Abstract:
A solid oxide regenerative fuel cell system is used to supply power in a fuel cell mode and to generate metabolic oxygen and a hydrocarbon fuel reserve in an electrolysis mode. The system may also be used as a secondary power source or for energy peak shaving applications.
Abstract:
An aircraft contains a plurality of solid oxide fuel cells located in different portions of the aircraft. A method of operating the plurality of solid oxide fuel cells includes providing power from each of the plurality of solid oxide fuel cells to at least one of a plurality of power consuming components located in a same portion of the aircraft as the solid oxide fuel cell. Another method of operating at least one solid oxide fuel cell located in an aircraft includes providing ambient air and power to the solid oxide fuel cell without providing fuel to the solid oxide fuel cell to generate oxygen for the aircraft cabin when the aircraft is in flight. Another method of operating at least one solid oxide fuel cell located in a passenger aircraft includes providing water from the solid oxide fuel cell to the aircraft cabin.
Abstract:
A system and method in which a high temperature fuel cell stack exhaust stream is recycled back into the fuel inlet stream of the high temperature fuel cell stack. The recycled stream may be sent to a carbon dioxide separation device which separates carbon dioxide from the fuel exhaust stream. The carbon dioxide separation device may be a carbon dioxide trap, an electrochemical carbon dioxide separator, or a membrane separator. A water separator may be used in conjunction with the carbon dioxide separation device or used separately to continuously remove water from the recycled stream.
Abstract:
A fuel cell system includes a first fuel cell stack, a second fuel cell stack arranged in a cascade configuration with the first fuel cell stack, and at least one hydrocarbon fuel reformer which is thermally integrated with at least a portion of the first stack. The system is configured such that in operation, at least partial reformation of hydrocarbon fuel occurs prior to entry into the first stack or in the first stack, and the second stack uses fuel exhaust from the first stack as fuel. A method of operating the fuel cell system includes reforming a hydrocarbon fuel to form a reformed fuel while cooling at least a portion of a first fuel cell stack, generating electricity in the first fuel cell stack using the reformed fuel, providing a fuel exhaust stream from the first fuel cell stack into a second fuel cell stack, and generating electricity in the second fuel cell stack using the fuel exhaust stream from the first fuel stack as a fuel.
Abstract:
A method of operating a fuel cell system includes providing a fuel inlet stream into a fuel cell stack, operating the fuel cell stack to generate electricity and a hydrogen containing fuel exhaust stream, separating at least a portion of hydrogen contained in the fuel exhaust stream using partial pressure swing adsorption, and providing the hydrogen separated from the fuel exhaust stream into the fuel inlet stream.
Abstract:
A Solid Oxide Regenerative Fuel Cell (SORFC) system stores waste heat from the fuel cell in a heat storage material during the discharge mode. The heat is then used to heat water to be electrolyzed during the charge mode.
Abstract:
A fuel cell system includes grid independent operation with DC microgrid capability. This fuel cell system has a capability of operation with and without the grid, and with DC micro-grid capability.
Abstract:
Systems and methods are provided in which ammonia is used as a fuel source for solid oxide fuel cell systems. In the various aspects a high temperature fuel cell stack exhaust stream is recycled through one or more separation or conversion devices to create a purified recycled fuel exhaust stream that is recycled back into the fuel inlet stream of the high temperature fuel cell stack. In various aspects a nitrogen separator may remove nitrogen from the recycled fuel cell stack exhaust stream, a water separator may remove water from the recycled fuel cell stack exhaust stream, and/or an ammonia reactor and hydrogen separator may be used to condition the fuel inlet stream of the high temperature fuel cell stack. In a further aspect a molten carbonate fuel cell and/or Sabatier reactor may be used to condition the fuel inlet stream of the high temperature fuel cell stack.
Abstract:
A hydrocarbon fuel storage device contains nanotubes adapted to store a hydrocarbon fuel. A hydrocarbon fuel storage method includes storing the hydrocarbon fuel in nanotubes. The nanotubes preferably are SWNTs having a total surface area of between 1,000 m2/g and 1587 m2/g.