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 system incorporated in a vehicle has a main electric motor, a drive power transmitting mechanism for engaging and disengaging a fuel gas pump, a coolant fluid pump, a supercharger, and a compressor, which serve as auxiliary equipment, and transmitting a drive power to the auxiliary equipment, and an auxiliary electric motor coaxially connectable to the main electric motor for transmitting a drive power to the auxiliary equipment depending on the manner in which the vehicle is operated.

Abstract: A unit cell has a membrane electrode assembly. The membrane electrode assembly includes a cathode, and an anode, and a solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell interposed between the cathode and the anode. The membrane electrode assembly is interposed between a first separator and a second separator. A thin cooling plate is interposed between the second separator and another first separator. A first coolant flow passage and a second coolant flow passage are formed on both surfaces of the cooling plate. The coolant flows along one surface of the cooling plate, and turns back at an end of the cooling plate to flow along the other surface of the cooling plate.

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: An intermediate plate is interposed between first and second sub-stacks. The intermediate plate has, defined in a surface thereof, an oxygen-containing gas mixing passage interconnecting an oxygen-containing gas outlet in the first sub-stack which is located upstream and an oxygen-containing gas inlet in the second sub-stack which is located downstream. In the first and second sub-stacks, an oxygen-containing gas is supplied from the oxygen-containing gas inlet and discharged to the oxygen-containing gas outlet at all times.

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 stack comprises a fuel gas supply passage and a fuel gas discharge passage for allowing a fuel gas to flow therethrough, penetrating through first and second separators. A fuel gas flow passage for supplying the fuel gas to each of fuel cell units is provided on a surface of the first separator. Curved surfaces, which are curved in a flow direction of the fuel gas, are provided corresponding to each of boundary portions between the fuel gas flow passage and the fuel gas supply passage and the fuel gas discharge passage. Accordingly, it is possible to effectively reduce the delivery pressure loss and the collection pressure loss of the fuel gas.

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 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 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 stack, in which a plurality of cell units are stacked, is accommodated in a case which has a bottom plate, a first side plate, a second side plate, and a ceiling plate. End plates are arranged at both open ends of the case. The case and the end plates are connected to one another by a hinge mechanism in which pins are engaged into through-holes of tab sections to provide a fuel cell stack.

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: Disclosed is a fuel cell stack comprising fuel cell units and first and second separators which are alternately stacked with each other. Wedge members are integrally inserted, over the plurality of fuel cell units, into communication holes of a fuel gas supply passage, an oxygen-containing gas supply passage, and a cooling water supply passage, as well as a fuel gas discharge passage, an oxygen-containing gas discharge passage, and a cooling water discharge passage. A fluid is uniformly delivered to each of the fuel cell units by the aid of the wedge members. Accordingly, the fluid of any one of a fuel gas, an oxygen-containing gas, and a cooling medium is uniformly delivered to each of the fuel cell units. Further, it is possible to simplify the arrangement of the fuel cell stack.

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 comprises a power-generating cell and a cooling cell which are stacked, an insulating means for electrically insulating the cooling medium supplied into the cooling cell from the power-generating cell, and a conducting means for electrically connecting the power-generating cells arranged with the cooling cell interposed therebetween to one another. Accordingly, the earth fault and the liquid junction, which would be otherwise caused by cooling medium, is reliably avoided with a simple structure, making it possible to maintain desired power generation performance.