JP4447272B2 - Fuel cell evaluation system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a fuel cell evaluation apparatus, and more particularly to a fuel cell, and more particularly, to a moisture evaluation apparatus for a solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell.

A solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell is composed of a laminate of a membrane-electrode assembly (MEA) and a separator (however, the lamination direction may be arbitrary). The membrane-electrode assembly includes an electrolyte membrane composed of an ion exchange membrane, an electrode composed of a catalyst layer disposed on one surface of the electrolyte membrane (anode, fuel electrode), and an electrode composed of a catalyst layer disposed on the other surface of the electrolyte membrane ( Cathode, air electrode). Between the membrane-electrode assembly and the separator, diffusion layers are provided on the anode side and the cathode side, respectively. In the separator, a fuel gas passage for supplying fuel gas (hydrogen) to the anode is formed, and an oxidizing gas passage for supplying oxidizing gas (oxygen, usually air) to the cathode. The separator is also formed with a refrigerant flow path for flowing a refrigerant (usually cooling water). A cell (unit fuel cell, also referred to as a single cell) is configured by stacking a membrane-electrode assembly and a separator, a module is configured from at least one cell, the module is stacked to form a cell stack, and the cell stack of the cell stack Terminals, insulators, and end plates are arranged at both ends in the direction, the cell stack is clamped in the cell stacking direction, and is fastened with fastening members (for example, tension plates), bolts and nuts that extend in the cell stacking direction. To do.
In each cell, a reaction for converting hydrogen into hydrogen ions (protons) and electrons is performed on the anode side, and the hydrogen ions move through the electrolyte membrane to the cathode side. On the cathode side, oxygen, hydrogen ions, and electrons (neighboring MEA) Next, the following reaction is performed to generate water from electrons generated at the anode of the first electrode through the separator or electrons generated at the anode of the cell at one end in the cell stacking direction through the external circuit to the cathode of the other cell.
Anode side: H ₂ → 2H ⁺ + 2e ⁻
Cathode side: 2H ⁺ + 2e ⁻ + (1/2) O ₂ → H ₂ O

  In the fuel cell, water is generated in the gas flow path with power generation, and this generated water greatly affects the power generation performance. At the upstream part of the oxidizing gas channel, which is relatively easy to dry, the membrane is dried and protons cannot move smoothly in the membrane, so that the battery performance is likely to deteriorate, and the downstream part of the oxidizing gas channel with a large amount of generated water. In this case, excessive wetness, so-called flooding is likely to occur, and supply of oxygen to the cathode is hindered by generated water, so that battery performance is likely to deteriorate. Therefore, it is desired that the water generation state can be observed from the outside, or the water distribution in the cell plane can be grasped quantitatively. However, since the separator is made of carbon or metal, the inside of the channel cannot usually be observed from the outside. As a result, the present situation is that the means and method for grasping where much water is generated in the gas flow path and what kind of water distribution is actually established have not yet been established.

As a prior art, an apparatus for evaluating drainage characteristics of a fuel cell is proposed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-313380. By using this device, the amount of water discharged out of the fuel cell can be quantified, but the actual water distribution in the cell cannot be visually recognized from outside or quantitatively grasped.
In addition, the positive electrode solution and the negative electrode solution, which change color due to the oxidation-reduction reaction, are passed through the positive electrode chamber and the negative electrode chamber separated by the membrane of the redox battery for teaching materials, and the positive electrode solution and the negative electrode solution are passed through the transparent wall. However, it is proposed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2-79374 to visually recognize the color change. However, in a solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell, it is not a liquid that flows through the flow path of the separator, but a gas, and the generated water is pure water and is not a liquid that changes color due to a redox reaction. However, it is not possible to grasp the generation of water by applying the prior art. Moreover, in the prior art, since the entire chambers of the positive electrode chamber and the negative electrode chamber are discolored, it is impossible to grasp the distribution of the amount of water generated in the cell plane. Furthermore, since the environmental conditions are fixed for teaching materials, it is possible to evaluate the battery moisture generation by changing various usage conditions (for example, temperature, gas pressure, gas flow rate, etc.) in which the battery is used. However, it is impossible or extremely difficult to apply the prior art to actual fuel cell moisture production evaluation.
JP 2002-313380 A JP-A-2-79374

The problem to be solved by the present invention is that the water distribution of the fuel cell accompanying the power generation reaction of the fuel cell cannot be visually recognized from the outside in the conventional moisture evaluation of the fuel cell .

