Abstract: In order to create an electrochemical device, comprising a plurality of electrochemical units, which succeed one another along a stack direction, wherein each electrochemical unit comprises a bipolar plate and an electrically insulating seal, and a clamping device for clamping the electrochemical units along the stack direction, in which electrochemical device the risk of a short circuit between adjacent bipolar plates is reduced without the expenditure for the production of the electrochemical device being excessively increased, it is proposed that at least one seal of at least one electrochemical unit in the pressed state protrudes laterally beyond a contour of the bipolar plate of the electrochemical unit in a direction of protrusion directed perpendicularly to the stack direction.

Abstract: What is described is a fuel cell structure (100) having a first fuel cell (110a) and a second fuel cell (110b), which are stacked one on top of the other in a longitudinal direction (112) of the fuel cell structure (100). The first fuel cell (110a) and the second fuel cell (110b) contain a first plate (116), a second plate (118), an interlayer (120) and an elastic material (130). The interlayer (120) is arranged between the first plate (116) and the second plate (118). The elastic material (130) is arranged in the form of an electrical insulator in a peripheral region (140) of the fuel cell (110a, 110b) between the first plate (116) and the second plate (118). The first plate (116) and/or the second plate (118) contains a curved portion (150) in the peripheral region (140). The elastic material (130) bears against the curved portion (150), in order to conduct a lateral force acting in a transverse direction (114) of the fuel cell structure onto the curved portion (150).

Abstract: A fuel cell stack has an arrangement of fuel cells stacked in a stack direction, two end plates which delimit the arrangement and are arranged opposite one another in the stack direction, and a supporting structure which runs on at least one side surface of the arrangement and at least between the end plates, the supporting structure configured to support the fuel cells transversely with respect to the stack direction, to counteract slipping of the fuel cells transversely with respect to the stack direction. The supporting structure has an element which is preshaped such that, in a mounted state, the supporting structure exerts a prestress which acts on the arrangement of fuel cells, and the prestress acts on the arrangement of fuel cells transversely with respect to the stack direction.

Abstract: A method for producing a sealing element on a gas diffusion layer of an electrochemical unit including the following is provided: arranging an injection molding tool on the gas diffusion layer; and introducing injection molding material into a cavity of the injection molding tool. The injection molding tool includes at least one deformation delimiting element, which delimits or prevents a deformation of the gas diffusion layer during the introduction of the injection molding material into the cavity such that damage to the gas diffusion layer is avoided and a sealing element with a mechanically stable connection region is produced.

Abstract: An electrochemical device is provided, including a stack of a plurality of electrochemical units, at least one medium channel extending along a stack direction, at least one flow field via which a medium is able to flow transversely to the stack direction from the medium channel to another medium channel, and at least one connecting channel via which the flow field and the medium channel are in fluidic connection. The connecting channel has a medium channel-side mouth opening extending along a circumferential direction of the flow field from a first medium channel-side rim to a second medium channel-side rim, and a flow field-side mouth opening extending along the circumferential direction from a first to a second flow field-side rim. At least one of the flow field-side rims is offset away from the respective other flow field-side rim along the circumferential direction in relation to one of the medium channel-side rims.

Abstract: In order to provide a fuel cell device which is easy and cost-effective to manufacture and preferably has improved durability, it is proposed according to the invention that the fuel cell device comprises the following: -a fuel cell stack unit; -a supporting frame, in particular a housing, in which the fuel cell stack unit is arranged, -a bearing device, by means of which the fuel cell stack unit is mounted in the supporting frame, in particular in the housing, wherein the fuel cell device comprises a fixed bearing device and a floating bearing device, wherein the floating bearing device comprises one or more floating bearing units.

Abstract: A fuel cell device is provided, including a fuel cell stack, which includes a plurality of fuel cell units following each other in a stacking direction, and two end plates, between which the fuel cell stack is arranged. With the fuel cell device, harmful effects from hydrogen exiting the fuel cell units are avoided without making access to the fuel cell units impossible or causing a disproportionately large maintenance expenditure. The fuel cell device includes an enclosure which surrounds the fuel cell stack and the end plates, wherein the free remaining volume that remains within the enclosure between the enclosure, the fuel cell stack, and the end plates is less than 20% of the internal volume of the enclosure.

