Abstract: The disclosure relates to a fuel cell including a solid electrolyte layer disposed on a separator plate. Another separator plate positioned adjacent the separator plate mounting the solid electrolyte layer are joined to a surface of the first separator plate to form an electrode separator assembly having a chamber between the joined separator plates. Working fluids may be supplied to or exhausted from the chamber through openings in fluid communication. A porous support member may be positioned within the chamber. The first separator plate and the porous support member may include a multiplicity of ribs defining channels in fluid communication with the chamber.

Abstract: A fuel cell stack structure and a method of starting up the fuel cell stack structure are disclosed. The fuel cell stack structure includes a stack of a plurality of solid electrolyte fuel cells, each equipped with a solid electrolyte simplex cell accommodated in a cell space surrounded by a metallic thin plate-like separator and having one surface exposed to the outside, and a gas flow channel formed in and extending through the solid electrolyte fuel cells to supply gas to the respective cell space areas of the solid electrolyte fuel cells, wherein an area with high-heat capacity is preferentially supplied with and heated by high temperature gas at the stage of increasing temperatures of the plurality of solid electrolyte fuel cells during startup thereof.

Abstract: For an enhanced rigidity and suppressed occurrences of stress concentration, a solid-electrolyte fuel cell is configured with simplex cells, a metallic separator of a circular thin-sheet form having a gas introducing port and gas discharging ports in the central portion, and cell mounting parts for the simplex cells to be fixed thereto, another metallic separator of a circular thin-sheet form having a gas introducing port and gas discharging ports in the central portion, the separators defining a space in between, and a pair of flow channel members accommodated in the space and pressed to be brought into abutment, for communication of their channels with the gas introducing ports and the gas discharging ports to effect gas supply and gas discharge to and from the space, either flow channel member being joined, within the space, to one separator.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a fuel cell including a solid electrolyte layer disposed on a separator plate. Another separator plate positioned adjacent the separator plate mounting the solid electrolyte layer are joined to a surface of the first separator plate to form an electrode separator assembly having a chamber between the joined separator plates. Working fluids may be supplied to or exhausted from the chamber through openings in fluid communication. A porous support member may be positioned within the chamber. The first separator plate and the porous support member may include a multiplicity of ribs defining channels in fluid communication with the chamber.

Abstract: A fuel cell collector structure of the present invention includes a single cell which is formed by sandwiching a plate-shaped solid electrolyte between a fuel electrode and an air electrode, a collector which is provided at a position adjacent to the single cell, and a separator which is provided at the position adjacent to the collector. In the fuel cell collector structure, the collector is made of a porous electric conductor having a plurality of apertures on a surface, the single cell and/or the separator has a plurality of electrically conductive projections on the surface, and the projections intrude into the apertures to come into contact with the collector.

Abstract: A single cell for a fuel cell in which an air electrode or a fuel electrode includes at least two layers. The air electrode includes an adhering cathode layer formed on one surface of the solid electrolyte layer and configured to show a function to allow the air electrode and the solid electrolyte layer to adhere electrically and mechanically to each other, and an electricity collecting cathode layer formed on the adhering cathode layer and configured to show an electricity collecting function of the air electrode. Alternatively, the fuel electrode includes an adhering anode layer formed on the other surface of the solid electrolyte layer and configured to show a function to allow the fuel electrode and the solid electrolyte layer to adhere electrically and mechanically to each other, and an electricity collecting anode layer formed on the adhering anode layer and configured to show an electricity collecting function.

Abstract: A fuel cell device (1) comprises at least one fuel cell unit (10). The fuel cell unit (10) includes a cell plate (11), a separator plate (15) and fixing part (17). The cell plate (11) includes a metal base (13) and a fuel cell (12) supported on the metal base. The separator plate (15) faces the cell plate, the separator plate includes a flat body (15a) and an extension (15c) at least partly extending from a peripheral edge of the body. The extension (15c) includes a side wall (15d) extending from the edge of the body toward the cell plate and a joint (15f) extending from a tip of the side wall in a diametrical direction and joined to the metal base. The fixing part (17) fixes a central part of the cell plate to a central part of the separator plate.

