In order to create a bipolar plate for an electrochemical device, comprising at least one first bipolar plate layer and one second bipolar plate layer, between which an edge channel extending along a longitudinal direction is formed, and comprising a fluid channel running substantially in parallel to the edge channel, in which bipolar plate at least an edge channel portion of the edge channel can be flowed through by a fluid media to be supplied to the electrochemical device, for example by a fluid reaction media or by a cooling media, even though the edge channel has no direct fluidic connection to a medium channel by which the respective fluid media is supplied to the electrochemical device, it is proposed that the bipolar plate comprises at least one fluidic connection through which a fluid medium can flow from the edge channel into the adjacent fluid channel and/or from the adjacent fluid channel into the edge channel.

In order to create a bipolar plate for an electrochemical device, comprising at least one first bipolar plate layer and one second bipolar plate layer, between which an edge channel extending along a longitudinal direction is formed, and comprising a fluid channel running substantially in parallel to the edge channel, in which bipolar plate at least an edge channel portion of the edge channel can be flowed through by a fluid media to be supplied to the electrochemical device, for example by a fluid reaction media or by a cooling media, even though the edge channel has no direct fluidic connection to a medium channel by which the respective fluid media is supplied to the electrochemical device, it is proposed that the bipolar plate comprises at least one fluidic connection through which a fluid medium can flow from the edge channel into the adjacent fluid channel and/or from the adjacent fluid channel into the edge channel.

A fuel cell includes a cell stacked body and a manifold. The cell stacked body has elements stacked, each element having: a fuel electrode and an oxidant electrode between which the electrolyte membrane is interposed; a fuel electrode flow channel plate; and an oxidant electrode flow channel plate. The manifold is provided on a lateral surface, of the cell stacked body, along a stacking direction of the cell stacked body and feeds a reaction gas to the fuel electrode flow channel plate or the oxidant electrode flow channel plate. The manifold includes a gas flow channel part that is provided between a plurality of the cell stacked bodies arranged to line up in a first direction perpendicular to the stacking direction and that allows communication between the cell stacked bodies such that the reaction gas passes through.

A fuel cell includes a cell stacked body and a manifold. The cell stacked body has elements stacked, each element having: a fuel electrode and an oxidant electrode between which the electrolyte membrane is interposed; a fuel electrode flow channel plate; and an oxidant electrode flow channel plate. The manifold is provided on a lateral surface, of the cell stacked body, along a stacking direction of the cell stacked body and feeds a reaction gas to the fuel electrode flow channel plate or the oxidant electrode flow channel plate. The manifold includes a gas flow channel part that is provided between a plurality of the cell stacked bodies arranged to line up in a first direction perpendicular to the stacking direction and that allows communication between the cell stacked bodies such that the reaction gas passes through.

A cell stack device includes cells, a metal member containing chromium, a covering layer, and a bonding material. The cells include a first cell and the cells includes respective element portions. The covering layer covers the metal member. The bonding material is positioned between the first cell and the covering layer. The cell stack device satisfies any one of (1) The covering layer includes at least two portions having different thicknesses or different surface roughnesses at different positions. (2) A surface roughness of the covering layer is different from that of the metal member. (3) At least one element selected from the group consisting of Mn, Ti, Ca, and Al is positioned at the interface between the metal member and the covering layer, and the content ratio of the at least one element at the interface is different from that of the metal member or the covering layer.

A cell stack device includes cells, a metal member containing chromium, a covering layer, and a bonding material. The cells include a first cell and the cells includes respective element portions. The covering layer covers the metal member. The bonding material is positioned between the first cell and the covering layer. The cell stack device satisfies any one of (1) The covering layer includes at least two portions having different thicknesses or different surface roughnesses at different positions. (2) A surface roughness of the covering layer is different from that of the metal member. (3) At least one element selected from the group consisting of Mn, Ti, Ca, and Al is positioned at the interface between the metal member and the covering layer, and the content ratio of the at least one element at the interface is different from that of the metal member or the covering layer.

A fuel cell separator includes a coolant flow field formed between first and second metal separator plates. A first communication hole is formed in an outer peripheral wall of each of passage sealing beads that surround respectively an air vent passage and a coolant drain passage which are formed so as to penetrate in a separator thickness direction. A second communication hole is formed in an inner peripheral wall of each of the passage sealing beads. The first communication hole and the second communication hole are positioned to be displaced from each other in an extending direction of a first internal channel or a second internal channel.

A fuel cell separator includes a coolant flow field formed between first and second metal separator plates. A first communication hole is formed in an outer peripheral wall of each of passage sealing beads that surround respectively an air vent passage and a coolant drain passage which are formed so as to penetrate in a separator thickness direction. A second communication hole is formed in an inner peripheral wall of each of the passage sealing beads. The first communication hole and the second communication hole are positioned to be displaced from each other in an extending direction of a first internal channel or a second internal channel.

A fuel cell system includes a first electrically non-conductive sheet portion having a coolant flow layer in an opening thereof, a first non-stamped, flat, metal separator on a first side of the coolant flow layer and a second non-stamped, flat, metal separator on a second side of the coolant flow layer opposite the first separator. A membrane is received in an opening of a second electrically non-conductive sheet portion. Gas diffusion layers are located on opposite sides of the membrane. The gas diffusion layers have channels open toward the first non-stamped, flat, metal separator or the second non-stamped, flat, metal separator to allow flow of an oxidant and/or fuel therethrough.

A fuel cell system includes a first electrically non-conductive sheet portion having a coolant flow layer in an opening thereof, a first non-stamped, flat, metal separator on a first side of the coolant flow layer and a second non-stamped, flat, metal separator on a second side of the coolant flow layer opposite the first separator. A membrane is received in an opening of a second electrically non-conductive sheet portion. Gas diffusion layers are located on opposite sides of the membrane. The gas diffusion layers have channels open toward the first non-stamped, flat, metal separator or the second non-stamped, flat, metal separator to allow flow of an oxidant and/or fuel therethrough.