Fuel cell stack inlet flow control
AssigneeFuelCell Energy, Inc.
InventorsMichael L. QUATANNENS, William J. SNYDER, Quan JIN, Robert S. FOURNIER
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A duct for a fuel cell module includes an upper duct hood having an inlet configured to receive reactant gas from a supply duct, the upper duct hood defining a first tapered portion and a second tapered portion. The duct further includes a lower duct hood fluidly coupled to the upper duct hood, the lower duct hood defining at least one outlet. In a side view, the second tapered portion is tapered inwardly in a downstream direction. In a top view, the first tapered portion is tapered inwardly in a downstream direction, and the second tapered portion is tapered outwardly moving downstream.
Claims20
A duct for a fuel cell module, the duct comprising:
- an upper duct hood having an inlet configured to receive reactant gas from a supply duct, the upper duct hood defining a first tapered portion and a second tapered portion downstream from the first tapered portion;
- a lower duct hood fluidly coupled to the upper duct hood, the lower duct hood defining at least one outlet;
- wherein, in a side view, the second tapered portion is tapered inwardly in a downstream direction;
- and
- wherein, in a top view, the first tapered portion is tapered inwardly in a downstream direction;
- and
- wherein, in the top view, the second tapered portion is tapered outwardly moving downstream.
A fuel cell module comprising:
- a plurality of fuel cell stacks, each fuel cell stack defining an inlet configured to receive a gas mixture;
- a duct having an upper duct hood and a lower duct hood, the lower duct hood including at least one outlet;
- wherein the at least one outlet of the lower duct hood is fluidly coupled to a corresponding inlet of a corresponding fuel cell stack;
- and
- wherein at least one plurality of vanes is pivotably coupled to opposing sides of the outlet, the at least one plurality of vanes configured to direct the flow of the gas mixture to the inlet.
A method of mixing fuel for a fuel cell, the method comprising:
- receiving a flow of reactant gas in a first end of a duct;
- receiving air in an inlet of a sparger assembly;
- outputting air from the sparger assembly at an angle relative to the flow of fuel in the duct;
- mixing the air from the sparger and the flow of reactant gas to form a gas mixture;
- outputting, from an outlet of the duct, the gas mixture having a substantially uniform temperature and a substantially uniform mixture of constituent gas species.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.