# US 8,273,493 B2 · Solid electrolyte fuel cell stack > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,273,493 B2 - Document ID: US8273493B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/279,884 - Filed: 2007-06-22 - Published: 2010-05-13 - Granted: 2012-09-25 - Earliest claimed: 2006-06-23 - Assignees: Ngk Spark Plug Co., Ltd. - Inventors: Hideki Uematsu; Masahiro Shibata; Hiroshi Sumi; Hiroya Ishikawa - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8273493B2 ## CPC - H01M 8/04089: of gaseous reactants - H01M 8/0273: with sealing or supporting means in the form of a frame - H01M 8/04014: Heat exchange using gaseous fluids; Heat exchange by combustion of reactants - H01M 8/04201: {Reactant storage and supply, e.g. means for feeding, pipes} - H01M 8/1246: the electrolyte consisting of oxides - H01M 8/242: comprising framed electrodes or intermediary frame-like gaskets (H01M8/2425, H01M8/244 take precedence) - H01M 8/2432: Grouping of unit cells of planar configuration - H01M 8/2457: with both reactants being gaseous or vaporised - H01M 8/248: Means for compression of the fuel cell stacks - H01M 8/2483: characterised by internal manifolds - H01M 2008/1293: {Fuel cells with solid oxide electrolytes} - Y02E 60/50: Fuel cells - Y02P 70/50: Manufacturing or production processes characterised by the final manufactured product - H01M: PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY - Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION - Y02P: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS ## Abstract A solid state electrolyte fuel cell stack includes: layered solid state electrolyte fuel cells, each formed by a solid state electrolyte body having a fuel pole in contact with a fuel gas and an air pole in contact with an oxidant gas; and inter-connectors arranged between the solid state electrolyte fuel cells so as to separate a gas flow path between the solid state electrolyte fuel cells and assure electric conduction between the solid state electrolyte fuel cells. The solid state electrolyte fuel cell stack has two or more air vents for supplying a fuel gas or two or more air vents for supplying the oxidant gas which vents penetrate a part or the whole of the fuel cell stack in the stack layering direction. The different air vents communicate with the different solid state electrolyte fuel cells. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A solid electrolyte fuel cell stack comprising: solid electrolyte fuel cells stack-layered therein, each of the solid electrolyte fuel cells including a cell body and a frame portion that encloses the cell body in a planar direction of the cell body, the cell body comprising a solid electrolyte having a fuel electrode, which contacts with fuel gas, and an air electrode, which contacts with oxidant gas; and interconnectors disposed between the respective solid electrolyte fuel cells to separate a gas flow between the solid electrolyte fuel cells and secure electric conduction between the solid electrolyte fuel cells, wherein vents for supplying the fuel gas are provided in the frame portions of the solid electrolyte fuel cells in such a manner that the vents for supplying the fuel gas penetrate a part or a whole of the solid electrolyte fuel cell stack in a stack-layering direction of the stack, wherein different vents for supplying the fuel gas communicate with the different solid electrolyte fuel cells, through holes forming respective different vents for supplying the fuel gas; wherein bolts are inserted through the through holes to press each of the solid electrolyte fuel cells which are stacked, in a stack-layering direction, so that the solid electrolyte fuel cells can be restrained in one body, and at least two of the vents for supplying the fuel gas pass through more than one of the interconnectors in the stack-layering direction but do not communicate with each cell body. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The solid electrolyte fuel cell stack according to claim 1, further comprising vents for supplying the oxidant gas, the vents for supplying the oxidant gas are provided in the frame portions of the solid electrolyte fuel cells, wherein the different vents that supply oxidant gas communicate with the different cell bodies. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The solid electrolyte fuel cell stack according to claim 1 wherein a state of each gas is independently controllable per a different vent. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The solid electrolyte fuel cell stack according to claim 3, further comprising vents for supplying the oxidant gas, wherein a state of the oxidant gas is independently controllable per the different vents that supply the oxidant gas. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The solid electrolyte fuel cell stack according to claim 1 wherein two or more vents for supplying the oxidant gas are provided to control temperature of each cell. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The solid electrolyte fuel cell stack according to claim 1 wherein two or more vents for supplying the fuel gas are provided to control electricity generating volume of each cell. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The solid electrolyte fuel cell stack according to claim 1 wherein a state of the gas supplied to the solid electrolyte fuel cell disposed at an end in the stack-layering direction of the solid electrolyte fuel cell stack is controlled. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The solid electrolyte fuel cell stack according to claim 1 wherein a state of the solid electrolyte fuel cell disposed at an end in the stack-layering direction of the solid electrolyte fuel cell stack is feedback controlled to a prescribed state. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The solid electrolyte fuel cell stack according to claim 1 wherein the bolts are hollow bolts and are disposed and penetrate the solid electrolyte fuel cell stack in the stack-layering direction, and internal holes of the hollow bolts are used as the vents of gas. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The solid electrolyte fuel cell stack according to claim 1, wherein each of the at least two of the vents for supplying the fuel gas passes through all of the interconnectors in the stack-layering direction, and each of the at least two of the vents for supplying the fuel gas does not communicate with each cell body. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The solid electrolyte fuel cell stack according to claim 1, wherein the at least two of the vents for supplying the fuel gas pass through all of the interconnectors in the stack-layering direction, and each of the at least two of the vents for supplying the fuel gas communicates with a single cell body. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The solid electrolyte fuel cell stack according to claim 1, further comprising at least two vents for supplying the oxidant gas that pass through more than one of the interconnectors in the stack-layering direction but do not communicate with each cell body, and the at least two vents for supplying the oxidant gas are provided in the frame portions of the solid electrolyte fuel cells. ### Claim 13 A solid electrolyte fuel cell stack comprising: solid electrolyte fuel cells stack-layered therein, each of the solid electrolyte fuel cells including a cell body and a frame portion that encloses the cell body in a planar direction of the cell body, the cell body comprising a solid electrolyte having a fuel electrode, which contacts with fuel gas, and an air electrode, which contacts with oxidant gas; and interconnectors disposed between the respective solid electrolyte fuel cells to separate a gas flow between the solid electrolyte fuel cells and secure electric conduction between the solid electrolyte fuel cells, wherein vents for supplying the oxidant gas are provided in the frame portions of the solid electrolyte fuel cells in such a manner that the vents for supplying the oxidant gas penetrate a part or a whole of the solid electrolyte fuel cell stack in a stack-layering direction of the stack, wherein different vents for supplying the oxidant gas communicate with the different solid electrolyte fuel cells, through holes forming respective different vents for supplying the oxidant gas; wherein bolts are inserted through the through holes to press each of the solid electrolyte fuel cells which are stacked, in a stack-layering direction, so that the solid electrolyte fuel cells can be restrained in one body, and at least two of the vents for supplying the oxidant gas pass through more than one of the interconnectors in the stack-layering direction but do not communicate with each cell body.