System and method for increasing the efficiency for a solid oxide fuel cell system
AssigneeCummins Power Generation IP, Inc.
InventorsCharles J. Vesely, Xin G. Li
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system and method are provided for increasing efficiency of a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) system by recapturing water via a condensate extraction system that extracts water from a hot cathode exhaust flow of the SOFC stack. Further, the SOFC system can include a radiant heater which has a fuel inlet, an air intake, and an exhaust outlet independent and separate from the power generating components in the SOFC system. The radiant heater can bring the SOFC stack up to operating temperature quickly and/or maintain near operational mode temperatures of the SOFC stack during a hibernation mode.
Claims19
A system for heating a solid oxide fuel cell, comprising:
- a hot box containing a fuel cell stack;
- a reformer configured to receive anode air and fuel and to provide reformed fuel to an anode side of the fuel cell stack;
- a recuperator disposed inside the hot box and configured to receive cathode air for a cathode side of the fuel cell stack;
- and
- an exhaust cooler disposed inside of the hot box, the exhaust cooler comprising a compressor driven refrigerant cooler configured to separate liquid water from anode exhaust from the anode side of the fuel cell stack.
A method for increasing an efficiency of a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) system, comprising:
- directing cathode air for a cathode side of a fuel cell to a recuperator and then to the cathode side of the fuel cell, the fuel cell and the recuperator disposed in a hot box;
- directing an anode exhaust from the fuel cell to an exhaust cooler that is disposed within the hot box, the exhaust cooler comprising a compressor driven refrigerant cooler;
- operating the compressor driven refrigerant cooler to extract water vapor from the anode exhaust;
- directing the water vapor to an air intake of a reformer;
- producing a reformed fuel with an increased water balance based at least on the directed water vapor;
- and
- supplying the reformed fuel with the increased water balance to an anode side of the fuel cell.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.