Abstract: A solid electrolyte fuel cell comprising a cathode layer 12 formed on one side of a solid electrolyte layer 10 and an anode layer 18 formed on the other side of the solid electrolyte layer 10, wherein the cathode layer 16 comprises a first cathode layer 12 formed in contact with the solid electrolyte layer and a second cathode layer 14 formed covering the first cathode layer 12, the second cathode layer 14 is formed having a higher porosity than the first cathode layer 12 and the first cathode layer 12 is divided into a plurality of island-shaped portions 12a, 12a . . . .

Abstract: A fuel cell comprised of a solid electrolyte layer sandwiched by a cathode layer and an anode layer to which a mixed gas of a fuel gas and air mixed together is supplied, wherein the fuel cell is formed into a spiral member comprised of a single cell layer comprised of the cathode layer, solid electrolyte layer, and anode layer stacked together or a multilayer member of a plurality of the single cell layers stacked together rolled up spirally, the cathode layer and anode layer forming facing surfaces of each upper stratum and lower stratum of the single cell layer or multilayer member adjoining each other in a diametrical direction of the spiral member are arranged through an electrical insulator, and the cathode layer and anode layer or the electrical insulator are or is formed with a gas passage enabling passage of the mixed gas, whereby it is possible to prevent an increase in size of the cell even if increasing the contact area of the anode layer and cathode layer with the air or fuel gas.

Abstract: The electric power generation apparatus of the invention has a solid oxide fuel cell C3 comprising a cathode electrode layer 2 formed on the outer side of a hollow solid electrolyte substrate 1, an anode electrode layer 3 formed on the inner side of the substrate and an inner space defined by the anode electrode layer and a gas burner 4 for generating flame f provided at the lower end of the inner space. A metallic mesh 5 is disposed at the lower part of the inner space to retain a solid fuel F introduced. The solid fuel F is put into gas phase by flame F as a heat source to produce a fuel seed. The fuel seed is supplied directly into the anode electrode layer surrounding the inner space.

Abstract: A solid electrolyte fuel cell including a cathode layer formed on one surface of a solid electrolyte layer and an anode layer formed on the other surface of the solid electrolyte layer, wherein the cathode layer is a multi-layer structure including at least two layers, the outermost layer constituting the multi-layer structure is a porous layer obtained by adding a pore-forming material which is gasified at the firing temperature for the formation of the cathode layer during the formation of the cathode layer by firing and has a mesh metal or wire metal for current collection embedded therein or fixed thereto and the innermost layer disposed in contact with the solid electrolyte layer is a dense layer obtained by firing free of pore-forming material during the formation of the cathode layer by firing.

Abstract: A fuel cell generates electric power when the solid oxide type fuel cell element is arranged in a flame or in a position close to the flame, and the durability of the fuel cell is high. A fuel cell 10 for generating electricity when the solid oxide type fuel cell, in which a cathode layer is formed on one face of a solid electrolyte layer and an anode layer is formed on the other face of the solid electrolyte layer, is arranged in a flame or in a position close to the flame, wherein the solid electrolyte layer is made of porous material, the porosity of which is not less than 10%, so that cracks are not caused in the solid electrolyte layer by a sudden temperature change in the solid oxide type fuel cell when the solid oxide type fuel cell is arranged in the flame or in a position close to the flame or when the solid oxide type fuel cell is separated from the flame or the position close to the flame.

Abstract: The solid oxide fuel cell electric power generation apparatus comprises a fuel cell pair having solid oxide fuel cells C1 and C2 each comprising a flat solid electrolyte substrate 1 having a cathode electrode layer 2 and an anode electrode layer 3 formed thereon with a solid fuel F provided interposed between the anode electrode layer of the solid oxide fuel cell C1 and the anode electrode layer of the solid oxide fuel cell C2 and a heat supplying device for heating the fuel cell pair. When the fuel cell pair is heated, the solid fuel is directly put into gas phase as a fuel seed that is then supplied into the anode electrode layer to cause the solid oxide fuel cell to generate electricity.

