Solid oxide fuel cell catalytic converter and electrical energy generator

A method of reducing engine emissions, comprising the steps of:

• providing a first chamber defined by a stack of fuel cells, each of which comprises a tube having an anode positioned on an inside the tube and a cathode positioned on an outside the tube;
• passing a quantity of engine exhaust through the inside of the tubes so that the engine exhaust contacts the anodes of the tubes;
• collecting the engine exhaust from the inside of the tubes and passing the engine exhaust over the outside of the tubes in a second chamber so that the engine exhaust contacts the cathodes of the tubes;
• delivering a quantity of fresh air to the second chamber;
• and
• exhausting the engine exhaust from the second chamber after the engine exhaust has contacted the cathodes.

An apparatus for reducing engine emissions, comprising:

• a stack of fuel cells defining a first chamber, wherein each fuel cell comprises a tube having an anode positioned on an inside the tube and a cathode positioned on an outside the tube;
• a first port coupled to the first chamber for delivering a quantity of engine exhaust and a quantity of fresh air to the inside of the tubes;
• a second chamber enclosing the outside of each of the tubes and coupled to inside of the tubes for receiving the engine exhaust after it has passed through the insides of the tubes and for allowing the engine exhaust to contact the cathodes of the tubes;
• and
• an exhaust coupled to the second chamber for exhausting the engine exhaust after it has contacted the cathodes of the tubes.