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A fuel cell arrangement comprises at least one fuel cell module, each fuel cell module comprises a plurality of fuel cells. Each fuel cell module is hollow and defines a chamber. Each fuel cell module is arranged within an inner vessel and the inner vessel is arranged within an outer pressure vessel

A fuel cell arrangement comprises at least one fuel cell module, each fuel cell module comprises a plurality of fuel cells. Each fuel cell module is hollow and defines a chamber. Each fuel cell module is arranged within an inner vessel and the inner vessel is arranged within an outer pressure vessel. Means to supply oxidant is arranged to supply oxidant to the space within the inner vessel so as to supply oxidant to the cathode electrodes. Means to supply fuel is arranged to supply fuel to the chamber in each fuel cell module so to supply fuel to the anode electrodes. The outer pressure vessel is protected from the high temperature environment of the fuel cells by the inner vessel. The outer pressure vessel forms the main pressure containment of the arrangement and operates at a lower temperature and operates with a greater safety margin than a single pressure vessel arrangement.

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1. A fuel cell arrangement comprising; at least one fuel cell module, each fuel cell module comprising a plurality of fuel cells, each fuel cell comprising an anode electrode, a cathode electrode and an electrolyte, the at least one fuel cell module being hollow, defining at least one chamber, and b

1. A fuel cell arrangement comprising; at least one fuel cell module, each fuel cell module comprising a plurality of fuel cells, each fuel cell comprising an anode electrode, a cathode electrode and an electrolyte, the at least one fuel cell module being hollow, defining at least one chamber, and being arranged within at least one inner vessel, the at least one inner vessel being arranged within an outer pressure vessel;means to supply oxidant to the cathode electrodes, andmeans to supply fuel to the anode electrodes,wherein: the means to supply oxidant is arranged to supply oxidant to the space within the inner vessel;the space within the inner vessel is arranged to supply oxidant to the cathode electrodes;the means to supply fuel is arranged to supply fuel to the at least one chamber in the at least one fuel cell module; andthe at least one chamber in the at least one fuel cell module is arranged to supply fuel to the anode electrodes of the at least one fuel cell module. 2. A fuel cell arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the means to supply oxidant to the cathode electrodes is arranged such that the pressure between the outer pressure vessel and the at least one inner vessel is greater than the pressure in the at least one inner vessel such that the at least one inner vessel is subjected to a compressive load. 3. A fuel cell arrangement as claimed in claim 1, further comprising means to remove exhaust gases from the fuel cells. 4. A fuel cell arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the means to supply oxidant supplies oxidant into a space between the at least one inner vessel and the outer pressure vessel. 5. A fuel cell arrangement as claimed in claim 4, wherein the means to supply oxidant supplies the oxidant from the space between the at least one inner vessel and the outer pressure vessel into the at least one inner vessel. 6. A fuel cell arrangement as claimed in claim 5, wherein the means to supply oxidant supplies the oxidant from the space between the at least one inner vessel and the outer pressure vessel to a space between the inner vessel and the at least one fuel cell module. 7. A fuel cell arrangement as claimed in claim 5, wherein the means to supply oxidant supplies the oxidant from the space between the at least one inner vessel and the outer pressure vessel into the at least one inner vessel through at least one ejector, pump, fan, blower or turbomachine. 8. A fuel cell arrangement as claimed in claim 4, wherein the means to supply oxidant supplies a first portion of the oxidant through at least one restrictor to the space between the at least one inner vessel and the outer pressure vessel, and the means to supply oxidant supplies a second portion of the oxidant into the at least one inner vessel. 9. A fuel cell arrangement as claimed in claim 8, wherein the means to supply oxidant supplies the second portion of the oxidant into the space between the inner vessel and the at least one fuel cell module. 10. A fuel cell arrangement as claimed in claim 8, wherein the means to supply oxidant supplies the second portion of the oxidant into the at least one inner vessel through at least one ejector, pump, fan, blower or turbomachine. 11. A fuel cell arrangement as claimed in claim 8, wherein the means to supply oxidant supplies the first portion of oxidant from the space between the outer pressure vessel and the at least one inner vessel into the at least one inner vessel through at least one restrictor. 12. A fuel cell arrangement as claimed in claim 11, wherein the means to supply oxidant supplies the first portion of oxidant from the space between the outer pressure vessel and the at least one inner vessel into the at least one inner vessel through the at least one restrictor and the at least one ejector, pump, fan, blower or turbomachine. 13. A fuel cell arrangement as claimed in claim 5, further comprising means to supply unused oxidant to a space between the at least one inner vessel and the at least one fuel cell module. 