US 7,524,573 B2
Fuel cell having inner and outer periphery seal members
Norihiro Tomimatsu, Mitaka (Japan); Atsushi Sadamoto, Kawasaki (Japan); and Yasuhiro Harada, Isehara (Japan)
Assigned to Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Tokyo (Japan)
Filed on Feb. 23, 2005, as Appl. No. 11/62,811.
Claims priority of application No. 2004-046748 (JP), filed on Feb. 23, 2004.
Prior Publication US 2005/0249997 A1, Nov. 10, 2005
Int. Cl. H01M 2/00 (2006.01); H01M 2/02 (2006.01); H01M 2/08 (2006.01)
U.S. Cl. 429—35  [429/34] 17 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A fuel cell formed by arranging a plurality of unit cells, wherein each unit cell comprises:
a membrane electrode assembly including an electrolyte membrane disposed between a membrane-like oxidizer electrode and a membrane-like fuel electrode, the electrolyte membrane having an outer periphery protruding from outer peripheries of the fuel electrode and the oxidizer electrode;
a first separator having an abutment surface abutting on the fuel electrode of the membrane electrode assembly and having a first flow path for supplying fuel;
a second separator having an abutment surface abutting on the oxidizer electrode of the membrane electrode assembly and having a second flow path for supplying an oxidizer;
a first inner periphery seal member formed to a portion of the abutment surface of the first separator facing the outer periphery of the electrolyte membrane and hermetically sealed by being abutted against the outer periphery of the electrolyte membrane in a compressed and deformed state;
a second inner periphery seal member formed to a portion of the abutment surface of the second separator facing the outer periphery of the electrolyte membrane and hermetically sealed by being abutted against the outer periphery of the electrolyte membrane in a compressed and deformed state;
a first outer periphery seal member formed to the portion of the abutment surface of the first separator facing the outer periphery of the electrolyte membrane on the abutment surface side of the second separator; and
a second outer periphery seal member formed to the portion of the abutment surface of the second separator facing the first outer periphery seal member and hermetically sealed in a compressed and deformed state by being abutted against the first outer periphery seal member.