Fuel-cell separator with a fluid supply and diffusion layer formed by a porous layer on at least one face of a flat metal plate and cell stack that includes the fuel-cell separator

A separator for a fuel cell, wherein a sealing layer is formed on at least one face of a flat metal plate, which includes a material showing corrosion resistant property on at least said one face, and a fluid supply and diffusion layer is formed by a porous layer on said sealing layer;

• an equalization layer extending in a direction that obliquely or orthogonally intersects a direction from a fluid supply side to a fluid discharge side is formed on said fluid supply and diffusion layer, as a part thereof, at least on the fluid supply side;
• wherein the equalization layer equalizes fluid pressure or flow rate in a width direction;
• and
• wherein the equalization layer has a fluid resistance different from that of the remainder of the fluid supply and diffusion layer.

A separator for coolant in a fuel cell, wherein a sealing layer is formed on at least one face of a flat metal plate, which includes a material showing corrosion resistant property on at least said one face, a frame is formed on the periphery of said sealing layer, equalization layers are formed within said frame in the vicinity of respective ones of a coolant supply port and discharge port over the entire width of said frame, and coolant flow paths are formed between said equalization layers by ribs or layers of a porous material;

• wherein a fluid supply and diffusion layer is formed by a porous layer on at least one face of the flat metal plate;
• and
• the equalization layers extend in a direction that obliquely or orthogonally intersects a direction from a fluid supply side to a fluid discharge side and are formed on said fluid supply and diffusion layer, as a part thereof, at least on the fluid supply side;
• wherein the equalization layers equalize fluid pressure or flow rate in a width direction;
• and
• wherein the equalization layers have a fluid resistance different from that of the remainder of the fluid supply and diffusion layer.

A cell stack for a fuel cell which includes separators of at least two types for a cathode gas and an anode gas;

• wherein each separator is such that a fluid supply and diffusion layer for a corresponding gas is formed by a porous layer on at least one face of a flat metal plate;
• an equalization layer extending in a direction that obliquely or orthogonally intersects a direction from a fluid supply side to a fluid discharge side is formed on said fluid supply and diffusion layer, as a part thereof, on at least the fluid supply side;
• and the at least two separators are stacked so as to face each other with at least an electrolyte membrane and catalyst layers on both sides of said membrane being sandwiched between said fluid supply and diffusion layers;
• wherein the equalization layer equalizes fluid pressure or flow rate in a width direction;
• and
• wherein the equalization layer has a fluid resistance different from that of the remainder of the fluid supply and diffusion layer.

A cell stack for a fuel cell which includes separators of at least two types for a cathode gas and an anode gas;

• wherein each separator is such that a sealing layer is formed on at least one face of a flat metal plate, which includes a material showing corrosion resistant property on at least said one face, a fluid supply and diffusion layer for a corresponding gas is formed by a porous layer on said sealing layer, and the at least two separators are stacked so as to face each other with at least an electrolyte membrane and catalyst layers on both sides of said membrane being sandwiched between the fluid supply and diffusion layers;
• wherein the separator further comprises an equalization layer extending in a direction that obliquely or orthogonally intersects a direction from a fluid supply side to a fluid discharge side is formed on said fluid supply and diffusion layer, as a part thereof, at least on the fluid supply side;
• wherein the equalization layer equalizes fluid pressure or flow rate in a width direction;
• and
• wherein the equalization layer has a fluid resistance different from that of the remainder of the fluid supply and diffusion layer.