Patent ID: 8415068
Filing Date: 2013-04-09
Classification: H01M,Y02E

Abstract:
1. A fuel cell comprising: an electrolyte electrode assembly including a pair of electrodes and an electrolyte interposed between said electrodes; separators for sandwiching said electrolyte electrode assembly, wherein the separator is in an upright position and a width of the separator is greater than a height of the separator, wherein a reactant gas supply passage, a reactant gas discharge passage, a coolant supply passage, and a coolant discharge passage extend through said fuel cell in a stacking direction of said fuel cell; a coolant flow field is formed along a surface of said separator and extends along a portion of said surface that corresponds to a power generation surface of said electrolyte electrode assembly, wherein said coolant flow field connects said coolant supply passage to said coolant discharge passage; said coolant supply passage is provided at a middle position of one vertical end of said separator, and said coolant discharge passage is provided at a middle position of the other vertical end of said separator; and an air-releasing passage connected to said coolant flow field for releasing air from said coolant flow field is formed at an upper position of the other vertical end of said separator such that at least part of said air-releasing passage is positioned above a top of said coolant flow field, wherein said coolant flow field is in fluid communication with said coolant supply passage, said coolant discharge passage and said air-releasing passage on a single surface of said separator, wherein said separator includes first and second metal plates which are stacked together, and said coolant flow field is formed between said first and second metal plates, wherein said coolant flow field is in contact with said first and second metal plates, wherein said air-releasing passage is positioned above said coolant discharge passage at the other vertical end of the separator, wherein the air-releasing passage is aligned with the coolant discharge passage on the same side of the separator as the coolant discharge passage is positioned.