An object of the present invention is to provide a fuel cell evaluation apparatus that can visually recognize the distribution of generated water accompanying the power generation reaction of the fuel cell from the outside .

The present invention for solving the above problems and achieving the above object is as follows.
( 1 ) A fuel cell evaluation apparatus comprising a unit fuel cell for evaluation having a pair of electrodes sandwiching an electrolyte, a fuel gas side separator in which a gas flow path is formed, and an oxidizing gas side separator. At least a part of at least one of the side separator and the oxidizing gas side separator is formed of an insulating transparent member, and a current collecting means is provided between the insulating transparent member and the electrode,
The separator on the oxidizing gas side is divided into two or more members, and a part of the first members are made of a transparent resin, and the remaining second member is made of a conductive material. fuel cell evaluation device a collecting means provided contacted with said second member and slightly larger than the first member between the members and the electrode of.
( 2 ) The fuel cell evaluation device according to ( 1 ), wherein the unit fuel cell for evaluation is incorporated in at least one of unit fuel cells at both ends of the fuel cell stack.
(3) the evaluation unit fuel cells, embedded in at least one unit fuel cell at both ends of the fuel cell stack, wherein the water droplet amount provided measurable sensor to the outside of the first member (1) Fuel according Battery evaluation device.
( 4 ) The fuel cell evaluation device according to ( 2 ) or ( 3 ), wherein the fuel cell stack incorporating the unit fuel cell for evaluation is used as it is as a fuel cell stack for a vehicle.

According to the fuel cell evaluation apparatus of (1) above, since a part of the separator in which the gas flow path is formed is formed from the transparent member, the water in the gas flow path of the generated water accompanying the power generation reaction of the fuel cell Distribution can be visually recognized from the outside .

According to the evaluation device of the fuel cell (1) above, was contacted with the second member a collecting means provided between the first member and the electrode is slightly larger than the first member Therefore, it is possible to observe the moisture in the first member portion of the separator without providing a current extraction means.
According to the fuel cell evaluation apparatus of ( 2 ), since the unit fuel cell for evaluation of ( 1 ) is incorporated into at least one of the unit fuel cells at both ends of the fuel cell stack, the moisture state inside the stack is directly measured. I can grasp it.
According to the fuel cell evaluation apparatus of ( 3 ) above, the evaluation unit fuel cell of ( 1 ) above is incorporated in at least one of the unit fuel cells at both ends of the fuel cell stack, and the amount of water droplets outside the first member Since the sensor capable of measuring the water content is provided, the moisture state inside the stack can be directly grasped, and the water droplet amount inside can be controlled from the outside according to the sensor output.
According to the fuel cell evaluation apparatus of ( 4 ) above, maintenance can be performed without disassembling the vehicle fuel cell stack.

A reference example and a fuel cell evaluation apparatus of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3 show Reference Example 1 , FIGS. 4 and 5 show Reference Example 2 , FIG. 6 shows Reference Example 3 , FIG. 7 shows Reference Example 4 , and FIG. 8 shows Reference Example 5 . 9 shows Reference Example 6 , FIG. 10 shows Example 1 of the present invention, FIG. 11 shows Example 2 of the present invention, and FIG. 12 shows Example 3 of the present invention.
Constituent parts common to Reference Examples 1 to 6 and any embodiment of the present invention are denoted by the same reference numerals throughout Reference Examples 1 to 6 and all embodiments of the present invention.

