Manifold assembly for a fuel cell power plant
AssigneeUTC Fuel Cells, LLC
InventorsRobin J. Guthrie, Tomas J. Corrigan
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A fuel cell power plant includes a first cell stack assembly having a plurality of planar fuel cells in electrical communication with one another and a second cell stack assembly having a plurality of planar fuel cells in electrical communication with one another. An inter-stack manifold assembly is disposed between the first and second cell stack assemblies and provides an electrical pathway between the first and second cell stack assemblies. A baffle is formed internally to the manifold assembly for feeding a substantially uniform proportion of a reactant stream to the first and second cell stack assemblies while collecting an exhausted reactant stream from the first and second cell stack assemblies.
Claims18
A fuel cell power plant, comprising:
- a first cell stack assembly having a plurality of planar fuel cells in electrical communication with one another;
- a second cell stack assembly having a plurality of planar fuel cells in electrical communication with one another;
- an inter-stack manifold assembly disposed between said first and second cell stack assemblies, said manifold assembly providing an electrical pathway between said first and second cell stack assemblies;
- and
- a baffle formed internally to said manifold assembly, said baffle physically dividing a reactant stream such that a substantially uniform proportion of said reactant stream is directed to said first and second cell stack assemblies, said baffle also collecting an exhausted reactant stream from said first and second cell stack assemblies.
A method for increasing the operational efficiency of a fuel cell power plant including two cell stack assemblies each of which are comprised of a plurality of fuel cells in electrical communication with one another;
- said method comprising the steps of:
- arranging said two cell stack assemblies within a housing;
- disposing an inter-stack manifold assembly between said cell stack assemblies;
- said manifold assembly being in fluid communication with said cell stack assemblies and capable of conducting current between said cell stack assemblies;
- supplying said manifold assembly with a reactant stream;
- physically dividing said reactant stream prior to said reactant stream being presented to said cell stack assemblies;
- feeding a substantially uniform portion of said reactant stream to each of said cell stack assemblies;
- and
- channeling said reactant stream exhausted by said cell stack assemblies through said manifold assembly and away from said fuel cell power plant.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.