Abstract: A fuel cell includes a membrane electrode assembly, a first metal separator, a second metal separator, linear protrusions, and embossed protrusions. The first metal separator is stacked on the membrane electrode assembly. The second metal separator is stacked on the first metal separator to define a coolant channel between the metal separators. The first metal separator includes wave-shaped protrusions projecting from the first metal separator by a first height to define to form the coolant channel. The linear protrusions are connected to both distal ends of each of the wave-shaped protrusions. The linear protrusions project from the first metal separator by a second height smaller than the first height. The embossed protrusions are connected to tip ends of the linear protrusions. The embossed protrusions project from the first metal separator by a third height larger than the second height to be in contact with the second metal separator.

Abstract: A plate is provided in its outer edge portion with a concavo-concave shape which makes a frame hard to fall away. A metal mold is provided with a cavity portion and a gate portion. A plurality of gate portions are provided at positions facing to an outer edge thickness surface of a metal plate in a state of being set to the metal mold and are arranged at positions conforming to arrangement of concave portions in the concavo-convex shape. A plate with frame is manufactured by using the metal mold. The invention can provide a method manufacturing the plate with frame obtained by integrally molding a resin frame in an outer edge portion of the metal plate by using the metal mold, and an amount of deformation can be held down even if any deformation is generated in the plate edge portion when the frame is integrally molded in the plate.

Abstract: A power generation unit of a fuel cell includes a first metal separator, a first membrane electrode assembly, a second metal separator, a second membrane electrode assembly, and a third metal separator. A bypass limiting section is provided at an end of the coolant flow field for preventing a coolant from bypassing the coolant flow field. The bypass limiting section includes a corrugated section formed integrally with the first metal separator and a corrugated section formed integrally with the third metal separator adjacent to the first metal separator, and contacting the corrugated section.

Abstract: A first sealing member includes a first flat sealing portion facing a first electrode, a second flat sealing portion, and a first protruding sealing portion. The second flat sealing portion is opposite to the first electrode in the stacking direction. The first protruding sealing portion protrudes from the second flat sealing portion in the stacking direction and includes a crossing portion at which the first protruding sealing portion diverges. A second sealing member includes a third flat sealing portion facing a second electrode, a second protruding sealing portion, and a block-shaped seal. The second protruding sealing portion protrudes from the third flat sealing portion in the stacking direction. The block-shaped seal is disposed in a region corresponding to the crossing portion viewed in a stacking direction and protruding from the third flat sealing portion apart from the second protruding sealing portion.

Abstract: A cell unit of a fuel cell includes a first membrane electrode assembly, a first metal separator, a second membrane electrode assembly, and a second metal separator. A resin frame member is provided integrally with an outer circumference of the first membrane electrode assembly. An oxygen-containing gas supply passage, a fuel gas supply passage, a coolant supply passage, an oxygen-containing gas discharge passage, a fuel gas discharge passage, and a coolant discharge passage extend through the resin frame member in a stacking direction. At each of both ends of the resin frame member in a longitudinal direction, a pair of projections are provided. The projections protrude toward both sides in a lateral direction.

Abstract: Provided is a fuel cell including a plurality of stacked unit cells, each including a membrane-electrode assembly and a separator stacked on the membrane-electrode assembly. The separator includes a separator plate that overlaps the membrane-electrode assembly when seen from a stacking direction, a first terminal portion configured to protrude from the separator plate toward an outer side in a plane direction, a plate covering portion configured to cover an outer peripheral edge of the separator plate, and a terminal covering portion configured to be formed integrally with the plate covering portion and covers the first terminal portion. A plurality of the first terminal portions, which are adjacent to each other in the stacking direction, include offset portions which shift from each other when seen from the stacking direction, and are covered with the terminal covering portion.

Abstract: A fuel cell includes a membrane electrode assembly, a first separator, and a second separator. The second separator has a fuel gas flow field connected to a fuel gas supply passage and a fuel gas discharge passage. The fuel gas flow field includes a plurality of corrugated flow grooves and a flat flow field. The corrugated flow grooves extend in the horizontal direction, respectively, and are arranged in the direction of the gravity. The flat flow field is provided within a power generation area, at the lowermost position in the direction of the gravity, and extends in the horizontal direction.

Abstract: A fuel cell includes a membrane electrode assembly, a separator, and a sealing member. The sealing member is provided on a separator surface and includes a base seal portion, a protruding seal portion, a first recessed portion, and a second recessed portion. The protruding seal portion protrudes from the base seal portion in a stacking direction so as to block leakage of at least one of a fuel gas, an oxidant gas, and a coolant which flow along the separator surface. The first recessed portion is disposed on a first side of the protruding seal portion. The second recessed portion is disposed on a second side of the protruding seal portion opposite to the first recessed portion. The first recessed portion and the second recessed portion have a height in the stacking direction smaller than a height of the base seal portion in the stacking direction.

Abstract: A power generation unit of a fuel cell includes a first metal separator, a first membrane electrode assembly, a second metal separator, a second membrane electrode assembly, and a third metal separator. A bypass limiting section is provided at an end of the coolant flow field for preventing a coolant from bypassing the coolant flow field. The bypass limiting section includes a corrugated section formed integrally with the first metal separator and a corrugated section formed integrally with the third metal separator adjacent to the first metal separator, and contacting the corrugated section.