First, the configuration and operation of parts common to Reference Examples 1 to 6 and all the embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
The reference examples 1 to 6 and the fuel cell evaluation apparatus of the present invention include an evaluation unit fuel cell 1.
The evaluation unit fuel cell 1 is a solid polymer electrolyte type evaluation unit fuel cell, and includes a MEA 12 having a pair of electrodes 21 and 22 (an anode 21 and a cathode 22) sandwiching an electrolyte 20, and a fuel gas flow path. And the oxidizing gas side separator 10 in which the oxidizing gas channel 24 is formed.
At least a part of at least one of the fuel gas side separator 11 and the oxidizing gas side separator 10 of the evaluation unit fuel cell 1 is formed of an electrically insulating transparent member, for example, a transparent resin (transparent plastic). In addition, a conductive current collecting means 13 is provided between the transparent resin portion and the electrodes 21 and 23. That is, the role of a normal separator is divided into a part that forms a gas flow path and a part that conducts the generated current, and the former can be made of transparent resin, so that the latter is made transparent resin, and the latter is current collecting means Consists of.
1 to 3, the fuel gas side separator 11 and the oxidizing gas side separator 10 of the evaluation unit fuel cell 1 are all made of a transparent resin. Only the portion 10a is formed of a transparent resin.

The current extraction means 14 is provided in the current collection means 13 (for example, a metal net) provided between the transparent members of the separators 11 and 10 and the electrodes 21 and 22. The current extracting means 14 extends through the separators 11 and 10 to the current collecting means 13 and is connected to the current collecting means 13. Even if the current extracting means 14 is not provided, the current extracting means 14 can be omitted if the current can be extracted from the current collecting means 13 (FIG. 10 is an example omitted).
The current collecting means 13 has at least a surface made of Au, Pt or the like so as not to poison the catalyst (does not poison the catalyst in the catalyst layers of the electrodes 21 and 22). Similarly, it is made from a conductive material (for example, brass plated with Au) that has no catalyst poison. The current extraction means 14 is connected to a load (not shown). The separators 11 and 10 sandwiching the MEA 12 are sandwiched between a front plate 16 and a back plate 17 having a hollow in the center, and are fastened by bolts (not shown). When the fastening load is low because the area of the MEA 12 is small, the front plate 16 and the back plate 17 can be omitted.

The reference examples 1 to 6 and the fuel cell evaluation apparatus of the present invention may further include changing means 2 for changing the operating condition of the evaluation unit fuel cell 1. The condition changed by the changing means 2 is at least one of conditions such as temperature, gas pressure, gas flow rate, and humidification of the evaluation unit fuel cell 1. By controlling at least one of these conditions, the operating condition of the evaluation unit fuel cell 1 is brought close to the actual operating condition of the fuel cell.
When the changing means 2 is temperature, the changing means 2 includes a cooling water passage formed on the back side of the gas passage of at least one of the fuel gas side separator 11 and the oxidizing gas side separator 10.
When the changing means 2 has a gas flow rate, the changing means 2 is connected to a flow rate control valve provided in a fuel gas supply pipe connected to the fuel gas flow path 23 or an oxidizing gas supply pipe connected to the oxidizing gas flow path 24. Including a flow control valve provided.

The operations and effects of the parts common to the above Reference Examples 1 to 6 and all the embodiments of the present invention will be described.
In the fuel cell evaluation apparatus, at least a part of at least one of the separators 10 and 11 in which the gas flow paths 23 and 24 of the evaluation unit fuel cell 1 are formed is formed from a transparent member. The water distribution in the gas flow paths 23 and 24 of the produced water accompanying the power generation reaction of the unit fuel cell 1 can be visually recognized from the outside through the transparent member. Then, it is possible to grasp how much moisture is generated in which portion of the gas flow path 23, 24 in the cell plane, that is, the distribution and its amount.
In addition, since the current collecting means 13 is provided between the transparent member and the electrodes 21, 22, the single cell for evaluation can generate power even though the transparent member of the separator is an electrical insulating member. The current of the electrodes 21 and 22 can be taken out. As a result, the water distribution in the gas flow paths 23 and 24 and the amount of generated water that have a great influence on the power generation performance can be quantitatively grasped and evaluated from the outside in the power generation state.
Further, since the changing means 2 for changing the operating condition of the evaluation fuel cell 1 is provided, the operating condition of the evaluation fuel cell is changed by the changing means 2 to the environmental condition in which the battery actually mounted on the vehicle is actually used. It is possible to control the moisture in a state close to the actual driving state of the battery actually mounted on the vehicle.

