Fuel cell flow distributor design for improving durability and performance

A fuel cell comprising:

• a cathode having a first surface and a second surface;
• an anode having a first surface and a second surface, said anode underlying said cathode so that the first surface of the anode faces the second surface of said cathode;
• an electrolyte sandwiched between the second surface of said cathode and the first surface of said anode;
• a fuel distributor underlying said anode for directing a flow of fuel over the second surface of said anode;
• and
• an oxidizing agent flow distributor having a plurality of plates for separating flow path levels, said oxidizing flow distributor being adapted for passing an oxidizing agent toward the first surface of said cathode and transferring heat from the first surface of said cathode to the oxidizing agent as said oxidizing agent moves toward said cathode so that the temperature of the oxidizing agent reaching the first surface of said cathode is increased for minimizing thermal stresses upon said fuel cell, the oxidizing agent flow distributor including:
• a top flow path level;
• a bottom flow path level underlying and in fluid communication through one or more openings with the top flow path level;
• and
• one or more intermediate flow path levels between the top flow path level and the bottom flow path level, the intermediate flow path levels being in fluid communication with said top and bottom flow path levels through one or more openings, wherein said oxidizing agent enters the top flow path level and flows laterally back and forth in a multi-pass arrangement through each of the succeeding flow path levels so that when said oxidizing agent reaches the bottom flow path level, said oxidizing agent flows across the first surface of the cathode for reacting with said fuel.