A fuel cell system includes at least one fuel cell stack, a fuel inlet conduit, and a fuel heat exchanger containing a fuel reformation catalyst. The fuel heat exchanger is connected to the fuel inlet conduit and to at least one fuel cell system exhaust conduit which in operation provides a high temperature exhaust stream to the fuel heat exchanger. The fuel heat exchanger is thermally integrated with an anode tail gas oxidizer (ATO) exhaust conduit such that in operation an ATO exhaust stream in the ATO exhaust conduit heats a fuel inlet stream passing through the heat exchanger.

Fuel cell system containing anode tail gas oxidizer and hybrid heat exchanger/reformer

The invention relates to a fuel processor that produces hydrogen from a fuel. The fuel processor comprises a reformer and a heater. The reformer includes a catalyst that facilitates the production of hydrogen from the fuel; the heater provides heat to the reformer. Multipass reformer and heater chambers are described that reduce fuel processor size. Single layer fuel processors include reformer and heater chambers in a compact form factor that is well suited for portable applications. Some fuel processors described herein place an electrically resistive material in contact with a thermally conductive material to heat fuel entering the fuel processor. This is particularly useful during start-up of the fuel processor. Fuel processors described may also include features that facilitate assembly.

Fuel processor for use with portable fuel cells

A thermally integrated fuel cell system includes a stack zone, a burner zone and a low temperature zone. The fuel is combined with steam and passed sequentially through a primary reformer and a secondary reformer. Air is split into two parallel streams and preheated in a low temperature heat exchanger. One air stream passes to a high temperature heat exchanger while the other passes to a radiative heat exchanger. The air and fuel streams are equalized in an equalization heat exchanger before entering the fuel cell stacks. The stack exhaust is combusted in an afterburner. Afterburner exhaust heats the primary reformer, the high temperature heat exchanger, the low temperature heat exchanger and steam generator. The stack zone includes the stacks, the secondary reformer, the radiative heat exchanger and the equalization heat exchanger. The burner zone includes the afterburner, the primary reformer and the high temperature heat exchanger. The low temperature zone includes the low temperature heat exchanger and the steam generator.

Thermally integrated sofc system

A fuel purification system includes a fuel cell stack and a fuel purification unit, such as a distillation unit The fuel cell stack is adapted to provide heat to the fuel purification unit, and the fuel purification unit is adapted to provide a purified fuel to the fuel cell stack

High temperature fuel cell system for operation with low purity ethanol

An SOFC stack module including an integral individual stack manifold containing all of the gas pathways necessary for supply and exhaust of fuel gas and cathode air to and from the stack chimneys. The stack is mounted and hermetically joined directly to the manifold without an intermediate base plate. Flanges at the inlet and outlet ports couple to system distributary manifolds via high temperature sealing joints. The manifold preferably is fabricated of a ferritic stainless steel, and may be formed in a one-piece casting, a combination of multiple castings and stamped plates metallurgically joined (brazed or welded together), or stamped from sheet metal stock. Preferably, the manifold includes fin structures extending into adjacent fuel gas and cathode air chambers to enhance balancing of temperatures by heat exchange therebetween. Heat exchange may be further improved by configuring the manifold to have a plurality of interleaved anode and cathode gas supply chambers.

Solid oxide fuel cell stack having an integral gas distribution manifold

A solid-oxide fuel cell system having a compact, highly space-efficient basal manifold for conveying high temperature air, exhaust, and hydrogen-rich reformate fuel to and from the core components of the system. The manifold is a three-dimensional assembly of plates and partitioned elements which are easily and inexpensively formed. When assembled, the manifold comprises a network of passageways which allow for the mounting, close-coupling, and integration of critical fuel cell system components, including heat exchangers, a tail gas combustor and fuel reformer, solid-oxide fuel cell stacks, check valves, and oxygen scavengers.

Solid-oxide fuel cell system having an integrated air/fuel manifold

A method of using a diesel reforming strategy is disclosed. The method comprises supplying diesel fuel to a fractional distillation device. The diesel fuel is fractionally distilled to produce a light fuel stream and a heavy fuel stream. The light fuel stream is reformed in a reformer to produce a reformate. A method of making an apparatus for a diesel fuel reforming strategy and a method for using a fuel cell system is also disclosed. A fuel cell system for diesel fuel reforming is also disclosed.

Diesel fuel reforming strategy

An integrated solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) system (10) includes a solid oxide fuel cell subassembly (16) having a fuel cell stack (90) fluidly interconnected with a distribution manifold (92) A waste energy recovery subassembly (14) includes a heat exchanger (54) and combustion zone (52) The waste energy recovery subassembly (14) is fluidly interconnected with the distribution manifold (92) A reformer subassembly (12) is fluidly connected to the waste energy recovery subassembly (14)

Integrated solid oxide fuel cell system

Apparatus and method for detecting a fuel leak from a component includes providing a fuel leak enclosure about the component being monitored.

Chris M. Deminco

Papers

Solid-oxide fuel cell system having an integrated air/fuel manifold

Diesel fuel reforming strategy

Integrated solid oxide fuel cell system

Fuel leak detection apparatus and method