An illustrative example fuel cell device includes a cell stack assembly of a plurality of fuel cells that each include an anode and a cathode. A pressure plate is situated near one end of the cell stack assembly. A spacer between the end of the cell stack assembly and the pressure plate has a length, a width, and a height. The height of the spacer defines a spacing between the pressure plate and the end of the cell stack assembly. The spacer has a plurality of ribs that define at least two fluid reservoirs. At least one of the ribs separates the fluid reservoirs so that fluid in one of the reservoirs is isolated from fluid in the other.

An assembly includes an SOEC/SOFC-type solid oxide stack, a clamping system for clamping the stack, including at least two clamping rods that can be used to assemble upper and lower clamping plates, and a coupling system for high-temperature fluid-tight coupling of the stack to a heating system for supplying and discharging gas. The coupling system includes a collector with collection ducts for supplying and discharging gas, each provided with a collecting port positioned facing a corresponding communication port of at least one of the upper and lower clamping plates, and seals each placed between a collecting port and a corresponding communication port.

A fuel cell system includes at least one modular enclosure having a top wall, a bottom wall, and a plurality of side walls that connect the top wall and the bottom wall and close off the modular enclosure on all sides; at least one fuel cell stack disposed within the at least one modular enclosure; at least one piping manifold configured to supply at least one process gas to the at least one fuel cell stack and to receive at least one exhaust process gas from the at least one fuel cell stack; and at least one process gas seal configured to seal the at least one piping manifold. The at least one process gas seal is effected via a static force from a weight of the at least one fuel cell stack or a weight of the at least one piping manifold.

A fuel cell system includes at least one modular enclosure having a top wall, a bottom wall, and a plurality of side walls that connect the top wall and the bottom wall and close off the modular enclosure on all sides; at least one fuel cell stack disposed within the at least one modular enclosure; at least one piping manifold configured to supply at least one process gas to the at least one fuel cell stack and to receive at least one exhaust process gas from the at least one fuel cell stack; and at least one process gas seal configured to seal the at least one piping manifold. The at least one process gas seal is effected via a static force from a weight of the at least one fuel cell stack or a weight of the at least one piping manifold.

At least one separator of the two separators is formed of a press-formed plate having recesses and protrusions. Among portions of the recesses and protrusions, a portion coming toward the MEGA plate is designated as recessed portion, and a portion going apart from the MEGA plate is designated as protruded portion. The one separator has a first recessed portion bonded to the frame member, a first protruded portion contiguous to the first recessed portion, and a second recessed portion formed on one side of the first protruded portion opposed to the first recessed portion. The fuel cell stack is capable to take a tightened state in which a tightening load is imparted to the plurality of unit cells by the tightening member, and a non-tightened state in which no tightening load is imparted. The unit cells are so configured that the second recessed portion is in contact with the frame member in the tightened state, and the second recessed portion is out of contact with the frame member in the non-tightened state.

At least one separator of the two separators is formed of a press-formed plate having recesses and protrusions. Among portions of the recesses and protrusions, a portion coming toward the MEGA plate is designated as recessed portion, and a portion going apart from the MEGA plate is designated as protruded portion. The one separator has a first recessed portion bonded to the frame member, a first protruded portion contiguous to the first recessed portion, and a second recessed portion formed on one side of the first protruded portion opposed to the first recessed portion. The fuel cell stack is capable to take a tightened state in which a tightening load is imparted to the plurality of unit cells by the tightening member, and a non-tightened state in which no tightening load is imparted. The unit cells are so configured that the second recessed portion is in contact with the frame member in the tightened state, and the second recessed portion is out of contact with the frame member in the non-tightened state.

Provided is a redox flow battery in which damage is unlikely to occur in a membrane. A redox flow battery includes a pair of adjacent cell frames, each cell frame including a frame body in which a flow channel for an electrolyte is formed, and a bipolar plate disposed inside the frame body; a positive electrode and a negative electrode disposed so as to face each other between the bipolar plates of the pair of cell frames; a membrane interposed between the positive electrode and the negative electrode; a protection plate which covers the flow channel and presses edge portions of the positive electrode or the negative electrode toward the bipolar plate; and a membrane protection structure which prevents the membrane from being broken by contact between the protection plate and the membrane.

Provided is a redox flow battery in which damage is unlikely to occur in a membrane. A redox flow battery includes a pair of adjacent cell frames, each cell frame including a frame body in which a flow channel for an electrolyte is formed, and a bipolar plate disposed inside the frame body; a positive electrode and a negative electrode disposed so as to face each other between the bipolar plates of the pair of cell frames; a membrane interposed between the positive electrode and the negative electrode; a protection plate which covers the flow channel and presses edge portions of the positive electrode or the negative electrode toward the bipolar plate; and a membrane protection structure which prevents the membrane from being broken by contact between the protection plate and the membrane.

A fuel cell unit includes: a fuel cell module including a fuel cell stack including: a stacked body in which unit cells are stacked; a pair of end plates sandwiching the stacked body in a stacking direction; a facing member facing an outer surface of the stacked body extending along the stacking direction; and first and second restriction members arranged between the facing member and the stacked body, and restricting a position of the stacked body in a direction perpendicular to the stacking direction by contacting with the outer surface; and fixing members fixing the fuel cell module to a fixed member.

A fuel cell unit includes: a fuel cell module including a fuel cell stack including: a stacked body in which unit cells are stacked; a pair of end plates sandwiching the stacked body in a stacking direction; a facing member facing an outer surface of the stacked body extending along the stacking direction; and first and second restriction members arranged between the facing member and the stacked body, and restricting a position of the stacked body in a direction perpendicular to the stacking direction by contacting with the outer surface; and fixing members fixing the fuel cell module to a fixed member.