US 5,340,664 A · Thermally integrated heat exchange system for solid oxide electrolyte systems

Abstract

A thermally integrated heat exchange system for solid oxide electrolyte systems includes a thermally insulated furnace enclosure structure having an internal chamber therein and a plurality of solid oxide electrolyte plates disposed within the internal chamber. A heat exchanger particularly suited for use with the thermally integrated system has gas passageways for the flow of gases therethrough and is associated with the walls of the furnace enclosure. Thermal energy radiated from an operational solid oxide electrolyte system within the furnace enclosure may be used to preheat incoming reactant gases destined for use by the electrolyte plates. Exchange of thermal energy between hot exhaust gases and cooler incoming gases may also occur in the heat exchanger gas passageways that are substantially thermally integrated along their length.

Claims14

Dependent claims

A thermally integrated heat exchange system for a solid oxide based ion conducting system, comprising:

a furnace enclosure structure having an interior chamber substantially enclosed by thermally insulated walls;
a plurality of spaced apart solid oxide electrolyte plates disposed within said interior chamber, said plates arranged to permit fluid flow of incoming reactant gases therebetween;
a heat exchanger associated with said thermally insulated walls for preheating said incoming reactant gases, said heat exchanger having an incoming gas passageway therein in fluid communication with a source of incoming gas and with said spaced apart electrolyte plates, and an exhaust gas passageway therein in fluid communication with said spaced apart electrolyte plates;
a manifold disposed within said furnace enclosure for directing said incoming reactant gases to flow from said incoming gas passageway to said electrolyte plates, and for directing said exhaust gases to flow from said electrolyte plates to said exhaust gas passageway;
and
external thermal insulation substantially surrounding said furnace enclosure structure.

3 more elements

A thermally integrated heat exchange system for a solid oxide fuel cell comprising:

a furnace enclosure structure having an interior chamber substantially enclosed by thermally insulated walls;
a plurality of spaced apart solid oxide fuel cell plates disposed within said interior chamber, said plates arranged to permit fluid flow of incoming reactant air and reactant fuel gases therebetween;
a heat exchanger associated with said thermally insulated walls for preheating said incoming air destined to flow through said fuel cell plates, said heat exchanger having an incoming air passageway with an incoming air inlet in fluid communication with a source of incoming air and an incoming air outlet in fluid communication with said fuel cell plates, and an exhaust air passageway with an exhaust air inlet in fluid communication with said fuel cell plates and an exhaust air outlet;
manifold means disposed within said furnace enclosure for directing said incoming air from said incoming air passageway to said fuel cell plates, and for directing exhaust air from said fuel cell plates to said exhaust air passageway;
fuel preheating and reformation means thermally integrated with said interior chamber of said furnace enclosure for preheating incoming fuel gases destined to flow through said fuel cell plates and for reforming fuel gases to flow through said fuel cell plates;
and thermal insulation substantially surrounding said furnace enclosure structure.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Thermally integrated heat exchange system for solid oxide electrolyte systems

Life of this patent

Thermally integrated heat exchange system for solid oxide electrolyte systems

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims14