Patent ID: 6984466

Claim:
A fuel cell assembly including a plurality of individual fuel cells defining a fuel cell stack, comprising: a) a plurality of anodes defining a plurality of anode fuel passageways; b) a plurality of cathodes defining a plurality of cathode air passageways; c) an anode gas supply manifold having a first cross-sectional area providing a first pressure drop in said supplied anode gas along said manifold; d) an anode gas return manifold having a second cross-sectional area providing a second pressure drop in said returned anode gas along said manifold; e) a cathode air supply manifold having a third cross-sectional area providing a third pressure drop in said supplied cathode air along said manifold; and f) a cathode air return manifold having a fourth cross-sectional area providing a fourth pressure drop in said supplied cathode air along said manifold, wherein said second cross-sectional area is at least about 1.5 times said first cross-sectional area, wherein an anode fuel pressure drop exists between each of the entrances and exits to the plurality of said anode passageways, and wherein said anode fuel pressure drop is at least twice the sum of said first and second pressure drops.