A bipolar plate arranged to face an electrode along which electrolyte is circulated, the bipolar plate includes a flow passage that is provided on at least one of front and back surfaces of the bipolar plate and along which the electrolyte is circulated. The flow passage provided on the at least one of the front and back surfaces of the bipolar plate includes an introduction path along which the electrolyte is introduced and a discharge path that does not communicate with and is independent of the introduction path and along which the electrolyte is discharged. At least one of the introduction path and the discharge path includes an inclined groove that non-orthogonally intersects a long side and a short side of an imaginary rectangle that includes an outer edge of the bipolar plate.

A fuel cell stack includes a stack body formed by stacking a plurality of power generation cells. A first seal line of a first metal separator and a second seal line of a second metal separator protrude in a stacking direction of the stack body in a manner to contact a resin film. An insulator is provided with a first elastic seal member which contacts a second end seal line. The width of the first elastic seal member is larger than the maximum width of the second end seal line.

An opening is formed in an accommodating case of a fuel cell stack. Flat cables are led out of the accommodating case through the opening. The flat cables pass through a grommet covering the opening. The grommet is positioned by a seal plate (positioning member) attached to the accommodating case.

An opening is formed in an accommodating case of a fuel cell stack. Flat cables are led out of the accommodating case through the opening. The flat cables pass through a grommet covering the opening. The grommet is positioned by a seal plate (positioning member) attached to the accommodating case.

An opening is formed in an accommodating case of a fuel cell stack. Flat cables are led out of the accommodating case through the opening. The flat cables pass through a grommet covering the opening. The grommet is positioned by a seal plate (positioning member) attached to the accommodating case.

An illustrative example fuel cell assembly includes a plurality of cells respectively including at least an electrolyte layer, an anode flow plate on one side of the electrolyte layer, and a cathode flow plate on an opposite side of the electrolyte layer. At least one cooler is situated adjacent a first one of the cells. The cooler is closer to that first one of the cells than it is to a second one of the cells. The cathode flow plates respectively include a plurality of flow channels and the anode flow plates respectively include a plurality of flow channels. The anode flow plates respectively include some of the flow channels in a condensation zone of the fuel cell assembly. The flow channels of the anode flow plate in the condensation zone of the first one of the cells have a first flow capacity. The flow channels of the anode flow plate of the second one of the cells that are in the condensation zone have a second flow capacity. The second flow capacity is greater than the first flow capacity.

A novel electrochemical cell is disclosed in multiple embodiments. The instant invention relates to an electrochemical cell design. In one embodiment, the cell design can electrolyze water into pressurized hydrogen using low-cost materials. In another embodiment, the cell design can convert hydrogen and oxygen into electricity. In another embodiment, the cell design can electrolyze water into hydrogen and oxygen for storage, then later convert the stored hydrogen and oxygen back into electricity and water. In some embodiments, the cell operates with a wide internal pressure differential.

An illustrative example fuel cell assembly includes a plurality of fuel cells arranged in a stack including a first end fuel cell near a first end of the stack and a second end fuel cell near a second end of the stack. Each of the fuel cells includes a matrix containing an electrolyte, an anode and a cathode on opposite sides of the matrix, and respective flow fields adjacent the anode and the cathode. An electrolyte supply associated with the anode flow field of the first end fuel cell includes a porous material containing electrolyte. An electrolyte collector associated with the cathode flow field of the second end fuel cell includes a porous material configured to collect electrolyte from at least the cathode of the second end fuel cell.

An illustrative example fuel cell device includes a cell stack assembly of a plurality of fuel cells that each include an anode and a cathode. A pressure plate is situated near one end of the cell stack assembly. A spacer between the end of the cell stack assembly and the pressure plate has a length, a width, and a height. The height of the spacer defines a spacing between the pressure plate and the end of the cell stack assembly. The spacer has a plurality of ribs that define at least two fluid reservoirs. At least one of the ribs separates the fluid reservoirs so that fluid in one of the reservoirs is isolated from fluid in the other.

An opening is formed in an accommodating case of a fuel cell stack. Flat cables are led out of the accommodating case through the opening. The flat cables pass through a grommet covering the opening. The grommet is positioned by a seal plate (positioning member) attached to the accommodating case.