Patent ID: 6248466
Filing Date: 2001-06-19
Classification: H01M,Y02E

Abstract:
A separator for a fuel cell, the fuel cell being formed of an electrolyte layer and an electrode forming member laminated together to form a gas passage inside the fuel cell, the separator comprising:a plurality of first holes extending through the separator in a thickness direction thereof;a plurality of first cell inside passage forming structures extending along a first surface of the separator, each first cell inside passage forming structure forming, when the separator is installed in a fuel cell, a first cell inside passage fluidly connecting two of the first holes, each of the first cell inside passage forming structures having a concave section, wherein the first cell inside passage forming structures are formed so that the first cell inside passages are fluidly sealed from one another;wherein all of the first cell inside passages are disposed adjacent to one another,wherein at least two of the first holes extend along a first side of the separator and at least two of the first holes extend along an opposite side of the separator,wherein at least one first cell inside passage extends along the first surface of the separator away from an upstream one of the two first holes on the first side of the separator toward an upstream one of the two first holes on the opposite side of the separator,wherein the upstream one of the two first holes on the opposite side of the separator is coupled to a downstream one of the two first holes on the opposite side of the separator, andfurther wherein at least one first cell inside passage returns from the downstream one of the two first holes on the opposite side of the separator to a downstream one of the two first holes on the first side of the separator.