Abstract: A cell assembly is formed by stacking a first cell and a second cell. In the cell assembly, oxygen-containing gas flow passages are connected in series by an intermediate oxygen-containing gas flow passage, and fuel gas flow passages are connected in series by an intermediate fuel gas flow passage. An additional oxygen-containing gas is supplied to an oxygen-containing gas passage which includes the intermediate oxygen-containing gas flow passage. An additional fuel gas is supplied to a fuel gas passage which includes the intermediate fuel gas flow passage.

Abstract: A fuel cell is reduced in size and weight while the respective communication passages are reliably sealed by the respective sealing members between separators and an electrode assembly. Separators of a fuel cell is provided with communication holes for a reaction gas and cooling medium provided in the outer side of gas sealing members, and with a communication passage that detours around the gas sealing members in the thickness direction of the separators and connects gas communication passages with the reaction gas communication hole. A cooling surface sealing member that seals off the cooling medium communication passage from the reaction gas communication hole is located at a position that is shifted from the communicating passage towards the communication hole side.

Abstract: A cell assembly has reactant gas passages connected in series in first and second unit cells, and oxygen-containing gas inlets, intermediate oxygen-containing gas inlets, oxygen-containing gas outlets, intermediate oxygen-containing gas outlets which are defined in the first and second unit cells. The oxygen-containing gas inlets and the intermediate oxygen-containing gas inlets are disposed upwardly of the oxygen-containing gas outlets and the intermediate oxygen-containing gas outlets. The oxygen-containing gas outlets and the intermediate oxygen-containing gas outlets are disposed at least partly below electric energy generating surfaces of the first and second unit cells.

Abstract: A fuel cell system comprises first and second fuel cell stacks (12, 14) in which directions of a positive electrode and a negative electrode of adjoining terminal electrodes are set to be opposite to one another. First and second conductive plates (82, 180) are incorporated at ends on an identical side of the first and second fuel cell stacks (12, 14). First and second connecting plate sections (106, 182) are provided to extend from the first and second conductive plates (82, 180) closely to one another under the first and second fuel cell stacks (12, 14). The first and second connecting plate sections (106, 182) are electrically connected by strand wires (186a, 186b) having flexibility. Accordingly, it is possible to reliably avoid any action of stress which would be otherwise caused by vibration or the like at a connecting portion for electrically connecting the first and second fuel cell stacks (12, 14) to one another which are arranged in parallel to one another.

Abstract: The present invention aims to provide a membrane electrode assembly that can increase durability by increasing the strength of an extending part of a solid polymer electrolyte membrane, and can also reduce cost by minimizing the volume of the solid polymer electrolyte membrane used.

Abstract: In order to provide an membrane electrode assembly having an electrolyte membrane in which bending and warping of a solid polymer electrolyte membrane are prevented so as to facilitate the handling ability, in the membrane electrode assembly having an electrolyte membrane comprising a solid polymer electrolyte membrane, and a pair of gas diffusion electrodes which are disposed on both sides of the solid polymer electrolyte membrane, a flat surface having the same size as the solid polymer electrolyte membrane is formed by disposing a frame-shaped seal member on an outer surface of the gas diffusion electrode, and the flat surface closely contacts to the solid polymer electrolyte membrane so as to be able to cover and support the solid polymer electrolyte membrane.

Abstract: A first unit cell of a fuel cell stack has a first joint body sandwiched between a first separator and a second separator. The second separator has a first metal sheet having a region where grooves and ridges alternate with each other and a second metal sheet having a region where grooves and ridges alternate with each other, and a leaf spring interposed between the first and second metal sheets. The leaf spring is held against crests of the ridges of the first and second metal sheets. The grooves of the first metal sheet face the ridges of the second metal sheet across the leaf spring, and the ridges of the first metal sheet face the grooves of the second metal sheet across the leaf spring.

Abstract: A cell assembly includes a first unit cell and a second unit cell stacked to each other. The first unit cell includes a first unified body, and the second unit cell includes a second unified body. In the cell assembly, oxidizing gas passages and fuel gas passages are provided in parallel along the first and second unit cells.

Abstract: A cell assembly is formed by stacking a first unit cell and a second unit cell to each other. The first unit cell includes a first unified body, and the second unit cell includes a second unified body. In the cell assembly, the first and second unit cells have structures different from each other.

Abstract: A fuel cell system comprises first and second fuel cell stacks in which directions of a positive electrode and a negative electrode of adjoining terminal electrodes are set to be opposite to one another. First and second conductive plates are incorporated at ends on an identical side of the first and second fuel cell stacks. First and second connecting plate sections are provided to extend from the first and second conductive plates closely to one another under the first and second fuel cell stacks. The first and second connecting plate sections are electrically connected by strand wires having flexibility. Accordingly, it is possible to reliably avoid any action of stress which would be otherwise caused by vibration or the like at a connecting portion for electrically connecting the first and second fuel cell stacks to one another which are arranged in parallel to one another.

