Patent ID: 7829210

Claim:
A fuel cell system comprising: a fuel cell module comprising at least one fuel cell, wherein the fuel cell has one anode, one cathode, and an electrolyte separation membrane separating the anode and the cathode; at least one cathode gas supply unit in contact with the cathode comprising at least one gas input port for receiving cathode gas and at least one gas exit for exhausting the cathode gas; at least one gas delivery unit to guide the cathode gas to the gas input port of the cathode gas supply unit; and at least one anode fuel supply unit in direct contact with the anode and having a fuel, wherein the anode fuel supply unit receives the cathode gas exhausted from the gas exit of the cathode gas supply unit and comprises at least one fuel input port for receiving a resupplied fuel, wherein the anode fuel supply unit does not comprise a pump; further comprising a porous device built in the anode fuel supply unit and in contact with the cathode gas supply unit via the gas exit so as to increase the contact surface areas of the cathode gas and the fuel; and wherein surface of the anode is covered with a barrier layer allowing fuel but preventing air to contact the anode directly.