The present disclosure is directed towards the design of electrochemical cells for use in high pressure or high differential pressure operations. The electrochemical cells of the present disclosure have non-circular external pressure boundaries, i.e., the cells have non-circular profiles. In such cells, the internal fluid pressure during operation is balanced by the axial tensile forces developed in the bipolar plates, which prevent the external pressure boundaries of the cells from flexing or deforming. That is, the bipolar plates are configured to function as tension members during operation of the cells. To function as an effective tension member, the thickness of a particular bipolar plate is determined based on the yield strength of the material selected for fabricating the bipolar plate, the internal fluid pressure in the flow structure adjacent to the bipolar plate, and the thickness of the adjacent flow structure.

A bead-type separator for a fuel cell includes a reaction surface disposed at a center of the separator and for reacting a flowing reaction gas, a diffusion part disposed at both sides of the reaction surface for diffusing the reaction gas, multiple manifold through-holes disposed in regions at both ends of the separator and introducing or discharging the reaction gas, and multiple protruding inner bead seals along a periphery of the regions in which the manifold through-holes are disposed, wherein the inner bead seals comprise a first inner bead seal disposed at the periphery of the region in which the manifold through-hole configured to discharge the reaction gas is formed, and wherein the first inner bead seal includes multiple main discharge bead flow fields protruding in tunnel shapes from a diffusion part and multiple main connection bead flow fields.

The manufacturing method for the fuel cell unit includes a stacking step and a laser irradiation step. In the stacking step, a stacked portion including, stacked together, a resin frame member of a resin frame equipped membrane electrode assembly and an outer peripheral portion of a separator is placed on a metal spacer. The resin frame member at a joining target portion of the stacked portion is placed so as to face a recess of the metal spacer. In the laser irradiation step, the separator at the joining target portion in a state where the resin frame member faces the recess is irradiated with a laser beam to thereby form a welded portion where the resin frame member and the separator are welded to each other.

The manufacturing method for the fuel cell unit includes a stacking step and a laser irradiation step. In the stacking step, a stacked portion including, stacked together, a resin frame member of a resin frame equipped membrane electrode assembly and an outer peripheral portion of a separator is placed on a metal spacer. The resin frame member at a joining target portion of the stacked portion is placed so as to face a recess of the metal spacer. In the laser irradiation step, the separator at the joining target portion in a state where the resin frame member faces the recess is irradiated with a laser beam to thereby form a welded portion where the resin frame member and the separator are welded to each other.

The present invention relates to: a shape correction device for a frame body; and a method for manufacturing an electrolyte film/electrode structure that is provided with a resin frame for a fuel cell. A shape correction device, which corrects the shape of a frame body that is provided with a rectangular opening, is equipped with a pressing mechanism that applies, to each side of the frame body, a pressing force directed from the inner side to the outer side of the opening. The pressing mechanism may have a first bar and a second bar, which apply the pressing force by being in contact with inner wall surfaces of each side of the frame body.

The present invention relates to: a shape correction device for a frame body; and a method for manufacturing an electrolyte film/electrode structure that is provided with a resin frame for a fuel cell. A shape correction device, which corrects the shape of a frame body that is provided with a rectangular opening, is equipped with a pressing mechanism that applies, to each side of the frame body, a pressing force directed from the inner side to the outer side of the opening. The pressing mechanism may have a first bar and a second bar, which apply the pressing force by being in contact with inner wall surfaces of each side of the frame body.

[Problem] To provide a stacked structure including electrodes that can effectively prevent misalignment between units. [Solution] A stacked structure 2 including electrodes 232, 332, 412, 233, 333, 422, wherein multiple units 23, 33, 24, 41, 42 including flat units are stacked and fastened by fasteners 25, the respective units 23, 33, 24, 41, 42 comprising frame-shaped fastening portions 237a, 237b, 337a, 337b, 247a, 247b, 417a, 417b, 427a, 427b on outer peripheral portions on both surfaces thereof, being stacked by the surfaces of the respective fastening portions 237a, 237b, 337a, 337b, 247a, 247b, 417a, 417b, 427a, 427b being pressed against each other, and being formed so that the width of fastening portions 247a, 247b, 337a, 337b, 427a, 427b on one unit is different from the width of fastening portions 237a, 237b, 417a, 417b on another unit.

Disclosed are a membrane-electrode assembly capable of satisfying both of two requirements of excellent performance and high durability, and a fuel cell including same. The membrane-electrode assembly of the present invention comprises: a first electrode; a second electrode; and an electrolyte membrane between the first and second electrodes, wherein the first electrode includes a first segment having a first durability and a second segment having a second durability that differs from the first durability.

Disclosed are a membrane-electrode assembly capable of satisfying both of two requirements of excellent performance and high durability, and a fuel cell including same. The membrane-electrode assembly of the present invention comprises: a first electrode; a second electrode; and an electrolyte membrane between the first and second electrodes, wherein the first electrode includes a first segment having a first durability and a second segment having a second durability that differs from the first durability.

The present disclosure provides a separator-integrated gasket and a manufacturing method therefor, with which the likelihood of the gasket peeling away from the separator can be reduced while reducing the number of manufacturing steps. The separator-integrated gasket includes gaskets 210, 220 that are provided integrally with a separator 200 forming a fuel cell, wherein the separator 200 is formed from carbon to which a thermoplastic first resin material has been added, and the gaskets 210, 220 are formed from a thermoplastic second resin material that is compatible with the first resin material.