# US 10,483,575 B2 · Fuel cell device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,483,575 B2 - Document ID: US10483575B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/810,790 - Filed: 2015-07-28 - Published: 2016-02-04 - Granted: 2019-11-19 - Earliest claimed: 2014-07-29 - Assignees: Robert Bosch GmbH - Applicants: Robert Bosch GmbH - Inventors: Maxime Carre - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10483575B2 ## CPC - H01M 8/0618: {Reforming processes, e.g. autothermal, partial oxidation or steam reforming} - H01M 8/04067: {Heat exchange or temperature measuring elements, thermal insulation, e.g. heat pipes, heat pumps, fins} - H01M 8/04097: {with recycling of the reactants (H01M8/04119, H01M8/04104 take precedence)} - H01M 8/04201: {Reactant storage and supply, e.g. means for feeding, pipes} - H01M 8/0631: {Reactor construction specially adapted for combination reactor/fuel cell (hydrogen C01B3/00; reactors for physicochemical processes B01J19/00)} - H01M 8/0675: {Removal of sulfur} - H01M 8/0693: {Treatment of the electrolyte residue, e.g. reconcentrating} - H01M 8/04395: {of cathode reactants at the inlet or inside the fuel cell} - H01M 8/04776: {at auxiliary devices, e.g. reformer, compressor, burner} - Y02E 60/50: Fuel cells - H01M: PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY - Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION ## Abstract The invention is based on a fuel cell device which is provided to be operated with a natural gas, having a fuel cell unit (12) and an anode gas processor (14) arranged upstream of the fuel cell unit (12), which anode gas processor is provided to prepare the natural gas for use in the fuel cell unit (12) and which comprises a desulfurization unit (18), which is provided to desulfurize the natural gas, an oxidation unit (20), which is provided to perform partial oxidation, and a reformer unit (22), which is provided to produce at least one fuel gas. It is proposed that the fuel cell device comprise a recirculation unit (16), which is provided to supply at least a proportion of an anode waste gas from the fuel cell unit (12) to the fuel cell device (10). ## Claims ### Claim 1 A fuel cell device configured to be operated with a natural gas, having a fuel cell unit (12) and an anode gas processor (14) arranged upstream of the fuel cell unit (12), which anode gas processor is configured to prepare the natural gas for use in the fuel cell unit (12) and which comprises a desulfurization unit (18), which is configured to desulfurize the natural gas, an oxidation unit (20), which is configured to perform partial oxidation, and a reformer unit (22), which is configured to produce at least one fuel gas, characterized by a recirculation unit (16), which is configured to supply at least a proportion of an anode waste gas from the fuel cell unit (12) to the anode gas processor (14), wherein the anode waste gas is delivered to the anode gas processor upstream of the desulfurization unit (18), and wherein the anode waste gas supplied by the recirculation unit (16) comprises steam and hydrogen. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The fuel cell device according to claim 1, characterized in that the desulfurization unit (18), the oxidation unit (20) and the reformer unit (22) are connected together flow-wise in series. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The fuel cell device according to claim 2, characterized in that the desulfurization unit (18) is arranged flow-wise upstream of the oxidation unit (20) and the reformer unit (22) is arranged flow-wise downstream of the oxidation unit (20). ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The fuel cell device according to claim 1, characterized in that the anode gas processor (14) comprises a mixing unit (26) which is configured to mix a fluid leaving the desulfurization unit (18) with ambient air. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The fuel cell system according to claim 4, characterized by an ambient air metering unit (30), which is configured to regulate a supply of ambient air to the mixing unit (26). ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The fuel cell device at least according to claim 1, characterized in that the oxidation unit (20) is arranged flow-wise in parallel with the desulfurization unit (18) and the reformer unit (22). ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The fuel cell device according to claim 1, characterized in that the desulfurization unit (18) takes a form of a hydrodesulfurization unit (24). ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The fuel cell device according to claim 1, characterized in that at least two of the desulfurization unit (18), the oxidation unit (20) and the reformer unit (22) are connected permanently together by means of at least one fluid line (56). ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The fuel cell device according to claim 1, characterized by thermal insulation (52), which at least substantially surrounds at least one of the desulfurization unit (18), the oxidation unit (20) and the reformer unit (22). ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The fuel cell device according to claim 1, characterized by a housing unit (54), which at least substantially surrounds at least one of the desulfurization unit (18), the oxidation unit (20) and the reformer unit (22). ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The fuel cell device according to claim 8, characterized in that at least two of the desulfurization unit (18), the oxidation unit (20) and the reformer unit (22) are connected permanently together by means of at least one fluid line (56). ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The fuel cell device according to claim 9, wherein the thermal insulation (52) at least substantially surrounds at least two of the desulfurization unit (18), the oxidation unit (20) and the reformer unit (22). ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The fuel cell device according to claim 10, wherein the housing unit (54) at least substantially surrounds at least two of the desulfurization unit (18), the oxidation unit (20) and the reformer unit (22). ### Claim 14 (depends on 8) The fuel cell device according to claim 8, characterized in that the desulfurization unit (18), the oxidation unit (20) and the reformer unit (22) are connected permanently together by means of at least one fluid line (56). ### Claim 15 (depends on 9) The fuel cell device according to claim 9, wherein the thermal insulation (52) at least substantially surrounds the desulfurization unit (18), the oxidation unit (20) and the reformer unit (22). ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The fuel cell device according to claim 10, wherein the housing unit (54) at least substantially surrounds the desulfurization unit (18), the oxidation unit (20) and the reformer unit (22). ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The fuel cell device according to claim 1, wherein the anode waste gas is delivered downstream of a natural gas metering unit (28a).