Patent ID: 6033793
Filing Date: 2000-03-07
Classification: F23D,H01M,Y02E,Y02P

Abstract:
An integrated power module for converting combustible fuel into thermal and electrical energy, the power module comprising:an outer housing;a fuel inlet extending through the housing and through which is supplied the combustible inlet fuel for processing in the power module;a gas inlet extending through the housing and through which is supplied an oxygen-containing inlet gas for processing in the power module;means for heating a first portion of the inlet gas prior to combustion;a partial-oxidation reformer within the housing for combusting the inlet fuel and the heated first gas portion at a stoichiometric gas/fuel ratio, of less than about 0.8, the reformer having a port for receiving the inlet fuel and the heated first gas portion and a port through which is ejected a hydrogen-containing product gas into an exhaust passage, wherein the receiving port and the ejecting port, are the same or different;a nozzle having an end proximate to the reformer port for injecting the inlet fuel and the heated first gas portion to the reformer, the nozzle comprising a fuel injector and a gas injector and oriented to provide impingement of the injected fuel and the injected gas on a wall of the reformer and intermixing thereby wherein the fuel injector and the gas injector are the same or different;a fuel cell within the housing for receiving and electrochemically processing at least a portion of the hydrogen-containing product gas from the reformer exhaust passage and a second portion of the inlet gas to yield thermal and electrical energy, the fuel cell comprising at least one anode, at least one cathode, an anode outlet passage into which is ejected anode exhaust gas, and a cathode outlet passage into which is ejected cathode exhaust gas, wherein the anode and the cathode are separated by electrolyte layers;a cathode terminal and an anode terminal, the cathode and anode terminals being useful for supplying electrical current generated by the fuel cell to an external load; anda combustor within the housing for receiving and combusting at least a portion of the fuel cell exhaust gases with a third portion of the inlet gas at a stoichiometric gas/fuel ratio of at least about 1.1 to generate thermal energy.