Fuel cell system with quick connect components
AssigneeBloom Energy Corporation
InventorsArne Ballantine, Kirsten Burpee, Brent Cheldelin
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Embodiments relate to a fuel cell system. In an embodiment, the fuel cell system includes advanced leak test capabilities. In another embodiment, the fuel cell system includes a system to bypass one or more separation units while permitting the fuel cell system to continue to produce electricity. In another embodiment, the fuel cell system includes an alignment system that permits ease of alignment when a fuel cell module is installed proximate a fuel processing module. In another embodiment, the fuel cell system includes a system of supplying auxiliary fuel from a mobile auxiliary fuel supply. In an embodiment, one or more or all of these embodiments may be practiced together in combination.
Claims11
A fuel cell system, comprising:
- a fuel cell module including a fuel cell stack, wherein the fuel cell module includes a fluid inlet;
- and
- a fuel processing module that purifies a fuel for the fuel cell stack, wherein the fuel processing module includes a fluid outlet connected to the fluid inlet of the fuel cell module, thereby forming a fluid circuit extending between the fuel cell module and the fuel processing module,
- wherein the system is configured to:
- at least one of close off or permit a user to close off a first end of the fluid circuit, the first end located in the fuel cell module;
- at least one of cause or permit a user to cause a fluid to flow from the fuel processing module through the fluid circuit to the fuel cell module so that the fluid reaches the first end;
- sense a first pressure of the fluid that has flown into the fluid circuit while the first end is closed off;
- and
- at least one of determine or permit a user to determine whether the sensed first pressure in the fluid circuit is indicative of a leak in the fuel cell system.
A method of testing a fuel cell system, comprising:
- providing a fuel cell module including a fuel cell stack including a fluid inlet connected to a fluid outlet of a fuel processing module that purifies a fuel for the fuel cell stack, thereby creating a fluid circuit extending between the fuel cell module and the fuel processing module;
- closing off a first end of the fluid circuit, the first end located in the fuel cell module;
- permitting a fluid to flow from the fuel processing module through the fluid circuit to the fuel cell module so that the fluid reaches the first end;
- sensing a first pressure of the fluid that has flown into the fluid circuit while the first end is closed off and a second end is open;
- and
- determining whether the sensed first pressure in the fluid circuit is indicative of a leak in the fuel cell system.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.