Appeal 2006-2637
Application 10/178,878
said manifold including means for flow communication of said
reformer and said air supply system with said stack assembly.
25. An automotive vehicle, comprising a fuel cell system for
generating auxiliary power for said vehicle, said system including
a plurality of individual fuel cells organized into at least one fuel cell
stack assembly including a plurality of cathodes and anodes,
a reformer for reforming hydrocarbons to provide said fuel,
an air supply system for supplying said oxygen in the form of air, and
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
said manifold including means for flow communication of said
reformer and said air supply system with said stack assembly.
28. 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;
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