Patent ID: 7704625
Filing Date: 2010-04-27
Classification: H01M,Y02E

Abstract:
1. A fuel cell formed by stacking a plurality of power generation cells in a stacking direction, wherein each of said plurality of power generation cells includes an electrolyte electrode assembly and separators sandwiching said electrolyte electrode assembly, said electrolyte electrode assembly an anode, a cathode and an electrolyte interposed between said anode and said cathode, wherein a reactant gas flow field is formed along an electrode surface for supplying a reactant gas through said reactant gas flow field; a coolant flow field is formed between said power generation cells for supplying a coolant through said coolant flow field; a reactant gas passage extends through said power generation cells, and is connected to said reactant gas flow field; a coolant passage extends through said power generation cells, and is connected to said coolant flow field; a first seal member is provided integrally on a top surface and a bottom surface of a cathode side separator, wherein the first seal member extends over the top surface to the bottom surface of the cathode side separator so as to wrap around the cathode side separator, the top surface is spaced apart from and parallel to the bottom surface, the top surface and the bottom surface of the cathode side separator extend in a direction perpendicular to the stacking direction; a second seal member is provided integrally on a top surface and a bottom surface of an anode side separator, wherein the second seal member extends over the top surface to the bottom surface of the anode side separator as to wrap around the anode side separator, the top surface is spaced apart from and parallel to the bottom surface, the top surface and the bottom surface of the anode side separator extend in a direction perpendicular to the stacking direction; said first seal member and said second seal member are in contact with each other, and a channel connecting said reactant gas flow field and the reactant gas passage is formed between said first seal member and said second seal member; wherein said electrolyte is an electrolyte membrane, and a surface area of said anode is smaller than a surface area of said cathode; and said second seal member includes an inner seal provided between said electrolyte membrane and said anode side separator, and an outer seal provided between adjacent separators.