Pressurized fuel cell power plant. [air turbocompressor powered by waste gases]

Patent · Tue Jan 04 04:00:00 EST 1977

OSTI ID:7305933

Menard, M C

A fuel cell power plant for producing electricity uses pressurized reactants in the cells. In one embodiment air for the fuel cells is compressed in a compressor driven by a turbine which is powered by waste energy produced in the power plant in the form of a hot pressurized gaseous medium. The power plant includes fuel conditioning apparatus comprising a steam reforming reactor and a reactor burner to provide heat for the steam reforming reactor. Effluent gases from the anode side of the cells are delivered into the reactor burner and from the reactor burner are combined with effluent gases from the cathode side of the cells. The combined gases are used to drive the turbine. Water to produce steam for the steam reforming reactor is recovered from the effluent gases from the anode side of the cells before they are delivered into the reactor burner and from the effluent gases from the cathode side of the cells. 14 claims, 4 figures.

• Assignee: United Technologies Corp.
• Patent Number(s): US 4001041
• OSTI ID: 7305933
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

30 DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSION
300501* -- Fuel Cells-- Design & Development
300503 -- Fuel Cells-- Materials
Components
& Auxiliaries
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CHEMICAL REACTORS
COMPRESSORS
DESIGN
DIRECT ENERGY CONVERTERS
ELECTROCHEMICAL CELLS
ENERGY
ENERGY SOURCES
FUEL CELL POWER PLANTS
FUEL CELLS
GASEOUS WASTES
HEAT
HYDROGEN FUEL CELLS
POWER PLANTS
PRESSURIZERS
REFORMER PROCESSES
STEAM REFORMER PROCESSES
TURBINES
TURBOMACHINERY
WASTE HEAT
WASTES