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A solid oxide fuel assembly is made, wherein rows (14, 25) of fuel cells (17, 19, 21, 27, 29, 31), each having an outer interconnection (20) and an outer electrode (32), are disposed next to each other with corrugated, electrically conducting expanded metal mesh member (22) between each row of cells

A solid oxide fuel assembly is made, wherein rows (14, 25) of fuel cells (17, 19, 21, 27, 29, 31), each having an outer interconnection (20) and an outer electrode (32), are disposed next to each other with corrugated, electrically conducting expanded metal mesh member (22) between each row of cells, the corrugated mesh (22) having top crown portions and bottom portions, where the top crown portion (40) have a top bonded open cell nickel foam (51) which contacts outer interconnections (20) of the fuel cells, said mesh and nickel foam electrically connecting each row of fuel cells, and where there are no more metal felt connections between any fuel cells.

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What is claimed is: 1. A solid oxide fuel cell assembly comprising rows of fuel cells, each having an outer interconnection and an outer electrode, disposed next to each other with corrugated electrically conducting metal mesh between each row of cells, the corrugated mesh having a top crown portio

What is claimed is: 1. A solid oxide fuel cell assembly comprising rows of fuel cells, each having an outer interconnection and an outer electrode, disposed next to each other with corrugated electrically conducting metal mesh between each row of cells, the corrugated mesh having a top crown portion and a bottom shoulder portion, where a flexible open cell nickel foam is disposed between and contacts both the crown portion and the outer interconnections of the fuel cells in a first row, and where the shoulder portion of the mesh directly contacts the outer electrodes of the fuel cells in a second row, said nickel foam and mesh electrically connecting each row of fuel cells, said mesh having a single corrugation with a top portion between cells in a row and where there are no metal felt connections between any fuel cells. 2. A plurality of solid oxide fuel cell assemblies comprising a fuel cell bundle, each bundle comprising: (1) a first row of spaced apart, axially elongated tubular fuel cells, each containing an outer electrode and an outer interconnection; (2) a second row of space apart, axially elongated tubular fuel cells, each containing an outer electrode and an outer interconnection, the second row being spaced apart from the first row, where all the outer interconnections of the first row fuel cells face all the outer electrodes of the second row fuel cells; and (3) an electrically conducting connector support for the fuel cells, extending between and contacting the first row and the second row of fuel cells, where the connector support consists of an expanded mesh more than about 60% porous and having a thickness between 0.012 cm and 0. 076 cm, said connector support having a corrugated structure with a series of top crowns connected to bottom shoulder sections, where the shoulder sections conform to the shape of their contacting tubular fuel cells, where each shoulder section is connected to its adjacent shoulder section, where a flexible open cell nickel foam is disposed between and contacts both of the top crowns and the interconnections of the first row fuel cells, and all of the support shoulder sections directly contact the outer electrodes of the second row fuel cells, said mesh having a single corrugation with a top portion between fuel cells in a row and where there are no metal felt connections between any fuel cells. 3. The solid oxide fuel assemblies of claim 2, wherein the connector support is made of nickel. 4. The solid oxide fuel assemblies of claim 2, wherein the connector support is from 65% to 85% porous. 5. The solid oxide fuel assemblies of claim 2, wherein the connector support is from 0.012 cm to 0.076 cm thick. 6. The solid oxide fuel assemblies of claim 2, wherein the nickel foam has a reticulated structure and from about 75 pores to 105 pores per lineal inch. 7. The solid oxide fuel assemblies of claim 2, wherein the connector support has a spring-like effect providing low force transmission property to the fuel cells. 8. The solid oxide fuel assemblies of claim 2, wherein the connector support and attached nickel foam will not shrink or slump during prolonged operation at temperatures of up to 1200° C. 9. The fuel cell assemblies of claim 2, where each assembly comprises a fuel cell bundle including a bottom and top bundle, where, in the connection between each bundle, each bundle connector support contacts an adjacent bundle connector support, the single corrugation in the adjacent mesh bundle connection as well as the top corrugated portions opposite each other form a void volume which is filled with flexible open cell nickel foam, where the foam in the void volume improves electrical connection from bundle to bundle. 10. The solid oxide fuel assembly of claim 9, wherein the connector support is made of nickel. 11. The solid oxide fuel assembly of claim 9, wherein the connector support is from 65% to 85% porous. 12. The solid oxide fuel assembly of claim 9, wherein the connector support is from 0.012 cm to 0.076 cm thick. 