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US 2001/0018140 A1Published application
Catalytic burner element inside a fuel cell with structured catalytic coated surfaces
OwnerIngo Hermann, Hans-Gerd Dusterwaldinventors
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OwnerIngo Hermann, Hans-Gerd Dusterwaldinventors
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A heat-emitting burner element, especially for use in a reformer unit of a fuel cell system, consists of two at least essentially parallel and spaced-apart plates and is characterized by the fact that the plates form a reaction gap between them, and as a result of the catalytic combustion of a fuel gas/oxygen mixture there on a catalytic coating facing the reaction gap provided on at least one of the plates, generate heat and emit it by radiation, convection and conduction directly through the coated plates(s) to at least one neighboring endothermic stage and that at least one of the plates displays structural elements having the catalytic coating and also extending into the reaction gap, which structural elements extend in the flow direction and consist, e.g., of fins or bars. A device for introducing diluting air transversely to the flow direction through the reaction gap is preferably provided.
A heat-emitting burner element for use with at least one processing device of a fuel cell system performing an endothermic process, e.g., with an endothermic stage of a reforming unit where the burner element consists of at least two plates arranged essentially parallel to each other and at a distance from each other, characterized by the fact that the plates form a reaction gap between themselves and, as a result of the catalytic combustion of a fuel gas/oxygen mixture there on a catalytic coating provided on at least one of the plates and facing the reaction gap, generate heat and emit it by radiation, convection and conduction directly through the coated plate(s) to at least one neighboring endothermic stage and that at least one of the plates displays structural elements also having a catalytic coating and extending into the reaction gap, which runs in the flow direction, which structural elements are if necessary in rows arranged transversely to the direction of flow and offset with respect to each other and consisting, for example, of fins or bars.
A heat-emitting burner element for use with at least one processing device conducting an endothermic process of a fuel cell system, e.g., with an endothermic stage of a reformer unit, where the burner element consists of at least two essentially parallel spaced-apart plates characterized by the fact that the plates form between themselves a reaction gap and, as a result o the catalytic combustion of a fuel gas/oxygen mixture there on a catalytic coating on at least one of the plates facing the reaction gap, generate heat and emit it by radiation, convection and conduction directly through the coated plate(s) to at least one neighboring endothermic stage, that the element is essentially four-sided at least in top view, e.g., square, rectangular or trapezoidal, that the reaction gap is divided by at least one separating wall into at least two slot-like reaction chambers running parallel to each other and that the one reaction chamber displays on a first side of the four-sided element an inlet for the one component of the fuel gas/oxygen mixture while the second reaction chamber on the same side displays an inlet for another component of the fuel gas/oxygen mixture, the openings being provided and designed in the separating wall(s) in order to make an exchange of gases possible in the reaction chambers or a diffusion equalization, while the gases flow from the inlet to an outlet on second side lying opposite the first side.
A catalyst-coated plate for a heat-emitting burner element which consists of two at least essentially parallel plates arranged at a distance from each other characterized by the fact that the plate in top view is at least essentially four-sided, e.g., square, rectangular or trapezoidal, that on the first and second opposing sides of the four-sided element in each case an inlet region and an outlet region are provided and that the plate displays on the above noted catalyst-covered surface structural elements extending in the direction of flow which elements consist, for example of fins or bars.
A process for controlling the endothermic reforming reactions in a fuel processing system generating a hydrogen-rich synthetic gas which contains at least one burner element in which a fuel/oxygen mixture is introduced into a slot-like reaction chamber, characterized by the fact that control is accomplished at least partially by introducing diluting air into the reaction chamber.
A process for controlling the endothermic reformation reaction in a fuel processing system generating a hydrogen-rich synthetic gas which contains at least one burner element in which the components of the fuel-oxygen mixture are introduced into slot-like reaction chambers separated by a perforated separating wall and adjacent to one another, characterized by the fact that the control is accomplished by varying the total quantity of the constituents supplied.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.