Abstract: A fuel cell gas diffusion layer includes a porous member containing electrically-conductive particles and polymeric resin as major components, and a plurality of holes extending from a main surface of the fuel cell gas diffusion layer are formed.

Abstract: A polymer electrolyte fuel cell according to the present invention includes: a unit cell including a membrane-electrode assembly and a pair of separators; a manifold; a gas introducing member; and a first member. A recess is formed at a gas lead-out port side of the gas introducing member so as to be connected to the gas lead-out port. The first member is provided such that a communication portion thereof communicates with the manifold. The gas introducing member is provided such that: the recess communicates with the communication portion; and when viewed from a thickness direction of the polymer electrolyte membrane, the gas lead-out port and a main surface of the first member overlap each other.

Abstract: A close attachment region is provided on the outer side relative to an outer edge portion of a gas diffusion layer and on the inner side relative to the inner edge portion of a gasket as seen from the thickness direction of a polymer electrolyte membrane, such that separators and a frame member are closely attached to each other. Thus, it becomes possible to suppress an increase in the manufacturing cost and a reduction in the power generation performance, which is attributed to the impurity eluted from the gasket and flowing toward the gas diffusion layer.

Abstract: A polymer electrolyte fuel cell according to the present invention includes: a unit cell including a membrane-electrode assembly and a pair of separators; a manifold; a gas introducing member; and a first member. A recess is formed at a gas lead-out port side of the gas introducing member so as to be connected to the gas lead-out port. The first member is provided such that a communication portion thereof communicates with the manifold. The gas introducing member is provided such that: the recess communicates with the communication portion; and when viewed from a thickness direction of the polymer electrolyte membrane, the gas lead-out port and a main surface of the first member overlap each other.

Abstract: A fuel cell gas diffusion layer includes a porous member containing electrically-conductive particles and polymeric resin as major components, and a plurality of holes extending from a main surface of the fuel cell gas diffusion layer are formed.

Abstract: A fuel cell cogeneration system of the present invention includes: a cell (10); a fuel gas discharging manifold (122) which is formed to extend in a thickness direction of the cell (10) and through which an anode off gas unconsumed in an anode (2A) flows; an oxidizing gas discharging manifold (124) which is formed to extend in the thickness direction of the cell (10) and through which a cathode off gas unconsumed in a cathode (2B) flows; and a cooling medium discharging manifold (126) which is formed to extend in the thickness direction of the cell (10) and through which an off cooling medium having recovered heat from the cell (10) flows, and the fuel gas discharging manifold (122) and/or the oxidizing gas discharging manifold (124) are formed between the cooling medium discharging manifold (126) and a separator end closest to the cooling medium discharging manifold (126).

Abstract: A fuel cell power generation system including a fuel cell, a fuel generator, an oxidizing gas supply device, an output controller, an open-close mechanism, and a controller. The controller is configured such that in a stop process, the controller controls the output controller to stop supplying the electric power to an external load; controls the oxidizing gas supply device to stop supplying an oxidizing gas and controls the open-close mechanism to close a passage upstream from an oxidizing gas channel; after the passage upstream from the oxidizing gas channel is closed, stops a raw material gas supply device and a water supply device when a predetermined period has elapsed, during which period a gas in the oxidizing gas channel is replaced by a fuel gas.

Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell; a fuel gas supplying unit supplying the fuel gas into the fuel cell on the anode side thereof; an oxidizing agent gas supplying unit supplying the oxidizing agent gas into the fuel cell on the cathode side thereof; a raw material gas supplying unit supplying the raw material gas into the fuel cell; and a controlling unit controlling the supply of the fuel gas, the oxidizing agent gas and the raw material gas. After switching the output of electric power or the fuel cell off, the fuel gas supplying unit suspends the supply of the fuel gas, the oxidizing agent gas supplying unit suspends the supply of the oxidizing agent gas and the raw material gas supplying unit supplies the raw material gas into the fuel cell to purge the fuel cell on the cathode side.

Abstract: A fuel cell system of the present invention includes: a fuel cell (1) having an electrolyte membrane (2), an anode (3) and a cathode (4) sandwiching the electrolyte membrane (2), a cathode gas passage (98) through which an oxidizing gas is supplied to and discharged from the cathode (4), and an anode gas passage (97) through which a fuel gas is supplied to and discharged from the anode (3); a fuel gas channel having an anode gas passage (97) and through which the fuel gas is supplied to and discharged from the anode (3); and an oxidizing gas channel having the cathode gas passage (98) and through which the oxidizing gas is supplied to and discharged from the cathode (4).

Abstract: A fuel cell of the present invention is configured so that seal members are brought into contact with a frame member, and at least one of the seal member and an outer circumferential portion of the gas diffusion layer is squashed by the other in the thickness direction of a polymer electrolyte membrane, to eliminate a clearance between the gas diffusion layer and the seal member. In this manner, the power generation performance is further enhanced.

Abstract: A close attachment region is provided on the outer side relative to an outer edge portion of a gas diffusion layer and on the inner side relative to the inner edge portion of a gasket as seen from the thickness direction of a polymer electrolyte membrane, such that separators and a frame member are closely attached to each other. Thus, it becomes possible to suppress an increase in the manufacturing cost and a reduction in the power generation performance, which is attributed to the impurity eluted from the gasket and flowing toward the gas diffusion layer.