Next, the configurations, operations, and effects of the parts unique to Reference Examples 1 to 6 and each embodiment of the present invention will be described.
In Reference Example 1 , as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, all of the separators of both the fuel gas side separator 11 and the oxidizing gas side separator 10 are made of an insulating transparent member. Moreover, the current extraction means 14 is provided in the current collection means 13 (for example, a metal net).
Regarding the operation and effect of Reference Example 1 , since both separators 11 and 10 are transparent, both the fuel gas channel 23 and the oxidizing gas channel 24 can be directly observed from the outside.

In Reference Example 2 , as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, changing means 2 for changing the operating condition of the evaluation unit fuel cell 1 is provided, and the changing means 2 includes the fuel gas side separator 11 and the oxidizing gas side separator. The cooling water flow path 15 formed in the back surface of the gas flow path of at least one separator of 10 is included.
In the example of FIGS. 4 and 5, the separator on one side (oxidation gas side separator 10) is made of a transparent resin, and the other separator (fuel gas side separator 11) is made of a metal having high thermal conductivity. A cooling water channel 15 is formed on the back surface of the gas channel of the separator. By flowing cold water or hot water through the cooling water flow path 15, temperature control within the cell surface is made possible.
Regarding the operation and effect of the reference example 2 , the temperature or amount of cooling water flowing through the cooling water flow path 15 or the temperature and amount are controlled to control the operating temperature of the evaluation unit fuel cell 1 to the actual fuel. The battery operating temperature can be approached.

In Reference Example 3 , as shown in FIG. 6, a plurality of current extracting means 14 are provided for each current collecting means 13 (for example, a metal net).
Regarding the operation and effect of the reference example 3 , since the current collecting means 14 is provided with a plurality of current extracting means 14, the resistance value in the cell in-plane direction of the current collecting means 13 between the current extracting means 14 can be reduced. Even in a cell having a large area, the voltage drop due to the current collecting means 13 can be kept low, and highly accurate evaluation can be performed.

In the reference example 4 , as shown in FIG. 7, the current collecting means 13 (for example, a metal net) is divided into a plurality of areas that are not electrically connected to each other, and the current extracting means 14 is provided in each divided area.
Regarding the operation and effect of Reference Example 4 , since the current collecting means 13 is divided and the current extracting means 14 is provided for each of them, the current density distribution in the cell plane can be simultaneously measured. Therefore, the amount of water in each divided area can also be measured quantitatively, and the flow path can be optimized based on the measurement data.

In Reference Example 5 , as shown in FIG. 8, the evaluation unit fuel cell 1 is connected in parallel with the fuel cell stack 100.
When the oxidizing gas flows into the stack from the oxidizing gas inlet 41 of the stack 100 and flows out of the oxidizing gas outlet 42 of the stack, the oxidizing gas is shunted from the flow path to the stack 100, and the evaluation unit fuel cell 1 The oxidant gas flows into the oxidant gas passage 24 from the oxidant gas inlet, flows out through the oxidant gas outlet of the evaluation unit fuel cell 1, and merges with the gas flowing out from the oxidant gas outlet 42 of the stack and circulates.
When the fuel gas flows into the stack from the fuel gas inlet 43 of the stack 100 and flows out of the fuel gas outlet 44 of the stack, the fuel gas is shunted from the flow path to the stack 100, and the evaluation unit fuel cell 1 Flows into the fuel gas flow path 23 from the fuel gas inlet, flows out through the fuel gas outlet of the unit fuel cell for evaluation 1, merges with the gas flowing out from the fuel gas outlet 44 of the stack, and circulates.
Similarly, when the cooling water flows into the stack from the cooling water inlet 45 of the stack 100 and flows out of the cooling water outlet 46 of the stack, the cooling water is shunted from the flow path to the stack 100 and is used as an evaluation unit. It flows into the cooling water flow path 15 from the cooling water inlet of the fuel cell 1, flows out through the cooling water outlet of the evaluation unit fuel cell 1, joins the cooling water flowing out of the cooling water outlet 46 of the stack, and circulates. To do.

