Patent ID: 7169496

Claim:
A fuel cell comprising: a plurality of electrolyte electrode assemblies each including an anode, a cathode, and an electrolyte interposed between said anode and said cathode; and a plurality of resinous passage members and metal portions combined together such that said metal portions cover said resinous passage members, wherein a coolant flow field electrically insulated from said electrolyte electrode assemblies is defined by said resinous passage member; a coolant is supplied to said coolant flow field for cooling said electrolyte electrode assemblies; each of said metal portions comprises a contact portion contacting one of said electrolyte electrode assemblies and an outer portion remote from said contact portion; electric energy generated in said electrolyte electrode assemblies is serially collected at said contact portion; and an outer portion of one of said metal portions electrically contacts an outer portion of another of said metal portions, said another metal portion is adjacent to said one metal portion on a side opposite to a contact surface of said contact portion of said one metal portion, for serially transmitting said electric energy.