Patent ID: 8182956

Claim:
A fuel cell stack, comprising: a plurality of plate shaped fuel cells which are internally manifolded on a fuel side and externally manifolded on an oxidizer side; and at least one fuel manifold located between adjacent fuel cells; and a plurality of risers, wherein the plurality of risers comprise channels which extend through the plurality of plate shaped fuels cells and respective interconnects located in the fuel cell stack; wherein the at least one manifold comprises: a plate shaped box comprising at least one fuel delivery opening in fluid communication with fuel cell fuel inlet riser openings and at least one fuel outlet opening in fluid communication with fuel cell fuel outlet riser openings, wherein the plurality of plate shaped fuel cells which are internally manifolded on the fuel side and externally manifolded on the oxidizer side surround the plate shaped box; a fuel delivery port comprising a fuel inlet conduit adapted to provide a fuel inlet stream into the fuel manifold, and a fuel outlet port comprising a fuel outlet conduit adapted to remove a fuel outlet stream from the fuel manifold; and wherein the plate shaped box comprises a separate component from the fuel cells.