Planar solid oxide fuel cell with staged indirect-internal air and fuel preheating and reformation

Patent · Tue Oct 21 00:00:00 EDT 2003

OSTI ID:1097252

Geisbrecht, Rodney A; Williams, Mark C

A solid oxide fuel cell arrangement and method of use that provides internal preheating of both fuel and air in order to maintain the optimum operating temperature for the production of energy. The internal preheat passes are created by the addition of two plates, one on either side of the bipolar plate, such that these plates create additional passes through the fuel cell. This internal preheat fuel cell configuration and method reduce the requirements for external heat exchanger units and air compressors. Air or fuel may be added to the fuel cell as required to maintain the optimum operating temperature through a cathode control valve or an anode control valve, respectively. A control loop comprises a temperature sensing means within the preheat air and fuel passes, a means to compare the measured temperature to a set point temperature and a determination based on the comparison as to whether the control valves should allow additional air or fuel into the preheat or bypass manifolds of the fuel cell.

• Research Organization: National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL), Pittsburgh, PA, Morgantown, WV (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy (Washington, DC)
• Patent Number(s): 6,635,375
• Application Number: 09/865,424
• OSTI ID: 1097252
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English