The fuel cell battery (1) has an integrated heat exchanger (4)
which is arranged between a heat insulating jacket (12) and a stack (10)
of high temperature fuel cells (2). There is a chamber (3), preferably
at least two chambers for afterburning, between a periphery (14) of the
cell stack and the heat exchanger. The heat exchanger is provided for a heat transfer
from an exhaust gas (7) to a gaseous oxygen carrier (5). There are
arranged on the stack periphery (14), outside or inside the chamber or chambers
respectively, inlet points (25a) for the oxygen carrier, on the one
hand, and outlet points (25b, 26b) for non-converted
educts, namely a fuel gas (6) and the oxygen carrier, on the other hand.
The heat exchanger (4) includes a passage system (4) through which
the exhaust gas (7) and the oxygen carrier (5) flow largely in transverse
planes disposed perpendicular to the axis of the cell stack (10) in one
operating state of the battery. The exhaust gas can be led off through axially
directed collecting passages (47") which are arranged in a peripheral region
of the heat exchange. Parts of the heat exchanger, which are disposed between the
peripheral region and the cell stack, form a shield for screening the cell stack
from the collecting passages with respect to a thermal influence.