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

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

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.

According to the present invention, electrolyte membrane electrode structures have a staggered arrangement wherein a part of an anode electrode faces a part of one of two adjacent cathode electrodes, with an electrolyte membrane being interposed therebetween, and another part of the anode electrode faces a part of the other cathode electrode, with an interconnect part being interposed therebetween, said interconnect part being formed in the electrolyte membrane. A fuel cell according to the present invention is additionally provided with a fuel gas supply layer that is provided with a fuel gas supply path in which a fuel gas to be supplied to the anode electrode flows. A wall part between fuel gas supply paths in the fuel gas supply layer is superposed on the interconnect part, with the anode electrode being interposed therebetween.

According to the present invention, electrolyte membrane electrode structures have a staggered arrangement wherein a part of an anode electrode faces a part of one of two adjacent cathode electrodes, with an electrolyte membrane being interposed therebetween, and another part of the anode electrode faces a part of the other cathode electrode, with an interconnect part being interposed therebetween, said interconnect part being formed in the electrolyte membrane. A fuel cell according to the present invention is additionally provided with a fuel gas supply layer that is provided with a fuel gas supply path in which a fuel gas to be supplied to the anode electrode flows. A wall part between fuel gas supply paths in the fuel gas supply layer is superposed on the interconnect part, with the anode electrode being interposed therebetween.

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 fuel cell includes a discharge structure that discharges water generated in a cathode electrode in association with an electrode reaction in the MEA to the outside. The discharge structure includes a discharge path through which air that is an oxidant flows, a passage that communicably connects an oxidant supply flow path and the discharge path and that moves water generated in the cathode electrode to the discharge path, and a discharge portion that discharges the generated water moved to the discharge path to the outside.

A separator plate for an electrochemical system, comprising: at least one of the flanks of the bead assembly has a multiplicity of passages for directing a medium through the bead flank, and a distributing or collecting structure has a multiplicity of line ducts and a multiplicity of openings, wherein the line ducts adjoin the passages in the bead flank on an external side of the bead assembly, wherein the openings are disposed on a side of the distributing or collecting structure that faces away from the bead assembly and, are fluidically connected to a bead interior.

Provided is a fuel cell having excellent gas diffusivity and leading to suppressed pressure drop even with a porous body as a gas path. The fuel cell includes: plural stacked power generating unit cells each having a membrane assembly, an anode separator stacked on the membrane assembly on one side, and a cathode separator stacked on the membrane assembly on the other side, wherein the anode separator of any one of the power generating unit cells is stacked on the cathode separator of another one thereof that is adjacent to said any one, the cathode separator has a porous body where an oxidizing gas flows, and a path enlarging member, and the path enlarging member includes gas path enlarging portions that enlarge a path formed by the porous body, the gas path enlarging portions having wall parts inclining or orthogonal to a direction where the oxidizing gas flows.