A fuel cell system is provided. The fuel cell system may be a segmented-in-series, solid-oxide fuel cell system. The system may comprise a fuel cell tube and a secondary interconnect. The fuel cell tube may comprise a substrate, a fuel channel, a first and second electrochemical active fuel cell, a primary interconnect, and an electrochemically inactive cell. The substrate may have a major surface. The fuel channel may be separated from the major surface by the substrate. The first and second electrochemically active fuel cells may be disposed on the major surface, and may comprise and anode, a cathode, and an electrolyte disposed between the anode and the cathode. The primary interconnect may electrically couple the anode of the first electrochemically active fuel cell to the cathode of a second electrochemically active fuel cell. The electrochemically inactive fuel cell may be disposed on the major surface and comprise a conductive layer electrically coupled to the second electrochemically active fuel cell. The secondary interconnect may be coupled to the conductive layer of the electrochemically inactive cell. The electrochemically inactive cell is configured to inhibit the migration of hydrogen from said fuel channel to the secondary interconnect.

A fuel cell system is provided. The fuel cell system may comprise segmented-in-series solid oxide fuel cells. The system may comprise a first fuel cell tube, a second fuel cell tube, and a plurality of secondary interconnects. The first and second fuel cell tubes may comprise a substrate having a first and second end and a pair of generally planar opposing major surfaces extending between the ends, a plurality of fuel cells disposed on one of the major surfaces wherein the fuel cells are electrically coupled in series to one another, a first electrical conductor that provides an electrical path from a fuel cell disposed on the major surface near an end of the substrate to a location on the other of the major surfaces. The plurality of secondary interconnects provide an electrical path between the first and second fuel cell tubes. The plurality of interconnects may be coupled to the first electrical conductor of each tube. The first fuel cell may be positioned with a major surface thereof spaced apart from and parallel to a major surface of the second fuel cell tube.

A fuel cell system is provided. The fuel cell system may comprise segmented-in-series solid oxide fuel cells. The system may comprise a first fuel cell tube, a second fuel cell tube, and a plurality of secondary interconnects. The first and second fuel cell tubes may comprise a substrate having a first and second end and a pair of generally planar opposing major surfaces extending between the ends, a plurality of fuel cells disposed on one of the major surfaces wherein the fuel cells are electrically coupled in series to one another, a first electrical conductor that provides an electrical path from a fuel cell disposed on the major surface near an end of the substrate to a location on the other of the major surfaces. The plurality of secondary interconnects provide an electrical path between the first and second fuel cell tubes. The plurality of interconnects may be coupled to the first electrical conductor of each tube. The first fuel cell may be positioned with a major surface thereof spaced apart from and parallel to a major surface of the second fuel cell tube.

In accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure, a fuel cell system is provided. The fuel cell system may comprise a plurality of stacked fuel cell tubes and a secondary interconnect. Each tube may comprise a substrate, a plurality of fuel cells, a first sheet conductor, and a second sheet conductor. The substrate may have a pair of opposing major surfaces and define a plurality of parallel channels between the major surfaces extending from a first end to a second end of said tube. The plurality of fuel cells may be disposed on one of said major surfaces, the fuel cells being electrically coupled in series to one another. The first sheet conductor may be located proximate the first end of the tube, the first sheet conductor providing an electrical path from a location on one of the major surfaces to a location on the other of the major surfaces. The second sheet conductor may be located proximate the second end of the tube, the second sheet conductor providing an electrical path from a location on one of the major surfaces to a location on the other of the major surfaces. The secondary interconnect may electrically couple the first sheet conductors on adjacent fuel cell tubes thereby electrically coupling the fuel cells disposed on one fuel cell tube to the fuel cells disposed on an adjacent fuel cell tube.

In accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure, a fuel cell system is provided. The fuel cell system may comprise a plurality of stacked fuel cell tubes and a secondary interconnect. Each tube may comprise a substrate, a plurality of fuel cells, a first sheet conductor, and a second sheet conductor. The substrate may have a pair of opposing major surfaces and define a plurality of parallel channels between the major surfaces extending from a first end to a second end of said tube. The plurality of fuel cells may be disposed on one of said major surfaces, the fuel cells being electrically coupled in series to one another. The first sheet conductor may be located proximate the first end of the tube, the first sheet conductor providing an electrical path from a location on one of the major surfaces to a location on the other of the major surfaces. The second sheet conductor may be located proximate the second end of the tube, the second sheet conductor providing an electrical path from a location on one of the major surfaces to a location on the other of the major surfaces. The secondary interconnect may electrically couple the first sheet conductors on adjacent fuel cell tubes thereby electrically coupling the fuel cells disposed on one fuel cell tube to the fuel cells disposed on an adjacent fuel cell tube.