Abstract: The solid oxide fuel cell includes a solid electrolyte substrate 11 formed by a fired electrolyte powder, a cathode electrode layer 12 formed on one side of the electrolyte substrate and an anode electrode layer 13 formed on the other side of the electrolyte substrate. Metallic meshes M1, M2 are provided on the cathode electrode layer side and the anode electrode layer side of the electrolyte substrate, respectively. A metallic mesh is plane-pressed onto the both sides of an electrolyte sheet having a predetermined shape prepared from an electrolyte green sheet. A cathode electrode paste layer is formed on one side of the electrolyte sheet while an anode electrode paste layer is formed on the other side of the electrolyte sheet. The electrolyte sheet, the cathode electrode paste layer and the anode electrode paste layer are then integrally fired. When the firing is terminated, a solid oxide fuel cell is completed.

Abstract: A solid oxide fuel cell C2 has a laminate including a solid electrolyte substrate, a cathode electrode layer 2 formed on one side of the substrate and an anode electrode layer formed on the other side of the substrate. A metallic mesh M is formed all over the solid electrolyte substrate on one or both of the cathode electrode side and the anode electrode side. The laminate includes a plurality of small fuel cell divisions C2n which are electrically connected to each other with the metallic mesh. The laminate having an electrolyte sheet of green sheet, a cathode electrode paste layer, an anode electrode paste layer and a metallic mesh laminated on each other is sintered to undergo cracking, thereby forming a plurality of small fuel cell portions.

Abstract: A solid electrolyte gas sensor of the invention includes a sensor main body S3 having a solid electrolyte board 10, a gas detecting electrode layer (auxiliary electrode layer) 12 formed on one face of the board, and a reference electrode 14 formed on a face thereof on a side opposed to the one face, and a supporting member provided at the sensor main body, and a first and a second conductive member rod 15-1, 15-2 connected to the respective electrodes are adopted as the supporting members. Or, in place of the conductive member rod, as the supporting member rod, an insulating tube for inserting a lead wire, or a rod-like member formed integrally with the sensor main body and extended in one direction can be adopted.

Abstract: In a direct-flame-exposure-type fuel-cell power generating apparatus according to the present invention, a flame produced by burning a mixture gas of a fuel gas and air is supplied to an anode electrode layer, and the supply condition of the flame is adjusted in a mixture gas generating device. The temperature rising or falling speed of a solid oxide fuel cell can be adjusted by adjusting the mixture ratio and thereby changing the condition of the flame when starting or stopping the operation of the fuel cell power generation. The flame supply condition can also be adjusted by changing the spacing between the solid oxide fuel cell and a gas-fired burner.

Abstract: A solid oxide fuel cell includes: a solid electrolyte; and electrodes on both surfaces of the solid electrolyte, wherein at least one of joint surfaces where the solid electrolyte and the electrodes are in contact with each other is a roughened surface having at least two different types of surface roughness.

Abstract: A single chamber fuel cell comprised of a cell arranged in a mixed fuel gas comprised of hydrogen or another fuel gas and oxygen, wherein the cell used is a pn junction type semiconductor having electrodes of a p-type semiconductor with carriers of holes and an n-type semiconductor with carriers of electrons connected to ends of electrical takeout wires, and each of the p-type semiconductor and n-type semiconductor is formed porous to an extent enabling the mixed fuel gas to pass.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a power generating apparatus that generates electric power using a solid oxide fuel cell by directly exposing the fuel cell to a premixed gas combustion flame formed in an infrared gas space heater. The solid oxide fuel cell is built into an infrared radiator in such a manner as to face a burner of the gas space heater, and is supported at a prescribed angle of tilt. An anode electrode layer, which is directly exposed to the flame produced by the burner, is kept in a fuel-rich condition, while a cathode electrode layer is exposed to the atmosphere and thus kept in an air-rich condition.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a power generating apparatus that generates electric power, using a solid oxide fuel cell, by directly exposing the fuel cell to a premixed gas combustion flame formed in a gas-fired kichen range. The solid oxide fuel cell is supported by lead wires fixed to a mounting base so that the fuel cell faces a burner located in the center of the gas-fired stove. An anode electrode layer is directly exposed to the flame produced by the burner, and is thus kept in a fuel-rich condition, while a cathode electrode layer is kept in an air-rich condition. An output of the fuel cell is taken out through the lead wires.

