Abstract: The present invention relates to a fuel cell devised to uniformly distribute and supply a reformed gas (or an oxidant or a coolant) while minimizing the increase in parts number, without making the construction complicated. The present invention has a gist of providing a fuel cell 5, piling up, by way of separators, multiple cells 1, and providing, in the stack 2, inner manifolds for distributing (or supplying or discharging) to these cells 1 a fuel, an oxidant or a coolant, wherein: a cylindrical/tubular piercing member 4 is provided in at least one inner manifold 6, and a proper gap is provided between the piercing member 4 and an inner wall of the inner manifold 6. The reformed gas supplied to the inner manifold 6, before being distributed to each cell 1, is flow-regulated by the piercing member 4. Thus, the reformed gas is distributed uniformly to each cell 1, a stable power generation is done, and performance of the fuel cell can be improved.

Abstract: A polymer electrolyte fuel cell shall be provided such that degradation of the fuel cell due to condensed water can be prevented. A polymer electrolyte fuel cell of the present invention is provided wherein a plate A, a plate B, and a plate C are used; a passage is formed on each of the front and rear sides of each of the above-mentioned plates; a cell D or a permeable film E is interposed between two of the above-mentioned plates; a cell unit is thus formed; a plurality of such cell units are integrally laminated to form a polymer electrolyte fuel cell. Fuel gas and cooling water are caused to flow into a humidifying chamber F to humidify fuel gas. The resulting humidified fuel gas is supplied to a fuel chamber G, and moreover, oxidant gas is supplied to an oxidant chamber, thereby generating electricity.

Abstract: A water-retaining layer is formed to coat the top of ribs of a ribbed plate which is to be disposed, as a component of a polymer electrolyte fuel cell, on at least one surface of a cell which includes an electrolyte membrane and two electrodes disposed on two surfaces of the electrolyte membrane. The water-retaining layer is formed by: generating a mixture by dissolving a resin-carbon mixture into a solvent; applying the mixture using a spray to a surface of the ribbed plate having the ribs; and drying the applied mixture at a certain temperature. The ability to retain water in the water-retaining layer per unit active area of the electrodes is desirably in the range of 0.002 to 0.035 g/cm2, and more desirably, in the range of 0.01 to 0.03 g/cm2.

Abstract: A solid polymer fuel cell which can stably generate electric power for long, because the cell is enabled to uniformly supply a fuel gas to all anodes by means of extended flow passages which are extended from anode-side flow passages and formed on a anode-side plate on the downstream side of the ends of the anodes in the direction of fuel gas flow, a water absorbing means for nearly uniformly performing water absorption, water retention, and drainage on all channels provided at the ends of the extended flow passages, and a selective gas discharging means for discharging a gas more selectively than water on the upstream side of the water absorbing means.

Abstract: A polymer electrolyte fuel cell shall be provided such that degradation of the fuel cell due to condensed water can be prevented. A polymer electrolyte fuel cell of the present invention is provided wherein a plate A, a plate B, and a plate C are used; a passage is formed on each of the front and rear sides of each of the above-mentioned plates; a cell D or a permeable film E is interposed between two of the above-mentioned plates; a cell unit is thus formed; a plurality of such cell units are integrally laminated to form a polymer electrolyte fuel cell. Fuel gas and cooling water are caused to flow into a humidifying chamber F to humidify fuel gas. The resulting humidified fuel gas is supplied to a fuel chamber G, and moreover, oxidant gas is supplied to an oxidant chamber, thereby generating electricity.

Abstract: A cell unit for use in fuel cells of the type using an electrode portion having an anode formed of a plate or film on one surface of an electrolyte and a cathode formed of a plate or film on the other surface. An anode side plate of the invention has stepped portions to form recesses which accommodate the electrode and provide an anode side chamber facing the anode. A cathode side plate having a cathode side chamber facing the cathode is also accommodated in the recessed portions of the anode side plate. A fuel supply manifold and a fuel discharge manifold can extend through the stepped portions. Use of such cell units reduces the number of seal members required between fuel or oxidant manifolds when cell units are stacked to form a fuel cell stack. Such reduction in seal members simplifies fabrication of the units and renders the cell unit easier to maintain and repair.

Abstract: A fuel cell comprising a stack including a stack including a plurality of cell units and a plurality of gas separators and at least one cooling plate, one of the gas separator and the cooling plate being interposed between adjacent cell units, the fuel cell being characterized in that; each gas separator and the cooling plate, respectively, have oxidant gas channels on one of surfaces that opposes to have contact with one of electrode surfaces of the cell unit to as to flow an oxidant gas in a direction vertical to a direction of a cooling air flowing through the cooling plate; each gas separator and the cooling plate, respectively, have fuel gas channels, a fuel-gas-supply inner manifold for taking in a fuel gas, and a fuel-gas-exhaust inner manifold for releasing the fuel gas having passed through the fuel gas channels on the other surface that opposes to have contact with the other electrode surface of the cell unit so as to flow the fuel gas in a direction parallel to the direction of the cooling air flow