| CPC H01M 8/0273 (2013.01) [H01M 8/0206 (2013.01); H01M 8/0258 (2013.01); H01M 8/1004 (2013.01); H01M 2008/1095 (2013.01)] | 11 Claims |
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1. Separator member configured to be incorporated into a fuel cell stack in a manner that the separator member is stacked on a membrane electrode assembly including an electrolyte membrane and an electrode disposed on each of both sides of the electrolyte membrane, wherein
a compression load in a separator thickness direction is applied to the separator member,
the separator member includes a separator body made of metal and having a plate shape,
the separator body is provided with:
a reactant gas flow field configured to allow a reactant gas to flow along the electrode;
a plurality of fluid passages penetrating the separator body in the separator thickness direction and connected to the reactant gas flow field or a coolant flow field; and
a seal positioned around the reactant gas flow field and the plurality of fluid passages and configured to prevent leakage of a fluid formed of the reactant gas or a coolant,
the seal includes a seal bead formed integrally with the separator body and protruding from the separator body so as to be elastically deformable by the compression load,
a support bead formed to be lower in height than the seal bead and configured to restrict inclination of the seal bead is provided outside the seal in the separator body,
the support bead extends along the seal, and is formed integrally with the separator body and protrudes from the separator body, and
a width of the support bead varies depending on a position of the support bead in a direction in which the support bead extends, wherein
the seal includes:
a flow field seal surrounding the reactant gas flow field; and
a plurality of fluid passage seals surrounding the plurality of fluid passages, respectively, and
the support bead is positioned outside the plurality of fluid passage seals and the flow field seal,
the plurality of fluid passage seals include:
a plurality of inner fluid passage seals positioned inside the flow field seal; and
a plurality of outer fluid passage seals positioned outside the flow field seal,
the flow field seal includes bulging portions that partially surround the plurality of inner fluid passage seals respectively to separate the plurality of outer fluid passage seals and the plurality of inner fluid passage seals that are adjacent to each other,
gaps are formed between the bulging portions and the plurality of outer fluid passage seals that are adjacent to each other,
the support bead includes:
a plurality of protruding beads provided so as to protrude toward the gaps; and
an extending bead extending along the flow field seal and the plurality of outer fluid passage seals, and
each of the protruding beads is formed to be wider than the extending bead adjacent to the protruding bead.
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