Abstract: A separator unit inserted into a fuel cell having an electrolyte layer interposed between a fuel electrode and an oxygen electrode is provided with a plate like separator that separates fuel gas supplied to the fuel electrode from oxidizing gas supplied to the oxygen electrode, and a mesh like collector having an opening that forms one of a passage through which the fuel gas flows and a passage through which the oxidizing gas flows. The collector is provided to at least one side of the separator base in abutment against one of the fuel electrode and the oxygen electrode. The separator base has a coolant passage formed therein, through which a coolant is allowed to flow, and an electrode abutment portion of the collector, which abuts against one of the fuel electrode and the oxygen electrode, has an aperture ratio higher than those of other portions of the collector.

Abstract: A separator unit is inserted between adjacent stacked fuel cells, in each of which an electrolyte layer is sandwiched between a fuel electrode and an oxygen electrode. The separator unit includes a sheet-shaped gas barrier member, which blocks a gas, and a collector, which is inserted between the gas barrier member and the fuel electrode or the oxygen electrode and which is provided with a plurality of openings that diffuse the gas. The collector is provided with an electrode contact portion, which is made up of a flat, porous panel that is in contact with the fuel electrode or the oxygen electrode and collects power, and a gas barrier member contact portion, which is made up of a linear piece that forms a gas flow route by being in contact with the gas barrier member and supports the electrode contact portion. A height dimension of the gas barrier member contact portion is smaller than an equivalent diameter of an opening in the electrode contact portion.

Abstract: A surface on the fuel electrode side of a lower portion of a separator in a fuel cell stack is made to have water repellency, so that water accumulated in a fuel gas flow path can be appropriately discharged, and thus so that reduction in fuel cell performance and deterioration of the fuel electrode can be surely prevented. For that purpose, in a fuel cell device, a fuel cell having an electrolyte layer interposed between the fuel electrode and an oxygen electrode includes a cell module laminated so as to interpose a separator formed with the fuel gas flow path along the fuel electrode, and a fuel gas flows substantially perpendicularly to the direction of gravity in the fuel gas flow path. The separator is provided with a water-repellent surface on the fuel electrode side of a lower portion thereof.

Abstract: In a fuel cell stack that is made by stacking unit cells in alternation with separators, lower edges of collector members that are in contact with oxygen electrodes of the unit cells project downward, providing projecting portions that project below lower edges of frames. Water-repellent regions are provided on lower edges of the projecting portions, facilitating shedding of water from the projecting portions.

Abstract: A separator unit inserted into a fuel cell having an electrolyte layer interposed between a fuel electrode and an oxygen electrode is provided with a plate like separator that separates fuel gas supplied to the fuel electrode from oxidizing gas supplied to the oxygen electrode, and a mesh like collector having an opening that forms one of a passage through which the fuel gas flows and a passage through which the oxidizing gas flows. The collector is provided to at least one side of the separator base in abutment against one of the fuel electrode and the oxygen electrode. The separator base has a coolant passage formed therein, through which a coolant is allowed to flow, and an electrode abutment portion of the collector, which abuts against one of the fuel electrode and the oxygen electrode, has an aperture ratio higher than those of other portions of the collector.

Abstract: A portion of a fuel electrode corresponding to a portion in a fuel gas flow path where water accumulates is made to contain no catalyst, thus preventing abnormal reaction from occurring, and consequently enabling sure prevention of degradation of the fuel electrode and reduction in fuel cell performance. For that purpose, in a fuel cell device, a fuel cell having an electrolyte layer interposed between the fuel electrode and an oxygen electrode includes a cell module laminated so as to interpose a separator formed with the fuel gas flow path along the fuel electrode, and a fuel gas flows substantially perpendicularly to the direction of gravity in the fuel gas flow path. The fuel electrode includes a catalyst-absent portion which contains no catalyst, provided in a portion corresponding to a water-accumulating portion in which water is accumulated, in the fuel gas flow path.

Abstract: A surface on the fuel electrode side of a lower portion of a separator in a fuel cell stack is made to have water repellency, so that water accumulated in a fuel gas flow path can be appropriately discharged, and thus so that reduction in fuel cell performance and deterioration of the fuel electrode can be surely prevented. For that purpose, in a fuel cell device, a fuel cell having an electrolyte layer interposed between the fuel electrode and an oxygen electrode includes a cell module laminated so as to interpose a separator formed with the fuel gas flow path along the fuel electrode, and a fuel gas flows substantially perpendicularly to the direction of gravity in the fuel gas flow path. The separator is provided with a water-repellent surface on the fuel electrode side of a lower portion thereof.

Abstract: A separator unit is inserted between adjacent stacked fuel cells, in each of which an electrolyte layer is sandwiched between a fuel electrode and an oxygen electrode. The separator unit includes a sheet-shaped gas barrier member, which blocks a gas, and a collector, which is inserted between the gas barrier member and the fuel electrode or the oxygen electrode and which is provided with a plurality of openings that diffuse the gas. The collector is provided with an electrode contact portion, which is made up of a flat, porous panel that is in contact with the fuel electrode or the oxygen electrode and collects power, and a gas barrier member contact portion, which is made up of a linear piece that forms a gas flow route by being in contact with the gas barrier member and supports the electrode contact portion. A height dimension of the gas barrier member contact portion is smaller than an equivalent diameter of an opening in the electrode contact portion.

Abstract: In a fuel cell stack that is made by stacking unit cells in alternation with separators, lower edges of collector members that are in contact with oxygen electrodes of the unit cells project downward, providing projecting portions that project below lower edges of frames. Water-repellent regions are provided on lower edges of the projecting portions, facilitating shedding of water from the projecting portions.

Abstract: A separator unit inserted into a fuel cell having an electrolyte layer interposed between a fuel electrode and an oxygen electrode is provided with a plate like separator that separates fuel gas supplied to the fuel electrode from oxidizing gas supplied to the oxygen electrode, and a mesh like collector having an opening that forms one of a passage through which the fuel gas flows and a passage through which the oxidizing gas flows. The collector is provided to at least one side of the separator base in abutment against one of the fuel electrode and the oxygen electrode. The separator base has a coolant passage formed therein, through which a coolant is allowed to flow, and an electrode abutment portion of the collector, which abuts against one of the fuel electrode and the oxygen electrode, has an aperture ratio higher than those of other portions of the collector.

Abstract: A separator unit inserted into a fuel cell having an electrolyte layer interposed between a fuel electrode and an oxygen electrode is provided with a plate like separator that separates fuel gas supplied to the fuel electrode from oxidizing gas supplied to the oxygen electrode, and a mesh like collector having an opening that forms one of a passage through which the fuel gas flows and a passage through which the oxidizing gas flows. The collector is provided to at least one side of the separator base in abutment against one of the fuel electrode and the oxygen electrode. The separator base has a coolant passage formed therein, through which a coolant is allowed to flow, and an electrode abutment portion of the collector, which abuts against one of the fuel electrode and the oxygen electrode, has an aperture ratio higher than those of other portions of the collector.