Patent ID: 7883803
Filing Date: 2011-02-08
Classification: H01M,Y02E

Abstract:
1. A method of operating a fuel cell system, comprising: providing a hydrocarbon fuel inlet stream and a carbon dioxide containing air inlet stream into the fuel cell system, wherein the fuel cell system comprises a fuel cell stack and a carbon dioxide pump; operating the system to generate electricity and a plurality of output streams consisting essentially of oxygen and carbon dioxide depleted air, water, and carbon dioxide available for sequestration, providing the carbon dioxide containing air inlet stream into the carbon dioxide pump; removing at least 90 percent of the carbon dioxide contained in the air inlet stream using the carbon dioxide pump; providing the air inlet stream from which the at least 90 percent carbon dioxide has been removed from the carbon dioxide pump into the fuel cell stack; operating the fuel cell stack to generate the electricity, a fuel exhaust stream and an oxygen and carbon dioxide depleted air exhaust stream; providing at least a portion of the fuel exhaust stream into the carbon dioxide pump; and removing at least a portion of the carbon dioxide contained in the air inlet stream using the fuel exhaust stream in the carbon dioxide pump.