Joint-cycle high-efficiency fuel cell system with power generating expander
    2.
    发明申请
    Joint-cycle high-efficiency fuel cell system with power generating expander 审中-公开
    联合循环高效燃料电池系统与发电膨胀机

    公开(公告)号:US20070009774A1

    公开(公告)日:2007-01-11

    申请号:US11176691

    申请日:2005-07-07

    IPC分类号: H01M8/04

    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 reformats 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。 在离开燃料电池之后,该空气/蒸汽混合物通过与重整塔流和重整产生模块的热交换以及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。