US 7,285,350 B2Granted

Enhanced solid oxide fuel cell systems

AssigneeQuestAir Technologies Inc.

InventorsBowie G. Keefer, Matthew L. Babicki, Mark H. Kirby

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Abstract

Enhanced high temperature fuel cell systems, such as solid oxide fuel cell systems and molten carbonate fuel cell systems are disclosed. Embodiments of the disclosure include solid oxide and molten carbonate fuel cell systems incorporating gas separation apparati facilitating the recycle of hydrogen fuel from fuel cell anode exhaust for supply to the fuel cell anode inlet. Further embodiments of the disclosure include solid oxide and molten carbonate fuel cell systems incorporating inventive combinations of anode materials conducive to combination with enriched hydrogen fuel. Other embodiments of the disclosure include gas separation apparati for providing enriched oxygen feed to the cathode inlet of solid oxide and molten carbonate fuel cells.

Claims8

Dependent claims

A high temperature fuel cell system comprising an anode channel, an anode inlet and an anode outlet, a first anode channel portion proximal to the anode inlet, a second anode channel portion proximal to the anode outlet, and a gas separation means operable to enrich a hydrogen gas component of an anode exhaust gas exiting the anode outlet to produce a first product gas enriched in the said hydrogen gas component such that at least a portion of the first product gas enriched in the hydrogen gas component can be provided as a portion of a fuel mixture supplied to the anode inlet, wherein;

the first anode channel portion comprises an anode material that is resistant to carbon deposition and active for direct oxidation of hydrogen, at least one hydrocarbon fuel or mixtures thereof;
the second anode channel portion comprises an anode material that is catalytically active for steam reforming of at least one hydrocarbon;
and
the fuel mixture comprises steam, hydrogen and optionally at least one hydrocarbon fuel, wherein steam and hydrogen are present in proportions of no more than 1.5 moles of steam per mole of hydrogen or the molar ratio of steam to hydrocarbon fuel in the mixture is no greater than 1.5 to 1.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 10/671,750Filed 26 Sep 2003 · us provisional application
Priority: 27 Sep 2002
Published: US 2004/0131912 A18 Jul 2004
Granted: 23 Oct 2007
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification10 codes

H01M 8/04007
Auxiliary arrangements, e.g. for control of pressure or for circulation of fluids: related to heat exchange
H01M 8/0637
From carbon-containing material: direct internal reforming at the anode of the fuel cell
H01M 8/1231
Operating at high temperature, e.g. with stabilised ZrO2 electrolyte: with both reactants being gaseous or vaporised
H01M 8/2428
High-temperature cells with solid electrolytes: grouping by arranging unit cells on a surface of any form, e.g. planar or tubular

Family

Application60/414,607Us provisional application · filed 27 Sep 2002
Application60/472,036Us provisional application · filed 19 May 2003
Application60/500,532Us provisional application · filed 5 Sep 2003
US 2004/0131912 A1Pre-grant publication · published 8 Jul 2004
US 7,285,350 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.