Fuel cell stack and method of pressing together the same
First Claim
1. A fuel cell stack comprising a plurality of unit cells for taking out electrical energy from a reaction gas and a plurality of separators interposed between said unit cells, whereineach of said unit cells comprises a solid polymer electrolyte membrane having a pair of electrode catalysts attached on both surfaces thereof, and a pair of collectors, each made of a rigid body having a flat contact surface facing each of said electrode catalysts, being in contact with respective said electrode catalysts, andeach of said separators comprises first and second pressure generating plates defining therebetween a pressure chamber into which a pressurized fluid is introduced, said pressure generating plates being deformed by the pressurized fluid and pressed against adjacent respective said collectors.
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Abstract
A fuel cell stack having unit cells and separators, in which each unit cell comprises a solid polymer electrolyte membrane having a pair of electrode catalysts attached on both surfaces, and a pair of collectors, each made of a rigid body, being in contact with respective electrode catalysts, and each of the separators comprises a pair of pressure generating plates defining therebetween a pressure chamber to which a pressurized fluid is introduced, the pressure generating plates being deformed by the pressurized fluid and pressed against the adjacent respective collectors.
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Citations
27 Claims
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1. A fuel cell stack comprising a plurality of unit cells for taking out electrical energy from a reaction gas and a plurality of separators interposed between said unit cells, wherein
each of said unit cells comprises a solid polymer electrolyte membrane having a pair of electrode catalysts attached on both surfaces thereof, and a pair of collectors, each made of a rigid body having a flat contact surface facing each of said electrode catalysts, being in contact with respective said electrode catalysts, and each of said separators comprises first and second pressure generating plates defining therebetween a pressure chamber into which a pressurized fluid is introduced, said pressure generating plates being deformed by the pressurized fluid and pressed against adjacent respective said collectors.
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25. A method of pressing together a fuel cell stack which comprises a plurality of unit cells for taking out electrical energy from a reaction gas and separators interposed between respective unit cells, the method comprising the steps of:
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introducing a pressurized fluid into a pressure chamber formed in each of said separators; transferring a pressure in each said pressure chamber due to the pressurized fluid to each collector in the adjacent unit cells through pressure generating plates provided in each respective separator; and pressing each collector against its respective electrode catalyst disposed on a side of a solid polymer electrolyte membrane by displacement of the pressure generating plates. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27)
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Specification