# US 2019/0356002 A1 · External mixer-eductor-oxidizer and module connections thereof > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2019/0356002 A1 - Document ID: US20190356002A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/474,194 - Filed: 2017-12-28 - Published: 2019-11-21 - Earliest claimed: 2016-12-30 - Assignees: FuelCell Energy, Inc. - Applicants: FuelCell Energy, Inc. - Inventors: Michael L. QUATANNENS; Jeffrey PAGANI; William SNYDER - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190356002A1 ## CPC - H01M 8/04089: of gaseous reactants - H01M 8/04022: {Heating by combustion} - H01M 8/04201: {Reactant storage and supply, e.g. means for feeding, pipes} - H01M 8/04708: {of fuel cell reactants} - H01M 8/04753: {of fuel cell reactants} - H01M 8/2484: characterised by external manifolds - H01M 2008/1293: {Fuel cells with solid oxide electrolytes} - H01M 2008/147: {Fuel cells with molten carbonates} - Y02E 60/50: Fuel cells - H01M: PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY - Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION ## Abstract A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell module having an enclosure configured to house a fuel cell stack that comprises a plurality of fuel cells; and a mixer-eductor-oxidizer that is at least partially external to the enclosure of the fuel cell module, the mixer-eductor-oxidizer being configured to process oxidant supply gas and deliver oxidant gas to a cathode side of the fuel cell stack. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A fuel cell system comprising: a fuel cell module having an enclosure configured to house a fuel cell stack that comprises a plurality of fuel cells; and a mixer-eductor-oxidizer that is at least partially external to the enclosure of the fuel cell module, the mixer-eductor-oxidizer being configured to process oxidant supply gas and deliver oxidant gas to a cathode side of the fuel cell stack. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The fuel cell system of claim 1, wherein the mixer-eductor-oxidizer is completely external to the enclosure of the fuel cell module. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The fuel cell system of claim 1, further comprising: a non-bellowed pipe that is not equipped with a bellows, the non-bellowed pipe configured to connect the fuel cell module and the mixer-eductor-oxidizer; and movement means mounted on a bottom surface of the mixer-eductor-oxidizer, the movement means configured to facilitate movement of the mixer-eductor-oxidizer towards and away from the fuel cell module in response to stress on the non-bellowed pipe. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The fuel cell system of claim 3, further comprising: a bellowed pipe equipped with a bellows that is configured to compress or extend in response to stress on the bellowed pipe; wherein the bellowed pipe is configured to connect the fuel cell module and the mixer-eductor-oxidizer. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The fuel cell system of claim 4, wherein a diameter of the non-bellowed pipe is greater than a diameter of the bellowed pipe. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The fuel cell system of claim 4, wherein the non-bellowed pipe is provided closer to a thrust location than the bellowed pipe. ### Claim 7 (depends on 4) The fuel cell system of claim 4, further comprising: an integrated enclosure formed from a plurality of buttresses mounted on an outer surface of the fuel cell module and an outer surface of the mixer-eductor-oxidizer, wherein: a strength of the enclosure of the fuel cell module is greater than a strength of an enclosure of the mixer-eductor-oxidizer, and the integrated enclosure is configured to act as a strut such that the enclosure of the fuel cell module is configured to assist in supporting the enclosure of the mixer-eductor-oxidizer. ### Claim 8 (depends on 4) The fuel cell system of claim 4, further comprising: an integrated enclosure formed from a plurality of buttresses mounted on an outer surface of the fuel cell module and an outer surface of the mixer-eductor-oxidizer, wherein: a strength of the enclosure of the fuel cell module is less than a strength of an enclosure of the mixer-eductor-oxidizer, and the integrated enclosure is configured to act as a strut such that the enclosure of the mixer-eductor-oxidizer is configured to assist in supporting the enclosure of the fuel cell module. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The fuel cell system of claim 7, wherein the non-bellowed pipe and the bellowed pipe are provided within the integrated enclosure. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The fuel cell system of claim 1, further comprising a stepped nozzle configured to secure a pipe to one of the fuel cell module or the mixer-eductor-oxidizer. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The fuel cell system of claim 10, wherein the stepped nozzle comprises a plurality of steps, and all of the plurality of steps of the stepped nozzle project outwards with respect to the enclosure of the fuel cell module or an enclosure of the mixer-eductor-oxidizer. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The fuel cell system of claim 10, wherein the stepped nozzle comprises plurality of steps, and at least one step of the plurality of steps of the stepped nozzle project inwards with respect to the enclosure of the fuel cell module or an enclosure of the mixer-eductor-oxidizer. ### Claim 13 (depends on 4) The fuel cell system of claim 4, further comprising: a stepped nozzle including a plurality of steps; wherein: the stepped nozzle is configured to secure an end of the non-bellowed pipe to one of the fuel cell module or the mixer-eductor oxidizer, and at least one of the plurality of steps of the stepped nozzle is located within the enclosure of the fuel cell module or an enclosure of the mixer-eductor-oxidizer. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The fuel cell system of claim 13, further comprising: an additional stepped nozzle including a plurality of steps; wherein: the additional stepped nozzle is configured to secure an end of the bellowed pipe to one of the fuel cell module or the mixer-eductor oxidizer, and at least one of the plurality of steps of the additional stepped nozzle is located within the enclosure of the fuel cell module or the enclosure of the mixer-eductor-oxidizer. ### Claim 15 (depends on 4) The fuel cell system of claim 4, further comprising an additional bellowed pipe equipped with a bellows that is configured to compress or extend in response to stress on the additional bellowed pipe, wherein the additional bellowed pipe is an inlet pipe of the mixer-eductor-oxidizer configured to receive the oxidant supply gas. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The fuel cell system of claim 1, further comprising a recycle blower configured to recycle at least a portion of oxidant exhaust gas output from an outlet of the fuel cell stack, wherein the oxidant supply gas comprises at least a portion of the oxidant exhaust gas. ### Claim 17 (canceled) ### Claim 18 (depends on 4) The fuel cell system of claim 4, wherein the fuel cell system includes one non-bellowed pipe and two or more bellowed pipes. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The fuel cell system of claim 1, wherein the fuel cell system includes a plurality of fuel cell modules and a single mixer-eductor-oxidizer connected to each of the fuel cell modules. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The fuel cell system of claim 1, wherein: the fuel cell system includes a plurality of fuel cell modules and a plurality of mixer-eductor-oxidizers; and one mixer-eductor-oxidizer is connected to each of the fuel cell modules. ### Claim 21 (depends on 1) The fuel cell system of claim 1, wherein: the mixer-eductor-oxidizer comprises a mixer/eductor and an oxidizer; the mixer/eductor is configured to mix the oxidant supply gas and anode exhaust gas to form a mixed gas that is reduced in gas pressure and increased in temperature; and the oxidizer is configured to oxidize unspent fuel in the mixed gas.