JP2008123960A - Fuel cell - Google Patents

Abstract

Provided is a fuel cell that can detect various abnormalities that cause a decrease in power generation capability at a local level at an early stage, and can quickly identify and cope with the cause of the abnormality.
A fuel cell having a fuel cell that generates power by a reaction between a fuel and an oxidant,
The fuel cell has a structure in which a plurality of temperature sensors 601 are arranged in the fuel cell, and the temperature according to the power generation situation at a plurality of locations in the fuel cell by the plurality of temperature sensors. The configuration is to detect.
At that time, the relationship between the upstream and downstream of the fuel path supplied to the fuel cell, the arrangement relationship of at least two temperature sensors arranged in the fuel cell,
Or a distance relationship from the oxidant intake in the fuel cell,
Or it can be set as the upstream and downstream relationship of the discharge path | route of the water which generate | occur | produced inside the said fuel cell.
[Selection] Figure 8

Description

  The present invention relates to a fuel cell, and more particularly to a fuel cell capable of detecting the temperature of a fuel cell.

Conventionally used batteries include primary batteries called dry batteries, lead-acid batteries used for car batteries, and secondary batteries such as lithium batteries used for mobile devices.
The primary battery holds the reactants therein and generates a current due to the chemical reaction of the reactants, but cannot be used when all of the reactants are consumed.
In addition, due to the increase in power consumption accompanying the recent increase in performance and functionality of electronic devices, a sufficient amount of energy cannot be supplied.
A secondary battery has reactants inside and generates a current to reduce the reactants. However, the reverse reaction occurs when charging, and the product is returned to the original reactants so that it can be used repeatedly. Can do.
However, the energy that can be used in one charge is less than that of the primary battery, and external power is required for charging, and a charging time of several tens of minutes to several hours is required for charging.

On the other hand, in recent years, fuel cells that generate electric power with low pollution to the global environment have attracted attention.
Conventionally, fuel cells have been put to practical use in space satellites, and since then they have been developed as drive sources for power generators and automobiles because they are energy-saving and have low environmental pollution.
In addition, since fuel cells can produce electrical outputs that are several to ten times higher than conventional batteries per unit area, they are also being developed in the field of electrical equipment because they can be even smaller and lighter. .
Furthermore, since it can be used continuously if only the fuel is replaced, it does not take time to charge unlike a secondary battery.

There are various types of fuel cells, but they operate in the range from room temperature to 100 ° C, start-up time is short, and power per unit area is superior to other fuel cells. In particular, a polymer electrolyte fuel cell is suitable for a device to be carried and used.
In addition, it is effective to use hydrogen as a fuel for a fuel cell for obtaining a large output.
Examples of a method for storing hydrogen which is a gas under normal pressure include the following methods.
As a first method, hydrogen is compressed and stored as a high-pressure gas.
The second method is a method of storing hydrogen as a liquid at a low temperature.
As a third method, hydrogen is stored using a hydrogen storage alloy.
As a fourth method, there is a method in which methanol, gasoline or the like is loaded on a fuel tank, reformed and converted into hydrogen for use.
Recently, carbon-based materials such as carbon nanotubes, graphite nanofibers, and carbon nanohorns have attracted attention as a fifth method. This is because these carbon-based materials may be able to occlude about 10 wt% of hydrogen per weight.

The power generation of the polymer electrolyte fuel cell is performed as follows.
A perfluorosulfonic acid cation exchange resin is often used for the polymer electrolyte membrane.
For example, Nafion from DuPont is well known as such a membrane.
A pair of porous electrodes carrying a catalyst such as platinum, that is, a membrane electrode assembly sandwiched between a fuel electrode and an oxidizer electrode, serves as a power generation cell.
By supplying an oxidant to the oxidant electrode and a fuel to the fuel electrode, protons move through the polymer electrolyte membrane to generate electricity.

