Patent ID: 7875403

Claim:
A solid oxide fuel cell system comprising: a plurality of tubular fuel cells; a fuel cell plate associated with a first end of each tubular fuel cell; a current collection plate associated with a second end of each tubular fuel cell; an insulator plate comprising a combustion catalyst between the fuel cell plate and the current collection plate; a current collection system in contact with the current collection plate, wherein the current collection system is in electrical connection with the plurality of tubular fuel cells and rigidly attaches the plurality of tubular fuel cells to the current collection plate such that the current collection plate, the current collection system, and the plurality of tubular fuel cells form a single removable assembly; a central support tube comprising a first end associated with the fuel cell plate; and at least one of a heat exchanger and an afterburner attached to the central support tube; wherein the single removable assembly comprising the current collection plate, the current collection system, and the plurality of tubular fuel cells is slidably attached to the central support tube.