Regarding the operation and effect of Reference Example 5 , the evaluation unit fuel cell 1 is connected to the fuel cell stack 100 in parallel with a gas flow path and a cooling water flow path. The moisture state can be easily estimated. The reason is that, when connected in parallel, it is considered that a moisture state similar to the moisture state in the stack is generated in the evaluation unit fuel cell 1, and therefore the moisture in the evaluation unit fuel cell 1 is evaluated. This is because the moisture state in the stack can be estimated.

In Reference Example 6 , as shown in FIG. 9, the evaluation unit fuel cell 1 is incorporated as a constituent unit fuel cell in at least one of the unit fuel cells at both ends of the fuel cell stack 100.
When the oxidizing gas flows into the stack from the oxidizing gas inlet 41 of the stack 100 and flows out of the oxidizing gas outlet 42 of the stack, a part of the oxidizing gas flowing into the stack from the oxidizing gas inlet 41 of the stack 100 is used for evaluation. After flowing into the oxidizing gas channel 24 of the unit fuel cell 1 and flowing through the oxidizing gas channel 24, the gas flows out from the oxidizing gas outlet 42 of the stack and circulates.
When the fuel gas flows into the stack from the fuel gas inlet 43 of the stack 100 and flows out of the fuel gas outlet 44 of the stack, a part of the fuel gas flowing into the stack from the fuel gas inlet 43 of the stack 100 is used for evaluation. After flowing into the fuel gas flow path 23 of the unit fuel cell 1 and flowing through the fuel gas flow path 23, it merges with the gas flowing out from the fuel gas outlet 44 of the stack and circulates.
Similarly, when cooling water flows into the stack from the cooling water inlet 45 of the stack 100 and flows out of the cooling water outlet 46 of the stack, a part of the cooling water flowing into the stack from the cooling water inlet 45 of the stack 100 Then, after flowing into the cooling water flow path 15 of the evaluation unit fuel cell 1 and flowing through the cooling water flow path 15, it merges with the cooling water flowing out from the cooling water outlet 46 of the stack and circulates.

Regarding the operation and effect of Reference Example 6 , since the evaluation unit fuel cell 1 is incorporated into at least one of the unit fuel cells at both ends of the fuel cell stack 100, the moisture state inside the stack can be directly grasped. The reason is that, when the evaluation unit fuel cell 1 is connected in series to the fuel cell stack 100, it is considered that the same moisture state as the moisture state in the stack is generated in the evaluation unit fuel cell 1. This is because the moisture state in the stack can be directly grasped by evaluating the moisture in the evaluation unit fuel cell 1.

In Example 1 of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 10, the oxidizing gas side separator 10 is divided into two or more members 10a and 10b, and some of the first members 10a are made of a transparent resin. The remaining second member 10b is made of a conductive material. Furthermore, the current collecting means 13 provided between the first member 10a and the electrode 22 is made one size larger than the first member 10a and is in contact with the second member 10b.
With respect to the operation and effect of the first embodiment of the present invention, the current collecting means 13 provided between the first member 10a and the electrode 22 is made slightly larger than the first member 10a, and the surrounding first Since the second member 10b is in contact with the second member 10b, the current generated by the first member 10a is collected by the second member 10b through the metal net, and the current of the first member 10a of the separator is not provided without providing the current extraction means 14. The moisture in the part can be observed.