13. The solid oxide fuel assembly of claim 9, wherein the nickel foam has a reticulated structure and from about 75 pores to 105 pores per lineal inch. 14. The solid oxide fuel assembly of claim 9, wherein the connector support has a spring-like effect providing shock resistance to the fuel cells. 15. The solid oxide fuel assembly of claim 9, wherein the connector support and attached nickel foam will not shrink or slump during prolonged operation at temperatures of up to 1200° C. 16. A method of manufacturing a solid oxide fuel cell assembly, comprising the steps of: (1) providing a first and second row of spaced apart, axially elongated tubular fuel cells, the second row being spaced apart from the first row, each fuel cell containing an outer electrode and an outer interconnection, where all the outer interconnections of the first row fuel cells face all the outer electrodes of the second row fuel cells; (2) providing a flat sheet of expanded nickel mesh having a porosity over about 60% and a thickness between 0.012 cm and 0.076 cm; (3) forming the flat, expanded nickel mesh sheet into a corrugated structure with a series of top crowns connected to the bottom shoulder sections where the mesh between shoulder sections has a single corrugation with a top portion to provide a flexible connector support, and where at least the shoulder sections will conform to the shape of the tubular fuel cells of the first and second rows of fuel cells; (4) adding an organic adhesive mixed with nickel powder to cover the crowns and shoulder portions of the corrugated nickel mesh connector support; (5) disposing a strip of flexible open cell nickel foam on top of the adhesive covering the crown of the connector support; (6) adding an organic adhesive mixed with nickel powder to the flexible open cell nickel foam strip; (7) disposing the corrugated connector support with its top nickel foam with adhesive on both the top of the foam and both shoulders between the first and second rows of fuel cells, such that all of the nickel foam strips on the top of the connector support top crowns contact and adhere to the interconnections of the first row fuel cells and all of the connector support shoulder sections contact and adhere to the outer electrodes of the second row fuel cells; (8) drying the adhesive by passing hot air through the porous connector support; and (9) sintering the fuel cell assembly to vaporize the organic portion of the adhesive and provide an integral fuel cell assembly. 17. A plurality of solid oxide fuel cell assemblies comprising a fuel cell bundle, each bundle comprising: (1) a first row of spaced apart, axially elongated tubular fuel cells, each containing an outer electrode and an outer interconnection; (2) a second row of space apart, axially elongated tubular fuel cells, each containing an outer electrode and an outer interconnection, the second row being spaced apart from the first row, where all the outer interconnections of the first row fuel cells face all the outer electrodes of the second row fuel cells; and (3) an electrically conducting connector support for the fuel cells, extending between and contacting the first row and the second row of fuel cells, where the connector support consists of an expanded mesh more than about 60% porous and having a thickness between 0.012 cm and 0. 076 cm, said connector support having a corrugated structure with a series of top crowns connected to bottom shoulder sections, where the shoulder sections conform to the shape of their contacting tubular fuel cells, where each shoulder section is connected to its adjacent shoulder section, where a flexible open cell nickel foam is disposed between and contacts both of the top crowns and the interconnections of the first row fuel cells, and all of the support shoulder sections directly contact the outer electrodes of the second row fuel cells, said mesh having a single corrugation with a top portion between fuel cells in a row and where there are no metal felt connections between any fuel cells, where each assembly comprises a fuel cell bundle including a bottom and top bundle, where, in the connection between each bundle, each bundle connector support contacts an adjacent bundle connector support, the single corrugation in the adjacent mesh bundle connection as well as the top corrugated portions opposite each other form a void volume which is filled with flexible open cell nickel foam, where the foam in the void volume improves electrical connection from bundle to bundle. 18. The solid oxide fuel assembly of claim 17, wherein the connector support is made of nickel. 19. The solid oxide fuel assembly of claim 17, wherein the connector support is from 65% to 85% porous. 20. The solid oxide fuel assembly of claim 17, wherein the connector support is from 0.012 cm to 0.076 cm thick. 21. The solid oxide fuel assembly of claim 17, wherein the nickel foam has a reticulated structure and from about 75 pores to 105 pores per lineal inch. 22. The solid oxide fuel assembly of claim 17, wherein the connector support has a spring-like effect providing shock resistance to the fuel cells. 23. The solid oxide fuel assembly of claim 17, wherein the connector support and attached nickel foam will not shrink or slump during prolonged operation at temperatures of up to 1200° C.