Generator module architecture for a large solid oxide fuel cell power plant

Gillett, James E.; Zafred, Paolo R.; Riggle, Matthew W.; Litzinger, Kevin P.

Title: Generator module architecture for a large solid oxide fuel cell power plant

Abstract

A solid oxide fuel cell module contains a plurality of integral bundle assemblies, the module containing a top portion with an inlet fuel plenum and a bottom portion receiving air inlet feed and containing a base support, the base supports dense, ceramic exhaust manifolds which are below and connect to air feed tubes located in a recuperator zone, the air feed tubes passing into the center of inverted, tubular, elongated, hollow electrically connected solid oxide fuel cells having an open end above a combustion zone into which the air feed tubes pass and a closed end near the inlet fuel plenum, where the fuel cells comprise a fuel cell stack bundle all surrounded within an outer module enclosure having top power leads to provide electrical output from the stack bundle, where the fuel cells operate in the fuel cell mode and where the base support and bottom ceramic air exhaust manifolds carry from 85% to all 100% of the weight of the stack, and each bundle assembly has its own control for vertical and horizontal thermal expansion control.

Inventors:: Gillett, James E.; Zafred, Paolo R.; Riggle, Matthew W.; Litzinger, Kevin P.

Issue Date:: 2013-06-11

Research Org.:: National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL), Pittsburgh, PA, Morgantown, WV (United States)

Sponsoring Org.:: USDOE

OSTI Identifier:: 1084250

Patent Number(s):: 8460838

Application Number:: 12/543,738

Assignee:: Siemens Energy, Inc. (Orlando, FL)

Patent Classifications (CPCs):: H - ELECTRICITY H01 - BASIC ELECTRIC ELEMENTS H01M - PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY

Y - NEW / CROSS SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES Y02 - TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE Y02E - REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION

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H - ELECTRICITY H01 - BASIC ELECTRIC ELEMENTS H01M - PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
H01M8/243 - Grouping of unit cells of tubular or cylindrical configuration
H01M8/2465 - Details of groupings of fuel cells
H01M8/2425 - High-temperature cells with solid electrolytes
H01M8/0282 - Inorganic material
H01M8/0252 - tubular
H01M8/249 - comprising two or more groupings of fuel cells, e.g. modular assemblies
H01M8/2485 - Arrangements for sealing external manifolds
H01M8/0286 - Processes for forming seals
H01M8/0273 - with sealing or supporting means in the form of a frame
H01M8/2475 - Enclosures, casings or containers of fuel cell stacks
H01M8/0637 - Direct internal reforming at the anode of the fuel cell
H01M8/04022 - {Heating by combustion}
H01M8/0276 - Sealing means characterised by their form

Y - NEW / CROSS SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES Y02 - TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE Y02E - REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
Y02E60/50 - Fuel cells

H - ELECTRICITY H01 - BASIC ELECTRIC ELEMENTS H01M - PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
H01M8/2484 - characterised by external manifolds
H01M8/248 - Means for compression of the fuel cell stacks

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DOE Contract Number:: FC26-05NT42613

Resource Type:: Patent

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

Subject:: 30 DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSION

Citation Formats


                    Gillett, James E., Zafred, Paolo R., Riggle, Matthew W., and Litzinger, Kevin P. Generator module architecture for a large solid oxide fuel cell power plant.  United States: N. p., 2013. 
        Web.

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                    Gillett, James E., Zafred, Paolo R., Riggle, Matthew W., & Litzinger, Kevin P. Generator module architecture for a large solid oxide fuel cell power plant.  United States.

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                    Gillett, James E., Zafred, Paolo R., Riggle, Matthew W., and Litzinger, Kevin P. Tue .  
        "Generator module architecture for a large solid oxide fuel cell power plant".  United States.  https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1084250.

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@article{osti_1084250,

  title        = {Generator module architecture for a large solid oxide fuel cell power plant},

  author       = {Gillett, James E. and Zafred, Paolo R. and Riggle, Matthew W. and Litzinger, Kevin P.},

  abstractNote = {A solid oxide fuel cell module contains a plurality of integral bundle assemblies, the module containing a top portion with an inlet fuel plenum and a bottom portion receiving air inlet feed and containing a base support, the base supports dense, ceramic exhaust manifolds which are below and connect to air feed tubes located in a recuperator zone, the air feed tubes passing into the center of inverted, tubular, elongated, hollow electrically connected solid oxide fuel cells having an open end above a combustion zone into which the air feed tubes pass and a closed end near the inlet fuel plenum, where the fuel cells comprise a fuel cell stack bundle all surrounded within an outer module enclosure having top power leads to provide electrical output from the stack bundle, where the fuel cells operate in the fuel cell mode and where the base support and bottom ceramic air exhaust manifolds carry from 85% to all 100% of the weight of the stack, and each bundle assembly has its own control for vertical and horizontal thermal expansion control.},

  doi          = {},

  journal      = {},
number       = ,

  volume       = ,

  place        = {United States},

  year         = {2013},

  month        = {6}

}

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Works referenced in this record:

Ceramic Fuel Cells
journal, March 1993

Minh, Nguyen Q.
Journal of the American Ceramic Society, Vol. 76, Issue 3
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1151-2916.1993.tb03645.x

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Title: Generator module architecture for a large solid oxide fuel cell power plant

Abstract

Citation Formats

Ceramic Fuel Cells journal, March 1993

Ceramic Fuel Cells
journal, March 1993