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JP-7856481-B2 - Fuel cell unit and its assembly method

JP7856481B2JP 7856481 B2JP7856481 B2JP 7856481B2JP-7856481-B2

Inventors

  • 伊藤 雅之
  • 堀 幹裕
  • 岩田 邦弘
  • 島田 大輝

Assignees

  • トヨタ自動車株式会社
  • 豊田鉄工株式会社

Dates

Publication Date
20260511
Application Date
20220510

Claims (11)

  1. A fuel cell stack consisting of multiple fuel cell cells stacked on top of each other, Electrical equipment and, A busbar is provided which electrically connects the terminals of the fuel cell stack and the terminals of the electrical equipment, and which is made up of multiple stacked metal plates . The aforementioned busbar is A first connecting portion in which the plurality of metal plates are joined to each other by the first method , A second connecting portion in which the plurality of metal plates are joined to each other by a second method , It includes a non-jointed portion located between the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion, wherein the plurality of metal plates are stacked without being joined to each other, The first connection portion of the busbar is connected to the terminal of the fuel cell stack by a third method different from the first method, The second connection portion of the busbar is connected to the terminal of the electrical equipment by a fourth method different from the second method, The plurality of metal plates include a first metal plate and a second metal plate that is thicker than the first metal plate in the fuel cell unit.
  2. A fuel cell unit according to claim 1, The non-jointed portion includes a bent portion formed by bending the plurality of metal plates. The first method described above is heat bonding, crimping, or welding. The second method described above is heat bonding, crimping, or welding. The third method described above is fastening with bolts, The fourth method described above is fastening with bolts. Fuel cell unit.
  3. A fuel cell unit according to claim 1, A fuel cell unit in which the number of the second metal plates is less than the number of the first metal plates.
  4. A fuel cell unit according to claim 3, A fuel cell unit in which the number of the second metal plates is 1.
  5. A fuel cell unit according to any one of claims 1 to 4, The number of the first metal plates is two or more. The fuel cell unit is characterized by the second metal plate being sandwiched between two or more first metal plates.
  6. A fuel cell unit according to claim 5, The second metal plate has a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface. The number of first metal plates present on the first surface side of the second metal plate is equal to the number of first metal plates present on the second surface side of the second metal plate in a fuel cell unit.
  7. A fuel cell unit according to any one of claims 1 to 4, A fuel cell unit in which the second metal plate is positioned at the bottom of the plurality of metal plates in the direction of gravity.
  8. A fuel cell unit according to any one of claims 1 to 4, A fuel cell unit in which the second metal plate is positioned at the top of the plurality of metal plates in the direction of gravity.
  9. A fuel cell unit according to any one of claims 1 to 4, The non-jointed portion includes a bent portion formed by bending the plurality of metal plates, A fuel cell unit in which, at the bent portion closest to the second connection portion, the second metal plate is located on the outermost side among the plurality of metal plates.
  10. A fuel cell unit according to any one of claims 1 to 4, In the non-jointed portion, the second metal plate is longer than the first metal plate. Fuel cell unit.
  11. A method for assembling a fuel cell unit including a fuel cell stack in which multiple fuel cell cells are stacked and electrical equipment, A step of forming a busbar in which a plurality of metal plates are laminated, including a first metal plate and a second metal plate that is thicker than the first metal plate, The steps include electrically connecting the first connection portion of the busbar to the terminal of the fuel cell stack, The process includes electrically connecting the second connection portion of the busbar to the terminal of the electrical equipment, A method for assembling a fuel cell unit, wherein the step of forming the busbar includes joining the plurality of metal plates to each other at the first connection and the second connection, without joining the plurality of metal plates to each other at the non-joined portion between the first connection and the second connection.

Description

This disclosure relates to a fuel cell unit including a busbar and a method for assembling the same. Patent Document 1 discloses a fuel cell unit. The fuel cell unit has a fuel cell stack including a cell stack in which multiple fuel cell cells are stacked. The fuel cell unit further includes electrical equipment electrically connected to the fuel cell stack. A busbar is provided to electrically connect the terminals of the fuel cell stack to the terminals of the electrical equipment. The size of the cell stack in the stacking direction changes depending on the environment. The position of the terminals of the fuel cell stack also changes in conjunction with the change in the size of the cell stack. The busbar has a U-shaped bend (following portion) so that it can deform to follow the displacement of the terminals of the fuel cell stack. Japanese Patent Publication No. 2020-102382 This is a schematic diagram showing an example of the configuration of a fuel cell unit according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.This is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of the electrical connection of a busbar in a fuel cell unit according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.This is a diagram illustrating the assembly method of a fuel cell unit according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.This is a diagram illustrating the assembly method of a fuel cell unit according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.This is a diagram illustrating the assembly method of a fuel cell unit according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.This is a diagram illustrating the assembly method of a fuel cell unit according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.This is a diagram illustrating the assembly method of a fuel cell unit according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.This is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a busbar using multiple metal plates according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.This is a conceptual diagram to explain the problem.This is a schematic diagram illustrating another example of a busbar using multiple metal plates according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.This is a schematic diagram showing a first example of a busbar according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.This is a schematic diagram showing a second example of a busbar according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.This is a schematic diagram showing a third example of a busbar according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.This is a schematic diagram showing a fourth example of a busbar according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.This is a schematic diagram showing a fifth example of a busbar according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.This is a schematic diagram showing a sixth example of a busbar according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.This is a conceptual diagram illustrating the effects of a sixth example of a busbar according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.This is a schematic diagram showing a seventh example of a busbar according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Embodiments of this disclosure will be described with reference to the attached drawings. 1. Overall Configuration of the Fuel Cell Unit Figure 1 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the configuration of a fuel cell unit 1 according to this embodiment. The fuel cell unit 1 includes a fuel cell stack 10 and an electrical equipment unit 100. The fuel cell stack 10 and the electrical equipment unit 100 are combined integrally to constitute the fuel cell unit 1. The fuel cell stack 10 includes a cell stack 12 in which multiple fuel cell cells 11 are stacked in series. Each fuel cell cell 11 includes an electrolyte membrane and cathode and anode electrodes on both sides of the electrolyte membrane. In the following description, the S direction represents the stacking direction of the multiple fuel cell cells 11. The T direction represents the direction parallel to each fuel cell cell 11. The S direction and the T direction are orthogonal. The fuel cell stack 10 further includes a first battery terminal 21 and a second battery terminal 22. The first battery terminal 21 and the second battery terminal 22 are connected to both ends of the cell stack 12 in the S direction. For example, each of the first battery terminal 21 and the second battery terminal 22 has a plate shape. Copper is an example of a material for the first battery terminal 21 and the second battery terminal 22. The stack case 30 is the case for the fuel cell stack 10. The stack case 30 consists of end plates 31 and 32 and connecting parts 33 and 34 that connect the end plates 31 and 32. Examples of materials for the stack case 30 include stainless steel and aluminum alloy. The cell stack 12 is housed within the stack case 30. An insulator 41, a pressure plate 50, and a spring 60 are positioned between the first battery terminal 21 and the end plate 31. An insulator 42 is