Fuel cell thermal control and reforming of process gas hydrocarbons
AssigneeEnergy Research Corporation
InventorsBernard S. Baker, Dilip J. Dharia
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Thermal control and fuel processing in fuel cell operation is effected through sensible heat of process gas and hydrocarbon reforming by supplying process gas in common to a flow passage in communication with the cell electrolyte and an additional gas flow passage which is isolated from the cell electrolyte and includes catalyst promoting endothermic reforming of hydrocarbon content of the process gas. Flow level in the electrolyte-communicative flow passage is selected based on desired output electrical energy and flow level in the additional gas flow passage is selected in accordance with desired cell operating temperature and desired extent of fuel processing.
Claims31
A method for operating an electrochemical cell to produce electrical energy from electochemical reaction between a cell electrolyte and a gas containing a hydrocarbon supplied from a gas supply to a flow passage in said cell in flow communication with said electrolyte, including the steps of:
- (a) establishing a further flow passage for gas from said supply through said cell isolated from said electrolyte and in thermal communication with a heat-generating surface of said cell;
- (b) disposing catalyst promoting endothermic reforming of such hydrocarbon content of said gas in such electrolyte-isolated passage;
- and
- (c) conducting gas from said supply through both such electrolyte-communicative passage and said electrolyte-isolated passage.
An electrochemical cell operative to produce output electrical energy by electrochemical reaction with a process gas containing a hydrocarbon, comprising an electrolyte layer, a gas diffusion electrode, first passage means in said cell for conducting gaseous medium to said gas diffusion electrode for reaction with said electrolyte, second passage means in said cell for conducting gaseous medium through said cell both in isolation from said electrolyte and in thermal communication with a heat-generating surface of said cell, said second passage means including catalyst promotive of endothermic reforming of such hydrocarbon content of said process gas.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.