Patent ID: 7279246

Claim:
A fuel cell system for generating electric power by combination of oxygen with hydrogen-containing fuel, comprising: a) a plurality of individual fuel cells organized into at least one fuel cell stack assembly including a plurality of cathodes and anodes; b) a reformer for reforming hydrocarbons to provide said fuel; c) an air supply system for supplying said oxygen in the form of air; and d) an integrated fuel/air manifold having a plurality of external openings communicating with a plurality of internally-connected chambers for receiving said fuel from said reformer, conveying said fuel to said anodes, and returning said fuel as tail gas from said anodes, and for receiving said air from said air supply system, conveying said air to said cathodes, and returning said air from said cathodes, said manifold including a bottom plate, a top plate, a middle plate disposed between said top plate and said bottom plate, a lower partitioned element disposed between said bottom plate and said middle plate defining a pattern of lower chambers, and an upper partitioned element disposed between said middle plate and said top plate defining a pattern of upper chambers, said middle plate having a plurality of openings for communication between said lower and upper chambers, and said top plate mounted to said stack and said reformer; and said manifold including means for flow communication of said reformer and said air supply system with said stack assembly.