The power generation reaction in the fuel cell is an exothermic reaction, and it is efficient when the temperature of the reaction field is 60 ° C. or higher.
On the other hand, although it depends on the material of the member constituting the fuel cell, such as a solid polymer electrolyte membrane, it is usually necessary to control the temperature to 100 ° C. or lower for stable power generation.
Therefore, in order to confirm that the power generation reaction is performed efficiently and that the temperature is not high enough to cause a problem in the member, the temperature is measured at or near the site where the power generation reaction is performed. The importance of this is high.
In addition, not only solid polymer fuel cells, but also other types of fuel cells generate heat with the power generation reaction, and the temperature range suitable for the power generation reaction is determined. Exist.

In order to cope with such a problem, Patent Document 1 proposes a method of monitoring the temperature of the electrolyte membrane.
Patent Document 2 proposes a fuel cell system that makes it possible to estimate the cause of output fluctuation as follows.
Here, in a fuel cell system consisting of a large number of cells, the power generation status of the fuel cell is sequentially monitored by a system that diagnoses the operating state by measuring the output voltage for each group divided into a plurality of cell groups. The method of catching the change (decrease) is taken.
JP 2000-58093 A JP 2004-127915 A

By the way, in any of Patent Documents 1 and 2 in the above-described conventional example, an abnormality in the fuel cell is detected by incorporating temperature monitoring means into the stack or cell and monitoring.
They are not capable of detecting an abnormality in a specific area of a single cell, but are limited to detecting an abnormality in the entire fuel cell or in units of cells.
However, a decrease in the power generation capability of the fuel cell is also caused by various failures that can occur in a specific area of each cell.
For example, in a specific area of each cell, power is also generated due to stagnation of product gas during power generation, decrease in the amount of inflow of fuel and air, and local increase in contact resistance due to expansion and contraction of components due to heat. A decline in capacity occurs.
On the other hand, in the above conventional example, it is difficult to cope with these problems because it is impossible to detect an abnormality in a specific area of a single cell.

  In view of the above problems, the present invention provides a fuel cell that can detect various abnormalities that cause a decrease in power generation capability at a local level at an early stage, and can quickly identify and deal with the cause of the abnormality. It is for the purpose.

The present invention provides a fuel cell configured as follows.
The fuel cell of the present invention is a fuel cell having a fuel cell that generates power by reaction of fuel and oxidant,
The fuel cell has a structure in which a plurality of temperature sensors are arranged in the fuel cell, and the temperature according to the power generation situation at the plurality of locations in the fuel cell is detected by the plurality of temperature sensors. It is characterized by doing.
Further, in the fuel cell of the present invention, the plurality of temperature sensors are arranged such that the arrangement relationship of at least two positions of the temperature sensors arranged in the fuel cell is upstream of the fuel path supplied to the fuel cell. It is characterized by a downstream relationship.
Further, in the fuel cell of the present invention, the plurality of temperature sensors are arranged such that the arrangement relationship of at least two positions of the temperature sensors arranged in the fuel cell is determined from the intake of the oxidant in the fuel cell. It is characterized by the relationship of the distance of the distance.
In the fuel cell according to the present invention, the plurality of temperature sensors are arranged such that the arrangement relationship of at least two of the temperature sensors arranged in the fuel cell is a discharge path of water generated inside the fuel cell. It is characterized by having a relationship between upstream and downstream.
Further, in the fuel cell of the present invention, the fuel cell includes a fuel cell member including at least an electrolyte membrane having reaction layers formed on both surfaces and a member for gas diffusion and current collection at the time of power generation. A fuel cell having a structure laminated on an electrode for
The electrode includes a closed space formed by an electrode substrate constituting the electrode for applying a surface pressure to the fuel cell member by flowing a fuel gas,
The plurality of temperature sensors are arranged on the substrate forming the closed space.
A fuel cell according to the present invention is characterized in that a plurality of the fuel cells described above are stacked to form a fuel cell stack.
The fuel cell according to the present invention is characterized in that any one of the above-described fuel cells or the above-described fuel cell stack is accommodated in a housing.

  According to the fuel cell of the present invention, various abnormalities that cause a decrease in power generation capacity can be detected at a local level at an early stage, and the cause of the abnormality can be identified and dealt with promptly.

