Patent ID: 7838137

Claim:
A solid oxide fuel cell device comprising: an elongate ceramic substrate having an exterior surface, an interior solid ceramic support structure, a first cold end region adjacent a first end, a second cold end region adjacent a second end, and a reaction zone between the first and second cold end regions, wherein the reaction zone is configured to be exposed to a heat source to heat the reaction zone to an operating reaction temperature, and the first and second cold end regions are configured to be shielded from the heat source to remain at a low temperature below the operating reaction temperature when the reaction zone is heated; a fuel inlet in the first cold end region and a respective fuel outlet in one of the reaction zone or the second cold end region, the fuel inlet and the fuel outlet coupled therebetween by an elongate fuel passage at least partially extending through the reaction zone within the interior solid ceramic support structure of the elongate ceramic substrate; an oxidizer inlet in the second cold end region and a respective oxidizer outlet in one of the reaction zone or the first cold end region, the oxidizer inlet and the oxidizer outlet coupled therebetween by an elongate oxidizer passage at least partially extending through the reaction zone within the interior solid ceramic support structure of the elongate ceramic substrate in parallel and opposing relation to the elongate fuel passage; an anode adjacent the fuel passage in the reaction zone within the interior solid ceramic support structure of the elongate ceramic substrate and electrically coupled from within the interior solid 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 and second cold end regions; a cathode adjacent the oxidizer passage in the reaction zone within the interior solid ceramic support structure of the elongate ceramic substrate and electrically coupled from within the interior solid 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 and second cold end regions; a solid electrolyte between the anode and cathode within the interior solid ceramic support structure, the solid electrolyte being monolithic with the interior solid ceramic support structure; a negative voltage connection to the first exterior contact surface; and a positive voltage connection to the second exterior contact surface.