Abstract: A fuel cell includes an electrolyte electrode assembly and a pair of first and second separators. First through fourth oxygen-containing gas holes, first through fourth coolant holes, and first through fourth fuel gas holes extend through the fuel cell. The first through fourth oxygen-containing gas holes are selectively used as oxygen-containing gas supply ports or oxygen-containing gas discharge ports to change the flow direction of an oxygen-containing gas in an oxygen-containing gas flow field continuously.

Abstract: A fuel cell system for supplying electricity to a main motor as a power source includes a fuel cell stack and pumps for supplying a fuel gas and an oxygen-containing gas to the fuel cell stack. The fuel cell system further includes a driving force transmitting mechanism. The driving force transmitting mechanism connects the main motor, the pumps, and the supercharger for driving the pumps and the supercharger by the main motor.

Abstract: First and second separators include first and second metal plates. The first metal plate has first embossed protrusions protruding toward a membrane electrode assembly to form an oxygen-containing gas flow passage. The second metal plate has second embossed protrusions protruding toward another membrane electrode assembly to form a fuel gas flow passage. Further, the second metal plate has third small embossed protrusions protruding toward the first metal plate.

Abstract: A fuel cell stack is formed by stacking a plurality of fuel cells. A heating mechanism is provided for heating an outermost fuel cell by external electrical energy. A power generation circuit including electric heaters corresponding to the fuel cells is provided. Further, a switching mechanism including switches for selectively connecting the fuel cells to the power generation circuit or selectively disconnecting the fuel cells from the power generation circuit is provided.

Abstract: A first separator of a unit cell and a second separator of another unit cell and are disposed adjacent to each other in a stacked assembly. Crest surfaces of straight sections of first hollow ridges of the first separator are in contact with crest surfaces of second hollow ridges of the second separator, and crest surfaces of bent sections of the first hollow ridges are spaced from crest surfaces of the second hollow ridges. The spaced crest surfaces allow first troughs of the first separator and second troughs of the second separator to communicate with each other, providing communication passages between the first separator and the second separator. Cooling water is passed through the communication passages.

Abstract: A press forming apparatus, for metal separators for fuel cells, has a pair of peripheral portion holding dies which hold a peripheral portion of a material and are movable toward and counter to each other; a pair of intermediate portion forming dies for forming a intermediate portion of the material, which are disposed inside the peripheral portion holding dies and are movable toward and counter to each other; and a pair of center portion forming dies for forming a center portion of the material, which are disposed inside the intermediate portion forming dies and are movable toward and counter to each other, wherein one of the peripheral portion holding dies and one of the intermediate portion forming dies are fixed to each other, one of the center portion forming dies is movable with respect to one of the intermediate portion forming dies toward the material, the other intermediate portion forming die and the other center portion forming die are fixed to each other, and the other intermediate portion forming

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 first separator is formed by combining a resinous passage member and a metal member together. A second separator is formed by combining a resinous passage member and a metal member together. A coolant flow field is defined between the resinous passage members such that the coolant flow field is electrically insulated from the membrane electrode assembly. The metal member includes a copper member, and the metal member includes a copper member. An outer circumferential portion of the copper member and an outer circumferential portion of the copper member are electrically connected with each other.

Abstract: A separator 21, 22 for use in a fuel cell that generates electricity by a reaction between fuel and oxidant is disclosed. The separator is formed by metal foam 28 which is impregnated with resin. Gas flow passages 23, 25 are formed on a contact surface for contacting with an electrode 19, 20, and conductive plating is applied on the parts where the metal foam 28 is exposed to view in the contact surface 21a, 21b of the separator 21, 22.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for easily determining the specifications of a fuel cell and a capacitor constituting a fuel cell power generation system according to an operational mode of an electric load connected to the fuel cell power generation system and a fuel cell power generation system having its specification set using the method. The specifications of the fuel cell and the capacitor connected in parallel to the fuel cell are determined by meeting three requirements: the driving performance, the fuel economy, and the durability, in good balance.

Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell, a heater provided in the fuel cell, a load such as a peripheral component of the fuel cell, a capacitor, and a switch. Power generation of the fuel cell is carried out continuously for supplying electric energy to the load, and charging the capacitor. When charging of the capacitor is completed, the switch is operated such that electric energy discharged from the capacitor is supplied to the heater for warming up the fuel cell by the heater.