14. A fuel cell arrangement as claimed in claim 13, wherein the means to supply unused oxidant to the space between the at least one inner vessel and the at least one fuel cell module comprises the at least one ejector, pump, fan, blower or turbomachine. 15. A fuel cell arrangement as claimed in claim 14, wherein the means to supply unused oxidant to the space between the at least one inner vessel and the at least one fuel cell module comprises: at least one combustor;means to supply unused oxidant to the at least one combustor; andmeans to supply unused fuel to the at least one combustor; andmeans to supply the products of the at least one combustor to the at least one ejector, pump, fan, blower or turbomachine. 16. A fuel cell arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one inner vessel is tubular and the outer pressure vessel is tubular. 17. A fuel cell arrangement as claimed in claim 1, further comprising insulation provided on an inner surface of the at least one inner vessel. 18. A fuel cell arrangement as claimed in claim 17, further comprising a space provided between the insulation and the inner surface of the at least one inner vessel. 19. A fuel cell arrangement as claimed in claim 1, further comprising insulation provided on an outer surface of the at least one inner vessel. 20. A fuel cell arrangement as claimed in claim 19, further comprising a space provided between the insulation and the outer surface of the at least one inner vessel. 21. A fuel cell arrangement as claimed in claim 1, further comprising insulation provided on an outer surface of the outer pressure vessel. 22. A fuel cell arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein a plurality of modules are arranged within the at least one inner vessel. 23. A fuel cell arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein there is a plurality of inner vessels. 24. A fuel cell arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein there is a single inner vessel. 25. A fuel cell arrangement as claimed in claim 23, wherein a plurality of modules are arranged within each inner vessel. 26. A fuel cell arrangement as claimed in claim 24, wherein the modules are arranged around central axis. 27. A fuel cell arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the means to supply oxidant comprises a pump or a compressor. 28. A fuel cell arrangement as claimed in claim 27, wherein the compressor is connected to a turbine. 29. A fuel cell arrangement as claimed in claim 28, wherein a portion of an unused oxidant is supplied to the turbine to drive the turbine. 30. A fuel cell arrangement comprising: at least one fuel cell module, each fuel cell module comprising a plurality of fuel cells, each fuel cell comprising an anode electrode, a cathode electrode and an electrolyte, the at least one fuel cell module being hollow, defining at least one chamber, and being arranged within at least one inner vessel, the at least one inner vessel being arranged within an outer pressure vessel;means to supply oxidant to the cathode electrodes, andmeans to supply fuel to the anode electrodes,wherein: the means to supply oxidant is arranged to supply oxidant to a space within the inner vessel;the space within the inner vessel is arranged to supply oxidant to the cathode electrodes;the means to supply fuel is arranged to supply fuel to the at least one chamber in the at least one fuel cell module;the at least one chamber in the at least one fuel cell module is arranged to supply fuel to the anode electrodes of the at least one fuel cell module;a first pressure sensor is arranged to measure the pressure in a space between the at least one inner vessel and the outer pressure vessel;a second pressure sensor is arranged to measure the pressure in a space between the at least one inner vessel and the at least one fuel cell module; anda monitor is arranged to compare the pressure measured by the first pressure sensor and the pressure measured by the second pressure sensor to determine if there is an overpressure due to component malfunction or burning of fuel in the fuel cell module. 31. A fuel cell arrangement as claimed in claim 7, wherein: the at least one ejector, pump, fan, blower or turbomachine is arranged such that it extends radially with respect to the axes of the at least one inner vessel;the inlet of the at least one ejector, pump, fan, blower or turbomachine is arranged at the radially inner end; andthe exhaust of the at least one ejector, pump, fan, blower or turbomachine is arranged at the radially outer end. 32. A fuel cell arrangement as claimed in claim 4, wherein the at least one inner vessel defines a space with a wall member secured to the at least one inner vessel, and the means to supply oxidant supplies oxidant into the space between the at least one inner vessel and the wall member. 33. A fuel cell arrangement as claimed in claim 32, wherein the means to supply oxidant supplies oxidant from the space between the at least one inner vessel and the wall member to the space within the at least one inner vessel. 34. A fuel cell arrangement as claimed in claim 33, wherein the means to supply oxidant supplies the oxidant from the space between the at least one inner vessel and the wall member to the space within the at least one inner vessel through the at least one ejector, pump, fan, blower or turbomachine. 35. A fuel cell arrangement as claimed in claim 32, wherein the means to supply oxidant supplies oxidant from the space between the at least one inner vessel and the wall member to the space between the at least one inner vessel and the outer pressure vessel. 