Abstract: A solid oxide fuel cell that directly utilizes a flame according to the present invention has a solid oxide substrate, a cathode electrode layer formed on one surface, and an anode electrode layer 3 formed on the opposite surface and a platinum mesh is embedded in the entire surfaces of the solid cathode electrode layer and the anode electrode layer. An oxide layer covers the entire periphery of the solid oxide substrate from the end part of the cathode electrode layer to the end part of the anode electrode layer. Due to the platinum mesh and the oxide layer, thermal shock due to rapid heating by a flame is alleviated and cracking in the solid oxide substrate is prevented from occurring.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a power generating apparatus using a solid oxide fuel cell. A plurality of solid oxide fuel cells, each comprising a solid oxide substrate, a porous cathode electrode layer, and a porous anode electrode layer, are stacked vertically and housed inside a walled structure. A mixture gas is supplied to each solid oxide fuel cell from above. An exhaust gas discharged from each fuel cell is burned in a space below each fuel cell, producing a flame. Each fuel cell is heated by this flame.

Abstract: A solid oxide fuel cell C including a solid oxide fuel cell having a planar solid oxide substrate, a cathode electrode layer formed on one surface of the substrate, and an anode electrode layer formed on a surface opposite the one surface, is disposed so that the anode electrode layer opposes a catalytically-oxidizing member 13 of a heating appliance. Fuel supplied from a fuel storage container 10 is subjected to flameless combustion in the catalytically-oxidizing member by catalytic oxidation. The heat is conducted to the fuel cell C from the catalytically-oxidizing member, thereby maintaining the fuel cell at its operating temperature. Simultaneously, produced oxidation fuel components of the fuel are supplied to the anode electrode layer; and air is supplied to the cathode electrode layer. Hence, the fuel cell generates electric power.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a fuel cell power generating system wherein solid oxide fuel cells are installed in the fuel supply system and exhaust gas system of a fuel cell apparatus, thereby increasing the electric power that can be extracted. In this power generating system, a first solid oxide fuel cell is incorporated in an exhaust gas treating apparatus disposed in the exhaust gas system of the fuel cell apparatus, and a second solid oxide fuel cell is incorporated in a combustion device in a fuel reforming apparatus disposed in the fuel supply system. An anode side exhaust gas discharged from the fuel cell apparatus is supplied as a power generation fuel to the first fuel cell. The anode side exhaust gas is also supplied to the combustion device for combustion, and the flame produced by the combustion is applied to the anode electrode layer and thus contributes to generating power.

Abstract: A fuel cell comprising a container and a fuel cell element or elements contained in the container, to which a mixed fuel gas containing a fuel gas and oxygen is fed to generate electricity, and the gas having passed through the fuel cell element or elements is discharged, as an exhaust gas, from the container, wherein the space other than the fuel cell element or elements in the container, through which the mixed fuel gas or the exhaust gas flows, is filled with packing materials to form a packed layer having a gap between the adjacent packing materials, at which gap the mixed fuel gas cannot be ignited, during the operation of the fuel cell, even if the mixed fuel gas has a fuel gas concentration within the ignition limits for the mixed fuel gas, and a burn-up section, in which the exhaust gas discharged from the packed layer is burned, is provided at, or in the vicinity of, the exhaust gas outlet of the container.

Abstract: A solid oxide fuel cell comprising a fuel cell unit which comprises an anode layer made of an electrically conducting mesh and an anode-forming material carried by this mesh, a cathode layer made of an electrically conducting mesh and a cathode-forming material carried by this mesh, and a solid electrolytic layer in the form of a thin film arranged between and supported by the anode layer and the cathode layer.