Patent ID: 7232582

Claim:
A fuel cell comprising: an electrolyte electrode assembly including an anode, a cathode, and an electrolyte interposed between said anode and said cathode; and a pair of separators, said electrolyte electrode assembly being interposed between said separators, wherein at least one of said separators includes at least a first metal plate and a second metal plate; said first metal plate has a flat part and a plurality of first protrusions protruding toward said electrolyte electrode assembly to form a first reactant gas flow passage between said first metal plate and said electrolyte electrode assembly, said first protrusions are spaced from each other by the flat part of said first metal plate, wherein said first protrusions protrude from the flat part of said first metal plate; said second metal plate has a plurality of second protrusions in alignment with said first protrusions, said second protrusions protruding oppositely to said first protrusions to form a second reactant gas flow passage between said second metal plate and another electrolyte electrode assembly of another fuel cell; and said second metal plate has a flat part and a plurality of third protrusions that are spaced from said second protrusions by the flat part of said second metal plate, said third protrusions being in direct contact with the flat part of said first metal plate and protruding oppositely to said second protrusions, wherein said second and third protrusions protrude from the flat part of said second metal plate; and said flat part of said first metal plate and said flat part of said second metal plate are spaced from said electrolyte electrode assembly, and function as a spring mechanism with said third protrusions interposed therebetween.