Patent ID: 6790546
Filing Date: 2004-09-14
Classification: F23C,H01M,Y02E

Abstract:
A method of operating a fuel cell system comprising a plurality of fuel cells, each fuel cell comprising a fuel inlet for a fuel, an anode having a catalyst associated therewith for producing cations from the fuel, a fuel manifold connected between the fuel inlet and the anode for distributing the fuel to the anode, an oxidant inlet means for supplying oxidant, a cathode having a catalyst associated therewith and connected to the oxidant inlet means for producing anions from the oxidant, said anions reacting with said cations to form water on said cathode and an ion exchange membrane disposed between the anode and the cathode, for facilitating migration of cations from the anode to the cathode, while isolating the fuel and oxidant from one another, the method comprising(a) supplying one part of the oxidant to the oxidant inlet means an of the fuel cells for reaction to generate electrical power and heat; (b) providing a catalytic reactor for promoting reaction of the fuel and the oxidant, supplying the fuel to the catalytic reactor and supplying another part of the oxidant to the catalytic reactor in an amount less than the stoichiometric amount required for the combustion of the fuel supplied to the catalytic reactor, to ensure complete consumption of the other part the oxidant, thereby generating a flow of heated and humidified fuel; (c) supplying the heated and humidified fuel to the fuel inlets of the fuel cells, for reaction with said one part of the oxidant to generate electricity and heat; and (d) supplying the fuel and the other part of the oxidant to the catalytic reactor, prior to supply thereof to the fuel cells.