Patent ID: 8535841

Claim:
A method of singulating a fuel cell stack comprising a first end, a second end and a stacking dimension between the first end and the second end, a plurality of interconnects and a plurality of solid oxide fuel cells, each fuel cell positioned between adjacent interconnects along the stacking dimension of the fuel cell stack, and an internal conduit extending from the first end to the second end, through the plurality of interconnects and fuel cells, for conveying a fuel to or spent fuel from the plurality of fuel cells, the method comprising: connecting a fluid source to the internal conduit at the first end of the stack; applying fluid in the conduit through the plurality of interconnects and fuel cells; and blocking the conduit in a first interconnect at the second end of the stack while leaving the conduit unblocked in at least one second interconnect in the stack such that a fluid pressure within the stack exceeds an adhesive strength of a sealing material in the stack, causing the first interconnect at the second end of the stack to completely separate from the fuel cell stack.