Fuel cell system

Patent · Tue Dec 13 04:00:00 EST 1988

OSTI ID:6516860

Patel, P

This patent describes a fuel cell system adapted to receive a hydrocarbon fuel from a fuel supply. The fuel cell system consists of: a fuel cell including: an anode compartment adapted to convey a fuel process gas stream and developing a first exhaust including hydrogen and water; a cathode compartment adapted to receive oxidant process gas and developing a second exhaust; and internal reforming means adapted to receive a mixture of the fuel and water and to steam reform the hydrocarbon content of the fuel to produce the fuel process gas stream; transfer means comprising: anode means for receiving and first exhaust; cathode means; means for applying a voltage across the cathode and anode means; and means for supplying hydrocarbon fuel from the fuel supply to the cathode means; the transfer means coupling water in the first exhaust in the anode means to the cathode means controllably in dependence on the supply of fuel to the cathode means and coupling hydrogen in the first exhaust in the anode means to the cathode means, the constituents in the cathode means including the applied fuel and coupled hydrogen and water forming a first stream and the remaining constituents in the anode means forming a second stream; and means for coupling the first stream to the internal steam reforming means.

• Assignee: Energy Research Corp., Danbury, CT
• Patent Number(s): US 4791033
• OSTI ID: 6516860
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

30 DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSION
300503* -- Fuel Cells-- Materials
Components
& Auxiliaries
ANODES
CATHODES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
DESIGN
DIRECT ENERGY CONVERTERS
ELECTROCHEMICAL CELLS
ELECTRODES
ELECTROLYTES
ELEMENTS
FUEL CELLS
HYDROCARBON FUEL CELLS
HYDROGEN
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
NONMETALS
OPERATION
OXIDIZERS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
REFORMER PROCESSES
WATER