NOVELTY - A channel-less solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) assembly comprises at least one solid oxide fuel cell device (200); and at least one frame module (105) containing a primary fuel inlet (230A) providing primary fuel flow (200), a primary fuel outlet, and at least one internally manifolded passage (250') with openings for distributed injection of fuel into fuel cell device. The frame module supports the fuel cell device and provides fuel to the channel-less SOFC assembly, and fuel provided by the manifolded passage mixes with fuel flow provided into the inlet along the direction of fuel flow.    USE - For thermal management of a channel-less solid oxide fuel cell (claimed).    ADVANTAGE - The fuel passages advantageously equalize or optimize the amount of fuel gas flow provided to different portions of the active area (i.e., the area over the electrodes) of the fuel cell device. The lateral (horizontal) and vertical distributed fuel injection provide a number of ways in which the injected fuel can be distributed along various localized points of the chamber, and thus control the heat generated at these locations of the cell and the overall SOFC channel-less assembly. The passage openings manage a thermal profile. Direct or distributed injection of unreformed methane and/or reformats at the cell/device level facilitates both fuel cell and device level thermal management. Additionally, the assembly provides stack level thermal management as well as finer granular thermal management within the cells of the stack to provide a number of dimensions of control. Reducing thermal gradients in active area along fuel flow direction reduces thermal stress in the device, and thus provides devices with longer lifetime and reliability. The increased control of heat within the cell and also across a cell assembly provided by the assembly increases control of S/C ratio (reduced carbon deposition) and provides a platform for optimal fuel conversion efficiency. The internal reforming (i.e. methane reforming at the cell level) for stationary SOFC systems provides advantages that the external reforming equipment is either not required or drastically reduced, and the stack heat rejection is reduced thus mitigating the need for secondary heat removal hardware such as heat exchangers.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - A channel-less solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) assembly comprises at least one solid oxide fuel cell device (200); and at least one frame module (105) containing a primary fuel inlet (230A) providing primary fuel flow (200), a primary fuel outlet, and at least one internally manifolded passage (250') with openings for distributed injection of fuel into the solid oxide fuel cell device. The frame module supports the solid oxide fuel cell device and provides fuel to the channel-less SOFC assembly, and fuel provided by the at least one manifolded passage mixes with fuel flow provided into the primary fuel inlet along the direction of the fuel flow. The passages provide distributed injection of fuel along the fuel cell device to an anode side of the fuel cell device. The fuel cell device has a controllable thermal profile at least one control device for controlling the distribution and injection of fuel into the fuel cell device. The control device is a valve, injector and/or mixer. The device has the passage openings configured to manage a thermal profile. An INDEPENDENT CLAIM is included for method of thermal management in a channel-less solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC), involving providing flow of fuel along a main direction of an anode chamber of the channel-less SOFC; and providing distributed injection of fuel from at least one side of the anode chamber.    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The figure shows the solid oxide fuel cell assembly in which fuel is injected to an electrolyte supported multi-cell device active area vertically.    frame module (105)    solid oxide fuel cell device (200)    anodes (220)    cathodes (222)    primary fuel supply (230)    primary fuel inlet (230A)    manifolded passages. (250')