Oxidizer for a fuel cell system
AssigneePlug Power Inc.
InventorsChing-Jen Tang, Alan Feitelberg
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An oxidizer that is usable with a fuel cell includes a catalyst, an inlet to communicate an oxidant flow, an injection tube to communicate an anode exhaust flow, a mixing tube and a divergent nozzle. The injection tube communicates the anode exhaust flow from the fuel cell into the oxidizer to produce a combined flow in which the anode exhaust flow is oriented in substantially the same direction as the oxidant flow and surrounded by the oxidant flow. The mixing tube is connected to the inlet to receive the combined flow and mix the oxidant flow and the anode exhaust flow mix together to produce a mixed flow. A cross-sectional flow area of the mixing tube is sized to prevent flashback. The divergent nozzle communicates the mixed flow to the catalyst.
Claims19
An oxidizer usable with a fuel cell, comprising:
- a catalyst;
- an inlet to communicate an oxidant flow;
- an injection tube located in the inlet to communicate an anode exhaust flow from the fuel cell into the oxidizer to produce a combined flow in which the anode exhaust flow is oriented in substantially the same direction as the oxidant flow and surrounded by the oxidant flow;
- a mixing tube connected to the inlet to receive the combined flow and mix the oxidant flow and the anode exhaust flow mix together to produce a mixed flow, a cross-sectional flow area of the mixing tube being sized to prevent flashback;
- and
- a divergent nozzle to communicate the mixed flow to the catalyst.
A fuel cell system comprising:
- a fuel cell stack provide an anode exhaust flow;
- and
- an oxidizer comprising:
- a catalyst;
- an inlet to communicate an oxidant flow;
- an injection tube located in the inlet to communicate an anode exhaust flow from the fuel cell into the oxidizer to produce a combined flow in which the anode exhaust flow is oriented in substantially the same direction as the oxidant flow and surrounded by the oxidant flow;
- a mixing tube connected to the inlet to receive the combined flow and mix the oxidant flow and the anode exhaust flow mix together to produce a mixed flow, a cross-sectional area of the mixing tube being sized to prevent flashback;
- and
- a divergent nozzle to communicate the mixed flow to the catalyst.
A method usable with a fuel cell, comprising:
- receiving a first flow having a gas capable of causing an electrochemical reaction inside a fuel cell;
- receiving an oxidant flow;
- routing the first flow and the oxidant flow into a mixing tube and a divergent nozzle to mix the first flow and the oxidant flow before the resultant mixed flow reaches a catalyst;
- and
- sizing a cross-sectional flow area of the mixing tube to prevent flashback.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.