Patent ID: 6063515
Filing Date: 2000-05-16
Classification: H01M,Y02E

Abstract:
A method of operating a fuel cell electric power generation system for a submarine, said system comprising a solid polymerfuel cell stack for producing electrical power, said method comprising:(1) vaporizing a process fluid stream in a vaporizer to produce a vaporizer outlet outlet stream, said process fluid stream comprises methanol and water;(2) catalytically reforming said vaporizer outlet stream in a reformer to produce a reformate stream comprising hydrogen and carbon dioxide;(3) separating said reformate stream in a hydrogen separator into a fuel stream of substantially pure hydrogen, and a raffinate stream consisting of a hydrogen-depleted reformate stream;(4) supplying said fuel stream and an oxidant stream to said fuel cell stack, said oxidant stream comprising oxygen from a liquid oxygen supply;(5) circulating a heat transfer fluid to heat said vaporizer and said reformer;(6) heating said heat transfer fluid using a catalytic burner, said burner having a quantity of catalyst disposed therein for promoting combustion of a burner fuel inlet stream with a burner oxidant inlet stream to produce heat and a burner outlet stream, said burner oxidant inlet stream comprising oxygen drawn from said liquid oxygen supply, said burner fuel inlet stream comprising said raffinate stream and methanol, and at least a portion of said burner outlet stream being recirculated through said catalytic burner;(7) monitoring the operating temperature of said burner using a temperature sensor, and adjusting said portion of said burner outlet stream which is recirculated through said catalytic burner responsive to an output of said temperature sensor.