摘要:
A fuel cell assembly having manifold means for providing fuel and air to, and removing spent fuel and air from, flow passageways across the anodes and cathodes in a fuel cell stack. The sizes and proportions of the supply and return manifolds are optimized, and the total cross-sectional area of the return manifold is about twice the cross-sectional area of the supply manifold. The pressure drop in the manifolds is less than about one-quarter of the total pressure drop across the anode and cathode passageways in the stack, which ratio may be attained by adjusting the thickness of the anode and cathode spacers and/or the size of the chimneys. Widthwise uniformity of flow across the anodes and cathodes is improved by forming each of the manifolds as a plurality of smaller, parallel flow conduits.
摘要:
A load frame with mechanical springs for providing compression to a fuel cell stack during assembly and operation of a fuel cell assembly. The stack assembly load frame includes a base plate for supporting the stack, a moveable spring holder above the stack, a retaining plate above the spring holder, and tubular supports or rods retaining the post-sintered spacing established by the applied load defining the spacing of the base plate from the retaining plate. A spring for maintaining compression in each stack is positioned between the spring holder and the retaining plate. The invention further comprises a method for assembling a fuel cell assembly to provide an adequate compressive load to the stack during assembly and operation.
摘要:
A fuel cell module having four sheet metal parts stamped from flat stock. The parts do not require any forming operations such as folding or dishing. Each part may have a different thickness to suit its function. The first part is a cell mounting frame for receiving and supporting a PEN fuel cell element. The second part is a cathode spacer, the thickness of the spacer determining the height of the cathode air flow field. The third part is an anode spacer, the thickness of spacer determining the height of the anode fuel flow field. The fourth part is a separator plate for separating the anode gas flow in one cell from the cathode air flow in an adjacent cell in a fuel cell stack. The four plates are joined by welding or brazing and may be assembled in any order or combination which suits the assembly process. Any desired number of modules may be stacked together to form a fuel cell stack.
摘要:
An electrically-conductive mesh spacer incorporated into the hydrogen and air gas flow spaces between each anode and cathode and its adjacent interconnect in a fuel cell stack. The mesh is formed of metal strands and is formed into a predetermined three-dimensional pattern to make contact at a plurality of points on the surfaces of the electrode and the interconnect element. The formed mesh spacer is secured as by brazing to the interconnect element at a plurality of locations to form an interconnect, which preserves the pattern during assembly of a fuel cell stack. The height of the formed pattern is greater than the height of a gas flow space after fuel cell assembly, such that the mesh spacer is slightly compressed during assembly of a fuel cell stack. Because the metal mesh is both compliant and resilient, the compressed spacer is continuously urged into mechanical and electrical contact with its electrode over all temperatures and pressures to which the fuel cell assembly may be subjected during use.
摘要:
A method of starting a solid oxide fuel cell system is disclosed. The method comprises pressurizing a main plenum to a first pressure. The main plenum comprises a first supply of fuel, blowers, and air control valves. The first supply of fuel and a first supply of air are directed to a preheated micro-reformer. A heated pre-reformate is created in the micro-reformer and discharged from the micro-reformer to a main reformer. The main reformer is preheated with the heated pre-reformate. A second supply of fuel and a second supply of air are introduced to the main reformer. A heated main reformate is created in the main reformer and directed to a waste energy recovery assembly. A cathode supply is heated in the waste energy recovery system and then directed to a solid oxide fuel cell stack in order to heat the solid oxide fuel cell stack. Methods of transitioning, operating, shutting down, and maintaining in standby mode are also disclosed. A solid oxide fuel cell mechanization for a transportation vehicle is also disclosed.
摘要:
A solid-oxide fuel cell system including an integrated reforming unit comprising a hydrocarbon fuel reformer; an integral tail gas and cathode air combustor and reformer heat exchanger; a fuel pre-heater and fuel injector cooler; a fuel injector and fuel/air mixer and vaporizer; a reforming air pre-heating heat exchanger; a reforming air temperature control valve and means; and a pre-reformer start-up combustor. The integration of a plate reformer, tail gas combustor, and combustor gas heat exchanger allows for efficient operation modes of the reformer, both endothermic and exothermic as desired. The combustor gas heat exchanger aids in temperature regulation of the reformer and reduces significant thermal gradients in the unit.
摘要:
In a solid-oxide fuel cell system, a catalytic reformer unit provides reformate fuel for use by the cells in generating electricity. Both the reformer and the fuel cells require elevated temperatures for satisfactory operation. The reformer unit is provided with a combustion chamber and igniter ahead of the catalytic reformer plates such that, during start-up, fuel/air mixture normally destined for reformation may be ignited in the combustion chamber to provide a hot combustion exhaust which is fed through the catalytic reformer and the anode reformate flow spaces to assist in rapidly bringing the fuel cell system to operating temperature.
摘要:
In a solid-oxide fuel cell assembly, at least one positive displacement air supply (PDAS) pump supplies at least a portion of the air required for various functional air streams through the assembly. Mass air flow through each PDAS pump is readily controlled to a predetermined flow by controlling the rotational speed of the pump, obviating the need for an MAF sensor and control valve. Preferably, each different air stream through the assembly is controlled by its own PDAS pump, sized for the required flow, allowing each to operate at its optimal pressure and thereby minimizing the parasitic electrical cost of providing air to the SOFC assembly.
摘要:
A fuel cell assembly or system including flexible metal bellows elements in one or more tubes intended for carrying hot gases during operation of the assembly. The bellows elements include a tubing element having plurality of annular corrugated folds. Thermal expansion and contraction of rigid tubes and of the non-tubular elements of the assembly can lead to buckling, cracking, and failure of the tubes and failure of the assembly or system. The flexible bellows elements, having relatively low axial and radial spring rates thus are able to absorb thermal and vibrational dimensional changes in the assembly. In addition, the corrugations provide significant resistance to axial heat flow and large radiant surface area, thus increasing thermal isolation where desired between relatively hot and relatively cold regions of the assembly.
摘要:
In a solid-oxide fuel cell system, an integrated air supply system provides oxygen for the fuel cell cathode reaction via a first air flow through a heat exchanger and a second air flow bypassing the heat exchanger, at least one of the first and second flows being throttled by a control valve responsive to a fuel cell control system, the flows subsequently being combined to provide air to the cathodes at a desired temperature.