Fuel cell

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017317362-A1
Application number	US-201715493187-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Apr 21, 2017
Priority date	Apr 28, 2016
Publication date	Nov 2, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

A fuel cell includes a power-generation channel provided on a surface of a cathode-side separator which faces a MEA and a cooling channel provided on a surface of the cathode-side separator opposite to the MEA. Air flows through the power-generation channel and the cooling channel. The cooling channel is separated from the power-generation channel by a side wall. The cross-sectional area of the power-generation channel on the air outlet side is smaller than that of the power-generation channel at a position upstream of the air outlet side, and the cross-sectional area of the cooling channel on the air outlet side is larger than that of the cooling channel at a position upstream of the air outlet side. A through-hole is provided in a side wall that separates the power-generation channel from the cooling channel.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A fuel cell comprising:
a membrane electrode assembly; an anode-side separator and a cathode-side separator between which the membrane electrode assembly is sandwiched; a power-generation channel provided on a first surface of the cathode-side separator which faces the membrane electrode assembly, so as to extend from one end to the other end of the cathode-side separator, such that oxidant gas is allowed to flow through the power-generation channel; and a cooling channel provided on a second surface of the cathode-side separator opposite to the membrane electrode assembly, so as to extend from the one end to the other end of the cathode-side separator, such that the oxidant gas is allowed to flow through the cooling channel, the cooling channel and the power-generation channel being separated by a side wall, wherein: a cross-sectional area of the power-generation channel on an outlet side on which the oxidant gas is discharged is smaller than the cross-sectional area of the power-generation channel at a position upstream of the outlet side of the power-generation channel; a cross-sectional area of the cooling channel on an outlet side on which the oxidant gas is discharged is larger than the cross-sectional area of the cooling channel at a position upstream of the outlet side of the cooling channel; and a through-hole is provided in the side wall that separates the power-generation channel from the cooling channel.

2 . The fuel cell according to claim 1 , wherein
a cross-sectional area of the power-generation channel on an inlet side to which the oxidant gas is supplied is larger than the cross-sectional area of the power-generation channel on the outlet side, and the cross-sectional area of the cooling channel on an inlet side to which the oxidant gas is supplied is smaller than the cross-sectional area of the cooling channel on the outlet side.

3 . The fuel cell according to claim 1 , wherein
a width of the power-generation channel changes stepwise so as to be reduced in a direction of flow of the oxidant gas that flows through the power-generation channel, and the through-hole is provided in a stepped portion in which the width changes stepwise, in a direction orthogonal to the direction of flow of the oxidant gas that flows through the power-generation channel.

4 . The fuel cell according to claim 1 , wherein:
a width of the power-generation channel changes stepwise so as to be reduced in a direction of flow of the oxidant gas that flows through the power-generation channel; and the through-hole is provided in a vicinity of a stepped portion in which the width changes stepwise.

5 . The fuel cell according to claim 3 , wherein
the width of the power-generation channel changes stepwise in a plurality of stepped portions as the stepped portion.

6 . The fuel cell according to claim 1 , wherein:
a width of the power-generation channel changes linearly so as to be reduced in a direction of flow of the oxidant gas that flows through the power-generation channel; and the through-hole is provided in an inclined portion in which the width changes linearly.

7 . The fuel cell according to claim 1 , wherein
a width of the power-generation channel changes linearly so as to be reduced in a direction of flow of the oxidant gas that flows through the power-generation channel; and the through-hole is provided in a vicinity of an inclined portion in which the width changes linearly.

8 . The fuel cell according to claim 1 , wherein
the cathode-side separator comprises a metal plate having recesses and projections.

Assignees

• Toyota Motor Co Ltd

Inventors

• Takehiro Naoki
• Adachi Makoto

Classifications

• H01M8/04067 Primary

  Heat exchange or temperature measuring elements, thermal insulation, e.g. heat pipes, heat pumps, fins · CPC title

• H01M8/1004

  characterised by membrane-electrode assemblies [MEA] (H01M8/12 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H01M2008/1095

  Fuel cells with polymeric electrolytes · CPC title

• H01M8/0256

  Vias, i.e. connectors passing through the separator material · CPC title

• H01M8/0265 Primary

  the reactant or coolant channels having varying cross sections · CPC title