Patent ID: 7632594

Claim:
A solid oxide fuel cell comprising: a plurality of electric power-generating elements, each including a solid oxide electrolyte and a porous electrode section on the solid oxide electrolyte; a plurality of first current collector layers for the electrode sections, respectively; a plurality of separators; wherein the plurality of electric power-generating elements, the plurality of first current collector layers and the plurality of separators are stacked in a stack direction such that each of the plurality of separators is disposed between and electrically interconnects an adjacent two of the plurality of electric power-generating elements, and each of the plurality of first current collector layers is operatively disposed between one of the plurality of separators and the electrode section of an adjacent one of the plurality of electric power-generating elements, each of the plurality of first current collector layers having a first surface and a second surface that is opposite to the first surface; a plurality of gas supply flow channels, each defined between one of the plurality of separators and the first surface of an associated one of the plurality of first current collector layers; a plurality of gas supply branch flow passages branched off from one of the plurality of gas supply flow channels, the plurality of gas supply branch flow passages beginning at the first surface and terminating at a plurality of blowout ports, respectively, wherein the plurality of blowout ports are formed within the second surface of the associated one of the plurality of first current collector layers which is disposed adjacent the electrode section of an associated one of the plurality of electric power-generating elements; and a plurality of gas exhaust flow channels formed inwardly from the second surface of the associated one of the plurality of first current collector layers, wherein the plurality of gas exhaust flow channels are configured to receive consumed gas that is pushed by a fresh supply of gas out of the blowout ports and to dissipate the consumed gas over an entire area of the second surface of the associated one of the plurality of first current collector layers.