JP2003142128A - Fuel cell - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Problem] To provide a fuel cell that achieves both good electric characteristics and reduction in size and weight. SOLUTION: A proton conductor film 204 and a planar hydrogen electrode 20 sandwiching the proton conductor film 204 are provided.
3 and the oxygen-side electrode 205 and the main surface of the hydrogen-side electrode 203 or the oxygen-side electrode 205.
5 and projections 213 and 21 provided on the main surface on the side in contact with
4, fuel supply means for the hydrogen-side electrode 203, and oxygen supply means for the oxygen-side electrode 203.
13 and 214 are in contact with the main surface of the hydrogen-side electrode 203 or the main surface of the oxygen-side electrode 205 with the main surface of the hydrogen-side electrode 203 or the main surface of the oxygen-side electrode 205 pierced.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a fuel cell using a proton conductor membrane or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A fuel cell is a device for generating electric power in a power generator by supplying a fuel gas. As an example of such a fuel cell, a fuel cell has a structure in which a proton conductor membrane is sandwiched between electrodes. There are fuel cells that obtain the desired electromotive force. Such a fuel cell is expected to be applied to an electric vehicle or a hybrid type vehicle by being mounted on a vehicle such as an automobile, and also has a structure that facilitates its weight reduction and downsizing,
Not only the current applications such as dry batteries and rechargeable batteries but also applications to portable devices are in the research and development stage.

Here, a fuel cell using a proton conductor membrane is used.
The pond will be briefly described with reference to FIG. The
The roton conductor film 301 includes a hydrogen side electrode 302 and an oxygen side electrode.
The protons (H⁺) Is a drawing arrow
From the hydrogen side electrode 302 to the oxygen side electrode 303 along the mark direction
Toward the inside of the proton conductor membrane 301.
Between the hydrogen side electrode 302 and the proton conductor membrane 301,
The catalyst layer 302a is formed, and the oxygen side electrode 303 and the
A catalyst layer 303a is formed between the conductive film 301.
It At the time of use, is the inlet 312 on the hydrogen side electrode 302?
Hydrogen gas (H _Two) Is supplied as fuel gas and is discharged
Hydrogen is discharged from 313. And is the fuel gas
Hydrogen gas (H_Two) Passes through the gas flow path 315,
Tons are generated, and these protons move to the oxygen-side electrode 303.
To do. This moving proton is introduced into the gas from the inlet 316.
Oxygen (empty air) supplied to the flow path 317 and directed to the exhaust port 318.
The desired electromotive force is extracted by reacting with
It

In the fuel cell having such a structure, when hydrogen is used as a fuel, a reaction such as H ₂ → 2H ⁺ + 2e ⁻ occurs at the contact interface between the catalyst and the polymer electrolyte at the hydrogen side electrode which is the negative electrode. When oxygen is used as the oxidant, 1 / 2O ₂ + 2H ⁺ + 2e ⁻ = H is similarly formed in the positive electrode on the oxygen side.
_A reaction such as ₂ O occurs and water is produced. While the protons are dissociated in the proton conductor film 301, the catalyst layer 302a
Since the protons supplied from the electrode move to the oxygen-side electrode 303, the proton conductivity is high.
Further, since a humidifying device for supplying water is unnecessary, the fuel cell system can be simplified and reduced in weight.

In the fuel cell using the proton conductor membrane as described above, the proton conductor membrane 301 and the hydrogen side electrode 302 and the oxygen side electrode 303 sandwiching the proton conductor membrane 301 serve as power generators, and electromotive force is generated on each electrode side. Current collectors are formed for taking out the respective.

Here, a conventional fuel cell structure having a current collector will be described with reference to the exploded perspective view of FIG. 43. A proton conductor film 331 that conducts protons dissociated in the film is sandwiched between them. A hydrogen side electrode 332 and an oxygen side electrode 333 are formed, and current collectors 334 and 335 are adhered to the outside of the hydrogen side electrode 332 and the oxygen side electrode 333, that is, the surface opposite to the proton conductor film 331.
The outer surfaces of the current collectors 334 and 335 are substantially flat,
This is advantageous when stacking. With such a structure, a plurality of fuel cells can be stacked and a large electromotive force can be obtained even when the area of the proton conductor film 331 is small.

[0007]

By the way, in order to obtain good current collecting ability, that is, good electrical continuity with the hydrogen side electrode or the oxygen side electrode, the current collector as described above has a hydrogen side electrode or an oxygen side electrode. It is preferable to secure the contact area with the electrode as large as possible, and the entire surface of the current collector is brought into contact with the hydrogen side electrode or the oxygen side electrode. From this point of view, it is necessary to press the current collector uniformly and with an extremely large pressure so that no void is generated between the hydrogen side electrode or the oxygen side electrode and the current collector. Then, the current collector is required to have strength capable of withstanding such a large pressing force, and as a result, the thickness of the current collector is increased and the weight of the current collector is increased, resulting in a large fuel cell body. It becomes heavy and heavy.

Therefore, at present, a fuel cell which has a good current collecting property, that is, an electric characteristic and which can be reduced in size and weight has not yet been established.

Therefore, the present invention was devised in view of the above-mentioned conventional circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a fuel cell which has both good electric characteristics and a small size and light weight.

[0010]

In order to achieve the above objects, a fuel cell according to the present invention comprises a proton conductor membrane, a planar hydrogen side electrode sandwiching the proton conductor membrane, and oxygen. A planar current collector having a side electrode and a protrusion provided on the main surface of the hydrogen side electrode or the oxygen side electrode in contact with the main surface and on the side of the main surface in contact with the hydrogen side electrode or the oxygen side electrode. And a fuel supply means to the hydrogen side electrode, and an oxygen supply means to the oxygen side electrode, the current collector,
The protrusion is in contact with the main surface of the hydrogen side electrode or the main surface of the oxygen side electrode in a state of being stuck in the main surface of the hydrogen side electrode or the main surface of the oxygen side electrode.

In the fuel cell according to the present invention configured as described above, the current collector has the protrusion on the main surface on the side in contact with the hydrogen side electrode or the oxygen side electrode. And the current collector is
The protrusion is in contact with the hydrogen-side electrode or the oxygen-side electrode while being stuck in the main surface of the hydrogen-side electrode or the oxygen-side electrode.

As a result, the current collector is fixed in a state of being in close contact with the hydrogen side current collector or the oxygen side current collector, and a void is generated between the current collector and the hydrogen side electrode or the oxygen side electrode. Instead, they are in uniform contact with each other.

[0013]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of a fuel cell according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the following description, and can be appropriately modified without departing from the gist of the present invention.

FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view of a cell structure of a fuel cell to which the present invention is applied. This fuel cell includes a hydrogen side current collector 202, a hydrogen side electrode 203, and a proton conductor 20.
4, the oxygen-side electrode 205, and the oxygen-side current collector 206 are stacked in this order to be housed in the housing 201. Further, in this laminated body, a hydrogen supply source 208 is connected to a side portion of the hydrogen side current collector 202 via an oxygen supply passage 207, and a side portion of the oxygen side current collector 206 is connected to an oxygen source. An oxygen supply source 210 is connected via a supply path 209.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the above-mentioned laminated body. In this fuel cell, as shown in FIG. 2, hydrogen, which is a fuel, is supplied between the hydrogen side current collector 202 and the hydrogen side electrode 203 in the direction of arrow A, and the oxygen side current collector 206 and the oxygen side electrode 205 are supplied. Oxygen is supplied in the direction of arrow B between and.

Here, as shown in FIG. 2, the hydrogen-side current collector 202 is a groove that serves as a hydrogen flow path by combining a concave portion and a convex portion on the main surface on the contact side with the hydrogen-side electrode 203. Two
11 is formed, and hydrogen is supplied between the hydrogen side current collector 202 and the hydrogen side electrode 203 through the groove 211 in the direction of arrow A. Such a hydrogen side current collector 202 is
It is composed of a conductive material, and can be appropriately selected in consideration of various conditions such as acid resistance depending on the structure of the fuel cell,
For example, a gold-plated metal plate or carbon material may be used.

