Abstract: A fuel cell includes: a membrane electrolyte assembly which includes a polymer electrolyte membrane and a pair of catalyst electrodes between which the polymer electrolyte membrane is held and separators between which the membrane electrolyte assembly is held. The first separator includes first gas flow channels and second gas flow channels which are adjacent to the first gas flow channels, the first and second gas flow channels supplying an oxidizing gas or a fuel gas to the membrane electrolyte assembly. The first and second gas flow channels are parallel to each other and are alternately arranged, the first gas flow channels are larger in cross sectional area than the second gas flow channels.

Abstract: A polymer electrolyte fuel cell of the present invention includes a membrane-electrode assembly (5) and separators (6A, 6B). A plurality of reactant gas channels are formed on a main surface of at least one of the separator (6A, 6B) and a gas diffusion layer (3A, 3B). In a case where among the plurality of reactant gas channels, a reactant gas channel overlapping the peripheral portion of the electrode (4A, 4B) twice is defined as a first reactant gas channel, and a reactant gas channel formed to overlap the peripheral portion of the electrode (4A, 4B) and formed such that the length of a portion overlapping the peripheral portion is longer than a predetermined length is defined as a second reactant gas channel, the second reactant gas channel is formed such that the flow rate of a reactant gas flowing therethrough is lower than that of the reactant gas flowing through the first reactant gas channel or the second reactant gas channel does not exist.

Abstract: A polymer electrolyte fuel cell according to the present invention includes: a unit cell including a membrane-electrode assembly and a pair of separators; a manifold; a gas introducing member; and a first member. A recess is formed at a gas lead-out port side of the gas introducing member so as to be connected to the gas lead-out port. The first member is provided such that a communication portion thereof communicates with the manifold. The gas introducing member is provided such that: the recess communicates with the communication portion; and when viewed from a thickness direction of the polymer electrolyte membrane, the gas lead-out port and a main surface of the first member overlap each other.

Abstract: A fuel cell of the present invention includes an electrolyte layer-electrode assembly (5), a first separator (4A), and a second separator (4C). A cooling water channel (8) is formed on a main surface of at least one of the first separator (4A) and the second separator (4C) so as to communicate with at least one of a first cooling water manifold hole (41) and a second cooling water manifold hole (51). A first channel forming portion (11) is located in at least one of the first cooling water manifold hole (41) and the second cooling water manifold hole (51) when viewed from a thickness direction of an electrolyte layer (1) and is provided so as to be opposed to at least a part of an end surface constituting the first cooling water manifold hole (41) and the second cooling water manifold hole (51).

Abstract: A fuel cell of the present invention is configured so that seal members are brought into contact with a frame member, and at least one of the seal member and an outer circumferential portion of the gas diffusion layer is squashed by the other in the thickness direction of a polymer electrolyte membrane, to eliminate a clearance between the gas diffusion layer and the seal member. In this manner, the power generation performance is further enhanced.

Abstract: A polymer electrolyte fuel cell of the present invention includes a membrane electrode assembly (5) having a pair of electrodes (4a, 4b) sandwiching a portion of a polymer electrolyte membrane (1) which is inward relative to a peripheral portion thereof, a first separator (6a), and a second separator (6b), the first separator (6a) is provided with a first reaction gas channel (8) on one main surface, the second separator (6b) is provided with a second reaction gas channel (9) on one main surface such that the second reaction gas channel (9) has a second rib portion (12), the first reaction gas channel (8) is formed such that a ratio of a first reaction gas channel width of an upstream portion (18b) to the second rib portion (12) is set larger than a ratio of a first reaction gas channel width of a downstream portion (18c) to the second rib portion (12), and the ratio of the first reaction gas channel width of the upstream portion (18b) to the second rib portion (12) is a predetermined ratio.

Abstract: The invention provides a fuel cell separator wherein a first reaction gas channel 131 has a first portion 41 and a second portion 51 located upstream of the first portion 41, the first portion 41 lying closest to the upstream end of the first reaction gas channel 131 among portions located between the second portion 51 and the downstream end of the first reaction gas channel 131, the second portion 51 lying closest to the downstream end among portions located between the upstream end and the first portion 41 of the first reaction gas channel 131. Second reaction gas channels 132, 133 do not exist between the first portion 41 and the upstream end but exist between the second portion 51 and the downstream end. The first reaction gas channel 131 is communicated with at least one (hereinafter referred to as the “specific channel”) of the second reaction gas channels 132, 133 in a portion (hereinafter referred to as the “specific portion”) between the first portion 41 and the downstream end.

