Solid-oxide fuel cell system having means for controlling tail gas combustion temperature
In a solid-oxide fuel cell system, the fuel cell tail gas contains significant residual amounts of combustibles which are burned in a combustor with spent cathode air to reduce system emissions and to reclaim chemical energy in the form of heat, the hot exhaust being used to pre-heat air entering the fuel cell system. The tail gas combustibles content can vary widely as can the combustion temperature. When the temperature becomes unacceptably low, a control valve in the spent cathode air return is adjusted to divert a portion of the air around the combustor, thus enriching the fuel/air mixture and causing the combustion temperature to increase. When the temperature becomes unacceptably high, a control valve in the combustor fresh air supply is adjusted to provide more air, thus causing the mixture to become leaner and the combustion temperature to decrease.
- Research Organization:
- Delphi Technologies, Inc., Troy, MI (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- DOE Contract Number:
- FC26-02NT41246
- Assignee:
- Delphi Technologies, Inc. (Troy, MI)
- Patent Number(s):
- 7,001,682
- Application Number:
- 10/178,863
- OSTI ID:
- 1531503
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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