Abstract: A fuel cell stack (10) includes a first sub-stack (12), a second sub-stack (14), and a third sub-stack (16) disposed in the flow direction of an oxidizing gas. An intermediate plate (18a) is interposed between the first and second sub-stacks (12, 14), and an intermediate plate (18b) is interposed between the second and third sub-stacks (14, 16). In this fuel stack (10), the flow of an oxidizing gas is set such that the oxidizing gas flows in series in the direction from the first sub-stack (12) to the third sub-stack (16). Between the sub-stacks additional oxidizing gas supplies (70,74) are provided through which oxidizing gas of lower humidity than the humidity of the oxidizing gas entering the first sub-stack is supplied. This arrangement allows an efficient management of the humidity water content of the oxidizing gas with sufficient moisturizing of the solid polymer membrane whilst avoiding excessive condensation of water vapour within the stack.

Abstract: A fuel cell stack includes a stack body, an end separator, a terminal plate, an insulating plate, and an end plate provided at one end of the stack body in a stacking direction. The insulating plate has a recess for accommodating the terminal plate. Further, the insulating plate has a bypass passage connected between a fuel gas supply passage and a fuel gas discharge passage outside the recess for discharging condensed water. An insulating seal member is provided on the end separator to cover the bypass passage. The condensed water flows through an insulated passage formed by the insulating seal member and the bypass passage.

Abstract: A cell assembly includes a first unit cell and a second unit cell which are stacked to each other. The first unit cell has a first unified body, and the second unit cell has a second unified body. A plurality of oxidizing gas passages and a plurality of fuel gas passages are provided in the cell assembly. The oxidizing gas passages in the first unit cell and the oxidizing gas passages in the second unit cell are communicated in series to each other. The fuel gas passages in the first unit cell and the fuel gas passages in the second unit cell are communicated in series to each other.

Abstract: A power generation cell of a fuel cell includes a membrane electrode assembly, and a first separator and a second separator sandwiching the membrane electrode assembly. First supply holes, first discharge holes, second supply holes and second discharge holes extend through the membrane electrode assembly in a stacking direction. The first supply holes connect a fuel gas supply passage and a fuel gas flow field. The first discharge holes connect a fuel gas discharge passage and the fuel gas flow field. The second supply holes connect an oxygen-containing gas supply passage and an oxygen-containing gas flow field. The second discharge holes connect an oxygen-containing gas discharge passage and the oxygen-containing gas flow field.

Abstract: A fuel cell includes a plurality of metal clip members for holding outer regions of first and second metal separators at a plurality of positions. Each of the metal clip member includes a side plate and first and second holding portions. The side plate is curved at opposite ends, and the first and second holding portions are extending from the opposite ends of the side plate. The first and second holding portions generates a predetermined elastic force for holding the first and second metal separators. The outer ends of the first and second metal separators are covered by insulating sections, and the insulating sections are held between the first and second holding portions so that the entire unit cell is tightened by the predetermined elastic force.

Abstract: In a fuel cell module, a first membrane electrode assembly is sandwiched between a first metal separator and a second metal separator, and a second membrane electrode assembly is sandwiched between the second metal separator and the third metal separator. An oxygen-containing gas distribution section connected to a first oxygen-containing gas flow field is formed between the first metal separator and the second metal separator. The second metal separator has holes connecting the oxygen-containing gas distribution section to a second oxygen-containing gas flow field.

Abstract: A fuel cell includes first and second separators sandwiching a membrane electrode assembly. The first and second separators include first and second metal plates, first and second insulating bushings for positioning the first and second metal plates in alignment with each other, and first and second seal members formed integrally with the first and second metal plates. The first and second seal members are formed by injection molding on the first and second metal plates using the first and second insulating bushings as insert members.

Abstract: A fuel cell includes a membrane electrode assembly and first and second metal separators sandwiching the membrane electrode assembly. A first cell voltage terminal for detecting a voltage generated in the membrane electrode assembly is formed integrally with an outer region of the first metal separator. The first cell voltage terminal extends outwardly from the first metal separator. A first seal member covers the outer region of the first metal separator, and includes a first extension seal which covers the first cell voltage terminal to a position near a tip end of the first cell voltage terminal.

Abstract: An intermediate plate is interposed between first and second sub-stacks. The intermediate plate has, defined in a surface thereof, an oxygen-containing gas mixing passage interconnecting an oxygen-containing gas outlet in the first sub-stack which is located upstream and an oxygen-containing gas inlet in the second sub-stack which is located downstream. In the first and second sub-stacks, an oxygen-containing gas is supplied from the oxygen-containing gas inlet and discharged to the oxygen-containing gas outlet at all times.

Abstract: A fuel cell stack capable of giving improved impact resistance and vibration resistance without causing the space occupied by the fuel cell stack to be increased. In a fuel cell stack for mounting in a vehicle in which a plurality of fuel cell units, each of which is formed by interposing a solid polymer electrolyte membrane between an anode electrode and a cathode electrode, are stacked in a horizontal direction with separators placed between each, mounting members used for installation are provided at backup plates that are outside fastening structure portions that are provided at both ends along the direction in which the fuel cell units are stacked, and an intermediate supporting member used for installation is additionally provided at an intermediate portion along the direction in which the fuel cell units are stacked.

