Fuel cell stack

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2019288321-A1
Application number	US-201916251860-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jan 18, 2019
Priority date	Mar 14, 2018
Publication date	Sep 19, 2019
Grant date	—

Abstract

A fuel cell stack in which unit cells are stacked, wherein the unit cell includes: a membrane electrode assembly; an insulating member; a first separator; a second separator; and a gasket, a hole penetrates through the insulating member and the first and second separators, the gasket extends around the hole on the insulating member, a flow path portion is formed in at least one of the first and second separators, the first and second separators define a communicating portion, one of the first and second separators includes: first and second protruding portions; and a recessed portion, at least a part of the communicating portion is defined by the first and second protruding portions, the recessed portion, and the other of the first and second separators, and the first separator includes a support portion contacting and supporting the insulating member on a back side of the gasket.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A fuel cell stack in which unit cells are stacked, wherein
the unit cell includes:
a membrane electrode assembly;
an insulating member having a flame shape and joined at an outer peripheral edge of the membrane electrode assembly;
a first separator facing the membrane electrode assembly and the insulating member;
a second separator facing the first separator on a side opposite to the membrane electrode assembly and the insulating member; and
a gasket joined to the insulating member and protruding to a side opposite to the first separator,
a hole penetrates through the insulating member and the first and second separators, and is located outside the membrane electrode assembly, a fluid of either reactant gas or coolant flowing through the hole, the gasket extends around the hole on the insulating member, a flow path portion is formed in at least one of the first and second separators and is formed in a region facing the membrane electrode assembly, the first and second separators define a communicating portion communicating the hole with the flow path portion and extending so as to intersect a part of the gasket, one of the first and second separators includes:
first and second protruding portions protruding toward and contacting the other of the first and second separators, and separated from each other in such a direction as to intersect the gasket; and
a recessed portion adjacent to the first and second protruding portions in a direction in which the gasket extends, recessed from the first and second protruding portions to be away from the other of the first and second separators, and extending to intersect the gasket,
at least a part of the communicating portion is defined by the first and second protruding portions, the recessed portion, and the other of the first and second separators, and the first separator includes a support portion located between the first and second protruding portions, spaced apart from the second separator, and contacting and supporting the insulating member on a back side of the gasket.

2 . The fuel cell stack of claim 1 , wherein a space between the support portion and the second separator communicates with the communicating portion.

3 . The fuel cell stack of claim 1 , wherein
the one of the first and second separators is the first separator, the other of the first and second separators is the second separator, the recessed portion supports and contacts the insulating member on a back side of the gasket.

4 . The fuel cell stack of claim 3 , wherein
the unit cells include first and second unit cells, the second unit cell faces the second separator of the first unit cell on a side opposite to the first separator of the first unit cell, the second separator of the first unit cell includes a pressing portion pressing the gasket of the second unit cell, and the pressing portion protrudes toward the first separator of the first unit cell and contacts and supports the first and second protruding portions of the first unit cell.

5 . The fuel cell stack of claim 1 , wherein
the one of the first and second separators is the second separator, the other of the first and second separators is the first separator, the unit cells include first and second unit cells, the second unit cell faces the second separator of the first unit cell on a side opposite to the first separator of the first unit cell, the second separator of the first unit cell includes a pressing portion pressing the gasket of the second unit cell, and the pressing portion is recessed from the first and second protruding portions of the first unit cell to be away from the first separator of the first unit cell.

6 . The fuel cell stack of claim 1 , wherein
the fluid is the coolant, and the flow path portion is defined between the first and second separators.

7 . The fuel cell stack of claim 1 , wherein
the fluid is the reactant gas, the unit cells include first and second unit cells, and the flow path portion of the first unit cell is defined between the second separator of the first unit cell, and the insulating member and the membrane electrode assembly of the second unit cell adjacent to the second separator of the first unit cell on a side opposite to the first separator of the first unit cell.

8 . The fuel cell stack of claim 1 , wherein a length, of a portion of the first separator spaced apart from the insulating member on the back side of the gasket, in a direction in which the gasket extends, is less than 1 mm.

9 . The fuel cell stack of claim 1 , wherein the first separator contacts and supports the insulating member on the back side of the gasket over an entire area of the gasket.

Assignees

• Toyota Motor Co Ltd

Inventors

• Kajiwara Takashi
• Aono Haruyuki

Classifications

• H01M8/0265

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

• H01M8/0273

  with sealing or supporting means in the form of a frame · CPC title

• H01M8/0267

  having heating or cooling means, e.g. heaters or coolant flow channels · CPC title

• H01M8/0258

  characterised by the configuration of channels, e.g. by the flow field of the reactant or coolant · CPC title

• H01M8/026

  characterised by grooves, e.g. their pitch or depth · CPC title