The oxygen side current collector 206 also has a groove 211 serving as an oxygen flow path by combining a concave portion and a convex portion on the main surface of the contact surface with the oxygen side electrode 205 as shown in FIG.
Are formed, and oxygen is supplied in the direction of arrow B between the oxygen side current collector 206 and the oxygen side electrode 205 through the groove 212. Such an oxygen-side current collector 206 is made of a conductive material, and can be appropriately selected in consideration of various conditions such as acid resistance depending on the structure of the fuel cell. For example, a gold-plated metal plate or carbon material. Etc. are used.

Further, the hydrogen side electrode 203 and the oxygen side electrode 2
05 can be appropriately selected in consideration of the gas permeability, permeability, etc. of hydrogen gas, oxygen gas, air, methanol solution, etc., which are fuel gases, and for example, a porous carbon sheet or the like is used.

The hydrogen-side current collector 202 and the hydrogen-side electrode 203, and the oxygen-side current collector 206 and the oxygen-side electrode 205 described above are in surface contact with each other in one plane, and this surface contact causes the current collector and the electrode to contact with each other. The electrical continuity, that is, the collection of electricity is ensured. The hydrogen side current collector 202 or the oxygen side current collector 206 is used as the hydrogen side electrode 203 or the oxygen side electrode 20.
It is preferable to secure a contact area with the hydrogen-side electrode 203 or the oxygen-side electrode 205 as much as possible in order to obtain good electrical continuity with the hydrogen-side electrode 203.
Alternatively, it is adapted to come into contact with the oxygen-side electrode 205. From this point of view, the hydrogen side current collector 202 and the hydrogen side electrode 203, and the hydrogen side current collector 206 and the oxygen side electrode 205 are applied with a uniform pressure so that voids are not generated between the hydrogen side current collector 206 and the oxygen side electrode 205. It is necessary to press the current collector 202 and the oxygen-side current collector 206.

Therefore, in the conventional fuel cell, an extremely large pressure is applied to the hydrogen side current collector 202 and the oxygen side current collector 206 such that the hydrogen side electrode 203 and the oxygen side electrode 205 are crushed to some extent. The contact was maintained by holding it in the state. However, such a method requires an extremely large pressing force, and the current collector is required to have a strength capable of withstanding the large pressing force. For this reason, the materials that make up the current collector are limited, and
It is necessary to increase the thickness of the current collector in order to secure the strength, which increases the weight of the current collector and increases the size of the current collector. This leads to the problem that the weight and the size of the fuel cell itself increase, and the cost also increases.

Therefore, in the fuel cell to which the present invention is applied,
The hydrogen-side current collector 202 has a structure in which protrusions are provided on the main surface on the side that contacts the hydrogen-side electrode 203 and on the main surface on the side that contacts the oxygen-side electrode 205 of the oxygen-side current collector 206. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 2, a plurality of protrusions 213 are provided at predetermined intervals on the protrusions of the groove 211 formed in the hydrogen-side current collector 202, and the oxygen-side current collector is also provided. A plurality of protrusions 214 are provided at predetermined intervals on the protrusion of the groove 212 formed in the body 206.

By providing such protrusions 213 and 214, the hydrogen side current collector 202 and the oxygen side current collector 206 are provided.
In the case of laminating each on the hydrogen-side electrode 203 and the oxygen-side electrode 205, respectively, as shown in FIGS.
13 and the protruding portion 214 are in a state of being stuck in the hydrogen side electrode 203 and the oxygen side electrode 205, respectively. This allows
Since the hydrogen-side current collector 202 and the oxygen-side current collector 206 are fixed in a state of being in close contact with the hydrogen-side electrode 203 and the oxygen-side electrode 205, respectively, a gap is formed between the hydrogen-side electrode 203 and the oxygen-side electrode 205. It is brought into a state of uniform surface contact without generation, and good electrical continuity, that is, good current collecting property can be secured. Therefore, it is not necessary to hold the hydrogen-side current collector 202 and the oxygen-side current collector 206 with a large pressure as in the conventional case. That is, the hydrogen side current collector 2
02 and the hydrogen-side electrode 203, or the oxygen-side current collector 206 and the oxygen-side electrode 205, only by holding them by applying an appropriate amount of pressure, the hydrogen-side current collector 202 and the hydrogen-side electrode 20.
3 and between the oxygen side current collector 206 and the oxygen side electrode 205.
It becomes possible to obtain good electrical conduction between and, and it is possible to secure good current collecting property. As a result, good electric characteristics can be obtained without increasing the thickness of the current collector, so that both good electric characteristics and reduction in size and weight can be achieved.

Further, by providing the protrusion 213 and the protrusion 214, the hydrogen side current collector 202 and the hydrogen side electrode 20 are provided.
3, and the oxygen side current collector 206 and the oxygen side electrode 205,
Instead of contacting only one plane in the in-plane direction, the protrusion 2
13 and the surface of the protrusions 214, that is, the surfaces in contact with each other in the direction perpendicular to the in-plane direction, the hydrogen-side current collector 2 is substantially formed.
02, the contact area between the hydrogen side electrode 203 and the oxygen side current collector 2
Since the contact area between 06 and the oxygen-side electrode 205 increases,
It is possible to obtain good current collecting ability. Therefore, the protrusion 213 is provided on the hydrogen-side current collector 202 to stack the hydrogen-side current collector 202 and the hydrogen-side electrode 203, and the protrusion 21
3 is set in a state of being pierced into the hydrogen-side electrode 203, and the oxygen-side current collector 206 is provided with a protrusion 214 to stack the oxygen-side current collector 206 and the oxygen-side electrode 205, and the protrusion 214 The fuel cell having excellent electric characteristics can be realized by setting the oxygen-side electrode 205 to be stuck in the oxygen-side electrode 205.

Further, the hydrogen side current collector 202 and the hydrogen side electrode 2
03 means that the protrusion 213 pierces the hydrogen-side electrode 203,
The oxygen side current collector 206 and the oxygen side electrode 205 are securely fixed by being bitten, and the protrusions 214 are surely fixed by being bite into the oxygen side electrode 205, so that an external force is applied. Even in such a case, peeling or displacement can be prevented. Therefore, by providing the protrusion 213 on the hydrogen-side current collector 202, stacking the hydrogen-side current collector 202 and the hydrogen-side electrode 203, and setting the protrusion 213 to stick to the hydrogen-side electrode 203, The protrusions 214 are provided on the oxygen-side current collector 206 to form the oxygen-side current collector 206 and the oxygen-side electrode 20.
5 and 5 are stacked and the protruding portion 214 is stuck in the oxygen-side electrode 205, a fuel cell of excellent quality can be realized.

By providing the hydrogen-side current collector 202 and the oxygen-side current collector 206 with the protrusions 213 and the protrusions 214, the hydrogen-side electrode 203 and the oxygen-side electrode 205 have the protrusions 213 and the protrusions 214, respectively. A change occurs in the porosity in the peripheral portion of the stuck portion. That is, in the peripheral portion of the portion where the protrusion 213 and the protrusion 214 are stabbed, the hydrogen-side electrode 203 and the oxygen-side electrode 205 are compressed by the volume of the protrusion 213 and the protrusion 214 being pushed, and other portions. The porosity becomes smaller as compared with the above. For example,
The hydrogen-side electrode 203 has a thickness of 3 mm, and the protrusion 213 is
If the height is 1.5 mm, the hydrogen-side electrode 203
Since the thickness of is compressed to 1.5 mm,
Porosity at the periphery is reduced. Thereby, the protrusion 213
Also, a difference in porosity is relatively generated between the peripheral portion of the portion where the protrusion 214 is stabbed and other portions. Due to this difference in porosity, the grooves 211 and 212 are formed as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. Each groove can be individually provided with a function as a hydrogen supply path or an oxygen supply path, and a function as generated water discharge flow paths 215 and 216 for discharging generated water generated by the function of the fuel cell. Becomes

More specifically, in the case of the state shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, all the grooves 2 as shown in FIGS.
The groove 11 and the groove 212 function as a hydrogen supply path or an oxygen supply path and as a drainage flow path for the generated water.
On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 5 and FIG.
9 and FIG. 9 show the discharge passage of the generated water when the groove 2 has a function as a hydrogen supply passage or an oxygen supply passage and a function as a discharge passage of the generated water for discharging the generated water. 1
0, the specific groove 211 and the specific groove 21.
Only 2 functions as a hydrogen supply path or an oxygen supply path, and only the specific groove 211 and the specific groove 212 function as a drainage flow path for the generated water.

