Source: https://patents.google.com/patent/US9413017B2/en
Timestamp: 2018-04-20 07:25:58
Document Index: 362250373

Matched Legal Cases: ['Application No. 823', 'Application No. 2082', 'Application No. 200610077859', 'Application No. 200610077859', 'Application No. 200610077859', 'Application No. 200610077860', 'Application No. 200680024042', 'Application No. 06759276']

US9413017B2 - High temperature fuel cell system with integrated heat exchanger network - Google Patents
US9413017B2
US9413017B2 US14196342 US201414196342A US9413017B2 US 9413017 B2 US9413017 B2 US 9413017B2 US 14196342 US14196342 US 14196342 US 201414196342 A US201414196342 A US 201414196342A US 9413017 B2 US9413017 B2 US 9413017B2
US14196342
US20140186729A1 (en )
A fuel cell system includes a plurality of fuel cells arranged into a stack. A combustor receives a cathode exhaust flow from the fuel cell cathodes and a flow of fuel. The fuel is oxidized in the combustor by the cathode exhaust to produce a mixed exhaust flow. A cathode air flow path extends between a fresh air source and the fuel cell cathodes. An air preheater is arranged along the cathode air flow path, cathode air passing through the air preheater being heated therein by a flow of uncombusted anode exhaust from the fuel cell anodes. A cathode recuperator is arranged along the cathode air flow path, cathode air passing through the cathode recuperator being heated therein by the mixed exhaust flow. Water passing through a vaporizer is converted to steam by heat from the mixed exhaust flow and directed from the vaporizer to the fuel cell anodes.
This application is a continuation of prior-filed co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/124,810 filed on May 9, 2005, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
In a high temperature fuel cell system such as a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) system, an oxidizing flow is passed through the cathode side of the fuel cell while a fuel flow is passed through the anode side of the fuel cell. The oxidizing flow is typically air, while the fuel flow is typically a hydrogen-rich gas created by reforming a hydrocarbon fuel source. The fuel cell, operating at a typical temperature between 750° C. and 950° C., enables the transport of negatively charged oxygen ions from the cathode flow stream to the anode flow stream, where the ion combines with either free hydrogen or hydrogen in a hydrocarbon molecule to form water vapor and/or with carbon monoxide to form carbon dioxide. The excess electrons from the negatively charged ion are routed back to the cathode side of the fuel cell through an electrical side of the fuel cell through an electrical circuit completed between anode and cathode, resulting in an electrical current flow through the circuit. {Text}
In accordance with one aspect of the invention, a fuel cell system includes a fuel cell stack, and a first means for heating an air inlet stream using heat from a fuel cell stack cathode exhaust stream, wherein the cathode exhaust stream has a temperature of at least 200° C. after exiting the first means.
FIGS. 2 and 3 are schematics of fuel cell systems according to the first preferred embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a system components and flow diagram and
FIG. 3 shows the schematic of the heat exchanger network for the fuel cell system.
The system 1 also optionally contains a desulfurizer 65 located in the path of the fuel inlet stream from the fuel source 27. The desulfurizer 65 removes some or all of the sulfur from the fuel inlet stream. The desulfurizer 65 preferably comprises the catalyst, such as Co—Mo or other suitable catalysts, which produces CH.sub.4 and H.sub.2S gases from hydrogenated, sulfur containing natural gas fuel, and a sorbent bed, such as ZnO or other suitable materials, for removing the H.sub.2S gas from the fuel inlet stream. Thus, a sulfur free or reduced sulfur hydrocarbon fuel, such as methane or natural gas, leaves the desulfurizer 65.
heating an air inlet stream using heat from a fuel cell stack cathode exhaust stream;
heating the air inlet stream using heat from an uncombusted fuel cell stack anode exhaust stream; and
heating an anode feed stream using heat from the uncombusted fuel cell stack anode exhaust stream.
heating the air inlet stream using heat from the uncombusted fuel cell stack anode exhaust stream upstream of heating the air inlet stream using heat from the fuel cell stack cathode exhaust stream with respect to the air inlet stream; and
heating the anode feed stream using heat from the uncombusted fuel cell stack anode exhaust stream upstream of heating the air inlet stream using heat from the uncombusted fuel cell stack anode exhaust stream with respect to the uncombusted fuel cell stack anode exhaust stream.
heating the air inlet stream using heat from the fuel cell stack cathode exhaust stream such that the cathode exhaust stream exits at a temperature of at least 200° C.;
providing the fuel cell stack inside a hot box;
heating the air inlet stream using heat from the fuel cell stack cathode exhaust stream inside the hot box;
heating the anode feed stream using heat from the uncombusted fuel cell stack anode exhaust stream inside the hot box; and
heating the air inlet stream using heat from an uncombusted fuel cell stack anode exhaust stream outside the hot box.
an anode recuperator heat exchanger which is adapted to heat an anode feed stream using heat from an uncombusted fuel cell stack anode exhaust stream;
an air preheater heat exchanger which is adapted to heat the air inlet stream using heat from the uncombusted fuel cell stack anode exhaust stream;
wherein the cathode recuperator heat exchanger is adapted to provide the cathode exhaust stream exiting the cathode recuperator heat exchanger at a temperature of at least 200° C.;
wherein the fuel cell stack, the anode recuperator heat exchanger and the cathode recuperator heat exchanger are located inside a hot box; and
wherein an air blower which provides the air inlet stream is located outside the hot box.
a plurality of fuel cells arranged into a stack, each fuel cell having an anode and a cathode;
a combustor receiving a cathode exhaust flow from the fuel cell cathodes and a flow of fuel, the fuel being oxidized in the combustor by the cathode exhaust to produce a mixed exhaust flow comprising cathode exhaust and combusted fuel;
a cathode air flow path extending between a fresh air source and the fuel cell cathodes;
an air preheater arranged along the cathode air flow path, cathode air passing through the air preheater being heated therein by a flow of uncombusted anode exhaust from the fuel cell anodes;
a cathode recuperator arranged along the cathode air flow path, cathode air passing through the cathode recuperator being heated therein by the mixed exhaust flow; and
a vaporizer, water passing through the vaporizer being converted to steam by heat from the mixed exhaust flow, the steam being directed from the vaporizer to the fuel cell anodes; and
a condenser to remove water from the uncombusted anode exhaust after the uncombusted anode exhaust has passed through the air preheater.
US14196342 2005-05-09 2014-03-04 High temperature fuel cell system with integrated heat exchanger network Active 2025-08-02 US9413017B2 (en)
US11124810 US8691462B2 (en) 2005-05-09 2005-05-09 High temperature fuel cell system with integrated heat exchanger network
US14196342 US9413017B2 (en) 2005-05-09 2014-03-04 High temperature fuel cell system with integrated heat exchanger network
US11124810 Continuation US8691462B2 (en) 2005-05-09 2005-05-09 High temperature fuel cell system with integrated heat exchanger network
US20140186729A1 true US20140186729A1 (en) 2014-07-03
US9413017B2 true US9413017B2 (en) 2016-08-09
US11124810 Active 2033-04-10 US8691462B2 (en) 2005-05-09 2005-05-09 High temperature fuel cell system with integrated heat exchanger network
US14196342 Active 2025-08-02 US9413017B2 (en) 2005-05-09 2014-03-04 High temperature fuel cell system with integrated heat exchanger network
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