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.

A member for a fuel cell in which a lip 4b is directly fixed to the surface of a separator 5. In the member for a fuel cell, the lip 4b is a cross-linked body of a radically curable composition containing components (A) to (E) below at a specific ratio, and the glass transition temperature (Tg) of the cross-linked body is −30° C. or less. (A) (Meth)acrylic polymer having a (meth)acryloyl group at a molecular chain end. (B) Monofunctional (meth)acrylic monomer having a glass transition temperature (Tg) of 0° C. or more and having a polycyclic structure. (C) Monofunctional (meth)acrylic monomer except for component (B). (D) Polyfunctional (meth)acrylic monomer. (E) Radical polymerization initiator.

Disclosed is a membrane-electrode assembly for fuel cells that can improve durability and prevent reduction in a lifespan thereof. The membrane-electrode assembly for fuel cells includes a pair of electrodes, an electrolyte membrane stacked between the electrodes, the which includes a membrane extension member extending outside the electrodes, a sub-gasket bonded to both surfaces of the membrane extension member, which includes an upper gasket and a lower gasket extending outside the membrane extension member and being bonded to each other, and an opening formed in at least one of the upper gasket and the lower gasket so as to discharge water produced during an electrochemical reaction occurring in the electrodes, which is adjacent to the membrane extension member.

The invention relates to a method for producing a sealed fuel cell (101) for a fuel cell stack (100), comprising a cathode-side distributor plate (K), an anode-side distributor plate (A) and a membrane electrode unit (MEA), said method comprising the following steps: 1) providing a cathode-side distributor plate (K) and an anode-side distributor plate (A), 2) providing a first film web (B1) for sealing the cathode-side distributor plate (K) and a second film web (B2) for sealing the anode-side distributor plate (A), 3) punching a cathode-side distributor structure (VK) for the cathode-side distributor plate (K) out of the first film web (B1) and an anode-side distributor structure (VA) for the anode-side distributor plate (A) out of the second film web (B2), 4) cutting the first film web (B1) to produce a first seal (D1) for the cathode-side distributor structure (VK) and cutting the second film web (B2) to produce a second seal (D2) for the anode-side distributor structure (VA), 5) placing the first seal (D1) on the cathode-side distributor plate (K) and the second seal (D2) on the anode-side distributor plate (A), 6) heating the cathode-side distributor plate (K) and the anode-side distributor plate (A) in order to connect together the first seal (D1) on the cathode-side distributor plate (K) and the second seal (D2) on the anode-side distributor plate (A) in an integrally joined manner, more particularly to melt said seals together.

The invention relates to a method for producing a sealed fuel cell (101) for a fuel cell stack (100), comprising a cathode-side distributor plate (K), an anode-side distributor plate (A) and a membrane electrode unit (MEA), said method comprising the following steps: 1) providing a cathode-side distributor plate (K) and an anode-side distributor plate (A), 2) providing a first film web (B1) for sealing the cathode-side distributor plate (K) and a second film web (B2) for sealing the anode-side distributor plate (A), 3) punching a cathode-side distributor structure (VK) for the cathode-side distributor plate (K) out of the first film web (B1) and an anode-side distributor structure (VA) for the anode-side distributor plate (A) out of the second film web (B2), 4) cutting the first film web (B1) to produce a first seal (D1) for the cathode-side distributor structure (VK) and cutting the second film web (B2) to produce a second seal (D2) for the anode-side distributor structure (VA), 5) placing the first seal (D1) on the cathode-side distributor plate (K) and the second seal (D2) on the anode-side distributor plate (A), 6) heating the cathode-side distributor plate (K) and the anode-side distributor plate (A) in order to connect together the first seal (D1) on the cathode-side distributor plate (K) and the second seal (D2) on the anode-side distributor plate (A) in an integrally joined manner, more particularly to melt said seals together.

A fuel cell system with reduced leakage and a method of assembling a fuel cell system. Bipolar plates within the system include reactant channels and coolant channels that are fluidly coupled to inlet and outlet flowpaths, all of which are formed within a coolant-engaging or reactant-engaging surface of the plate. One or more seals are also formed on the fluid-engaging surface to help reduce leakage by maintaining fluid isolation of the reactants and coolant as they flow through their respective channels and flowpaths that are defined between adjacently-placed plates. The seal—with its combination of in-plane and out-of-plane dimensions—forms a substantially hollow volume, into which a plug is placed to reduce the tendency of the seal to form a shunted flow of the coolant or reactant around the intended active area of the plate. A fluid port intersection is integrally formed with the seal and is formed to be fluidly cooperative with the volume, and is capable of accepting the introduction of a fluent precursor of the plug material such that upon curing, the precursor material forms a substantially rigid insert that continuously fills both the volume and intersection, thereby increasing the resistance of the plug to movement and the seal to shunted flow. In one form, the geometry of the fluent material injection site is such that it promotes plug anchoring within its intended location, while also providing a manufacturing aid to visually inspect for plug installation, as well as to serve as a bipolar plate stacking alignment locator and verification.

A fuel cell system with reduced leakage and a method of assembling a fuel cell system. Bipolar plates within the system include reactant channels and coolant channels that are fluidly coupled to inlet and outlet flowpaths, all of which are formed within a coolant-engaging or reactant-engaging surface of the plate. One or more seals are also formed on the fluid-engaging surface to help reduce leakage by maintaining fluid isolation of the reactants and coolant as they flow through their respective channels and flowpaths that are defined between adjacently-placed plates. The seal—with its combination of in-plane and out-of-plane dimensions—forms a substantially hollow volume, into which a plug is placed to reduce the tendency of the seal to form a shunted flow of the coolant or reactant around the intended active area of the plate. A fluid port intersection is integrally formed with the seal and is formed to be fluidly cooperative with the volume, and is capable of accepting the introduction of a fluent precursor of the plug material such that upon curing, the precursor material forms a substantially rigid insert that continuously fills both the volume and intersection, thereby increasing the resistance of the plug to movement and the seal to shunted flow. In one form, the geometry of the fluent material injection site is such that it promotes plug anchoring within its intended location, while also providing a manufacturing aid to visually inspect for plug installation, as well as to serve as a bipolar plate stacking alignment locator and verification.

The invention relates to a filter with a gasket applied in line shape at an edge of the filter. The invention suggests to apply the gasket with a nozzle which facilitates a gasket that is thinner and/or whose protrusion beyond the filter is lower than this would be feasible for example through injection molding.

The invention relates to a filter with a gasket applied in line shape at an edge of the filter. The invention suggests to apply the gasket with a nozzle which facilitates a gasket that is thinner and/or whose protrusion beyond the filter is lower than this would be feasible for example through injection molding.

A structure of a fuel cell includes a sub-gasket coupled to both sides of a membrane electrode assembly; a plurality of gaskets protruding from a separator to form a flow space between the sub-gasket and the separator and supporting the sub-gasket; and a supporting member coupled to the sub-gasket at a position corresponding to the flow space, the supporting member preventing the sub-gasket from being deformed and being formed in a flat shape.