Appeal 2006-2637
Application 10/178,878
Appellants’ invention is directed to a solid-oxide fuel cell system
including, inter alia, a plurality of individual fuel cells, a reformer, and an
integrated fuel/air manifold that is useful for generating electric power. The
manifold includes top, bottom and middle plates, and upper and lower
partitioned elements defining a pattern of upper and lower chambers. In one
embodiment, the fuel cell system is combined with an automobile vehicle
for providing auxiliary power. Claims 1, 25, and 28 are illustrative of the
claimed subject matter and are reproduced below:
1. A fuel cell system for generating electric power by combination of
oxygen with hydrogen-containing fuel, comprising:
a) a plurality of individual fuel cells organized into at least one fuel
cell stack assembly including a plurality of cathodes and anodes;
b) a reformer for reforming hydrocarbons to provide said fuel;
c) an air supply system for supplying said oxygen in the form of air;
and
d) an integrated fuel/air manifold having a plurality of external
openings communicating with a plurality of internally-connected chambers
for receiving said fuel from said reformer, conveying said fuel to said
anodes, and returning said fuel as tail gas from said anodes, and for
receiving said air from said air supply system, conveying said air to said
cathodes, and returning said air from said cathodes,
said manifold including a bottom plate, a top plate, a middle plate
disposed between said top plate and said bottom plate, a lower partitioned
element disposed between said bottom plate and said middle plate defining a
pattern of lower chambers, and an upper partitioned element disposed
between said middle plate and said top plate defining a pattern of upper
chambers, said middle plate having a plurality of openings for
communication between said lower and upper chambers, and said top plate
mounted to said stack and said reformer; and
2
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