Methods and systems are provided for manufacturing a bipolar plate for a redox flow battery. In one example, the bipolar plate is fabricated by a roll-to-roll process. The bipolar plate includes a non-conductive substrate that is coupled to a negative electrode on a first surface and coupled to a positive electrode on a second surface, the first surface opposite of the second surface.

A fuel cell module is equipped with a fuel cell stack having a stack body in which a plurality of flat plate-shaped fuel cells adapted to generate electrical power by an electrochemical reaction between a fuel gas and an oxygen-containing gas are stacked, and a start-up combustor adapted to generate a combustion gas for raising a temperature of the fuel cells. In the fuel cell module, the start-up combustor is arranged in the vicinity of oxygen-containing gas introduction ports through which the oxygen-containing gas in the interior of the fuel cell stack is introduced into the fuel cells.

A fuel cell module is equipped with a fuel cell stack having a stack body in which a plurality of flat plate-shaped fuel cells adapted to generate electrical power by an electrochemical reaction between a fuel gas and an oxygen-containing gas are stacked, and a start-up combustor adapted to generate a combustion gas for raising a temperature of the fuel cells. In the fuel cell module, the start-up combustor is arranged in the vicinity of oxygen-containing gas introduction ports through which the oxygen-containing gas in the interior of the fuel cell stack is introduced into the fuel cells.

A method for manufacturing a fuel cell separator that ensures an improved corrosion resistance under usage environment of a fuel cell and restraining an increase of a contact resistance with a power generation unit by enhancing a sticking force of a conductive carbon film formed on a surface in contact with the power generation unit on a surface of a titanium substrate is provided. It is a method for manufacturing a fuel cell separator. The fuel cell separator includes a contact portion that is in contact with a power generation unit so as to partition the power generation units including electrodes of the fuel cell, and includes a conductive carbon film formed on the contact portion. First, a titanium substrate that has a plurality of projecting portions formed corresponding to a shape of the contact portion and recessed portions for gas flow channels formed between the projecting portions are prepared as a substrate of the separator. Next, a heat treatment is performed on the titanium substrate in a state where a carbon sheet is brought in contact with the projecting portions such that carbon of the carbon sheet diffuses in the projecting portions.

A method for manufacturing a fuel cell separator that ensures an improved corrosion resistance under usage environment of a fuel cell and restraining an increase of a contact resistance with a power generation unit by enhancing a sticking force of a conductive carbon film formed on a surface in contact with the power generation unit on a surface of a titanium substrate is provided. It is a method for manufacturing a fuel cell separator. The fuel cell separator includes a contact portion that is in contact with a power generation unit so as to partition the power generation units including electrodes of the fuel cell, and includes a conductive carbon film formed on the contact portion. First, a titanium substrate that has a plurality of projecting portions formed corresponding to a shape of the contact portion and recessed portions for gas flow channels formed between the projecting portions are prepared as a substrate of the separator. Next, a heat treatment is performed on the titanium substrate in a state where a carbon sheet is brought in contact with the projecting portions such that carbon of the carbon sheet diffuses in the projecting portions.

A storage module of distributed flow battery is provided. An electrochemical reaction is processed with the positive and negative electrolytes to produce and/or discharge direct current and further output the positive and negative electrolytes after the reaction. The module comprises two end plates; two frames disposed between the two end plates; two current collectors disposed between the two frames; two complex cast polar plates disposed between the two current collectors; two electrodes disposed between the two complex cast polar plates; a membrane disposed between the two electrodes; and three gaskets. Therein, two of the gaskets are set to sandwich and enclose one of the two complex cast polar plates; and the other one of the gaskets is set between the other one of the two complex cast polar plates and an adjacent one of the current collectors.

The present invention is directed to a fuel cell separator 1 included in a fuel cell, and the fuel cell separator 1 includes: a substrate 11 made of stainless steel; a middle portion 30 including a power generating portion; and an outer peripheral portion 20 including a non-power generating portion. The middle portion 30 includes a dissimilar metal layer 12 different from the stainless steel included in the substrate on the substrate, and a carbon layer 13 provided on the dissimilar metal layer 12, and the outer peripheral portion 20 includes a portion including the dissimilar metal layer 12, the carbon layer 13, and a resin layer 14 on the carbon layer, and a portion not including the dissimilar metal layer 12 or the carbon layer 13, and including the resin layer 14 on the substrate.

The present invention is directed to a fuel cell separator 1 included in a fuel cell, and the fuel cell separator 1 includes: a substrate 11 made of stainless steel; a middle portion 30 including a power generating portion; and an outer peripheral portion 20 including a non-power generating portion. The middle portion 30 includes a dissimilar metal layer 12 different from the stainless steel included in the substrate on the substrate, and a carbon layer 13 provided on the dissimilar metal layer 12, and the outer peripheral portion 20 includes a portion including the dissimilar metal layer 12, the carbon layer 13, and a resin layer 14 on the carbon layer, and a portion not including the dissimilar metal layer 12 or the carbon layer 13, and including the resin layer 14 on the substrate.

Flexible graphite and other graphite materials with surface micro-texturing, and methods and apparatuses for micro-texturing the surface of flexible graphite and other graphite materials are provided. Micro-texturing can be used to modify wettability and/or adhesion characteristics of a flexible graphite surface. Micro-textured flexible graphite materials can be advantageously used in applications where the material is in contact with liquid water or other liquids.

Flexible graphite and other graphite materials with surface micro-texturing, and methods and apparatuses for micro-texturing the surface of flexible graphite and other graphite materials are provided. Micro-texturing can be used to modify wettability and/or adhesion characteristics of a flexible graphite surface. Micro-textured flexible graphite materials can be advantageously used in applications where the material is in contact with liquid water or other liquids.