(US5851689-A)      A fuel cell assembly (2) includes a vessel (4) containing a gas permeable porous housing. A fuel cell stack (14) including cells (42) and interconnect plates (44) is contained within the housing. Each interconnect plate has oxidant and fuel sides (64, 60) adjacent to the cathode (58) and anode (62) of adjacent cells. Fuel (68) is supplied to the fuel side at positions (78) midway between the centre (83) and the periphery (80) of the fuel side. Reaction products (90) are withdrawn from the centre of the fuel side. Flue gas (100) is withdrawn from the centre of the oxidant side. Air is preheated as is passes through the porous housing to the fuel cell stack and combusts residual fuel (110) flowing radially outwardly from the periphery of the stack to further heat the air to the stack operating temperature to eliminate any external heating of the air. Corrugations (66, 67) on the interconnect plates act as flow deflectors and form the electrical contact surfaces for the adjacent cells.    USE -   Solid oxide fuel cells.    ADVANTAGE -   The cell has a simpler structure and is easier to manufacture at lower cost. It has no gas leakage and cell cracking or damage is minimised    (JP2001508591-W)      A fuel cell assembly (2) includes a vessel (4) containing a gas permeable porous housing. A fuel cell stack (14) including cells (42) and interconnect plates (44) is contained within the housing. Each interconnect plate has oxidant and fuel sides (64, 60) adjacent to the cathode (58) and anode (62) of adjacent cells. Fuel (68) is supplied to the fuel side at positions (78) midway between the centre (83) and the periphery (80) of the fuel side. Reaction products (90) are withdrawn from the centre of the fuel side. Flue gas (100) is withdrawn from the centre of the oxidant side. Air is preheated as is passes through the porous housing to the fuel cell stack and combusts residual fuel (110) flowing radially outwardly from the periphery of the stack to further heat the air to the stack operating temperature to eliminate any external heating of the air. Corrugations (66, 67) on the interconnect plates act as flow deflectors and form the electrical contact surfaces for the adjacent cells.    USE -   Solid oxide fuel cells.    ADVANTAGE -   The cell has a simpler structure and is easier to manufacture at lower cost. It has no gas leakage and cell cracking or damage is minimised    (US6274258-B1)      A fuel cell assembly (2) includes a vessel (4) containing a gas permeable porous housing. A fuel cell stack (14) including cells (42) and interconnect plates (44) is contained within the housing. Each interconnect plate has oxidant and fuel sides (64, 60) adjacent to the cathode (58) and anode (62) of adjacent cells. Fuel (68) is supplied to the fuel side at positions (78) midway between the centre (83) and the periphery (80) of the fuel side. Reaction products (90) are withdrawn from the centre of the fuel side. Flue gas (100) is withdrawn from the centre of the oxidant side. Air is preheated as is passes through the porous housing to the fuel cell stack and combusts residual fuel (110) flowing radially outwardly from the periphery of the stack to further heat the air to the stack operating temperature to eliminate any external heating of the air. Corrugations (66, 67) on the interconnect plates act as flow deflectors and form the electrical contact surfaces for the adjacent cells.    USE -   Solid oxide fuel cells.    ADVANTAGE -   The cell has a simpler structure and is easier to manufacture at lower cost. It has no gas leakage and cell cracking or damage is minimised