High efficiency system for low cost conversion of fuel to vehicle hydrogen
AssigneeTechnology Management, Inc.
InventorRobert Ruhl
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An electrochemical system for the direct conversion of carbonaceous fuel into electrical energy and/or pure hydrogen. The system comprises at least two solid oxide fuel cell stack assemblies in communication with the other for production of hydrogen/electricity. The solid oxide fuel cell stack assemblies are in communication with a compressor, which in turn compresses the produced hydrogen into compressed pure hydrogen for storage and later use.
Claims22
A system for the conversion of chemical energy into electrical energy and/or hydrogen, and/or the conversion of electrical energy into chemical energy, said system comprising:
- a fuel cell/electrolyzer system comprising at least two solid oxide fuel cell stack assemblies in communication with each other, wherein said fuel cell/electrolyzer system produces at least one of electricity and pure hydrogen;
- a compressor system in communication with said fuel cell/electrolyzer system for compressing pure hydrogen produced by said fuel cell/electrolyzer system into a high pressure hydrogen;
- an apparatus for electrically connecting said fuel cell/electrolyzer system with said compressor to effect said communication for directing electricity produced by said fuel cell/electrolyzer system to said compressor;
- a hydrogen connector for operatively connecting said fuel cell/electrolyzer system with said compressor for directing hydrogen produced by said fuel cell/electrolyzer system to said compressor;
- an intake H20 feed for operatively connecting said fuel cell/electrolyzer system with an external water source for feeding water into said system;
- a fuel feed connector for operatively connecting said fuel cell/electrolyzer system with an external fuel source for feeding fuel into said system;
- a water export tube extendable from said fuel cell/electrolyzer system for directing heated water away from said system;
- an oxygen bearing gas intake tube connectable to said fuel cell/electrolyzer system for providing oxygen to said system from an oxygen source;
- an exhaust tube extendable from said fuel cell/electrolyzer system for directing waste gas away from said system;
- and
- a high pressure hydrogen connector extendable from said compressor for directing the high pressure hydrogen away from said compressor to an external storage facility.
A system for the conversion of chemical energy into electrical energy and/or hydrogen, and/or the conversion of electrical energy into chemical energy, said system comprising:
- a fuel cell/electrolyzer system comprising at least two solid oxide fuel cell stack assemblies in communication with each other, wherein said fuel cell/electrolyzer system produces at least one of electricity and pure hydrogen and wherein at least one solid oxide fuel cell stack of said at least two solid oxide fuel cell stack assemblies is a direct injection of carbonaceous fuel solid oxide fuel cell stack;
- a compressor in communication with said fuel cell/electrolyzer system for compressing pure hydrogen produced by said fuel cell/electrolyzer system into a high pressure hydrogen;
- an apparatus for electrically connecting said fuel cell/electrolyzer system with said compressor to effect said communication for directing electricity produced by said fuel cell/electrolyzer system to said compressor;
- a hydrogen connector connecting said fuel cell/electrolyzer system with said compressor for directing hydrogen produced by said fuel cell/electrolyzer system to said compressor;
- an intake water feed for connecting said fuel cell/electrolyzer system with an external water source for feeding water into said system;
- a fuel feed connector for connecting said fuel cell/electrolyzer system with an external fuel source for feeding fuel into said system;
- a water export tube extendable from said fuel cell/electrolyzer system for directing heated water away from said system;
- an oxygen intake tube connectable to said fuel cell/electrolyzer system for providing oxygen to said system from an oxygen source;
- an exhaust tube extendable from said fuel cell/electrolyzer system for directing waste gas away from said system;
- and
- a high pressure hydrogen connector extendable from said compressor for directing the high pressure hydrogen away from said compressor to an external storage facility.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.