Patent ID: 7422814

Claim:
A fuel cell unit comprising: a plurality of fuel cells, said fuel cells each comprising a plurality of power generation units arranged on a same plane, and electrically connected in series, said power generation units each including an anode, a cathode, and an electrolyte interposed between said anode and said cathode, wherein the plurality of power generation units are formed from a row of a plurality of anodes disposed adjacent to a row of a plurality of cathodes; a plurality of intermaterial sections provided around each anode and each cathode; a power generation circuit for connecting said fuel cells to a load; a switching mechanism for selectively connecting said fuel cells in parallel to said power generation circuit; first and second metal diffusion layers provided on both surfaces of said power generation units, wherein sections of the first metal diffusion layer corresponding to said intermaterial sections provided around each anode and each cathode: electrically couple a first anode to a first cathode, wherein the first anode is adjacent to the first cathode; and electrically insulate a second anode from a second cathode, wherein the second anode is adjacent to the second cathode; wherein sections of the second metal diffusion layer corresponding to said intermaterial sections provided around each anode and each cathode: electrically insulate a third anode from a third cathode; and electrically couple a fourth anode to a fourth cathode; and wherein: a first of the power generation units comprises the first anode and the third cathode; a second of the power generation units comprises the first cathode and the third anode; a third of the power generation units comprises the second anode and the fourth cathode; a fourth of the power generation units comprises the second cathode and the fourth anode.