Abstract: A polymer electrolyte fuel cell includes: a sealing structure (9) including a substantially rectangular ring-shaped first gasket portion (9a) and a substantially rectangular ring-shaped second gasket portion (9b), the first gasket portion (9a) being positioned outward of a peripheral portion of a first gas diffusion layer (5) and between a first separator (7) and a first catalyst layer (2) positioned at a peripheral portion of a polymer electrolyte membrane 1, the second gasket portion (9b) being positioned outward of the peripheral portion of the polymer electrolyte membrane (1) and between the first separator (7) and a second separator (8); and at least the first catalyst layer (2), a second catalyst layer (3), and a swellable resin portion (II) formed of a swellable resin whose volume expands when water is added thereto, the swellable resin portion (11) being positioned between the first gasket portion (9a) and the first catalyst layer (2) positioned at the peripheral portion of the polymer electrolyte mem

Abstract: A controller (15) performs a stop operation of stopping electric power generation by a fuel cell (3); then performs an activity recovery operation of stopping the supply of a fuel gas by a fuel gas supply unit (10) to an anode (2a), causing an anode inert gas supply unit (13) to supply an inert gas to the anode (2a), and causing an oxidizing gas supply unit (11) to supply an oxidizing gas to a cathode (2b); and performs control such that the fuel gas supply unit (10) resumes supplying the fuel gas to the anode (2a) to resume the electric power generation by the fuel cell (3) after the cell voltage of the fuel cell (3) which is detected by a voltage detector (14) has decreased to a first voltage or lower.

Abstract: A fuel cell includes: cells (11), each of which includes an electrolyte layer-electrode stack assembly (5) having a electrolyte layer (1) and a pair of gas diffusion electrodes (4a, 4b) sandwiching a portion of the electrolyte layer (1) which portion is located on an inner side of a peripheral portion of the electrolyte layer (1), an annular peripheral member disposed at the peripheral portion of the electrolyte layer (1), a pair of electrically conductive separators (6A, 6B) which sandwich the electrolyte layer-electrode stack assembly (5) and the peripheral member, and damage detecting wires (31); and a fuel cell stack (100) formed by stacking the cells (11), wherein: the damage detecting wires (31) are formed on components constituting the cell (11) other than the electrolyte layer-electrode stack assembly (5); and the damage detecting wires (31) are connected to one another to form an open circuit by stacking the cells (11).

Abstract: A fuel cell power generation system including a fuel cell, a fuel generator, an oxidizing gas supply device, an output controller, an open-close mechanism, and a controller. The controller is configured such that in a stop process, the controller controls the output controller to stop supplying the electric power to an external load; controls the oxidizing gas supply device to stop supplying an oxidizing gas and controls the open-close mechanism to close a passage upstream from an oxidizing gas channel; after the passage upstream from the oxidizing gas channel is closed, stops a raw material gas supply device and a water supply device when a predetermined period has elapsed, during which period a gas in the oxidizing gas channel is replaced by a fuel gas.

Abstract: In a fuel cell system, during the state where the fuel cell system is not generating an electric power, a fuel gas passage and an oxidizing gas passage are closed, and an inert gas supply device (54, 58) supplies an inert gas to an anode space (111) which is substantially isolated from outside, the anode space including the closed fuel gas passage and a space connected to the closed fuel gas passage, while an air supply device (67, 70) supplies air to a cathode space (112) which is substantially isolated from outside, the cathode space including the closed oxidizing gas passage and a space connected to the closed oxidizing gas passage. With this, the fuel cell system is capable of achieving high energy efficiency and of surely preventing degradation of electrodes during the state where the fuel cell system is not generating the electric power, irrespective of repeated start-up and stop.

Abstract: A fuel cell power generation system of the present invention includes: a fuel cell (3); a fuel gas supply mechanism (10); an oxidizing gas supply mechanism (11); an electric power output unit (18); a cooling mechanism (12); and a controller (20) configured to carry out a first step in which the controller controls the electric power supplied from the electric power output unit (18) to at least one of an internal load (21) and an external load (17) such that a voltage of the fuel cell (3) temporarily becomes equal to or higher than a first voltage by which a sulfur compound adhered to a cathode (2b) oxidizes, and then, carry out a second step in which the controller causes the cooling mechanism (12) to cool the fuel cell (3) to condense steam in the fuel cell (3) and stops supplying the oxidizing gas from the oxidizing gas supply mechanism (11).

Abstract: Problems of acceleration of drying of electrolyte membrane and local reaction, etc. can be properly coped with to attain the stabilization of performance of fuel cell.

Abstract: To provide a polymer electrolyte fuel cell in which a reaction gas can be utilized efficiently for an electrode reaction even when a gap is formed between an anode-side sealing member and the end face of an anode and between a cathode-side sealing member and the end face of a cathode, and sufficient power generation performance can be ensured with a simple constitution. At least one of the anode-side sealing member and the cathode-side sealing member of the fuel cell includes an annular body, and at least one deformable protruding portion provided on the inner surface of the annular body.

Abstract: There is provided a fuel cell power generation system that exhibits superior efficiency of power generation and durability. The fuel cell power generation system includes: a fuel cell 4 including a fuel electrode 2, an oxidant electrode 3, and an electrolyte 1 on which the fuel electrode 2 and the oxidant electrode 3 are formed; an output control unit 11 that controls an output of the fuel cell 4; and a determination unit 12 that determines, based on an integrated amount of impurities contained in an oxidant gas and supplied to the oxidant electrode 3, a time at which the fuel cell 4 is brought into an open circuit state. The output control unit 11 halts power generation of the fuel cell 4 for a predetermined period of time every time determined by the determination unit 12, thereby bringing the fuel cell 4 into the open circuit state.