Patent ID: 8679696

Claim:
A fluid distribution insert for a fuel cell assembly comprising: a hollow insert with a first end and a second end, the hollow insert received within an inlet header of the fuel cell assembly, the fuel cell assembly including a plurality of fuel cells, each of the fuel cells having an inlet port, the inlet header defined by an alignment of the inlet ports of each of the fuel cells, at least a major portion of the hollow insert disposed inside of the inlet header, the first end of the hollow insert disposed adjacent a first end of the fuel cell assembly, and the second end of the hollow insert disposed adjacent a second end of the fuel cell assembly; an inlet formed at the first end of the hollow insert adapted to receive a fluid therein; a plurality of outlets formed intermediate the first end of the hollow insert and the second end of the hollow insert; and a plurality of flow channels formed in the hollow insert providing fluid communication between the inlet and the outlets to deliver the fluid to a plurality of fuel cells of the fuel cell assembly, wherein the flow channels provide for a substantially simultaneous delivery of the fluid to the fuel cells during a start-up procedure of the fuel cell assembly; wherein at least one wall section extends inwardly from an inner surface of the hollow insert, the at least one wall section forming a boundary between at least two of the flow channels formed in the hollow insert.