Cell unit

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11088381-B2
Application number	US-201716635354-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 1, 2017
Priority date	Aug 1, 2017
Publication date	Aug 10, 2021
Grant date	Aug 10, 2021

Abstract

A cell unit CU includes a cell structure 1 , a metal support plate 2 disposed on one side surface of the cell structure 1 , and a frame 3 holding an outer peripheral part of the support plate 2 . The cell structure 1 has a lamination of an anode electrode layer 4 , an electrolyte layer 5 , and a cathode electrode layer 6 , in this order. The frame 3 includes a displacement guide 7 at least on one side surface of the frame 3 . The displacement guide 7 has a coefficient of thermal expansion that is different from that of the frame 3 and is configured to make the frame 3 curve so that the cell structure 1 is concaved in accompany with thermal expansion. In the cell unit CU, a risk of concentration of tensile stress on the electrolyte layer 5 at the time of thermal expansion during operation is removed without reducing the strength of the frame 3 , whereby occurrence of a crack and the like in the electrolyte layer 5 can be prevented beforehand.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A cell unit comprising:
a cell structure having a lamination of an anode electrode layer, an electrolyte layer, and a cathode electrode layer in this order;
a metal support plate disposed on one side surface of the cell structure; and
a frame holding an outer peripheral part of the support plate,
wherein a coefficient of thermal expansion of the support plate is greater than that of the cell structure,
the frame includes a displacement guide at least on one side surface of the frame, the displacement guide has a coefficient of thermal expansion that is different from a coefficient of thermal expansion of the frame and the displacement guide makes the frame curve so that the cell structure is concaved in accompany with thermal expansion, and
a displacement amount of the frame having the displacement guide at the time of thermal expansion is equal to or less than a displacement amount of the support plate at the time of thermal expansion.

2. The cell unit according to claim 1 , wherein the displacement guide has a coefficient of thermal expansion smaller than a coefficient of thermal expansion of the frame and is provided on a surface of a side of the frame on which the cell structure is disposed.

3. The cell unit according to claim 2 , wherein the displacement guide is disposed in an area containing an outer peripheral end part of the frame.

4. The cell unit according to claim 2 , wherein the displacement guide is disposed in an area containing an inner peripheral end part of the frame.

5. The cell unit according to claim 2 , wherein the displacement guide is formed of an insulating oxide material.

6. A fuel cell comprising:
the cell unit according to claim 2 ;
separators disposed on each of an anode side and a cathode side of the cell unit; and
a sealing part that air-tightly seals a space between an outer peripheral end part of a frame of the cell unit and an outer peripheral end part of the separators.

7. The cell unit according to claim 1 , wherein the displacement guide has a coefficient of thermal expansion greater than a coefficient of thermal expansion of the frame and is provided on a surface opposite to a side of the frame on which the cell structure is disposed.

8. The cell unit according to claim 1 , wherein the displacement guide is disposed in an area containing an outer peripheral end part of the frame.

9. The cell unit according to claim 8 , wherein the displacement guide has a coefficient of thermal expansion greater than a coefficient of thermal expansion of the frame and is provided on a surface opposite to a side of the frame on which the cell structure is disposed.

10. The cell unit according to claim 1 , wherein the displacement guide is disposed in an area containing an inner peripheral end part of the frame.

11. The cell unit according to claim 1 , wherein the displacement guide is formed of an insulating oxide material.

12. A fuel cell comprising:
the cell unit according to claim 1 ;
separators disposed on each of an anode side and a cathode side of the cell unit; and
a sealing part that air-tightly seals a space between an outer peripheral end part of a frame of the cell unit and an outer peripheral end part of the separators.

Assignees

• Nissan Motor

Inventors

• Shibayama Haruhiko
• Fukuyama Yosuke

Classifications

• H01M8/0271

  Sealing or supporting means around electrodes, matrices or membranes · CPC title

• H01M2008/1293

  Fuel cells with solid oxide electrolytes · CPC title

• H01M8/0245

  in the form of layered or coated products · CPC title

• H01M8/242

  comprising framed electrodes or intermediary frame-like gaskets (H01M8/2425, H01M8/244 take precedence) · CPC title

• Y02E60/50

  Fuel cells · CPC title