The present invention includes a fuel cell system having a plurality of adjacent electrochemical cells formed of an anode layer, a cathode layer spaced apart from the anode layer, and an electrolyte layer disposed between the anode layer and the cathode layer. The fuel cell system also includes at least one interconnect, the interconnect being structured to conduct free electrons between adjacent electrochemical cells. Each interconnect includes a primary conductor embedded within the electrolyte layer and structured to conduct the free electrons.

The present invention includes a fuel cell system having a plurality of adjacent electrochemical cells formed of an anode layer, a cathode layer spaced apart from the anode layer, and an electrolyte layer disposed between the anode layer and the cathode layer. The fuel cell system also includes at least one interconnect, the interconnect being structured to conduct free electrons between adjacent electrochemical cells. Each interconnect includes a primary conductor embedded within the electrolyte layer and structured to conduct the free electrons.

To provide SOFC and method for manufacturing same, capable of preventing breakage of fuel cell electrodes, and of securing an electrical connection between fuel cells and a current collector. SOFC 1 comprising a cell array composed of fuel cells 16, and current collector 82 connected to electrodes formed on fuel cells 16, wherein current collector 82 is a metal plate on which attaching holes 84 are formed; elastic pieces 84a are provided on each attaching hole 84; current collector 82 is attached to the cell array using elastic pieces 84a, by the insertion of fuel cell 16 into attaching holes 84; and elastic pieces 84a are affixed to fuel cells 16 by electrode protective layer 152 so that the positions of elastic pieces 84a are not displaced relative to the electrodes on fuel cells 16.

To provide SOFC and method for manufacturing same, capable of preventing breakage of fuel cell electrodes, and of securing an electrical connection between fuel cells and a current collector. SOFC 1 comprising a cell array composed of fuel cells 16, and current collector 82 connected to electrodes formed on fuel cells 16, wherein current collector 82 is a metal plate on which attaching holes 84 are formed; elastic pieces 84a are provided on each attaching hole 84; current collector 82 is attached to the cell array using elastic pieces 84a, by the insertion of fuel cell 16 into attaching holes 84; and elastic pieces 84a are affixed to fuel cells 16 by electrode protective layer 152 so that the positions of elastic pieces 84a are not displaced relative to the electrodes on fuel cells 16.

The invention relates to a bipolar plate (10) for a fuel cell (100), comprisingan internal coolant flow field (33), which comprises a coolant channel (43), anda first and a second flat side (11, 12) with a first and second reactant flow field (31, 32) respectively, which has at least one first and second channel structure (41, 42) respectively, whereinthe first and the second channel structure (41, 42) each form a trunk channel (44) and branch channels (46), wherein the branch channels (46) branch off in a branching region (48) from the respective trunk channel (44), and a first intermediate region (51) is formed between the branch channels (46) of the first channel structure (31), and a second intermediate region (52) is formed between the branch channels (46) of the second channel structure (32), wherein normal projections of the first and second intermediate region (51, 52) onto a center plane (56) of the bipolar plate (10), which center plane is arranged between the two flat sides (11, 12) of the bipolar plate (10), partially overlap so that an overlapping region (53) is formed. It is provided that the coolant channel (43) extends from an outer region (54), which is located outside the first and second intermediate region (51, 52), into the overlapping region (53), crossing a transit region (55) in the process, wherein the transit region (55) is a subregion of the normal projection of the first intermediate region (51) onto the center plane, which projects from the overlapping region (53).

The invention relates to a bipolar plate (10) for a fuel cell (100), comprisingan internal coolant flow field (33), which comprises a coolant channel (43), anda first and a second flat side (11, 12) with a first and second reactant flow field (31, 32) respectively, which has at least one first and second channel structure (41, 42) respectively, whereinthe first and the second channel structure (41, 42) each form a trunk channel (44) and branch channels (46), wherein the branch channels (46) branch off in a branching region (48) from the respective trunk channel (44), and a first intermediate region (51) is formed between the branch channels (46) of the first channel structure (31), and a second intermediate region (52) is formed between the branch channels (46) of the second channel structure (32), wherein normal projections of the first and second intermediate region (51, 52) onto a center plane (56) of the bipolar plate (10), which center plane is arranged between the two flat sides (11, 12) of the bipolar plate (10), partially overlap so that an overlapping region (53) is formed. It is provided that the coolant channel (43) extends from an outer region (54), which is located outside the first and second intermediate region (51, 52), into the overlapping region (53), crossing a transit region (55) in the process, wherein the transit region (55) is a subregion of the normal projection of the first intermediate region (51) onto the center plane, which projects from the overlapping region (53).

A porous body for a fuel cell is interposed between a membrane-electrode assembly (MEA) and a bipolar plate to form a gas channel through which a reactant gas flows in a predetermined direction, the porous body including: a main body disposed to contact the bipolar plate; and a plurality of ribs each including a land portion disposed to contact the MEA and a connecting portion connecting the land portion to the main body, in which an area of the land portion is gradually narrowed from an upstream part to a downstream part of the gas channel.

A porous body for a fuel cell is interposed between a membrane-electrode assembly (MEA) and a bipolar plate to form a gas channel through which a reactant gas flows in a predetermined direction, the porous body including: a main body disposed to contact the bipolar plate; and a plurality of ribs each including a land portion disposed to contact the MEA and a connecting portion connecting the land portion to the main body, in which an area of the land portion is gradually narrowed from an upstream part to a downstream part of the gas channel.

A process for preparing a component, which may constitute an interconnector for a fuel cell (SOFC) or a high-temperature electrolyser (HTE), may include: (a) preparing a substrate made of metal alloy, the base element of which is iron (Fe) or nickel (Ni), the substrate having two main flat faces; (b) tape casting a thick ceramic layer; (c) localized removal at one or more locations, of material of the tape-cast thick ceramic layer; (d) hot pressing the green thick ceramic layer tape; and (e) grooving the thick ceramic layer so as to delimit channels that are suitable for distributing and/or collecting gases. A component may be obtained from such a process.

Composite members, a fuel cell and manufacturing method, where the composite members are mounted on a base and comprise a first insulator and a second insulator layered on either side of an interconnector, exposed in a chamfered portion on opposite corners. Between a pair of the composite members is formed an electrolyte film. An anode is formed so as to cover the anode surface of the electrolyte film and an anode-side protrusion. The anode formed at the top of anode-side protrusion is stripped, forming a flat exposed surface on the top of the anode-side protrusion. A cathode is formed so as to cover the cathode surface of the electrolyte film and a cathode-side protrusion. The cathode formed on the top of the cathode-side protrusion is stripped using a spatula, a blade, etc., forming a flat exposed surface on the top of the cathode-side protrusion.