Abstract: A thermal insulating container (1) of the present invention includes a container body (9) formed of an inner container shell (2) for housing a heat generation unit (H), and of an outer container shell (3) for covering the inner container shell (2), and a vacuum layer (4) located between the inner container shell (2) and the outer container shell (3). Further, the thermal insulating container (1) is characterized in that the heat generation unit-side surface of the inner container shell (2) is covered with a thermal insulator (5). In the thermal insulating container (1), the thermal insulator (5) is provided between the inner container shell (2) and the heat generation unit (5), and the temperature rise of the inner container shell (2) is gas permeation through the inner container shell (2) is restricted.

Abstract: An aspect of the present invention provides a fuel cell that includes, hollow structural bodies each provided with an internal space for reacting a fuel gas and an oxidant gas, each hollow structural body including, a separator having a perimeter wall section that follows along a rim, a cell plate having an electricity-generating cell having its outer perimeter joined to the separator such that a space for a gas to flow through is formed between the separator and the cell plate, a gas supply manifold to supply one of the reactant gases, a gas discharge manifold to discharge the reactant gas, and a gas introducing flow passage to introduce said reactant gas from the gas supply manifold to the perimeter wall section of the separator, wherein the reactant gas introduced into the gas introducing passage flows from the vicinity of the perimeter wall section of the separator to the gas discharge manifold.

Abstract: A fuel cell of the present invention includes a stack structure composed by stacking a plurality of solid oxide fuel cell units with current collectors. Each of the fuel cell unit includes: a cell plate which holds at least one cell and has a gas introduction hole for one of fuel gas and air in a center portion thereof; and a separator plate which has a gas introduction hole for the one of the fuel gas and the air in a center portion thereof and makes an outer peripheral edge thereof entirely bonded to an outer peripheral edge of the cell plate. The fuel cell further includes a casing which houses the stack structure, includes a gas introduction portion and a gas discharge portion, and introduces the other of the fuel gas and the air thereinto from the gas introduction portion and flows the other gas to the gas discharge portion.

Abstract: A unit cell for a solid electrolyte fuel cell is provided with an air electrode, a fuel electrode, a solid electrolyte sandwiched between the air electrode and the fuel electrode, and a porous metallic base body joined to at lease one of the air electrode and the fuel electrode. The porous metallic base body includes a plurality of porous base body layers stacked to form a laminated structure in which one layer joined to at least one of the air electrode and the fuel electrode has porosity lower than that of the other layer not joined to at least one of the air electrode and the fuel electrode.

Abstract: A single cell for a solid oxide fuel cell, in which a solid electrolyte layer is sandwiched by an upper electrode layer and a lower electrode layer. This single cell includes a substrate having openings and an insulating and stress absorbing layer stacked on an upper surface of this substrate. The solid electrolyte layer is formed on an upper surface of the insulating and stress absorbing layer so as to cover the openings, the upper electrode layer is stacked on an upper surface of the solid electrolyte layer, and the lower electrode layer is coated on a lower surface of the solid electrolyte layer via the openings from a lower surface of the substrate. A cell plate, in which these single cells are disposed two-dimensionally on a common substrate. Furthermore, a solid oxide fuel cell, in which these cell plates and plate-shaped separators including gas passages on both surfaces thereof are alternately stacked.

Abstract: An electric power generating apparatus is provided with a fuel gas supply, an air supply source, an external reformer having a reformer section supplied with the fuel gas, a fuel cell stack, a heat exchanger section disposed to the external reformer, and an exhaust gas combusting section. The fuel cell stack has an electric power generating cell section, which is supplied with the fuel gas that results from the reformer section. The heat exchanger section achieves heat exchange between the air and the reformer section. The exhaust gas combusting section permits unburned fuel gas, which is supplied from the electric power generating cell section, and the air to be mixed and combusted to achieve heat exchange with respect to the fuel cell stack.

Abstract: A fuel cell of the present invention includes a fuel cell stack (1) for being formed by stacking a plurality of cell plates (2) having a flat shape, the cell plates (2) being configured by arranging a plurality of cells, the cell having an electrolyte layer (2a), a fuel electrode layer (2b) and an air electrode layer (2c). A combustion heater plate (3) includes a porous combustion plate (3a) and a gas non-pass layer (3b) covering a surface of the porous combustion plate (3a). The combustion heater plate (3) is disposed between the cell plates (2).

