 is heated from the heating wire 145 that generates heat due to new energization from the energization heating device 220. Therefore, it shrinks in the −Z-axis direction in FIG. 9 by melting and softening a foam material such as a foamable epoxy resin. As a result, a new gap is formed between the case body 111 and the intervening layer 141, and the restraint / holding of the fuel cell stack 120 is released. Therefore, according to the fuel cell 100 obtained by the manufacturing method of the present embodiment, the fuel cell stack 120 can be easily detached from the case main body 111. When assembling the fuel cell stack 120 after the maintenance inspection into the stack case 110, the fuel cell stack 120 can be quickly restrained and held in the stack case 110 using the new intervening layer 141 as described above. It should be noted that such melt softening of the foam material of the foam layer 144 is not necessarily required for removing the fuel cell stack 120.

  FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing a state of restraining and holding the fuel cell stack 120 by the fuel cell intervening layer 241 obtained by the manufacturing method of the second embodiment in plan view from the X-axis direction along the cell stacking direction. is there. The intervening layer 241 of the second embodiment has a configuration in which the first layer 142 surrounds the foam layer 144 in which the heating wire 145 is embedded. In order to obtain the intervening layer 241 having such a configuration, the insulating first layer 142 is formed into a long hollow bag body having a flat cross-sectional shape having a bent portion as shown in the figure, and the first layer 142 is heated with a heating wire. What is necessary is just to fill the foam material which comprises the foam layer 144 so that 145 may be embed | buried. In order to constrain and hold the fuel cell stack 120 to the case body 111 of the stack case 110 by the intervening layer 241, as shown in FIG. 10, first, the intervening layer 241 is formed so as to secure the foaming space Sp. Temporarily disposed in the fuel cell stack 120. Next, the heating wire 145 is energized to cause the foam layer 144 to foam until the intervening layer 241 exerts a predetermined drag on the case body 111 and the fuel cell stack 120. As a result, the fuel cell stack 120 is constrained from the outside in a state of being disposed in the gap 113 even by the fuel cell intervening layer 241 obtained by the manufacturing method of the second embodiment. The fuel cell stack 120 can be held at the position, and the effects described above can be obtained.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, examples, and modifications, and can be realized with various configurations without departing from the spirit thereof. For example, the technical features in the embodiments, examples, and modifications corresponding to the technical features in each embodiment described in the summary section of the invention are to solve some or all of the above-described problems, or In order to achieve part or all of the above-described effects, replacement or combination can be performed as appropriate. Further, if the technical feature is not described as essential in the present specification, it can be deleted as appropriate.

  In the above-described embodiment, the heating wire 145 is disposed in the foam layer 144 so as to be folded back (see FIG. 3). However, the linear heating wire 145 is embedded in the foam layer 144 over one line or a plurality of lines. May be. In addition, the heating wire 145 can be, for example, a heating wire having a zigzag nonlinear trajectory or a planar heating element. If it is a planar heating element, it can also be a self-temperature adjusting type planar heating element that minimizes the heat generation at a predetermined temperature.

  In the embodiment described above, both sides of the first corner 125 of the four corners of the fuel cell stack 120 and the second corner that is diagonally related to the first corner 125 in the YZ plane. Although the first to fourth intervening layers 141A to 141D are arranged one by one on both sides of 126, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, you may arrange | position 1st-4th intervening layers 141A-141D also in two corners other than the 1st corner 125 and the 2nd corner 126. Further, a plurality of intervening layers 141 may be disposed on the first stack side surface 125a and the second stack side surface 125b, and on the third stack side surface 126a and the fourth stack side surface 126b of the fuel cell stack 120. . Further, the first intervening layer 141A and the second intervening layer 141B of the described embodiment are disposed on both sides of the first corner portion 125, and foamed foam is formed on both sides of the second corner portion 126. An existing intervening layer having a layer may be provided.

  In the above-described embodiment, the case main body 111 has a shape in which both ends are opened. However, the case main body 111 may have a shape in which only the side on which the fuel cell stack 120 is assembled is opened. Moreover, it is good also as the box-shaped case main body 111 with a bottom.

  In the embodiment described above, the fuel cell stack 120 is positioned at the center position of the case body 111 so that the gap 113 between the case body 111 and the fuel cell stack 120 is the same distance around the outer peripheral wall of the stack. However, the gap 113 may have different dimensions on the left and right or top and bottom in FIG. In this case, the intervening layers 141 having different thicknesses may be properly used.

  In the above-described embodiment, the intervening layer 141 is a long intervening layer having the foam layer 144 having a length that matches the entire length of the fuel cell stack 120 in the cell stacking direction, but is not limited thereto. For example, the intervening layer 141 may be an intervening layer having a length that equally divides the entire length of the fuel cell stack 120, and the intervening layers may be arranged in the cell stacking direction. In this case, the heating wire 145 may be connected in the adjacent intervening layer 141, and the heating wire 145 of the intervening layer 141 on the end side in the cell stacking direction may be energized.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 ... Fuel cell 110 ... Stack case 111 ... Case main body 112 ... Cover body 113 ... Gap 120 ... Fuel cell stack 121 ... End plate 122 ... Fuel cell 125 ... 1st corner | angular part 125a ... 1st stack side surface 125b ... 1st 2 side surface 126 ... 2nd corner | angular part 126a ... 3rd stack side surface 126b ... 4th stack side surface 131 ... Gas inflow hole 132 ... Gas outflow hole 133 ... Air inflow hole 134 ... Air outflow hole 135 ... Cooling water inflow Hole 136 ... Cooling water outflow hole 137 ... Through hole 141 ... Intervening layer 141A ... First intervening layer 141B ... Second intervening layer 141C ... Third intervening layer 141D ... Fourth intervening layer 142 ... First layer 143 ... Second layer 144 ... Foam layer 145 ... Heating wire 146 ... Connection terminal 200 ... Posture securing jig 202 ... Jig lid 220 ... Energization Thermal device 222 ... wiring 230 ... temperature sensor 241 ... intermediate layer ST ... worktable Sh ... sensor installation hole Sp ... foaming space

Claims (1)

A method of manufacturing a fuel cell in which a fuel cell stack in which fuel cells are stacked is housed in a stack case with an intervening layer interposed therebetween,
A step of disposing the fuel cell stack at a predetermined position of the stack case in a state where the fuel cell stack is incorporated and accommodated in the stack case;
In the gap between the stack outer wall surface of the fuel cell stack and the case inner wall surface of the stack case, an intervening layer having an unfoamed foam layer and a heat generating part that generates heat when energized is formed. In the state, the step of disposing over the stacking direction of the fuel cells,
A state in which the heating layer of the interposed layer disposed is energized to foam the foam layer by heat generated from the heating portion, and the intermediate layer is in contact with the outer wall surface of the stack and the inner wall surface of the case; A method for producing a fuel cell, comprising:

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