Patent ID: 9153825
Filing Date: 2015-10-06
Classification: H01M,Y02E

Abstract:
1. A fuel cell comprising: a membrane electrolyte assembly which includes a polymer electrolyte membrane and a pair of catalyst electrodes between which the polymer electrolyte membrane is held; and first and second separators between which the membrane electrolyte assembly is held, wherein the first separator includes first gas flow channels, second gas flow channels positioned adjacent to the first gas flow channels, and coolant flow channels each having a rectangular cross-section and provided between the first and second gas flow channels, the first and second gas flow channels supplying an oxidizing gas or a fuel gas to the membrane electrolyte assembly, the first separator further includes a gas flow outlet for discharging gas from the first gas flow channels and from the second gas flow channels of the first separator, the first and second gas flow channels extend parallel to each other and are alternately arranged, the first gas flow channels are larger in cross sectional area than the second gas flow channels, the second separator includes first gas flow channels which extend parallel to the first and second gas flow channels of the first separator, second gas flow channels which are positioned adjacent to the first gas flow channels of the second separator, and coolant flow channels each having a rectangular cross-section and provided between the first and second gas flow channels of the second separator, the first and second gas flow channels of the second separator supplying an oxidizing gas or a fuel gas to the membrane electrolyte assembly, the second separator further includes a gas flow inlet for supplying gas to the first gas flow channels and to the second gas flow channels of the second separator, the first and second gas flow channels of the second separator extend parallel to each other and are alternately arranged, the gas flow outlet of the first separator and the gas flow inlet of the second separator are located directly opposite each other across the membrane electrolyte assembly, the first and second gas flow channels of the first and second separators are configured such that the oxidizing gas or fuel gas supplied in the first and second gas flow channels of the first separator flows in an opposite direction to a flow direction of the oxidizing gas or fuel gas supplied in the first and second gas flow channels of the second separator, and for the first separator, the first gas flow channels each have a rectangular cross-section 0.8-1.2 mm wide and 0.3-0.8 mm deep and the second gas flow channels each have a rectangular cross-section 0.8-1.2 mm wide and 0.06-0.1 mm deep.