In Example 2 of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 11, the unit fuel cell for evaluation 1 of Example 1 of the present invention (the oxidizing gas side separator 10 is divided into two or more members 10a and 10b, of which Some of the first members 10a are made of a transparent resin, and the remaining second members 10b are evaluation unit fuel cells made of a conductive material. It is incorporated in at least one of the fuel cells.
When the oxidizing gas flows into the stack 100 from the oxidizing gas inlet 41 of the stack 100 and flows out of the oxidizing gas outlet 42 of the stack 100, a part of the oxidizing gas flowing into the stack 100 from the oxidizing gas inlet 41 of the stack 100 is evaluated. The gas flows into the oxidizing gas passage 24 of the unit fuel cell 1, passes through the oxidizing gas passage 24, and then joins and circulates the gas flowing out from the oxidizing gas outlet 42 of the stack.
When the fuel gas flows into the stack 100 from the fuel gas inlet 43 of the stack 100 and flows out of the fuel gas outlet 44 of the stack 100, a part of the fuel gas flowing into the stack 100 from the fuel gas inlet 43 of the stack 100 is evaluated. The gas flows into the fuel gas passage 23 of the unit fuel cell 1, passes through the fuel gas passage 23, and then joins and circulates the gas flowing out from the fuel gas outlet 44 of the stack.
Similarly, when the cooling water flows into the stack 100 from the cooling water inlet 45 of the stack 100 and flows out of the cooling water outlet 46 of the stack 100, one of the cooling waters flowing into the stack 100 from the cooling water inlet 45 of the stack 100. Part flows into the cooling water flow path 15 of the evaluation unit fuel cell 1, passes through the cooling water flow path 15, and then merges with the cooling water flowing out from the cooling water outlet 46 of the stack and circulates.

Operation of Embodiment 2 of the present invention, and effect, the evaluation unit fuel cell 1 of the first embodiment of the present invention, since incorporated in at least one unit fuel cell at both ends of the fuel cell stack 100, the internal stack 100 The moisture state can be directly grasped. The reason is that since the evaluation unit fuel cell 1 is incorporated in series with at least one of the unit fuel cells at both ends of the fuel cell stack 100, the same moisture state as that in the stack is generated in the evaluation unit fuel cell 1. This is because it is considered that the moisture state in the stack 100 can be directly grasped by measuring the moisture state in the evaluation unit fuel cell 1.

In Example 3 of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 12, the unit fuel cell for evaluation 1 of Example 1 of the present invention (the oxidizing gas side separator 10 is divided into two or more members 10a and 10b, of which Some of the first members 10a are made of a transparent resin, and the remaining second members 10b are evaluation unit fuel cells made of a conductive material. It is incorporated in at least one of the fuel cells. Further, a water droplet amount sensor 30 capable of measuring a water droplet amount is attached to the outside of the first member 10a. As the water drop amount sensor 30, a commercially available water drop amount sensor provided in a wiper or the like can be used.
When the oxidizing gas flows into the stack 100 from the oxidizing gas inlet 41 of the stack 100 and flows out of the oxidizing gas outlet 42 of the stack 100, a part of the oxidizing gas flowing into the stack 100 from the oxidizing gas inlet 41 of the stack 100 is evaluated. The gas flows into the oxidizing gas passage 24 of the unit fuel cell 1, passes through the oxidizing gas passage 24, and then joins and circulates the gas flowing out from the oxidizing gas outlet 42 of the stack.
When the fuel gas flows into the stack 100 from the fuel gas inlet 43 of the stack 100 and flows out of the fuel gas outlet 44 of the stack 100, a part of the fuel gas flowing into the stack 100 from the fuel gas inlet 43 of the stack 100 is evaluated. The gas flows into the fuel gas passage 23 of the unit fuel cell 1, passes through the fuel gas passage 23, and then joins and circulates the gas flowing out from the fuel gas outlet 44 of the stack.
Similarly, when the cooling water flows into the stack 100 from the cooling water inlet 45 of the stack 100 and flows out of the cooling water outlet 46 of the stack 100, one of the cooling waters flowing into the stack 100 from the cooling water inlet 45 of the stack 100. Part flows into the cooling water flow path 15 of the evaluation unit fuel cell 1, passes through the cooling water flow path 15, and then merges with the cooling water flowing out from the cooling water outlet 46 of the stack and circulates.

