Patent ID: 6878474

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; and 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 recovery system includes a control system with a controller adapted to selectively cause fluid to be drawn from at least one of the plurality of thermal energy reservoirs and delivered into thermal communication with the fuel processing system, and further wherein the recovery system includes a closed heat exchange loop in thermal communication with the plurality of fuel cells and containing heat exchange fluid.