Abstract: A separator for use in a fuel cell of the present disclosure includes: a plate; a first gas manifold hole (51) for supplying a reactant gas, formed to penetrate said plate in a thickness direction thereof; a second gas manifold hole (52) for discharging the reactant gas, formed to penetrate said plate in a thickness direction thereof; one or more groove-like first main gas channels (18) formed on a surface of said plate to have one end connected to said first gas manifold hole (51) and the other end connected to said second gas manifold hole; a groove-like first sub-gas channel (28) formed on the surface of said plate to have one end connected to at least one of said first gas manifold hole (51) and said second gas manifold hole (52); and a groove-like second sub-gas channel (38) formed on the surface of said plate to have one end branching from said first sub-gas channel (28) and the other end being closed.

Abstract: A fuel cell separator of the present invention is a plate-shaped fuel cell separator including a reaction gas supply manifold hole (21), a reactant gas discharge manifold hole (22), a groove-shaped first reactant gas channel (131), and one or more groove-shaped second reaction gas channels (132, 133), wherein the first reactant gas channel (131) includes a first portion (41) and a second portion (51) located upstream of the first portion (41), and a cross-sectional area of a continuous portion extending from the upstream end of the first reactant gas channel (131) and/or a cross-sectional area of at least a portion of the first reactant gas channel (131) which lies downstream of the first portion (41) is/are smaller than cross-sectional areas of the second reactant gas channels (132, 133).

Abstract: A fuel cell separator of the present invention is a plate-shaped fuel cell separator including a reaction gas supply manifold hole 21, a reactant gas discharge manifold hole 22, a groove-shaped first reactant gas channel 131, and one or more groove-shaped second reaction gas channels 132 and 133, wherein the first reactant gas channel 131 includes a first portion 41 and a second portion 51 located upstream of the first portion 41, and a cross-sectional area of a first specified portion 81 which is a continuous portion including at least the first portion of the first reactant gas channel 131 and/or a cross-sectional area of a second specified portion 82 which extends continuously from at least a downstream end of the first reactant gas channel 131 is/are smaller than cross-sectional areas of the second reactant gas channels 132 and 133.

Abstract: A polymer electrolyte fuel cell of the present invention includes a membrane-electrode assembly (5) and separators (6A and 6B). Each of the electrodes (4A and 4B) includes a catalyst layer (2A, 2B) and a gas diffusion layer (3A, 3B). One main surface of the catalyst layer contacts the polymer electrolyte membrane (1). The separator (6A) includes a peripheral portion (16A) and a portion (26A) other than the peripheral portion. The peripheral portion (16A) of the separator (6A) is formed in an annular shape when viewed from a thickness direction of the separator (6A) and is a region including a portion located on an inner side of the outer periphery of the separator (6A). The separator (6A) is configured such that a porosity of the peripheral portion (16A) is higher than that of the portion (26A) other than the peripheral portion.

Abstract: A close attachment region is provided on the outer side relative to an outer edge portion of a gas diffusion layer and on the inner side relative to the inner edge portion of a gasket as seen from the thickness direction of a polymer electrolyte membrane, such that separators and a frame member are closely attached to each other. Thus, it becomes possible to suppress an increase in the manufacturing cost and a reduction in the power generation performance, which is attributed to the impurity eluted from the gasket and flowing toward the gas diffusion layer.

Abstract: A polymer electrolyte fuel cell according to the present invention includes: an electrolyte layer-electrode assembly (5); a first separator (6A) provided with a first reaction gas flowing region; and a second separator (6B) provided with a second reaction gas flowing region. In the first separator (6A), among one or more first turn portions (28), at least one first turn portion (28) is provided with a first recess (48) and first projections (58). In the second separator (6B), among one or more second turn portions (29), at least one second turn portion (29) is provided with a second recess (49) and second projections (59). When seen in the thickness direction of the first separator (6A), an overlap area is less than or equal to 5% of a gross area, the overlap area being a total overlap area between the first and second recesses (48, 49), the gross area being the total of the following areas: the area of all the first recesses (48); and the area of all the second recesses (49).

Abstract: A preservation assembly of a PEFC stack which is capable of sufficiently inhibiting degradation of performance of the PEFC stack particularly during a time period that elapses from when the stack is placed in the uninstalled state until it is placed in the installation position and is practically used. The PEFC stack is provided with an oxidizing agent passage having an inlet and an outlet and extending through a cathode and a reducing agent passage having an inlet and an outlet and extending through an anode. The PEFC stack is preserved in an uninstalled state in such a manner that an interior of the oxidizing agent passage and an interior of the reducing agent passage are set in a pressure-reduced state.

