Claims
- 1. A fuel cell comprising:
a membrane electrode assembly having a solid polymer electrolyte membrane, an anode side diffusion electrode disposed at one side of the solid polymer electrolyte membrane, and a cathode side diffusion electrode disposed at the other side of the solid polymer electrolyte membrane; a pair of separators which hold the membrane electrode assembly, each of the separators having an opening for supplying or discharging one of fuel gas, oxidant gas, and coolant to or from the membrane electrode assembly; a seal, which was liquid sealant at the time of application, which encloses the openings of the separators, the seal on one separator making contact with the sealant on the other separator to seal the periphery of the opening.
- 2. A fuel cell according to claim 1, wherein
the separators have grooves which enclose the openings, and the seal is provided in the grooves.
- 3. A fuel cell comprising:
a membrane electrode assembly having a solid polymer electrolyte membrane, an anode side diffusion electrode disposed at one side of the solid polymer electrolyte membrane, and a cathode side diffusion electrode disposed at the other side of the solid polymer electrolyte membrane; a pair of separators which hold the membrane electrode assembly, each of the separators having an opening for supplying or discharging one of fuel gas, oxidant gas, and coolant to or from the membrane electrode assembly; a seal, which was liquid sealant at the time of application, which encloses the openings of one of the separators, and which makes contact with the other separator to seal the periphery of the opening.
- 4. A fuel cell according to claim 3, wherein
one of the separators has a groove which encloses the opening, and the sealant is provided in the grooves.
- 5. A fuel cell stack having a plurality of fuel cell units, wherein
each of the fuel cell units comprises: a membrane electrode assembly having a solid polymer electrolyte membrane, an anode side diffusion electrode disposed at one side of the solid polymer electrolyte membrane, and a cathode side diffusion electrode disposed at the other side of the solid polymer electrolyte membrane; a pair of separators which hold the membrane electrode assembly; an adhesive seal, provided between the separators, which was liquid sealant at the time of application; a non-adhesive seal provided between the separator of one fuel cell unit and the separator of the other fuel cell unit.
- 6. A fuel cell stack according to claim 5, wherein the non-adhesive seal was liquid sealant at the time of application.
- 7. A fuel cell stack according to claim 5, wherein the non-adhesive seal was solid sealant at the time of application.
- 8. A method for producing a fuel cell, which includes a membrane electrode assembly having a solid polymer electrolyte membrane, an anode side diffusion electrode disposed at one side of the solid polymer electrolyte membrane, and a cathode side diffusion electrode disposed at the other side of the solid polymer electrolyte membrane, comprising the steps of:
producing a pair of separators which hold the membrane electrode assembly; applying liquid sealant on the separators; contacting the liquid sealant with a projecting portion at a periphery of the solid polymer electrolyte membrane projecting from the edges of the anode side diffusion electrode and the cathode side diffusion electrode; and holding the membrane electrode assembly between a pair of separators; and heating the liquid sealant to harden.
Priority Claims (4)
Number |
Date |
Country |
Kind |
2000-133862 |
May 2000 |
JP |
|
2000-133865 |
May 2000 |
JP |
|
2000-133866 |
May 2000 |
JP |
|
2000-149068 |
May 2000 |
JP |
|
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a divisional application of U.S. Ser. No. 09/847,895 filed May 2, 2001, which claims priority to Japanese Patent Application No.2000-133862 filed May 2, 2000, Japanese Patent Application No. 2000-133865 filed May 2, 2000, Japanese Patent Application No. 2000-133866 filed May 2, 2000, and Japanese Patent Application No. 2000-149068 filed May 19, 2000 in Japan. The contents of the aforementioned applications are hereby incorporated by reference.
Divisions (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
09847895 |
May 2001 |
US |
Child |
10752768 |
Jan 2004 |
US |