Patent ID: 7132186

Claim:
A fuel cell having a solid polymer membrane as an electrolytic membrane to be moisturized, comprising: a cell frame; a combination of an anode and a cathode provided in the cell frame; an electrolytic membrane disposed between the anode and the cathode; an air supply path supplying air to the cathode; a fuel supply path supplying a fuel to the anode, the fuel supply path extending through the cell frame and having a fuel supplying opening in a first wall of the cell frame contacting the anode; a first moisture supply path supplying a liquid moisture movable through the anode to the electrolytic membrane, the first moisture supply path extending through the cell frame and having a first set of moisture supplying outlets in the first wall at different locations from the fuel supplying opening and a moisture introducing path for the liquid moisture to be introduced thereinto; a coolant circulation path for a coolant to be circulated through the cell frame, the coolant circulation path being separated from the first moisture supply path; a thermosensitive member configured to deform in dependence on a temperature of the coolant outflowing from the coolant circulation path; and a valve member operative by deformation of the thermosensitive member to regulate a flow rate of the liquid moisture in the moisture introducing path such that the flow rate of the liquid moisture is increased as the temperature of the coolant outflowing from the coolant circulation path increases.