An improved system for more uniformly distributing gaseous fuel over the anode
surface of a fuel cell, comprising an interconnect subassembly for electrically
connecting anodes and cathodes of adjacent fuel cells in a fuel cell stack. The
subassembly includes a perforated plate disposed adjacent the anode surface. The
plate may be parallel to or inclined to the anode surface and forms a first wall
of a fuel plenum for uniformly distributing fuel via the perforations over the
entire surface of the anode. The second wall of the plenum is a plate separating
the fuel flow from air flowing across the cathode. Electrical continuity across
the interconnect subassembly may be provided, for example, by non-planar upsets
such as bumps and dimples in the two plenum plate components, or by metallic foam
or filaments disposed between the plates and the electrodes.
