Patent ID: 7960064
Filing Date: 2011-06-14
Classification: F23C,F28D,F28F,H01M,Y02E,Y02T

Abstract:
1. A catalytic combustion unit for a fuel cell system with a fuel cell stack, the catalytic combustion unit comprising: a housing with a first aperture and a second aperture and at least one fluid flow path from the first aperture to the second aperture, the first aperture receiving an inlet stream formed from an oxygen stream and a hydrogen stream; a heat exchanger disposed through the housing and including a hollow heat transfer core with a plurality of heat transfer fins disposed on an outer surface of the hollow heat transfer core, the heat transfer fins disposed inside the housing between the hollow heat transfer core and the housing, the hollow heat transfer core permitting a heat transfer fluid to flow therethrough; a reactor disposed inside of the housing between the first aperture of the housing and the heat exchanger, the reactor including a porous medium with a catalyst deposited thereon, the reactor disposed adjacent the heat exchanger and receiving the oxygen stream and the hydrogen stream from the first aperture, the reactor promoting an exothermic reaction in the presence of the inlet stream and converting the inlet stream into a heated outlet stream, wherein the heated outlet stream heats the heat transfer fluid as the heated outlet stream flows over the heat transfer fins, and the heated outlet stream is cooled to form a cooled outlet stream, the second aperture permitting the cooled outlet stream to flow therethrough and away from the housing, wherein the heat transfer fluid is circulated through the fuel cell stack, and wherein a temperature of the fuel cell stack is modulated by at least one of the cooled outlet stream and the heat transfer fluid.