  The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described by the following examples.

Next, examples of the present invention will be described.
[Example 1]
In Example 1, a fuel cell having a fuel cell that generates electric power by reaction of a fuel and an oxidant to which the present invention is applied will be described.
When the present invention is applied to a fuel battery cell having a structure as shown in FIG. 2, a greater effect can be obtained. First, an outline will be described with reference to FIG. 1 schematically showing the structure of FIG.
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing functions centering on the closed space 208 of FIG. 2 described in detail later. The reference numerals of corresponding parts in the battery cell structure of FIG. 2 are given in parentheses in FIG. 1 and will be described below.

The fuel battery cell 201 in which the closed space 208 shown in FIG. 2 is configured is configured by a flexible substrate.
Therefore, as schematically shown in FIG. 1, the upper and lower surfaces of the substrate 106 and the substrate 105 are caused by the pressure of the fuel gas reaching the closed space 107 (208) formed by the substrate 106 (212) and the substrate 105 (209). Swell.
Thereby, the laminated | stacked gas diffusion layer 101 (213), MEA103 (218), and gas diffusion layer 102 (214) can be pressed against the inner wall of the housing | casing 104 (222), and a fastening force can be generated.
According to such a configuration, a uniform pressure can be applied to the entire surface, so that the contact resistance can be reduced.

Next, the detailed configuration of the fuel battery cell of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.
In FIG. 2, 202 is an electrode, and 209 and 212 are substrates.
213 and 214 are gas diffusion layers, 215 and 216 are reaction layers, 217 is an electrolyte membrane, and 218 is an MEA made of an electrolyte membrane having reaction layers formed on both sides.
219 is a metal layer, 220 is a spacer, 221 is a fixing material, and 222 is a housing.
Reference numerals 206, 207, 210, and 211 are flow openings, 203, 204, and 205 are flow paths, and 208 is a flow path for generating surface pressure.

In the fuel cell 201 of the present embodiment, the electrode 202 for taking out electric power has the following structure.
That is, the substrate 212 is bonded to the substrate 209 on which the flow paths 203 and 204 through which the fuel gas flows, the flow openings 206 and 207, and the flow path for forming the closed space 208 for generating the surface pressure are formed. It is configured.
Examples of the material of the substrates 209 and 212 include a flexible substrate having a conductive layer formed on both surfaces, a ceramic substrate, an aluminum substrate, a silicon substrate and the like in which a flow path or a wiring pattern is formed.
In the present embodiment, a flexible and inexpensive flexible substrate is preferably used.
In addition, as a method of bonding them together, brazing, ultrasonic bonding, adhesion, and the like can be mentioned, but soldering by brazing which is inexpensive and easy to disassemble later is preferable.
This eliminates the need for component accuracy for maintaining the sealing member and hermeticity.
In addition, electrical conduction on both sides of the substrate is taken by through holes and vias (not shown).

Since the gas diffusion layers 213 and 214 have a function of a diffusion of the flowing gas and a current collector, a carbon material can be used as the material.
In the electrolyte membrane 217 having the reaction layers 215 and 216 formed on both sides, a metal film 219 is formed on the outer periphery of the electrolyte membrane 217 in order to prevent the fuel gas flowing in from the electrode 202 from leaking to the outside air. .
Examples of the metal film 219 include a structure in which a metal layer is formed by plating, sputtering, or the like, or a structure in which a thin metal foil is caulked.
The spacer 220 is a member for adjusting the height between the electrode 202 and the MEA 218.

The fuel cell 201 of the present embodiment is configured by a laminate in which the gas diffusion layer 213, the MEA 218, the spacer 220, and the gas diffusion layer 214 are stacked on the electrode 202 configured as described above.
The electrode 202, the spacer 220, and the MEA 218 can be bonded together by the above-mentioned bonding or adhesion.
This eliminates the need for parts necessary for sealing, and eliminates the need to consider the accuracy of these parts.
As the fixing material 221, an adhesive or the like is used, and the stacked members are further fixed.