The hydrogen side electrode 203 and the oxygen side electrode 205 are controlled by controlling the positions where the protrusions 213 and the protrusions 214 are provided, the size and height of the protrusions 213 and the protrusions 214, and the pitch between the protrusions. It is possible to give a desired function to a desired position in the plane of the.

That is, the protrusion 213 and the protrusion 214
By providing the above, it is possible to freely control the porosity between the peripheral portion of the portion where the protrusion 213 and the protrusion 214 are stuck and other portions. By controlling the porosity, it is possible to design and assign the functions of the micro parts such as the groove 211 and the groove 212 as well, so that it is possible to realize a fuel cell having a large degree of control freedom.

Here, the shapes of the protrusions 213 and the protrusions 214 are not particularly limited, and the hydrogen side electrode 20 is not limited.
3 or the oxygen-side collector electrode 205 can be surely stuck, and various shapes can be selected as long as the above-mentioned effect can be obtained. For example, the protrusions 213 and the protrusions 214 may have a rectangular parallelepiped shape as shown in FIG. 11, a prismatic shape as shown in FIG. 12, or a rib shape as shown in FIG. good. And
The shapes of the protrusions 213 and 214 may be sinusoidal as shown in FIGS. 14 and 15.

Further, in FIGS. 11 to 13, the groove 21 in the hydrogen side current collector 202 and the oxygen side current collector 206 is used.
1 and the groove 212 are arranged in a direction substantially perpendicular to each other,
In the present invention, the groove 211 and the groove 212 do not need to be arranged in a direction substantially perpendicular to each other, and the groove 211 and the groove 212 may be arranged in a substantially parallel direction. That is, for example, when forming a prismatic protrusion as shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 6, the hydrogen-side current collector 2 is formed so that the direction of the groove 211 and the groove 212 is substantially parallel to the direction of arrow A in FIG.
02 and the oxygen side current collector 206 may be arranged. The effect of the present invention described above can be obtained even when the cell is configured in this manner. Note that FIG. 16 is a view of the cell configured in this way as seen from a direction parallel to the directions of the grooves 211 and 212, that is, the direction of arrow A in FIG.

Further, in FIG. 16, the groove 211 and the groove 2
12, and the protruding portion 213 and the protruding portion 214 are provided facing each other, that is, in the same phase,
The arrangement state of the protrusion 213 and the protrusion 214 is not limited to this. That is, for example, as shown in FIG. 17, the groove 211 and the protrusion 213, and the groove 212 and the protrusion 2 are illustrated.
14 facing each other, in other words, the protrusion 213.
The protrusions 214 may be staggered, that is, the phases may be inverted. The effect of the present invention described above can be obtained even when the cell is configured in this manner.

Further, similarly to the above, when forming a sinusoidal protrusion as shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, for example, the direction of the groove 211 and the groove 212 is as shown in FIG.
The hydrogen-side current collector 202 and the oxygen-side current collector 206 may be arranged so as to be substantially parallel to the arrow A direction. The effect of the present invention described above can be obtained even when the cell is configured in this manner. Note that FIG. 18 is a view of the cell configured in this way as seen from a direction parallel to the directions of the grooves 211 and 212, that is, the direction of arrow A in FIG.

Further, in FIG. 18, the groove 211 and the groove 2
12, and the protruding portion 213 and the protruding portion 214 are provided facing each other, that is, in the same phase,
The arrangement state of the protrusion 213 and the protrusion 214 is not limited to this. That is, for example, as shown in FIG. 19, the groove 211 and the protrusion 213, and the groove 212 and the protrusion 2 are illustrated.
14 facing each other, in other words, the protrusion 213.
The protrusions 214 may be staggered, that is, the phases may be inverted. The effect of the present invention described above can be obtained even when the cell is configured in this manner.

Further, the intervals at which the protrusions 213 and 214 are provided, the sizes of the protrusions 213 and 214,
That is, the projection width, the projection height and the like are not particularly limited, and may be appropriately selected in a range in which the above-mentioned effects can be obtained in consideration of the hardness and material of the hydrogen-side electrode 203 or the oxygen-side electrode 205. Is possible. The protrusion 213 and the protrusion 214 may be provided on the entire surface of the hydrogen-side current collector 202 or the oxygen-side current collector 206, or may be selectively provided only in a predetermined range. The protrusions 213 and the protrusions 214 may have the same shape on the entire surface of the hydrogen side current collector 202 or the oxygen side current collector 206, but may have different shapes within a predetermined range. The size of the protrusion 214 is also the same as that of the hydrogen side current collector 2.
02 or the oxygen-side current collector 206 may have the same size on the entire surface, or may have different sizes within a predetermined range.

The method of forming the protrusions 213 and the protrusions 214 is not particularly limited, and a conventionally known method can be used, and can be appropriately selected depending on the required accuracy, cost, mass productivity and the like. it can.

Although the case where hydrogen and oxygen are supplied in the directions of arrow A and arrow B in FIG. 2 has been described above, the directions in which hydrogen and oxygen are supplied are not limited to this in the present invention. However, hydrogen and oxygen may be supplied from a direction perpendicular to the surface direction of the current collector. That is, as shown in FIG. 20, the hydrogen side current collector 202 and the oxygen side current collector 206 are provided with openings 217 and 218, respectively, and through the openings 217 and 218 from the directions of arrows C and D in FIG. An open structure for supplying hydrogen and oxygen can also be applied.

As a method of supplying oxygen to the oxygen-side electrode 205, as shown in FIG. 1, in addition to the method of directly supplying oxygen from the oxygen supply source 210 to the oxygen-side electrode 205 through the oxygen supply passage 209, As shown in FIG. 21, oxygen is introduced into the housing 1 from the oxygen supply source 210 through the oxygen supply passage 209, and the oxygen introduced into the housing 1 is opened by the above-described opening 2
The method of supplying oxygen to the electrode 205 on the oxygen side from 18 or further introducing air into the case 1 by introducing air into the case 1 from an air supply hole provided on the side surface of the case 1 as shown in FIG. The method of supplying the oxygen in the air thus formed to the oxygen-side electrode 205 from the opening 218 described above can be used.

Next, a case where the present invention is applied to a fuel cell card will be described. FIG. 23 is an exploded perspective view of a fuel cell card showing an embodiment of the fuel cell of the present invention,
The fuel cell card 10 is formed by stacking seven main plate-like elements.
It is configured in the shape of a C card-sized function card. The fuel cell card 10 includes, in order from the top, an upper casing 14 of the fuel cell, an upper oxygen-side current collector 16, a pair of power generators 11, 11 arranged above the center, and a fuel arranged in the center. The hydrogen supply unit 13 that supplies hydrogen as a gas, the pair of power generators 12 and 12 arranged below the center, the oxygen collector 17 on the lower side, and the upper casing 14 as a pair. The lower casing 15 that constitutes the casing of the fuel cell is the main constituent element. The fuel cell card 10 includes the fuel cell card 10
A hydrogen storage stick 18 capable of supplying hydrogen formed in a plate shape having substantially the same thickness as that of the hydrogen storage stick 18 can be connected, and hydrogen (H ₂ ) is supplied from a rod-shaped protrusion 20 formed on the coupling side of the hydrogen storage stick 18. It

As shown in FIG. 24, the fuel cell card 10 can be mounted by inserting it from the card slot 22 of the notebook personal computer 21 which is the main body of the apparatus. Here, the slot 22 can be a hole provided in the housing of the main body of the device dedicated to the fuel cell card 10, but can also be a slot having a size standardized by JEIDA / PCMCIA. Specifically, J
The size standardized by EIDA / PCMCIA is
The length (long side) is set to 85.6 mm ± 0.2 mm, and the width (short side) is set to 54.0 mm ± 0.1 mm. The card thickness is standardized for each of Type I and Type II, that is, for Type I,
The connector portion has a thickness of 3.3 ± 0.1 mm, and the base portion has a thickness of 3.3 ± 0.2 mm. Also type II
For, the thickness of the connector portion is 3.3 ± 0.1 mm, the thickness of the base portion is 5.0 mm or less, and the standard dimension of the thickness is ± 0.2 mm.

