초록 ▼

Arrangements of stacks of fuel cells and ducts, for fuel cells operating with separate fuel, oxidant and coolant streams. An even number of stacks are arranged generally end-to-end in a loop. Ducts located at the juncture of consecutive stacks of the loop feed oxidant or fuel to or from the two cons

Arrangements of stacks of fuel cells and ducts, for fuel cells operating with separate fuel, oxidant and coolant streams. An even number of stacks are arranged generally end-to-end in a loop. Ducts located at the juncture of consecutive stacks of the loop feed oxidant or fuel to or from the two consecutive stacks, each individual duct communicating with two stacks. A coolant fluid flows from outside the loop, into and through cooling channels of the stack, and is discharged into an enclosure duct formed within the loop by the stacks and seals at the junctures at the stacks.

대표청구항 ▼

An arrangement of fuel cell stacks, each said stack shaped in cross-section as a polygon having pairs of oppositely-disposed peripheral faces and including means for flowing a fuel therethrough from fuel inlets on a peripheral face to fuel outlets on an oppositely disposed peripheral face, means for

An arrangement of fuel cell stacks, each said stack shaped in cross-section as a polygon having pairs of oppositely-disposed peripheral faces and including means for flowing a fuel therethrough from fuel inlets on a peripheral face to fuel outlets on an oppositely disposed peripheral face, means for flowing an oxidant therethrough from oxidant inlets on a peripheral face to oxidant outlets on an oppositely-disposed peripheral face, and means for flowing a coolant therethrough from coolant inlets on a peripheral face which is a different peripheral face than said fuel and oxidant peripheral faces to coolant outlets on a peripheral face which is a different peripheral face than said fuel and oxidant peripheral faces; an even number, and at least four of said stacks being arranged in a loop such that said coolant inlet peripheral faces face outwardly of said loop and said coolant outlet peripheral faces face inwardly of said loop; means for sealing among consecutive stacks of said loop such that the interior of said loop forms an enclosure duct; means disposed at alternate junctures of said stacks for inletting fuel and outletting oxidant from two consecutive stacks of said loop; means disposed at other alternate junctures of said stacks for inletting oxidant and outletting fuel from two consecutive stacks; and means for flowing a coolant to said coolant inlets, through said stacks, and into said enclosure duct.