Internal manifolded molten carbonate fuel cell stack

A fully internally manifolded molten carbonate fuel cell stack is provided by each separator plate and electrolyte in the fuel cell stack having an aligned perforation in each corner area forming a gas manifold extending for the length of the cell stack. Each perforation through the separator plate is surrounded by a flattened manifold wet seal structure extending to contact the electrolytes on each side of the separator plates to form a separator plate/electrolyte wet seal under cell operating conditions. This forms a gas manifold at each corner area extending through the cell stack and conduits through the extended manifold wet seal structure provides gas communication between one of the manifolds at each end of the separator plates and the anode chambers on one side of the separator plates and conduits through the extended manifold wet seal structure on the opposite side of the separator plates provides gas communication between the other of the manifolds at each end of the separator plates and the cathode chambers on the other side of the separator plates. This structure provides fully internal manifolding of and separation of fuel and oxidant gases to each of the unit fuel cells in the fuel cell stack.