Patent ID: 8178255

Claim:
A fuel cell comprising a pair of electrodes disposed on both sides of an electrolyte membrane to form a membrane electrode assembly, and generating electric power by supplying fuel fluid to one of the pair of electrodes while supplying oxidation fluid to the other electrode, wherein at least one of the fuel fluid and the oxidation fluid is gas, the fuel cell comprises a gas supply device transferring the gas along a flow path defined on a surface of the membrane electrode assembly and a drive circuit driving the gas supply device, the gas supply device comprises a vibrating plate and a reflection wall on both sides of the flow path, and the drive circuit comprises a control circuit performing a normal operation control generating a gas flow from an inlet to an outlet of the flow path due to sound pressure gradient generated in the flow path by vibrating the vibrating plate and a foreign material elimination operation control eliminating a foreign material elimination operation control eliminating a foreign material on a surface of the vibrating plate or in the flow path by changing a vibration mode of the vibrating plate, wherein a foreign material elimination feature eliminating a foreign material is provided on a surface of at least any of the vibrating plate, the membrane electrode assembly, and a member holding the membrane electrode assembly on the flow path side, and wherein the foreign material elimination feature is a drainage mechanism eliminating liquid as foreign material, and disposed at or adjacent to a position of an antinode of vibration generated on the vibrating plate in operation of the foreign material elimination operation control.