As shown in FIG. 3, the fuel battery cell 201 configured as described above is housed in a hollow casing 222 in which a flow opening 223 and an opening 224 are formed, thereby forming a fuel battery.
After being put in the case 222, the side holes of the case 222 are closed with, for example, tape, a detachable lid, a metal plate caulking, an adhesive, welding or the like so that the fuel cell 201 does not protrude from the case 222. be able to.
At that time, a tape, a detachable lid, or the like from which the fuel cell 201 can be taken out later is preferable.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 5, a plurality of such fuel battery cells 201 can be stacked to form a fuel battery stack 307 and housed in a housing 308 to form a fuel battery.
However, in the case of the fuel cell stack as described above, air cannot be taken in from the fuel cell upper surface opening 224 in FIG. 2, and therefore, as shown in FIG. The structure which laminates 301 on MEA 218 can be taken.

Next, a configuration example that enables temperature detection of the fuel cell in this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 6, 7A, and 7B.
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a partial configuration of the electrode 202 of the fuel cell.
The functions and the like of each part are as described above, but what is specifically described here is the configuration related to the substrate 209 and the substrate 212.
As described above, these substrates are made of flexible substrates. Actually, however, the copper foil portion 401 sandwiches the polyimide 402 as shown in FIG.
7A is a diagram showing a configuration example of the output circuit of the temperature sensor, and FIG. 7B is a configuration in which the output circuit of the temperature sensor is mounted in the closed space 208 of the fuel cell shown in FIG. It is a perspective view for demonstrating the outline | summary of an example.

Also in FIG. 7B, the function of each part is as described above, but the difference here is that the copper foil part 401 of the substrate 209 is processed to form a wiring pattern 501 for mounting a temperature sensor and for taking out a signal. 502 and 503 are configured.
As the temperature sensor itself, a known sensor can be used, and in principle, any sensor can be used as long as its electric resistance value changes with temperature.
As types, thermocouples, thermistors, platinum resistance thermometers, etc. can be used, and there are no particular limitations as long as they can be incorporated inside, although their characteristics such as sensitivity, resolution and linearity are different.
However, since the fuel cell described in FIG. 2 uses a flexible substrate, a chip thermistor in which chip-shaped ones that can be easily mounted are widely available is preferable.
However, since the temperature and the resistance value do not necessarily have a linear relationship depending on the type, a correction unit may be necessary.
In addition, it is necessary to select a resolution that meets the required accuracy.

Here, when the fuel cell starts to generate power, heat is generated accordingly, and the resistance value of the temperature sensor 504 changes.
There are various circuits that can capture this change, but as a simple circuit, a circuit as shown in FIG. 7A can be used.
If the voltage value detected by the circuit of FIG. 7A is taken into a measurement / control circuit composed of an A / D, a microcomputer, a storage unit, etc., and subjected to arithmetic processing, the time point can be easily determined from the temperature-resistance value relationship. The temperature at can be detected.
If a profile of temperature data is stored, the tendency of the change with time can be grasped.

Here, as an output circuit of the temperature sensor, wirings 501, 502, and 503 drawn from the terminal portion on which the temperature sensor 504 is mounted are connected to a linearization resistor 505, an output voltage measurement circuit 506, and a power supply voltage 507, respectively. Can be configured.
The resistor 505 is for linearizing the temperature-resistance value characteristic of the temperature sensor 504.
If the value measured by the measurement circuit 506 is Vout, the value of the resistor 505 is R ₁ , the power supply voltage 507 is Vc, and the resistance value of the temperature sensor at that time is R _T , Vout = R ₁ / (R _T -R ₁₎ Vc
The relationship is established.
From the relationship between the detected value and the temperature-resistance value, the temperature closest to the power generation unit at that time can be obtained by simple calculation. This method is used to detect the power generation status of the area in the cell.