36. A fuel cell arrangement as claimed in claim 7, wherein: the at least one ejector, pump, fan, blower, or turbomachine is arranged such that it extends axially with respect to the axes of the of at least one inner vessel;the inlet of the at least one ejector, pump, fan, blower or turbomachine is arranged at one axial end of the inner vessel; andthe exhaust of the at least one ejector, pump, fan, blower or turbomachine is arranged at a central region of the inner vessel. 37. A fuel cell arrangement as claimed in claim 2, wherein the means to supply oxidant to the space within the at least one inner vessel supplies the oxidant through at least one ejector, pump, fan, blower or turbomachine to a space between the at least one inner vessel and the at least one fuel cell module. 38. A fuel cell arrangement as claimed in claim 37, wherein the at least one ejector, pump, fan, blower or turbomachine supplies unused oxidant from the at least one fuel cell module to the space between the at least one inner vessel and the at least one fuel cell module. 39. A fuel cell arrangement as claimed in claim 38, further comprising: means to supply unused oxidant from the at least one fuel cell module to at least one combustor;means to supply unused fuel from the at least one fuel cell module to the at least one combustor; andmeans to supply the products of the at least one combustor to the at least one ejector, pump, fan, blower or turbomachine. 40. A fuel cell arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the inner vessel further comprises a plurality of devices, which allow radial expansion and contraction of at least one end of the at least one inner vessel. 41. A fuel cell arrangement as claimed in claim 40, wherein the devices are arranged on both ends of the at least one inner vessel. 42. A fuel cell arrangement comprising: at least one fuel cell module, each fuel cell module comprising a plurality of fuel cells, each fuel cell comprising an anode electrode, a cathode electrode and an electrolyte, the at least one fuel cell module being hollow, defining at least one chamber, and being arranged within at least one inner vessel, the at least one inner vessel being arranged within an outer pressure vessel;means to supply oxidant to the cathode electrodes, andmeans to supply fuel to the anode electrodes,wherein: the means to supply oxidant is arranged to supply oxidant to a space within the inner vessel;the space within the inner vessel is arranged to supply oxidant to the cathode electrodes;the means to supply fuel is arranged to supply fuel to the at least one chamber in the at least one fuel cell module;the at least one chamber in the at least one fuel cell module is arranged to supply fuel to the anode electrodes of the at least one fuel cell module; andthe inner vessel further comprises a plurality of devices, which allow radial expansion and contraction of at least one end of the at least one inner vessel,each device comprises a corrugated elongate member having longitudinally spaced apart troughs and longitudinally spaced apart peaks;the corrugated elongate member is secured at its longitudinally spaced troughs to the at least one end of the at least one inner vessel;the corrugated elongate member is secured at its longitudinally spaced peaks to an elongate member;the elongate member is U-shaped in cross-section; andthe corrugated elongate member is secured to the elongate member to the surface between the limbs of the U-shaped elongate member. 43. A fuel cell arrangement as claimed in claim 42, wherein each device extends radially relative to the axis of the at least one inner vessel and the devices are angularly spaced apart on the at least one end of the at least one inner vessel. 44. A fuel cell arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fuel cells are solid oxide fuel cells. 45. A fuel cell arrangement comprising: at least one fuel cell module, each fuel cell module comprising a plurality of fuel cells, each fuel cell comprising an anode electrode, a cathode electrode and an electrolyte, the at least one fuel cell module being hollow and defining at least one chamber, and being arranged within at least one inner vessel, the at least one inner vessel being arranged within an outer pressure vessel;means to supply oxidant to the cathode electrodes,wherein: the means to supply oxidant is arranged to supply oxidant into a space between the at least one inner vessel and the outer pressure vessel;the means to supply oxidant is arranged to supply oxidant to the space within the inner vessel;the space within the inner vessel is arranged to supply oxidant to the cathode electrodes, andthe means to supply oxidant to the cathode electrodes is arranged such that the pressure in the space between the outer pressure vessel and the at least one inner vessel is greater than the pressure in the at least one inner vessel such that the at least one inner vessel is subjected to a compressive load;means to supply fuel to the anode electrodes,wherein: the means to supply fuel is arranged to supply fuel to the at least one chamber in the at least one fuel cell module; andthe at least one chamber in the at least one fuel cell module is arranged to supply fuel to the anode electrodes of the at least one fuel cell module; andmeans to re-circulate unused oxidant from the cathode electrodes back to the cathode electrodes. 46. A fuel cell arrangement as claimed in claim 45, wherein the means to re-circulate unused oxidant from the cathode electrodes back to the cathode electrodes comprises at least one ejector, pump, fan, blower or turbomachine.