Abstract: A fuel cell stack includes a stacked body, a negative and positive terminal plates stacked on opposite ends of the stacked body, insulators disposed outside the terminal plates, and the end plates disposed outside the end plates. The insulator includes a first insulator plate, a second insulator plate, and a third insulator plate. Bypass passages are formed on the first insulator plate and the third insulator plate for discharging water in an oxygen-containing gas and water in a fuel gas.

Abstract: An oxygen-containing gas flow field is formed on a surface of a first metal separator. The oxygen-containing gas flow field is connected between an oxygen-containing gas supply passage and an oxygen-containing gas discharge passage. The oxygen-containing gas flow field comprises oxygen-containing gas flow grooves, and ends of the oxygen-containing gas flow grooves are extended outwardly beyond ends of electrode catalyst layer of a membrane electrode assembly, and connected to an inlet buffer and an outlet buffer. When the purging process is performed at the time of stopping operation of the fuel cell, the purging air supplied to the oxygen-containing gas flow field discharges water retained in the electrode catalyst layers from the ends to the outlet buffer.

Abstract: A cell assembly is formed by stacking a first cell and a second cell. In the cell assembly, oxygen-containing gas flow passages are connected in series by an intermediate oxygen-containing gas flow passage, and fuel gas flow passages are connected in series by an intermediate fuel gas flow passage. An additional oxygen-containing gas is supplied to an oxygen-containing gas passage which includes the intermediate oxygen-containing gas flow passage. An additional fuel gas is supplied to a fuel gas passage which includes the intermediate fuel gas flow passage.

Abstract: A first membrane electrode assembly is interposed between a first separator and a second separator. A second membrane electrode assembly is interposed between the second separator and another first separator. The second separator includes a first separator plate, a second separator plate, and a leaf spring interposed between the first separator plate and the second separator plate. Each of the first separator plate and the second separator plate has an embossed section made up of first protrusions protruding toward the leaf spring and first recesses spaced from the leaf spring. The first protrusions of the embossed section in one separator plate are in alignment with the first recesses of the embossed section in the other separator plate, respectively.

Abstract: A fuel cell stack includes a stack body, an end separator, a terminal plate, an insulating plate, and an end plate provided at one end of the stack body in a stacking direction. The insulating plate has a recess for accommodating the terminal plate. Further, the insulating plate has a bypass passage connected between a fuel gas supply passage and a fuel gas discharge passage outside the recess for discharging condensed water. An insulating seal member is provided on the end separator to cover the bypass passage. The condensed water flows through an insulated passage formed by the insulating seal member and the bypass passage.

Abstract: A fuel cell stack includes a stack body formed by stacking a plurality of power generation cells in a stacking direction. At opposite ends of the stack body in the stacking direction, end power generation cells are provided. An end coolant flow field is formed on a separator of the end power generation cell. The flow rate of the coolant in the end coolant flow field is smaller than the flow rate of the coolant in a coolant flow field in each of the power generation cells. Specifically, the number of flow grooves of the end coolant flow field is smaller than the number of flow grooves of the coolant flow field.

Abstract: A unit cell has a membrane electrode assembly. The membrane electrode assembly includes a cathode, and an anode, and a solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell interposed between the cathode and the anode. The membrane electrode assembly is interposed between a first separator and a second separator. A thin cooling plate is interposed between the second separator and another first separator. A first coolant flow passage and a second coolant flow passage are formed on both surfaces of the cooling plate. The coolant flows along one surface of the cooling plate, and turns back at an end of the cooling plate to flow along the other surface of the cooling plate.

Abstract: A separator comprises a first and second metal plates laid over each other. A cooling medium flow passage is integrally provided between the first and second metal plates. The cooling medium flow passage has inlet buffer portions communicating with a cooling medium inlet communication hole, outlet buffer portions communicating with a cooling medium outlet communication hole, and linear flow passage grooves linearly extending in the direction of arrow B and that of arrow C.

Abstract: An oxygen-containing gas flow field for supplying an oxygen-containing gas from an oxygen-containing gas supply passage to an oxygen-containing gas discharge passage is formed on a first metal plate. The oxygen-containing gas flow field includes oxygen-containing gas flow grooves as serpentine flow grooves having two turn regions T1, T2. The oxygen-containing gas flow grooves have substantially the same length. The oxygen-containing gas flow grooves are connected to an inlet buffer and an outlet buffer at opposite ends. The inlet buffer and the outlet buffer have a substantially triangular shape, and are substantially symmetrical with each other.

Abstract: A cell assembly has reactant gas passages connected in series in first and second unit cells, and oxygen-containing gas inlets, intermediate oxygen-containing gas inlets, oxygen-containing gas outlets, intermediate oxygen-containing gas outlets which are defined in the first and second unit cells. The oxygen-containing gas inlets and the intermediate oxygen-containing gas inlets are disposed upwardly of the oxygen-containing gas outlets and the intermediate oxygen-containing gas outlets. The oxygen-containing gas outlets and the intermediate oxygen-containing gas outlets are disposed at least partly below electric energy generating surfaces of the first and second unit cells.