Patent ID: 8293417

Claim:
A solid oxide fuel cell device comprising: an elongate ceramic substrate having an exterior surface defining an interior ceramic support structure having a first non-active end region adjacent a first end, a second non-active end region adjacent a second end, and an active zone between the first and second non-active end regions, wherein the active zone comprises an anode and a cathode in opposing relation with an electrolyte therebetween for undergoing a fuel cell reaction when supplied with heat, fuel and oxidizer, and the first and second non-active end regions lack the anode and cathode in opposing relation and extend away from the active zone without being heated to dissipate heat and to thereby remain at a lower temperature than the active zone when the active zone is supplied with heat; a fuel inlet in the first non-active end region for receiving the supply of fuel and a respective fuel outlet in at least one of the active zone or the second non-active end region, the fuel inlet and the fuel outlet coupled therebetween by an elongate fuel passage at least partially extending through the active zone within the interior ceramic support structure, wherein the anode is adjacent the fuel passage in the active zone within the interior ceramic support structure and electrically connected from within the interior ceramic support structure to a first exterior contact surface on the exterior surface of the elongate ceramic substrate in at least one of the first or second non-active end regions for external connection to a negative voltage node; and an oxidizer inlet in the second non-active end region for receiving the supply of oxidizer and a respective oxidizer outlet in at least one of the active zone or the first non-active end region, the oxidizer inlet and the oxidizer outlet coupled therebetween by an elongate oxidizer passage at least partially extending through the active zone within the interior ceramic support structure in opposing relation to the elongate fuel passage, wherein the cathode is adjacent the oxidizer passage in the active zone within the interior ceramic support structure and electrically connected from within the interior ceramic support structure to a second exterior contact surface on the exterior surface of the elongate ceramic substrate in at least one of the first or second non-active end regions for external connection to a positive voltage node, wherein the electrolyte is a ceramic co-fired with the interior ceramic support structure.