A microwatt fuel cell stack that demonstrates a wide range temperature tolerance, low reactant cross-over and leakage, low internal leakage current, and/or effective water transport is disclosed. Both H.sub.2 and O.sub.2 may be supplied directly to the fuel cell stack (i.e., dead-ended). One-piece gas diffusion electrodes (GDEs) may serve as both the active electrode and manifold port. Water removal may be accomplished by permeation through the membrane to “fins” exposed by notches in the bipolar plates and gaskets.

The present invention relates to an improved metal supported solid oxide fuel cell unit, fuel cell stacks, fuel cell stack assemblies, and methods of manufacture.

The present invention relates to an improved metal supported solid oxide fuel cell unit, fuel cell stacks, fuel cell stack assemblies, and methods of manufacture.

This fuel cell is provided with a first electrolyte membrane electrode structure and a second electrolyte membrane electrode structure, respective cathode electrodes of which face each other with an oxidant gas supply layer being interposed therebetween. The oxidant gas supply layer has: a first projection part which presses an interconnect part of an electrolyte membrane that constitutes the first electrolyte membrane electrode structure; and a second projection part which presses an interconnect part of an electrolyte membrane that constitutes the second electrolyte membrane electrode structure.

This fuel cell is provided with a first electrolyte membrane electrode structure and a second electrolyte membrane electrode structure, respective cathode electrodes of which face each other with an oxidant gas supply layer being interposed therebetween. The oxidant gas supply layer has: a first projection part which presses an interconnect part of an electrolyte membrane that constitutes the first electrolyte membrane electrode structure; and a second projection part which presses an interconnect part of an electrolyte membrane that constitutes the second electrolyte membrane electrode structure.

An auxiliary power system for an airplane includes at least one fuel cell unit each with at least one fuel cell, a voltage output, a fuel intake and an outlet for reaction products, a fuel tank that is couplable with the fuel intake of the fuel cell unit, at least one compressor unit with an air intake and air outlet and an electric motor, which is couplable with a voltage output of the at least one fuel cell unit and, by way of a shaft, with the at least one compressor unit. At least the at least one fuel cell unit, the compressor unit and the electric motor are interconnected to yield a coherent unit, which continuously provides electrical power and pressurized air.

An elementary module including an oxidation unit for generating electrons by oxidizing a fuel with an oxidant, an anode and cathode sandwiching an electrolytic membrane, an anode block including a fuel transporter support for transporting an anode feed flow containing the fuel to an anode chamber and an anode electron collector attached to the fuel transporter support, a cathode block including an oxidant transporter support for transporting a cathode feed flow containing the oxidant to a cathode chamber and a cathode electron collector attached to the oxidant transporter support, the elementary module defining the anode chamber, respectively, the cathode chamber, between the oxidation unit and the fuel transporter support, respectively, the oxidant transporter support, the anode electron collector, respectively, the cathode electron collector and the oxidation unit being attached by bonding and electrically connected by means of an anode conductive bridge, respectively, a cathode conductive bridge, containing an electrically conductive adhesive.

An elementary module including an oxidation unit for generating electrons by oxidizing a fuel with an oxidant, an anode and cathode sandwiching an electrolytic membrane, an anode block including a fuel transporter support for transporting an anode feed flow containing the fuel to an anode chamber and an anode electron collector attached to the fuel transporter support, a cathode block including an oxidant transporter support for transporting a cathode feed flow containing the oxidant to a cathode chamber and a cathode electron collector attached to the oxidant transporter support, the elementary module defining the anode chamber, respectively, the cathode chamber, between the oxidation unit and the fuel transporter support, respectively, the oxidant transporter support, the anode electron collector, respectively, the cathode electron collector and the oxidation unit being attached by bonding and electrically connected by means of an anode conductive bridge, respectively, a cathode conductive bridge, containing an electrically conductive adhesive.

A fuel cell including a plurality of elementary modules stacked on each other, at least one of the elementary modules including an oxidation unit generating electrons by oxidation of a fuel with an oxidant, an anode block including a fuel transporter support, for transporting an anode feed flow containing the fuel to an anode chamber, onto which is attached an anode electron collector, a cathode block including an oxidant transporter support, for transporting a cathode feed flow containing the oxidant to a cathode chamber, onto which is attached a cathode electron collector, the elementary module defining the anode chamber, respectively, the cathode chamber between the oxidation unit and the fuel transporter support, respectively, the oxidant transporter support, and being such that, prior to the assembly of the elementary module in said plurality, the anode block, respectively, the cathode block and the oxidation unit are attached to each other.

A fuel cell stack and inspection method, the fuel cell stack including fuel cells disposed in a stack and interconnects disposed between the fuel cells. Each fuel cell includes an electrolyte, an anode disposed on a first side of the electrolyte, a cathode disposed on an opposing second side of an electrolyte, and a witness mark disposed on the first side of the electrolyte. Each interconnect includes first ribs disposed on air side of the interconnect and at least partially defining oxidant channels, and second ribs disposed on an opposing fuel side of the interconnect and at least partially defining fuel channels. The witness mark of each fuel cell is visible from outside of the stack when the cathode directly faces the air side of an adjacent interconnect.