Integrated manifold/reformer for fuel cell systems

A fuel cell manifold arrangement, comprising:

• a fuel cell stack having a fuel gas inlet side and a fuel gas outlet side;
• a manifold enclosure connected to and sealed to the inlet side of the fuel cell stack and defining with the stack a gas plenum for receiving a fuel gas for inlet into the inlet side of the fuel cell stack;
• a catalyst screen connected to the manifold enclosure for defining a gas passage for passing fuel gas and for containing a catalyst;
• a fuel gas catalyst in the manifold enclosure and bounded by the screen;
• the manifold enclosure having a gas inlet for receiving fuel gas, the gas inlet communicating with the screen for passing fuel gas through the screen and past the catalyst in the gas passage;
• a plate in the manifold enclosure for separating the catalyst from the plenum;
• heat insulation on at least part of the manifold enclosure and on at least part of the plate for insulating the manifold enclosure from the fuel cell stack and from an exterior of the manifold enclosure;
• and
• a passage in the manifold enclosure extending from the screen to the plenum for passing fuel gas from the catalyst to the plenum.