1. Fuel (H2 and CO) and air (N2 and O2) enter the stack.

2. They flow through tubular passages defined in the bipolar plate walls and seals. One function of the bipolar plates is to conduct electrons.

3. The air is permitted to enter the cathodic compartment where the oxygen splits and picks up extra electrons provided by the bipolar plates, thereby forming a negatively charged ion(O=).

4. This charged oxygen ion travels through the solid oxide electrolyte from the cathode to the anode.

5. There the oxygen ion meets the fuel, where either hydrogen or carbon monoxide combine with it, yielding water or carbon dioxide and two additional electrons.

6. The electrons get passed to the next bipolar plate which conducts them to the neighboring fuel cell, where the reactions repeat. Eventually, all the electrons are harvested at the end of the stack and sent through a wire, producing electricity.

7. The water in the form of steam exits the stack as exhaust; the carbon dioxide can be collected to prevent greenhouse gas emissions if desired.