Title: Apparatus for generating a gas which may be used for startup and shutdown of a fuel cell

Abstract

The present invention provides a gas generator that may be used for startup and shutdown of a fuel cell. In one non-limiting embodiment, the gas generator may include a nitrogen generator structured to receive air, extract oxygen (O2) from the air and discharge the balance in the form of a nitrogen-rich gas; a merging chamber structured to receive a hydrocarbon fuel and the nitrogen-rich gas and to discharge a feed mixture containing both the hydrocarbon fuel and the nitrogen-rich gas; and a catalytic reactor structured to receive the feed mixture and to catalytically convert the feed mixture into a reducing gas.

Inventors:

Scotto, Mark Vincent; Birmingham, Daniel P.; DeBellis, Crispin L.; Perna, Mark Anthony; Rush, Gregory C.

Issue Date:

2014-03-11

Research Org.:

Rolls-Royce Fuel Cell Systems (US) Inc., North Canton, OH (United States)

Sponsoring Org.:

USDOE

OSTI Identifier:

1531906

Patent Number(s):

8668752

Application Number:

12/554,460

Assignee:

Rolls-Royce Fuel Cell Systems (US) Inc. (North Canton, OH)

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

B - PERFORMING OPERATIONS B01 - PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL B01D - SEPARATION

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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

H01M8/04955 - Shut-off or shut-down of fuel cells
H01M8/04738 - {of auxiliary devices, e.g. reformer, compressor, burner}
H01M8/04268 - {Heating of fuel cells during the start-up of the fuel cells}
H01M8/0612 - from carbon-containing material

B - PERFORMING OPERATIONS B01 - PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL B01D - SEPARATION

B01D2256/10 - Nitrogen

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

H01M8/04776 - {at auxiliary devices, e.g. reformer, compressor, burner}
H01M8/04228 - during shut-down
H01M8/04223 - during start-up or shut-down

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

H01M2008/1293 - {Fuel cells with solid oxide electrolytes}
H01M8/04798 - {of fuel cell reactants}
H01M8/04731 - {of other components of a fuel cell or fuel cell stacks}

B - PERFORMING OPERATIONS B01 - PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL B01D - SEPARATION

B01D53/22 - by diffusion

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

H01M8/0687 - {Reactant purification by the use of membranes or filters}
H01M8/04328 - {of anode reactants at the inlet or inside the fuel cell}
H01M8/04225 - during start-up
H01M8/04425 - {at auxiliary devices, e.g. reformers, compressors, burners}
H01M8/2425 - High-temperature cells with solid electrolytes
H01M8/04303 - applied during shut-down
H01M8/04231 - {Purging of the reactants}

B - PERFORMING OPERATIONS B01 - PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL B01D - SEPARATION

B01D2257/104 - Oxygen

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DOE Contract Number:  

FC26-06NT42809

Resource Type:

Patent

Resource Relation:

Patent File Date: 2009-09-04

Country of Publication:

United States

Language:

English

Subject:

30 DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSION; 42 ENGINEERING