Fuel Cell, Method and Apparatus for Manufacturing Fuel Cell

Abstract

A fuel cell (stack or a single cell) includes a cell module to which an aging process that progresses initial creep has been applied such that creep during use is reduced compared with a cell module to which the aging process has not been applied. A manufacturing method of a fuel cell (stack or a single cell) includes an aging step for progressing through initial creep by applying at least a compression load to a cell module.

1 . A fuel cell comprising:
 a cell module to which an aging process that progresses initial creep has been applied such that creep during use is reduced compared with a cell module to which the aging process has not been applied.   
     
     
         2 . A manufacturing method of a fuel cell, comprising:
 an aging step for progressing through initial creep by applying a compression load to a cell module.   
     
     
         3 . The manufacturing method according to  claim 2 , wherein:
 a thermal load is also applied, in addition to the compression load, to the cell module in the aging step.   
     
     
         4 . The manufacturing method according to  claim 2 , wherein:
 the compression load is applied for a predetermined period of time to the cell module in the aging step.   
     
     
         5 . The manufacturing method according to  claim 4 , wherein:
 the predetermined period of time is determined based on a correlative relationship between an amount of change in the thickness of the cell module and a cumulative time over which the compressed load is applied to the cell module.   
     
     
         6 . The manufacturing method according to  claim 4 , wherein:
 the predetermined period of time is determined based on an effective stroke lower limit of an elastic body that applies an elastic force to a stacked body of the cell module.   
     
     
         7 . The manufacturing method according to  claim 4 , wherein:
 the predetermined period of time is determined based on a thermal contraction amount of an entire stacked body of the cell module.   
     
     
         8 . The manufacturing method according to  claim 3 , wherein:
 the thermal load is applied by running a heated fluid through a fluid flow path in the cell module.   
     
     
         9 . The manufacturing method according to  claim 8 , wherein:
 the heated fluid is pressurized.   
     
     
         10 . The manufacturing method according to  claim 2 , wherein:
 initial creep is progressed in the aging step by applying the compression load to the cell module after stacking the cell module,   further comprising:   a step for additionally tightening the stacked cell module after the aging step.   
     
     
         11 . The manufacturing method according to  claim 2 , wherein:
 initial creep is progressed in the aging step by applying the compression load to the cell module before stacking the cell module,   further comprising:   a step for incorporating the cell module after the initial creep has been progressed as a portion of a cell module stacked body.   
     
     
         12 . A fuel cell manufactured by the manufacturing method according to  claim 2 . 
     
     
         13 . A fuel cell comprising:
 a tightening member; and   a plurality of cell modules which are tightened in a stacked state by the tightening member,   wherein the cell modules are cell modules in which creep has been progressed a predetermined amount before tightening by the tightening member.   
     
     
         14 . The fuel cell according to  claim 13 , wherein:
 each cell module is a structure which sandwiches a solid electrolyte membrane by a pair of separator.   
     
     
         15 . The fuel cell according to  claim 13 , further comprising:
 an elastic body that applies an elastic force as a tightening load to the cell modules.   
     
     
         16 . An apparatus for manufacturing a fuel cell characterized by comprising:
 a compression assembly that applies a compression load to a cell module, whereby initial creep in the cell module is progressed.   
     
     
         17 . The apparatus for manufacturing a fuel cell according to  claim 16 , further comprising:
 a heating assembly that applies a thermal load to the cell module.   
     
     
         18 . The apparatus for manufacturing a fuel cell according to  claim 16 , wherein the compression assembly applies the compression load to the cell module for a predetermined period of time. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus for manufacturing a fuel cell according to  claim 17 , wherein the heating assembly heats a fluid to an appropriate temperature, and runs the heated fluid through fluid flow paths within the cell module. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus for manufacturing a fuel cell according to  claim 19 , wherein the heated fluid is pressurized. 
     
     
         21 . The apparatus for manufacturing a fuel cell according to  claim 16 , wherein the cell module is stacked before the compression assembly applies the compression load to the cell module. 
     
     
         22 . The apparatus for manufacturing a fuel cell according to  claim 21 , further comprising:
 a tightening assembly that further tightens the stacked cell module by tightening the cell module with an increased tightening force after initial creep in the cell module is progressed.