Fuel cell, power supply method using fuel cell, function card, fuel supply mechanism for fuel cell, and generator and production thereof

Abstract

A fuel cell having a structure capable of certainly supplying a gas by making effective use of a limited space while ensuring the portability of the fuel cell is provided. The fuel cell includes two generators, a fuel supply portion, and two planar current collectors. Each of the generators has a proton conductor film, and a planar hydrogen side electrode and a planar oxygen side electrode disposed with the proton conductor film held therebetween. The fuel supply portion is adapted to supply a fuel to the hydrogen side electrodes of the generators. The planar current collectors, which are disposed in close-contact with the oxygen side electrodes of the generators, have gas transmission portions such as opening portions allowing the oxygen side electrodes to be opened to atmosphere. Since the oxygen side electrodes are opened to atmosphere, oxygen can be supplied to the generators without lowering a partial pressure of oxygen in air.

1 . A fuel cell comprising: 
 an approximately flat-plate shaped housing having an opening portion formed in part of said housing;    an approximately flat-plate shaped generator disposed in said housing, said generator including an electrolyte film interposed between a fuel side electrode and an oxygen side electrode;    an air flow inducing member for inducing the flow of air around said air flow inducing member, said air flow inducing member being disposed inside said housing; and    a controller for controlling the flow amount of air induced by said air flow inducing member.    
     
     
         2 . A fuel cell according to  claim 1 , wherein said control member includes an electronic part mounted on an approximately flat-plate shaped wiring board.  
     
     
         3 . A fuel cell comprising: 
 an approximately flat-plate shaped housing having an opening portion formed in part of said housing;    an approximately flat-plate shaped generator disposed in said housing, said generator including a fuel side electrode, an oxygen side electrode having an air inlet portion formed in part of said oxygen side electrode, and an electrolyte film interposed therebetween;    air flow inducing means for inducing the flow of air around said air flow inducing means, said air flow inducing means being disposed inside said housing at a position facing to said opening portion; and    an air passage for guiding air, directed inside said housing by said air flow inducing means, along a plane of said oxygen side electrode of said approximately flat-plate shaped generator;    wherein a portion of said air passage is communicated to said air inlet of said oxygen side electrode and the remaining part of said air passage extends over a region, excluding said air inlet, of said oxygen side electrode.    
     
     
         4 . A fuel cell according to  claim 3 , wherein the portion of said air passage, which is communicated to said air inlet of said oxygen side electrode, is composed of grooves for removing moisture generated on said oxygen side electrode, and a remaining portion of said air passage, which extends over a region, excluding said air inlet, of said oxygen side electrode, is composed of grooves for adjusting the temperature of said generator.  
     
     
         5 . A fuel cell according to  claim 4 , wherein said grooves for removal of moisture and said grooves for temperature adjustment alternatively are disposed along the surface of said oxygen side electrode in such a manner as to be substantially parallel to each other.  
     
     
         6 . A fuel cell according to  claim 5 , wherein said grooves for removal of moisture and said grooves for temperature adjustment are provided by forming projections and depressions formed inside said housing.  
     
     
         7 . A fuel cell according to  claim 3 , further comprising a controller for controlling the flow amount of air induced by said air flow inducing member, said controller being disposed adjacent to said air passage.  
     
     
         8 . A power supply method using a fuel cell including an approximately flat-plate shaped housing, a generator disposed in said housing and including an electrolyte film interposed between a fuel side electrode and an oxygen side electrode, air flow inducing member provided inside said housing, and an air passage for guiding the flow of air induced by said air flow inducing member, said method comprising the steps of: 
 supplying a fuel fluid to said generator;    leading air inside said housing through an opening portion formed in part of said housing by said air flow inducing member; and    guiding the air along a plane of said oxygen side electrode of said generator by using said air passage.    
     
     
         9 . A power supply method using a fuel cell according to  claim 8 , wherein said air flow inducing member is a rotator.  
     
     
         10 . A power supply method using a fuel cell according to  claim 9 , wherein a rotational axis of said rotator extends in a same direction as that of a plane of said approximately flat-plate shaped generator.  
     
     
         11 . A power supply method using a fuel cell according to  claim 9 , wherein a principal plane of said generator has an approximately rectangular shape, and said rotator is disposed along an approximately linear end portion of said approximately rectangular generator.  
     
     
         12 . A power supply method using a fuel cell according to  claim 8 , wherein said air passage is a groove portion formed inside said housing in such a manner as to extend along a plane of said oxygen side electrode.  
     
     
         13 . A power supply method using a fuel cell according to  claim 12 , wherein said groove portion includes a plurality of grooves extending in parallel to each other.