US 2010/0136453 A1 · THERMALLY PRIMED HYDROGEN-PRODUCING FUEL CELL SYSTEM

Abstract

Thermally primed fuel processing assemblies and hydrogen-producing fuel cell systems that include the same. The thermally primed fuel processing assemblies include at least one hydrogen-producing region housed within an internal compartment of a heated containment structure. In some embodiments, the heated containment structure is an oven. In some embodiments, the compartment also contains a purification region and/or heating assembly. In some embodiments, the containment structure is adapted to heat and maintain the internal compartment at or above a threshold temperature, which may correspond to a suitable hydrogen-producing temperature. In some embodiments, the containment structure is adapted to maintain this temperature during periods in which the fuel cell system is not producing power and/or not producing power to satisfy an applied load to the system. In some embodiments, the fuel cell system is adapted to provide backup power to a power source, which may be adapted to power the containment structure.

Claims25

Dependent claims

A method for using a thermally primed hydrogen-producing fuel cell system, which includes at least a hydrogen-producing fuel processing assembly and a fuel cell stack, to supplement a primary power source adapted to satisfy an applied load from an energy-consuming device, the method comprising:

heating at least a hydrogen-producing region of a fuel processing assembly to at least a threshold temperature at which the hydrogen-producing region is adapted to produce a mixed gas stream containing hydrogen gas as a majority component from a feed stream containing water and a carbon-containing feedstock;
maintaining the hydrogen-producing region at or above the threshold temperature during periods in which the hydrogen-producing region is not producing hydrogen gas and in which there is no demand for a power output from the fuel cell system to satisfy an applied load;
delivering at least water and a carbon-containing feedstock to the hydrogen-producing region during a transition period in which there is a demand for a power output from the fuel cell system to satisfy an applied load;
producing hydrogen gas in the hydrogen-producing region;
and
generating the power output with the fuel cell stack from oxidant and hydrogen gas produced in the hydrogen-producing region.

3 more elements

A method of supplying backup power to an energy-consuming device from a hydrogen-producing fuel cell system that includes a fuel processing assembly with a hydrogen-producing region that is adapted to receive a feed stream and, when the hydrogen-producing region is at least within a hydrogen-producing temperature range, to produce from the feed stream a reformate stream containing hydrogen gas as a majority component, wherein the hydrogen-producing fuel cell system further includes a fuel cell stack, and wherein a primary power source normally satisfies an applied load from the energy-consuming device, the method comprising:

heating the hydrogen-producing region to within the hydrogen-producing temperature range during periods in which the primary power source satisfies the applied load;
maintaining the hydrogen-producing region within the hydrogen-producing temperature range during periods in which the primary power source satisfies the applied load;
delivering the feed stream to the hydrogen-producing region in response to the primary power source becoming unavailable to satisfy the applied load;
producing, by the hydrogen-producing region, the reformate stream from the feed stream;
generating, by the fuel cell stack, a fuel cell power output from the hydrogen gas of the reformate stream and an oxidant;
and
powering the energy-consuming device with the fuel cell power output.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Thermally primed hydrogen-producing fuel cell system

Life of this patent

Thermally primed hydrogen-producing fuel cell system

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims25