Combined goal gasifier and fuel cell system and method

Patent · Mon Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1990

OSTI ID:867363

Gmeindl, Frank D ^[1]; Geisbrecht, Rodney A ^[2]

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1. Morgantown, WV
2. New Alexandria, PA

A molten carbonate fuel cell is combined with a catalytic coal or coal char gasifier for providing the reactant gases comprising hydrogen, carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide used in the operation of the fuel cell. These reactant gases are stripped of sulfur compounds and particulate material and are then separated in discrete gas streams for conveyance to appropriate electrodes in the fuel cell. The gasifier is arranged to receive the reaction products generated at the anode of the fuel cell by the electricity-producing electrochemical reaction therein. These reaction products from the anode are formed primarily of high temperature steam and carbon dioxide to provide the steam, the atmosphere and the heat necessary to endothermically pyrolyze the coal or char in the presence of a catalyst. The reaction products generated at the cathode are substantially formed of carbon dioxide which is used to heat air being admixed with the carbon dioxide stream from the gasifier for providing the oxygen required for the reaction in the fuel cell and for driving an expansion device for energy recovery. A portion of this carbon dioxide from the cathode may be recycled into the fuel cell with the air-carbon dioxide mixture.

• Research Organization: National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL), Pittsburgh, PA, Morgantown, WV (United States)
• Assignee: United States of America as represented by United States (Washington, DC)
• Patent Number(s): US 4921765
• OSTI ID: 867363
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

combined
goal
gasifier
fuel
cell
method
molten
carbonate
catalytic
coal
char
providing
reactant
gases
comprising
hydrogen
carbon
monoxide
dioxide
operation
stripped
sulfur
compounds
particulate
material
separated
discrete
gas
streams
conveyance
appropriate
electrodes
arranged
receive
reaction
products
generated
anode
electricity-producing
electrochemical
therein
formed
primarily
temperature
steam
provide
atmosphere
heat
endothermically
pyrolyze
presence
catalyst
cathode
substantially
air
admixed
stream
oxygen
required
driving
expansion
device
energy
recovery
portion
recycled
air-carbon
mixture
gases comprising
temperature steam
catalytic coal
fuel cell
reactant gases
particulate material
carbon dioxide
carbon monoxide
gas stream
gas streams
chemical reaction
reaction product
carbonate fuel
reaction products
molten carbonate
reactant gas
energy recovery
sulfur compounds
expansion device
electrochemical reaction
comprising hydrogen
coal char
oxide mixture
sulfur compound
discrete gas
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