Abstract:
Apparatus and method for operating a fuel cell system including a hydrocarbon catalytic reformer and close-coupled fuel cell stack by recycling anode syngas into the reformer in a range between 60% and 95% of the total syngas. At equilibrium conditions, oxygen required for reforming of hydrocarbon fuel is derived from endothermically reformed water and carbon dioxide in the syngas. Reforming temperature is between about 650° C. to 750° C. The stack exit temperature is about 800° C. to 880° C. such that the required endotherm can be provided by the sensible heat of the recycled syngas. The stack has approximately equal anode and cathode gas flows in opposite directions, resulting in cooling from both the anodes and cathodes.
Abstract:
A solid oxide fuel cell system including electric resistance elements for heating of space and components within the “hot zone” enclosure of the system, preferably in combination with means for using “waste” heat from other sources, to assist in warm-up from a cold start and/or to maintain a stand-by temperature of reformer and fuel cell elements within the system and/or to maintain optimum operating temperatures within the system during periods of very low electrical demand on the system. A method is included for using off-peak grid electricity, battery-stored onboard electricity, or vehicle-generated electricity to energize the resistance heaters, as well as utilizing gaseous waste heat sources such as vehicle exhaust gas to complement the resistance heating.
Abstract:
An internal combustion engine is supplied with reformate from a hydrocarbon reformer at engine start-up and during engine warm-up. The reformate fuel mixture is fuel-lean at start-up to ensure that all the fuel is burned while the exhaust converter is thermally non-functional. Shortly after start-up, the mixture is changed to be fuel-rich, providing unburned reformate fuel in the exhaust stream. During start-up and warm-up, the output of an air pump is controllably divided between the reformer (primary air) and the engine exhaust system (secondary air). Unburned reformate from the engine and secondary air from the air pump ignite and thereby rapidly heat the converter. Gasoline or diesel fueling of the engine by fuel injection is preferably delayed until the engine and the converter both reach operating temperatures, whereupon the engine is fueled by fuel injection and further reforming is terminated.
Abstract:
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.
Abstract:
A method for improving the efficiency of a hydrocarbon catalytic reformer and close-coupled fuel cell system by recycling a percentage of the anode exhaust syngas directly into the reformer in a range between about 20% and about 60%. Oxygen is supplied to the reformer at start-up. Under equilibrium conditions, oxygen required for reforming of hydrocarbon fuel is derived entirely from endothermic reforming of water and carbon dioxide in the recycled syngas. Recycling of anode syngas into the reformer increases fuel efficiency, adds excess water to the reformate to increase protection against anode coking, and protects the fuel cell stack against air- and water-borne contaminants. A method for producing an excess amount of syngas for exporting for other purposes is also provided.
Abstract:
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.
Abstract:
A hybrid fuel cell system comprising a solid-oxide fuel cell system, a proton exchange membrane fuel cell system, a hydrocarbon reformer and a hydrogen separator. A large PEM provides output power, such as motive power for a vehicle, using hydrogen storage that may be resupplied from a separate hydrogen refilling station or from the onboard reformer. The SOFC is preferably small and provides heat and exhaust water that, when recycled into the reformer, allow the reformer to operate endothermically without requiring atmospheric air, thus excluding nitrogen from the reformate stream. Alternatively, the reformer and SOFC are stationary at a base station and the PEM is aboard the vehicle. The SOFC and reformer have sufficient capacity to recharge hydrogen storage in the vehicle in a relatively short period of time, such as overnight.
Abstract:
During periods of vehicle inactivity, a vehicle-based APU electric generating system may be coupled into a regional electric grid to send electricity into the grid. A currently-preferred APU is a solid oxide fuel cell system. When a large number of vehicles are thus equipped and connected, substantial electric buffering can be effected to the grid load. A vehicle-based APU can also function as a back-up generator to a docking facility in the event of power failure of the grid. Gaseous hydrocarbon is readily supplied by pipe in many locations as a commercial and residential heating fuel source, and a hydrocarbon reformer on the vehicle can be attached to the fuel source, enabling an APU to operate as a stationary power source indefinitely. An optional storage tank on the vehicle may be refueled with gaseous fuel, for example, while the battery is being electrically recharged by the grid.
Abstract:
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.
Abstract:
A reformer system has a reformer for converting a hydrocarbon-containing fuel to a hydrogen-gas-rich reformate gas, and an HC adsorber, which is connected to an output side of the reformer and adsorbs, as a function of temperature, hydrocarbons contained in the reformate gas, or for desorbing previously adsorbed hydrocarbons to the reformate gas. The reformer system transmits the reformate gas after passing through the HC adsorber to a consuming device. The chronological progression of the adsorption/desorption behavior of the HC adsorber during an operating phase of the reformer as a function of the reformate gas temperature occurring in the operating phase and/or a temperature gradient of the reformate gas occurring in the operating phase is coordinated with the chronological progression of the operating behavior of the consuming device such that a significant desorption of hydrocarbons from the HC adsorber takes place only when the consuming device is in an operating condition in which the desorbed hydrocarbons are processed by the consuming device such that the hydrocarbon fraction of the gases expelled from the consuming device and/or the function of the consuming device is/are not significantly influenced by the desorbed hydrocarbons.