Self-inerting fuel processing system
AssigneeBallard Power Systems Inc.
InventorsRichard A. Sederquist, Kevin Marchand
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A self-inerting fuel processing system is provided. In one embodiment, the present fuel processing system comprises a fuel processor comprising a reformer, at least one self-reducing catalyst bed, a recycle loop for circulating a gas stream through the fuel processor and the self-reducing catalyst bed(s) during shutdown of the fuel processing system, and an oxidant supply for introducing oxidant into the recycle loop during shutdown of the fuel processing system. A method for shutting down the fuel processing system is provided. A fuel cell electric power generation system incorporating the present fuel processing system is also provided.
Claims54
A self-inerting fuel cell electric power generation system comprising:
- (a) a fuel processor comprising a reformer for reforming a fuel to a reformate stream comprising hydrogen;
- (b) at least one self-reducing catalyst bed;
- (c) a fuel cell stack fluidly connected to the fuel processor for receiving the reformate stream;
- (d) a recycle loop for circulating a gas stream through the fuel processor and the at least one self-reducing catalyst bed during shutdown of the fuel processing system;
- and
- (e) an oxidant supply fluidly connected to the recycle loop for introducing an oxidant into the recycle loop during shutdown of the fuel processing system.
A self-inerting fuel cell electric power generation system comprising:
- (a) a fuel processor comprising a reformer for reforming a fuel to a reformate stream comprising hydrogen;
- (b) at least one self-reducing catalyst bed;
- (c) a fuel cell stack fluidly connected to the fuel processor for receiving the reformate stream;
- (d) a recycle loop for circulating a gas stream through the fuel processor and the at least one self-reducing catalyst bed during shutdown of the fuel processing system;
- and
- (e) means for introducing an oxidant into the recycle loop during shutdown of the fuel processing system.
A self-inerting fuel processing system comprising:
- (a) a fuel processor comprising a reformer for reforming a fuel to a reformate stream comprising hydrogen;
- (b) at least one self-reducing catalyst bed;
- (c) a recycle loop for circulating a gas stream through the fuel processor and the at least one self-reducing catalyst bed during shutdown of the fuel processing system;
- and
- (d) an oxidant supply fluidly connected to the recycle loop for introducing an oxidant into the recycle loop during shutdown of the fuel processing system.
A self-inerting fuel processing system comprising:
- (a) a fuel processor comprising a reformer for reforming a fuel to a reformate stream comprising hydrogen;
- (b) at least one self-reducing catalyst bed;
- (c) a recycle loop for circulating a gas stream through the fuel processor and the at least one self-reducing catalyst bed during shutdown of the fuel processing system;
- and
- (d) means for introducing an oxidant into the recycle loop during shutdown of the fuel processing system.
A method of shutting down a fuel processing system comprising a fuel processor for reforming a fuel to a reformate stream comprising hydrogen, at least one self-reducing catalyst bed, and a recycle loop for circulating a gas stream through the fuel processor and the self-reducing catalyst bed, the method comprising:
- (a) interrupting supply of fuel to the fuel processor;
- (b) introducing an oxidant into the recycle loop;
- (c) removing at least a portion of the oxygen in the introduced air by oxidizing the at least one self-reducing catalyst bed to produce a substantially inert gas stream;
- and
- (d) circulating the substantially inert gas stream in the recycle loop.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.