초록 ▼

A fuel cell assembly includes a plurality of opposing fuel cell stacks. Each of the fuel stacks has a plurality of fuel cells in which each fuel cell has an anode, a cathode, and an electrolyte. The fuel cell assembly further includes a spacing member disposed between the fuel cell stacks thereby de

A fuel cell assembly includes a plurality of opposing fuel cell stacks. Each of the fuel stacks has a plurality of fuel cells in which each fuel cell has an anode, a cathode, and an electrolyte. The fuel cell assembly further includes a spacing member disposed between the fuel cell stacks thereby defining a fluidic cavity.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A fuel cell stack assembly, comprising: opposing fuel cell stacks, said fuel cell stacks having a plurality of fuel cells, wherein said fuel cells include an anode, a cathode, and an electrolyte; and a spacing member disposed between said opposing fuel cell stacks thereby def

What is claimed is: 1. A fuel cell stack assembly, comprising: opposing fuel cell stacks, said fuel cell stacks having a plurality of fuel cells, wherein said fuel cells include an anode, a cathode, and an electrolyte; and a spacing member disposed between said opposing fuel cell stacks thereby defining a sealed fluidic cavity. 2. The fuel cell stack assembly of claim 1, further comprising a manifold fluidly coupled to said sealed fluidic cavity. 3. The fuel cell stack assembly of claim 2, further comprising: a fluid delivery needle coupled to said manifold; said fluid delivery needle extending into said fluidic cavity. 4. The fuel cell stack assembly of claim 3, wherein said fluid delivery needle, comprises: a plurality of gradient boles disposed on said fluid delivery needle; said gradient holes varying from a smaller size at a proximal end of said fluid delivery needle and increasing in size toward a distal end of said fluid delivery needle. 5. The fuel cell stack assembly of claim 2, wherein said manifold comprises: a fuel manifold, said fuel manifold incorporating an exhaust port to remove excess fuel and waste products; and a fuel needle coupled to said fuel manifold. 6. The fuel cell stack assembly of claim 2, wherein said manifold comprises an exhaust, said spacing member preventing the release of a reactant from said sealed cavity other than trough said exhaust. 7. The fuel cell stack assembly of claim 2, wherein said opposing fuel cell stacks are cantilevered from said manifold. 8. The fuel cell stack assembly of claim 2, wherein said manifold comprises a fluid delivery needle extending from said manifold into said fluidic cavity said fluid delivery needle having a gradient of differently-sized boles along a length thereof, said holes varying from a smaller size at a proximal end of said fluid delivery needle and increasing in size toward a distal end of said fluid delivery needle. 9. The fuel cell stack assembly of claim 1, wherein said sealed fluidic cavity comprises a fuel cavity. 10. The fuel cell stack assembly of claim 1, wherein said opposing fuel cell stacks comprise a ceramic material. 11. The fuel cell stack assembly of claim 10, wherein said ceramic material comprises a porous ceramic material. 12. The fuel cell stack assembly of claim 10, wherein said spacing member comprises a ceramic material. 13. The fuel cell stack assembly of claim 1, wherein said spacing member and said fuel cell stacks comprise materials having matched coefficients of thermal expansion. 14. The fuel cell stack assembly of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of electrical interconnects electrically coupling said plurality of fuel cells. 15. The fuel cell stack assembly of claim 14, wherein said electrical interconnects comprise internal electrical interconnects. 16. The fuel cell stack assembly of claim 14, further comprising a plurality of electrodes coupled to said electrical interconnects. 17. The fuel cell stack assembly of claim 1, wherein said cathodes of each of said fuel cells are adjacent to said fluidic cavity. 18. The fuel cell stack assembly of claim 1, wherein said anodes of each of said fuel cells are each adjacent said fluidic cavity. 19. The fuel cell stack assembly of claim 1, wherein said fuel cells are connected in series. 20. The fuel cell stack assembly of claim 1, wherein fuel cell stacks comprise an integrated planar array of said fuel cells. 