Patent ID: 7205061

Claim:
A polymer electrolyte fuel cell comprising: a plurality of conductive separator plates; an electrolyte membrane-electrode assembly inserted between said separator plates, said electrolyte membrane-electrode assembly comprising a hydrogen-ion conductive polymer electrolyte membrane having its periphery covered with a first gasket, an anode attached to one side of said electrolyte membrane, and a cathode attached to the other side of said electrolyte membrane; and gas charge and discharge device for charging and discharging a fuel gas and an oxidant gas to and from said anode and cathode, respectively, wherein said conductive separator plate comprises: a corrugated metal plate having ridges and grooves that are alternately formed in parallel along the substantially entire length such that the ridges and grooves on one side correspond to the grooves and ridges on the other side, respectively; and a second gasket attached to the periphery of the corrugated metal plate, said first and second gaskets have common respective manifold apertures for fuel gas and oxidant gas, and said second gasket has: guide grooves formed on an anode-facing side for connecting said manifold apertures for fuel gas with the grooves of said corrugated metal plate; and guide grooves formed on a cathode-facing side for connecting said manifold apertures for oxidant gas with the grooves of said corrugated metal plate.