Separator, electrochemical cell, and apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2026081192-A1
Application number	US-202519324757-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Sep 10, 2025
Priority date	Sep 19, 2024
Publication date	Mar 19, 2026
Grant date	—

Abstract

A separator including a flow channel 10 comprising a first flow-channel wall, a second flow-channel wall, a first flow-channel groove between the first flow-channel wall and the second flow-channel wall, and one or more first blocking walls in the first flow-channel groove. The first blocking walls close off a portion of the latter half of the first flow-channel groove.

First claim

What is claimed is

1 . A separator comprising;
a flow channel comprising a first flow-channel wall, a second flow-channel wall, a first flow-channel groove between the first flow-channel wall and the second flow-channel wall; and one or more first blocking walls in the first flow-channel groove, wherein the first blocking walls close off a portion of the latter half of the first flow-channel groove.

2 . The separator according to claim 1 , wherein
the flow channel has a serpentine flow channel shape where straight areas and turnaround areas alternately repeat.

3 . The separator according to claim 2 , wherein
a length of the first blocking walls is 1% or more and 100% or less of a length the turnaround area of the flow channel.

4 . The separator according to claim 1 , wherein
a length of the first blocking walls is 0.1 times or more and 3 times or less a width of the first flow-channel groove.

5 . The separator according to claim 1 , wherein
the first blocking walls are provided at the turnaround area of the flow channel, and a length of the first blocking walls is 1% or more and 100% or less of a length the turnaround area where the blocking walls are provided.

6 . The separator according to claim 1 , wherein
a length of the first blocking walls is 0.1% or more and 1.7% or less of a length of the first flow-channel groove.

7 . The separator according to claim 1 , wherein
the first blocking walls connect the first flow-channel wall and the second flow-channel wall.

8 . The separator according to claim 1 , wherein
the flow channel further comprises a third flow-channel wall and a second flow-channel groove between the second flow-channel wall and the third flow-channel wall, the flow-channel connects a first location and a second location, a former half of the first flow-channel groove and a former half of the second flow-channel groove are located on the first location side, a latter half of the first flow-channel groove and a latter half of the second flow-channel groove are located on the second location side, and the first flow-channel groove and the second flow-channel groove are parallel.

9 . The separator according to claim 8 further comprising one or more second blocking walls partially close off the second flow-channel groove.

10 . The separator according to claim 1 , wherein
the flow channel further comprises a third flow-channel wall and a second flow-channel groove between the second flow-channel wall and the third flow-channel wall, the flow-channel connects a first location and a second location, a former half of the first flow-channel groove and a latter half of the second flow-channel groove are located on the first location side, and a latter half of the first flow-channel groove and a former half of the second flow-channel groove are located on the second location side.

11 . The separator according to claim 10 further comprising one or more second blocking walls partially close off the second flow-channel groove.

12 . The separator according to claim 1 , wherein
the flow channel further comprises a third flow-channel wall, a fourth flow-channel wall, a second flow-channel groove between the third flow-channel wall and the fourth flow-channel wall, the flow-channel connects a first location and a second location, a former half of the first flow-channel groove and a latter half of the second flow-channel groove are located on the first location side, and a latter half of the first flow-channel groove and a former half of the second flow-channel groove are located on the second location side.

13 . The separator according to claim 12 further comprising one or more second blocking walls partially close off the second flow-channel groove.

14 . An electrochemical cell comprising:
a first electrode; a second electrode; a diaphragm between the first electrode and the second electrode; a first separator contacting the first electrode; and a second separator contacting the second electrode, wherein the first separator or/an the second separator is the separator according to claim 1 .

15 . The stack comprising:
the electrochemcal cells according to claim 14 .

16 . An apparatus comprising:
the electrochemical cell according to claim 14 . wherein the apparatus is an electrolytic device or a fuel cell.

Assignees

• Toshiba Kk

Inventors

• Hongo Takuya
• Hiraoka Toshiro
• Hosono Yasuharu
• Kitagawa Ryota
• Kofuji Yusuke

Classifications

• Y02E60/50

  Fuel cells · CPC title

• H01M8/24

  Grouping of fuel cells, e.g. stacking of fuel cells · CPC title

• H01M8/026

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

• C25B13/02

  characterised by shape or form · CPC title

• C25B9/77

  having diaphragms · CPC title