SEAL STRUCTURE FOR FUEL CELL

• Main Authors: KURANO YOSHIHIRO, KOGA SHOTARO
• Format: Patent
• Language: English; French; German
• Published: 08.04.2015
• Subjects: BASIC ELECTRIC ELEMENTS; CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION ORPROCESSING OF GOODS; ELECTRICITY; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSIONOF CHEMICAL INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS; TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINSTCLIMATE CHANGE

Provided is a fuel cell seal structure that can achieve simplification of component shapes, easier production and assembly, and cost reductions because groove processing in one of a pair of separators sandwiching a membrane electrode assembly and integral forming of gaskets are unnecessary. To achieve this purpose, a membrane electrode assembly provided with electrode layers on both sides of an electrolyte membrane and separators that sandwich the membrane electrode assembly are provided. The planar dimensions of the electrode layers are set identical to each other. The planar dimensions of the electrolyte membrane are set larger than the electrode layers. The planar dimensions of the separators are set even larger than the electrolyte membrane. Based on this basic constitution, a first gasket held by one separator and in intimate contact with the other separator and a second gasket held by the one separator and in intimate contact with the electrolyte membrane are provided. Also provided is a reinforcing member that is separate from the electrode layer and that is meant to reinforce the electrolyte membrane with which the second gasket is in intimate contact from the back surface of the electrolyte membrane.