摘要:
A fuel processor for rapid start and operational control. The fuel processor includes a reformer, a shift reactor, and a preferential oxidation reactor for deriving hydrogen for use in creating electricity in a plurality of H2—O2 fuel cells. A heating and cooling mechanism is coupled to at least the shift reactor for controlling the critical temperature operation of the shift reactor without the need for a separate cooling loop. This heating and cooling mechanism produces or removes thermal energy as a product of the temperature of the combustion of air and fuel. Anode effluent and cathode effluent or air are used to control the temperature output of the heating mechanism. A vaporizer is provided that heats the PrOx reactor to operating temperature.
摘要:
The present invention provides for a method and apparatus for hydrogen detection and dilution. The present invention uses an enclosure within which a variety of components of a fuel cell system are located and a ventilation stream to vent the enclosure which is induced by operation of a compressor that also is operable to supply the oxygen to the fuel cell system. The ventilation stream is directed through an outlet in the enclosure that contains a hydrogen sensor that is operable to both detect the presence of hydrogen and to consume hydrogen within the ventilation stream prior to being exhausted from the enclosure. The ventilation stream, alternatively, can be induced by operation of a fan driven by a motor which operates independently of the operation of the oxidant delivery system.
摘要:
A fuel processor system capable of circulating fuel processor system gases, e.g. reformate, anode exhaust, and/or combustor exhaust, through a fuel processor provides advantages. The system fuel cells discharge hydrogen-containing anode exhaust and oxygen-containing cathode exhaust, The fuel processor converts hydrogen-containing fuel to hydrogen-containing reformate to fuel the fuel cells. A catalytic combustor coupled with a vaporizer reactor is positioned in series downstream from the fuel cells. A bypass passage connects an outlet of at least one of the fuel processor, the fuel cells, the catalytic combustor, and the vaporizer reactor to the inlet of the fuel processor. The bypass passage is operable to circulate a fuel processor system gas to the inlet of the fuel processor.
摘要:
The present invention includes an integrated fuel processor subsystem incorporating a thermal combustor, a catalytic combustor, a quasi-autothermal reactor (QATR) and a air-fuel-steam (AFS) mixer to provide a range of operating modes exhibiting performance between that of a pure steam reformer and a pure autothermal reformer to increase the flexibility of the fuel processor to handle transient system demands such as cold starts, suppress emissions and carbon formation and improve efficiency.
摘要:
The present invention relates to a fuel processing unit in an electrochemical fuel cell power plant, and more specifically to a preheater combustor that forms byproduct compounds that may destroy downstream catalytic reactors for fuel reforming. The present invention includes a retention material that collects the byproduct compounds prior to entry into the downstream reactors. The retention material may be comprised of at least one active compound and a support structure, preferably having a porous body to facilitate tortuous fluid flow. Further aspects of the invention may include an electrical charging device for use with the retention device material that enhances collection of byproduct compounds. The present invention also includes a method of operation for start-up incorporating a retention material.
摘要:
A stamped bipolar plate of a fuel cell stack includes a first stamped plate half having a first reactant flow field formed therein, a portion of which defines a first reactant header region. A second stamped plate half has a first coolant flow field formed therein, a portion of which defines a first set of coolant feed channels that extend at least partially across the first reactant header region.