A fuel cell stack includes a first metal separator and a second metal separator sandwiching a membrane electrode assembly. Bead seals are provided on the first and second metal separators. The bead seals protrude toward the membrane electrode assembly. A seal member is provided on a top part of each of the bead seals. In the process of producing the fuel cell stack, pressure medium is supplied to a coolant flow field formed between the first metal separator and the second metal separator. The supply pressure of the pressure medium is set to not less than the supply pressure of a coolant supplied to the coolant flow field during normal operation of the fuel cell stack.

A fuel cell stack includes a first metal separator and a second metal separator sandwiching a membrane electrode assembly. Bead seals are provided on the first and second metal separators. The bead seals protrude toward the membrane electrode assembly. A seal member is provided on a top part of each of the bead seals. In the process of producing the fuel cell stack, pressure medium is supplied to a coolant flow field formed between the first metal separator and the second metal separator. The supply pressure of the pressure medium is set to not less than the supply pressure of a coolant supplied to the coolant flow field during normal operation of the fuel cell stack.

The invention relates to a production plant for producing a membrane electrode assembly or a membrane electrode frame assembly having multiple work stations in which successive production steps take place. The production plant according to the invention is characterized in that a main line and at least one secondary line are provided, wherein the at least one secondary line branches off from the main line after a central work station and, after at least one decentralized work station in the respective secondary line, reenters the main line before the central work station, wherein the central work station comprises at least one work section for an adhesive application, and wherein at least some of the decentralized work stations are designed at least for joining and/or positioning other materials and/or layers. The invention also comprises a method for producing a membrane electrode assembly or membrane electrode frame assembly using such a production plant.

Fuel cell unit in the form of a fuel cell stack for producing electrical energy in an electrochemical manner, comprising fuel cells, the fuel cells each comprising a proton exchange membrane, an anode, a cathode, a gas diffusion layer, a bipolar plate, at least one fluid channel for the passage of a fluid, at least one seal (11) composed of a sealing material (42) for sealing off the at least one fluid channel (37), wherein particles (41) composed of a particle material (43) are arranged in the sealing material (42) of the at least one seal (11), for the purpose of extending the diffusion path (38) of the fluid which is sealed off by the at least one seal (11).

Fuel cell unit in the form of a fuel cell stack for producing electrical energy in an electrochemical manner, comprising fuel cells, the fuel cells each comprising a proton exchange membrane, an anode, a cathode, a gas diffusion layer, a bipolar plate, at least one fluid channel for the passage of a fluid, at least one seal (11) composed of a sealing material (42) for sealing off the at least one fluid channel (37), wherein particles (41) composed of a particle material (43) are arranged in the sealing material (42) of the at least one seal (11), for the purpose of extending the diffusion path (38) of the fluid which is sealed off by the at least one seal (11).

A manifold plate for a fuel cell stack includes a lower manifold portion, an upper manifold portion, a dielectric layer sandwiched between the lower manifold portion and the upper manifold portion, a bottom inlet hole and a bottom outlet hole formed in a bottom surface of the lower manifold portion, where the bottom inlet hole and the bottom outlet hole extend through the dielectric layer, top outlet holes and top inlet holes formed in opposing sides of a top surface of the upper manifold portion, outlet channels fluidly connecting the top outlet holes to the bottom inlet hole, and inlet channels fluidly connecting the top inlet holes to the bottom outlet hole.

Disclosed is a method for manufacturing a fuel cell separator having minimized surface defect via surface polishing using high-pressure injection, in which surface polishing is performed using a high-pressure injection scheme in which polishing-fluid is injected at high-pressure through a polishing-fluid injection nozzle before performing vision inspection, thereby minimizing the surface defect of the fuel cell separator.

An object of the present invention is to provide a photocurable resin composition having a high curing degree after irradiation with light while maintaining cured material characteristics such as high extensibility and high strength. Provided is a photocurable resin composition including the following ingredients (A) to (C): ingredient (A): a polyisobutylene resin containing one or more (meth)acryloyl groups and a —[CH.sub.2C(CH.sub.3).sub.2]— unit; ingredient (B): ingredient (b1): an acrylate monomer having an alicyclic hydrocarbon group having 5 to 25 carbon atoms, and ingredient (b2): an acrylate monomer having a linear or branched alkyl group having 11 to 30 carbon atoms; and ingredient (C): a photo-radical polymerization initiator.

An object of the present invention is to provide a photocurable resin composition having a high curing degree after irradiation with light while maintaining cured material characteristics such as high extensibility and high strength. Provided is a photocurable resin composition including the following ingredients (A) to (C): ingredient (A): a polyisobutylene resin containing one or more (meth)acryloyl groups and a —[CH.sub.2C(CH.sub.3).sub.2]— unit; ingredient (B): ingredient (b1): an acrylate monomer having an alicyclic hydrocarbon group having 5 to 25 carbon atoms, and ingredient (b2): an acrylate monomer having a linear or branched alkyl group having 11 to 30 carbon atoms; and ingredient (C): a photo-radical polymerization initiator.

A fuel cell includes a membrane electrode assembly, an anode gas diffusion layer, and a cathode gas diffusion layer, a pair of separators for clamping a laminate made up of the membrane electrode assembly, the anode gas diffusion layer and cathode gas diffusion layer, and a frame that is formed from thermosetting resin and disposed between the separators to surround a periphery of the laminate. At least one of the anode gas diffusion layer and cathode gas diffusion layer is formed from a composite of thermoplastic resin and conductive particles, and includes a protrusion that protrudes beyond a level of a surface of the frame which faces one of the pair of separators in a state that the laminate is not clamped between the separators under a predetermined pressure. The one of the separators presses the protrusion and gets the at least one of the gas diffusion layers to be deformed and put into contact with the frame in a state that the laminate is clamped between the separators under the predetermined pressure.