Abstract: The fuel cell of the invention includes an electrolyte assembly, and a separator having one face as a gas flow path-forming face with a gas flow path formed thereon to allow flow of a reactive gas and the other face, which is reverse to the one face, as a refrigerant flow path-forming face with a refrigerant flow path formed thereon to allow flow of a refrigerant. The gas flow path-forming face of the separator has multiple linear gas flow paths that are arranged in parallel to one another, and a gas flow path connection structure that divides the multiple linear gas flow paths into plural linear gas flow path groups and connects at least part of the plural linear gas flow path groups in series.

Abstract: A fuel cell has a plurality of unit fuel cells and a gas manifold configured to path through the plurality of the unit fuel cells. Each of the plurality of unit fuel cells has an electrode and a separator. The separator includes in its interior a plurality of gas channels configured to communicate the gas manifold and a gas passage existing on a surface of the electrode. These gas channels include at least one gas through hole configured to open on a surface of the separator facing the electrode. The gas through holes provided on the plurality of gas channels include a first through hole group provided at a short distance from the gas manifold, and a second through hole group provided at a large distance from the gas manifold.

Abstract: A stainless steel separator, which is good of corrosion-resistance and low of contact-resistance, is proposed for a fuel cell. Its surface faced to a fuel electrode is pickled, which the other surface faced to an oxidizing electrode is roughened by electrolytic etching or the like. The roughening treatment may be performed before or after pickling and passivation. The roughened surface of the stainless steel separator without pickling or passivation may be faced to the oxidizing electrode.

Abstract: A fatty acid such as an acetic acid or a butyric acid is added to a fuel gas for a fuel cell as an odorant. This makes it possible to add an odor to the fuel gas without poisoning an electrode catalyst and an electrolyte, and to prevent the odor from remaining in an exhaust gas emitted from the fuel cell.

Abstract: A fuel cell separator is pressed so that one side thereof defines a gas flow channel and that the other side thereof defines a coolant flow channel. A width dG and a cross-sectional area SG of the gas flow channel and a width dW and a cross-sectional area Sw of the coolant flow channel satisfy a relationship: dG?dW or a relationship: SG?SW.

Abstract: In a forming press, a blank is pressed formed into a press-formed workpiece by means of an upper die and a lower die, while a peripheral edge portion of the blank is clamped by means of a die and a blank holder insert of the forming press. Subsequently, a central portion of the press-formed workpiece is partially held by means of the upper die and the lower die so as to draw a peripheral portion of the press-formed workpiece away from the central portion thereof, thereby removing strain from the press-formed workpiece.

Abstract: A separator for a fuel cell, where the fuel cell has two separators and an MEA sandwiched by the metal separators. The separator has a portion corresponding to the power generating portion of the MEA and opposing portions located on opposite sides of the power generating portion. The separator has a gas passage at a first surface and a coolant passage at a second, opposite surface. The gas passage has an odd number of straight-extending portions and an even number of U-turn portions and extends between the opposing portions by U-turning twice or more. The coolant passage extends straight between the opposing portions without U-turning.

Abstract: A fuel cell (10) includes a lamination (11) of a plurality of unit cells (30), current collector plates (12, 12) arranged at both ends of the lamination (11), end plates 16, 16 respectively provided outside the current collector plates (12, 12) with 5 insulating plates (14, 14) interposed therebetween, and fastening members (18) for fastening the end plates (16, 16) in the laminating direction to apply desired pressing force to the lamination (11). A barcode (41) corresponding to particular information relating to a unit cell (30) is provided on the exposed side surface of a separator (38) of the unit cell (30). According to this fuel cell (10), the barcode 41 can be easily read requiring no disassembly of the fuel cell (10). Moreover, as the information relating to the fuel cell can be obtained from the barcode (41), the information that cannot be determined from outer appearance can be obtained, resulting in improved service operations.

Abstract: A fuel cell includes a separator including a first member made from metal and a second member made from synthetic resin. The separator has a power generating portion corresponding portion including a gas passage portion and opposing portions located on opposite sides of the power generating portion corresponding portion. A manifold portion is formed in the opposing portions. The manifold portion is offset from the gas passage portion. A gas passage connecting portion is formed in the second member and fluidly connects the manifold portion and the gas passage portion. A gas flow adjusting portion is formed for directing a direction of a gas flow at the gas passage connecting portion to a direction perpendicular to a direction connecting the opposing portions and making a gas flow into and from the gas passage portion uniform in the direction perpendicular to a direction connecting the opposing portions.

