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 Reaction products (90) are withdrawn from the center of the fuel side. Flue gas (100) is withdrawn from the center (98) of the oxidant side.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.]1. A fuel cell interconnect plate assembly comprising:a planar body having an outer periphery, a fuel side and an oxidant side;said fuel side comprising a central region and flow deflectors;a fuel supply conduit comprising a fuel entrance at the fuel side spaced apart from

[ What is claimed is:] [1.]1. A fuel cell interconnect plate assembly comprising:a planar body having an outer periphery, a fuel side and an oxidant side;said fuel side comprising a central region and flow deflectors;a fuel supply conduit comprising a fuel entrance at the fuel side spaced apart from and positioned between the central region and the periphery;whereby the flow deflectors cause a flow of fuel from the fuel entrance to flow in other than pure radial direction.