Patent ID: 7875401

Claim:
A fuel cell system comprising: a fuel cell stack including a plurality of fuel cells stacked together in a stacking direction and end plates provided at opposite ends of said fuel cells in the stacking direction, said fuel cells each including an electrolyte electrode assembly and separators sandwiching said electrolyte electrode assembly, said electrolyte electrode assembly including an anode, a cathode, and an electrolyte interposed between said anode and said cathode; a heat exchanger for heating an oxygen-containing gas to be supplied to said fuel cell stack; a reformer for reforming a fuel to produce a fuel gas; a casing containing said fuel cell stack, said heat exchanger, and said reformer, wherein a chamber unit is formed at one of said end plates, and the oxygen-containing gas heated by said heat exchanger temporarily fills said chamber unit; and said heat exchanger and said reformer are directly connected to said chamber unit.