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.

In a manufacturing method for fuel cell separators having a seal part of convex shape that is pushed when superimposed with another separator, the method includes: a first pressing step of imparting work hardening to an entire region to become a convex shape configuring the seal part; and a second pressing step of press molding the region work hardened in the first pressing step so as to become a convex shape.

A separator for a fuel cell includes protrusions that extend in parallel and are spaced apart from each other. The protrusions are configured to contact a power generation portion. The separator includes a gas passage that extends between two adjacent ones of the protrusions along the protrusions. The gas passage is configured to allow reactant gas to flow through the gas passage. The gas passage includes at least one rib that protrudes toward the power generation portion and extends in an extending direction of the gas passage. A downstream end of the rib includes a gradually-changing portion that gradually becomes farther from the power generation portion toward a downstream side.

The invention relates to a flow element, in particular, as a component of a bipolar plate of an electrochemical device, comprising a plate-like base body that extends in two main directions of extension that are oriented at an angle in relation to one another, and has an extension in a height direction that is oriented transversely and in particular perpendicularly thereto, wherein the base body has a channel structure having a plurality of channels that are arranged laterally adjacent to one another, wherein the channels are formed by recesses in the base body and are separated from one another by raised portions, arranged between the recesses, of the base body, wherein regions having a normal level difference, defined in the height direction, as a height difference between a raised portion and an adjoining recess are provided, as well as regions having a level difference, reduced in comparison with the normal level difference, as a height difference between a raised portion and an adjoining recess, wherein, in the running direction of the channels, at least in some portions thereof, regions having a normal level difference and regions having a reduced level difference are provided repeatedly, and regions having a reduced level difference of adjacent channels are offset in relation to one another with respect to the respective running direction thereof, wherein the regions having a reduced level difference are formed on the base body by means of saddle regions, and the regions having a normal level difference are formed by means of valley regions arranged therebetween, and wherein a valley region of an adjacent channel is in each case located opposite the saddle regions. In addition, the invention relates to a use, a bipolar plate, and a method for producing a flow element.

The invention relates to a flow element, in particular, as a component of a bipolar plate of an electrochemical device, comprising a plate-like base body that extends in two main directions of extension that are oriented at an angle in relation to one another, and has an extension in a height direction that is oriented transversely and in particular perpendicularly thereto, wherein the base body has a channel structure having a plurality of channels that are arranged laterally adjacent to one another, wherein the channels are formed by recesses in the base body and are separated from one another by raised portions, arranged between the recesses, of the base body, wherein regions having a normal level difference, defined in the height direction, as a height difference between a raised portion and an adjoining recess are provided, as well as regions having a level difference, reduced in comparison with the normal level difference, as a height difference between a raised portion and an adjoining recess, wherein, in the running direction of the channels, at least in some portions thereof, regions having a normal level difference and regions having a reduced level difference are provided repeatedly, and regions having a reduced level difference of adjacent channels are offset in relation to one another with respect to the respective running direction thereof, wherein the regions having a reduced level difference are formed on the base body by means of saddle regions, and the regions having a normal level difference are formed by means of valley regions arranged therebetween, and wherein a valley region of an adjacent channel is in each case located opposite the saddle regions. In addition, the invention relates to a use, a bipolar plate, and a method for producing a flow element.

A fuel cell device includes a housing defining an inner space, a runner plate disposed in the inner space, two electrode plates disposed in the inner space such that the runner plate is stacked on and in contact with one of the electrode plates, and a proton exchange membrane clamped between the electrode plates. The runner plate includes a plurality of straight sections arranged in two rows, and a plurality of connecting sections. Each two adjacent straight sections define an opening therebetween. The openings in the two rows are staggered with respect to each other. Each two adjacent connecting sections are connected to and cooperate with a common straight section to define a drain channel communicating with the opening that aligns with the common straight section.

A plate member for a cell stack, a cell stack assembly, a method of forming a plate member for a cell stack and a method of assembling a cell stack may be provided, and the plate member includes a channel sheet with at least one peak and one trough for forming fluid flow channels; two alignment parts, each alignment part including a main body and one or more alignment members or holes, the main body having a through hole provided within the main body; and wherein the alignment part is capable of aligning the channel sheet parallel to a plane of the main body and the alignment member is capable of aligning the alignment member to another corresponding alignment member along an axis passing through the alignment member; and further wherein the channel sheet is disposed between the two alignment parts.

A plate member for a cell stack, a cell stack assembly, a method of forming a plate member for a cell stack and a method of assembling a cell stack may be provided, and the plate member includes a channel sheet with at least one peak and one trough for forming fluid flow channels; two alignment parts, each alignment part including a main body and one or more alignment members or holes, the main body having a through hole provided within the main body; and wherein the alignment part is capable of aligning the channel sheet parallel to a plane of the main body and the alignment member is capable of aligning the alignment member to another corresponding alignment member along an axis passing through the alignment member; and further wherein the channel sheet is disposed between the two alignment parts.

Fuel cell unit (1) in the form of a fuel cell stack (1) for electrochemical generation of electrical energy, comprising fuel cells (2) having anodes, cathodes, proton-exchange membranes, gas diffusion layers and bipolar plates, the fuel cell unit (1) comprising at least one latent heat storage device (45) with a phase change material (46) to prevent water from freezing in the fuel cells (2) or delay such freezing

A SOC stack has interconnects with a maximum distance between the contact points which are designed to compensate for pressure difference between one side of the interconnect to the other side.