Fuel cell stack and separator for fuel cell stack

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2019305324-A1
Application number	US-201616308099-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 10, 2016
Priority date	Jun 10, 2016
Publication date	Oct 3, 2019
Grant date	—

Abstract

A fuel cell stack includes cell units and separators that are alternately stacked, in which each of the cell units includes a single cell. Each of the separators includes: at least one first ridge that is disposed on a first main surface of each of the separators at a predetermined interval to form at least one first gas channel; and at least one second ridge that is disposed on a second main surface of each of the separators at a predetermined interval to form at least one second gas channel. The at least one first ridge and the at least one second ridge are disposed at a regular interval around a center of each of the separators in a cross section perpendicular to the first or second gas channel. The at least one first ridge and the at least one second ridge of the separators are arranged such that a first ridge and a second ridge of a first separator of two of the separators holding each cell unit at least partly overlap respectively with a second ridge and a first ridge of a second separator of the two of the separators in a stacking direction of the separators across a single cell intervened between the two of the separators.

First claim

1 - 16 . (canceled)

17 . A fuel cell stack, comprising: cell units and separators that are alternately stacked, in which each of the cell units comprises a single cell,
wherein each of the separators comprises: at least one first ridge that is disposed on a first main surface of each of the separators at a predetermined interval to form at least one first gas channel; and at least one second ridge that is disposed on a second main surface of each of the separators at a predetermined interval to form at least one second gas channel, the at least one first ridge and the at least one second ridge are disposed at a regular interval from a center of each of the separators in a cross section perpendicular to the first or second gas channel, the at least one first ridge and the at least one second ridge of the separators are arranged such that the at least one first ridge and the at least one second ridge of a first separator of two of the separators holding each of the cell units at least partly overlap respectively with the at least one second ridge and the at least one first ridge of a second separator of the two of the separators in a stacking direction of the separators across a single cell intervened between the two of the separators, each of the separators comprises at least one first protrusion to form at least one first gas channel, and at least one second protrusion to form at least one second gas channel, and the at least one first protrusion and the at least one second protrusion of each of the separators are arranged such that the at least one first protrusion and the at least one second protrusion of the two of the separators that hold each of the cell units at least partly overlap with each of the cell units except for the single cell in the stacking direction of the separators.

18 . The fuel cell stack according to claim 17 , wherein the at least one first ridge and the at least one second ridge of the separators are arranged such that the at least one first ridge and the at least one second ridge of the two of the separators that hold each of the cell units at least partly overlap with the single cell of each of the cell units in the stacking direction of the separators.

19 . The fuel cell stack according to claim 17 , wherein the at least one first ridge and the at least one second ridge are disposed alternately from the center of each of the separators in a cross section perpendicular to the first or second gas channel.

20 . The fuel cell stack according to claim 17 , wherein each of the separators further comprises: at least one first groove that is defined by the at least one first ridge and that is disposed to form the at least one second gas channel; and at least one second groove that is defined by the at least one second ridge and that is disposed to form the first gas channel.

21 . The fuel cell stack according to claim 20 , wherein the first or second gas channel that runs through the center of each of the separators among the at least one first gas channel formed by the at least one first ridge and the at least one second groove and the at least one second gas channel formed by the at least one second ridge and the at least one first groove at least partly overlaps with an intermediate portion that is between the first or second ridge running closest to the center of each of the separators and the first or second groove running closest to the center of each of the separators in the stacking direction of the separators.

22 . The fuel cell stack according to claim 17 ,
wherein at least one first protrusion is disposed at a predetermined interval to form the at least one first gas channel, at least one second protrusion is disposed at a predetermined interval to form the at least one second gas channel, the at least one first protrusion is disposed point symmetrical to the at least one second protrusion with respect to the center of each of the separators in in-plane rotation and protrudes in a direction opposite to a direction of protruding the second protrusion, and the at least one first protrusion and the at least one second protrusion of the separator are arranged such that the at least one first protrusions and the at least one second protrusions of the two of the separators that hold each of the cell units overlap with each other in the stacking direction of the separators.

23 . The fuel cell stack according to claim 17 , wherein each of the separators comprises: at least one first recess that is defined by the at least one first protrusion and that is disposed to form the at least one second gas channel; and at least one second recess that is defined by the at least one second protrusion and that is disposed to form the at least one first gas channel.

24 . The fuel cell stack according to claim 17 , wherein each of the separators has a point symmetrical shape with respect to the center of each of the separators in in-plane rotation.

25 . The fuel cell stack according to claim 17 , wherein each of the separators is constituted by a single plate.

26 . The fuel cell stack according to claim 17 ,
wherein each of the cell units comprises: a single cell in which an electrolyte is intervened between an anode and a cathode; a metal support member comprising a center portion including porous metal and at least one peripheral portion including metal around the center portion; and an insulator, the anode is intervened between the electrolyte and the center portion, and the insulator is disposed at a side of the cathode of the at least one peripheral portion.

27 . The fuel cell stack according to claim 26 , wherein at least a part of an outer edge portion of each of the separators is joined to a side of the anode of the at least one peripheral portion.

Assignees

• Nissan Motor

Inventors

• Ichihara Keiji
• Takahata Kazuhiro

Classifications

• H01M8/0258

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

• H01M8/2465

  Details of groupings of fuel cells · CPC title

• H01M8/026 Primary

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

• H01M2008/1293

  Fuel cells with solid oxide electrolytes · CPC title

• H01M8/0247 Primary

  characterised by the form (characterised by a channel configuration H01M8/0258) · CPC title