Abstract: A cell structure for a fuel cell including: power generation cell assemblies each including a power generation cell which includes a fuel electrode, an oxidant electrode, and an electrolyte sandwiched therebetween and is configured to generate power by using supplied gases; a separator configured to separate the adjacent power generation cell assemblies from each other; a sealing member disposed between an edge of a corresponding one of the power generation cell assemblies and an edge of the separator and configured to retain any of the gases supplied to the power generation cells between the corresponding power generation cell assembly and the separator; and a heat exchange part disposed adjacent to the sealing member and configured to perform temperature control of the sealing member by using any of the gases supplied to the power generation cells.

Abstract: A fuel cell includes a fuel cell stack, a casing, an application part, and a facilitating mechanism. The facilitating mechanism has a space that is provided between the casing and an upper current collector. The upper current collector and the casing are connected at inclined surfaces.

Abstract: A fuel cell FC that includes a cell structure including an anode electrode, a cathode electrode, and an electrolyte that intervenes between the anode electrode and the cathode electrode; and a pair of separators that forms an anode gas flow area and a cathode gas flow area between the cell structure and an anode-side separator and a cathode-side separator of the pair of separators, respectively. The fuel cell further includes a first sealing portion and a second sealing portion that are disposed on an anode electrode side of the cell structure to enclose respectively the anode gas flow area and an outer periphery of the first sealing portion. A flow path for oxygen-containing gas is formed between the first sealing portion and the second sealing portion.

Abstract: A fuel cell stack includes cell units and separators that are alternately stacked, in which each of the cell units includes a single cell. Each of the separators includes: at least one first ridge that is disposed on a first main surface of each of the separators at a predetermined interval to form at least one first gas channel; and at least one second ridge that is disposed on a second main surface of each of the separators at a predetermined interval to form at least one second gas channel. The at least one first ridge and the at least one second ridge are disposed at a regular interval around a center of each of the separators in a cross section perpendicular to the first or second gas channel.

Abstract: A single cell structure for a fuel cell includes: a framed membrane electrode assembly; a pair of separators disposed on both sides of the framed membrane electrode assembly; a gas channel portion which is formed between one of the pair of separators and the membrane electrode assembly, and to which gas is supplied; a manifold portion having a hole that penetrates the frame and the separator in a stacking direction; a protrusion that protrudes from at least one of the pair of separators toward the framed membrane electrode assembly to support the frame near the manifold portion; an extended portion of the frame that extends toward the manifold portion beyond the protrusion; and a gas flowing portion that is formed at the extended portion to supply the gas from the manifold portion to the gas channel portion. The gas flowing portion includes a bump that is disposed at the extended portion of the frame.

Abstract: A fuel cell includes a fuel cell stack, a casing, an application part, and a facilitating mechanism. The facilitating mechanism has a space that is provided between the casing and an upper current collector. The upper current collector and the casing are connected at inclined surfaces.

Abstract: A cell structure for a fuel cell including: power generation cell assemblies each including a power generation cell which includes a fuel electrode, an oxidant electrode, and an electrolyte sandwiched therebetween and is configured to generate power by using supplied gases; a separator configured to separate the adjacent power generation cell assemblies from each other; a sealing member disposed between an edge of a corresponding one of the power generation cell assemblies and an edge of the separator and configured to retain any of the gases supplied to the power generation cells between the corresponding power generation cell assembly and the separator; and a heat exchange part disposed adjacent to the sealing member and configured to perform temperature control of the sealing member by using any of the gases supplied to the power generation cells.

Abstract: A fuel cell stack FS, in which cell structures 3, each of which includes a frame 2 that is disposed at the periphery of the cell structure 3; and separators 4 that are alternately stacked, includes a sealing member S between a peripheral portion of a frame 2 of a first cell structure 3 on one side of one of the separators and a peripheral portion of the separator 4. In each of the separators 4, a first contacting portion 11 in contact with the sealing member S, second contacting portions 12 in contact with a frame 2 of a second cell structure 3 on the other side thereof, and connecting portions 13 that connect the first contacting portion 11 and the second contacting portions 12 are included so as to form a protruded shape portion. Each of the second contacting portions 12 includes a fixing portion fixing with the frame.

Abstract: A fuel cell stack seal structure of a fuel cell stack, the fuel cell stack including a plurality of fuel cell single cells that are stacked, each of the fuel cell single cells including a membrane electrode assembly and a pair of separators holding the membrane electrode assembly between the pair of separators, includes inner peripheral sealing members and an outer peripheral sealing member at peripheral edges of a pair of separators, in which the inner peripheral sealing members close a gap between inner peripheral ribs that protrude at least towards a mutually facing sides of the pair of separators, and the outer peripheral sealing member that closes a gap between outer peripheral ribs that protrude at least towards the mutually facing sides of the pair of separators. The inner peripheral sealing members and the outer peripheral sealing member form a first closed space between the inner peripheral sealing members and the outer peripheral sealing member.

Abstract: A single cell structure for a fuel cell includes: a framed membrane electrode assembly; a pair of separators disposed on both sides of the framed membrane electrode assembly; a gas channel portion which is formed between one of the pair of separators and the membrane electrode assembly, and to which gas is supplied; a manifold portion having a hole that penetrates the frame and the separator in a stacking direction; a protrusion that protrudes from at least one of the pair of separators toward the framed membrane electrode assembly to support the frame near the manifold portion; an extended portion of the frame that extends toward the manifold portion beyond the protrusion; and a gas flowing portion that is formed at the extended portion to supply the gas from the manifold portion to the gas channel portion. The gas flowing portion includes a bump that is disposed at the extended portion of the frame.

Abstract: A fuel cell stack obtained by stacking a plurality of fuel cells has an internal manifold that extends in a stacking direction of the fuel cells to externally discharge a gas used in the fuel cell, and an extension member that adjoins an inner wall surface of the internal manifold and extends in the stacking direction. The extension member is a bar-shaped member provided in an opposite side to a side where a gas from the fuel cells flows to the inside of the internal manifold and has a sloping surface making an acute angle with an inner-wall lower surface of the internal manifold.

Abstract: A fuel cell stack includes cell units and separators that are alternately stacked, in which each of the cell units includes a single cell. Each of the separators includes: at least one first ridge that is disposed on a first main surface of each of the separators at a predetermined interval to form at least one first gas channel; and at least one second ridge that is disposed on a second main surface of each of the separators at a predetermined interval to form at least one second gas channel. The at least one first ridge and the at least one second ridge are disposed at a regular interval around a center of each of the separators in a cross section perpendicular to the first or second gas channel.

Abstract: A fuel cell stack FS, in which cell structures 3, each of which includes a frame 2 that is disposed at the periphery of the cell structure 3; and separators 4 that are alternately stacked, includes a sealing member S between a peripheral portion of a frame 2 of a first cell structure 3 on one side of one of the separators and a peripheral portion of the separator 4. In each of the separators 4, a first contacting portion 11 in contact with the sealing member S, second contacting portions 12 in contact with a frame 2 of a second cell structure 3 on the other side thereof, and connecting portions 13 that connect the first contacting portion 11 and the second contacting portions 12 are included so as to form a protruded shape portion. Each of the second contacting portions 12 includes a fixing portion fixing with the frame.

Abstract: The fuel cell single cell of the present invention includes: a membrane electrode assembly; a low-rigidity frame that supports the membrane electrode assembly; a pair of separators that holds the low-rigidity frame and the membrane electrode assembly therebetween; a gas channel for supplying gas to the membrane electrode assembly between the pair of separators; manifold parts that are formed in the low-rigidity frame and the pair of separators to supply the gas to the gas channel; restraining ribs that restrain the low-rigidity frame near the manifold parts; a projected part of the low-rigidity frame that projects toward the manifold parts beyond the restraining ribs; and a gas flow part that is formed in the projected part to supply the gas from the manifold part to the gas channel.

