Patent ID: 9287572
Filing Date: 2016-03-15
CPC Classification: C01B,H01M,Y02E

Claim Text:
1. An anode recuperator for a fuel cell system, comprising: a first annular fuel passage, wherein an inner wall of the first annular fuel passage is configured to form an upper plenum surrounded by the first annular fuel passage; an annular pre-reformer coupled to the first annular fuel passage and configured to receive an unreformed fuel stream from the first annular fuel passage and at least partially reform the unreformed fuel stream to generate a reformed fuel stream, the annular pre-reformer located axially inward of the first annular fuel passage; and an annular anode exhaust passage surrounding at least a portion of the first annular fuel passage and the annular pre-reformer, the annular anode exhaust passage thermally coupled to the first annular fuel passage such that an anode exhaust stream in the annular anode exhaust passage provides heat to the unreformed fuel stream in the first annular fuel passage, wherein the annular pre-reformer is separated from the annular anode exhaust passage; further comprising a second annular fuel passage coupled to the annular pre-reformer and configured to receive the reformed fuel stream from the annular pre-reformer; wherein: the annular pre-reformer is separated from the annular anode exhaust passage by the first annular fuel passage or the second annular fuel passage; and wherein: the annular pre-reformer includes a first annular pre-reforming passage and a second annular pre-reforming passage, the first annular pre-reforming passage encircling the second annular pre-reforming passage; and the first annular pre-reforming passage is configured to receive the unreformed fuel stream from the first annular fuel passage and the second annular pre-reforming passage is configured to provide the reformed fuel stream to the second annular fuel passage.