FUEL CELL

• US 20090081509A1
• Filed: 12/01/2008
• Published: 03/26/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/25/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: OKONOGI, Daisuke, TANAKA, Hiroyuki, NISHIYAMA, Tadashi, NAKAGAWA, Takaki
• Application Number:
  US12/325,935
• Publication Number:
  US 20090081509A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 429/434
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0206 Metals or alloys
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0254 corrugated or undulated
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0267 having heating or cooling means, e.g. heaters or coolant flow channels
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0273 with sealing or supporting means in the form of a frame
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0276 Sealing means characterised by their form H01M8/0273 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/241 with solid or matrix-supported electrolytes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/2483 characterised by internal manifolds
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells

Abstract

A first seal member is provided integrally on a surface of a first metal separator. The first seal member includes a base portion provided integrally on the first metal separator, a columnar portion protruding from the base portion, and a curved edge portion provided on the columnar portion. The curved edge portion has a predetermined radius of curvature.

Claims

1. A fuel cell, comprising:

an electrolyte electrode assembly including a pair of electrodes and an electrolyte interposed between said electrodes; and

metal separators for sandwiching said electrolyte electrode assembly,

wherein a reactant gas supply passage, and a reactant gas discharge passage extend through said fuel cell in a stacking direction of said fuel cell;

a reactant gas flow field is connected between said reactant gas supply passage and said reactant gas discharge passage on at least one of said metal separators along a surface of said electrode; and

a first seal member or a third seal member provided integrally on one of said metal separators, around at least one of said electrode, said reactant gas supply passage, and said reactant gas discharge passage,

said first seal member and said third seal member including;

a base portion provided integrally on said metal separator;

a columnar portion protruding from said base portion; and

a curved edge portion provided on said columnar portion, and having a predetermined curvature, wherein said third seal member is provided between a second seal member and said metal separator.

2. A fuel cell according to claim 1, wherein dimensions of said first seal member and said third seal member satisfy the following expression:

H/W≦

1.5

where W is a width of said columnar portion, and H is a height of said first seal member and said third seal member from said base portion to said curved edge portion.

3. A fuel cell according to claim 1, wherein said columnar portion protrudes from said base portion with a draft angle.

4. A fuel cell, comprising:

an electrolyte electrode assembly including a pair of electrodes and an electrolyte interposed between said electrodes; and

metal separators for sandwiching said electrolyte electrode assembly,

wherein a coolant supply passage, and a coolant discharge passage extend through said fuel cell in a stacking direction of said fuel cell;

a coolant flow field is connected between said coolant supply passage and said coolant discharge passage on at least one of said metal separators along a surface of said electrode; and

a first seal member or a third seal member provided integrally on one of said metal separators, around at least one of said coolant supply passage and said coolant discharge passage,

said first seal member and said third seal member including;

a base portion provided integrally on said metal separator;

a columnar portion protruding from said base portion; and

a curved edge portion provided on said columnar portion, and having a predetermined curvature, wherein said third seal member is provided between a second seal member and said metal separator.

5. A fuel cell according to claim 4, wherein dimensions of said first seal member and said third seal member satisfy the following expression:

H/W≦

1.5

where W is a width of said columnar portion, and H is a height of said first seal member and said third seal member from said base portion to said curved edge portion.

6. A fuel cell according to claim 4, wherein said columnar portion protrudes from said base portion with a draft angle.