Fuel cell separator and fuel cell stack
AssigneeHonda Motor Co., Ltd.
InventorsYu Tomana, Satoshi Oyama
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A coolant flow field is formed between first and second metal separator plates of a joint separator (fuel cell separator). First and second beads protrude from the first and second metal separator plates. The beads include inner beads for preventing leakage of a reactant gas. An air release passage and a coolant drain passage extend through the fuel cell separator in a separator thickness direction, and the air release passage and the coolant drain passage are connected to a coolant flow field through a first connection channel and a second connection channel formed by recesses on the back of protrusions of the first and second beads.
Claims11
A fuel cell separator including two metal separator plates joined together, a metal bead protruding from one surface of each of the metal separator plates where a reactant gas flows, a reactant gas flow field being formed on the one surface of the metal separator plate and configured to allow a reactant gas of a fuel gas or an oxygen-containing gas to flow along the reactant gas flow field, a coolant flow field being formed between the two metal separator plates, a reactant gas passage connected to the reactant gas flow field extending through the fuel cell separator in a separator thickness direction, the bead including a seal bead configured to prevent leakage of the reactant gas,
- wherein an air release passage extends through the fuel cell separator in the separator thickness direction, and
- the metal bead includes an upper connection bead branched outward from an upper portion of the seal bead surrounding the reactant gas passage and the reactant gas flow field, and
- the air release passage is connected to the coolant flow field through a connection channel formed by a recess on a back of a protrusion of the upper connection bead and through an internal space of the seal bead, wherein the upper connection bead extends from a passage bead seal surrounding the air release passage to the seal bead.
A fuel cell separator including two metal separator plates joined together, a metal bead protruding from one surface of each of the metal separator plates where a reactant gas flows, a reactant gas flow field being formed on the one surface of the metal separator plate and configured to allow a reactant gas of a fuel gas or an oxygen-containing gas to flow along the reactant gas flow field, a coolant flow field being formed between the two metal separator plates, a reactant gas passage connected to the reactant gas flow field extending through the fuel cell separator in a separator thickness direction, the bead including a seal bead configured to prevent leakage of the reactant gas,
- wherein a coolant drain passage extends through the fuel cell separator in the separator thickness direction, and
- the metal bead includes a lower connection bead branched outward from a lower portion of the seal bead surrounding the reactant gas passage and the reactant gas flow field, and
- the coolant drain passage is connected to the coolant flow field through a connection channel formed by a recess on a back of a protrusion of the lower connection bead and through an internal space of the seal bead, wherein the lower connection bead extends from a passage bead seal surrounding the cool drain passage to the seal bead.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.