Abstract: The invention relates to a flow element, in particular, as a component of a bipolar plate of an electrochemical device, comprising a plate-like base body that extends in two main directions of extension that are oriented at an angle in relation to one another, and has an extension in a height direction that is oriented transversely and in particular perpendicularly thereto, wherein the base body has a channel structure having a plurality of channels that are arranged laterally adjacent to one another, wherein the channels are formed by recesses in the base body and are separated from one another by raised portions, arranged between the recesses, of the base body, wherein regions having a normal level difference, defined in the height direction, as a height difference between a raised portion and an adjoining recess are provided, as well as regions having a level difference, reduced in comparison with the normal level difference, as a height difference between a raised portion and an adjoining recess, wherein,

Abstract: In order to create a bipolar plate for an electrochemical device, comprising at least one first bipolar plate layer and one second bipolar plate layer, between which an edge channel extending along a longitudinal direction is formed, and comprising a fluid channel running substantially in parallel to the edge channel, in which bipolar plate at least an edge channel portion of the edge channel can be flowed through by a fluid media to be supplied to the electrochemical device, for example by a fluid reaction media or by a cooling media, even though the edge channel has no direct fluidic connection to a medium channel by which the respective fluid media is supplied to the electrochemical device, it is proposed that the bipolar plate comprises at least one fluidic connection through which a fluid medium can flow from the edge channel into the adjacent fluid channel and/or from the adjacent fluid channel into the edge channel.

Abstract: An electrochemical device comprises a stack consisting of a plurality of electrochemical units which succeed one another along a stack direction and which each include a membrane electrode arrangement, a bipolar plate and at least one sealing element, at least one medium channel which extends along the stack direction, a flow field through which a medium can flow from the medium channel to another medium channel, and a connection channel through which the flow field and the medium channel are in fluid connection with one another, wherein the sealing arrangement includes a connection channel region in which the sealing arrangement crosses the connection channel, and at least one neighboring region which is located in front of or behind the connection channel region in the longitudinal direction of the sealing arrangement, wherein the sealing arrangement has a lower average height in the connection channel region than in the neighboring region.

Abstract: In order to create an electrochemical device, comprising a plurality of electrochemical units, which succeed one another along a stack direction, wherein each electrochemical unit comprises a bipolar plate and an electrically insulating seal, and a clamping device for clamping the electrochemical units along the stack direction, in which electrochemical device the risk of a short circuit between adjacent bipolar plates is reduced without the expenditure for the production of the electrochemical device being excessively increased, it is proposed that at least one seal of at least one electrochemical unit in the pressed state protrudes laterally beyond a contour of the bipolar plate of the electrochemical unit in a direction of protrusion directed perpendicularly to the stack direction.

Abstract: In order to provide a fuel cell device which can be produced simply and cost-effectively, it is proposed that the fuel cell device comprises the following: a plurality of fuel cell elements which are stacked one on top of another along a stacking direction and form a fuel cell stack; a clamping device for securing the fuel cell elements; a fluid guide unit for supplying fuel and/or oxidizer and/or coolant to the fuel cell elements and/or for removing fuel and/or oxidizer and/or exhaust gas and/or coolant from the fuel cell elements, wherein the clamping device comprises two or more crossmembers which extend at least approximately perpendicularly to the stacking direction, wherein in each case at least one crossmember is arranged at each end of the fuel cell stack, wherein the crossmembers can be drawn towards one another by means of clamping elements and the fuel cell stack can thereby be clamped between the crossmembers.

Abstract: A method for producing a sealing element on a gas diffusion layer of an electrochemical unit including the following is provided: arranging an injection molding tool on the gas diffusion layer; and introducing injection molding material into a cavity of the injection molding tool. The injection molding tool includes at least one deformation delimiting element, which delimits or prevents a deformation of the gas diffusion layer during the introduction of the injection molding material into the cavity such that damage to the gas diffusion layer is avoided and a sealing element with a mechanically stable connection region is produced.

