Patent ID: 7201991

Claim:
An oxide fuel cell comprising: a fuel electrode layer and an oxidant electrode layer on opposite surfaces of a solid electrolyte layer, respectively; a fuel electrode current collector and an oxidant electrode current collector positioned outside said fuel electrode layer and said oxidant electrode layer, respectively; and a first separator and a second separator positioned outside said fuel electrode current collector and said oxidant electrode current collector, respectively, wherein said first separator includes a first thin metal plate laminated on a second thin metal plate, (i) with said first thin metal plate having a first gas discharge opening for discharging introduced fuel gas from a first internal part of said first separator, and also having second gas discharge openings positioned outwardly of said first gas discharge opening for discharging the introduced fuel gas from a second internal part of said first separator, for thereby allowing the introduced fuel gas, when discharged from said first gas discharge opening and from said second gas discharge openings, to flow through said fuel electrode current collector so as to reach said fuel electrode layer, and (ii) with said second thin metal plate having an indented surface such that channels, defined by said indented surface, face said first thin metal plate and are in fluid communication with said first gas discharge opening and said second gas discharge openings so as to guide the introduced fuel gas to said first gas discharge opening and said second gas discharge openings, and wherein said second separator includes a first thin metal plate laminated on a second thin metal plate, (i) with said first thin metal plate having a first gas discharge opening for discharging introduced oxidant gas from a first internal part of said second separator, and also having second gas discharge openings positioned outwardly of said first gas discharge opening for discharging the introduced oxidant gas from a second internal part of said second separator, for thereby allowing the introduced oxidant gas, when discharged from said first gas discharge opening and from said second gas discharge openings, to flow through said oxidant electrode current collector so as to reach said oxidant electrode layer, and (ii) with said second thin metal plate having an indented surface such that channels, defined by said indented surface, face said first thin metal plate and are in fluid communication with said first gas discharge opening and said second gas discharge openings so as to guide the introduced oxidant gas to said first gas discharge opening and said second gas discharge openings.