초록 ▼

A fuel cell stack (6) includes at least first and second cells (40) and a separator assembly (42). Each cell includes an anode (44), a cathode (46) and electrolyte (48) between them. The separator assembly includes a fluid separator (58) having a fuel side, an oxidant side, an anode spacer element (

A fuel cell stack (6) includes at least first and second cells (40) and a separator assembly (42). Each cell includes an anode (44), a cathode (46) and electrolyte (48) between them. The separator assembly includes a fluid separator (58) having a fuel side, an oxidant side, an anode spacer element (68) between the fuel side and the anode of the first cell and a cathode spacer element (80) between the oxidant side and the cathode of the second cell. The separator assembly further includes a cathode exhaust passageway(86), having an exhaust inlet (84) at the central region (82) of the cathode spacer element, and an anode feed passageway (64), including a continuous loop anode feed tube, located spaced apart from the cell peripheral edge, with radially inwardly and outwardly directed fuel outlets (76, 78). An air deflector (62) helps prevent radially inwardly moving air from contacting the anode while permitting the air access to the peripheral edge (102) of the cathode spacer element. An anode recycle passageway (106) has a recycle inlet (108) fluidly coupled to spent fuel, including residual fuel and cell reaction product water, at the center of the anode, and a recycle outlet (110), within the anode feed passageway, so that the cell reaction product water can be used as a steam source for internal reforming.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [1.]1. A fuel cell stack comprising:at least first and second cells and a separator assembly;said cells each comprising:an anode;a cathode;an electrolyte between the anode and the cathode; anda cell peripheral edge;said separator assembly comprising:a fluid separator having a

[ What is claimed is:] [1.]1. A fuel cell stack comprising:at least first and second cells and a separator assembly;said cells each comprising:an anode;a cathode;an electrolyte between the anode and the cathode; anda cell peripheral edge;said separator assembly comprising:a fluid separator having a fuel side and an oxidant side and a separator peripheral edge;an anode spacer element, having an anode spacer peripheral edge, between the fuel side and the anode of the first cell;a cathode spacer element, having a cathode spacer peripheral edge, between the oxidant side and the cathode of the second cell;a cathode exhaust passageway having an exhaust inlet between the oxidant side and the cathode of the second cell; andan anode feed passageway having a fuel outlet between the fuel side and the anode of the first cell spaced-apart from the anode spacer peripheral edge so that spent fuel, including residual fuel, can move outwardly and pass through the anode spacer peripheral edge; anda gas deflector spaced-apart from and overlying the anode spacer peripheral edge to help prevent generally radially inwardly-moving oxygen-containing gas from contacting the anode while permitting the generally radially-inwardly moving oxygen-containing gas access to the cathode spacer peripheral edge.