Annular or ring shaped fuel cell unit
First Claim
1. A fuel cell unit comprising:
- a plurality of angularly spaced fuel cell stacks arranged to form a ring-shaped structure about a central axis, each of the fuel cell stacks having a stacking direction extending parallel to the central axis, wherein each of the stacks has a rectangular cross section;
an annular cathode feed manifold surrounding the fuel cell stacks to deliver a cathode feed flow thereto;
a plurality of baffles extending parallel to the central axis, each of the baffles located between an adjacent pair of the fuel cell stacks to direct a cathode feed flow from the annular cathode feed manifold and radially inwardly through the adjacent pair;
an annular cathode exhaust manifold surrounded by the fuel cell stacks to receive a cathode exhaust flow therefrom; and
a radial cathode exhaust flow passage located underneath the ring-shaped structure and extending from the annular cathode exhaust manifold in a generally symmetric 360 degree pattern to a location radially outward of the annular cathode feed manifold.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A fuel cell unit includes a plurality of angularly spaced fuel cell stacks arranged to form a ring-shaped structure about a central axis, each of the fuel cell stacks having a stacking direction extending parallel to the central axis. The fuel cell unit also includes an annular cathode feed manifold surrounding the fuel cell stacks to deliver a cathode feed flow thereto, a plurality of baffles extending parallel to the central axis, each of the baffles located between an adjacent pair of the fuel cell stacks to direct a cathode feed flow from the annular cathode feed manifold and radially inwardly through the adjacent pair, and an annular cathode exhaust manifold surrounded by the fuel cell stacks to receive a cathode exhaust flow therefrom.
187 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A fuel cell unit comprising:
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a plurality of angularly spaced fuel cell stacks arranged to form a ring-shaped structure about a central axis, each of the fuel cell stacks having a stacking direction extending parallel to the central axis, wherein each of the stacks has a rectangular cross section; an annular cathode feed manifold surrounding the fuel cell stacks to deliver a cathode feed flow thereto; a plurality of baffles extending parallel to the central axis, each of the baffles located between an adjacent pair of the fuel cell stacks to direct a cathode feed flow from the annular cathode feed manifold and radially inwardly through the adjacent pair; an annular cathode exhaust manifold surrounded by the fuel cell stacks to receive a cathode exhaust flow therefrom; and a radial cathode exhaust flow passage located underneath the ring-shaped structure and extending from the annular cathode exhaust manifold in a generally symmetric 360 degree pattern to a location radially outward of the annular cathode feed manifold. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 13, 14)
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6. A fuel cell unit comprising:
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an annular array of fuel cell stacks surrounding a central axis, with each of the fuel cell stacks having a stacking direction extending parallel to the central axis, wherein each of the stacks has a rectangular cross section; an annular cathode feed manifold having a first annular portion positioned radially inward from the fuel cell stacks, a radial portion extending radially outward from the first annular portion in a generally symmetric 360 degree pattern, and a second annular portion extending from the radial portion generally parallel to the first annular portion and surrounding the annular array of fuel cell stacks to deliver a cathode feed flow thereto; a plurality of baffles extending parallel to the central axis, each of the baffles located between an adjacent pair of the fuel cell stacks to direct a cathode feed flow from the annular cathode feed manifold and radially inwardly through the adjacent pair; an annular cathode exhaust manifold surrounded by the annular array of fuel cell stacks to receive a cathode exhaust flow therefrom; and a radial cathode exhaust flow passage located underneath the ring-shaped structure and extending from the annular cathode exhaust manifold in a generally symmetric 360 degree pattern to a location radially outward of the annular cathode feed manifold. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification