# US 2023/0053549 A1 · Systems and methods for processing hydrogen

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- Number: US 2023/0053549 A1
- Document ID: US20230053549A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 17/968,211
- Filed: 2022-10-18
- Published: 2023-02-23
- Earliest claimed: 2021-08-17
- Assignees: AMOGY Inc.
- Applicants: Amogy Inc.
- Inventors: Jongwon CHOI; Young Suk JO; Hyunho KIM; Gregory Robert JOHNSON
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20230053549A1

## CPC

- H01M 8/04089: of gaseous reactants
- H01M 8/1004: characterised by membrane-electrode assemblies [MEA] (H01M8/12 takes precedence)
- C01B 3/047: Decomposition of ammonia
- H01M 4/8807: {Gas diffusion layers}
- H01M 8/0662: Treatment of gaseous reactants or gaseous residues, e.g. cleaning
- H01M 8/1007: with both reactants being gaseous or vaporised (H01M8/12 takes precedence)
- C01B 2203/066: with fuel cells
- H01M 2008/1095: {Fuel cells with polymeric electrolytes}
- H01M 2220/20: Batteries in motive systems, e.g. vehicle, ship, plane
- Y02E 60/50: Fuel cells
- H01M: PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
- C01B: NON-METALLIC ELEMENTS; COMPOUNDS THEREOF; {METALLOIDS OR COMPOUNDS THEREOF NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASS C01C}
- Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION

## Abstract

The present disclosure provides a fuel cell comprising: an electrochemical circuit comprising an anode, a cathode, and an electrolyte between the anode and the cathode; a first channel comprising a first inlet and a first outlet, wherein the first channel is in fluid communication with the anode, wherein the first channel comprises one or more features, wherein the one or more features comprise (i) one or more cuts, (ii) one or more cutouts, (iii) one or more grooves, or (iv) any combination thereof; and a second channel comprising a second inlet and a second outlet, wherein the second channel is in fluid communication with the cathode.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A system comprising:
(a) an ammonia reformer configured to convert ammonia into a first stream comprising nitrogen and hydrogen;
(b) a fuel cell in fluid communication with the ammonia reformer, wherein the fuel cell comprises:
i. an electrochemical circuit comprising an anode, a cathode, and an electrolyte between the anode and the cathode; and
ii. a channel in fluid communication with the anode, wherein the channel comprises an inlet configured to receive the first stream comprising nitrogen and hydrogen, wherein the channel further comprises one or more features which are configured to purge nitrogen from the fuel cell while the fuel cell is generating electricity; and
(c) a controller comprising at least one processor configured to perform executable instructions, wherein the executable instructions are configured to:
i. use the ammonia reformer to generate the first stream comprising hydrogen and nitrogen;
ii. direct a second stream comprising oxygen to the cathode; and
iii. direct the first stream through the channel to the anode to react the hydrogen with the oxygen, thereby generating electricity; and
iv. purge nitrogen out of the fuel cell.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein nitrogen is purged out of the fuel cell for at least 20% of a total operational time that the fuel cell is generating electricity.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more features are configured to purge nitrogen out of the channel so that nitrogen accumulation is reduced in the channel, thereby increasing a hydrogen consumption rate compared to the equivalent fuel cell lacking the one or more features.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more features are further configured to (i) increase a hydrogen consumption rate, (ii) increase an output voltage, or (iii) increase both a hydrogen consumption rate and an output voltage, when the first stream contacts the anode compared to an equivalent fuel cell lacking the one or more features.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The system of claim 4, wherein the one or more features are configured to increase an output voltage at a same hydrogen consumption rate compared with an equivalent fuel cell lacking the one or more features.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more features comprise (i) one or more cuts, (ii) one or more cutouts, (iii) one or more grooves, or (iv) any combination thereof.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The system of claim 6, wherein the one or more features increase a hydrogen consumption rate by at least 20%, the output voltage by at least 10%, or both.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein a hydrogen consumption rate of the fuel cell when the first stream contacts the anode is at least about 20% of the hydrogen in the first stream.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the executable instructions are further configured to intermittently reduce a hydrogen consumption rate to purge out at least one of hydrogen, nitrogen, or water.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the executable instructions are further configured to reduce a hydrogen consumption rate and direct at least a part of the first stream to the ammonia reformer.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The system of claim 10, wherein the executable instructions are further configured to flare or vent the at least the part of the first stream directed to the ammonia reformer at a combustion exhaust of a combustion heater, wherein the combustion heater is in operable communication with the ammonia reformer and used for heating the ammonia reformer, and wherein the combustion heater is in fluidic communication with the fuel cell in order to receive the at least the part of the first stream.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the fuel cell comprises a plurality of channels in fluid communication with the anode, wherein the plurality of channels comprises the first channel

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the channel comprises a stack of layers that are adjacent to one another.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the fuel cell is configured to output a third stream comprising unconverted hydrogen from the fuel cell.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The system of claim 14, wherein the executable instructions are further configured to direct the third stream comprising the unconverted hydrogen to an ammonia reformer to combust the third stream and heat the ammonia reformer.

### Claim 16 (depends on 14)

The system of claim 14, wherein the executable instructions are further configured to flare the third stream.

### Claim 17 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the executable instructions are further configured to modulate an absolute pressure of the first stream using one or more flow regulators, pressure regulators, control units, or any combination thereof.

### Claim 18 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the fuel cell comprises a plurality of fuel cells, wherein at least one fuel cell of the plurality of fuel cells is configured to reduce an electrical power output while others of the plurality of fuel cells maintain their respective power outputs.

### Claim 19 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the fuel cell comprises a plurality of fuel cells, wherein the plurality of fuel cells comprises at least one fuel cell that is different in size, power output, hydrogen consumption rate, power density, or operating temperature from the other fuel cells.

### Claim 20 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the fuel cell is configured to generate an electrical power at least 80% of a reference electrical power, wherein the reference electrical power is generated using the fuel cell receiving a stream comprising at least 99% hydrogen by moles into the inlet, wherein the electrical power is generated at a same current or a same hydrogen consumption rate as the reference electrical power.