PURPOSE: To improve the characteristic or a high temperature solid electrolyte fuel cell (SOFC).
CONSTITUTION: A power source (S1) different from an SOFC (S2) is used to feed the current, which flows in the direction reverse to the direction at the time of generating power, to the SOFC (S2). Consequently, a flow of the oxygen ion moving from a Ni-YSZ fuel electrode to an air electrode through a YSZ electrolyte film is generated to deoxidize Ni oxide of Ni-YSZ, and the ohmic resistance and the polarization resistance of the SOFC is reduced. Characteristic of the SOFC can be improved under the condition that the SOFC is set in a system. Characteristic of the SOFC deteriorated by the long term operation can be restored to prolong the lifetime thereof.
MURATA KAZUTOSHI
SHIMOZU MASATERU