In this embodiment, the slot 22 is
Although provided on the side of the keyboard-side main body of the notebook personal computer 21 that is the main body of the apparatus, the portion where the slot 22 is provided can be part of the selectable bay 23 shown by the broken line in FIG.

FIG. 25 is a perspective view showing the assembled fuel cell card 10, and FIG. 26 is a sectional view of the fuel cell card 10. The fuel cell card 10 having rounded corners in consideration of portability has a structure in which a flat plate-shaped upper housing 14 is fitted to the lower housing 15, and the upper housing is provided with screws or the like not shown in FIG. 14 is fixed to the lower housing 15. A plurality of openings 31 are formed in the upper housing 14 as gas inlets for introducing oxygen into the housing. In this example, each of the openings 31 is a substantially rectangular through hole, and two sets of 15 rows of 5 lines and 3 columns are formed side by side, and the upper housing 14 has a total of 30 openings. The part 31 faces. The opening 31 opens the oxygen side electrode to the atmosphere as described later, so that effective intake of oxygen is realized without requiring a special intake device, and at the same time, excess water discharged is also removed. Will be realized.

In the present embodiment, the shape of the opening 31 is the same as the grid pattern because the pattern of each current collector is a grid, but other shapes are also possible. It is also possible to form each opening in various shapes such as a circle, an ellipse, a stripe, and a polygon. Further, although the opening 31 is formed by cutting out the plate-shaped upper housing 14 in this example, dust and dust are prevented from invading and adhering to the extent that the open state of the oxygen-side electrode to the atmosphere is not impaired. Therefore, it is possible to provide a net or a non-woven fabric in the opening 31. In the lower housing 15,
As shown in FIG. 26, the opening 41 is formed so as to face the opening 31 of the upper housing 14, but it is the same in that the shape, the net, and the nonwoven fabric can be provided.

As shown in FIG. 36, the hydrogen storage stick 18 capable of supplying hydrogen described above has a fitting hole 33 formed in the side surface of the lower housing 15 on the connection side, and a side surface of the hydrogen storage stick 18 on the connection side. The pin 19 formed on the
It is connected to the fuel cell card 10. At this time, the protruding portion 20 which is the hydrogen supply port of the hydrogen storage stick 18 is inserted into the rectangular fitting hole 32 formed on the side surface of the lower housing 15 on the connection side, and the position of the fitting hole 32 in the housing. It is connected to the end of a hydrogen pipe part (not shown) that extends to the end. The hydrogen storage stick 18 is removable from the fuel cell card 10,
For example, when the remaining amount of hydrogen stored in the hydrogen storage stick 18 becomes low, the hydrogen storage stick 18 is removed from the fuel cell card 10 and the other hydrogen storage stick 18 that stores hydrogen sufficiently. It is also possible to replace it with a new one or to inject hydrogen into the removed hydrogen storage stick 18 for reuse. In this example, the hydrogen storage stick 18 is mounted on the fuel cell card 10 by fitting the pin 19 of the hydrogen storage stick 18 into the fitting hole 33, but other connecting elements may be used. For example, a structure that is inserted into the key groove, a structure that uses a locking member that slides against the biasing spring, a magnet, or the like may be used.

Next, each component of the fuel cell card 10 will be described in order. FIG. 27 is a perspective view showing the lower housing 15, the oxygen-side current collector 17 arranged on the lower side, and the insulating film 50. The lower housing 15 is made of stainless steel or iron,
Aluminum, metal materials such as titanium and magnesium, resin materials having excellent heat resistance and chemical resistance such as epoxy, ABS, polystyrene, PET and polycarbonate can be used, or composite materials such as fiber reinforced resin. Materials may be used. In the flat plate portion of the lower housing 15, as in the case of the opening portion 31 described above, opening portions 41 that are rectangular cutouts are formed so as to form two sets of 5 rows and 3 columns.

The lower housing 15 is generally divided into three storage parts, two of which are storage parts for accommodating the pair of power generators 11 and 12, and the other is a hydrogen piping part. It is a storage part 46 for doing. These accommodating portions are partitioned by a protruding portion 42 formed so as to rise from the bottom surface and a side wall portion that rises at the peripheral end portion of the lower housing. Since the ridge portion 42 and the upper ends of the side wall portions directly contact the back surface of the upper housing 14, they form a substantially flat surface and are provided with a plurality of screw holes 44. Ridge 42
Because of its shape, is used as a positioning member for an upper oxygen-side current collector 16, a pair of power generators 11 and 12, a hydrogen supply unit 13 for supplying hydrogen, and a lower oxygen-side current collector 17, which will be described later. .

As described above, a pair of fitting holes 33, 33 are formed in the side surface 43 of the lower housing 15 on the side where the hydrogen storage stick 18 is connected, and the pair of fitting holes 33, 33 are formed at the end of the hydrogen pipe section. A side surface portion and a bottom surface portion of the fitting hole 32 for performing the operation are also formed. A pair of electrode lead-out grooves 4 is formed on the side wall of the lower housing 15 opposite to the side where the hydrogen storage stick 18 is connected.
8 and 49 are formed, and electrode extraction pieces 64 and 114 from the oxygen side current collectors 16 and 17 connected to the oxygen side electrode protrude into the electrode extraction groove 48, and are connected to the hydrogen side electrode in the electrode extraction groove 49. Electrode lead-out pieces 94, 94 project from the hydrogen-side current collectors 81, 82. A hydrogen supply that is sandwiched between the pair of power generators 11 and 12 is provided to the ridge 42 between the storage portion 46 for storing the hydrogen piping part and the storage portion for storing the pair of power generators 11 and 12. Communication grooves 45, 45 for supplying hydrogen gas from the hydrogen piping portion are formed in the portion 13. Further, a connecting groove 47 is formed in the ridge 42 between the pair of housings arranged in the horizontal direction, and the connecting portions 112 and 62 of the current collectors 16 and 17 can be housed in the connecting groove 47. .

The lower casing 15 and the lower oxygen side current collector 17
An insulating film 50 is arranged between the two. The insulating film 50 is made of polycarbonate, for example, and has a film thickness of about 0.3 mm. The pair of grid-shaped regions are formed in two sets of 5 rows and 3 columns at the same vertical position so as to reflect the pattern of the openings 41 that form two sets of 5 rows and 3 columns.
It is formed to have an opening portion 51 forming a pair, and a coupling portion 52 fitted in the communication groove 47 is provided at a substantially central portion.

The lower oxygen-side current collector 17 is made of, for example, a gold-plated metal plate, contacts the oxygen-side electrode of the power generator 12 described later, and is formed on the lower oxygen-side current collector 17. Oxygen is supplied through the openings 61 that form two sets of three rows. Here, each opening 61 functions as a transmission part of the current collector, the opening 61 itself has a large opening, and is the same as the opening 51 of the insulating film 50 and the opening 41 of the lower housing 15. Since the structure has two sets of 5 rows and 3 columns at the vertical position, the power generator 12
The oxygen-side electrode can be opened to the atmosphere, and oxygen can be supplied to the power generator 12 without lowering the pressure, that is, the partial pressure of oxygen in the air. At the same time, water is generated from the power generation body 12 at the time of generation of electromotive force, but the opening 61 itself is largely open, and the atmosphere is open to the atmosphere.
It is also possible to satisfactorily remove the water generated on the electrode surface. The lower oxygen side current collector 17 has an electrode lead-out groove 4
The electrode lead-out piece 64 projecting from 8 is formed as a rectangular piece extending in the longitudinal direction of the fuel cell card 10 in accordance with the position of the electrode lead-out groove 48.
The protruding portion 63 for positioning and holding is also formed by effectively utilizing the dead space on the back side of the hydrogen piping portion. Here, the power take-out piece and the protruding portions 63, 64, 93, 94, 1
Not all 13 and 114 are necessary. For example, when the projecting portion 93-2 and the projecting portion 113 are electrically coupled and the power extraction pieces 64 and 94-1 are used as external output terminals, other power extraction pieces are not necessary. Can be unnecessary.

