Patent ID: 8206857
Filing Date: 2012-06-26
Classification: C01B,H01M,Y02B,Y02E

Abstract:
1. A fuel cell system for combined heat and power generation, the system comprising: a fuel processor module for the production of a hydrogen-rich reformate from a hydrocarbon fuel; a fuel cell power generator module operatively connected to the fuel processor module for receiving said hydrogen-rich reformate to generate power; a heat recovery module thermally connected to said fuel processor module and said fuel cell power generator module; a valve system having a selectable configuration to provide at least two heat recovery paths for propagating a cogeneration fluid in the fuel cell system, at heat recovery path running from the heat recovery module to said fuel cell power generator module and back to said heat recovery module, and a second heat recovery path running from said heat recovery module to said fuel cell power generator module and said fuel processor module, and back to said heat recovery module; and a control unit operatively connected to the heat recovery module adapted to receive measurements indicative of thermal demand and to select the first heat recovery path when a heat to electricity ratio between 0 and about 1.0 is desired, and select the second heat recovery path when a heat to electricity ratio greater than 1.0 is desired.