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US 2003/0211375 A1Published application
Solid oxide fuel cell stack assembly for direct injection of carbonaceous fuels
AssigneeTechnology Management, Inc.
InventorRobert C. Ruhl
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An electrochemical system adapted to facilitate the direct injection of a variety of carbonaceous fuels or to perform steam electrolysis. The electrochemical system comprises either of three operating modes: a single stage fuel cell embodiment, a two stage fuel cell embodiment, and an electrolyzer embodiment. The system further includes a feed tube having appropriate seals introducing carbonaceous fuel or water directly into a fuel mixing chamber inside the electrochemical cell stack. One or more exit conduits allow the gas mixture to exit from the fuel mixing chamber.
Claims30
An electrochemical system adapted to facilitate the direct injection of carbonaceous fuels, said system comprising:
- at least one hollow planar cell arranged to form an electrochemical stack, said stack including an electrical contact structure at each end of said stack;
- an electronically conductive, substantially impervious to gas, hollow planar separator for separating each cell from an adjacent cell within said stack and electrically connecting each cell to an adjacent cell;
- a hollow planar, substantially impervious to gas, electrolyte within each cell;
- a hollow planar fuel electrode contacting said electrolyte, said electrode being on one side of the electrolyte;
- a hollow planar oxygen electrode contacting said electrolyte and being located on the opposite side of electrolyte from said fuel electrode;
- an electronically conductive fuel diffusion layer contacting said fuel electrode, said fuel diffusion layer adapted to allow fuel and oxidized fuel species transport within a fuel gas mixture via gaseous diffusion between the edge of said layer and said fuel electrode;
- an electronically conductive oxygen diffusion layer contacting said oxygen electrode, said oxygen diffusion layer adapted to allow oxygen transport within an oxygen-containing gas mixture via gaseous diffusion between the edge of said layer and said oxygen electrode;
- a first seal preventing said oxygen-containing gas mixture from accessing said fuel electrode and said fuel diffusion layer;
- a second seal preventing said fuel gas mixture from accessing said oxygen electrode and said oxygen diffusion layer;
- a fuel chamber communicable with at least one fuel feed conduit, said conduit adapted to introduce a carbonaceous fuel directly into said fuel chamber of said stack;
- and
- at least one fuel exit conduit adapted to permit the exit of partially oxidized fuel mixture from the fuel chamber of said stack.
9 more elements
An electrochemical system adapted to facilitate the direct injection of carbonaceous fuels, said system comprising:
- at least one hollow planar cell arranged to form an electrochemical stack, said stack including an electrical contact structure at each end of said stack;
- an electronically conductive, substantially impervious to gas, hollow planar separator for separating each cell from an adjacent cell within said stack and electrically connecting each cell to an adjacent cell;
- a hollow planar, substantially impervious to gas, electrolyte within each cell;
- a hollow planar fuel electrode contacting said electrolyte, said electrode being on one side of the electrolyte;
- a hollow planar oxygen electrode contacting said electrolyte and on the opposite side of electrolyte from said fuel electrode;
- an electronically conductive fuel diffusion layer contacting said fuel electrode, said fuel diffusion layer adapted to allow fuel and oxidized fuel species transport within a fuel gas mixture via gaseous diffusion between the edge of said layer and said fuel electrode;
- an electronically conductive oxygen diffusion layer contacting said oxygen electrode, said oxygen diffusion layer adapted to allow oxygen transport within an oxygen-containing gas mixture via gaseous diffusion between the edge of said layer and said oxygen electrode;
- a first seal preventing said oxygen-containing gas mixture from accessing said fuel electrode and said fuel diffusion layer;
- a second seal preventing said fuel gas mixture from accessing said oxygen electrode and said oxygen diffusion layer;
- a fuel chamber communicable with at least one fuel feed conduit, said conduit adapted to introduce a carbonaceous fuel directly into said fuel chamber of said stack;
- at least one fuel exit conduit adapted to permit the exit of oxidized fuel mixture from the fuel chamber of said stack;
- and
- at least one structure comprising a heat resistant material defining a fuel flow passage within said fuel chamber surrounded by said at least one hollow planar cell.
10 more elements
A steam electrolyzer adapted to facilitate the direct injection of water or steam, said system comprising:
- at least one hollow planar cell arranged to form an electrochemical stack, said stack including an electrical contact structure at each end of said stack;
- an electronically conductive, substantially impervious to gas, hollow planar separator for separating each cell from an adjacent cell within said stack and electrically connecting each cell to an adjacent cell;
- a hollow planar, substantially impervious to gas, electrolyte within each cell;
- a hollow planar fuel electrode contacting said electrolyte, said electrode being on one side of the electrolyte;
- a hollow planar oxygen electrode contacting said electrolyte and being located on the opposite side of said electrolyte from said fuel electrode;
- an electronically conductive fuel diffusion layer contacting said fuel electrode, said fuel diffusion layer adapted to allow hydrogen and steam transport within a hydrogen/steam mixture via gaseous diffusion between the edge of said layer and said fuel electrode;
- an electronically conductive oxygen flow layer contacting said oxygen electrode, said oxygen flow layer adapted to allow oxygen transport via pressure difference between the edge of said layer and said oxygen electrode;
- a first seal preventing said oxygen from accessing said fuel electrode and said fuel diffusion layer;
- a second seal preventing said hydrogen/steam mixture from accessing said oxygen electrode and said oxygen diffusion layer;
- at least one water feed conduit adapted to introduce liquid or gaseous water directly into a hydrogen/steam chamber of said stack;
- and
- at least one exit conduit adapted to permit the exit of wet hydrogen from the hydrogen/steam chamber of said stack.
9 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.