Abstract: A fuel cell is provided therein with a metal separator for aiming at preventing corrosion and at reducing a contact resistance. The separator is compose of conductive passage board formed therein with passages, and a metal planar panel, the passage boards and the metal planar panel being superposed with one another. The metal planar panel is formed therein with a plurality of manifolds for passing reactive gas or cooling medium through an adjacent cell while the passage boards are formed therein with a plurality of meandering through channels for distributing the reactive gas or the cooling medium from the manifolds. Further, a part of the meandering through channels is superposed with a part or all parts of the manifolds, and a covering layer for preventing the metal planar panel from being corroded, and for restraining a growth of a nonconductive film is formed over an entire part of the metal planar panel or over at least a part thereof which makes contact with the meandering through channels.

Abstract: A fuel cell system for power generation comprising a solid polymer type fuel cell having a solid polymer electrolyte membrane for separating an anode gas and a cathode gas, a resistor, an inverter, a switch for switching the inverter and the resister with respect to the fuel cell, the switch and the inverter, a supply conduit and discharge conduit for the anode gas and the cathode gas, and a supply vale and a discharge valve. When a molar ratio of the hydrogen contained in the anode gas to oxygen contained in the cathode gas becomes 2/1 or less at the time of the stop of the fuel cell, the supply valve for air is closed.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to reduce contact resistance of a fuel cell cooling section of stamped metal and thereby to improve output capacity of the fuel cell. The present invention provides a fuel cell having a stack structure of several unit cells, each containing electrolyte membrane electrodes, gas diffusion layer provided on each side of the electrode and metallic separator having corrugated passages and coming into contact with each gas diffusion layer, and a separator for cooling provided in the stack structure, wherein the separator for cooling is provided with an elastic and/or compressive and electroconductive intermediate sheet held between the passage planes, and a gasket in the portion other than the passage plane.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to simultaneously satisfy reduced separator thickness and pressure drop for power generation by a fuel cell. The present invention provides a fuel cell having two or more stacked units each containing a first separator in which a manifold and fuel gas passage section are formed, first seal sheet which seals the first separator periphery, membrane electrode assembly, second seal sheet which seals a second separator periphery and second separator in which a manifold and oxidizing gas passage section are formed, in this order, wherein each of the fuel gas passage section and oxidizing gas passage section is in communication with the corresponding manifold. Comb teeth structure having comb teeth are provided between the fuel gas passage section and manifold and between the oxidizing gas passage section and manifold in a diffusion layer on the membrane electrode assembly, wherein slits spaces formed between the comb teeth are in communication with the diffusion layer.