Patent ID: 6790552
Filing Date: 2004-09-14
Classification: H01M,Y02E

Abstract:
A polymer electrolyte fuel cell comprising a unit cell, said unit cell comprising:(1) a membrane electrode assembly comprising a polymer electrolyte membrane, a gasket which is formed of a sealing material and covers a periphery of said electrolyte membrane, an anode attached to one face of said electrolyte membrane, and a cathode attached to the other face of said electrolyte membrane; and (2) an anode-side conductive separator plate and a cathode-side conductive separator plate sandwiching said membrane electrode assembly therebetween, (3) said gasket, said anode-side conductive separator plate and said cathode-side conductive separator plate having a pair of fuel gas manifold apertures, a pair of oxidant gas manifold apertures and a pair of cooling water manifold apertures, (4a) said gasket comprising, on an anode-situated side, a seal rib which surrounds a fuel gas flow section extending from one of said fuel gas manifold apertures through the anode into the other of said fuel gas manifold apertures and seal ribs which surround each of said cooling water manifold apertures, (4b) said gasket comprising, on a cathode-situated side, seal ribs which surround each of said fuel gas manifold apertures and said cooling water manifold apertures, (5) said anode-side conductive separator plate comprising a fuel gas flow path which communicates with said pair of fuel gas manifold apertures on an anode-facing side, (6) said cathode-side conductive separator plate comprising an oxidant gas flow path which communicates with said pair of oxidant gas manifold apertures on a cathode-facing side, (7) each of said seal ribs of said gasket being pressed against the surface of said anode-side conductive separator plate or said cathode-side conductive separator plate by clamping pressure of said unit cell.