FIG. 7B illustrates the basic idea of the present embodiment. Actually, as shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B, an appropriate number of temperature sensors are arranged. Configured.
That is, it is configured by arranging a plurality of temperature sensors evenly on the flexible substrate.
Further, although not shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B, it goes without saying that the lead wiring pattern, the power source, and the detection circuit are connected to the respective temperature sensors in the same manner as in FIG.
In FIG. 7B, the temperature sensor and the lead-out wiring are formed only on the substrate 209 side. However, the substrate 212 is similarly configured on the back surface (not shown) side as shown in FIG. 8B. In this case, more precise measurement is possible.
That is, when stacking fuel cells, a reaction heat transmitted from an immediately adjacent cell is mainly detected by a temperature sensor on the substrate 209, while a temperature sensor on the substrate 212 is directly above the same cell. The heat generation in the reaction layer can be observed most recently.
For example, in the figure showing the image of the temperature detection area by the temperature sensor in the configuration example in which the temperature sensor shown in FIG. 9 is arranged, the upper right temperature sensor shown in FIG. 9 has a role of monitoring the temperature change in the area indicated by b. Will be

Occurrence of abnormality in various cases can be detected depending on the arrangement of the plurality of temperature sensors.
For example, in consideration of the flow direction of the fuel gas in a single fuel battery cell, the following abnormality is determined when the fuel path is arranged so as to be upstream and downstream of the fuel path supplied to the fuel battery cell. be able to.
If a decrease in reaction temperature is observed on both the upstream and downstream sides, fuel gas supply is suspected to be insufficient, and if a decrease in reaction temperature is observed only on the downstream side, impurity gas will flow into the fuel gas. It is judged that it is staying at the end.
Also, considering the distance from the oxidant gas intake in a single fuel cell, the distance from the oxidant intake in the fuel cell is close to the distance, that is, the perspective relationship. The following abnormalities can be determined.
When the reaction temperature on the near side does not decrease and only the reaction temperature on the far side decreases, it is suspected that the supply of the oxidant gas is insufficient.
In addition, in consideration of the discharge path of water generated by the power generation reaction in a single fuel battery cell, it is arranged so as to have a relationship upstream and downstream of the discharge path of water generated inside the fuel battery cell. If so, the next abnormality can be determined.
If the reaction temperature on the upstream side does not decrease and only the reaction temperature on the downstream side decreases, it is suspected that water is not discharged well and that water is flooded on the downstream side.

Thus, from the area where the temperature sensor is arranged and the detection value corresponding thereto, the abnormality occurrence area and the failure mode or abnormality tendency at that time can be quickly grasped.
For example, the temperature pattern and its processing method according to the cell structure, such as cell failure or fuel gas shortage when the temperature is uniform and low as a whole, stagnation of unnecessary gas when only a certain area is low, etc. Remember.
As processing at the time of abnormality, processing such as displaying a warning to the user, stopping or injecting fuel gas, and purging unnecessary gas can be performed according to the detection pattern.
In addition, although the present Example demonstrated the form which mounts a temperature sensor on a flexible substrate, if it considers from a viewpoint of temperature detection, it will not necessarily be restricted on a flexible substrate.
That is, theoretically, the closer the arrangement location is to the reaction layer, the more realistic detection becomes possible.
However, in practice, the form described in this embodiment is the most realistic in consideration of the arrangement of the temperature sensor and the formation of the lead wiring.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the fuel battery cell has a structure in which a plurality of temperature sensors are arranged in the fuel battery cell, so that the plurality of temperature sensors at a plurality of locations in the fuel battery cell. It becomes possible to detect the temperature according to the power generation situation.
In this case, the fuel cell unit has a structure in which a fuel cell member including at least an electrolyte membrane having reaction layers formed on both sides and a gas diffusion layer is laminated on an electrode for taking out electric power. It is possible to adopt the configuration as follows.
The plurality of temperature sensors are arranged in a closed space formed by a substrate constituting such an electrode for applying a surface pressure to the fuel cell member by flowing a fuel gas. Thus, it becomes possible to bring a greater effect.

