Patent ID: 7485381

Claim:
A system for recovering thermal energy from a fuel processing system, comprising: a fuel processing system including a fuel processor and a fuel cell stack, wherein the fuel processor is adapted to receive a feedstock and produce a product hydrogen stream therefrom, wherein the fuel cell stack includes a plurality of fuel cells adapted to receive the product hydrogen stream and to produce an electric current therefrom, wherein the fuel processing system is in communication with a household that is adapted to apply at least electrical loads to the fuel processing system; a thermal energy recovery system adapted to recover thermal energy from the fuel processing system and including a plurality of thermal energy reservoirs that each are adapted to selectively receive and store a supply of heat exchange fluid and a delivery system adapted to selectively deliver heat exchange fluid from at least one of the plurality of thermal energy reservoirs into thermal communication with the fuel processing system to recover thermal energy therefrom, wherein the plurality of thermal energy reservoirs includes at least one of a swimming pool, a sauna, and a hot tub, and further wherein at least one of the thermal energy reservoirs forms at least a portion of a potable hot water supply for the household that is adapted to apply at least an electrical load to the fuel processing system.