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 fuel cell stack with enhanced freeze-thaw durability. In particular, the fuel cell stack includes a gas diffusion layer between a membrane-electrode assembly and a bipolar plate. The gas diffusion layer has a structure that reduces contact resistance in a fuel cell and is cut at a certain angle such that the machine direction (high stiffness direction) of GDL roll is not in parallel with the major flow field direction of the bipolar plate, resulting in an increased GDL stiffness in a width direction perpendicular to a major flow field direction of a bipolar plate.

Abstract: A technique is described herein for monitoring the operational state of a fuel cell stack by the detection of nonlinearity in such a manner that an external test signal for frequency response is generated and applied to the fuel cell stack during operation, the resulting signal output from the fuel cell stack is measured, and the harmonic content of the measured signal is analyzed, the method including: applying a multiple frequency test signal comprising at least two sinusoidal waves as the test signal for frequency response to the fuel cell stack; and analyzing the resulting current or voltage signal output from the fuel cell stack.

Abstract: The present invention provides a fuel cell separator with a gasket manufactured by integrally forming a gasket on one side of a separator; independently injection molding a frame gasket on a frame such that a first airtight portion covers the entire surface of the frame to maintain the shape of the frame gasket and a second airtight portion projects upward and downward from both ends of the first airtight portion; and bringing the first airtight portion of the frame gasket into contact with the other side of the separator with the gasket formed on one side thereof. To create a fuel cell stack in certain embodiments, the invention stacks the second airtight portion of the frame gasket on another second airtight portion of an adjacent unit cell with a membrane-electrode assembly interposed therebetween.

Abstract: The present invention provides a fuel cell separator and a method for surface treatment of the same, in which ionized nanoparticles are attached to the surface of a separator to form fine projections such that the surface of the separator exhibits superhydrophobicity. For this purpose, the present invention provides a method for surface treatment of a fuel cell separator which provides nanoparticles for forming fine projections on the surface of the separator to a discharge electrode and ionizes the nanoparticles by an arc discharge generated in the discharge electrode. The ionized nanoparticles are then attached to the surface of the separator by an electric field generated by applying a high voltage between the separator and the discharge electrode, thereby forming fine projections for imparting superhydrophobicity.

Abstract: The present invention provides a fuel cell stack with a water drainage structure, which can effectively drain condensed water and prevent water from flowing into unit cells by combining an end anode plate (EAP) and an end cathode plate (ECP), which are formed by modifying an anode plate (AP) and cathode plate (CP) respectively.

Abstract: The present invention provides a fuel cell separator, in which a vortex generating structure is formed on the surface of a channel of the separator to induce a vortex of fluid (i.e., hydrogen and air) flowing through the channel, thus facilitating the supply of reactant gases and the removal of water droplets from a gas diffusion layer (GDL).

Abstract: The present invention provides a fuel cell separator with a gasket and a method for manufacturing the same, which can prevent corrosion of the separator and improve corrosion resistance of the separator. In particular, the present invention provides a fuel cell separator with a gasket and a method for manufacturing the same, in which an adhesive is coated on the entire or partial surface of the separator, preferably by screen printing. A process of integrally molding a gasket to the separator is then performed such that the edges of the separator are not exposed to the outside after the injection molding process but, rather, are coated with the resin adhesive. The present invention thereby prevents corrosion of the separator, improves corrosion resistance of the separator, and prevents formation of burrs during the injection molding process.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus and method for generating a virtual sound source for monitoring the operating state of a fuel cell stack, which monitors in real time the deviation and deterioration of a plurality of cells in a fuel cell stack during operation, and expresses the results as a chord or different sounds, thus allowing a driver to easily recognize the operating state of the fuel cell stack

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for manufacturing a composite separator for a fuel cell, which can reduce the electrical contact resistance by performing an additional post-treatment to remove residual resin remaining on the surface of the composite separator by plasma etching. In certain preferred embodiments, the present invention provides a method for manufacturing a composite separator for a fuel cell, in which a liquid phase resin for gasket is applied to the surface of the composite separator along a predetermined gasket pattern, or a semi-cured resin for gasket in the form of a film with a predetermined gasket pattern is stacked on the surface of the composite separator, and then plasma etching is performed to remove the residual resin and, at the same time, cure the resin for gasket, thus reducing the overall processing time to improve the productivity and preventing a composite material of the separator from being damaged.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus and method for determining deterioration of a fuel cell, the method including measuring in real time fluoride ion concentration or pH value of outflow water from a fuel cell stack during operation in a fuel cell vehicle, calculating a fluoride emission rate from the measured value and, if the calculated fluoride emission rate is out of a predetermined normal range, determining deterioration of an electrolyte membrane of the fuel cell stack.

Abstract: The present invention provides a metal separator for a fuel cell, which is surface-treated to have high electrical conductivity and electrochemical corrosion resistance, and a method for treating the surface of the same. The metal separator may include an amorphous carbon film formed on the surface of a separator substrate, the amorphous carbon film being carbonized by heat treatment to increase the proportion of sp2. The surface treatment method may include: forming an amorphous carbon film on the surface of a separator substrate; and carbonizing the amorphous carbon film by heat treatment. Fuel cells having the metal separator can show excellent performance.

Abstract: The present invention provides a composite separator for a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) and a method for manufacturing the same, in which a graphite foil prepared by compressing expanded graphite is stacked on a carbon fiber-reinforced composite prepreg or a mixed solution prepared by mixing graphite flake and powder with a resin solvent is applied to the cured composite prepreg such that a graphite layer is integrally molded on the outermost end of the separator.

Abstract: The present invention provides a surface pressure controlling device for a fuel cell stack, in which an inflator capable of being expanded by pneumatic or hydraulic pressure is mounted in an end plate so as to control the surface pressure required for the assembly of the fuel cell stack to be maintained above a predetermined level.

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 invention provides a metallic bipolar plate for a fuel cell and a method for forming a surface layer of the same, in which the surface layer is formed in such a manner that a plasma nitridation process is performed on the surface of a stainless steel base material to form a nitrogen implanted layer, and oxidation and reduction processes are performed on the surface of the nitrogen implanted layer to form a Fe3O4 surface oxidation layer thereon, thus improving conductivity and corrosion resistance.

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 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: An apparatus and method for partially driving a plasma display panel (PDP) includes a PDP with a plurality of bus electrodes, and a plurality of addressing electrodes intersecting the plurality of bus electrodes to create a display area for displaying an image frame. A panel driver selectively drives the plurality of bus and addressing electrodes, and a controller controls the panel driver to exclude from driving at least one among the plurality of bus electrodes and addressing electrodes with respect to a partial area of the PDP. By only partially driving a portion of the PDP, the loads to be driven, costs of the driving, and power consumption can be reduced. Further, the quality and the brightness of an image can be improved by increasing the number of subfields or increasing a sustaining period by an amount of time corresponding to the time saved by excluding the partial area from driving.

Abstract: The present invention provides a fuel cell separator formed of a continuous carbon-fiber composite, and a method for manufacturing the same.