Patent ID: 7648793

Claim:
A fuel cell system comprising first and second fuel cell stacks having the same structure, wherein each of said first and second fuel cell stacks is formed by stacking a plurality of unit cells in a horizontal direction, wherein the first and second fuel cell stacks are juxtaposed along the stacking direction; each of said unit cells includes an electrolyte electrode assembly and separators sandwiching said electrolyte electrode assembly, and said electrolyte electrode assembly comprises a pair of electrodes and an electrolyte interposed between said electrodes; three of six fluid passages comprising a fuel gas supply passage, an oxygen-containing gas supply passage, a coolant supply passage, a fuel gas discharge passage, an oxygen-containing gas discharge passage, and a coolant discharge passage extend aligned in a vertical direction through a left end of each of said first and second fuel cell stacks, and the other three of the six fluid passages extend aligned in a vertical direction through a right end of each of said first and second fuel cell stacks; and an assembly manifold is connected to first and second end plates provided adjacent to each other at one end of said first and second fuel cell stacks, said assembly manifold comprising: a plurality of pipes for supplying the fuel gas, the oxygen-containing gas, and the coolant to said first and second fuel cell stacks and discharging the fuel gas, the oxygen-containing gas, and the coolant from said first and second fuel cell stacks; and a connection block provided at a central position of said assembly manifold, said connection block having all of a supply port and a discharge port of the fuel gas, and a supply port and a discharge port of the oxygen-containing gas, wherein said supply port and said discharge port of the fuel gas are provided on one surface of said connection block, and said supply port and said discharge port of the oxygen-containing gas are provided on the opposite surface of said connection block, and pipes connected to either said supply port and said discharge port of the fuel gas or said supply port and said discharge port of the oxygen-containing gas on the connection block, said pipes extending between the first and second fuel cell stacks.