Patent ID: 6641946
Filing Date: 2003-11-04
Classification: H01M,Y02B,Y02E

Abstract:
A fuel cell generator comprising:solid oxide electrolyte fuel cell stacks acting on pressurized hydrogen and carbon monoxide-containing fuel and pressurized oxygen-containing oxidant to provide electrical energy, in which the stacks have positive and negative terminals; a stack energy dissipater which operates on amplitude proportioning of a resistance load, comprising an electrical resistance load, said electrical resistance load comprising an array of at least two cooled, electrically connected resistors controlled by a voltage-sensitive multi-settable point relay, where individual switching contactors allowing for variable resistance loads are disposed between the array and a circuit breaker; and where the circuit breaker is in electrical contact with the positive terminal and each of the resistors in the array is in electrical contact with the negative terminal, so that the energy dissipater can draw current, in order to consume hydrogen and carbon monoxide-containing fuel stored within the generator during a shutdown.