The lower oxygen collector 17 has
It has a structure in which a protrusion 230 is provided on the main surface of the power generation body 12 on the side in contact with the oxygen-side electrode 71. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 27, a plurality of protrusions 230 are provided on the main surface of the lower oxygen-side current collector 17 at predetermined intervals. Such a protrusion 230 is formed on the lower oxygen side current collector 17.
By providing the lower oxygen side current collector 17 with the power generator 1
2 and the oxygen side electrode 71 in FIG.
Is in a state of being stuck in the oxygen-side electrode 71. This allows
Since the lower oxygen-side current collector 17 is fixed in a state of being in close contact with the oxygen-side electrode 71, the lower oxygen-side current collector 17 and the oxygen-side electrode 71 can be evenly surfaced with no voids. Contacted. Therefore, a good current collecting property can be ensured between the lower oxygen side current collector 17 and the oxygen side electrode 71, and a good electrical conduction can be obtained.

As the oxygen side current collector 17, conductive plastic such as carbon material may be used.
A structure in which a metal film or the like is formed on the support may be used.

Next, the structure of the power generators 11 and 12 will be described with reference to FIGS. 28, 34 and 35. The power generators 11 and 12 have a common structure, and the difference is that the power generator 11 is arranged on the upper side in the housing.
The one disposed on the lower side in the housing is the power generating body 12, the hydrogen side electrode 73 of the power generating bodies 11, 12 faces the center side of the housing, and the oxygen side electrode 71 of the power generating bodies 11, 12 is the housing. It is mounted on the outer side of the power generation body 1.
Although 1 and 12 have the same structure, the front and back directions of mounting are different.

Proton conductor membrane 72 which is a solid polymer membrane
Are provided in a substantially rectangular shape, and the dissociated protons move in the membrane of the proton conductor membrane 72 during power generation. An oxygen side electrode 71 is formed in close contact with one side of the proton conductor film 72, and a hydrogen side electrode 73 is formed in close contact with the other side. The oxygen side electrode 71 has a substantially rectangular shape having substantially the same size as the proton conductor film 72, but the hydrogen side electrode 73 is closer to a square having a smaller size than the oxygen side electrode 71 and the proton conductor film 72. It has a substantially rectangular shape. Therefore, when the hydrogen-side electrode 73 is bonded onto the proton conductor film 72, the periphery of the proton conductor film 72 is exposed with a width of about 2 mm.
As shown in FIG. 34, in the present embodiment, a sealing material 74, which is a gasket material, is provided around the proton conductor film 72 exposed in a state where the hydrogen-side electrode 73 is bonded onto the proton conductor film 72. It is attached so as to be in close contact. The sealing material 74 is made of a material having elasticity and airtightness such as silicon rubber.
The large holes 75 formed inside the
The hydrogen side electrode 73 having a size smaller than 2 is fitted from the outside. Since the oxygen side electrode 71 side is basically open to the atmosphere through a large opening, it is possible to eliminate the need for a gas seal, and thus such a gasket material is not required, thereby reducing the number of parts and It is possible to reduce the number of assembly steps. The sealing material 74 formed as a gasket material is formed to have substantially the same thickness as the hydrogen side electrode 73, or is made thicker than the hydrogen side electrode 73. For example, the thickness of the hydrogen side electrode 73 is 0.2
When the thickness is mm, the thickness of the sealing material 74 can be 0.3 mm. Since the sealing material 74 is an elastic material, when the current collector is pressed, the thickness of the sealing material 74 is about 0.1 mm. The contraction occurs and a uniform contact between the current collector and the sealing material 74 and the hydrogen side electrode 73 inside thereof is realized, and the electrical characteristics are also improved due to this uniform contact. In addition, since there is no sealing material on the oxygen-side electrode 71 side, the end portion of the proton conductor membrane 72 has a sealing material that is different from the conventional structure in which the sealing material is formed on both sides. The rigidity is surely increased without being affected by the variation, and the airtight characteristic can be greatly improved. Further, the contact surface of the hydrogen-side electrode 73, which is smaller in size than the proton conductor film 72, with the sealing material 74 can be a vertical surface, but can also be an inverse tapered shape. In that case, by making the surface of the hole 75 of the sealing material 74 into a forward taper shape, the adhesion of the sealing material 74 to the proton conductor film 72 can be improved.

In the fuel cell card 10, a total of four such power generators 11 and 12 are provided, and two power generators 11 and 12 are horizontally arranged in the casing, and these are common collector 16. , 17 etc., the power is taken out, so 2
It is equivalent to a circuit that has two parallel circuits of individual batteries,
Two hydrogen-side current collectors and oxygen-side current collectors 16 and 17 to be described later
4 power generators 1
An output having a parallel structure of 1 and 12 can be obtained.
Further, in the space of the communication groove 47 of the lower housing 15 described above, the connection between the current collectors composed of the two hydrogen side current collectors and the oxygen side current collectors 16 and 17 is temporarily cut, and the upper power generator By connecting the current collector 11 to the power generator 12 on the lower side by electrically connecting the hydrogen side current collector and the oxygen side current collector by wire bonding or a small piece for wiring, 4 It is also possible to connect two power generators 11 and 12 in series.

Next, the structure of the hydrogen supply unit 13 will be described with reference to FIGS. 29, 31, 32 and 33.
The hydrogen supply unit 13 is a member located at the center of the fuel cell card 10 in the vertical direction, and has a function of feeding hydrogen, which is a fuel gas, into the space between the power generators 11 and 12 and extracting electric power by the current collector. Have The hydrogen supply unit 13 includes a pair of hydrogen side current collectors 82, 81.
And insulating films 83 and 84 sandwiched therebetween to form a gas flow path communicating with the power generation body, and hydrogen for feeding hydrogen as a fuel gas to the power generation bodies 11 and 12 through the current collectors 82 and 81. It has a structure including a pipe portion 91.

The hydrogen-side current collector 81 is a member that comes into surface contact with the hydrogen-side electrode 73 formed on the surface of the power generator 12 arranged below, and the contact surface with the power generator 12 is permeable to hydrogen gas. Let The hydrogen-side current collector 81 is made of, for example, a metal plate plated with gold, and contacts the hydrogen-side electrode 73 of the power generator 12 on the back surface side in FIG. The hydrogen-side current collector 81 supplies hydrogen through the openings 87 forming two sets of 5 rows and 3 columns. The opening 87 located on the contact surface with the power generating body 12 allows hydrogen gas to be sent over a wide range of the planar power generating body 12. The hydrogen-side current collector 81 is also provided with a coupling portion 97 that is fitted into the communication groove 47 at a substantially central portion.

The hydrogen-side current collector 81 has a structure in which a protrusion 231 is provided on the main surface of the power generator 12 on the side in contact with the hydrogen-side electrode 73. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 29, a plurality of protrusions 231 are provided on the main surface of the hydrogen-side current collector 81 at predetermined intervals. By providing such a protrusion 231 on the hydrogen-side current collector 81, a state in which the protrusion 231 pierces the hydrogen-side electrode 73 when the hydrogen-side current collector 81 is stacked on the hydrogen-side electrode 73 of the power generator 12. Becomes As a result, the hydrogen-side current collector 81
Is fixed in close contact with the hydrogen-side electrode 73,
The hydrogen-side current collector 81 and the hydrogen-side electrode 73 are brought into a state of uniform surface contact without generation of voids. Therefore, a good current collecting property can be secured between the hydrogen side current collector 81 and the hydrogen side electrode 73, and a good electrical conduction can be obtained.

The hydrogen-side current collector 82 is a member that comes into surface contact with the hydrogen-side electrode 73 formed on the back surface of the power generator 11 arranged on the upper side, and the contact surface with the power generator 12 allows hydrogen gas to pass therethrough. . This hydrogen-side current collector 82 is also made of, for example, a gold-plated metal plate like the hydrogen-side current collector 82, and contacts the hydrogen-side electrode 73 of the power generator 11 on the front surface side in FIG. The hydrogen-side current collector 82 has openings 8 that form two sets of 5 rows and 3 columns.
Hydrogen is supplied via 8. Hydrogen gas can be sent over a wide range of the planar power generating body 11 by the opening 88 located on the contact surface with the power generating body 11, and a coupling portion 97 fitted in the communication groove 47 is provided at the substantially central portion. To be

The hydrogen-side current collector 82 has a structure in which a protrusion 231 is provided on the main surface of the power-generating body 11 on the side in contact with the hydrogen-side electrode 73. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 29, a plurality of protrusions 231 are provided on the main surface of the hydrogen-side current collector 82 at predetermined intervals. By providing such a protrusion 231 on the hydrogen-side current collector 82, a state in which the protrusion 231 pierces the hydrogen-side electrode 73 when the hydrogen-side current collector 82 is stacked on the hydrogen-side electrode 73 of the power generator 11. Becomes As a result, the hydrogen-side current collector 82
Is fixed in close contact with the hydrogen-side electrode 73,
The hydrogen-side current collector 82 and the hydrogen-side electrode 73 are brought into uniform surface contact with each other without generating a gap. Therefore, a good current collecting property can be secured between the hydrogen side current collector 82 and the hydrogen side electrode 73, and a good electrical conduction can be obtained.

The hydrogen-side current collectors 81 and 82 are arranged such that their surfaces are opposed to each other, and the insulating films 83 and 84 are sandwiched between the hydrogen-side current collectors 81 and 82 as spacers between them. It is provided in. Pair of insulating films 83, 84
Is formed by stamping a resin film such as polycarbonate. Each of the insulating films 83 and 84 has a substantially U-shape, and the central portions facing each other have a thickness of approximately 5.
A gas flow path composed of a substantially rectangular space is formed so as to extend over the regions of the openings 87 and 88 that form two sets of three rows. A hydrogen introducing port 86 communicating with the hollow portion of the hydrogen pipe portion 91 is formed on the hydrogen pipe portion 91 side of the insulating films 83 and 84, and a leak hole 8 is formed at the end portion on the opposite side of the insulating films 83 and 84.
5 is formed. The leak hole 85 may be a valve that can be opened and closed freely, or may not be formed intentionally. These insulating films 8
The space formed by 3, 84 is a space between the hydrogen-side current collectors 81, 82 whose surfaces face each other, and the thickness in the height direction is determined by these insulating films 83, 84.

The hydrogen pipe portion 91 is a pipe member having a rectangular cross section which extends along the longitudinal direction of the fuel cell card 10. The hydrogen storage stick 18 has a projection at the end on the side to which the hydrogen storage stick 18 is connected. A fitting hole 96 into which the portion 20 is fitted is formed. The hydrogen piping portion 91 is hollow to allow hydrogen to pass therethrough. A hydrogen storage alloy or the like may be arranged in a part of the hydrogen piping portion 91. The connection point between the hydrogen piping 91 and the hydrogen side current collectors 81 and 82 is the hydrogen piping 9
A projecting piece 89 on the horizontally long insertion opening 92 formed on the side surface of
It is formed by inserting the tip portion of 90. Insertion slot 9
2 are provided at two places, and hydrogen side current collectors 81 and 82
The side edges of the support stably support the projecting pieces 89 and 90 projecting in the in-plane direction horizontally. The hydrogen side current collectors 81 and 82 are
Electrode take-out piece 94 protruding from the electrode take-out groove 49
Is formed as a rectangular piece extending in the longitudinal direction of the fuel cell card 10 in conformity with the position of the electrode lead-out groove 49, and the protruding portion 93 also effectively makes a dead space on the back side of the hydrogen pipe portion. It is formed by utilizing.

FIG. 30 shows the upper housing 14, the upper oxygen-side current collector 16 arranged below the upper housing 14, and the insulating film 100.
FIG. Similar to the lower casing 15, the upper casing 14 is made of a metal material such as stainless steel, iron, aluminum, titanium, magnesium, epoxy, AB or the like.
A resin material having excellent heat resistance and chemical resistance such as S, polystyrene, PET, and polycarbonate can be used, or a composite material such as fiber reinforced resin may be used. The upper housing 14 is formed so that the opening 31 which is a rectangular cutout constitutes two sets of 5 rows and 3 columns.

The upper casing 14 and the upper oxygen side current collector 16
The insulating film 100 is disposed between the spaces. The insulating film 100 is made of polycarbonate, for example, and its thickness is about 0.3 mm. A pair of grid areas
It is formed to have the openings 101 that form two sets of 5 rows and 3 columns at the same vertical position so as to reflect the pattern of the openings 31 that form 2 sets of 5 rows and 3 columns. Cage,
A coupling portion 102 that is fitted into the communication groove 47 is provided at a substantially central portion.

The upper oxygen-side current collector 16 is made of, for example, a gold-plated metal plate, is in contact with the oxygen-side electrode 71 of the upper power-generating body 11, and is formed in five rows on the upper oxygen-side current collector 16. Oxygen is supplied through the openings 111 forming two sets of three rows. Here, each opening portion 111 functions as a transmission portion of the current collector, the opening portion 111 itself has a large opening, and the opening portion 10 of the insulating film 100.
The oxygen side electrode 71 of the power generation body 11 should be open to the atmosphere because the structure of 1 and the opening 31 of the upper housing 14 is configured to form two sets of 5 rows and 3 columns at the same vertical position. Therefore, oxygen can be supplied to the power generator 11 without lowering the pressure, that is, the partial pressure of oxygen in the air. Also,
At the same time, water is generated from the power generation body 11 at the time of generation of electromotive force, but the opening 111 itself is largely open and is in an open state to the atmosphere, so that the water generated on the electrode surface can be satisfactorily removed. Is. The electrode lead-out piece 1 protruding from the electrode lead-out groove 48 is provided on the upper oxygen-side current collector 16.
14 is formed as a rectangular piece extending in the longitudinal direction of the fuel cell card 10 in accordance with the position of the electrode lead-out groove 48, and the projecting portion 113 also has an effective dead space on the inner side of the hydrogen pipe portion. Is formed by utilizing.

Then, in the upper oxygen side current collector 16,
It has a structure in which a protrusion 230 is provided on the main surface of the power generation body 11 on the side in contact with the oxygen-side electrode 71. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 23, a plurality of protrusions 230 are provided on the main surface of the upper oxygen-side current collector 16 at predetermined intervals. Such a protrusion 230 is formed on the upper oxygen side current collector 16.
By providing the upper oxygen side current collector 16 with the power generator 1
The protrusion 230 when laminated with the oxygen-side electrode 71 in FIG.
Is in a state of being stuck in the oxygen-side electrode 71. This allows
Since the upper oxygen-side current collector 16 is fixed in a state in which it is in close contact with the oxygen-side electrode 71, the upper oxygen-side current collector 16 and the oxygen-side electrode 71 make uniform surface contact without generating voids. To be in a state. Therefore, a good current collecting property can be ensured between the upper oxygen side current collector 16 and the oxygen side electrode 71, and a good electrical conduction can be obtained.

As the oxygen side current collector 16, conductive plastic such as carbon material may be used.
A structure in which a metal film or the like is formed on the support may be used.

In the fuel cell card 10 of this embodiment having such a structure, the hydrogen-side current collectors 81 and 82 are arranged so that the surfaces thereof face each other, so that the power generators 11 and 12 are supplied with the common gas. The area contributing to power generation can be increased by stacking on the part. The insulating films 83 and 84 function as spacers between the hydrogen-side current collectors 81 and 82, and
Since it is provided so as to be sandwiched between 1 and 82, hydrogen, which is a fuel gas, is surely supplied to the planar power generating bodies 11 and 12.
In particular, when the insulating films 83 and 84 are formed of a synthetic resin film such as polycarbonate, the elastic members when the pair of planar power generating bodies 11 and 12 are pressure-bonded for uniform contact. It can also function as a support and helps to evenly crimp the power generator and the current collector.

Further, in the fuel cell card 10 of this embodiment, a large hole 75 formed inside the sealing material 74.
Is fitted from the outside to the hydrogen side electrode 73 having a size smaller than that of the proton conductor film 72. Therefore, since the oxygen side electrode 71 side is basically open to the atmosphere through a large opening, gas sealing is not required, so that the number of parts and the number of assembling steps can be reduced. Further, since the seal material 74 is an elastic material, when the current collector is pressed, contraction in the thickness direction occurs, and the current collector and the seal material 74 are uniform.
And, the contact of the hydrogen side electrode 73 inside thereof is realized, and the electrical characteristics are improved due to this uniform contact. Further, since the sealing material does not exist on the oxygen-side electrode 71 side, the rigidity is surely increased without being affected by the variation of the sealing material, and the airtight characteristic can be greatly improved.

Further, according to the fuel cell card 10 of the present embodiment, the oxygen-side electrodes of the power generators 11 and 12 can be opened to the atmosphere, without lowering the pressure, that is, the oxygen partial pressure in the air. Oxygen can be supplied to the power generators 11 and 12. At the same time, water is generated from the power generators 11 and 12 at the time of generation of electromotive force, but the opening itself is largely open and is in the atmosphere open state, so that the water generated on the electrode surface is also removed well. It is possible.

Further, the fuel cell card 10 of this embodiment
As shown in FIG. 24, can be inserted from the card slot 22 of the notebook personal computer 21, which is the main body of the apparatus, and attached. In particular, by using the same size as the standardized PC card, it is possible to prolong the usage time of the portable device. Although a plurality of power generators 11 and 12 are arranged inside the casing of the PC card, oxygen is sufficient for the oxygen-side electrode 71 because the oxygen-side electrode 71 is open to the atmosphere. It is supplied by pressure and there is no need to install gas supply means such as a cylinder or a pump. Therefore, the space in the fuel cell can be saved, and an extra auxiliary device is unnecessary.

37 to 39 are modified examples of the fuel cell card of this embodiment. In the fuel cell card of FIG. 37, the fuel cell card 151 portion is JEIDA / PCMCIA.
Type I size standardized by (thickness 3.3m
m). The internal structure of the fuel cell card 151 is the same as that of the fuel cell card 10 described above. The fuel cell card 151 can be connected to a card-type hydrogen storage unit formed by a combination of a plate member 153 and a rectangular member 152, and at the time of connection, the fuel cell card 15 can be connected.
1 and the thickness of the plate-shaped member 153 constituting the card-type hydrogen storage unit are the type II thickness (about 5 mm or less) standardized by JEIDA / PCMCIA. With such a configuration, the fuel cell card 151 can be attached to many types of notebook personal computers, and the card-type hydrogen storage unit has a total volume of the plate member 153 and the rectangular member 152. It can be secured for hydrogen gas and can withstand long-term use.

FIG. 38 shows a similar PC card type fuel cell card system, in which a thick hydrogen storage 162 is connected to a fuel cell card 161. The internal structure of the fuel cell card 161 is the same as that of the fuel cell card 10 described above,
The hydrogen storage unit 162 is detachable from the fuel cell card 161. The hydrogen storage part 162 has a thickness larger than that of the hydrogen storage stick 18 of the above-described embodiment, and can withstand use for a longer time.

FIG. 39 shows a fuel cell 171 having the same size as a housing such as a removable disk, and a slot 17 provided at one end of the fuel cell 171.
The hydrogen storage stick 172 can be inserted into the No. 3 to supply hydrogen. An output end 174 for outputting the electromotive force of the fuel cell is formed in a part of the fuel cell 171, and the power plug 17 extended from the output end 174.
The operation using the fuel cell 171 is realized by connecting 5 to the main body of the device such as a personal computer.

FIG. 40 is a diagram illustrating the shape of the insulating film. FIG. 40 (a) shows the same shape as the insulating films 83 and 84 described in the above embodiment, and uses an insulating film 180 such as an insulating polycarbonate film to form a fuel channel 181 that spreads in a substantially rectangular shape. It is composed. 40B, the insulating film 182 is different from the insulating film 180 in FIG. 40A, and the protruding portion 18 protruding in a direction perpendicular to the fuel inlet port is shown.
4 has two left and right portions, and these protruding portions 184 can also support the opposite hydrogen-side electrodes, and secure the fuel flow path 183 and between the pair of opposed planar hydrogen-side electrodes. It is suitable when the insulation of is a problem. 40C, unlike the insulating film 182 of FIG. 40B, the insulating film 185 has a configuration in which two projecting portions 187 projecting in the direction parallel to the fuel inlet are formed on the left and right sides, respectively. The protruding portions 187 can also support the opposing hydrogen-side electrodes, which is suitable when the fuel flow path 186 is secured and the insulation between the pair of opposing planar hydrogen-side electrodes becomes a problem.

In FIG. 40 (d), a circular insulating portion 190 is formed in a substantially central portion of an insulating film 188 extending in a strip shape along a rectangular end portion, and hydrogen gas, methanol, etc. flowing in from a fuel inlet are formed. It is possible to increase the electromotive force by diffusing the fuel in the fuel flow path 189 along the circular insulating portion 190. In addition, FIG. 40E is an example in which a plurality of circular insulating portions 193, five in this example, are formed, and the fuel flow path is surrounded by the insulating film 191 extending in a strip shape along the rectangular end portion. Fuel such as hydrogen gas and methanol can be diffused in the inside of 192.

FIG. 41 is a diagram showing an example of the structure of an insulating film. FIG. 41 (a) shows the same shape as the insulating films 83 and 84 described in the above-described embodiment, and uses an insulating film 195 such as an insulating polycarbonate film to spread the flow of the fuel flow path in a substantially rectangular shape. It has a structure having an inlet 195e and a discharge hole 195f. It is also possible to discharge excess fuel from this discharge hole 195f. 41 (b)
Is a structure that does not have such a leak hole, and the insulating film 196 that extends in a strip shape along the rectangular end portion is a flow passage in which only the inflow port 196e of the fuel flow passage is connected to the fuel flow passage. . In FIG. 41 (c), an insulating film 197 such as an insulative polycarbonate film is stretched in a strip shape along a rectangular end portion, and an inlet 197 of the fuel flow channel spread in a substantially rectangular shape.
e and a discharge hole 197f are provided, and a valve 198 is formed at the outlet of the discharge hole 197f. This valve 198 can be operated to open to reduce the internal pressure when the pressure of fuel such as hydrogen inside becomes too high, and in the range where the fuel pressure is appropriate, the valve 198 closes and unnecessary fuel leaks. Can be prevented.

In the present invention, the notebook type personal computer has been described as the device on which the fuel cell and the fuel cell card are mounted. However, as another usage example, the present invention is a portable printer, a facsimile, a peripheral device for a personal computer, Telephones, television receivers, communication devices, mobile terminals, cameras, audio / video devices, fans, refrigerators,
Irons, pots, vacuum cleaners, rice cookers, electromagnetic cookers, lighting equipment, toys such as game consoles and radio controlled cars, electric tools,
It can be used for medical equipment, measuring equipment, vehicle-mounted equipment, office equipment, health and beauty equipment, electronically controlled robots, clothing-type electronic equipment, and other applications.

In the above description, an example in which hydrogen gas is used as fuel has been described, but methanol (liquid) may be used as fuel corresponding to the so-called direct methanol system.

[0078]

The fuel cell according to the present invention comprises a proton conductor membrane, planar hydrogen-side electrodes and oxygen-side electrodes sandwiching the proton conductor membrane, and the hydrogen-side electrode or the oxygen-side electrode. A sheet-like current collector having a projection provided on the main surface of the hydrogen side electrode or the oxygen side electrode, which is provided in contact with the hydrogen side electrode, and fuel supply means for the hydrogen side electrode. And a means for supplying oxygen to the oxygen-side electrode, the current collector of the hydrogen-side electrode in a state in which the protrusion is stuck to the main surface of the hydrogen-side electrode or the main surface of the oxygen-side electrode. It is in contact with the main surface or the main surface of the oxygen-side electrode.

In the fuel cell according to the present invention as described above, the protrusion provided on the current collector is in contact with the hydrogen-side electrode or the oxygen-side electrode in a state of being stuck to the main surface of the hydrogen-side electrode or the oxygen-side electrode. Since they are in contact with each other, the current collector can be fixed in a state of being in close contact with the hydrogen side current collector or the oxygen side current collector, and a void is generated between the current collector and the hydrogen side electrode or the oxygen side electrode. It is possible to make uniform surface contact without any contact.
Accordingly, since it is not necessary to hold the current collector with a large pressure, good electrical characteristics can be obtained without increasing the thickness of the current collector.

Therefore, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a fuel cell that has both good electrical characteristics and a small size and light weight.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an example of a cell structure of a fuel cell according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing an example of a cell structure of the fuel cell of the one embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the vicinity of a contact surface between a hydrogen side current collector and a hydrogen side electrode of the fuel cell of the one embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing the vicinity of a contact surface between an oxygen-side current collector and an oxygen-side electrode of the fuel cell of the one embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing the vicinity of the contact surface between the hydrogen-side current collector and the hydrogen-side electrode of the fuel cell of the one embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing the vicinity of the contact surface between the oxygen-side current collector and the oxygen-side electrode of the fuel cell of the one embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a flow path of generated water in FIG.

8 is a diagram illustrating a flow path of generated water in FIG.

9 is a diagram illustrating a flow path of generated water in FIG.

10 is a diagram illustrating a flow path of generated water in FIG.

FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view showing an example of a cell structure of a fuel cell according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is an exploded perspective view showing an example of a cell structure of a fuel cell according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is an exploded perspective view showing an example of a cell structure of a fuel cell according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of the shape of a protrusion 213.

FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of the shape of a protrusion 214.

FIG. 16 is a side view showing an example of a cell structure of a fuel cell according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 17 is a side view showing an example of a cell structure of a fuel cell according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 18 is a side view showing an example of a cell structure of a fuel cell according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 19 is a side view showing an example of a cell structure of a fuel cell according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 20 is an exploded perspective view showing an example of a cell structure of a fuel cell according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 21 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of a cell structure of a fuel cell according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 22 is a sectional view showing an example of a cell structure of a fuel cell according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 23 is an exploded perspective view of the fuel cell card according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 24 is a perspective view showing insertion of the fuel cell card of the one embodiment into a notebook computer.

FIG. 25 is an external perspective view of the fuel cell card of the one embodiment.

FIG. 26 is a cross-sectional view of the fuel cell card of the one embodiment.

FIG. 27 is an exploded perspective view of a lower housing and the like of the fuel cell card of the one embodiment.

FIG. 28 is an exploded perspective view of a power generator in the fuel cell card of the one embodiment.

FIG. 29 is an exploded perspective view of a hydrogen supply unit in the fuel cell card of the one embodiment.

FIG. 30 is an exploded perspective view of an upper housing and the like in the fuel cell card of the one embodiment.

FIG. 31 is a plan view of a part of the hydrogen supply unit in the fuel cell card of the one embodiment.

FIG. 32 is a cross-sectional view of a hydrogen supply unit in the fuel cell card of the one embodiment.

FIG. 33 is a perspective view of a hydrogen supply unit in the fuel cell card of the one embodiment.

FIG. 34 is a plan view of a power generator in the fuel cell card of the one embodiment.

FIG. 35 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a power generator in the fuel cell card of the one embodiment.

FIG. 36 is a view showing the hydrogen storage stick of the one embodiment, wherein (a) is a left side view, (b) is a plan view,
(C) is a bottom view.

FIG. 37 is a schematic perspective view showing another example of the fuel cell of the present invention.

FIG. 38 is a schematic perspective view showing still another example of the fuel cell of the present invention.

FIG. 39 is a schematic perspective view showing still another example of the fuel cell of the present invention.

FIG. 40 is a plan view showing a shape example of an insulating film of the fuel cell of the present invention.

41A and 41B are a plan view and a side view showing a structural example around the insulating film of the fuel cell of the present invention.

FIG. 42 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a fuel cell using a general proton conductor membrane.

FIG. 43 is an exploded perspective view showing an example of a conventional fuel cell.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 Fuel cell card 11, 12 Power generator 13 Hydrogen supply section 14 Upper case 15 Lower case 16 Upper collector 17 Lower collector 18 hydrogen storage stick 47 contact groove 71 Oxygen side electrode 72 Proton conductor membrane 73 Hydrogen side electrode 74 Seal material 75 holes 81, 82 Hydrogen side current collector 83, 84 insulating film 91 Hydrogen piping 50, 100 insulation film 201 housing 202 Hydrogen side current collector 203 Hydrogen side electrode 204 proton conductor 205 oxygen side electrode 206 Oxygen side current collector 211, 212 groove 213, 214 protrusions

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A proton conductor membrane, planar hydrogen-side electrodes and oxygen-side electrodes sandwiching the proton conductor membrane, and a hydrogen-side electrode and an oxygen-side electrode that are in contact with the main surface of the hydrogen-side electrode and the oxygen-side electrode, respectively. A planar current collector having a protrusion provided on the main surface on the side contacting the hydrogen-side electrode or the oxygen-side electrode, and fuel supply means for the hydrogen-side electrode,
An oxygen supply means to the oxygen-side electrode is provided, and the current collector has a main surface of the hydrogen-side electrode in a state where the protrusion is stuck in the main surface of the hydrogen-side electrode or the main surface of the oxygen-side electrode. Alternatively, the fuel cell is in contact with the main surface of the oxygen-side electrode. 2. The current collector has a flow path of hydrogen or oxygen formed on the main surface of the hydrogen-side electrode or on the main surface in contact with the main surface of the oxygen-side electrode by concave and convex portions, The protruding portion provided on the protruding portion is smaller than the protruding portion, and the protruding portion is the main surface of the hydrogen-side electrode in a state of being stuck in the main surface of the hydrogen-side electrode or the main surface of the oxygen-side electrode. 2. The fuel cell according to claim 1, wherein the fuel cell is in contact with the surface or the main surface of the oxygen-side electrode. 3. The current collector contacting the hydrogen side electrode has a permeation part for supplying fuel to the hydrogen side electrode, and a peripheral part of the permeation part of the main surface on the side contacting the hydrogen side electrode. 2. The fuel cell according to claim 1, further comprising: a protrusion provided on the hydrogen-side electrode, the protrusion being in contact with the main surface of the hydrogen-side electrode in a state of being stuck in the main surface of the hydrogen-side electrode. . 4. The fuel cell according to claim 3, wherein the transparent portion of the current collector is an opening formed by cutting out the current collector. 5. The fuel cell according to claim 4, wherein a plurality of the openings are formed. 6. The current collector contacting the oxygen-side electrode has a transmissive part for exposing the oxygen-side electrode to the atmosphere, and is provided around the permeation part on the main surface on the side in contact with the oxygen-side electrode. 2. The fuel cell according to claim 1, wherein the fuel cell is provided with the protruding portion, and the protruding portion is in contact with the main surface of the oxygen-side electrode in a state of being stuck in the main surface of the oxygen-side electrode. 7. The fuel cell according to claim 6, wherein the transparent portion of the current collector is an opening formed by cutting out the current collector. 8. The fuel cell according to claim 7, wherein a plurality of the openings are formed. 9. The fuel cell according to claim 1, wherein the fuel supply means is hydrogen or a gas or liquid mainly containing hydrogen.