Abstract: A cell unit of a fuel cell includes a first membrane electrode assembly, a first metal separator, a second membrane electrode assembly, and a second metal separator. A resin frame member is provided integrally with an outer circumference of the first membrane electrode assembly. An oxygen-containing gas supply passage, a fuel gas supply passage, a coolant supply passage, an oxygen-containing gas discharge passage, a fuel gas discharge passage, and a coolant discharge passage extend through the resin frame member in a stacking direction. At each of both ends of the resin frame member in a longitudinal direction, a pair of projections are provided. The projections protrude toward both sides in a lateral direction.

Abstract: A cell unit of a fuel cell includes a first membrane electrode assembly, a first metal separator, a second membrane electrode assembly, and a second metal separator. Frames are provided at outer circumferences of the first and second membrane electrode assemblies. An oxygen-containing gas supply passage and a fuel gas supply passage, and an oxygen-containing gas discharge passage and a fuel gas discharge passage are provided in one pair of opposite sides of the frames, and a pair of coolant supply passages and a pair of coolant discharge passages are provided in the other pair of opposite sides of the frames at distances from one another.

Abstract: A fuel cell includes a plurality of fuel cell units, each fuel cell unit including an electrode assembly formed by disposing electrodes on both sides of an electrolyte, a pair of separators that sandwich the electrode assembly, and gas sealing members that are disposed at an outer peripheral portion of the electrode assembly, and that seal respective reaction gas flow passages that are formed between each separator and the electrode assembly. In one of the separators of each of the fuel cell units, a through path is formed that penetrates the separator in the thickness direction thereof, and the through path formed in one of the separators of one of the fuel cell units and the through path formed in one of the separators of adjacent one of the fuel cell units are offset with each other as viewed in the thickness direction of the separators.

Abstract: Flow guides forming an inlet channel are formed on a surface of a metal separator of a fuel cell. The flow guides overlap a section of an outer seal provided on the other surface of the metal separator. When a load is applied to the flow guides and the overlapping section in a stacking direction of the fuel cell, the flow guides and the overlapping section are deformed substantially equally in the stacking direction to the same extent. The line pressure of the flow guides and the line pressure of the overlapping section are substantially the same. The seal length L1 of the flow guides and the seal length L2 of the overlapping section are substantially the same.

Abstract: An assembling operation of a fuel cell is effectively simplified. With the simple and economical structure, the desired sealing function is achieved. The fuel cell (10) includes a membrane electrode assembly (14) and first and second metal separators (16, 18) sandwiching the membrane electrode assembly (14). Connection channels (28a, 28b) are provided on the first metal separator (16). The connection channels (28a, 28b) connect the oxygen-containing gas supply passage (20a) and the oxygen-containing gas discharge passage (20b) to the oxygen-containing gas flow field (26). The membrane electrode assembly (14) has first overlapping portions (66a, 66b) overlapped on the connection channels (28a, 28b) for sealing the connection channels (28a, 28b). The first overlapping portions (66a, 66b) comprise, in effect, a gas diffusion layer.

Abstract: A fuel gas inlet, a fuel gas outlet, an oxygen-containing gas inlet, an oxygen-containing gas outlet, and other components, which are disposed at upper and lower portions at both ends in the lateral direction, are provided in a first fuel cell stack. A plurality of cooling medium inlets, a plurality of cooling medium outlets, and other components are provided at lower portions on the long side and at upper portions on the long side respectively. A cooling medium flows from the lower portions to the upper portions through cooling medium flow passages to cool the power generation surface smoothly and reliably.

Abstract: A fuel cell includes a membrane-electrode assembly and a separator. The membrane-electrode assembly has an electrolyte and a pair of electrodes that are disposed on respective sides of the electrolyte. The membrane-electrode assembly and the separator are stacked in a stacking direction. A reaction surface of the membrane-electrode assembly is in a vertical direction along a direction of gravity and has a shape having a longer dimension in a horizontal direction. The fuel cell is provided with a reactant gas passage to allow a reactant gas to flow along a longitudinal direction of the reaction surface. The reactant gas is an oxidant gas or a fuel gas. A drain channel to allow product water from the reactant gas passage to be drained away is disposed between the membrane-electrode assembly and the separator and under the reaction surface in the direction of gravity.

Abstract: A fuel cell stack includes a box-shaped casing and a stack body in the box-shaped casing. The stack body is formed by stacking a plurality of unit cells. The casing includes end plates, a plurality of side plates, angle members, and coupling pins. The angle members couple adjacent ends of the side plates. The coupling pins couple the end plates and the side plates.

Abstract: In a solid polymer electrolyte membrane [film] type fuel cell of the invention, where a pair of electrodes are provided on opposite sides of a solid polymer electrolyte membrane [film], and the outside thereof is clamped by a pair of separators, and nonconductive picture frame-shaped members 61 are arranged at the outer edge portions of the separators, for allowing increase and decrease of a space between separators, while sealing a gap between the separators.

Abstract: A first separator has an outlet side first connection channel connecting a first fuel gas flow field and a fuel gas discharge passage, and a second separator includes an outlet side second connection channel connecting a second fuel gas flow field and the fuel gas discharge passage. The outlet side first connection channel and the outlet side second connection channel include outer passages and outer passages arranged in the same plane formed by facing the first separator and the second separator. The outer passages and the outer passages are formed alternately and independently in the same plane.

