Joint-cycle high-efficiency fuel cell system with power generating turbine
    4.
    发明授权
    Joint-cycle high-efficiency fuel cell system with power generating turbine 有权
    具有发电涡轮机的联合循环高效燃料电池系统

    公开(公告)号:US06921595B2

    公开(公告)日:2005-07-26

    申请号:US09870412

    申请日:2001-05-30

    摘要: The efficiency of a combination reformer/fuel cell system is significantly improved by recapturing the energy value of heat generated in the fuel cell and producing additional power. The cooling water from the fuel cell is mixed, entirely or in part, with sufficient or excess compressed air, and at least partially evaporates in the compressed air. The air is at least sufficient to support the oxidative reactions in the fuel cell and also to serve as oxidant in a burner that provides heat to reform fuel/steam mixtures into hydrogen-containing reformate. This air/steam mixture, after leaving the fuel cell, is further heated by heat exchange with the reformate stream and reformate-producing modules, and with the exhaust stream of the burner. The steam/air mixture is injected into the burner, optionally after superheating in the burner exhaust, and is reacted with fuel in the burner. The burner exhaust may be used to provide heat to a fuel reforming reaction. The high-temperature burner exhaust may also be used to drive an expander, preferably a turbine, at a location in the system which is downstream of the burner, but in which the exhaust is at a high temperature so as to run the turbine efficiently. The turbine recovers heat energy from the fuel cell as mechanical energy, typically in excess of the energy required to run a compressor, because of the addition of steam to the compressed air. Moreover, system heat removal elements, such as radiators, as well as overall system size and cost, can be markedly reduced for a given level of output.

    摘要翻译: 通过重新获得在燃料电池中产生的热量的能量值并产生额外的功率,组合重整器/燃料电池系统的效率显着提高。 来自燃料电池的冷却水全部或部分地与足够的或过量的压缩空气混合,并且在压缩空气中至少部分蒸发。 空气至少足以支持燃料电池中的氧化反应,并且还用作燃烧器中的氧化剂,燃烧器提供热量以将燃料/蒸气混合物重整成含氢重整产物。 离开燃料电池后的空气/蒸汽混合物通过与重整产物流和重整产生模块的热交换以及与燃烧器的排气流进一步加热。 将蒸气/空气混合物注入燃烧器中,任选地在燃烧器排气中过热后,与燃烧器中的燃料反应。 燃烧器排气可以用于向燃料重整反应提供热量。 高温燃烧器排气也可以用于在燃烧器下游的系统中的一个位置处驱动膨胀机,优选涡轮机,其中排气处于高温,以有效地运行涡轮机。 由于向压缩空气中加入蒸汽,涡轮机以机械能(通常超过运行压缩机所需的能量)恢复来自燃料电池的热能。 此外,对于给定的输出水平,系统除热元件(例如散热器)以及总体系统尺寸和成本可以显着降低。

    High-efficiency fuel cell power system with power generating expander
    5.
    发明授权
    High-efficiency fuel cell power system with power generating expander 有权
    具有发电扩张器的高效燃料电池电力系统

    公开(公告)号:US06916564B2

    公开(公告)日:2005-07-12

    申请号:US10335538

    申请日:2002-12-31

    摘要: A hydrogen fuel cell power system having improved efficiency comprises a fuel cell, a source of hydrogen gas, a compressor for creating a pressurized air stream, and a liquid supply which is heated by waste heat form the power system and evaporates into the pressurized air stream to produce a pressurized air and steam mixture. The pressurized air/steam mixture, which is preferably used as the oxidant in the fuel cell, is combusted with fuel in a burner to produce a high-temperature steam-laden exhaust stream. The high-temperature steam-laden exhaust stream drives an expander to produce a power output, and a power take-off from the expander uses the expander power to, for instance, drive an electrical generator, or drive other system components. The evaporation of liquid can take place external to the fuel cell, or can take place directly within the fuel cell, preferably using a cooling liquid that is directly injected into the fuel cell. The fuel cell power system advantageously uses the low-temperature waste heat of the fuel cell to evaporate liquid into the pressurized air, resulting in a steam/air mixture having a relatively large expansion potential.The systems and related methods of the invention are applicable to a wide range of fuel cell power systems, including a “pure” or “non-hybrid” fuel cell power system, powered by hydrogen from either an external source, such as a hydrogen storage tank, or from “direct” reforming of a fuel at the anode. The invention is also applicable to integrated or “hybridized” fuel cell power systems which contain a local fuel reformer. In these systems, the fuel cell is powered by hydrogen-containing reformate generated by the reformer.

    摘要翻译: 具有提高效率的氢燃料电池电力系统包括燃料电池,氢气源,用于产生加压空气流的压缩机,以及由废热加热形成电力系统并蒸发成加压空气流的液体供应源 以产生加压的空气和蒸汽混合物。 优选用作燃料电池中的氧化剂的加压空气/蒸汽混合物在燃烧器中与燃料一起燃烧以产生高温蒸汽负载排气流。 高温蒸汽排气流驱动膨胀机以产生动力输出,并且来自膨胀机的动力输出使用膨胀机动力来例如驱动发电机或驱动其他系统部件。 液体的蒸发可以在燃料电池的外部进行,或者可以直接在燃料电池内进行,优选使用直接喷射到燃料电池中的冷却液。 燃料电池电力系统有利地使用燃料电池的低温余热将液体蒸发到加压空气中,导致具有相对较大膨胀电位的蒸汽/空气混合物。 本发明的系统和相关方法适用于各种各样的燃料电池电力系统,包括“纯”或“非混合”燃料电池电力系统,其由来自外部源的氢气供电,诸如氢存储 罐或从阳极“燃料”直接重整。 本发明也适用于含有局部燃料重整器的集成或“混合”燃料电池电力系统。 在这些系统中,燃料电池由重整器产生的含氢重整产物提供动力。