An anode of a fuel cell has an anode current collector defining an inlet configured to receive fuel gas and an outlet configured to output the fuel gas, a barrier that divides an active area of the anode current collector into a first area and a second area, and a flow passage configured to allow a flow of fuel gas from the inlet through the first area and the second area to the outlet. An obstacle is located in the flow passage in an inactive area of the anode current collector and is configured to change a flow direction of the fuel gas in the flow passage from the first area to the second area to achieve intra-cell mixing of the fuel gas.

An anode of a fuel cell has an anode current collector defining an inlet configured to receive fuel gas and an outlet configured to output the fuel gas, a barrier that divides an active area of the anode current collector into a first area and a second area, and a flow passage configured to allow a flow of fuel gas from the inlet through the first area and the second area to the outlet. An obstacle is located in the flow passage in an inactive area of the anode current collector and is configured to change a flow direction of the fuel gas in the flow passage from the first area to the second area to achieve intra-cell mixing of the fuel gas.

A bipolar plate to be arranged opposite to an electrode that is supplied with an electrolyte solution to cause a battery reaction includes a plurality of groove portions in which the electrolyte solution flows and rib portions that each separate the adjacent groove portions on at least one of its front and back surfaces. A specific rib portion including a contact surface to be brought into contact with the electrode and one or more recessed portions that are open in the contact surface is included among the rib portions.

A bipolar plate to be arranged opposite to an electrode that is supplied with an electrolyte solution to cause a battery reaction includes a plurality of groove portions in which the electrolyte solution flows and rib portions that each separate the adjacent groove portions on at least one of its front and back surfaces. A specific rib portion including a contact surface to be brought into contact with the electrode and one or more recessed portions that are open in the contact surface is included among the rib portions.

A fuel cell includes: an electrolyte membrane; first and second catalyst layers respectively formed on first and second surfaces of the electrolyte membrane; and a separator, the first catalyst layer being arranged between the separator and the electrolyte membrane, wherein the separator includes first and second grooves through which reactant gas flows between the first catalyst layer and the separator.

A fuel cell includes: an electrolyte membrane; first and second catalyst layers respectively formed on first and second surfaces of the electrolyte membrane; and a separator, the first catalyst layer being arranged between the separator and the electrolyte membrane, wherein the separator includes first and second grooves through which reactant gas flows between the first catalyst layer and the separator.

Provided is a fuel cell including: a membrane electrode-gas diffusion layer assembly including an electrolyte membrane; a sheet member; and a pair of separators. A first separator has a first projection that protrudes toward a side opposite from where the electrolyte membrane is disposed. A second separator has a second projection that protrudes toward a side opposite from where the electrolyte membrane is disposed. When seen from a direction perpendicular to the electrolyte membrane, the first projection and the second projection overlap at least part of the electrolyte membrane; the first projection has a first overlapping portion and a first non-overlapping portion; the second projection has a second overlapping portion and a second non-overlapping portion; the first projection is shaped so as to extend in a first longitudinal direction; and the second projection is shaped so as to extend in a second longitudinal direction intersecting the first longitudinal direction.

A bipolar plate for an electrochemical reactor, including at least one anode sheet and one cathode sheet, each having an internal face and an external face, the anode and cathode sheets being in contact with each other via their internal face, each anode and cathode sheet including, on its external face, channels for circulating reactive fluids, the channels demarcating, at the internal faces of the anode and cathode sheets, cooling pipes for a flow of a heat transfer fluid, the channels of the anode and cathode sheets including alternating bosses and indentations, the bosses of the anode sheet being arranged in a staggered manner and the bosses of the cathode sheet being arranged in a staggered manner.

A method for preparing a modular planar interconnect plate includes steps of a) providing a metal blank sheet having a main region and two first lateral regions, b) forming two openings respectively in the first lateral regions, and c) stamping to form protrusions and depressions at the main region on lower and upper surfaces of the metal blank sheet. In the stamping step, each of two lower surrounding protrusions and two upper surrounding depressions is formed to surround a corresponding one of the openings, and each of an upper surrounding protrusion and a lower surrounding depression is formed to surround the corresponding ones of the protrusions and depressions formed at the main region and the first lateral regions.

A side-channel compressor (1) for a fuel cell system (37) for conveying and/or compressing a gas, in particular hydrogen, having a housing (3), having a compressor chamber (30) which is situated in the housing (3) and which has two encircling side channels (19, 21), having a compressor impeller (2) which is situated in the housing (3) and which is arranged so as to be rotatable about an axis of rotation (4), wherein the compressor impeller (2) has conveying cells (28) arranged at the circumference thereof and in the region of the compressor chamber (30), and having in each case one gas inlet opening (14) formed on the housing (3) and one gas outlet opening (16), which openings are fluidically connected to one another via the compressor chamber (30), in particular the two side channels (19, 21), and wherein, in the region of the compressor chamber (30), an encapsulation of the respective side channel (19, 21) is realized by at least one separation region (35) by means of a surface pairing of the compressor wheel (2) and of the housing (3). According to the invention, here, the at least one separation region (35) is formed by a surface pairing of the components compressor impeller (2) and housing (3) such that the respective one component has encircling edges (5), in particular with encircling tips (11), and the respective other component has an encircling, at least approximately planar counterpart surface (23).