Self contained fuel system for solid oxide fuel cell
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
InventorsLouis G. Carreiro, A. Alan Burke, Steven P. Tucker
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A power source for an unmanned undersea vehicle with increased energy density is described that employs a self-contained fuel system to address carbon dioxide evolution. A solid oxide fuel cell serves as the power source in the self-contained fuel system. In combination with the solid oxide fuel cell, the system comprises a chemical composite that is combined with water to create both a hydrocarbon fuel for the solid oxide fuel cell and a water-soluble byproduct. The byproduct is then combined with the carbon dioxide gas generated by the fuel cell to create a storable solid precipitate.
Claims16
A fuel system for use with a fuel cell that releases carbon dioxide, CO2, gas when operating, comprising:
- a solid chemical composite wherein said composite is reacted with water to generate a fuel for the fuel cell and a byproduct to be combined with said carbon dioxide, CO2, gas;
- a precipitation chamber containing said byproduct;
- and
- a means for directing the carbon dioxide, CO2, gas from the fuel cell into the precipitation chamber containing the byproduct wherein the carbon dioxide CO2, gas is reacted with the byproduct to form a storable solid precipitate.
A fuel system for an unmanned underwater vehicle for use with a high-temperature solid oxide fuel cell that releases carbon dioxide gas, CO2, when operating, comprising:
- a quantity of hydrogen peroxide, H2O2, contained in a decomposition chamber, said hydrogen peroxide being decomposed over a catalyst to generate oxygen, O2 for use with the solid oxide fuel cell, and water, H2O;
- a solid chemical composite comprising calcium carbide, CaC2, and calcium oxide, CaO, wherein the water, H2O, formed by the decomposition of the hydrogen peroxide is reacted with the solid chemical composite to produce acetylene C2H2, for use as fuel for the solid oxide fuel cell and calcium hydroxide Ca(OH)2, for use in reacting with said carbon dioxide, CO2, gas;
- and
- a means for directing the carbon dioxide, CO2, gas from the solid oxide fuel cell into a precipitation chamber containing the calcium hydroxide, Ca(OH)2, wherein the carbon dioxide, CO2, gas is reacted with the calcium hydroxide, Ca(OH)2, to form a storable solid precipitate of calcium carbonate, CaCO3.
A method for containing carbon dioxide, CO2, gas in a fuel system having a fuel cell comprising the steps of:
- providing a solid chemical composite;
- reacting said solid chemical composite with water to produce a fuel for the fuel cell and a byproduct for use in reacting with the carbon dioxide, CO2, gas;
- directing the byproduct to a precipitation chamber;
- feeding the fuel directly into the fuel cell;
- combining oxygen, O2, with said fuel in the fuel cell thereby producing water, H2O, and carbon dioxide, CO2, gas;
- directing the carbon dioxide, CO2, gas to the precipitation chamber;
- and
- reacting the byproduct with the carbon dioxide CO2, gas to form a storable solid precipitate.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.