Patent ID: 8216738

Claim:
A SOFC, comprising: a cathode electrode; a solid oxide electrolyte; an anode electrode; a hydrocarbon fuel inlet; and further comprising at least one of: (a) porous gradient mask located over at least a portion of the anode electrode at least adjacent to the hydrocarbon fuel inlet; (b) a mask located over a first portion of the anode electrode adjacent to the hydrocarbon fuel inlet such that a leading edge of a second portion of the anode electrode exposed by the mask forms a non-straight line facing the hydrocarbon fuel inlet; (c) the anode electrode comprising a smaller thickness in a first portion closer to the hydrocarbon fuel inlet than in a second portion farther away from the hydrocarbon fuel inlet; or (d) a fuel stream diversion plate located in an anode flow cavity, wherein the fuel stream diversion plate comprises a corrugated plate defining a plurality of openings.