A fuel cell system includes a plurality of stacked bipolar plate assemblies. Each of the plurality of stacked bipolar plate assemblies includes a first subgasket including a first peripheral edge. The first subgasket supports a first membrane electrode assembly (MEA). A second subgasket including a second peripheral edge. The second subgasket supports a second MEA. A bipolar plate is disposed between the first subgasket and the second subgasket. The bipolar plate has a first side defining a first plurality of passages receptive of a cathode fluid, a second side defining a second plurality of passages receptive of an anode fluid, and a plurality of coolant passages defined between the first subgasket and the second subgasket. A seal bead extends around the bipolar plate. The seal bead seals against the first subgasket and the second subgasket. An energy attenuating bead extends about the bipolar plate spaced from the seal bead.

A fuel cell system includes a plurality of stacked bipolar plate assemblies. Each of the plurality of stacked bipolar plate assemblies includes a first subgasket including a first peripheral edge. The first subgasket supports a first membrane electrode assembly (MEA). A second subgasket including a second peripheral edge. The second subgasket supports a second MEA. A bipolar plate is disposed between the first subgasket and the second subgasket. The bipolar plate has a first side defining a first plurality of passages receptive of a cathode fluid, a second side defining a second plurality of passages receptive of an anode fluid, and a plurality of coolant passages defined between the first subgasket and the second subgasket. A seal bead extends around the bipolar plate. The seal bead seals against the first subgasket and the second subgasket. An energy attenuating bead extends about the bipolar plate spaced from the seal bead.

A fuel cell system includes a plurality of stacked bipolar plate assemblies. Each of the plurality of stacked bipolar plate assemblies includes a first subgasket including a first peripheral edge. The first subgasket supports a first membrane electrode assembly (MEA). A second subgasket including a second peripheral edge supports a second MEA. A bipolar plate is disposed between the first subgasket and the second subgasket. The bipolar plate has a first side defining a first plurality of passages receptive of a cathode fluid, a second side defining a second plurality of passages receptive of an anode fluid, and a plurality of coolant passages defined between the first subgasket and the second subgasket. A seal bead extends around the bipolar plate. The seal bead seals against the first subgasket and the second subgasket. A compliant energy attenuating bumper extends about the bipolar plate spaced from the seal bead.

A fuel cell system includes a plurality of stacked bipolar plate assemblies. Each of the plurality of stacked bipolar plate assemblies includes a first subgasket including a first peripheral edge. The first subgasket supports a first membrane electrode assembly (MEA). A second subgasket including a second peripheral edge supports a second MEA. A bipolar plate is disposed between the first subgasket and the second subgasket. The bipolar plate has a first side defining a first plurality of passages receptive of a cathode fluid, a second side defining a second plurality of passages receptive of an anode fluid, and a plurality of coolant passages defined between the first subgasket and the second subgasket. A seal bead extends around the bipolar plate. The seal bead seals against the first subgasket and the second subgasket. A compliant energy attenuating bumper extends about the bipolar plate spaced from the seal bead.

A metal separator is applied to a fuel cell. A method of producing the metal separator involves performing a plate processing step of forming a bead base, and a rubber seal forming step of providing a rubber seal by screen printing for the bead base formed in the plate processing step. The rubber seal forming step includes a first protrusion forming step of forming a first protrusion at the central part in the width direction of a top portion of the bead base, in a cross sectional view taken along a thickness direction of the rubber seal, and a second protrusion forming step of forming a second protrusion configured to cover the first protrusion after the first protrusion forming step.

A metal separator is applied to a fuel cell. A method of producing the metal separator involves performing a plate processing step of forming a bead base, and a rubber seal forming step of providing a rubber seal by screen printing for the bead base formed in the plate processing step. The rubber seal forming step includes a first protrusion forming step of forming a first protrusion at the central part in the width direction of a top portion of the bead base, in a cross sectional view taken along a thickness direction of the rubber seal, and a second protrusion forming step of forming a second protrusion configured to cover the first protrusion after the first protrusion forming step.

A first metal separator includes a seal bead protruding from a base plate. The seal bead includes a curved section having a curved shape in a plan view of the first metal separator. The combination of the radius of curvature and the angle of the curved section is set within a specific zone where variation in a seal surface pressure in a direction in which the seal bead extends is suppressed.

A first metal separator includes a seal bead protruding from a base plate. The seal bead includes a curved section having a curved shape in a plan view of the first metal separator. The combination of the radius of curvature and the angle of the curved section is set within a specific zone where variation in a seal surface pressure in a direction in which the seal bead extends is suppressed.

A fuel cell arrangement with a membrane electrode assembly is provided which comprises a cathode, an anode and a membrane arranged between the cathode and the anode, with an active area essentially predetermined by the membrane electrode assembly, and with a sealing structure laterally assigned to the membrane electrode assembly. The sealing structure comprises a sealing tongue extending into or over an edge region outside the active area for axially covering in a gas-tight manner a media channel formed in an adjacent bipolar plate and located in the edge region. A unit cell for a fuel cell stack with such a fuel cell arrangement is also provided.

A separator is stacked on each of both surfaces of a membrane electrode assembly to form a fuel cell. This separator includes a base part extending in the form of a surface, and a bead continuous with the base part and protruding from the base part in a stacking direction. The bead includes, in plan view, a straight section extending straight and a curved section continuous with the straight section and curved from the straight section. In the separator, the height from the base part to a top part of the curved section is configured to be lower than the height from the base part to a top part of the straight section.