# US 2008/0187812 A1 · Fuel cell

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- Number: US 2008/0187812 A1
- Document ID: US20080187812A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 12/012,456
- Filed: 2008-02-01
- Published: 2008-08-07
- Earliest claimed: 2007-02-01
- Assignees: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
- Inventors: Yasuhiro Watanabe; Masaaki Sakano; Shuji Sato; Shigeru Inai; Teruyuki Ohtani; Ken Takahashi
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20080187812A1

## CPC

- H01M 8/0273: with sealing or supporting means in the form of a frame
- H01M 8/0206: Metals or alloys
- H01M 8/0247: characterised by the form (characterised by a channel configuration H01M8/0258)
- H01M 8/0258: characterised by the configuration of channels, e.g. by the flow field of the reactant or coolant
- H01M 8/0267: having heating or cooling means, e.g. heaters or coolant flow channels
- H01M 8/0276: Sealing means characterised by their form (H01M8/0273 takes precedence)
- H01M 8/241: with solid or matrix-supported electrolytes
- H01M 8/2457: with both reactants being gaseous or vaporised
- H01M 8/2483: characterised by internal manifolds
- H01M 2008/1095: {Fuel cells with polymeric electrolytes}
- 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 first metal separator of a fuel cell comprises a metal plate, and a first seal member is formed integrally on both surfaces of an outer edge of the metal plate. A first rib having a frame shape is provided around an oxygen-containing gas supply passage or the like of the metal plate. The first rib has a rib surface spaced away from an inner end surface of the metal plate around the oxygen-containing gas supply passage or the like, toward the oxygen-containing gas supply passage or the like.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A fuel cell formed by stacking an electrolyte electrode assembly and a separator in a stacking direction, said electrolyte electrode assembly including a pair of electrodes and an electrolyte interposed between said electrodes, a passage extending through said separator for allowing at least a reactant gas or a coolant to flow in the stacking direction,
said separator comprising a metal plate with a seal member integrally formed on both surfaces of an outer edge of said metal plate, a rib having a frame shape being provided on said metal plate around said passage,
wherein said rib has a rib surface which contacts another separator adjacent to said separator in the stacking direction, and the rib surface is spaced away from an inner end surface of said metal plate around said passage, toward said passage.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

A fuel cell according to claim 1, wherein said seal member includes a ridge seal at least at a position around said passage, said ridge seal protruding toward another seal member adjacent to said seal member in the stacking direction, and
said rib is provided on said metal plate only on a side where said ridge seal is provided.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

A fuel cell according to claim 1, wherein said rib is formed integrally with said seal member on said metal plate.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

A fuel cell according to claim 1, wherein an inner wall surface of said rib forming said passage is contiguous with an inner wall surface of an adjacent rib, and said inner wall surfaces form a flat surface.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

A fuel cell according to claim 1, wherein said rib has said rib surface protruding in the stacking direction, and a planar surface on a side opposite to the rib surface, and
said rib surface of one of adjacent ribs contacts the planar surface of the other of the adjacent ribs.