Fuel cell stack and fuel cell system

Abstract

A fuel cell stack formed by stacking two or more fuel cell layers each constituted of one or more unit cell and a fuel cell system including the same are provided. Any two fuel cell layers adjacent to each other each have one or more gap region. At least a part of the gap region in one fuel cell layer of any two fuel cell layers adjacent to each other is in contact with a unit cell constituting the other fuel cell layer. The gap region in one fuel cell layer and the gap region in the other fuel cell layer communicate with each other. The fuel cell stack is excellent in fuel or oxidizing agent supply performance and it realizes high power density.

1 - 30 . (canceled) 
     
     
         31 . A fuel cell stack, comprising:
 two or more stacked fuel cell layers each constituted of one or more unit cell and having a gap region in the layer; and   a current collection unit,   said unit cell including an anode catalyst layer, an electrolyte membrane, a cathode catalyst layer, and a fuel supply unit for supplying a fuel to said anode catalyst layer, and   each said unit cell can be supplied with an oxidizing agent gas in a plurality of directions from outside of the fuel cell stack.   
     
     
         32 . The fuel cell stack according to  claim 31 , comprising two or more stacked fuel cell layers in which two or more unit cells are arranged such that the gap region is provided between adjacent unit cells. 
     
     
         33 . The fuel cell stack according to  claim 32 , wherein
 said unit cell is in a shape of an elongated strip.   
     
     
         34 . A fuel cell system, comprising:
 the fuel cell stack according to  claim 31 ; and   an auxiliary equipment for promoting flow of the oxidizing agent gas into the fuel cell stack.