Back to results
US 2014/0272624 A1Published application
Integrated carbon capture and chemical production using fuel cells
AssigneeExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
InventorsPaul J. Berlowitz, Timothy Andrew Barckholtz, Frank H. Hershkowitz
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In various aspects, systems and methods are provided for operating a molten carbonate fuel cell, such as a fuel cell assembly, with increased production of syngas or hydrogen while also reducing or minimizing the amount of CO2 exiting the fuel cell in the cathode exhaust stream. This can allow for improved efficiency of syngas production while also generating electrical power.
Claims18
A method for producing electricity, and hydrogen or syngas, using a molten carbonate fuel cell comprising an anode and a cathode, the method comprising:
- introducing an anode fuel stream comprising a reformable fuel into the anode of the molten carbonate fuel cell, an internal reforming element associated with the anode of the molten carbonate fuel cell, or a combination thereof;
- introducing a cathode inlet stream comprising CO2 and O2 into the cathode of the molten carbonate fuel cell;
- generating electricity within the molten carbonate fuel cell;
- generating an anode exhaust from an anode outlet of the molten carbonate fuel cell;
- separating from the anode exhaust a H2-containing stream, a syngas-containing stream, or a combination thereof,
- wherein a fuel utilization of the anode of the molten carbonate fuel cell is about 50% or less and a CO2 utilization of the cathode of the molten carbonate fuel cell is at least about 60%.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.