21. The fuel cell stack assembly of claim 1, wherein said fluidic cavity further comprises flow field modification features. 22. The fuel cell stack assembly of claim 21, wherein said flow field modification features comprise a serpentine path. 23. The fuel cell stack assembly of claim 1, further comprising a fuel manifold coupled to a first end of said assembly, whereby said fuel cell stack cantilevers from said manifold. 24. An electrochemical apparatus, comprising: at least one fuel cell stack assembly, having: opposing fuel cell stacks, said fuel cell stacks having a plurality of fuel cells, wherein said fuel cells include an anode, a cathode, and an electrolyte; a plurality of electrical interconnects coupled to said fuel cell stacks; a spacing member disposed between said fuel cell stacks thereby defining a fluidic cavity; and a manifold fluidly coupled to said fluidic cavity with a fluid delivery needle extending from said manifold into said fluidic cavity said fluid delivery needle having a gradient of differently-sized holes along a length thereof said boles varying from a smaller size at a proximal end of said fluid delivery needle and increasing in size toward a distal end of said fluid delivery needle. 25. The electrochemical apparatus of claim 24, further comprising: a plurality of opposing fuel cell stack pairs; a spacing member disposed between each pair of fuel cell stacks; and a fluidic cavity defined between each pair of fuel cell stacks. 26. The electrochemical apparatus of claim 24, wherein said manifold comprises a fuel manifold and said fluid delivery needle comprises a fuel needle. 27. The electrochemical apparatus of claim 24, wherein said fluidic cavity comprises a fuel cavity. 28. The electrochemical apparatus of claim 24, wherein said fuel cell stacks comprise a ceramic material. 29. The electrochemical apparatus of claim 28, wherein said ceramic material comprises a porous ceramic material. 30. The electrochemical apparatus of claim 28, wherein said spacing member comprises a ceramic material. 31. The electrochemical apparatus of claim 30, wherein said spacing member and said fuel cell stacks comprise materials having matched coefficients of thermal expansion. 32. The electrochemical apparatus of claim 24, wherein said electrical interconnects comprise internal electrical interconnects. 33. The electrochemical apparatus of claim 24, further comprising a fuel source coupled to said manifold. 34. The electrochemical apparatus of claim 24, wherein said cathodes of said fuel cells arc adjacent said fluidic cavity. 35. The electrochemical apparatus of claim 24, wherein said anodes of said fuel cells are adjacent to said fluidic cavity. 36. The electrochemical apparatus of claim 24, further comprising a plurality of said fuel cell stack assemblies. 37. A fuel cell system, comprising: a plurality of fuel cell stacks; means for supporting said fuel cell stacks, wherein said fuel cell stacks are coupled to and cantilevered from a manifold; means for separating said fuel cell stacks and sealingly establishing a fluidic cavity between said fuel cell stacks; and means for providing a fluid to said fluidic cavity. 38. The fuel cell system of claim 37, wherein said fluid comprises a fuel. 39. The fuel cell system of claim 37, further comprising means for supplying an oxidant to an exterior of said fuel cell stacks. 40. The fuel cell system of claim 37, further comprising means for withdrawing an electrical current from said system. 41. The fuel cell system of claim 40, further comprising means for supplying said electrical current to an electronic device. 42. The fuel cell system of claim 37, wherein said means for providing a fluid to said fluidic cavity further comprises means for providing a substantially constant quantity of said fluid along a length of said means for providing a fluid. 43. The fuel cell system of claim 42, wherein said means for providing a substantially constant quantity of fluid comprises a plurality of gradient boles disposed in said means for providing a fluid. 44. The fuel cell system of claim 37, further comprising means for modifying a flow field of said fluid within said fluidic cavity. 45. The fuel cell system of claim 44, wherein said means for modifying a flow field of said fluid within said fluidic cavity comprises a serpentine fuel flow path.