Systems and methods for fuel desulfurization
AssigneeHoneywell International Inc.
InventorsDaguang Zheng, Dacong Weng
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Methods and apparatus are provided for a fuel cell including a fuel desulfurization system. The fuel cell system includes a source of fuel and a fuel desulfurization system fluidly coupled to the source of fuel to receive the fuel in a liquid phase. The fuel desulfurization system includes a vacuum system that depressurizes the fuel to convert at least a portion of the fuel from the liquid phase to a gaseous phase. The fuel cell system also includes a fuel cell stack fluidly coupled to the fuel desulfurization system to receive fuel from the fuel desulfurization system in the gaseous phase.
Claims20
A fuel cell system comprising:
- a source of fuel;
- a fuel desulfurization system fluidly coupled to the source of fuel to receive the fuel in a liquid phase, the fuel desulfurization system including a vacuum system that depressurizes the fuel to convert at least a portion of the fuel from the liquid phase to a gaseous phase;
- and
- a fuel cell stack fluidly coupled to the fuel desulfurization system to receive fuel from the fuel desulfurization system in the gaseous phase.
A method of fuel desulfurization, comprising:
- receiving fuel from a fuel source in a first phase;
- depressurizing the fuel in the first phase in a vacuum system to convert at least a portion of the fuel into a second phase;
- reforming the portion of the fuel in the second phase to create a hydrogen enriched fuel in the second phase;
- and
- delivering the hydrogen enriched fuel in the second phase to a fuel cell stack.
A fuel cell system comprising:
- a source of fuel;
- a fuel desulfurization system including a tank, a source of a vacuum and a pump, the tank fluidly coupled to the source of fuel to receive the fuel in a liquid phase, the source of the vacuum applies a negative pressure to the tank to convert at least a portion of the fuel from the liquid phase to the gaseous phase and the pump is in fluid communication with the source of fuel to return a portion of the fuel in the liquid phase from the tank to the source of fuel;
- a reformer fluidly coupled directly to the fuel desulfurization system to receive fuel from the fuel desulfurization system in the gaseous phase and to generate a hydrogen enriched fuel in the gaseous phase;
- and
- a fuel cell stack fluidly coupled directly to the reformer to receive the hydrogen enriched fuel in the gaseous phase.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.