Abstract: A sheet metal formed thereon with a number of spaced projections, wherein the projections are formed by the steps of positioning the sheet metal between a female die formed with a number of spaced recesses at one surface thereof and a male die formed with a concavity to be coupled with the female die and a number of spaced projections located at the bottom of the concavity to correspond with the recesses of the female die and pressing the sheet metal under existence of hydraulic fluid between the sheet metal and the concavity of the male die.

Abstract: A stainless steel separator, which is good of corrosion-resistance and low of contact-resistance, is proposed for a fuel cell. Its surface faced to a fuel electrode is pickled, which the other surface faced to an oxidizing electrode is roughened by electrolytic etching or the like. The roughening treatment may be performed before or after pickling and passivation. The roughened surface of the stainless steel separator without pickling or passivation may be faced to the oxidizing electrode.

Abstract: In a fuel-cell separator, a gas flow channel, in which an “inverse S”-shaped gas flow channel and an S-shaped gas flow channel are formed symmetrical to each other and converge at their downstream portions in such a manner as to have gas flow channel portions in common, is disposed in a separator face. The cross-sectional area of the common gas flow channel portions is smaller than the sum of the cross-sectional areas of non-common gas flow channel portions that are located upstream of a confluent portion.

Abstract: In a forming press, a blank is pressed formed into a press-formed workpiece by means of an upper die and a lower die, while a peripheral edge portion of the blank is clamped by means of a die and a blank holder insert of the forming press. Subsequently, a central portion of the press-formed workpiece is partially held by means of the upper die and the lower die so as to draw a peripheral portion of the press-formed workpiece away from the central portion thereof, thereby removing strain from the press-formed workpiece.

Abstract: A fatty acid such as an acetic acid or a butyric acid is added to a fuel gas for a fuel cell as an odorant. This makes it possible to add an odor to the fuel gas without poisoning an electrode catalyst and an electrolyte, and to prevent the odor from remaining in an exhaust gas emitted from the fuel cell.

Abstract: A fuel cell separator is pressed so that one side thereof defines a gas flow channel and that the other side thereof defines a coolant flow channel. A width dG and a cross-sectional area SG of the gas flow channel and a width dW and a cross-sectional area Sw of the coolant flow channel satisfy a relationship: dG≧dW or a relationship: SG≧SW.

Abstract: A fuel cell includes a separator including a first member made from metal and a second member made from synthetic resin. The separator has a power generating portion corresponding portion including a gas passage portion and opposing portions located on opposite sides of the power generating portion corresponding portion. A manifold portion is formed in the opposing portions. The manifold portion is offset from the gas passage portion. A gas passage connecting portion is formed in the second member and fluidly connects the manifold portion and the gas passage portion. A gas flow adjusting portion is formed for directing a direction of a gas flow at the gas passage connecting portion to a direction perpendicular to a direction connecting the opposing portions and making a gas flow into and from the gas passage portion uniform in the direction perpendicular to a direction connecting the opposing portions.

Abstract: A separator for a fuel cell, where the fuel cell has two separators and an MEA sandwiched by the metal separators. The separator has a portion corresponding to the power generating portion of the MEA and opposing portions located on opposite sides of the power generating portion. The separator has a gas passage at a first surface and a coolant passage at a second, opposite surface. The gas passage has an odd number of straight-extending portions and an even number of U-turn portions and extends between the opposing portions by U-turning twice or more. The coolant passage extends straight between the opposing portions without U-turning.

Abstract: A sheet metal formed thereon with a number of spaced projections, wherein the projections are formed by ate steps of positioning the sheet metal between a female die formed with a number of spaced recesses at one surface thereof and a male die formed with a concavity to be coupled with the female die and a number of spaced projections located at the bottom of the concavity to correspond with the recesses of the female die and pressing the sheet metal under existence of hydraulic fluid between the sheet metal and the concavity of the male die