A tab of a load receiver forming a fuel cell separator member includes a base portion in the form of a metal plate, and a resin member covering the base portion. A hole, into which the resin member is partially inserted, is formed in the base portion. The resin member includes a thick portion, and a thin portion positioned closer to a first separator than the thick portion is. The hole is disposed so as to be overlapped with the thick portion.

To provide a fuel cell in which the gas sealing property between the unit fuel cells is high and the sectional area of the refrigerant flow path is large. A fuel cell comprising: unit fuel cells adjacent to each other, a cooling plate, and a gasket, wherein the cooling plate is disposed between the adjacent unit fuel cells; wherein the cooling plate is a corrugated plate comprising concave grooves configured to function as a refrigerant flow path; wherein the gasket comprises a first convexity having a height larger than a thickness of the cooling plate, and the gasket seals manifolds of the adjacent unit fuel cells; and wherein, at least at a part of a side portion of the first convexity, the gasket comprises a second convexity comprising a convexity in the same direction as the first convexity.

A fuel cell module includes a case body containing a cell stack body formed by stacking a plurality of power generation cells. The case body includes a plurality of connectors for mounting the fuel cell module into a fuel cell vehicle. The plurality of connectors include a first connector group used for mounting the fuel cell module into a first fuel cell vehicle in a manner that a stacking direction of the fuel cell module is substantially aligned with a first direction, and a second connector group used for mounting the fuel cell module into a second fuel cell vehicle in a manner that the stacking direction of the fuel cell module is substantially aligned with a second direction. Some connectors are common to both the first connector group and the second connector group.

A fuel cell capable of reducing the stress exerted upon an electrolyte membrane resulting from the swelling and contraction of the electrolyte membrane. The fuel cell includes at least an MEGA with catalyst layers joined to the opposite sides of the electrolyte membrane, and a pair of separators disposed so as to sandwich the MEGA. The MEGA generates power with a hydrogen gas fed to one side of the MEGA and with an oxidant gas fed to the other side. Separators each have a plurality of projections formed on the side of the MEGA so as to form a gas channel through which the hydrogen gas or oxidant gas flows between the projections. The electrolyte membrane has a plurality of through-holes formed at positions facing the projections along the direction in which the projections extend.

A fuel cell capable of reducing the stress exerted upon an electrolyte membrane resulting from the swelling and contraction of the electrolyte membrane. The fuel cell includes at least an MEGA with catalyst layers joined to the opposite sides of the electrolyte membrane, and a pair of separators disposed so as to sandwich the MEGA. The MEGA generates power with a hydrogen gas fed to one side of the MEGA and with an oxidant gas fed to the other side. Separators each have a plurality of projections formed on the side of the MEGA so as to form a gas channel through which the hydrogen gas or oxidant gas flows between the projections. The electrolyte membrane has a plurality of through-holes formed at positions facing the projections along the direction in which the projections extend.

The present invention relates to a fuel cell and a fuel cell stack comprising the same, and according to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a fuel cell comprising a membrane-electrode assembly having a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface, wherein an anode electrode and a cathode electrode are each disposed on the first surface; an end plate disposed apart at a predetermined interval on the second surface; a first gas diffusion layer disposed on the anode electrode; a second gas diffusion layer disposed on the cathode electrode; a first separating plate disposed on the first gas diffusion layer and having a plurality of flow channels; and a second separating plate disposed on the second gas diffusion layer and having a plurality of flow channels.

There may be provided a fuel cell stack unit comprising: a first gas separating plate; a first sealing gasket; a metal support, an end cell, and an air inlet being formed in the outer peripheral side of the center portion; a second sealing gasket; and a second gas separating plate stacked on the lower side of the second sealing gasket, wherein air introduced from the air inlet of the first gas separating plate successively passes through the air inlets formed in the first sealing gasket, the metal support, and the second sealing gasket, respectively, and flows from one side of the end cell to the other side thereof along a stacking boundary between the lower side of the end cell and the upper side of the second gas separating plate; and the second sealing gasket is recessed inward from an edge of the second sealing gasket.

There may be provided a fuel cell stack unit comprising: a first gas separating plate; a first sealing gasket; a metal support, an end cell, and an air inlet being formed in the outer peripheral side of the center portion; a second sealing gasket; and a second gas separating plate stacked on the lower side of the second sealing gasket, wherein air introduced from the air inlet of the first gas separating plate successively passes through the air inlets formed in the first sealing gasket, the metal support, and the second sealing gasket, respectively, and flows from one side of the end cell to the other side thereof along a stacking boundary between the lower side of the end cell and the upper side of the second gas separating plate; and the second sealing gasket is recessed inward from an edge of the second sealing gasket.

The fuel cell comprises for each MEA: an anodic volume for the circulation of an anodic fluid between the anode of the MEA and a bipolar plate and a cathodic volume for the circulation of a cathodic fluid between the anode of the MEA and another bipolar plate, one of the anodic volume and the cathodic volume is sealed by a cordon of a sealing material extending along a peripheral outer edge of the MEA, wherein the sealing material is in direct contact with the MEA and the corresponding bipolar plate; wherein the other of the anodic volume and the cathodic volume is sealed off from the fluid circulating in the volume by a direct contact line of the MEA with the corresponding bipolar plate, the contact line extending along a peripheral outer edge of the MEA.

The fuel cell comprises for each MEA: an anodic volume for the circulation of an anodic fluid between the anode of the MEA and a bipolar plate and a cathodic volume for the circulation of a cathodic fluid between the anode of the MEA and another bipolar plate, one of the anodic volume and the cathodic volume is sealed by a cordon of a sealing material extending along a peripheral outer edge of the MEA, wherein the sealing material is in direct contact with the MEA and the corresponding bipolar plate; wherein the other of the anodic volume and the cathodic volume is sealed off from the fluid circulating in the volume by a direct contact line of the MEA with the corresponding bipolar plate, the contact line extending along a peripheral outer edge of the MEA.