Abstract: Disclosed is a hydrogen supply system for a fuel cell, which has an integrated manifold block in which components for hydrogen supply are integrated and modulated. In particular, a hydrogen supply line, a hydrogen discharge line, and a hydrogen recirculation line are formed in a manifold block mounted on the outside of a plurality of stack modules of a fuel cell stack. Additionally, components of the hydrogen supply system including components for supplying and discharging hydrogen and components for recirculating hydrogen are integrally mounted in predetermined positions of the hydrogen supply line, the hydrogen discharge line, and the hydrogen recirculation line to modularize the manifold block and the components of the hydrogen supply system.

Abstract: Disclosed is a manifold block for a fuel cell, which provides excellent electrical insulation for a coolant flow channel in an internal flow channel. More specifically, a manifold block for a fuel cell stack, includes a coolant interface formed of a polymer insulating material and coolant flow channels; and a reactant gas interface formed of a metal material and including reactant gas flow channels. In particular, the reactant and coolant interfaces are mounted to a stack module and, at the same time, are integrally bonded to each other.

Abstract: A system for activating a fuel cell includes a flow meter for measuring the amount of water discharged from an outlet of the air electrode and an outlet of the fuel electrode; a pressure sensor for measuring the pressure at the respective outlets; and a back pressure regulator receiving flow values measured by the flow meters and pressure values measured by the pressure sensors, which are fed back from a controller, and regulating a pressure difference (?P=PCathode?PAnode) to be a value greater than 0. With the system, the activation time of a fuel cell and the amount of hydrogen used for the activation can be reduced, thus improving the productivity and manufacturing cost.

Abstract: The present invention provides a fuel cell separator having an airtight gasket, in which a gasket is integrally injection-molded in a region that requires airtightness of a fuel cell separator to maintain airtightness of each flow field of the separator and to smoothly guide the fluid flow in each flow field. For this purpose, the present invention provides a fuel cell separator having an airtight gasket, which is integrally injection-molded on both surfaces of the separator to form a closed curve.

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel integrated valve system for a fuel cell stack, in which an air shut-off valve for preventing the inflow of air when a fuel cell shuts down and a dry gas purge valve for improving cold startability are coaxially coupled to each other so that the air shut-off valve and the dry gas purge valve simultaneously open or close.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of forming a nanostructured surface (NSS) on a polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) of a membrane electrode assembly (MEA) for a fuel cell, in which a nanostructured surface is suitably formed on a polymer electrolyte membrane by plasma treatment during plasma assisted etching in a plasma-assisted chemical vapor deposition (PACVD) chamber, where catalyst particles or a catalyst layer are directly deposited on the surface of the polymer electrolyte membrane having the nanostructured surface.

Abstract: A system for activating a fuel cell includes a flow meter for measuring the amount of water discharged from an outlet of the air electrode and an outlet of the fuel electrode; a pressure sensor for measuring the pressure at the respective outlets; and a back pressure regulator receiving flow values measured by the flow meters and pressure values measured by the pressure sensors, which are fed back from a controller, and regulating a pressure difference (?P=PCathode?PAnode) to be a value greater than 0. With the system, the activation time of a fuel cell and the amount of hydrogen used for the activation can be reduced, thus improving the productivity and manufacturing cost.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of assembling a fuel cell stack, in which a fixing block and a fixing pin are used to assemble the fuel cell stack instead of a bolt, thereby reducing the time and process required for assembly of the fuel cell stack, enabling an assembly process using an automated device to be realized, and facilitating mass production.

Abstract: Disclosed is an MEA in which a catalyst layer is coated on both sides of an ion exchange membrane. An ion exchange membrane support film is attached on both sides of an edge portion of the ion exchange membrane, and a PCB is mounted on one surface of the ion exchange membrane support film along an outer line of the catalyst layer of the MEA. Furthermore, a PCB terminal is formed on one end of the PCB, and a connector is connected to the PCB terminal to communicate with an external controller. The PCB includes a heating element, a first temperature sensor measuring the temperature of the heating element, a second temperature sensor measuring the temperature of the MEA, a first contact measuring the resistance of unit cells, and a second contact measuring the voltage of the unit cells, formed in a predetermined arrangement to communicate with the PCB terminal.

Abstract: Disclosed is a fuel cell with enhanced mass transfer characteristics in which a highly hydrophobic porous medium, which is prepared by forming a micro-nano dual structure in which nanometer-scale protrusions with a high aspect ratio are formed on the surface of a porous medium with a micrometer-scale roughness by plasma etching and then by depositing a hydrophobic thin film thereon, is used as a gas diffusion layer, thereby increasing hydrophobicity due to the micro-nano dual structure and the hydrophobic thin film. When this highly hydrophobic porous medium is used as a gas diffusion layer for a fuel cell, it is possible to reduce water flooding by efficiently discharging water produced by an electrochemical reaction of the fuel cell and to improve the performance of the fuel cell by facilitating the supply of reactant gases such as hydrogen and air (oxygen) to a membrane-electrode assembly (MEA).

Abstract: The present invention features a fuel cell stack that preferably includes an electricity generating assembly having a plurality of unit cells that are suitably disposed one after another; a pair of end plates pressedly disposed respectively at upper and lower ends of the electricity generating assembly; and a joining device suitably engaging the end plates by a rope, where pressure is applied to the electricity generating assembly by means of tension of the rope, and the length and tension of the rope is suitably controlled.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides an end plate for a fuel cell including a sandwich insert, in which a metal insert has a sandwich insert structure including a plurality of stacked plates, thereby securing strength and achieving a lightweight structure. The sandwich insert is manufactured by staking two or more plates, each having a specific shape, followed by injection molding the sandwich insert with a plastic injection molded body, thereby securing strength and also achieving a lightweight structure, contrary to a conventional integral metal insert.

Abstract: Disclosed is an end plate for a fuel cell including an anti-bending plate, in which an anti-bending plate is assembled with an insert having a sandwich structure and the insert is injection molded, thereby easily preventing the insert from being bent due to an injection molding pressure. In the disclosed end plate, a sandwich insert including two or more stacked plates each having a specific shape is manufactured, and an anti-bending plate is coupled to the sandwich insert and then is injection molded, thereby easily preventing the sandwich insert from being bent due to a resin pressure in the injection molding process, contrary to a conventional integral metal insert.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus and method for forming an oxidation layer on a manifold block for a fuel cell stack, which forms an oxidation layer uniformly over the entire surface of a long and complicated internal flow field of a manifold block. In particular, the apparatus for forming an oxidation layer on a manifold block for a fuel cell stack includes: an electrolyte bath which contains an electrolyte required for the formation of the oxidation layer, an electrode for supplying a required electron flow for the formation of the oxidation layer from a power supply to the manifold block immersed in the electrolyte of the electrolyte bath and to the electrolyte, and an air supply for supplying oxygen to the electrolyte. Even more particularly, the electrode connected to the electrolyte is inserted into each internal flow field of the manifold block to provide an effective electron flow therein.

Abstract: The present invention provides a manifold block for a fuel cell stack, coupled to a fuel cell stack module and having a gas passage and a cooling water passage. The manifold block includes an insulating member and an insulating cover. The insulating member is inserted into the cooling water passage and contacts an inner surface of the cooling water passage. The insulating member has a tube-like shape and electrically insulates the inner surface of the cooling water passage. The insulating cover is inserted into the cooling water passage and contacts an inner surface of the insulating member. The insulating cover fixes and protects the insulating member.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a fuel cell stack structure, including: metallic bipolar plates having cooling surfaces facing each other, wherein film-removed portions are provided at portions of the cooling surfaces. The fuel cell stack structure is advantageous in that electrical conductivity can be achieved by the contact portion of two metallic bipolar plates without having to apply a conductive material onto the contact site of the cooling surfaces of the metallic bipolar plates, so that the manufacturing cost of the metallic bipolar plate can be reduced, thereby reducing the manufacturing cost a fuel cell stack.

Abstract: The present invention preferably provides a separator for a fuel cell, in which a strength reinforcing means is integrally formed in a region, which is not supported by a gasket, over the region from manifolds, through which reactant gases and coolant are supplied, to a reaction flow field, in which a reaction takes place, thus suitably preventing local deformation of the separator.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus and method for manufacturing a metal separator for a fuel cell, which can manufacture large-sized metal separators in large quantities using metal plates such as stainless steel by thermoplastic deformation using an incremental and synchronized rubber molding process.

Abstract: The present invention provides a porous medium with increased hydrophobicity and a method of manufacturing the same, in which a micro-nano dual structure is provided by forming nanoprotrusions with a high aspect ratio by performing plasma etching on the surface of a porous medium with a micrometer-scale surface roughness and a hydrophobic thin film is deposited on the surface of the micro-nano dual structure, thus significantly increasing hydrophobicity. When this highly hydrophobic porous medium is used as a gas diffusion layer of a fuel cell, it is possible to efficiently discharge water produced during electrochemical reaction of the fuel cell, thus preventing flooding in the fuel cell. Moreover, it is possible to sufficiently supply reactant gases such as hydrogen and air (oxygen) to a membrane electrode assembly (MEA), thus improving the performance of the fuel cell.

Abstract: Disclosed is a gasket for reducing stress concentration in a fuel cell stack, which prevents damage or deformation of a separator and further prevents a position shift of the gasket by reducing stress concentration formed at a specific region by deformation of the gasket due to a compression force. In particular, the gasket includes a T-shaped or cross-shaped gasket joint to form hydrogen, air and coolant manifolds, and the gasket joint has a structure in which two joint branches forming an angle of 180° in the opposite direction to each other are joined at one point with a particular angles which reduce stress concentration formed due to compression force by deformation of the gasket.