摘要:
A method and system for controlling reformate delivered to an electrochemical cell in an electric power system. The system comprises: a reformate pressure sensor disposed in the reformate and configured to measure reformate pressure; a controllable valve configured to control the flow of reformate to the electrochemical cell; and a controller coupled to the reformate pressure sensor and the controllable valve. The controller receives a reformate pressure signal from the reformate pressure sensor, a controllable valve position signal from the controllable valve, and transmits a controllable valve command to the controllable valve.
摘要:
An energy conversion system comprising ammonia for fueling an SOFC stack to generate electricity and a hydrogen-rich tailgas. In the SOFC stack, ammonia is cracked to hydrogen and nitrogen. Ammonia is stored in a metal halide complex and is released therefrom as gaseous ammonia by waste heat from the SOFC. A heat exchanger is positioned across the SOFC cathode such that incoming air is tempered by the cathode exhaust air. In a two-stage energy conversion system, the hydrogen-rich tailgas from the SOFC is supplied as fuel to a secondary energy conversion device which may be, for example, an internal combustion engine or a gas turbine engine which may operate, for example, either a generator for generating additional electricity or a vehicle for motive power, or a second fuel cell stack.
摘要:
An energy conversion system comprising ammonia for fueling an SOFC stack to generate electricity and a hydrogen-rich tailgas. In the SOFC stack, ammonia is cracked to hydrogen and nitrogen. Ammonia is stored in a metal halide complex and is released therefrom as gaseous ammonia by waste heat from the SOFC. A heat exchanger is positioned across the SOFC cathode such that incoming air is tempered by the cathode exhaust air. In a two-stage energy conversion system, the hydrogen-rich tailgas from the SOFC is supplied as fuel to a secondary energy conversion device which may be, for example, an internal combustion engine or a gas turbine engine which may operate, for example, either a generator for generating additional electricity or a vehicle for motive power, or a second fuel cell stack.
摘要:
A catalytic reformer assembly is used to generate reformate from hydrocarbon fuels for fueling an energy producing source such as a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) assembly or an internal combustion engine (ICE). In the case of an SOFC assembly, it emits a tail gas (syngas) from the anodes which contains significant residual hydrogen and carbon monoxide, is very hot, and is completely anoxic. Syngas is thus an ideal medium for vaporizing and carrying higher boiling point fuels into the reformer. At least a portion of the anode syngas is recycled into a fuel vaporizer/mixer ahead of the reformer and ahead of the entry point of air into the fuel stream, such that the fuel dispersed into the fuel vaporizer/mixer is fully vaporized and heated prior to being combined with air for exothermic reforming. In the case of an ICE, hot exhaust is used as the recycled carrier gas.
摘要:
A method for fuel cell system thermal management includes: maintaining a first zone at a first selected temperature range, maintaining a second zone at a second selected temperature range, and maintaining a third zone at a third selected temperature range. The second zone is in thermal communication with a first sensor and comprises a reformer, while the third zone is in thermal communication with a second sensor and comprises a fuel cell stack. The second selected temperature range is greater than the first selected temperature range, while the third selected temperature range is greater than the second selected temperature range. A thermal management system for use with an auxiliary power unit includes a first air control valve in fluid communication with a process air supply and a fuel reformer zone, the first air control valve in operable communication with a controller; a second air control valve in fluid communication with a process air supply and a hot zone, the second air control valve in electronic communication with the controller; a reformer zone temperature sensor in thermal communication with the fuel reformer and in operable communication with the controller; a hot zone temperature sensor in thermal communication with the hot zone and in operable communication with the controller; a first outlet at the reformer zone; and a second outlet at the hot zone.
摘要:
A method for fuel cell system thermal management includes: maintaining a first zone at a first selected temperature range, maintaining a second zone at a second selected temperature range, and maintaining a third zone at a third selected temperature range. The second zone is in thermal communication with a first sensor and comprises a reformer, while the third zone is in thermal communication with a second sensor and comprises a fuel cell stack. The second selected temperature range is greater than the first selected temperature range, while the third selected temperature range is greater than the second selected temperature range. The method may further include sensing a second zone temperature in the second zone, determining whether the second zone temperature is at the second selected temperature range, and adding a process air flow to the second zone if the second zone temperature rises above the second selected temperature range.
摘要:
The power generation system and method of the present invention employ a solid oxide fuel cell which reforms fuel to a degree which is controlled by the amount of fuel introduced to the solid oxide fuel cell. The effluent is directed preferably through a heat exchanger and then into an engine. This hybrid system more efficiently produces energy, both mechanical and electrical, over conventional systems.
摘要:
A method of operating a fuel cell system on a by-product gas containing a fuel constituent. The fuel cell system includes a fuel reformer for forming a reformate stream, a combustor for supplying heat energy to the fuel reformer, and a fuel cell stack. The method includes the steps of separating a by-product gas into a purified gas stream and a residual stream with a gaseous fuel purifier, feeding the purified gas stream to the fuel reformer configured to transform the purified gas stream to produce a reformate stream, and feeding the residual gas stream to a combustor configured to provide heat energy to the fuel reformer. The purified gas stream contains a higher concentration of preferable fuel constituents and a lower concentration of contaminants than the residual gas stream.
摘要:
A hybrid input differential engine system comprising a planetary gear set. Preferably, an ICE is connected to the planet gear carrier, the output shaft is connected to the ring gear, and the sun gear is connected to a supercharger/expander and an electric or hydraulic motor/generator. As engine torque increases, the supercharger speeds up, increasing torque still further, enabling a small displacement engine to have very high torque at low RPM. In cruise conditions, the sun gear direction is reversed by the motor/generator, causing the supercharger to act as an expander for efficiently throttling the engine. The motor/generator modulates the speed/torque relationships between the engine and the supercharger/expander. A second motor/generator may be used on the output shaft. The electric machines and electric storage may be downsized because less electrical power is needed for the operation of the system.
摘要:
A hybrid SOFC/gas turbine electric generating system comprising an SOFC stack, a hydrocarbon reformer, a first anode tailgas hydrogen-rich combustor to drive a first gas turbine stage, and a second stoichiometric combustor to drive a second gas turbine stage to drive a generator. Anode tailgas is also recycled into the reformer for substantially endothermic reforming of hydrocarbon fuel. Oxidant is provided as pure oxygen—which may be stored as liquid oxygen. All nitrogen may be excluded. Cathode exhaust is passed to the first combustor, to the second combustor, and is recycled into the cathodes. The turbine exhaust is passed through successive heat exchangers cooled by liquid oxygen being vaporized, precipitating water and solid CO2. The system is operated at about 800 kPa (about 8 atmospheres), thereby increasing the power output of the stack. The system may be operated with no gaseous exhaust or with by-products of water and CO2.