Patent ID: 7951500
Filing Date: 2011-05-31
Classification: H01M,Y02E,Y10T

Abstract:
1. An anode side gas flow heater for a fuel cell generator with fuel cells having exterior anodes made to handle fuel comprising: a recirculating anode gas flow having reducing properties; at least one burner interior to the fuel cell generator and receiving recirculating anode gas flow comprising fresh fuel and spent fuel; and an energy source, where the energy source is fuel, wherein said energy source fuel heats said burner; wherein said recirculating anode gas flow passes over said at least one interior burner and is directly heated; wherein the heated recirculating anode gas flow is then passed through the anode side of said fuel cell generator, and where said fuel cell generator is heated, said anode gas flow passing through an interior jet pump ejector containing a pre-reformer prior to said at least one burner receiving the recirculating anode gas flow; and wherein the at least one interior burner is disposed adjacent to the fuel cells within the walls of the fuel cell generator, and said at least one interior burner has multiple stages of burn which can increase reducing properties of said recirculating anode gas flow, wherein approximately 10% to 15% of the recirculating anode gas flow is exhausted, and a supplemental gas flow is added to said recirculating anode gas flow to replace that gas lost to the exhaust.