Patent ID: 7807305

Claim:
A fuel cell system comprising: a first electrode-electrolyte assembly having a first catalytic electrode coupled to one side of said first electrode-electrolyte assembly, and a second catalytic electrode coupled to a generally opposite side of said first electrode-electrolyte assembly; a first conduit in fluid communication with said first catalytic electrode for delivering fuel to said first catalytic electrode at ambient temperature; a second electrode-electrolyte assembly having a third catalytic electrode coupled to one side of said second electrode-electrolyte assembly, and a fourth catalytic electrode coupled to a generally opposite side of said second electrode-electrolyte assembly; an electrically conductive mesh having a plurality of apertures extending therethrough, said mesh being positioned between and in sealing engagement with said second catalytic electrode and said third catalytic electrode, such that portions of said second and third catalytic electrodes engage each other in said apertures; a second conduit in fluid communication with said fourth catalytic electrode for delivering oxidant thereto; means for providing an electrical potential across said first catalytic electrode, said first electrode-electrolyte assembly and said second catalytic electrode; and an electrical load circuit for using an energy output generated across said third catalytic electrode, said second electrode-electrolyte assembly and said fourth catalytic electrode.