A fuel cell system is provided. The fuel cell system may be a segmented-in-series, solid-oxide fuel cell system. The fuel cell system may comprise a first and second fuel cell tube and a secondary interconnect. Each of the fuel cell tubes may comprise a substrate having a first and second end and a pair of generally planar opposing major surfaces extending between the ends, a plurality of fuel cells disposed on one of said major surfaces, wherein the fuel cells are electrically coupled in series, a first sheet conductor providing an electrical path from a location on one of the major surfaces to a location on the other of the major surfaces proximate the first end of the substrate, the first sheet conductor being electrically coupled to said plurality of fuel cells, and a second sheet conductor providing an electrical path from a location on one of the major surfaces to a location on the other of the major surfaces proximate the second end of said substrate, the second sheet conductor being electrically coupled to said plurality of fuel cells. The secondary interconnect may provide an electrical path between the first and second fuel cell tubes. The first fuel cell tube may be positioned with a major surface thereof being spaced from and parallel to a major surface of the second fuel cell tube, the secondary interconnect being electrically coupled to said first sheet conductor of each of said first and second fuel cell tubes.

A fuel cell system is provided. The fuel cell system may be a segmented-in-series, solid-oxide fuel cell system. The fuel cell system may comprise a first and second fuel cell tube and a secondary interconnect. Each of the fuel cell tubes may comprise a substrate having a first and second end and a pair of generally planar opposing major surfaces extending between the ends, a plurality of fuel cells disposed on one of said major surfaces, wherein the fuel cells are electrically coupled in series, a first sheet conductor providing an electrical path from a location on one of the major surfaces to a location on the other of the major surfaces proximate the first end of the substrate, the first sheet conductor being electrically coupled to said plurality of fuel cells, and a second sheet conductor providing an electrical path from a location on one of the major surfaces to a location on the other of the major surfaces proximate the second end of said substrate, the second sheet conductor being electrically coupled to said plurality of fuel cells. The secondary interconnect may provide an electrical path between the first and second fuel cell tubes. The first fuel cell tube may be positioned with a major surface thereof being spaced from and parallel to a major surface of the second fuel cell tube, the secondary interconnect being electrically coupled to said first sheet conductor of each of said first and second fuel cell tubes.

A fuel cell system is provided. The fuel cells system may be a segmented-in-series, solid-oxide fuel cell system. The system may comprise a fuel cell tube. The fuel cell tube may comprise a substrate having a first and second ends and a pair of generally planar opposing major surfaces extending between the ends. The fuel cell may further comprise a plurality of fuel disposed on one of the major surfaces proximate the first end of the substrate. The fuel cell tube may further comprise a sheet conductor. The sheet conductor may be electrically coupled to the plurality of fuel cells and may provide an electrical path from a location on one of the major surfaces to a location on the other the major surfaces proximate a first end of the substrate.

A fuel cell system is provided. The fuel cells system may be a segmented-in-series, solid-oxide fuel cell system. The system may comprise a fuel cell tube. The fuel cell tube may comprise a substrate having a first and second ends and a pair of generally planar opposing major surfaces extending between the ends. The fuel cell may further comprise a plurality of fuel disposed on one of the major surfaces proximate the first end of the substrate. The fuel cell tube may further comprise a sheet conductor. The sheet conductor may be electrically coupled to the plurality of fuel cells and may provide an electrical path from a location on one of the major surfaces to a location on the other the major surfaces proximate a first end of the substrate.

A fuel cell column includes termination plates, fuel cell stacks disposed between the termination plates, and fuel manifolds disposed between the fuel cell stacks. The fuel cell stacks include fuel cells, interconnects disposed between the fuel cells, and end plates disposed on opposing ends of the fuel cell stacks. At least one of the termination plates and/or the fuel manifold may include first and second separate pieces separated by an expansion zone. The fuel cell stack may also include one or more buffer layers and/or seals configured to reduce CTE differences of components of the fuel cell stack.