Abstract: A fuel cell is formed by stacking a membrane electrode assembly and separators alternately. Each of the separators includes first and second metal plates. A coolant flow field is formed between the first metal plate of the fuel cell and the second metal plate of the adjacent fuel cell. A folded section is provided around a coolant supply passage by folding the second metal plate. The folded section forms an inlet which enlarges the sectional area of an opening as a fluid passage between the coolant supply passage and the coolant flow field.

Abstract: An assembling operation of a fuel cell is effectively simplified. With the simple and economical structure, the desired sealing function is achieved. The fuel cell includes a membrane electrode assembly and first and second metal separators sandwiching the membrane electrode assembly. Connection channels are provided on the first metal separator. The connection channels connect the oxygen-containing gas supply passage and the oxygen-containing gas discharge passage to the oxygen-containing gas flow field. The membrane electrode assembly has first overlapping portions overlapped on the connection channels for sealing the connection channels. The first overlapping portions comprise, in effect, a gas diffusion layer.

Abstract: A fuel cell includes a membrane electrode assembly and first and second metal plates sandwiching the membrane electrode assembly. The first metal plate has positioning ribs for positioning the outer region of the membrane electrode assembly. The first and second metal plates are positioned in alignment with each other by the first and second insulating bushings attached to first and second positioning holes of the first and second metal plates. Further, the first and second metal plates sandwiching the membrane electrode assembly are fastened together by a plurality of metal clip members.

Abstract: A first metal separator of one of adjacent power generation cells and a second metal separator of the other of the adjacent power generation cells are directly stacked together to form a coolant flow field. The first metal separator has a press line protruding toward the coolant flow field, between a fuel gas flow field and an inlet buffer. The second metal separator has a press line protruding toward the coolant flow field, between an oxygen-containing gas flow field and an inlet buffer. The press lines contact each other to limit flow of the coolant into a back surface buffer.

Abstract: In a solid polymer electrolyte membrane type fuel cell of the invention, where a pair of electrodes are provided on opposite sides of a solid polymer electrolyte membrane, and the outside thereof is clamped by a pair of separators, and nonconductive picture frame-shaped members 61 are arranged at the outer edge portions of the separators, for allowing increase and decrease of a space between separators, while sealing a gap between the separators.

Abstract: Flow guides forming an inlet channel are formed on a surface of a metal separator of a fuel cell. The flow guides overlap a section of an outer seal provided on the other surface of the metal separator. When a load is applied to the flow guides and the overlapping section in a stacking direction of the fuel cell, the flow guides and the overlapping section are deformed substantially equally in the stacking direction to the same extent. The line pressure of the flow guides and the line pressure of the overlapping section are substantially the same. The seal length L1 of the flow guides and the seal length L2 of the overlapping section are substantially the same.

Abstract: A fuel gas flow field is formed on a surface of a rectangular first metal separator. The fuel gas flow field includes flow grooves extending in the direction of gravity. An outlet buffer is provided at a lower end of the fuel gas flow field. The outlet buffer includes an inclined surface inclined toward a fuel gas discharge passage. The fuel gas discharge passage is positioned below the outlet buffer. Outlet channel grooves are formed by ridges provided between the fuel gas discharge passage and the outlet buffer. Lower ends of the ridges are arranged in a zigzag pattern.

Abstract: A fuel cell stack includes a plurality of unit cells stacked in a stacking direction substantially along a direction of gravity. Each of the plurality of unit cells includes a first metal separator, a second metal separator, and a membrane electrode assembly sandwiched between the first metal separator and the second metal. A reactant gas channel allows a reactant gas to flow along a surface of each of the first and second metal separators. A reactant gas inlet manifold and a reactant gas outlet manifold allow the reactant gas to flow the reactant gas inlet manifold and the reactant gas outlet manifold in the stacking direction. A bridge portion forms a connection channel to connect at least the reactant gas outlet manifold to the reactant gas channel. The bridge portion includes a guide portion to break a continuity of condensed water.

Abstract: A power generation cell includes an anode side seal member and a cathode side seal member. The anode side seal member is provided outside an anode of a membrane electrode assembly, and directly contacts a solid polymer electrolyte membrane. The cathode side seal member is provided outside the membrane electrode assembly. A space is formed between the anode side seal member and the cathode side seal member. First ribs are formed integrally with the anode side seal member. The first ribs protrude toward the space. Further, second ribs are formed integrally with the cathode side seal member. The second ribs protrude toward the space. The first ribs and the second ribs are arranged alternately.

Abstract: Flow guides forming an inlet channel are formed on a surface of a metal separator of a fuel cell. The flow guides overlap a section of an outer seal provided on the other surface of the metal separator. When a load is applied to the flow guides and the overlapping section in a stacking direction of the fuel cell, the flow guides and the overlapping section are deformed substantially equally in the stacking direction to the same extent. The line pressure of the flow guides and the line pressure of the overlapping section are substantially the same. The seal length L1 of the flow guides and the seal length L2 of the overlapping section are substantially the same.