# US 10,320,008 B2 · Porous separator for fuel cell > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,320,008 B2 - Document ID: US10320008B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/085,375 - Filed: 2016-03-30 - Published: 2016-11-24 - Granted: 2019-06-11 - Earliest claimed: 2015-05-18 - Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company; Kia Motors Corporation - Applicants: Hyundai Motor Company; Kia Motors Corporation - Inventors: Sang Mun Jin; Kook Il Han - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10320008B2 ## CPC - H01M 8/0258: characterised by the configuration of channels, e.g. by the flow field of the reactant or coolant - H01M 8/023: Porous and characterised by the material - H01M 8/0245: in the form of layered or coated products - H01M 8/0254: corrugated or undulated - H01M 8/026: characterised by grooves, e.g. their pitch or depth - H01M 8/0267: having heating or cooling means, e.g. heaters or coolant flow channels - H01M 2250/20: Fuel cells in motive systems, e.g. vehicle, ship, plane - Y02E 60/50: Fuel cells - H01M: PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY - Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION ## Abstract A porous separator for a fuel cell is provided and features the shape of a passage aperture formed in a flow field plate. The modified shape of the passage aperture minimizes destruction of a gas diffusion layer or a membrane electrode assembly attributable to stress concentration. The porous separator has a flow field plate that includes a first contact portion that is in contact with a gas diffusion layer or a membrane electrode assembly; a second contact portion that is in contact with a coolant channel; and a connection portion that is connected between the first contact portion and the second contact portion. Additionally, a passage aperture is formed in the connection portion, wherein a portion of an inside surface of the passage aperture protrudes toward a center of the passage aperture. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A porous separator for a fuel cell, comprising: a flow field plate having a first contact portion in contact with a gas diffusion layer or a membrane electrode assembly, a second contact portion in contact with a coolant channel, and a connection portion connected between the first contact portion and the second contact portion; and a passage aperture formed in the connection portion, wherein a portion of an inside surface of the passage aperture forms a protruding portion protruding toward a center of the passage aperture, wherein the protruding portion protrudes toward a centerline from a portion of a first inside surface of the passage aperture when the centerline is extended in a longitudinal direction of the passage aperture to pass opposing midway points of the passage aperture in a widthwise direction of the passage aperture, wherein the protruding portion is formed on the first inside surface of the passage aperture that is closer to the first contact portion than the second contact portion, and wherein the protruding portion is formed to extend toward the gas diffusion layer or the membrane electrode assembly and to be bent at a predetermined inclination angle with respect to a plane where the protruding portion is flush with the gas diffusion layer or the membrane electrode assembly. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The porous separator for a fuel cell according to claim 1, wherein the protruding portion that protrudes from the first inside surface of the passage aperture does not reach or extend over the centerline of the passage aperture. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The porous separator for a fuel cell according to claim 1, the protruding portion is formed in a middle portion of the first inside surface of the passage aperture. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The porous separator for a fuel cell according to claim 1, wherein the protruding portion is formed to extend over a full length of the first inside surface of the passage aperture. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The porous separator for a fuel cell according to claim 1, wherein the protruding portion is in surface contact with an outer surface of the gas diffusion layer or the membrane electrode assembly. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The porous separator for a fuel cell according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined inclination angle between the protruding portion and the plane is in a range of from about 1° to 45°. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The porous separator for a fuel cell according to claim 1, wherein bending stiffness of the protruding portion is weaker than compressive stiffness of the gas diffusion layer and the membrane electrode assembly, the protruding portion is bent by pressing force of the gas diffusion layer or the membrane electrode assembly in a direction in which the predetermined inclination angle with respect to the plane is decreased when a fuel cell stack is assembled, and the protruding portion comes into surface contact with the outer surface of the gas diffusion layer or the membrane electrode assembly. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The porous separator for a fuel cell according to claim 1, wherein an end portion of the protruding portion is formed to rise toward a coolant channel from an outer surface of the gas diffusion layer or the membrane electrode assembly, and a retention space for retaining water therein is formed in a portion thereof connected to the first contact portion and the connection portion. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The porous separator for a fuel cell according to claim 8, wherein an end of the protruding portion is connected to the first contact portion and the opposite end of the protruding portion is formed to extend in the same direction as the connection portion that is formed to rise toward the second contact portion. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The porous separator for a fuel cell according to claim 1, wherein the protruding portion is formed in a second inside surface of the passage aperture that is closer to the second contact portion than the first contact portion.