초록 ▼

A fuel cell assembly (2) includes a vessel (4) containing a gas-permeable, porous housing (16). A fuel cell stack (14), including cells (42) and interconnect plates (44), is contained within the porous housing. Each interconnect plate has oxidant and fuel sides (64, 60) adjacent to the cathode (58)

A fuel cell assembly (2) includes a vessel (4) containing a gas-permeable, porous housing (16). A fuel cell stack (14), including cells (42) and interconnect plates (44), is contained within the porous housing. Each interconnect plate has oxidant and fuel sides (64, 60) adjacent to the cathode (58) and anode (62) of adjacent cells. Fuel (68) is supplied to the fuel side at positions (78) midway between the center (82) and the periphery (80) of the fuel side. Reaction products (90) are withdrawn from the center of the fuel side. Flue gas (100) is withdrawn from the center (98) of the oxidant side. Air is preheated as it passes through the porous housing to the fuel cell stack. The preheated air combusts residual fuel (110) flowing radially outwardly from the periphery of the stack to further heat the air to the stack operating temperature to eliminate any external preheating of the air. Corrugations (66, 67) on the interconnect plates act as flow deflectors and form the electrical contact surfaces for adjacent cells. The fuel cell stack is preferably oriented horizontally and is allowed to thermally expand and contract in a substantially free manner, to minimize damage to the cells, until the fuel cell stack is close to an operating temperature.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A method for operating a fuel cell assembly comprising the following steps:providing a fuel cell stack, comprising a plurality of cells alternating with a plurality of interconnect plates within a housing, said interconnect plates comprising fuel and oxidant sides, said f

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A method for operating a fuel cell assembly comprising the following steps:providing a fuel cell stack, comprising a plurality of cells alternating with a plurality of interconnect plates within a housing, said interconnect plates comprising fuel and oxidant sides, said fuel cell stack comprising a periphery, said housing comprising a gas-permeable, porous wall surrounding said periphery of said stack to define a region therebetween;raising the temperature of said stack to a start temperature;supplying a fuel to the fuel sides of the interconnect plates;passing an oxygen-containing gas through said gas-permeable, porous wall to said region;removing reaction products from the fuel side; andremoving flue gas from the oxidant side.