Abstract: A solid electrolyte fuel cell plate structure includes a cell element layer composed of a solid electrolyte, an air electrode layer and a fuel electrode layer, a porous base body supporting the cell element layer, and a gas-impermeable member having electric conductivity. The cell element layer is arranged such that the solid electrolyte layer is sandwiched between the air electrode layer and the fuel electrode layer, with the air electrode layer or the fuel electrode layer being joined to the porous base body. The gas-impermeable member is associated with the solid electrolyte layer to allow gas internally passing through the porous base body to be separated from gas flowing outside the porous base body. Such a cell plate structure can be employed in a solid electrolyte fuel cell stack, which in turn can be employed in a solid electrolyte fuel cell electric power generation unit.

Abstract: A solid electrolyte fuel cell plate structure includes a cell element layer composed of a solid electrolyte, an air electrode layer and a fuel electrode layer, a porous base body supporting the cell element layer, and a gas-impermeable member having electric conductivity. The cell element layer is arranged such that the solid electrolyte layer is sandwiched between the air electrode layer and the fuel electrode layer, with the air electrode layer or the fuel electrode layer being joined to the porous base body. The gas-impermeable member is associated with the solid electrolyte layer to allow gas internally passing through the porous base body to be separated from gas flowing outside the porous base body. Such a cell plate structure can be employed in a solid electrolyte fuel cell stack, which in turn can be employed in a solid electrolyte fuel cell electric power generation unit.

Abstract: A single cell for a solid oxide fuel cell, in which a solid electrolyte layer is sandwiched by an upper electrode layer and a lower electrode layer. This single cell includes a substrate having openings and an insulating and stress absorbing layer stacked on an upper surface of this substrate. The solid electrolyte layer is formed on an upper surface of the insulating and stress absorbing layer so as to cover the openings, the upper electrode layer is stacked on an upper surface of the solid electrolyte layer, and the lower electrode layer is coated on a lower surface of the solid electrolyte layer via the openings from a lower surface of the substrate. A cell plate, in which these single cells are disposed two-dimensionally on a common substrate. Furthermore, a solid oxide fuel cell, in which these cell plates and plate-shaped separators including gas passages on both surfaces thereof are alternately stacked.

Abstract: A unit cell for a solid electrolyte type fuel cell is provided with a fuel electrode, an air electrode making a pair with the fuel electrode, a solid electrolyte interposed between the fuel electrode and the air electrode, a porous metallic base body disposed on at lease one of a surface of the fuel electrode on the far side from the solid electrolyte and a surface of the air electrode on the far side from the solid electrolyte such that the fuel electrode, the electrolyte, and a plurality of concave portions formed in the porous metallic base body so as to extend, in a laminating direction in which the fuel electrode, the electrolyte, the air electrode and the porous metallic base body are laminated, from a surface of the porous metallic base body.

Abstract: A cell plate structure for a fuel cell is provided with a porous substrate, a lower electrode layer formed on the porous substrate, an upper electrode layer opposed to the lower electrode layer, a solid electrolyte layer having a layer element placed between the lower electrode layer and the upper electrode layer and composed of a plurality of divided electrolyte regions, a gas impermeable layer correspondingly covering an area where the solid electrolyte layer is absent on the porous substrate or on the lower electrode layer. The gas impermeable layer separates gas passing inside the porous substrate and gas passing outside the porous substrate. Such a cell plate structure is suited for use in a solid electrolyte type fuel cell.

Abstract: A fuel cell system is provided with a fuel cell (12) having a fuel electrode (19) supplied with fuel gas and an air electrode (16) supplied with oxidizer gas, a carbon dioxide separator (15, 52, 71) separating carbon dioxide from anode exhaust gas (25) expelled from the fuel electrode of the fuel cell, and a fuel vaporizer (13, 58) producing fuel gas by injecting fuel into anode exhaust gas, whose carbon dioxide is separated in the carbon dioxide separator and which is expelled from the carbon dioxide separator. Fuel gas produced in the fuel vaporizer is supplied to the fuel electrode of the fuel cell.