Abstract: The present invention provides a fuel stack comprising: a plurality of fuel cell units stacked together in a direction of stacking each of which comprises an electrolyte element, a pair of electrodes holding the electrolyte element therebetween, and a pair of separators holding the electrodes therebetween; a pair of terminal plates each of which is disposed outside an end fuel cell unit located at an end of the stacked fuel cell units; and a terminal element extending outwardly in the direction of stacking from the outside surface of at least one of the terminal plates; wherein the location from which the terminal element extends is located within an area on the terminal plate, corresponding to an area in a passage for an oxidizing gas formed in the end fuel cell unit disposed adjacent to the terminal element where the partial pressure of water vapor is lower than the saturated water vapor pressure.

Abstract: The present invention provides a fuel cell comprising a pair of separators sandwiching outsides of a membrane electrode assembly composed of a pair of electrodes provided on both sides of a solid polymer electrolyte membrane, an outer seal member sandwiched by a pair of separators at a position surrounding an outer periphery of the membrane electrode assembly, an inner seal member sandwiched by one of the pair of separators and an outer periphery of the electrolyte membrane, and a backing member opposing to the inner seal member interposing the electrolyte membrane, wherein steps are formed at contact surfaces of the inner seal member and the outer seal member on one of the pair of separators.

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 its surface which is designed to have a rectangular configuration. A fuel gas flow passage for making communication between a fuel gas inlet and a fuel gas outlet is provided on the surface. The fuel gas flow passage is designed to have a meandering configuration so that it extends in a long side direction and it turns back on a short side to allow a fuel gas to flow in the direction of the gravity. Accordingly, it is possible to effectively shorten a size in the height direction, and it is possible to obtain desired power generation performance with a simple structure.

Abstract: Each of cooling medium flow passages provided for a first separator includes single main flow passage grooves communicating with a cooling medium inlet and a cooling medium outlet respectively, and branched flow passage grooves formed and branched between the main flow passage grooves. Accordingly, it is possible to greatly decrease the flow passage length. Therefore, it is possible to effectively avoid the occurrence of flow passage pressure loss in the superficial direction of the first separator, and it is possible to improve the system efficiency of the power generation.

Abstract: The fuel cell stack has a horizontal laminate of a plurality of fuel cell units and separators, each fuel cell unit being constituted by an electrolytic membrane sandwiched by an anode and a cathode, and fixing members disposed horizontally on both sides of the laminate, the laminate and the fixing members having a plurality of holes penetrating therethrough in a lamination direction, each hole receiving an insulator-coated rod for fastening the laminate in a lamination direction, an insulator surface of the insulator-coated rod being substantially in contact with an inner surface of each hole of the laminate.

Abstract: A fuel cell stack capable of giving improved impact resistance and vibration resistance without causing the space occupied by the fuel cell stack to be increased. In a fuel cell stack for mounting in a vehicle in which a plurality of fuel cell units, each of which is formed by interposing a solid polymer electrolyte membrane between an anode electrode and a cathode electrode, are stacked in a horizontal direction with separators placed between each, mounting members used for installation are provided at backup plates that are outside fastening structure portions that are provided at both ends along the direction in which the fuel cell units are stacked, and an intermediate supporting member used for installation is additionally provided at an intermediate portion along the direction in which the fuel cell units are stacked.

Abstract: A first gas diffusion layer for constructing an anode electrode and a second gas diffusion layer for constructing a cathode electrode are provided with first and second gas flow passages which are formed opposingly to first and second flow passages provided on first and second separators respectively. A fuel gas is supplied to the first flow passage and the first gas flow passage, while an oxygen-containing gas is supplied to the second flow passage and the second gas flow passage. Accordingly, the fuel gas and the oxygen-containing gas are uniformly diffused and supplied to first and second electrode catalyst layers respectively.

Abstract: A fuel cell includes a membrane electrode assembly having a solid polymer electrolyte membrane, an anode side diffusion electrode and a cathode side diffusion electrode located at both sides of the solid polymer electrolyte membrane, and a pair of separators which holds the membrane electrode assembly. The fuel cell also includes a first seal and a second seal. The first seal is disposed between one of the separators and a periphery portion of whichever of the anode side diffusion electrode and the cathode side diffusion electrode has the larger surface area so as to surround whichever of the anode side diffusion electrode and the cathode side diffusion electrode has the smaller surface area. The second seal is disposed between the separators so as to surround whichever of the anode side diffusion electrode and the cathode side diffusion electrode has the larger surface area.

Abstract: A fuel cell stack has a plurality of fuel cells, separators sandwiching each of the fuel cells, and first and second end plates disposed on respective opposite ends of the plurality of fuel cells. A fastening structure incorporated in the fuel cell stack has a liquid chamber disposed on an outer surface of the first end plate, a silicone oil filled in the liquid chamber, and a pressurizing mechanism disposed on an outer surface of the second end plate, for pressing the fuel cells toward the first end plate. The plurality of fuel cells is given a uniform surface pressure, and can be reduced in weight and made compact.