Patent 7662497 was granted and assigned to BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT on February, 2010 by the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
Solid oxide fuel cells with a metal bearing structure, having passage orifices for a gas and intended for a cathode-electrolyte-anode unit. A bipolar plate is provided on the other side of the bearing structure, or the like. The bearing structure is made of a metal, which forms a protective oxide layer, which is electrically insulating, and operates as an electric resistance heating element for adjusting the fuel cell temperature. An electric current may be guided through the bearing structure between its protective oxide layers.