Solid-electrolyte fuel cell system

Abstract

A solid-electrolyte fuel cell system comprising a plurality of solid-electrolyte fuel cells, a plurality of oxygen gas passage devices, and a plurality of fuel gas passage devices. Each cell includes an electrolyte layer, an oxygen electrode applied to one surface of the electrolyte layer, and a fuel electrode applied to the other surface of the electrolyte layer. Each oxygen gas passage device defines oxygen-containing gas passages opposed to the oxygen electrode, and has a conductive portion. Each fuel gas passage device defines fuel passages opposed to the fuel electrode, and have a conductive portion. Adjacent cells are laminated in a conductive state through the oxygen gas and fuel gas passage devices. Certain of the fuel gas passage devices include a pair of spacers provided to maintain an adjacent gas passage device spaced apart from one of the cells, the spacers being spaced from each other to define the fuel passages, and a flexible conductive member filled between the spacers for allowing passage of a gas. The flexible conductive member has a water-cooling jacket mounted therein to be out of contact with the adjacent gas passage device and cell.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.