METAL SEPARATOR FOR FUEL CELL

• US 20090239129A1
• Filed: 03/19/2009
• Published: 09/24/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Hitachi Cable Limited (Proterial Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Hitachi Cable Limited (Proterial Ltd.)
• Inventors: SEIDO, Masahiro, SASAOKA, Takaaki
• Application Number:
  US12/407,299
• Publication Number:
  US 20090239129A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 429/437
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0206 Metals or alloys
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0228 in the form of layered or coated products
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0258 characterised by the configuration of channels, e.g. by the flow field of the reactant or coolant
• 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 8/2457 with both reactants being gaseous or vaporised
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/2483 characterised by internal manifolds
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells

Abstract

A metal separator for a fuel cell includes a plurality of flow passage grooves for flowing a fluid for operating the fuel cell; manifold holes provided on each side of an upper stream and a lower stream of the plurality of flow passage grooves and formed so as to penetrate a separator made of metal for the fuel cell; communication grooves formed on a separator surface of the separator, for connecting inlets/outlets of the plurality of flow passage grooves and the manifold holes to flow the fluid; a fluid flowing structure part made of metal, in which a through hole is formed on the separator surface that forms the communication grooves, formed in the vicinity of the manifold hole so as to traverse the communication groove; and a flat seal surface formed on the fluid flowing structure part, for sealing a surface of a member that shields an opening of the communication grooves in a state of a face contact.

Claims

1. A metal separator for a fuel cell, comprising:

a plurality of flow passage grooves for flowing a fluid for operating the fuel cell;

manifold holes provided on each side of an upper stream and a lower stream of the plurality of flow passage grooves and formed so as to penetrate a separator made of metal for the fuel cell;

communication grooves formed on a separator surface of the separator, for connecting inlets/outlets of the plurality of flow passage grooves and the manifold holes to flow the fluid;

a fluid flowing structure part made of metal, in which a through hole is formed on the separator surface that forms the communication grooves, formed in the vicinity of the manifold hole so as to traverse the communication groove; and

a flat seal surface formed on the fluid flowing structure part, for sealing a surface of a member that shields an opening of the communication grooves in a state of a face contact.

2. The metal separator for the fuel cell according to claim 1, wherein the fluid flowing structure part has a flat-shaped seal member provided in parallel to the separator surface for forming the communication groove so as to be apart from the separator surface, the seal member forming the flat seal surface.

3. The metal separator for the fuel cell according to claim 1, wherein a reinforcing member for reinforcing the fluid flowing structure part is provided in the part of the through hole.

4. The metal separator for the fuel cell according to claim 3, wherein the reinforcing member is formed into a sectional arch-like member.

5. The metal separator for the fuel cell according to claim 3, wherein the reinforcing members are provided along the communication groove in a longitudinal direction thereof, and a plurality of reinforcing members are arranged at predetermined intervals in a transverse direction of the communication groove.

6. The metal separator for the fuel cell according to claim 1, wherein the fluid flowing structure part is formed separately from the separator, and is attached to the communication groove.

7. The metal separator for the fuel cell according to claim 1, wherein the fluid flowing structure part is formed by processing including folding of a part of the separator.

8. The metal separator for the fuel cell according to claim 1, wherein the fluid passage grooves have a cross-sectional face having a continuous trapezoidal waveform structure.

9. The metal separator for the fuel cell according to claim 1, wherein the communication grooves have a width gradually increasing toward inlet/outlet sides of the plurality of flow passage grooves from the manifold holes side.

10. The metal separator for the fuel cell according to claim 1, wherein both side faces of the communication groove are formed by gaskets attached to the surface of the separator.

11. The metal separator for the fuel cell according to claim 1, wherein a Ti plate material or a Ti clad material having thickness of 50 μ

m or more and 0.2 mm or less is used in the fluid flowing structure part.