Patent ID: 8563186
Filing Date: 2013-10-22
Classification: H01M,Y02E

Abstract:
1. A process of operating a molten carbonate fuel cell, including a molten carbonate fuel cell anode, a molten carbonate fuel cell cathode, and having interposed there-between an electrolyte layer, wherein the process comprises: providing a hydrogen-containing stream, comprising molecular hydrogen, to the molten carbonate fuel cell anode; heating a hydrocarbon stream, at least a majority of which is comprised of hydrocarbons that are liquid at 20° C. and atmospheric pressure, with a heat source comprising an anode exhaust from the molten carbonate fuel cell anode to yield a heated hydrocarbon stream; contacting at least a portion of the heated hydrocarbon stream with a first reforming catalyst to produce a steam reforming feed comprising hydrogen and at least one carbon oxide; separating at least a portion of the molecular hydrogen from the steam reforming feed to provide a separated hydrogen stream and an oxidant-containing gas stream; providing at least a portion of the separated hydrogen stream to the molten carbonate fuel cell anode as at least a portion of the hydrogen-containing stream comprising molecular hydrogen; and providing molecular hydrogen and water to the molten carbonate fuel cell anode at a rate such that a molar ratio of water to molecular hydrogen in the anode exhaust is at most 1.0.