This disclosure related to polymer electrolyte member fuel cells and components thereof, including fuel cell endplates.

A fuel cell stack includes a stack body formed by stacking a plurality of fuel cells together in a stacking direction. A second end plate is provided at one end of the stack body in the stacking direction. A pair of coolant supply passages are provided at upper and lower positions of the second end plate for allowing a coolant to flow into the fuel cells. A coolant supply manifold member is attached to the second end plate, and an insulating plate is provided between the second end plate and the coolant supply manifold member.

A battery cell that has a supply edge to which an electrolyte solution is supplied and a discharge edge from which the electrolyte solution is discharged has an introduction port that is in connection with the supply edge and a discharge port that is in connection with the discharge edge, and includes a plurality of meandering flow paths. Each of the meandering flow paths has an introduction-side section extending from the introduction port toward a discharge edge side, a turn-back section that is turned back from an end portion on the discharge edge side of the introduction-side section toward a supply edge side, and a discharge-side section reaching the discharge port from an end portion on the supply edge side of the turn-back section. The turn-back section has at least one of: an inclined portion extending in an oblique direction, and a stepped portion formed in a step shape.

A battery cell that has a supply edge to which an electrolyte solution is supplied and a discharge edge from which the electrolyte solution is discharged has an introduction port that is in connection with the supply edge and a discharge port that is in connection with the discharge edge, and includes a plurality of meandering flow paths. Each of the meandering flow paths has an introduction-side section extending from the introduction port toward a discharge edge side, a turn-back section that is turned back from an end portion on the discharge edge side of the introduction-side section toward a supply edge side, and a discharge-side section reaching the discharge port from an end portion on the supply edge side of the turn-back section. The turn-back section has at least one of: an inclined portion extending in an oblique direction, and a stepped portion formed in a step shape.

A bipolar plate, a fuel cell stack with the bipolar plate and a power generation system with the bipolar plate are provided. The bipolar plate includes a first polar plate and a second polar plate. The first polar plate includes a first side and a second side, and the second polar plate includes a third side and a fourth side. The first side of the first polar plate and the third side of the second polar plate have different flow fields. The bipolar plate further includes at least one synchronous undulation areas, which are the channels for the coolant to be introduced into and discharged out of the interlayer of the bipolar plate. The second polar plate is provided with a coolant diversion dike, which can guide the coolant to flow according to the preset route.

A battery cell that has a supply edge to which an electrolyte solution is supplied and a discharge edge from which the electrolyte solution is discharged has an introduction port that connects with the supply edge and a discharge port that connects with the discharge edge, and includes a plurality of meandering flow paths each of which is serially formed from the introduction port to the discharge port, the plurality of meandering flow paths being arranged in parallel in a widthwise direction. Each of the meandering flow paths has an introduction-side section extending from the introduction port toward a discharge edge side, a turn-back section that is turned back from an end portion on the discharge edge side of the introduction-side section toward a supply edge side, and a discharge-side section reaching the discharge port from an end portion on the supply edge side of the turn-back section.

A battery cell that has a supply edge to which an electrolyte solution is supplied and a discharge edge from which the electrolyte solution is discharged has an introduction port that connects with the supply edge and a discharge port that connects with the discharge edge, and includes a plurality of meandering flow paths each of which is serially formed from the introduction port to the discharge port, the plurality of meandering flow paths being arranged in parallel in a widthwise direction. Each of the meandering flow paths has an introduction-side section extending from the introduction port toward a discharge edge side, a turn-back section that is turned back from an end portion on the discharge edge side of the introduction-side section toward a supply edge side, and a discharge-side section reaching the discharge port from an end portion on the supply edge side of the turn-back section.

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.

A method for producing separator plates, in particular bipolar plates, for a fuel cell. The method comprises use of a sacrificial binder.