Patent · US Expired

Fuel cell and separator comprising contact lugs with specific widths

US6365295B1 · kind B1 · utility

13Cited by
12References
4Claims
0Family size

Assignees

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJan 28, 2000
Grant dateApr 2, 2002
Priority date
Expiry dateJan 28, 2020

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY02E60/50
  • WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A fuel cell has a plurality of unit cells each including electrodes sandwiching an electrolyte membrane in-between, and a plurality of separators (3) each arranged between the unit cells. Each separator (3) has a plurality of contact lugs (65, 75) facing the electrodes and contacting the electrodes at pre-set contact widths and a plurality of fluid ducts (6a, 7a) each having a space between neighboring ones of the contact lugs (65, 75) as a duct width. The contact width of the contact lugs 65 (75) on a side closer to a fluid outlet is set smaller than that of the contact lugs 65 (75) on a side closer to a fluid inlet. Diffusion of an active material in an active material containing fluid into the inside of electrodes on a downstream side of a fluid duct, that is on a side closer to a fluid outlet, is facilitated.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.