US 6,686,085 B1Granted

Fuel cell

AssigneeHonda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha

InventorsYosuke Fujii, Noriaki Osao, Yoshinori Wariishi, Takaki Nakagawa, Hiroshi Shinkai, Katsumi Hayashi

Life of this patent

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Abstract

A fuel gas inlet is provided at an outer circumferential edge portion of a second separator. First fuel gas flow passage grooves for supplying a fuel gas to an anode electrode are formed on a side of a surface of the second separator. First fuel gas connecting flow passages, which make communication between the fuel gas inlet and the first fuel gas flow passage grooves, include flow passage lo grooves which are provided on a side of a surface, and through-holes which penetrate through the second separator to make communication with the first fuel gas flow passage grooves. Accordingly, excellent sealing performance is ensured with a simple structure, and it is possible to realize a thin-walled fuel cell.

Claims9

Dependent claims

A fuel cell comprising a fuel cell unit composed of an electrolyte interposed between an anode electrode and a cathode electrode, and separators for supporting said fuel cell unit interposed therebetween, said fuel cell including:

communication holes-provided to penetrate through outer circumferential edge portions of said separator, for allowing a fuel gas or an oxygen-containing gas to flow therethrough;
gas flow passages provided in an electrode power-generating surface of said separator, for supplying said fuel gas or said oxygen-containing gas to said anode electrode or said cathode electrode;
and
connecting flow passages provided to penetrate through said separator, with first ends which communicate with said communication holes on a side of a surface opposite to said electrode power-generating surface and with second ends which communicate with said gas flow passages on a side of said electrode power-generating surface.

1 more element

communication holes provided to penetrate through outer circumferential edge portions of said separator, for allowing a cooling medium to flow therethrough;
cooling medium flow passages provided in a surface disposed oppositely to an electrode power-generating surface of said separator, for supplying said cooling medium for cooling said electrode power-generating surface;
and
connecting flow passages provided to penetrate through said separator, with first ends which communicate with said communication holes on a side of said electrode power-generating surface and with second ends which communicate with said cooling medium flow passages on a side of said surface opposite to said electrode power-generating surface.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 09/656,910Filed 7 Sep 2000
Priority: JP 11-25700910 Sep 1999
Granted: 3 Feb 2004
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification10 codes

H01M 8/0271
Details: sealing or supporting means around electrodes, matrices or membranes
H01M 8/241
Grouping of fuel cells, e.g. stacking of fuel cells: with solid or matrix-supported electrolytes
H01M 8/026
Characterised by the configuration of channels, e.g. by the flow field of the reactant or coolant: characterised by grooves, e.g. their pitch or depth
H01M 8/0263
Characterised by the configuration of channels, e.g. by the flow field of the reactant or coolant: having meandering or serpentine paths