Solid-oxide fuel cell hot assembly

Abstract

An electrochemical apparatus including a steam reformer ( ) positioned on top of a vaporizer ( ) and communicating with a mixing orifice ( ), the steam reformer ( ) having a conductive output end plate ( ) defining a fuel orifice ( ); a compact cell stack ( ) defining at least one air passage ( ) and a fuel passage ( ), wherein the fuel passage communicates with the fuel orifice ( ); a stack end plate ( ), defining at least one air orifice ( ) communicating with the air passage ( ); an electrically insulated sealing ring ( ) extending upwardly from the stack end plate ( ) outside the air orifice ( ); an annular cap ( ) defining a hot air inlet ( ), extending inwardly beyond a sealing ring ( ); a can ( ) extending downwardly defining an exhaust passage ( ) and communicating with an exhaust vent ( ) within a base ( ); a porous thermal insulation ( ) defining a hot air plenum ( ), a pin hole sheet ( ) surrounding the can ( ) and spaced inwardly from the enclosure ( ) to define a cold air plenum ( ), wherein the cold air plenum ( ) receives coolant air from a coolant supply via a coolant inlet, and the pin hole sheet ( ) is provided with a pattern of perforations adapted to distribute the coolant uniformly around the circumference and along the height of the stack ( ).