Fuel cell assembly and method for operating a fuel cell assembly

A fuel cell assembly comprising:

• at least one fuel cell device having at least one solid electrolyte-based fuel cell and at least two terminal contacts for tapping off an electrical voltage produced by said at least one fuel cell device, said at least one fuel cell being disposed between said at least two terminal contacts;
• at least one subassembly having at least one electrically conductive component and at least one other component, said at least one other component being disposed between a first of said terminal contacts and said at least one electrically conductive component on a side of said first terminal contact facing away from said at least one fuel cell, and said at least one other component having a lower electrical conductivity than said first terminal contact and said at least one electrically conductive component;
• and
• at least one supply duct for conveying a fluid medium and connecting said first terminal contact to said at least one electrically conductive component through said at least one other component;
• said at least one electrically conductive component being connected to at least one of said first terminal contact or at least one voltage supply for matching an electrical potential at said at least one electrically conductive component to an electrical potential present at said first terminal contact, with a maximum potential difference of 3 volts being present between said at least one electrically conductive component and said first terminal contact.

A method for operating a fuel cell assembly, the method comprising the following steps:

• providing the fuel cell assembly with at least one fuel cell device having at least one solid electrolyte-based fuel cell and at least two terminal contacts for tapping off an electrical voltage produced by the fuel cell device, the at least one fuel cell being disposed between the at least two terminal contacts;
• providing at least one subassembly having at least one electrically conductive component and at least one other component, the at least one other component being disposed between a first of the terminal contacts and the at least one electrically conductive component on a side of the first terminal contact facing away from the at least one fuel cell and the at least one other component having a lower electrical conductivity than the first terminal contact and the at least one electrically conductive component;
• conveying a fluid medium with at least one supply duct connecting the first terminal contact to the at least one electrically conductive component through the at least one other component;
• and
• connecting the at least one electrically conductive component to at least one of the first terminal contact or at least one voltage supply for matching an electrical potential at the at least one electrically conductive component to an electrical potential present at the first terminal contact by setting a maximum potential difference of 3 volts between the at least one electrically conductive component and the first terminal contact.