A separator for a fuel cell, which is stacked on a reaction layer including a membrane electrode assembly (MEA) and a gas diffusion layer (GDL) stacked on the MEA includes: a plate body stacked on the GDL; stepped portions, on which a reactant gas flows in a first direction, disposed on a first surface of the plate body, the first surface facing the GDL, the stepped portions disposed in a second direction that intersects the first direction in which the reactant gas flows; lands disposed on the stepped portions so as to be spaced apart from one another in the second direction, the lands being in contact with the GDL; first channels defined between the GDL and the stepped portions so as to be disposed between adjacent lands, the first channels configured such that the reactant gas flows along the first channels; and second channels defined between the plate body and the GDL so as to communicate with the first channels, the second channels configured such that the reactant gas flows along the second channels.

A dummy cell disposed at least at one end of a cell stack body in a fuel cell stack includes a dummy electrode assembly. The dummy electrode assembly includes a plate, and a pair of electrodes joined to both surfaces of the plate through adhesive layers, respectively. The adhesive layers are disposed only in a second area that lies outside a first area corresponding to a power generation area of a power generation cell in the dummy electrode assembly.

A fuel cell, of proton-exchange-membrane type, includes, stacked in the following order: a first terminal, an end anode plate, a plurality of membrane plates having a bipolar plate between every two membrane plates, an end cathode plate and a second terminal Each bipolar plate includes, preassembled in the following order: a medial cathode plate and a medial anode plate, each medial anode, end anode, medial cathode and end cathode plate comprising at least one duct for distributing a reactant. The anode end plate is produced by a bipolar plate of the same orientation, and an anode capable of obturating all of the ducts of the medial cathode plate of this bipolar plate. The cathode end plate is produced by a bipolar plate of the same orientation, and a cathode capable of obturating all of the ducts of the medial anode plate of this bipolar plate.

A fuel cell stack including a plurality of fuel cell units having a truncated cone shape and connected in series with each other is proposed. The series connection of the fuel cell units may be made such that a relatively small outer diameter portion of one of the fuel cell units is inserted into a relatively large outer diameter portion of another fuel cell unit adjacent to the one fuel cell unit.

A hybrid bipolar plate assembly for a fuel cell includes a formed cathode half plate and a stamped metal anode half plate. The stamped metal anode half plate is nested with and affixed to the formed cathode half plate. Each of the half plates has a reactant side and a coolant side, a feed region, and a header with a plurality of header apertures. The coolant side of the formed cathode half plate has support features that can be different from and need not correspond with cathode flow channels formed on the opposite reactant side. The coolant side of the stamped metal anode half plate has lands corresponding with anode channels formed on the opposite oxidant side. The lands define a plurality of coolant channels on the coolant side of the stamped metal anode half plate and abut the coolant side of the formed cathode half plate.

A load receiver member of a fuel cell separator member of a fuel cell stack includes an attachment portion disposed between an outer peripheral portion of a first metal separator and an outer peripheral portion of a second metal separator, and a tab continuous with the attachment portion and protruding from an outer peripheral portion of a joint separator. The attachment portion is joined to the outer peripheral portion of the joint separator by a joint portion.

This disclosure relates to a hydrogen fuel cell stack with one or more hydrogen fuel cell (102) having in turn a proton exchange membrane (104), a hydrogen reaction layer (112) and an oxygen reaction layer (116) within a pair of bipolar plates (106). At least a bipolar plate (106) comprises a channel (108) inside for hydrogen inflow. Additionally, this disclosure relates to a method of upgrading a hydrogen fuel cell stack, said method comprising inserting a channel (108) for hydrogen inflow inside at least a bipolar plate (106).

This disclosure relates to a hydrogen fuel cell stack with one or more hydrogen fuel cell (102) having in turn a proton exchange membrane (104), a hydrogen reaction layer (112) and an oxygen reaction layer (116) within a pair of bipolar plates (106). At least a bipolar plate (106) comprises a channel (108) inside for hydrogen inflow. Additionally, this disclosure relates to a method of upgrading a hydrogen fuel cell stack, said method comprising inserting a channel (108) for hydrogen inflow inside at least a bipolar plate (106).

The present invention provides a fuel cell stack with enhanced freeze-thaw durability. In particular, the fuel cell stack includes a gas diffusion layer between a membrane-electrode assembly and a bipolar plate. The gas diffusion layer has a structure that reduces contact resistance in a fuel cell and is cut at a certain angle such that the machine direction (high stiffness direction) of GDL roll is not in parallel with the major flow field direction of the bipolar plate, resulting in an increased GDL stiffness in a width direction perpendicular to a major flow field direction of a bipolar plate.

The present invention provides a fuel cell stack with enhanced freeze-thaw durability. In particular, the fuel cell stack includes a gas diffusion layer between a membrane-electrode assembly and a bipolar plate. The gas diffusion layer has a structure that reduces contact resistance in a fuel cell and is cut at a certain angle such that the machine direction (high stiffness direction) of GDL roll is not in parallel with the major flow field direction of the bipolar plate, resulting in an increased GDL stiffness in a width direction perpendicular to a major flow field direction of a bipolar plate.