Method and apparatus for thermal, mechanical, and electrical optimization of a solid-oxide fuel cell stack
Abstract
A solid-oxide fuel cell stack assembly comprising a plurality of sub-stacks, preferably two sub-stacks each containing one-half the total number of fuel cells. Cathode air and fuel gas are passed through the first sub-stack, wherein they are partially reacted and also heated. The exhaust cathode air and the exhaust fuel gas from the first sub-stack are directed to the respective inlets of the second sub-stack, becoming the supply cathode air and fuel gas therefor. A first heat exchanger in the flow paths between the sub-stacks and a second heat exchanger ahead of the sub-stacks can help to balance the performance of the two stacks. The result of dividing the number of cells into a plurality of sub-stacks, wherein the exhaust of one sub-stack becomes the supply for the next sub-stack, is that fuel efficiency and utilization are improved, thermal stresses are reduced, and electrical power generation is increased.
- Inventors:
- Issue Date:
- Research Org.:
- Delphi Technologies, Inc., Troy, MI (United States)
- Sponsoring Org.:
- USDOE
- OSTI Identifier:
- 1531608
- Patent Number(s):
- 7615299
- Application Number:
- 11/046,251
- Assignee:
- Delphi Technologies, Inc. (Troy, MI)
- Patent Classifications (CPCs):
-
H - ELECTRICITY H01 - BASIC ELECTRIC ELEMENTS H01M - PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
Y - NEW / CROSS SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES Y02 - TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE Y02E - REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
- DOE Contract Number:
- FC26-02NT41246
- Resource Type:
- Patent
- Resource Relation:
- Patent File Date: 2005-01-28
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- 30 DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSION; 42 ENGINEERING
Citation Formats
MacBain, John A., Kelly, Sean M., and Mergler, Christopher. Method and apparatus for thermal, mechanical, and electrical optimization of a solid-oxide fuel cell stack. United States: N. p., 2009.
Web.
MacBain, John A., Kelly, Sean M., & Mergler, Christopher. Method and apparatus for thermal, mechanical, and electrical optimization of a solid-oxide fuel cell stack. United States.
MacBain, John A., Kelly, Sean M., and Mergler, Christopher. Tue .
"Method and apparatus for thermal, mechanical, and electrical optimization of a solid-oxide fuel cell stack". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1531608.
@article{osti_1531608,
title = {Method and apparatus for thermal, mechanical, and electrical optimization of a solid-oxide fuel cell stack},
author = {MacBain, John A. and Kelly, Sean M. and Mergler, Christopher},
abstractNote = {A solid-oxide fuel cell stack assembly comprising a plurality of sub-stacks, preferably two sub-stacks each containing one-half the total number of fuel cells. Cathode air and fuel gas are passed through the first sub-stack, wherein they are partially reacted and also heated. The exhaust cathode air and the exhaust fuel gas from the first sub-stack are directed to the respective inlets of the second sub-stack, becoming the supply cathode air and fuel gas therefor. A first heat exchanger in the flow paths between the sub-stacks and a second heat exchanger ahead of the sub-stacks can help to balance the performance of the two stacks. The result of dividing the number of cells into a plurality of sub-stacks, wherein the exhaust of one sub-stack becomes the supply for the next sub-stack, is that fuel efficiency and utilization are improved, thermal stresses are reduced, and electrical power generation is increased.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Tue Nov 10 00:00:00 EST 2009},
month = {Tue Nov 10 00:00:00 EST 2009}
}
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Works referencing / citing this record:
Fuel cell system with warming-up and method of operating the same
patent, July 2011
- Miyata, Koichiro; Wake, Chihiro
- US Patent Document 7,972,736
Dynamically controlled heat exchange for cascading startup of fuel cell grids
patent, March 2017
- Peterson, Eric C.; James, Sean M.
- US Patent Document 9,608,284