A fuel cell single cell includes a pair of separators each having manifold holes, a frame disposed between the separators, a power generating unit disposed in an opening of the frame, and a plurality of gas flow channels configured to connect the power generating unit with the manifold holes. Each of the gas flow channels has a distal channel portion defined by a frame groove provided in the frame and configured to communicate with the manifold holes, and a proximal channel portion defined by a separator groove provided in the corresponding separator and configured to communicate with the power generating unit. Each of the gas flow channels is configured to be independent of adjacent other gas flow channels, at least over a range from a distal end of the distal channel portion, which communicates with the manifold holes, to a point in the proximal channel portion.

Various embodiments include fuel cell interconnects having a fuel distribution portion having an inlet opening, a fuel collection portion having an outlet opening, and a primary fuel flow field containing channels, wherein the fuel distribution portion comprises at least one raised feature defining a fuel distribution flow path, and the fuel distribution flow path is not continuous with the channels in the primary fuel flow field. The at least one raised feature may include, for example, a network of ribs and/or dots. Further embodiments include interconnects having a fuel distribution portion with a variable surface depth to provide variable flow restriction and/or a plenum with variable surface depth and raised a raised relief feature on the cathode side, and/or varying flow channel depths and/or rib heights adjacent a fuel hole.

Various embodiments include fuel cell interconnects having a fuel distribution portion having an inlet opening, a fuel collection portion having an outlet opening, and a primary fuel flow field containing channels, wherein the fuel distribution portion comprises at least one raised feature defining a fuel distribution flow path, and the fuel distribution flow path is not continuous with the channels in the primary fuel flow field. The at least one raised feature may include, for example, a network of ribs and/or dots. Further embodiments include interconnects having a fuel distribution portion with a variable surface depth to provide variable flow restriction and/or a plenum with variable surface depth and raised a raised relief feature on the cathode side, and/or varying flow channel depths and/or rib heights adjacent a fuel hole.

A fuel cell includes a cell stacked body and a manifold. The cell stacked body has elements stacked, each element having: a fuel electrode and an oxidant electrode between which the electrolyte membrane is interposed; a fuel electrode flow channel plate; and an oxidant electrode flow channel plate. The manifold is provided on a lateral surface, of the cell stacked body, along a stacking direction of the cell stacked body and feeds a reaction gas to the fuel electrode flow channel plate or the oxidant electrode flow channel plate. The manifold includes a gas flow channel part that is provided between a plurality of the cell stacked bodies arranged to line up in a first direction perpendicular to the stacking direction and that allows communication between the cell stacked bodies such that the reaction gas passes through.

A fuel cell includes a cell stacked body and a manifold. The cell stacked body has elements stacked, each element having: a fuel electrode and an oxidant electrode between which the electrolyte membrane is interposed; a fuel electrode flow channel plate; and an oxidant electrode flow channel plate. The manifold is provided on a lateral surface, of the cell stacked body, along a stacking direction of the cell stacked body and feeds a reaction gas to the fuel electrode flow channel plate or the oxidant electrode flow channel plate. The manifold includes a gas flow channel part that is provided between a plurality of the cell stacked bodies arranged to line up in a first direction perpendicular to the stacking direction and that allows communication between the cell stacked bodies such that the reaction gas passes through.

A fuel cell separator includes a coolant flow field formed between first and second metal separator plates. A first communication hole is formed in an outer peripheral wall of each of passage sealing beads that surround respectively an air vent passage and a coolant drain passage which are formed so as to penetrate in a separator thickness direction. A second communication hole is formed in an inner peripheral wall of each of the passage sealing beads. The first communication hole and the second communication hole are positioned to be displaced from each other in an extending direction of a first internal channel or a second internal channel.

A fuel cell separator includes a coolant flow field formed between first and second metal separator plates. A first communication hole is formed in an outer peripheral wall of each of passage sealing beads that surround respectively an air vent passage and a coolant drain passage which are formed so as to penetrate in a separator thickness direction. A second communication hole is formed in an inner peripheral wall of each of the passage sealing beads. The first communication hole and the second communication hole are positioned to be displaced from each other in an extending direction of a first internal channel or a second internal channel.

An electrochemical device comprises a stack consisting of a plurality of electrochemical units which succeed one another along a stack direction and which each include a membrane electrode arrangement, a bipolar plate and at least one sealing element, at least one medium channel which extends along the stack direction, a flow field through which a medium can flow from the medium channel to another medium channel, and a connection channel through which the flow field and the medium channel are in fluid connection with one another, wherein the sealing arrangement includes a connection channel region in which the sealing arrangement crosses the connection channel, and at least one neighboring region which is located in front of or behind the connection channel region in the longitudinal direction of the sealing arrangement, wherein the sealing arrangement has a lower average height in the connection channel region than in the neighboring region.

An electrochemical device comprises a stack consisting of a plurality of electrochemical units which succeed one another along a stack direction and which each include a membrane electrode arrangement, a bipolar plate and at least one sealing element, at least one medium channel which extends along the stack direction, a flow field through which a medium can flow from the medium channel to another medium channel, and a connection channel through which the flow field and the medium channel are in fluid connection with one another, wherein the sealing arrangement includes a connection channel region in which the sealing arrangement crosses the connection channel, and at least one neighboring region which is located in front of or behind the connection channel region in the longitudinal direction of the sealing arrangement, wherein the sealing arrangement has a lower average height in the connection channel region than in the neighboring region.

A bead-type separator for a fuel cell includes a reaction surface disposed at a center of the separator and for reacting a flowing reaction gas, a diffusion part disposed at both sides of the reaction surface for diffusing the reaction gas, multiple manifold through-holes disposed in regions at both ends of the separator and introducing or discharging the reaction gas, and multiple protruding inner bead seals along a periphery of the regions in which the manifold through-holes are disposed, wherein the inner bead seals comprise a first inner bead seal disposed at the periphery of the region in which the manifold through-hole configured to discharge the reaction gas is formed, and wherein the first inner bead seal includes multiple main discharge bead flow fields protruding in tunnel shapes from a diffusion part and multiple main connection bead flow fields.