Patent ID: 8039169
Filing Date: 2011-10-18
Classification: H01M,Y02E

Abstract:
1. A fuel cell formed by stacking an electrolyte electrode assembly and a separator, wherein said electrolyte electrode assembly includes an anode, a cathode, and an electrolyte interposed between said anode and said cathode, said fuel cell comprising: a fuel gas channel for supplying a fuel gas along a surface of said anode and being formed on one surface of said separator; an oxygen-containing gas channel for supplying an oxygen-containing gas along a surface of said cathode and being formed on the other surface of said separator; a fuel gas supply channel provided on the one surface or on the other surface of said separator, said fuel gas supply channel being connected to a fuel gas supply unit, serving as a passage for the fuel gas before consumption and extending in a stacking direction, and further being connected to a fuel gas inlet for supplying the fuel gas into said fuel gas channel; an oxygen-containing gas supply unit, serving as a passage for the oxygen-containing gas before consumption and extending in the stacking direction, for supplying the oxygen-containing gas to said oxygen-containing gas channel, wherein said fuel gas channel has an end point at a position corresponding to an outer circumferential portion of said electrolyte electrode assembly, and the end point of said fuel gas channel is connected to a fuel gas discharge channel for emitting the fuel gas consumed within said electrolyte electrode assembly to said oxygen-containing gas supply unit, from a position that is spaced outwardly from an outer circumference of said electrolyte electrode assembly, and wherein said fuel gas discharge channel is formed on one of the surfaces of the separator and is directly coupled to said oxygen-containing gas supply unit and said fuel gas channel for communicating directly thereto said fuel gas consumed within said electrolyte electrode assembly and exiting said fuel gas channel.