Patent ID: 7943266

Claim:
A solid oxide fuel cell module comprising: a layered array of a manifold, a cathode flow field, an electrolytic layer forming a cell including an anode electrode and a cathode electrode on opposite sides of the electrolytic layer, an anode flow field and an anode flow field closure member; said cathode flow field including a central oxidant flow inlet and a plurality of oxidant flow passages in communication with said central oxidant flow inlet; said manifold including an oxidant inlet at a peripheral edge of said manifold and an oxidant outlet overlying and in communication with said central oxidant flow inlet of said cathode flow field; and said peripheral edge of said manifold, and peripheral edges of said cathode flow field and said cell and said anode flow field overlying each other and sealed to each other to form a peripheral seal about the fuel cell module, said manifold having discrete passageways extending from said manifold oxidant inlet and arranged to direct oxidant flow in opposite directions, at said manifold oxidant inlet about the peripheral edge of said manifold and then radially inwardly to said manifold oxidant outlet to thereby preferentially direct cathode oxidant flow first about said peripheral seal to cool the peripheral seal and then to said cathode flow field.