Abstract: A fuel cell FC includes: a cell structure 3 including an anode electrode, a cathode electrode, and an electrolyte 5 that intervenes between the anode electrode 7 and the cathode electrode 6; and a pair of separators 4 that forms an anode gas flow area G1 and a cathode gas flow area G2 between the cell structure 3 and an anode-side separator and a cathode-side separator of the pair of separators 4, respectively. The fuel cell further includes: a first sealing portion S1 and a second sealing portion S2 that are disposed on an anode electrode side of the cell structure 3 to enclose respectively the anode gas flow area G1 and an outer periphery of the first sealing portion S1. A flow path F for oxygen-containing gas is formed between the first sealing portion S1 and the second sealing portion S2. This double sealing structure prevents leakage of the anode gas.

Abstract: The fuel cell single cell of the present invention includes: a membrane electrode assembly; a low-rigidity frame that supports the membrane electrode assembly; a pair of separators that holds the low-rigidity frame and the membrane electrode assembly therebetween; a gas channel for supplying gas to the membrane electrode assembly between the pair of separators; manifold parts that are formed in the low-rigidity frame and the pair of separators to supply the gas to the gas channel; restraining ribs that restrain the low-rigidity frame near the manifold parts; a projected part of the low-rigidity frame that projects toward the manifold parts beyond the restraining ribs; and a gas flow part that is formed in the projected part to supply the gas from the manifold part to the gas channel.

Abstract: A fuel cell stack seal structure of a fuel cell stack, the fuel cell stack including a plurality of fuel cell single cells that are stacked, each of the fuel cell single cells including a membrane electrode assembly and a pair of separators holding the membrane electrode assembly between the pair of separators, includes inner peripheral sealing members and an outer peripheral sealing member at peripheral edges of a pair of separators, in which the inner peripheral sealing members close a gap between inner peripheral ribs that protrude at least towards a mutually facing sides of the pair of separators, and the outer peripheral sealing member that closes a gap between outer peripheral ribs that protrude at least towards the mutually facing sides of the pair of separators. The inner peripheral sealing members and the outer peripheral sealing member form a first closed space between the inner peripheral sealing members and the outer peripheral sealing member.

Abstract: A fuel cell manufacturing method and a fuel cell manufacturing device are provided in which it is possible to heat, in a localized manner, sections for which heating is desired. In this fuel cell manufacturing method, a laminate is obtained by stacking a membrane electrode assembly and a separator that has an adhesive disposed therebetween. Coils are provided adjacent a site of the laminate to be heated. Preferably, coils are disposed on opposite sides of the site in the stacking direction of the membrane electrode assembly and the separator such that current flows in the same direction as directions intersecting the stacking direction. The site to be heated is subjected to induction heating by passing current through the coils.

Abstract: A method is provided for manufacturing a fuel-cell stack that has a laminate including of a plurality of fuel cells that are laminated together. In each of these fuel cells, an MEA has an anode and a cathode joined respectively to the two sides of an electrolyte membrane is sandwiched between a pair of separators. The aforementioned method has the following steps: a sealing member layout step, in which fuel cells with sealing members applied at least between adjacent fuel cells are laminated together, forming a fuel cell module; and a pressure application step, in which pressure is applied to the fuel cell module in the lamination direction of the fuel cells, forming sealed regions from the sealing members. The lamination-direction thickness of the fuel cell module is controlled by controlling the amount of pressure applied to the fuel cell module in the pressure application step.

Abstract: A fuel cell manufacturing method and a fuel cell manufacturing device are provided in which it is possible to heat, in a localized manner, sections for which heating is desired. In this fuel cell manufacturing method, a laminate is obtained by stacking a membrane electrode assembly and a separator that has an adhesive disposed therebetween. Coils are provided adjacent a site of the laminate to be heated. Preferably, coils are disposed on opposite sides of the site in the stacking direction of the membrane electrode assembly and the separator such that current flows in the same direction as directions intersecting the stacking direction. The site to be heated is subjected to induction heating by passing current through the coils.