Operation of Embodiment 3 of the present invention, and effect, the evaluation unit fuel cell 1 of the first embodiment of the present invention, since incorporated in at least one unit fuel cell at both ends of the fuel cell stack 100, the internal stack 100 The moisture state can be directly grasped. Furthermore, since the water droplet amount sensor 30 is provided, the water droplet amount inside the stack can be controlled from the outside according to the output of the sensor 30.

The fuel cell stack 100 incorporating the reference unit fuel cell 1 of Reference Example 6 and Examples 2 and 3 of the present invention can be used as a vehicle fuel cell stack as it is.
In that case, the fuel cell stack 100 can be maintained without disassembling the vehicle fuel cell stack 100.

It is a perspective view of the evaluation apparatus of the fuel cell of Reference Example 1 . It is a front view of the evaluation apparatus of the fuel cell of Reference Example 1 . It is sectional drawing (AA sectional drawing of FIG. 2) of the evaluation apparatus of the fuel cell of the reference example 1 . FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a fuel cell evaluation device of Reference Example 2 . 10 is a cross-sectional view of a fuel cell evaluation device of Reference Example 2. FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of a fuel cell evaluation device of Reference Example 3. FIG. FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of a fuel cell evaluation device of Reference Example 4 . FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a fuel cell evaluation device of Reference Example 5 . 10 is a perspective view of a fuel cell evaluation apparatus of Reference Example 6. FIG. It is sectional drawing of the evaluation apparatus of the fuel cell of Example 1 of this invention. It is a perspective view of the evaluation apparatus of the fuel cell of Example 2 of this invention. It is a perspective view of the evaluation apparatus of the fuel cell of Example 3 of this invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Unit fuel cell for evaluation 2 Change means 10 Oxidizing gas side separator 10a Oxidizing gas side separator (visualization part)
10b Oxidizing gas side separator (invisible part)
11 Fuel gas side separator 12 MEA
13 Current collecting means 14 Current extracting means 15 Cooling water flow path 16 Front plate 17 Back plate 20 Electrolyte 21 Electrode (Anode)
22 electrode (cathode)
23 Fuel gas passage 24 Oxidation gas passage 30 Water drop amount sensor 41 Oxidizing gas inlet 42 Oxidizing gas outlet 43 Fuel gas inlet 44 Fuel gas outlet 45 Cooling water inlet 46 Cooling water outlet 100 Fuel cell stack

Claims (4)

A fuel cell evaluation apparatus comprising a unit fuel cell for evaluation having a pair of electrodes sandwiching an electrolyte, a fuel gas side separator formed with a gas flow path, and an oxidizing gas side separator, the fuel gas side separator and At least a part of at least one separator of the oxidizing gas side separator is formed from an insulating transparent member, and a current collecting means is provided between the insulating transparent member and the electrode,
The separator on the oxidizing gas side is divided into two or more members, and a part of the first members are made of a transparent resin, and the remaining second member is made of a conductive material. fuel cell evaluation device a collecting means provided contacted with said second member and slightly larger than the first member between the members and the electrode of. Wherein the evaluation unit fuel cell, a fuel cell evaluation device according to claim 1, wherein incorporating the at least one unit fuel cell at both ends of the fuel cell stack. The evaluation unit fuel cells, embedded in at least one unit fuel cell at both ends of the fuel cell stack, the evaluation of the fuel cell of claim 1 wherein the water droplet amount to the outside of the first member provided with a measurable sensor apparatus. Evaluation device for a fuel cell according to claim 2 or claim 3, wherein using a fuel cell stack incorporating the evaluation unit fuel cell as it is a fuel cell stack for a vehicle.

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