Fuel cell metal separator and fuel cell
AssigneeHonda Motor Co., Ltd.
InventorsKentaro ISHIDA, Hiroshi MORIKAWA
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An oxygen-containing gas flow field and an inner bead (or a bead seal) are formed on one surface of a first metal separator, and a coolant flow field as a passage of a coolant is formed on the other surface of the first metal separator. Further, a coolant supply passage and a coolant discharge passage extend through the first metal separator in a separator thickness direction. An in-bead channel as a passage of the coolant is formed by a recess on the back side of the inner bead. A narrowed segment is provided in a part of the in-bead channel. The channel cross sectional area of the narrowed segment is smaller than those of other segments.
Claims9
A fuel cell metal separator, wherein a reactant gas flow field as a passage of reactant gas comprising a fuel gas or an oxygen-containing gas and a ridge shaped bead seal around the reactant gas flow field configured to prevent leakage of the reactant gas are formed on one surface of the fuel cell metal separator, a coolant flow field as a passage of a coolant is formed on another surface of the fuel cell metal separator, a coolant supply passage is connected to the coolant flow field and a coolant discharge passage is connected to the coolant flow field, the coolant supply passage and the coolant discharge passage extend through the fuel cell metal separator in a separator thickness direction, and an in-bead channel as a passage of the coolant is formed by a recess on a back side of a ridge shape of the bead seal, and
- wherein the in-bead channel is configured to connect the coolant supply passage and the coolant discharge passage, and
- a narrowed segment having a channel cross sectional area smaller than those of other segments is formed in a part of the in-bead channel.
A fuel cell comprising:
- a membrane electrode assembly;
- and
- fuel cell metal separators provided on both sides of the membrane electrode assembly,
- wherein a reactant gas flow field as a passage of reactant gas comprising a fuel gas or an oxygen-containing gas and a ridge shaped bead seal around the reactant gas flow field configured to prevent leakage of the reactant gas are formed on one surface of each of the fuel cell metal separators, a coolant flow field as a passage of a coolant is formed on another surface of each of the fuel cell metal separators, a coolant supply passage is connected to the coolant flow field and a coolant discharge passage is connected to the coolant flow field, the coolant supply passage and the coolant discharge passage extend through the fuel cell metal separators in a separator thickness direction, and an in-bead channel as a passage of the coolant is formed by a recess on a back side of a ridge shape of the bead seal, and
- wherein the in-bead channel is configured to connect the coolant supply passage and the coolant discharge passage, and
- a narrowed segment having a channel cross sectional area smaller than those of other segments is formed in a part of the in-bead channel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.