A manufacturing method for a fuel cell includes: preparing a membrane electrode gas diffusion layer assembly; preparing a support frame having an electrical insulating property and an ultraviolet permeability; preparing a separator; bonding the membrane electrode gas diffusion layer assembly and the support frame to each other via a first ultraviolet curable adhesive; and, after the membrane electrode gas diffusion layer assembly and the support frame are bonded to each other, bonding the support frame and the separator to each other via a second ultraviolet curable adhesive.

A method of operating a power generation system, such as a fuel cell power generation system, includes providing a first electrical power up to a threshold amount of power to a load from at least one power module via a plurality of DC/DC converters and a DC power bus, determining whether electrical power from a utility is available, and providing a second electrical power from the at least one power module to a rectifier path via a plurality of DC/AC inverters in response to determining that the electrical power from the utility is available. The second electrical power includes electrical power generated by the at least one power module in excess of the threshold amount of electrical power.

A fuel cell unit structure includes: power generation cells; separators; a flow passage portion formed between the separators and including flow passages configured to supply gas to the power generation cells; gas flow-in ports configured to allow the gas to flow into the flow passage portion; gas flow-out ports configured to allow the gas to flow out from the flow passage portion; and an adjustment portion configured to adjust an amount of the gas flowing through the flow passages. The adjustment portion includes a first auxiliary flow passage provided between the power generation cells arranged to be opposed to each other on a same plane with a gas flow-in port of the gas flow-in ports being located on an extended line of an extending direction of the first auxiliary flow passage.

A fuel cell stack and inspection method, the fuel cell stack including fuel cells disposed in a stack and interconnects disposed between the fuel cells. Each fuel cell includes an electrolyte, an anode disposed on a first side of the electrolyte, a cathode disposed on an opposing second side of an electrolyte, and a witness mark disposed on the first side of the electrolyte. Each interconnect includes first ribs disposed on air side of the interconnect and at least partially defining oxidant channels, and second ribs disposed on an opposing fuel side of the interconnect and at least partially defining fuel channels. The witness mark of each fuel cell is visible from outside of the stack when the cathode directly faces the air side of an adjacent interconnect.

A flexible fuel cell power system comprising one or more fuel cell cartridges (which contain fuel cell modules) connected to a fuel cell system is provided. The components of the flexible fuel cell power system may be placed on a shared backbone with flexible joints, and may be made of flexible materials so that the entire system can be worn by a human being.

A flexible fuel cell power system comprising one or more fuel cell cartridges (which contain fuel cell modules) connected to a fuel cell system is provided. The components of the flexible fuel cell power system may be placed on a shared backbone with flexible joints, and may be made of flexible materials so that the entire system can be worn by a human being.

The invention relates to a device for handling membranes for fuel cells comprising a membrane storage station (A.sub.2) and means for conveying and handling a membrane from the storage station (A.sub.2) to a receiving station, characterized in that the conveying and handling means comprise suction gripping means and in that the membrane storage station (A.sub.2) comprises a membrane stack magazine which is guided to move in a given direction on a stationary frame carrying means for damping and returning the magazine (A.sub.2) to a predetermined position in the absence of a supporting force exerted on the magazine (A.sub.2) in said direction by the suction gripping means.

Disclosed are a method of manufacturing a membrane electrode assembly for a fuel cell and a membrane electrode assembly for a fuel cell manufactured using the same. The planar membrane electrode assembly for a fuel cell may include an ionomer membrane formed on both side surfaces of an electrode and between the electrode and an electrolyte membrane, thereby increasing interfacial bonding force between the electrode and the electrolyte membrane and improving the durability of a cell. In addition, the membrane electrode assembly may include planar or smooth surfaces such that formation of voids or surface steps between the electrode and a sub-gasket may be prevented, thereby improving airtightness and preventing deterioration attributable to concentration of pressure.

Provided is a fuel cell capable of easily forming an interconnector part electrically connecting adjacent unit cells in a planar array fuel cell. In the fuel cell, an electrode layer on each of two surfaces of an electrolyte membrane is divided into a plurality of electrode regions by a dividing groove; a unit cell is constituted by a stacked structure including the electrolyte membrane, one electrode region on one surface of the electrolyte membrane, and one electrode region on the other surface thereof; and the plurality of the unit cells are connected in series by the interconnector part formed in the electrolyte membrane. The interconnector part is formed by heating and carbonizing a proton conductive resin in the electrolyte membrane. The proton conductive resin can be heated by laser beam irradiation.

Provided is a fuel cell capable of easily forming an interconnector part electrically connecting adjacent unit cells in a planar array fuel cell. In the fuel cell, an electrode layer on each of two surfaces of an electrolyte membrane is divided into a plurality of electrode regions by a dividing groove; a unit cell is constituted by a stacked structure including the electrolyte membrane, one electrode region on one surface of the electrolyte membrane, and one electrode region on the other surface thereof; and the plurality of the unit cells are connected in series by the interconnector part formed in the electrolyte membrane. The interconnector part is formed by heating and carbonizing a proton conductive resin in the electrolyte membrane. The proton conductive resin can be heated by laser beam irradiation.