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US 2002/0160241 A1Published application
Integrated fuel cell system
AssigneePlug Power Inc.
InventorWayne W. Huang
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A simplified PEM fuel cell system is integrated with a fuel processor and an exhaust gas oxidizer to ensure clean emissions. The fuel cell has an operating temperature of 100-200° C., and utilizes reformate fuel having a carbon monoxide level greater than 1000 parts per million.
Claims21
An integrated fuel cell system, comprising:
- a first reactor adapted to receive a hydrocarbon feed and at least partially convert the hydrocarbon feed into a first fuel stream comprising a first hydrogen concentration and a first carbon monoxide concentration;
- a second reactor adapted to receive the first fuel stream from the first reactor and react a portion of the first carbon monoxide concentration with steam to produce a second fuel stream having a second hydrogen concentration and a second carbon monoxide concentration;
- wherein the second hydrogen concentration is greater than the first hydrogen concentration, wherein the second carbon monoxide concentration is lower than the first carbon monoxide concentration, wherein the second carbon monoxide concentration is at least 1,000 part per million;
- a fuel cell having a temperature of at least 120° C., wherein the fuel cell is adapted to receive the second fuel stream and react a portion of the second hydrogen concentration, wherein an exhaust from the fuel cell comprises at least 1,000 parts per million carbon monoxide;
- and
- an oxidizer adapted to receive the exhaust and oxidize a portion of the carbon monoxide in the exhaust.
3 more elements
A method of operating a fuel cell system, comprising:
- flowing a hydrocarbon through a conversion reactor to produce a first fuel stream comprising hydrogen and carbon monoxide;
- flowing the first fuel stream through a shift reactor to react a portion of the carbon monoxide with steam to produce a second fuel stream still having at least 1,000 parts per million carbon monoxide;
- flowing the second fuel stream directly from the shift reactor through a conduit to a fuel cell operating at a temperature greater than 120° C. to produce an exhaust stream comprising at least 1,000 parts per million carbon monoxide;
- and
- flowing the exhaust through an oxidizer to reduce the carbon monoxide to less than 100 parts per million.
2 more elements
A method of operating a fuel cell system, comprising:
- converting a flow of hydrocarbon into a fuel stream comprising hydrogen and carbon monoxide;
- reacting a portion of the carbon monoxide with steam to produce additional hydrogen in the fuel stream;
- flowing the fuel stream through a polymer membrane fuel cell having a temperature greater than 120° C.;
- exhausting the fuel stream from the fuel cell, wherein the exhausted fuel stream comprises at least 1,000 parts per million carbon monoxide;
- and
- flowing the exhausted fuel stream to an oxidizer wherein the carbon monoxide in the exhausted fuel stream is reduced to a level less than 100 parts per million.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.