Abstract:
Hydrogen generation assemblies and their components are disclosed. In some embodiments, the assemblies may include a pump controller configured to select a flowrate from a plurality of flowrates based on detected pressure, and to operate the pump at the selected flowrate. In some embodiments, the assemblies may include a purge valve assembly configured to allow at least one pressurized gas to flow through a purge conduit from a pressurized gas assembly to a fuel processing assembly when power to the fuel processing assembly is interrupted. In some embodiments, the assemblies may include a damper controller configured to move a damper between fully open and closed positions based, at least in part, on detected temperature in a hydrogen-producing region. In some embodiments, the assemblies may include a reformer controller configured to operate a fuel processing assembly between run and standby modes based, at least in part, on detected pressure.
Abstract:
Feedstock delivery systems for hydrogen generation assemblies having a hydrogen-producing region and a heating assembly. The delivery system provides a hydrogen-production fluid to the hydrogen-producing region and provides a heating fuel to the heating assembly. The delivery system includes a pressure vessel having an interior cavity containing the heating fuel and the hydrogen-production fluid, which are disposed in the pressure vessel in a pressurizing-pressurized relationship, in which the heating fuel is discharged from the pressure vessel under it own pressure and the hydrogen-production fluid is discharged under pressure applied by the heating fuel. The feedstock delivery system may separately discharge the hydrogenproduction fluid and the heating fuel and may include a pressure transmitter disposed between the hydrogen-production fluid and the heating fuel. The heating fuel may be a condensable fluid and the hydrogen-production fluid may be a liquid at the operating conditions of the feedstock delivery system.
Abstract:
Hydrogen purification devices, components thereof, and fuel processors and fuel cell systems containing the same. The hydrogen purification devices include an enclosure, such as a pressure vessel, that contains a separation assembly adapted to receive under pressure a mixed gas stream containing hydrogen gas and to produce a stream that contains pure or at least substantially pure hydrogen gas therefrom. In some embodiments, the enclosure is sealed without gaskets. The separation assembly includes at least one hydrogen-permeable and/or hydrogenselective membrane, and in some embodiments the hydrogen selective membrane is permanently and directly secured to the enclosure. In some embodiments, the membrane is welded, diffusion bonded or brazed directly to the enclosure. In some embodiments a portion of the hydrogen-selective membrane forms a portion of the sealed enclosure, and, in some embodiments, an interface is formed from consumed portions of the hydrogen-selective membrane and the enclosure.
Abstract:
Fuel cell systems that include at least one fuel cell stack adapted to receive a fuel stream containing hydrogen gas or other proton source, and an oxidant stream containing oxygen gas. The systems include an oxidant supply system adapted to deliver an enriched, or concentrated, oxidant stream to the fuel cell stack. In some embodiments, the oxidant supply system is adapted to receive an air stream and produce an oxygen-enriched stream therefrom. In some embodiments, the fuel cell system includes a water-recovery system adapted to recover water produced in the fuel cell stack, such as may be recovered from the cathode exhaust stream from the fuel cell stack. In some embodiments, the recovered water is utilized as at least a portion of a feed stream for the fuel cell system, such as for a reformer or electrolyzer that produces hydrogen used as fuel for the fuel cell stack.
Abstract:
Fuel cell systems that include at least one fuel cell stack adapted to receive a fuel stream containing hydrogen gas or other proton source, and an oxidant stream containing oxygen gas. The systems include an oxidant supply system adapted to deliver an enriched, or concentrated, oxidant stream to the fuel cell stack. In some embodiments, the oxidant supply system is adapted to receive an air stream and produce an oxygen-enriched stream therefrom. In some embodiments, the fuel cell system includes a water-recovery system adapted to recover water produced in the fuel cell stack, such as may be recovered from the cathode exhaust stream from the fuel cell stack. In some embodiments, the recovered water is utilized as at least a portion of a feed stream for the fuel cell system, such as for a reformer or electrolyzer that produces hydrogen used as fuel for the fuel cell stack.
Abstract:
A steam reformer with internal hydrogen purification includes internal bulk hydrogen purification, internal hydrogen polishing to remove trace levels of carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide, an integrated combustion method utilizing waste gas to heat the reformer, efficient integration of heat transfer and a compact design. The steam reformer includes a concentric cylindrical architecture with the outermost shell (50) nesting an annular combustion region (60), and annular reforming region (62), and annular hydrogen transport region (54) and cylindrical polishing region (56).
Abstract:
Hydrogen generation assemblies, hydrogen purification devices, and their components, and methods of manufacturing those assemblies, devices, and components are disclosed. In some embodiments, the assemblies may include a vaporization region with packing material configured to transfer heat from a heated exhaust stream to a liquid-containing feed stream, and/or an insulation base adjacent a combustion region and configured to reduce external temperature of an enclosure.
Abstract:
Fuel cell systems and methods for controlling the operation of components of the fuel cell system, which may include a fuel source (46) and a fuel cell stack (24). In some examples, a fuel source (46) is adapted to provide supply fuel to a fuel cell stack (24) at a supply pressure, the fuel cell stack (24) produces electric current at a production amperage. In some examples, a control system (80) is adapted to control operation of the fuel cell stack (24) based on a pressure detected at the fuel celll stack (24). In some examples, a target production amerage is determined based on the detected pressure, such that when electric current is producted at the target production amperage for the detected pressure, the fuel cell stack (24) consumes a predetermined proportion of the supply fuel.
Abstract:
Feedstock delivery systems and hydrogen-producing fuel processing assemblies and fuel cell systems containing the same. The feedstock delivery systems include a liquid pump that draws at least one liquid feedstock from a supply and delivers at least one feed stream containing the feedstock(s) to a fuel processor, such as to the hydrogen-producing region thereof. The feedstock delivery system further includes a recycle conduit that establishes a fluid flow path for the liquid feedstock(s) from a location downstream of the pump back to a location upstream of the pump. In some embodiments, the feedstock delivery system further includes a flow restrictor associated with the recycle conduit and a pressure-actuated valve that selectively permits the recycled feedstock to bypass the flow restrictor. In some embodiments, the pump is configured to draw a greater flow rate of the feed stream from the supply than is delivered to the fuel processor.
Abstract:
Combustion-based heating assemblies and hydrogen-producing fuel processing assemblies that include at least a reforming region adapted to be heated by the heating assemblies. The heating assembly may include at least one fuel chamber and at least one heating and ignition source. The at least one fuel chamber may be adapted to receive at least one fuel stream at a first temperature. The fuel stream may include a liquid, combustible, carbon-containing fuel having an ignition temperature greater than the first temperature at which the fuel stream is delivered to the fuel chamber. The at least one heating and ignition source may be adapted to heat at least a portion of the fuel chamber to raise the temperature of at least a portion of the carbon-containing fuel to a second temperature at least as great as the ignition temperature and to ignite the carbon-containing fuel. Methods of use are also disclosed.