Abstract: An electrochemical device is provided, including a stack of a plurality of electrochemical units, at least one medium channel extending along a stack direction, at least one flow field via which a medium is able to flow transversely to the stack direction from the medium channel to another medium channel, and at least one connecting channel via which the flow field and the medium channel are in fluidic connection. The connecting channel has a medium channel-side mouth opening extending along a circumferential direction of the flow field from a first medium channel-side rim to a second medium channel-side rim, and a flow field-side mouth opening extending along the circumferential direction from a first to a second flow field-side rim. At least one of the flow field-side rims is offset away from the respective other flow field-side rim along the circumferential direction in relation to one of the medium channel-side rims.

Abstract: To provide a flow element which in particular is used as a component of a bipolar plate in electrochemical devices, which is stable and permits efficient flow guiding, it is proposed that the flow element comprises a plate-like main body that is formed as a shaped sheet metal product and has a channel structure, wherein the channel structure comprises a plurality of channels which are formed by recesses in the main body and are separated from one another by raised portions of the main body, wherein there is provided at least one region with normal level difference that defines, with respect to a height direction running perpendicular to two main directions of extent of the main body, a height difference between a recess and an adjoining raised portion, wherein there is provided at least one region with reduced level difference, in which a height difference between a recess and an adjoining raised portion is less than the normal level difference, wherein the at least one region with reduced level difference co

Abstract: A fuel cell device is provided, including a fuel cell stack, which includes a plurality of fuel cell units following each other in a stacking direction, and two end plates, between which the fuel cell stack is arranged. With the fuel cell device, harmful effects from hydrogen exiting the fuel cell units are avoided without making access to the fuel cell units impossible or causing a disproportionately large maintenance expenditure. The fuel cell device includes an enclosure which surrounds the fuel cell stack and the end plates, wherein the free remaining volume that remains within the enclosure between the enclosure, the fuel cell stack, and the end plates is less than 20% of the internal volume of the enclosure.

Abstract: In order to provide a fuel cell device which can be produced simply and cost-effectively, it is proposed that the fuel cell device comprises the following: a plurality of fuel cell elements which are stacked one on top of another along a stacking direction and form a fuel cell stack; a clamping device for securing the fuel cell elements; a fluid guide unit for supplying fuel and/or oxidizer and/or coolant to the fuel cell elements and/or for removing fuel and/or oxidizer and/or exhaust gas and/or coolant from the fuel cell elements, wherein the clamping device comprises two or more crossmembers which extend at least approximately perpendicularly to the stacking direction, wherein in each case at least one crossmember is arranged at each end of the fuel cell stack, wherein the crossmembers can be drawn towards one another by means of clamping elements and the fuel cell stack can thereby be clamped between the crossmembers.

Abstract: In order to provide a flow element by means of which a fluid can be guided and/or distributed over a surface as uniformly as possible, it is proposed that the flow element comprises a plate-like main body, which has a channel structure, wherein the channel structure comprises two or more paths, which connect an inlet side of the channel structure to an outlet side of the channel structure, wherein the two or more channel paths each have one or more meandering segments, wherein meandering segments of channel paths different from each other are nested in each other.

Abstract: In order to provide a flow element by means of which a fluid can be guided and/or distributed over a surface as uniformly as possible, it is proposed that the flow element comprises a plate-like main body, which has a channel structure, wherein the channel structure comprises two or more paths, which connect an inlet side of the channel structure to an outlet side of the channel structure, wherein the two or more channel paths each have one or more meandering segments, wherein meandering segments of channel paths different from each other are nested in each other.

Abstract: To provide a flow element which in particular is used as a component of a bipolar plate in electrochemical devices, which is stable and permits efficient flow guiding, it is proposed that the flow element comprises a plate-like main body that is formed as a shaped sheet metal product and has a channel structure, wherein the channel structure comprises a plurality of channels which are formed by recesses in the main body and are separated from one another by raised portions of the main body, wherein there is provided at least one region with normal level difference that defines, with respect to a height direction running perpendicular to two main directions of extent of the main body, a height difference between a recess and an adjoining raised portion, wherein there is provided at least one region with reduced level difference, in which a height difference between a recess and an adjoining raised portion is less than the normal level difference, wherein the at least one region with reduced level difference co