Fuel cell stack with complete internal manifold

摘要

A fully internally manifolded fuel cell stack is provided by each separator plate (40,40',40") and electrolyte (20) in the fuel cell stack having a plurality of aligned perforations (24,25) forming gas manifolds extending for the length of the cell stack. Each perforation (24,25) through the separator plate is surrounded by a flattened manifold wet seal structure (45,46,51) extending to contact the electrolytes on each face of the separator plate to form separator plate/electrolyte wet seals under cell operating conditions. Conduits through the extended manifold wet seal structure provides gas communication between one set of manifolds and the anode chambers on one face of the separator plates, conduits through the extended manifold wet seal structure on the opposite face of the separator plates provides gas communication between a second set of the manifolds and the cathode chambers on the other face of the separator plates, and conduits (50) through the extended manifold structure of a reactant gas manifold provides communication to interspersed reforming chambers. Extended wet seal structures formed of thin plate metal provide limited flexibility and resiliency to assure good sealing. This structure provides fully internal manifolding of and separation of fuel and oxidant gases to each of the unit fuel cells in the fuel cell stack while providing reactant gas to reforming chambers interspersed along the cell axis to reform hydrocarbonaceous gas and supply enhanced hydrogen content to the fuel supply manifold. IMAGE