Abstract: An injection-molding method including preparing a first die, a second die and a third die, sandwiching a separator proper with the first die and the second die, molding a front side molded layer by injecting silicone rubber into the front side cavity through a gate, a step of replacing the second die with a third die while the front side molded layer is still soft, and molding a rear side molded layer by piercing the front side molded layer with an injection pressure injecting the silicone rubber through the gate and filling a rear side cavity with silicone rubber through the through hole.

Abstract: A fuel cell has a membrane electrode assembly and first and second metal sheet separators. The first metal sheet separator has a fuel gas passage defined on a surface thereof. The fuel gas passage has a plurality of embossed bodies projecting from the surface which faces the membrane electrode assembly, and pairs of guide ribs provided by joining two or more of the embossed bodies.

Abstract: A fuel cell includes an electrolyte electrode assembly and a pair of first and second separators. First through fourth oxygen-containing gas holes, first through fourth coolant holes, and first through fourth fuel gas holes extend through the fuel cell. The first through fourth oxygen-containing gas holes are selectively used as an oxygen-containing gas supply port or an oxygen-containing gas discharge port to cause an oxygen-containing gas to flow circularly along an electrode surface in an oxygen-containing gas flow field.

Abstract: A cell assembly (10) includes a first unit cell (12) and a second unit cell (14). The first unit cell (12) and the second unit cell (14) are juxtaposed such that electrode surfaces of the first unit cell (12) and electrode surfaces of the second unit cell (14) are aligned in parallel with each other. An oxygen-containing gas flow passage (32) includes a first oxygen-containing gas passage (38) in the first unit cell (12), an oxygen-containing gas connection passage (40) in a connection passage member (16), and a second oxygen-containing gas passage (42) in the second unit cell (14). The first oxygen-containing gas passage (38), the oxygen-containing gas connection passage (40), and the second oxygen-containing gas passage (42) are connected serially from the first unit cell (12) to the second unit cell (14).

Abstract: A fuel cell (10) is formed by sandwiching a membrane electrode assembly (14) between first and second separators (16, 18). An oxygen-containing gas supply passage (20) extends through the fuel cell (10) in a stacking direction. The oxygen-containing gas passage (20) includes first and second straight sections (20a, 20b) to form a single opening. The first and second straight sections are elongated in directions indicated by arrows B and C around a corner at an upper portion of one end of the first separator (16).

Abstract: A method for joining a resin member and a porous member can prevent peeling in a specified direction. When a thermoplastic laser transmitting resin member and a porous member are joined, the laser transmitting resin layer and the porous member are laminated, and a laser beam is emitted at a side of the laser transmitting resin member. The porous member is heated so that the laser transmitting resin member is melted, and the melted resin is impregnated with holes of the porous member. The resin is cooled so as to solidify.

Abstract: A press forming apparatus, for metal separators for fuel cells, has a pair of peripheral portion holding dies which hold a peripheral portion of a material and are movable toward and counter to each other; a pair of intermediate portion forming dies for forming a intermediate portion of the material, which are disposed inside the peripheral portion holding dies and are movable toward and counter to each other; and a pair of center portion forming dies for forming a center portion of the material, which are disposed inside the intermediate portion forming dies and are movable toward and counter to each other, wherein one of the peripheral portion holding dies and one of the intermediate portion forming dies are fixed to each other, one of the center portion forming dies is movable with respect to one of the intermediate portion forming dies toward the material, the other intermediate portion forming die and the other center portion forming die are fixed to each other, and the other intermediate portion forming

Abstract: A method for easily determining the specifications of a fuel cell and a capacitor constituting a fuel cell power generation system according to an operational mode of an electric load connected to the fuel cell power generation system. The specifications of the fuel cell and the capacitor connected in parallel to the fuel cell are determined by a first step for determining a limit value di/dt_lmt of an increasing rate di/dt of an output current density per unit cell area of the fuel cell according to at least an operational mode of the electric load connected to the fuel cell system, a second step for determining an internal resistance Rfc of the fuel cell on the basis of a current-voltage (I-V) characteristic of the fuel cell based on the di/dt_lmt determined by the first step, and a third step for determining the internal resistance Rcap of the capacitor such that a characteristic value K calculated by weighted multiplication of Rfc determined by the second step and Rcap lies within the range of 0.

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.