SOFC stack with temperature adapted compression force means

A fuel cell stack including a stack body formed by stacking a plurality of solid oxide fuel cells in a stacking direction, the solid oxide fuel cells each formed by stacking an electrolyte electrode assembly between separators, the electrolyte electrode assembly including an anode, a cathode, and an electrolyte interposed between the anode and the cathode,

• the separator comprising:
• a sandwiching section sandwiching the electrolyte electrode assembly, a fuel gas channel for supplying a fuel gas along an electrode surface of the anode, and an oxygen-containing gas channel for supplying an oxygen-containing gas along an electrode surface of the cathode being formed separately in the sandwiching section;
• a reactant gas supply section, at least a fuel gas supply passage for supplying the fuel gas to the fuel gas channel or an oxygen-containing gas supply passage for supplying the oxygen-containing gas to the oxygen-containing gas channel extending through the reactant gas supply section in the stacking direction;
• the fuel cell stack comprising:
• a base member provided at a first end of the stack body in the stacking direction;
• a mounting member provided at a second end of the stack body in the stacking direction for applying a load to the stack body in the stacking direction;
• an end plate provided between the second end of the stack body and the mounting member, with the mounting member provided at an outer position with respect to the end plate;
• a fuel cell support member positioned between the mounting member and the end plate, the fuel cell support member being made of composite material of alumina fiber and vermiculite,
• wherein the fuel cell support member includes a first support section for applying a load to the sandwiching section in the stacking direction at a position corresponding to the electrolyte electrode assembly, and a second support section for applying a load to the reactant gas supply section in the stacking direction, and
• wherein the density of the composite material of the first support section is smaller than the density of the composite material of the second support section.