Fuel cell comprising water discharge channel formed by a corrugated section

摘要

A power generation unit of a fuel cell includes a first metal separator, a first membrane electrode assembly, a second metal separator, a second membrane electrode assembly, and a third metal separator. A bypass limiting section is provided at an end of the coolant flow field for preventing a coolant from bypassing the coolant flow field. The bypass limiting section includes a corrugated section formed integrally with the first metal separator and a corrugated section formed integrally with the third metal separator adjacent to the first metal separator, and contacting the corrugated section.

主权项

1. A fuel cell formed by stacking a membrane electrode assembly and a metal separator together horizontally in a stacking direction, the membrane electrode assembly includes a pair of electrodes and an electrolyte membrane interposed between the electrodes, the electrodes each having an electrode surface provided vertically along a direction of gravity, the electrode surface having a shape elongated in a horizontal direction which is orthogonal to the stacking direction of the metal separator, a reactant gas flow field being provided in the electrode surface for allowing an oxygen-containing gas or a fuel gas as a reactant gas to flow along the electrode surface in a longitudinal direction thereof;
wherein a water discharge channel is provided at a lower end of the reactant gas flow field in the direction of gravity for discharging water produced in power generation reaction downward in the direction of gravity; and the water discharge channel is formed by a corrugated section including a protrusion and a recess formed alternately on a surface of the metal separator where the reactant gas flow field is provided, the water discharge passage extending on the surface in a direction which intersects the longitudinal direction in which the reactant gas flow field extends.