Abstract: A fuel cell separator having a turn portion of a serpentine-shaped reaction gas passage region. In the turn portion, a recessed portion is defined by an outer end of the turn portion and oblique boundaries between the recessed portion and a pair of passage groove group. In the turn portion, a plurality of protrusions, which vertically extend from a bottom face of the recessed portion and are arranged in an island form, are disposed such that one or more protrusions form a plurality of columns lined up and spaced apart from each other with a gap in a direction in which the outer end extends and one or more protrusions form a plurality of rows lined up and spaced apart from each other with a gap in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the outer end extends.

Abstract: A fuel cell of the present invention includes an electrolyte layer-electrode assembly (5), a first separator (4A), and a second separator (4C). A cooling water channel (8) is formed on a main surface of at least one of the first separator (4A) and the second separator (4C) so as to communicate with at least one of a first cooling water manifold hole (41) and a second cooling water manifold hole (51). A first channel forming portion (11) is located in at least one of the first cooling water manifold hole (41) and the second cooling water manifold hole (51) when viewed from a thickness direction of an electrolyte layer (1) and is provided so as to be opposed to at least a part of an end surface constituting the first cooling water manifold hole (41) and the second cooling water manifold hole (51).

Abstract: A polymer electrolyte fuel cell includes: a membrane-electrode assembly (10) having a polymer electrolyte membrane (1) and a pair of electrodes (4, 8) sandwiching a portion of the polymer electrolyte membrane (1) which portion is located inwardly of a peripheral portion of the polymer electrolyte membrane (1); an electrically-conductive first separator (30) disposed to contact the membrane-electrode assembly (10) and formed such that a groove-like first reactant gas channel (37) is formed on one main surface thereof so as to bend; and an electrically-conductive second separator (20) disposed to contact the membrane-electrode assembly (10) and formed such that a groove-like second reactant gas channel (27) is formed on one main surface thereof so as to bend, wherein the first reactant gas channel (27) is formed such that a width of a portion of the first reactant gas channel (27) which portion is formed at least a portion (hereinafter referred to as an uppermost stream portion 8C of the first separator 30) loc

Abstract: A polymer electrolyte fuel cell of the present invention includes a membrane-electrode assembly (5) and separators (6A, 6B). A plurality of reactant gas channels are formed on a main surface of at least one of the separator (6A, 6B) and a gas diffusion layer (3A, 3B). In a case where among the plurality of reactant gas channels, a reactant gas channel overlapping the peripheral portion of the electrode (4A, 4B) twice is defined as a first reactant gas channel, and a reactant gas channel formed to overlap the peripheral portion of the electrode (4A, 4B) and formed such that the length of a portion overlapping the peripheral portion is longer than a predetermined length is defined as a second reactant gas channel, the second reactant gas channel is formed such that the flow rate of a reactant gas flowing therethrough is lower than that of the reactant gas flowing through the first reactant gas channel or the second reactant gas channel does not exist.

Abstract: A fuel cell separator and a fuel cell are provided that can improve uniformity in reaction gas flow rate and can prevent flooding due to excessive condensed water in passage grooves appropriately. A reaction gas passage region (101) of a separator (2) has a flow splitting region (21) having a passage groove group where the reaction gas is split, and one or more flow merge regions (22) having a recessed portion in which the reaction gas is mixed and connecting a plurality of flow splitting regions so that the passage groove group of the adjacent flow splitting regions (21) are connected to the recessed portion, and protrusions (27) vertically extend from a bottom face of the recessed portion and arranged in an island form. A pair of passage groove groups connected to the recessed portion of the flow merge region (22) is formed so as to have a greater number of grooves in the upstream passage groove group than the number of grooves of grooves in the downstream passage groove group.

Abstract: A preservation assembly of a PEFC stack which is capable of sufficiently inhibiting degradation of performance of the PEFC stack particularly during a time period that elapses from when the stack is placed in the uninstalled state until it is placed in the installation position and is practically used. The PEFC stack is provided with an oxidizing agent passage having an inlet and an outlet and extending through a cathode and a reducing agent passage having an inlet and an outlet and extending through an anode. The PEFC stack is preserved in an uninstalled state in such a manner that an interior of the oxidizing agent passage and an interior of the reducing agent passage are set in a pressure-reduced state.