Fuji Electric Co., Ltd.

Hiroyuki Shundo

Kazuo Koseki

Tsuneo Nakanishi

Shinichi Maruyama

A planar solid electrolyte fuel cell includes a plurality of separators and electric insulators superposed one on another alternately in respective manifold parts of the separators. Each of the separators has a manifold part in the center thereof which are provided with two gas introduction holes and a reaction part provided with guide vanes surrounding the manifold part and for flowing reaction gases. Unit cells on porous substrates are each in the form of an annular plate with a single central hole. The separators sandwich the unit cells in the respective reaction parts thereof. Gas seal parts are provided around gas introduction holes, and gas seal parts are provided between the reaction parts of the separators and inner peripheral parts of the unit cells.

Solid electrolyte fuel cell

In a solid electrolyte fuel cell, reactant gases are directed by the reactant gas distributing means to flow radially between its central and peripheral portions and this obviates the need to provide an overall gas seal between the individual components of the fuel cell. A gas seal, if necessary at all, may be provided in selected areas. This permits the individual members of the fuel cell to freely slide with respect to one another during thermal expansion or contraction. The radial flow of reactant gas streams effectively reduces the travel path, and hence the concentration gradient, of the reactant gases. This contributes to the accomplishment of a solid electrolyte fuel cell having improved reliability and characteristics. As a further advantage, the discharged reactant gases may be burnt in a combustion chamber and a solid electrolyte fuel cell having a higher thermal efficiency can be realized by making use of the resulting heat of combustion.

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Kanagawa, Japan

Hiroyuki Shundo