[Example 2]
In the second embodiment, a configuration example of a fuel cell arranged limited to an area where power generation abnormality is likely to occur will be described.
FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining a configuration example of this embodiment. FIG. 10A is a diagram showing an arrangement of temperature sensors, and FIG. 10B is a schematic cross-sectional view of a fuel cell in which temperature sensors are arranged.
In FIG. 10, the same reference numerals are given to the same components as those in the first embodiment shown in FIG. In FIG. 10, reference numeral 601 denotes a temperature sensor.

In the present embodiment, the temperature sensors that are equally disposed in the first embodiment are disposed only in areas where power generation abnormalities are likely to occur and areas where temperature changes are likely to occur (except during startup).
In practice, the method is limited to areas where product gas tends to accumulate, areas where contact resistance tends to change, and areas where fuel gas concentration distribution tends to fluctuate.
For example, in the case of FIG. 10, in consideration of the fact that the difference in contact resistance between the both ends and the center of the substrate can be monitored, the phenomenon that the reaction occurs intensively in the vicinity of the fuel gas inlet, etc. A temperature sensor is arranged at the center and the center.
According to this embodiment, not only the number of temperature sensors used can be reduced, but also the temperature detection / control system can be simplified, thereby reducing the cost.

[Example 3]
The fuel cell to which the present invention is applied is a fuel cell having the structure shown in FIG. 11 or a stack formed by stacking the same, and a conventionally known end plate shown in FIG. 12 is used with a bolt and a compression spring. This is also effective for a fuel cell having a structure in which it is tightened and pressurized.
In FIG. 11, 1101 is an electrolyte membrane, 1102a and 1102b are reaction layers, 1103a and 1103b are gas diffusion layers, 1104 is an oxidant flow path forming member, 1105a and 1105b are electrodes, and 1106a and 1106b are separators.
Reference numeral 1107 denotes a fuel supply port, 1108a and 1108b denote fuel supply pipes, and 1109a and 1109b denote openings.
The side surface of the oxidant flow path forming member 1104 faces an oxidant supply port (not shown) and takes in the oxidant.
In FIG. 12, 1201 is a power generation reaction unit, 1202 is a support member, 1203 is a cell, 1204 is a stack, 1205 is a fuel cell, 1206 is an end plate, 1207 is a bolt, and 1208 is a compression spring.

In the fuel cell of this embodiment, hydrogen of fuel is supplied from the fuel supply port 1107, and is led to the gas diffusion layer 1103b and the reaction layer 1102b through the openings 1109b of the fuel supply pipes 1108a and 1108b.
Further, oxygen as an oxidant is supplied through the oxidant flow path forming member 1104 and is guided to the gas diffusion layer 1103a and the reaction layer 1102a.
Electric power is generated by a chemical reaction between hydrogen as a fuel and oxygen (air) as an oxidant with the electrolyte membrane 1101 interposed therebetween, and water is generated at the same time.
If the temperature sensor and lead-out wiring are configured around the reaction layers 1102a and 1102b in the arrangement described in the first or second embodiment, and connected to the power supply and measurement / control circuit outside the cell, the temperature is detected. The same judgment can be made. That is, the content of the abnormality that occurs in the fuel cell can be determined in the same manner as in the first and second embodiments. The same applies to the processing / control method using the result.
In addition, in the stacked fuel cell, a temperature sensor can be arranged and temperature detection can be performed similarly to the embodiment for the separator mainly serving as the partition walls of each cell and the flow path of the reaction gas.

According to the configuration of each of the embodiments described above, since the local power generation state of each cell can be monitored, various abnormalities that cause a decrease in power generation capacity can be detected at an early stage at the local level.
Therefore, since the cause of the abnormality can be identified and dealt with promptly, stable operation of the fuel cell and the system using the same can be realized, and the reliability of the fuel cell can be improved.

