Patent ID: 7776491

Claim:
A separator unit inserted into a proton exchange membrane fuel cell having a solid polymer electrolyte layer interposed between a fuel electrode and an oxygen electrode, comprising: a plate shaped separator base that separates hydrogen gas supplied to the fuel electrode from air supplied to the oxygen electrode, wherein the fuel cell is operated at atmospheric pressure; a collector provided to at least one side of the separator base, which is provided with a mesh opening and in abutment against one of the fuel electrode and the oxygen electrode to radiate a heat generated in the fuel cell, wherein the collector is formed into a corrugated plate provided with thin projecting portions and includes a turbulence generating unit that generates a turbulence in the gas to increase an opportunity of a contact between the gas and one of the fuel electrode and the oxygen electrode, and to improve an efficiency of radiating the heat generated in the fuel cell; and wherein a flat surface of a tip portion of each thin projecting portion abuts against an electrode diffusion layer at the oxygen electrode and a base portion of each thin projecting portion abuts against the separator base.