Abstract: The invention relates to a metal bipolar plate for a fuel cell, provided with a low-ohmic chemically stable coating. According to the invention, said coating is a multi-phase coating, at least in the region of the contacting outer surface thereof. One phase is a metal phase and/or ? phase belonging thereto and another phase is a compound phase consisting of one or several metals of the metal phase and one of the elements N,O,C,B.

Abstract: The invention relates to a metal bipolar plate for a fuel cell, provided with a low-ohmic chemically stable coating. According to the invention, said coating is a multi-phase coating, at least in the region of the contacting outer surface thereof. One phase is a metal phase and/or &agr; phase belonging thereto and another phase is a compound phase consisting of one or several metals of the metal phase and one of the elements N,O,C,B.

Abstract: The invention provides a fuel cell arrangement with a plurality of fuel cell stacks which are stacked on top of one another and are enclosed in a sealed exterior housing. Supply air is freely guided to the fuel cell stacks within the enclosure, while combustion gas is provided to the respective stacks by means of pipes. A plurality of flat seals are provided between adjacent fuel cell stacks, each having a central air opening and a separate peripheral combustion gas channel. The lowermost fuel stack is mounted by means of such a seal, on a base plate into which a collective channel for exhaust air and a channel for combustion gas are integrated.

Abstract: Electrically insulating ceramic gas supply plenums for solid electrolyte fuel cells in which the plenums are formed from a mixture of ceramic components and the proportions of the components in the mixture are adjusted to match the coefficient of thermal expansion of the plenum to that of the solid electrolyte. A preferred ceramic is formed from a mixture of MgO and Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 having a MgO/Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 molar ratio of from 1:1 and 7:1.

Abstract: A serially arranged construction of individual fuel cells implements large-scale systems for generating power. The fuel cells are packed with high density but in an exchangeable manner. Only the fuel gas is fed to the block of fuel cells by special conduits and connecting elements whereas the oxidation gas (e.g. air) is fed by an outside pressure difference between the front and rear sides of the fuel cell blocks. A large number of blocks can be mounted on a carrier plate in which fuel gas ducts are integrated to form a reinforcement and to directly feed the fuel gas into the blocks via pipe pieces mounted from the outside.

Abstract: A power connection element for planar fuel cells, comprising a cell-side ceramic plate, a joining layer made of electrically conductive glass which is viscous under operating conditions, and a metallic current collector plate. All three joined elements exhibit a mutually compatible thermal expansion behavior.