US 2014/0234671 A1 · FUEL-CELL SYSTEMS OPERABLE IN MULTIPLE MODES FOR VARIABLE PROCESSING OF FEEDSTOCK MATERIALS AND ASSOCIATED DEVICES, SYSTEMS AND METHODS

Abstract

Fuel cells for selectively reacting a feedstock material with or without generating electricity, and associated systems and methods are disclosed. A fuel cell system in accordance with a particular embodiment includes a first electrode positioned in a first region, a second electrode positioned in a second region, an ion-transport medium between the first and second regions, and an electrical circuit connected between the first and second electrodes. The system is operable in a first mode to react the feedstock material by a non-electricity-generating reaction to produce a product and in a second mode to react the feedstock material by an electricity-generating reaction to produce electricity. A controller receives an input (e.g., corresponding to a change in demand for electricity) and causes the system to switch between operating in the first mode and operating in the second mode in response to the input.

Claims18

Dependent claims

A fuel-cell system, comprising:

a first electrode positioned in a first region of the system, the first region positioned to receive a feedstock material;
a second electrode positioned in a second region of the system;
an ion-transport medium positioned between the first and second regions;
an electrical circuit extending between the first and second electrodes;
and
a controller including memory and processing circuitry,
wherein—
the system is operable in a first mode to react the feedstock material by a non-electricity-generating reaction to produce a product,
the system is operable in a second mode to react the feedstock material by an electricity-generating reaction to produce electricity, and
the memory stores non-transitory instructions that, when executed by the controller using the processing circuitry, cause the system to switch between operating in the first mode and operating in the second mode in response to an input corresponding to a change in demand for electricity, a change in demand for the product, or both.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Fuel-cell systems operable in multiple modes for variable processing of feedstock materials and associated devices, systems and methods

Life of this patent

Fuel-cell systems operable in multiple modes for variable processing of feedstock materials and associated devices, systems and methods

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims18