A separator for a fuel cell includes a separator base, crest sections, and trough sections. Regions surrounded by the respective trough sections and a corresponding electrode layer each constitute a passage that supplies oxidation gas or fuel gas to the electrode layer. A thin film having conductivity is placed at least on the top surface of each crest section. The thin film on the top surface of each crest section has a groove that connects the passages on the opposite sides of the crest section to each other. Each trough section has a flow resistance increasing portion on the downstream side of the groove in the flow direction of the gas. The flow resistance increasing portion reduces the cross-sectional flow area of the passage such that the cross-sectional flow area at the flow resistance increasing portion is smaller than that at the section to which the groove is connected.

A separator for a fuel cell includes a separator base, crest sections, and trough sections. Regions surrounded by the respective trough sections and a corresponding electrode layer each constitute a passage that supplies oxidation gas or fuel gas to the electrode layer. A thin film having conductivity is placed at least on the top surface of each crest section. The thin film on the top surface of each crest section has a groove that connects the passages on the opposite sides of the crest section to each other. Each trough section has a flow resistance increasing portion on the downstream side of the groove in the flow direction of the gas. The flow resistance increasing portion reduces the cross-sectional flow area of the passage such that the cross-sectional flow area at the flow resistance increasing portion is smaller than that at the section to which the groove is connected.

Improved process for producing a component constituting an interconnector of an HTE electrolyser or of an SOFC fuel cell. The invention relates to a process for preparing a component (1), intended to constitute an interconnector for a fuel cell (SOFC) or a high-temperature electrolyser (HTE), comprising the following steps: a/preparing a substrate made of metal alloy (12), the base element of which is iron (Fe) or nickel (Ni), the substrate having two main flat faces, b/tape casting a thick ceramic layer (13); c/localized removal at one or more locations (14), of material of the tape-cast thick ceramic layer; d/hot pressing the green thick ceramic layer tape; e/grooving the thick ceramic layer so as to delimit channels that are suitable for distributing and/or collecting gases. It also relates to the component obtained according to the process.

A connecting element for making electrical contact with at least one separator plate of a fuel cell stack includes a housing and a contact element which is arranged in the housing and has a contact end for making contact with the separator plate and has a connection end for connection to a continuing line. A positive z-direction is defined from the contact end in the direction of the connection end. A cutout is provided in the housing, wherein the contact element is positioned in the cutout. The contact end is arranged on a first side of the cutout. The connection end is arranged on the second side of the cutout. The contact element has an interlocking element which bears in an interlocking manner against the housing on the first side of the cutout.

A connecting element for making electrical contact with at least one separator plate of a fuel cell stack includes a housing and a contact element which is arranged in the housing and has a contact end for making contact with the separator plate and has a connection end for connection to a continuing line. A positive z-direction is defined from the contact end in the direction of the connection end. A cutout is provided in the housing, wherein the contact element is positioned in the cutout. The contact end is arranged on a first side of the cutout. The connection end is arranged on the second side of the cutout. The contact element has an interlocking element which bears in an interlocking manner against the housing on the first side of the cutout.

A separator and a fuel cell stack, the separator including a plurality of convex portions and a plurality of concave portions which are sequentially provided along a first direction, the convex portions having first openings on top surfaces at predetermined intervals along a second direction orthogonal to the first direction and the first openings of two adjacent convex portions are each provided so as not to be positioned coaxially based on a virtual first line parallel to the first direction.

A separator and a fuel cell stack, the separator including a plurality of convex portions and a plurality of concave portions which are sequentially provided along a first direction, the convex portions having first openings on top surfaces at predetermined intervals along a second direction orthogonal to the first direction and the first openings of two adjacent convex portions are each provided so as not to be positioned coaxially based on a virtual first line parallel to the first direction.

A fuel cell includes a power-generation channel provided on a surface of a cathode-side separator which faces a MEA and a cooling channel provided on a surface of the cathode-side separator opposite to the MEA. Air flows through the power-generation channel and the cooling channel. The cooling channel is separated from the power-generation channel by a side wall. The cross-sectional area of the power-generation channel on the air outlet side is smaller than that of the power-generation channel at a position upstream of the air outlet side, and the cross-sectional area of the cooling channel on the air outlet side is larger than that of the cooling channel at a position upstream of the air outlet side. A through-hole is provided in a side wall that separates the power-generation channel from the cooling channel.

A fuel cell includes a power-generation channel provided on a surface of a cathode-side separator which faces a MEA and a cooling channel provided on a surface of the cathode-side separator opposite to the MEA. Air flows through the power-generation channel and the cooling channel. The cooling channel is separated from the power-generation channel by a side wall. The cross-sectional area of the power-generation channel on the air outlet side is smaller than that of the power-generation channel at a position upstream of the air outlet side, and the cross-sectional area of the cooling channel on the air outlet side is larger than that of the cooling channel at a position upstream of the air outlet side. A through-hole is provided in a side wall that separates the power-generation channel from the cooling channel.

A separator assembly for a fuel cell is configured such that separators made of metal materials having different thermal expansion coefficients are joined together and includes: a first separator having a first buffer portion formed by depressing at least one point on a surface of the first separator; and a second separator integrated with the first separator by joining, and having a second buffer portion that is formed by depressing a surface of the second separator such that the second buffer portion is spaced apart from the first buffer portion and surrounds the first buffer portion.