The cross-sectional schematic diagram for demonstrating the outline of the structure of the fuel cell in Example 1 of this invention. The figure for demonstrating in detail the structure of the fuel cell in Example 1 of this invention. The figure for demonstrating the structural example of the fuel cell formed by accommodating the fuel cell in Example 1 of this invention in a hollow housing | casing. The figure for demonstrating the structural example which laminates | stacks a gas diffusion layer on MEA at the time of comprising a fuel cell stack by the fuel cell in Example 1 of this invention. The figure which shows the structure of the fuel cell which comprised several fuel cell cells in Example 1 of this invention, comprised the fuel cell stack, and was accommodated in the housing | casing. The figure which shows the partial structure of the electrode in the fuel cell of Example 1 of this invention. It is a figure explaining the structure which enables the temperature detection of the fuel cell in Example 1 of this invention. (A) is a figure which shows the structural example of the output circuit of a temperature sensor, (b) is a perspective view for demonstrating the outline | summary of the structural example which mounted the output circuit of the temperature sensor in the closed space of a fuel cell. It is a figure for demonstrating the structural example which has arrange | positioned the temperature sensor in the fuel cell of Example 1 of this invention, (a) is a figure which shows the arrangement | sequence of a temperature sensor, (b) is the fuel by which the temperature sensor was arranged. The cross-sectional schematic diagram of a battery. The figure which shows the image of the temperature detection area by the temperature sensor in the structural example which has arrange | positioned the temperature sensor of Example 1 of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the structural example which has arrange | positioned the temperature sensor in the fuel cell of Example 2 of this invention, (a) is a figure which shows the arrangement | sequence of a temperature sensor, (b) is the fuel by which the temperature sensor was arranged. The cross-sectional schematic diagram of a battery. The figure which shows the structure of the fuel cell used for Example 3 of this invention. The figure which shows the structure of the fuel cell of the structure which clamps and presses conventionally known end plates using a volt | bolt and a compression spring.

Explanation of symbols

101/102: Gas diffusion layer 103: MEA
104: Housing 105/106: Substrate 107: Closed space 201: Fuel cell 202: Electrode 203/204/205: Channel 206/207: Flow port 208: Closed space (channel)
209: Substrate 210/211: Through-flow port 212: Substrate 213/214: Gas diffusion layer 215/216: Reaction layer 217: Electrolyte membrane 218: MEA
219: Metal layer 220: Spacer 221: Fixing material 222: Housing 223: Flow port 224: Opening 301: Gas diffusion layer 302/303/204: Pipe 305/306: Flow port 307: Fuel cell stack 308: Housing Body 309: Fuel cell 401: Copper foil part 402: Polyimide 501/502/503: Lead wire 504: Temperature sensor 505: Resistance 506: Output voltage measuring circuit 507: Power supply voltage 601: Temperature sensor

Claims (7)

A fuel cell having a fuel cell that generates power by a reaction between a fuel and an oxidant,
The fuel cell has a structure in which a plurality of temperature sensors are arranged in the fuel cell, and the temperature according to the power generation situation at the plurality of locations in the fuel cell is detected by the plurality of temperature sensors. A fuel cell.   In the plurality of temperature sensors, at least two positions of the temperature sensors arranged in the fuel cell are in a relationship upstream and downstream of a fuel path supplied to the fuel cell. The fuel cell according to claim 1.   In the plurality of temperature sensors, the arrangement relationship of at least two of the temperature sensors arranged in the fuel cell is close to the distance from the inlet of the oxidant in the fuel cell. The fuel cell according to claim 1.   In the plurality of temperature sensors, at least two positions of the temperature sensors disposed in the fuel cell are in a relationship upstream and downstream of a discharge path of water generated inside the fuel cell. The fuel cell according to claim 1. The fuel cell is a fuel cell having a structure in which a fuel cell member including at least an electrolyte membrane having reaction layers formed on both surfaces and a gas diffusion layer is laminated on an electrode for taking out electric power. ,
The electrode includes a closed space formed by a substrate constituting the electrode for applying a surface pressure to the fuel cell member by allowing a fuel gas to flow therein.
5. The fuel cell according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of temperature sensors are arranged on the substrate forming the closed space. 6.   6. A fuel cell comprising a plurality of fuel cells according to claim 1 stacked as a fuel cell stack.   A fuel cell comprising the fuel cell according to any one of claims 1 to 5 or the fuel cell stack according to claim 6 housed in a housing.

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