Patent ID: 8163433

Claim:
An integral bundle assembly comprising: a top inlet fuel portion; an inlet fuel stream near the top portion; inverted, tubular, elongated, hollow, electrically connected solid oxide fuel cells disposed below the top portion, the fuel cells set to operate in the fuel cell mode; internal heat recuperator disposed below the fuel cells; an open end fuel cell seal between a combustion zone and fuel cells; two cushion ceramic band seal layers between the open end fuel cell seal and the recuperator which cushion band seal layers control horizontal thermal expansion between integral bundle assemblies; a bottom portion of dense ceramic casting having a plurality of bottom legs formed as a ceramic exhaust manifold supporting the recuperator and fuel cells; and inlet air feed tubes feeding to the fuel cells, the air feed tubes connecting with a bottom oxidant feed, where the open end fuel cell seal comprises a ceramic seal that conforms to the open ends of the fuel cells which fuel cells rest upon separate fuel cell bundle support beams.