Fuel cell system and electric equipment

Abstract

A fuel cell system including a humidifying means for directly humidifying a polymer electrolyte membrane that serves as an ionic conductor. The humidifying means has a water holding unit comprised of a water-absorbing material and located in contact with the polymer electrolyte membrane to directly humidify the polymer electrolyte membrane by utilizing capillary action. It also has a humidification water passage comprised of a hydrophilic material and provided in the polymer electrolyte membrane so as to be connected to the water holding unit to humidify the polymer electrolyte membrane rapidly and uniformly. The fuel cell system with such a structure can directly humidify an ionic conductor.

1 . A fuel cell system comprising a fuel cell unit comprising:
 an oxidizer electrode;   a fuel electrode;   an ionic conductor provided between the oxidizer electrode and the fuel electrode;   a water holding unit comprised of a water-absorbing material provided in contact with the oxidizer electrode and the ionic conductor; and   a humidification water passage connected to the water holding unit and provided in the ionic conductor,   wherein a water held in the water holding unit is directly supplied to the ionic conductor through the water holding unit and the humidification water passage.   
   
   
       2 . The fuel cell system according to  claim 1 , wherein the humidification water passage has a flat plate shape and is provided parallel to the oxidizer electrode. 
   
   
       3 . The fuel cell system according to  claim 1 , wherein the humidification water passage has a linear shape and is provided parallel to the oxidizer electrode. 
   
   
       4 . The fuel cell system according to  claim 1 , wherein the humidification water passage has a retiform shape. 
   
   
       5 . The fuel cell system according to  claim 1 , wherein the humidification water passage has a vein shape. 
   
   
       6 . The fuel cell system according to  claim 1 , wherein the humidification water passage is hydrophilic. 
   
   
       7 . The fuel cell system according to  claim 1 , wherein the humidification water passage has an ionic conductivity. 
   
   
       8 . The fuel cell system according to  claim 1 , wherein water held in the water holding unit is supplied to the humidification water passage. 
   
   
       9 . The fuel cell system according to  claim 8 , wherein a water holding unit for storing water moved by the means for moving water is provided adjacent to the oxidizer electrode. 
   
   
       10 . The fuel cell system according to  claim 9 , wherein the water holding unit is provided on a side surface of the fuel cell unit. 
   
   
       11 . The fuel cell system according to  claim 1 , wherein water held in the water holding unit directly humidifies the ionic conductor by a capillary action. 
   
   
       12 . The fuel cell system according to  claim 1 , wherein water contained in the humidification water passage directly humidifies the ionic conductor by a capillary action. 
   
   
       13 . The fuel cell system according to  claim 1 , wherein the water holding unit stores water generated in the oxidizer electrode. 
   
   
       14 . The fuel cell system according to  claim 1 , wherein the ionic conductor is a polymer electrolyte membrane. 
   
   
       15 . The fuel cell system according to  claim 1 , which is a polymer electrolyte fuel cell system. 
   
   
       16 . The fuel cell system according to  claim 1 , which is a polymer electrolyte small fuel cell system. 
   
   
       17 . Electric equipment comprising the fuel cell system according to  claim 1 .