Fuel cell with shutoff device

Abstract

A fuel cell with a shutoff device is provided. The substance shutoff device is for shutting down the communication of at least one of an inflammable substance and an oxidizer when the inflammable substance and the oxidizer are brought into contact with each other to thereby prevent further contact between the inflammable substance and the oxidizer. The substance shutoff device comprises a catalyst portion provided in contact with one of an inflammable substance flow path and an oxidizer flow path; and a shutoff means, which operates by heating through a reaction between the inflammable substance and the oxidizer in the catalyst portion to shut down the communication of at least one of the inflammable substance and the oxidizer.

1 . A fuel cell comprising:
 a cell portion comprising a fuel electrode for being supplied with a fuel, an oxidizer electrode for being supplied with an oxidizer, and an ionic conductor provided between the fuel electrode and the oxidizer electrode;   a fuel flow path;   an oxidizer flow path;   a detection means, which generates heat by contact between the oxidizer and the fuel; and   a shutoff means provided in at least one of the fuel flow path and the oxidizer flow path and thermally coupled to the detection means, for shutting down communication of at least one of the fuel and the oxidizer based on the heat generation of the detection means.   
   
   
       2 . The fuel cell according to  claim 1 , wherein the detection means is provided in the fuel flow path. 
   
   
       3 . The fuel cell according to  claim 1 , wherein the detection means is provided outside of the fuel flow path. 
   
   
       4 . The fuel cell according to  claim 1 , wherein the shutoff means operates when an operation temperature of the fuel cell exceeds a normal operation temperature. 
   
   
       5 . The fuel cell according to  claim 1 , wherein the detection means comprises a catalyst portion in which the oxidizer and the fuel react with each other to generate heat. 
   
   
       6 . The fuel cell according to  claim 5 , wherein at least one of the fuel electrode and the oxidizer electrode comprises a catalyst layer, and the catalyst portion comprises the catalyst layer. 
   
   
       7 . The fuel cell according to  claim 5 , wherein at least one of the fuel electrode and the oxidizer electrode has a catalyst layer, and the catalyst portion is provided separately from the catalyst layer. 
   
   
       8 . The fuel cell according to  claim 1 , wherein one of the fuel electrode and the oxidizer electrode has a diffusion layer, and wherein the shutoff means comprises a material which softens, becomes a viscous fluid, or foams by heat and is provided in the diffusion layer. 
   
   
       9 . The fuel cell according to  claim 8 , wherein the shutoff means comprises a porous member. 
   
   
       10 . The fuel cell according to  claim 1 , wherein one of the fuel electrode and the oxidizer electrode has a catalyst layer, and wherein the shutoff means comprises a material which softens, becomes a viscous fluid, or foams by heat and is provided in the catalyst layer. 
   
   
       11 . The fuel cell according to  claim 10 , wherein the shutoff means comprises a material having electronic conductivity. 
   
   
       12 . The fuel cell according to  claim 11 , wherein the shutoff means has a fuel cell catalyst provided on a surface thereof. 
   
   
       13 . The fuel cell according to  claim 10 , wherein the shutoff means comprises a material having ionic conductivity. 
   
   
       14 . The fuel cell according to  claim 1 , wherein the shutoff means comprises a material which softens, becomes a viscous fluid, or foams by heat. 
   
   
       15 . The fuel cell according to  claim 14 , wherein the shutoff means comprises a member comprising a first material which softens, becomes a viscous fluid, or foams by heat, and wherein a surface of the member is covered with a second material having a composition different from a composition of the first material.