# US 2013/0157160 A1 · Polymer electrolyte fuel cell

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- Number: US 2013/0157160 A1
- Document ID: US20130157160A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 13/818,445
- Filed: 2012-02-10
- Published: 2013-06-20
- Earliest claimed: 2011-03-02
- Assignees: Panasonic Corporation
- Inventors: Mitsuo Yoshimura; Hirokazu Honkawa; Kenji Arai
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130157160A1

## CPC

- H01M 8/04007: related to heat exchange
- 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 8/241: with solid or matrix-supported electrolytes
- 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 polymer electrolyte fuel cell comprises a plurality of stacked cells each having an ionic conductive electrolyte membrane, an anode placed on one side of the electrolyte membrane, a cathode placed on the other side of the electrolyte membrane, and a conductive separator on which a first refrigerant channel for flow of a refrigerant is formed in center part thereof. The separator comprises a penetration holes constituting a manifold which extend in a direction of stacking of the plurality of cells and through which the refrigerant flows, a second refrigerant channels for communication between the penetration holes and the first refrigerant channel, and a plurality of protrusions that protrude into the penetration holes from parts of wall surfaces of the penetration holes that located peripherally in connection parts between the penetration holes and the second refrigerant channels.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A polymer electrolyte fuel cell comprising a plurality of stacked cells each having an ionic conductive electrolyte membrane, an anode placed on one side of the electrolyte membrane, a cathode placed on the other side of the electrolyte membrane, and a conductive separator on which a first refrigerant channel for flow of a refrigerant is formed in center part thereof,
the separator comprising:
a refrigerant manifold which extend in a direction of stacking of the plurality of cells and through which the refrigerant flows,
a second refrigerant channel for communication between the refrigerant manifold and the first refrigerant channel, and
a plurality of protrusions protruding into the refrigerant manifold from a part of a wall surface of the refrigerant manifold that located peripherally in a connection part between the refrigerant manifold and the second refrigerant channel.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The polymer electrolyte fuel cell according to claim 1, wherein a sectional configuration of the refrigerant manifold of the separator that is orthogonal to the direction of stacking of the cells includes the plurality of protrusions on a part of the sectional configuration that corresponds to the periphery of the connection part between the refrigerant manifold and the second refrigerant channel.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The polymer electrolyte fuel cell according to claim 2, wherein the refrigerant manifold of the separators of the cells have identical sectional configurations that are orthogonal to the direction of stacking of the cells.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The polymer electrolyte fuel cell according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of protrusions are provided on the wall surface of the refrigerant manifold throughout all circumferences of the refrigerant manifold.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The polymer electrolyte fuel cell according to claim 4, wherein protruding quantity of the protrusions that protrude from the part of the wall surface of the refrigerant manifold that located peripherally in the connection part for the second refrigerant channel exceeds protruding quantity of the protrusions that protrude from other parts of the wall surfaces of the refrigerant manifold.