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US 8,304,122 B2Granted
Solid oxide fuel cell systems with hot zones having improved reactant distribution
AssigneeProtonex Technology Corporation
InventorsJoseph C. Poshusta, Charles W. Booten, Jerry L. Martin
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC) system having a hot zone with a center cathode air feed tube for improved reactant distribution, a CPOX reactor attached at the anode feed end of the hot zone with a tail gas combustor at the opposing end for more uniform heat distribution, and a counter-flow heat exchanger for efficient heat retention.
Claims5
A solid oxide fuel cell system comprising:
- a main plate;
- an elongated stack depending from the main plate, the stack having a first end adjacent the main plate and a second end opposing the first end;
- a cathode chamber can depending from the main plate and surrounding the elongated stack, the cathode chamber can defining an exhaust gases hole adjacent the second end;
- a recuperator can depending from the main plate and surrounding the cathode chamber can to form a first annular gap there between and at least one exhaust port;
- and
- an outer can depending from the main plate and surrounding the recuperator can to form a second annular gap there between and at least one inlet port for receiving an inlet cathode stream;
- and
- a cathode feed tube for receiving the inlet cathode stream near a second end of the stack such that a counter-flow recuperator is formed between the first and second annular gaps by an exhaust stream passing from the exhaust gas hole to the at least one exhaust gas port.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.