Abstract: A fuel cell includes a membrane electrode assembly and a separator. The separator includes a water accumulation portion including at least one of a buffer portion, a lowermost channel groove, a channel junction portion, and a bypass channel. The buffer portion is connected to a reactant gas channel through which a reactant gas is to flow along a power generation surface of the membrane electrode assembly. The channel groove is provided in the reactant gas channel and located at a lowest position in the reactant gas channel in a direction of gravity when the membrane electrode assembly and the separator are in an upright position. Channel grooves of the reactant gas channel are joined in the channel junction portion. The membrane electrode assembly includes a water impermeable layer which is disposed outside of a power generation region and which faces the water accumulation portion.

Abstract: A power generation unit of a fuel cell includes a first metal separator, a first membrane electrode assembly, a second metal separator, a second membrane electrode assembly, and a third metal separator. A bypass limiting section is provided at an end of the coolant flow field for preventing a coolant from bypassing the coolant flow field. The bypass limiting section includes a corrugated section formed integrally with the first metal separator and a corrugated section formed integrally with the third metal separator adjacent to the first metal separator, and contacting the corrugated section.

Abstract: A fuel cell includes a membrane electrode assembly, a first separator, and a second separator. The membrane electrode assembly includes a first electrode, a second electrode, a resin frame member, and an electrolyte membrane. The resin frame member includes a first surface, a second surface, a first buffer portion, and a second buffer portion. The first buffer portion is provided on the first surface of the resin frame member. The second buffer portion is provided on the second surface of the resin frame member. The second buffer portion is independent from the first buffer portion.

Abstract: A fuel cell includes an electrolyte-electrode assembly, a frame member, a first separator, and a second separator. The frame member is provided to face a first surface of the second separator and includes a resin wall which forms a periphery of a first reactant gas passage. The resin wall has a thin-walled portion which overlaps with a cooling medium connecting portion in a stacking direction and which protrudes toward the first reactant gas passage in the stacking direction by a first dimension from a surface of the frame member. Another portion of the resin wall protrudes toward the second separator in the stacking direction by a second dimension from the surface of the frame member. The first dimension is smaller than the second dimension.

Abstract: A fuel cell is formed by sandwiching a membrane electrode assembly between a first separator and a second separator. An outlet connection channel connecting a fuel gas flow field with a fuel gas discharge passage is provided in the first separator. The outlet connection channel has a plurality of discharge holes extending through the first separator. The discharge holes are arranged in the direction of gravity. The discharge hole at the lowermost position has an opening elongated downward to have an opening area larger than opening areas of the other discharge holes above and adjacent to the discharge hole at the lowermost position.

Abstract: A fuel cell includes an electrolyte electrode assembly, an inner seal member, an outer seal member, a metal separator, and a cell voltage monitor terminal. The electrolyte electrode assembly includes an electrolyte, a pair of electrodes, and a resin frame member. The inner seal member extends around an electrode surface. The outer seal member extends around an outer periphery of the inner seal member. The inner seal member and the outer seal member are disposed on the resin frame member. The cell voltage monitor terminal is embedded in the resin frame member. The cell voltage monitor terminal includes an exposed portion provided between the inner seal member and the outer seal member. The exposed portion is in contact with the metal separator adjacent to the exposed portion.

Abstract: A cell unit of a fuel cell includes a first membrane electrode assembly, a first metal separator, a second membrane electrode assembly, and a second metal separator. Frames are provided at outer circumferences of the first and second membrane electrode assemblies. An oxygen-containing gas supply passage and a fuel gas supply passage, and an oxygen-containing gas discharge passage and a fuel gas discharge passage are provided in one pair of opposite sides of the frames, and a pair of coolant supply passages and a pair of coolant discharge passages are provided in the other pair of opposite sides of the frames at distances from one another.

Abstract: A fuel cell is provided with a power generation unit; the power generation unit is provided with a first metal separator, a first electrolyte membrane/electrode structure, a second metal separator, a second electrolyte membrane/electrode structure, and a third metal separator. The first electrolyte membrane/electrode structure is provided with a first resin frame member at the outer periphery, and the first resin frame member is provided with an inlet buffer section positioned outside a power generation region and coupled to a first oxidant gas flow path, and a protruding section, which is one part of an inlet coupling flow path coupling together the inlet buffer section and an oxidant gas inlet communication hole.

Abstract: A fuel cell unit configuring a fuel cell is provided with a first separator, a first electrolyte film/electrode body, a second separator, a second electrolyte film/electrode body, and a third separator. Resin guide members are provided on the outer periphery of the first separator, the second separator, and the third separator. The resin guide members have outer peripheral ends which protrude outwards, and in the aforementioned resin guide members are formed concave reliefs which are spaced inwards from the aforementioned outer peripheral ends.

Abstract: A power generation unit of a fuel cell includes a first metal separator, a first membrane electrode assembly, a second metal separator, a second membrane electrode assembly, and a third metal separator. The first metal separator includes first ridges for positioning the first membrane electrode assembly. The second metal separator includes second ridges for limiting movement of the first membrane electrode assembly.

Abstract: An assembling operation of a fuel cell is effectively simplified. With the simple and economical structure, the desired sealing function is achieved. The fuel cell (10) includes a membrane electrode assembly (14) and first and second metal separators (16, 18) sandwiching the membrane electrode assembly (14). Connection channels (28a, 28b) are provided on the first metal separator (16). The connection channels (28a, 28b) connect the oxygen-containing gas supply passage (20a) and the oxygen-containing gas discharge passage (20b) to the oxygen-containing gas flow field (26). The membrane electrode assembly (14) has first overlapping portions (66a, 66b) overlapped on the connection channels (28a, 28b) for sealing the connection channels (28a, 28b). The first overlapping portions (66a, 66b) comprise, in effect, a gas diffusion layer.