Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha

Yoshihisa Tamura

Haruyuki Nakanishi

Masahiro Imanishi

Shigeaki Murata

Yuichiro Hama

Hirokazu Ishimaru

A tubular fuel cell module comprising a tubular fuel cell capable of improving current collection efficiency, and a fuel cell comprising the fuel cell module are provided. A fuel cell module () includes a plurality of tubular fuel cells (A,A, . . . ) arranged in parallel and a first current collector (), wherein the tubular fuel cells (A,A, . . . ) are woven by the first current collector () in a direction crossing an axial direction of the tubular fuel cells (A,A, . . . ) in a plan view.

Fuel cell module and fuel cell comprising fuel cell module

The present invention provides a fuel cell which is capable to improve heat exchange efficiency with a plurality of tubular cells. The fuel cell of the present invention comprises: a plurality of tubular cells; heat exchangers arranged at the outside of the tubular cells, wherein at least a part of the outer circumferential surface of said tubular cells and the peripheral surface of said heat exchangers have face contact with each other.

Fuel cell

A tubular fuel cell includes an inner current collector, a membrane-electrode assembly, and seal portions provided at the axial end portions of the membrane-electrode assembly, respectively. The membrane-electrode assembly includes an inner catalyst layer provided on the inner current collector, an electrolyte membrane provided on the inner catalyst layer, and an outer catalyst layer provided on the electrolyte membrane. The axial length of the outer catalyst layer is shorter than the axial lengths of the electrolyte membrane and the outer catalyst layer. The axial end face of the outer catalyst layer and the axial end face of the inner catalyst layer are located on the opposite sides of the seal portion in each side of the tubular fuel cell.

Tubular fuel cell

There is provided a hollow-shaped membrane electrode assembly for a fuel cell capable of improving power density per unit volume, wherein the hollow-shaped membrane electrode assembly for a fuel cell comprises a hollow solid electrolyte membrane, an outer electrode layer formed on the outer circumferential surface of the solid electrolyte membrane and an inner electrode layer formed on the inner circumferential surface of the solid electrolyte membrane, and wherein the hollow-shaped membrane electrode assembly for a fuel cell is formed in the shape of a spiral.

Hollow-shaped membrane electrode assembly for fuel cell and hollow-type fuel cell

A method for manufacturing a tube-type fuel cell by which a tube-type fuel cell with good adhesion can be produced without blocking a gas flow channel in its inner current collector. The method for manufacturing a tube-type fuel cell may include a filling step of providing a columnar-shaped inner current collector having a gas flow channel on its outer peripheral face and filling the gas flow channel with a removable substance to form a removable portion. Also a functional layer forming step of forming a functional layer on at least the removable portion and a removing step of removing the removable portion after the functional layer forming step may be used.

Method for manufacturing tube-type fuel cell

A tubular fuel cell module is provided with a tubular cell of a tubular fuel cell, and a heat transfer pipe through which a heating/cooling medium flows to selectively heat and cool the tubular fuel cell. The heat transfer pipe includes a first straight portion, a second straight portion, and a bent portion that connects the first straight portion with the second straight portion. At least a portion of the tubular cell is arranged on at least one of the first straight portion and the second straight portion. As a result, the reliability of a seal of the tubular fuel cell module is improved.

Tubular fuel cell module and manufacturing method thereof

A fuel cell capable of improving heat exchange efficiency with respect to tubular fuel cells is provided. A fuel cell includes a hollow electrolyte membrane, hollow electrodes arranged on an inside and an outside of the electrolyte membrane, respectively, and an internal charge collector arranged inside of the electrolyte membrane and the electrodes, wherein the internal charge collector is hollow and made of a nonporous member.

Growing community of inventors

Susono, Japan

Yoshihisa Tamura