Patent ID: 6436561
Filing Date: 2002-08-20
Classification: C01B,H01M,Y02E,Y02P

Abstract:
A method of operating a combustor in a fuel cell system, the method comprising the steps of:determining a thermal load demand for a fuel processor in the fuel cell system based on an operating state of said fuel processor; selectively supplying a first fuel stream to a combustor in the fuel cell system, said first fuel stream being an anode effluent exhausted from a fuel cell in the fuel cell system; selectively supplying a second fuel stream to said combustor, said second fuel stream being reformate from said fuel processor; determining a thermal output capacity of said combustor combusting said first and second fuel streams supplied to said combustor; and selectively supplying a third fuel stream to said combustor such that combustion of said first, second and third fuel streams in said combustor produces a thermal output from said combustor sufficient to meet said thermal load demand of said fuel processor, said third fuel stream being a hydrocarbon fuel.