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US 6,821,663 B2Granted
Solid oxide regenerative fuel cell
AssigneeIon America Corporation
InventorsJames McElroy, Matthias Gottmann, John Finn, Fred Mitlitsky
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A Solid Oxide Regenerative Fuel Cell (SORFC) system stores waste heat from the fuel cell in a heat storage material during the discharge mode. The heat is then used to heat water to be electrolyzed during the charge mode.
Claims48
A fuel cell system, comprising:
- a regenerative fuel cell;
- and
- a heat storage material which is adapted to store waste heat from the fuel cell during discharge mode and which is adapted to heat water provided into the fuel cell for electrolyzation during charge mode, wherein the heat storage material melts to store heat or desorbs a gas to store heat.
A method of operating a regenerative fuel cell system, comprising:
- providing a fuel and an oxidizer into a fuel cell during discharge mode;
- storing waste heat generated by the fuel cell during the discharge mode in a heat storage material which melts to store heat or desorbs a gas to store heat;
- heating water using the stored waste heat during charge mode;
- and
- electrolyzing the heated water in the fuel cell during the charge mode.
2 more elements
A fuel cell system, comprising:
- a SORFC;
- and
- a first means for storing waste heat from the SORFC during discharge mode and for heating water provided into the SORFC for electrolyzation during charge mode.
A fuel cell system, comprising:
- a regenerative fuel cell;
- a first heat storage material which is adapted to store waste heat from the fuel cell during discharge mode and which is adapted to vaporize water provided into the fuel cell for electrolyzation during charge mode;
- and
- a second heat storage material which is adapted to store waste heat from the fuel cell during discharge mode and which is adapted to heat the vaporized water provided into the fuel cell for electrolyzation during the charge mode.
1 more element
A method of operating a regenerative fuel cell system, comprising:
- providing a fuel and an oxidizer into a fuel cell during discharge mode;
- storing waste heat generated by the fuel cell during the discharge mode in a first and in a second heat storage materials;
- vaporizing water using the waste heat stored in the first heat storage material;
- heating the vaporized water using the waste heat stored in the second heat storage material;
- and
- electrolyzing the heated water in the fuel cell during a charge mode.
3 more elements
A fuel cell system, comprising:
- a regenerative fuel cell;
- a heat storage material which is adapted to store waste heat from the fuel cell during discharge mode and which is adapted to heat water provided into the fuel cell for electrolyzation during charge mode;
- and
- a conduit which connects oxidizer outflow from the fuel cell operating in the discharge mode to the heat storage material such that the oxidizer outflow of the fuel cell operating in the discharge mode is adapted to heat the heat storage material.
1 more element
A method of operating a regenerative fuel cell system, comprising:
- providing a fuel and an oxidizer into a fuel cell during discharge mode;
- heating a heat storage material using oxidizer outflow from the fuel cell operating in the discharge mode to store waste heat generated by the fuel cell during the discharge mode;
- heating water using the stored waste heat during charge mode;
- and
- electrolyzing the heated water in the fuel cell during the charge mode.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.